Rotimi Ige
Spotify is celebrating a new album by one of Afrobeats’ biggest stars with his selection of the genre’s most timeless tracks. As Davido returns to the arena with the announcement of his long-awaited album, Spotify is unveiling the ‘Timeless’ Afro playlist to celebrate some of Afrobeats’ most classic and enduring records, as curated by the global star.
The singer, producer and label head announced the release of his fourth solo full-length album, titled Timeless in a social media post on March 21, 2023, thus breaking a prolonged silence. His only public appearance in months came by way of a performance at the finals of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar. The album follows 2020’s ‘A Better Time’ and is scheduled to hit digital stores on March 31.
To prepare fans for the album’s arrival, Davido has curated a playlist of Afrobeats tracks that he considers timeless. The ‘Timeless’ Afro playlist, as it is called, contains some of the defining songs of the Afrobeats era, including hits by his peers, Wizkid, Tekno and Mr Eazi. The playlist also includes some of the most familiar classics from Afrobeats’ golden era, with songs by Sunny Neji, 2baba and Naeto C, as well as foundational tracks that have inspired multiple generations of Afrobeats acts including Fela Kuti’s Zombie.
Speaking about the playlist, Spotify’s Head of Music for Africa, Phiona Okumu said, “Davido represents the audacity, consistency and huge reach of Afrobeats and we’re glad to herald his new body of work by joining him in highlighting some of the most enduring contributions by Afrobeats acts to our musical canon over the years”.
As part of a generation of Nigerian artists who have found massive success in the digital era, OBO, as Davido is fondly called by fans, is one of the global faces of African music. Over the course of a decade and some, the singer and label head has gone from the Afropop wunderkind who announced himself with ‘Dami Duro’ and ‘Back When’ to a global icon. With three studio albums under his belt, the singer boasts hits like ‘Aye’, ‘If’ and ‘Fall’.
Next to a list of solo hits and guest verses that could outlast any jam session, Davido is also one of the most prolific cross-continental ambassadors and crossover artists in Afrobeats. His list of collaborators includes artists like Sauti Sol, Focalistic and Kidi, as well as North American stars like Nicki Minaj, Lil Baby, Young Thug and Nas.
The album announcement makes good on Davido’s promise to ‘see his fans in March’ and there’s a feeling that it’ll be well worth the wait. Davido’s team describes Timeless as “a body of work that goes beyond fashion and trends. It’s an authentic body of work that remains true to Davido’s core as an artist, using his music to bring joy to his fans across the world. The songs you hear today will be just as relevant tomorrow, that’s why it’s TIMELESS.”
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