Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis

“This album will always be special to me,” Davido tells Apple Music. “Besides being my first album—which became a classic Afrobeats record—it represented a really rebellious time in my life.” A musician with a keen ear for catchy melodies and game-shifting production, Davido introduced himself to the world with the Naeto C-featuring single “Back When” in 2011. With its folding of slick rhymes over sprightly percussion, the song would perfectly encapsulate *Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis*’ fusion of Afrobeats and hip-hop. Merging these two sonic worlds, the Atlanta-born artist further showcased his talents alongside 2Baba, Sina Rambo, Kayswitch, Ice Prince, and B-Red. As the title suggests, this album—crafted in tandem with producers such as Shizzi, Jay Sleek, Theory Soundz, and Maleek Berry—was both a nod to Davido’s personal circumstances and the inception of a musical journey. Caught between pursuing a music career and satisfying familial expectations, Davido found vindication with the breakout hit “Dami Duro.” “All I was focused on was proving to my father that I can make it in music,” he says. With subsequent singles “Gbon Gbon,” “All of You,” and “Feel Alright” capturing the pulse of the moment, Davido positioned himself at the center of the “Afrobeats to the world” wave. Tellingly, his longevity can be traced to the trust he\'s since earned from his fans, and is reflected in the solidity of his chosen circle. “I’m grateful for where I am today,” he says. “*Omo Baba Olowo* was released almost 10 years ago, and pretty much all of the crew you see me with today were actually with me when I recorded the album.”