The fan war between Wizkid FC and 30bg does not look like it will be dying down anytime soon. Following the release of “A Better Time”, tension has been so high as to who is topping the charts.
A fan of Wizkid has shaded Davido following the release of his latest album, A Better Time. According to him, Wizkid is not his mate and he has been met with a face with tears of joy. He said Wizkid got most top artists on his album than Davido got.
“Davido ABT album couldn’t break MIL record on US iTunes chart…he got like of..Nicki minaj, Chris Brown, young thug, Lil baby..US top A list artist 😭😭😂😂…Atlanta boy.. Wizkid is not your mate 😂 #MadeInLagosAlbum”
This and many more comments of this kind has been made. So let’s settle this once and for all, “Made In Lagos” or “A Better Time” ?
Davido might not be the most talented in the world, but one thing you definitely cannot take from him, is his consistency. After he released his first album ‘Omo Baba Olowo’ in 2012, the American-born Nigerian star waited a full seven years before releasing a follow-up, last year’s ‘A Good Time’. Nigerian pop tends to focus on singles, but this time the Afrobeats icon is back with another album in just under 12 months. You would agree with me that the songs however, are not wishy-washy. Now if that is not consistency, I don’t know what is, and what is it they say about consistency again ? It leads to success.
“A Good Time” has been streamed over a billion times around the world, it was a massive breakout success that helped establish him as a truly global star. After the release of that album, the 27-year-old was on the cover of Billboard and rapping in a mocked-up living room on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. There were even those who sought to name him ‘King of Afrobeats’ – although Wizkid and recent NME cover star Burna Boy both contest that particular crown.
All of which is to say that expectations were high for the ‘A Good Time’ follow-up, fanned to even greater heights by Davido’s gloriously cocky decision to name it ‘A Better Time’. It’s a promise he comes close to delivering. While it remains to be seen whether it can capture the zeitgeist in the way that its predecessor did, this 17-track collection certainly matches up in terms of tunes. You’ll likely already be familiar with opening track ‘Fem’, a swaying, joyous party anthem that became a massive single even before it took on its curious second life as a protest song embraced by the #ENDSARS movement against police brutality in Nigeria.
Another stand-out is ‘Holy Ground’, overseen by producer SperoacHBeatz, a wavy hymn of infatuation that pairs Davido with an extremely laidback Nicki Minaj – clearly his good vibes are contagious. That’s true of the whole record, which is heavy on steel drums, synths and horns and light on trouble. By the time closing track ‘On My Way’ arrives, featuring the Kenyan pop group Sauti Sol and Davido quoting British soul group Sade’s 1985 hit ‘The Sweetest Taboo’, we defy you not to have turned your lockdown living room into an impromptu dancefloor.
At a time when feel-good moments are at a premium, ‘A Better Time’ makes a convincing case that the problems of the world really might just melt away – even if only momentarily – though a sense of escapism and the enduring powers of art and pop music. Just put yourself in Davido’s hands.
“The pandemic had a lot to do with it because I was on tour, which I had to stop — If I was on tour, I’m not sure I would’ve had time to really record but being in Lagos, at home, I was recording and recording so many songs and it ended up being really good. It took about two or three months but when I first started recording it, I had no plan, I just wanted to have fun with it.”
Davido doubled down on the album’s overall tone and message, explaining it was inspired by Africa’s ethos: “We (African people) always like to celebrate and A Better Time is that outlet to be free, be happy and hopeful for a better future.”
Made In Lagos on the other hand, represents growth, ease and the perfection of failed experiments from his last two bodies of work, Sounds From The Other Side and the terrible, soundman volume 1.
At 30, he has also evolved and grown accustomed to being family-oriented. In the video for ‘Smile,’ he featured his three sons. On interview circuits, he has gushed over his sons and his family-based orientation. On ‘Blessed,’ he expressly paid homage to his kids and on ‘Reckless’ he sings, “And I go do anything only for my family…”
Speculations has been that Wizkid does music now on an international scale, because of his international audiences, hence, afrobeat that both his Naija and international fans can relate too.
One word used to describe “Made In Lagos” is “vibes”. You know theknno stress” kind of music, where you can sit with a bottle of wine and just chill. I mean, if you know, you know.
One thing is certain about Wiz, he has street cred, and die hard fans, that would do anything to see that no one dethrones their fave, whether you are satisfied with his music or not.
If you are Waiting to hear if I would say ABT is better or MIL is better, you might be waiting for a very long time, one thing I can say however is; these two artistes have really grown!
Made In Lagos Or A Better Time
