The Afro Nation festival series is arguably one of the most important live events in today’s Black music market as it bridges together the genres pioneered by Black entertainers, including Afrobeats, Afro-fusion, Amapiano, R&B, hip-hop, and more. At the inaugural installment of Afro Nation Detroit 2023 this weekend (August 19 and 20) held at the Bedrock’s Douglass site, artists such as Burna Boy, Davido, Ari Lennox, Latto, and will amplify the sounds heard around the world.
Burna Boy spoke with Los Angeles Times journalist Kenan Draughorne about the growing movement amongst native Africans and people with African ancestry living around the world, saying, “They’ve successfully broken us apart, to where many of us don’t even want to identify with each other. The primary objective for our people should be unity, and to build a bridge between us that can never close or break. With the music, I try to play my little part in trying to do that.”
Afro Nation Detroit is a mere example of this comradery, with music at the center of it all. View the set times below.
Limited VIP and general admission tickets are still available for Afro Nation Detroit 2023. Find more information here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The latest criticisms against Latto have been all about the Atlanta-based artist seemingly taking a little too much inspiration from her contemporaries, such as Ice Spice and Sexyy Red. She doesn’t seem too bothered by the hate, especially given the success the 24-year-old has found with all of her recent releases. She and K-Pop sensation Jungkook broke countless records with their “Seven” collab, and not long before that she and Cardi B gave us the Song of the Summer with “Put It On Da Floor Again.”
This New Music Friday (August 18), Latto is back with more heat. She hopped on the remix of Davido and Musa Keys’ “UNAVAILABLE,” which first arrived on the Afrobeats artist’s Timeless LP at the end of March. It’s since racked up over 65M streams on Spotify, as well as a Major Lazer remix. For her part, the 777 hitmaker joined the rapper and producer to spit about taking note of the toxicity she deals with from others in her life.
Davido & Musa Keys’ “UNAVAILABLE [Remix]” Gets the Latto Treatment
“Unavailable, unapproachable, out of reach / I got ninety-nine problems and it’s never me,” the blonde beauty‘s verse begins. “Out here dragging that wagon like a f**king G / You took everything from me but accountability, tuh,” she continues before turning up the heat a notch. “To have Latto, an incredible artist who we all love jump on the record, bringing her incredible energy to this song is pretty special and I can’t wait to see everyone having a good time all year round to this song,” Davido said of his experience working with her, as per Uproxx.
Check out the bars that Latto brought to Davido and Musa Keys’ “UNAVAILABLE [Remix]” above. Make sure to add it to your Spotify/Apple Music playlist if you’re feeling the new collab. To see what the rappers got to cooking up (literally) during their time in the studio together, click the link below.
Unavailable, unapproachable, out of reach I got ninety-nine problems and it’s never me Out here dragging that wagon like a f**king G You took everything from me but accountability, tuh
Davido and Latto aren’t here for the games. Tonight the afro-fusion hitmaker has teamed up with one of the hottest voices in raps for a remix of one of his hits, “Unavailable.”
On the fiery remix, Davido maintains his unavailable status, while Latto doubles down—both of them distancing themselves from the B.S. of trifling people.
“Unavailable, unapproachable, out of reach / I got ninety-nine problems and it’s never me / I have dragged that wagon like a f*cking chief / You took everything from me, but accountability,” raps Latto on her verse.
The song’s original version has become a global hit for Davido, and with Latto tearing up the charts in both the pop and hip-hop realm, it’s only fitting that she adds her magic touch to the remix.
“I am so excited to see how far ‘Unavailable’ has gone globally and seeing everyone hop on the dance across the globe has been awesome,” said Davido in a statement. “To have Latto, an incredible artist who we all love jump on the record, bringing her incredible energy to this song is pretty special and I can’t wait to see everyone having a good time all year round to this song.”
International superstar Davido has once again demonstrated his commitment to giving back to the community through The David Adeleke Foundation (DAF). Today, the foundation proudly announced a remarkable donation of N237,000,000.00 ($300,000 US equivalent) to orphanages throughout Nigeria. Led by Mrs. Titi Adebayo, the chair of the DAF Disbursement Committee, the funds were successfully distributed to 424 orphanages, benefiting a total of 13,818 children.
Davido stated, “I founded the DAF in 2022 with a strong desire and passion to continually assist others and create a proper framework for ongoing charitable works to benefit the good people of Nigeria. Through this foundation, we have raised millions of Naira and disbursed much-needed funds to hundreds of orphanages, significantly improving the lives of countless children.”
This latest donation follows Davido’s previous generous contributions as part of his global mission to support those in need. Reflecting on the impact of his previous donations in 2021, the philanthropist expressed how it left an indelible mark on his heart. The messages and letters from the beneficiaries further motivated him to establish the DAF, with the aim of making a more significant and sustainable impact.
The DAF’s efforts began in October 2022, seeking support from compassionate individuals and corporations across Nigeria to raise funds for the less privileged. Thanks to the generous contributions from various sectors and regions, the substantial donation of N237 million was raised, highlighting Davido’s commitment to continuously assist the less fortunate in any capacity.
Afro Nation is a relatively new festival but it’s already expanding rapidly — just like the genre it aims to highlight. While the first edition took place in Portugal in 2022, Afro Nation just held its first stateside event in Miami ahead of its return to Europe this summer. Ahead of this weekend’s festivities in Miami, Afro Nation has revealed its next expansion. On August 19 and 29, Afro Nation is taking over the former site of the Brewster-Douglass public housing projects in Detroit, Michigan for its third event of the year.
As with its prior show in Miami, AND will be headlined by Burna Boy, although Wizkid will be replaced with Davido, while they’ll be supported by US stars like Ari Lennox, Coi Leray, Latto, and Masego, as well as rising Nigerian stars Kizz Daniel and sibling duo P-Square. And just like prior iterations, the Detroit event will have an Amapiano stage to showcase some of the South African dance genre’s flourishing DJs along with a comedy show, block party, discussions and panels, and something called a Motown special, paying homage to the city’s musical roots.
Tickets are due to go on sale on Friday, June 2. You can get more information at Afro Nation’s Detroit website.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Juneteenth is one month away, and Live Nation Urban confirmed this week that it will put on a second annual Juneteenth: A Global Celebration For Freedom at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Coi Leray, Davido, Jodeci, Kirk Franklin, Miguel, and SWV were revealed as participating acts, with a promise of more to come.
“We have once again partnered with [Jesse Collins Entertainment] on the production of the broadcast as well as @cnn who will be airing the concert experience live worldwide on June 19 at 8 p.m. EST,” Live Nation Urban and the Greek Theatre jointly posted to Instagram.
The caption continued, “In our second year, the concert will feature a wide array of icons and artists spanning across the entertainment and music industry including @Miguel, @KirkFranklin, @officialSWV, @Davido, @CoiLeray and @Jodeci, with more artists and presenters to be announced.”
The company additionally noted that Questlove and Adam Blackstone will serve as the show’s music directors.
“We are proud to once again partner with Live Nation Urban to broadcast this powerful Juneteenth event on our platforms,” Chris Licht, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide said in a statement, per Billboard. “We want to be a destination for people to both understand and celebrate a holiday of this magnitude.”
There’s no denying Davido’s star power. As one of the musicians at the forefront of helping Afrobeats gain worldwide attention, the “Unavailable” musician is riding high off of the success of his latest album Timeless. After breaking several streaming records, Davido took to social media to announce that he’s taking his well-received album on a limited-run North American tour.
“The grind is TIMELESS, the music is TIMELESS, we are TIMELESS,” he wrote. The tour will start in Washington, DC, on July 1. In addition to his summer tour, Davido will also take the stage at a few festivals, including Governors Ball Music Festival in June and A.W.A.Y Festival in November.
During an interview with Complex, when asked about what the album meant to him, Davido said, “The last time I dropped an album, Afrobeats was not on this pedestal. So many things have happened: younger artists have come through, and I have a spread of artists and producers under my label, some that feature on the album—like Morravey and Logos Olori. Afrobeats has become the most popular genre in the world, so I knew I definitely had to deliver. I’m just happy that so many people love Timeless.”
View the full Timeless Tour schedule below.
07/01 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena*
07/07 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
07/08 — Chicago, IL @ Credit Union 1 Arena
07/13 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
07/15 — Toronto, CA @ Budweiser Stage
*Produced by Duke Concept
Davido’s artist presale begins on April 26 at 10 am local time. While a special promoter presale will kick off on April 27 at 10 am local time. General sales will start on April 28 at 10 am local time. For more information, click here.
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The video for Davido’s “Unavailable,” an early highlight from his fourth album Timeless, begins with a radio message that announces the long-awaited return of the “King Of Afrobeat.” That figure is Davido himself, who went two and a half years without a project and minimal releases outside of that.
Though that isn’t all that long, the absence was noticed as his contemporaries – Burna Boy and Wizkid – elevated to new heights. Burna dropped an award-winning album while Wizkid released a magnum opus while newcomers in afrobeats arrived to define the new class of artists that would lead the way.
Five years ago, Davido was at the forefront of afrobeats’ mainstream takeover, firing off records like “If,” “Fall,” and “FIA” that were played so frequently that fans grew tired of them being the only afrobeats records to play in outdoor spaces. To start 2023, Davido was that same star but had yet to insert his defining project into the massive ring that afrobeats created for itself in this current decade.
That’s what makes Timeless the perfect title for Davido’s fourth album. Yes, it continues the theme of time that served as the foundation of the afrobeats singer’s last two albums, A Good Time and A Better Time, but by definition, it accurately describes Davido’s music in today’s afrobeats space – “not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion.”
With Timeless, Davido proves himself to be a limitless artist with enough strength to always find a way to finish at the top. The same singer who arrived with the electric and raw “Dami Duro” can use that same joy and energy in a different way for another party-friendly record, like “Unavailable,” more than a decade later. Between the two records, the similarities and differences are clear, above all, they speak to the timeless nature of Davido and his artistry.
Timeless caters to those who were assured that its awaited arrival would be nothing short of monumental while also sneering at those who had doubts about its potential. Davido re-emerges from one of the lowest points in his life as a rejuvenated man with a new sense of appreciation, value, and vigor. Defeat is not a part of Davido’s ministry and it’s a message that couldn’t be any clearer on the album’s opener “Over Dem.”
He boasts about his ability to win no matter the circumstances, singing, “Over dem all / If dem wan turn Goliath / I be David for life / Oluwa dey my side.” Davido delivers these lines with such certainty and little doubt that not only are we convinced of his strength, but it’s also enough to make listeners believe in their own. Davido re-establishes this connection with a higher power just three songs later on “Godfather.”
“All of thе blessings wey dey come my way / They are all from God,” he sings with the certainty and confidence that only the God he sings of could supply. “And if dem try to talk / E go burn them like hot water oh.” To loosely translate: “All of the blessings that come my way / They are all from God / If they try to talk against them / It’ll burn them like hot water.”
As much as he flaunts his strengths, Davido also embraces the losses and the moments of uncertainty. A broken heart and questions for the woman who split it in two are the foundation of “E Pain Me.” Davido croons his pleas to this woman, begging for their return and showcasing the pains of a loss that he can’t seem to wrap his head around. “Wetin I no do for you? / Shey you promise say you no go let me go?” Davido asks. “And last night you told me that it’s all over / E pain me oh.”
The trend continues in the second half of the album with “For The Road,” a record that swaps sadness for disappointment while still finding itself in the realm of love. It’s upended by a well-played double meaning that comes alive with his request for one last night of intimacy “for the road” with a girl who has no desire to be confined by the limitations of a relationship – in other words, she’s “for the road” in Davido’s eyes.
Davido bravest moment in the face of loss comes through “LCND (Legends Can Never Die),” a song dedicated to the people he’s lost in his life, which presumably includes his three-year-old son David Ifeanyi Adeleke Jr. Davido proves that he found life through death, a concept that couldn’t be more representative of the theme behind Timeless.
Davido’s Timeless stretches its arms to touch on areas that pertain to the singer and the world he finds himself in. It boasts the confidence of a man who considers his music and impact to be timeless as well as the fight and focus to prove this case to those who doubted. It’s crafted with the precision that will have it be remembered as one of the best afrobeats albums to come out of the genre’s most spotlighted era while offering moments where Davido is forced to accept his time with an experience was paused, or worse, cut short, whether it be through love, friendship, parenthood, or his career.
The lesson here is to value the time with something or someone while you do have it. With that, Davido is able to produce the tunnel-visioned “Precision,” the besotted “No Competition” with Asake, and the infatuated “In The Garden.” With Timeless, Davido reduced the force that is time into a feather-like obstacle that a king like himself can effortlessly knock down.
Timeless is out now via Davido Music Worldwide/Sony Music. You can stream it here.
Davido deserves all the good coming his way since Timeless, his fourth studio album, arrived on March 31. The project earned “the most first-day streams ever for an African album on Apple Music,” as noted by Apple Music on April 3, and Davido was glowing while performing a medley of “Feel” and “Unavailable” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbertlast week.
“There is a time for everything. A time to Grieve and a time to Heal,” Davido wrote on March 21. “A time to Laugh and a time to Dance. A time to Speak and A time for Silence. Thank you to everyone out there for your love and support that has held me down. All the love and messages while I was away, the gifts sent, the concerts you all threw! I appreciate it all. Today, I want to remind you all that what is now Timeless, was once new. It’s time for new.”
Tuesday, April 11, was the time for the video for “Unavailable” featuring Musa Keys to drop. Directed by Dammy Twitch, it begins with various people tuning into a radio host saying, “I’m here to say the King Of Afrobeats is back, baby! I’m talking about Davido. He’s back with a brand new album, and I’m talking hit after hit. Thank you, Davido.”
Davido is dripping in the uninhibited joy possessed by someone who is, in fact, back, baby — dancing without a care in the world.
Davido explained on Instagram that “Unavailable” is “our first visual for Timeless so this one means a lot to me. Just know the work we’re putting into this album and all that’s to come is for you! We gotta go all out so we’re just getting started. Special thank you to my @martellofficial family for the role they played in making this movie. We are back better and stronger ! More surprises with them on the way.”
