With this current economy and it being my birthday on the day of release of ‘A Better Time’, I definitely need 30 billion in my account. Anyway, 2 of Nigeria’s 3 biggest artists have all released albums in 2020 and Davido has added his name to that list. Although ‘A Better Time’ was meant to be released in July, Davido revealed on The Juice that he wasn’t in the ‘right state of mind’ and took a social media break, therefore deciding to delay the release of the album. One of the contributing factors was the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s also a reminder to take care of yourself most importantly.
The follow up to ‘A Good Time’ released in 2019, the album kicks off with ‘FEM’. The song is simply telling those who are constantly talking negatively about him to be quiet and mind their own business. “Cause if you say too much, I fit to run up on you”. This song took a different meaning during the #EndSARS protests, which we hope to see change in Nigeria as a result of the protests. Davido takes a gentle approach in ‘Jowo’ (please) as he pleads with a lady to stay by him. The switch up in track 3, ‘Something Fishy’, comes in at the right time just as I thought the album was going to be slow sound wise. A high-tempo dance track, you’re bound to be shaking your legs.
The international collaborations start with Nicki Minaj with ‘Holy Ground’. This collaboration is far from disappointing. Rather, it’s impressive as the pair manage to maintain a balance in their parts of the song . Davido likens the lady to Timbuktu, a city in Mali known for the Djinguereber Mosque founded by Mansa Musa, a ruler of the Mali Empire (“If she was a city she’d be Timbuktu” / “My holy ground me wey me I run to”). Nicki Minaj also comes with a relaxed delivery on the beat.
Davido experiments with South-African House music specifically on ‘Heaven’ and ‘I Got a Friend’( featuring Mayorkun and Sho Madjozi) and general house and Nigerian pop/afrobeats on ‘Very Special’. ‘Very Special’ is more of a happy-go-lucky and catchy track. ‘Heaven’ has the catchiness of ‘Very Special’, but the intensity of ‘I Got a Friend’. Mayorkun, who Davido discovered in 2016 and has gone on to do big things under Davido’s Label (DMW), also makes an appearance on ‘The Best’, where he pays tribute to Davido ( ‘I learnt from the best, Davido’). Davido even bigs himself up on the track ( ‘I learn from the best o, myself o Davido). Fans of Wizkid and Burna Boy will contest that, but statistically Davido is not lying there.
From a one-listen, I am not a fan of ‘Shopping Spree’. I think the influences were a bit too much with each artist trying to do what they do best. This track should have rather been a duet with either Chris Brown or Young Thug but not both of them. ‘So Crazy’ with Lil Baby was a little better but I think this track could have been released as a single and not part of the album. Lil Baby’s experiment with the track is appreciated, but it’s like they swapped roles as Davido was rapping faster than the beat.
‘Tanana’ with Tiwa Savage is a good track. Davido and Tiwa Savage bounce off each other well as the instrumental is simple but they are able to carry the song together so it doesn’t seem as one had a greater part to play than another. In ‘Mebe’, Davido calls on Ghana’s Mugeez, a member of the legendary duo R2Bees. Davido has a go at the Twi language (“Okukuseku, onipa ho yɛ hu”). This is a popular phrase in Ghana which basically means you should be weary of who you trust. Mugeez brings the Ghana aura with a dancehall and afrobeats blend which blesses the song.
‘La La’ is a light tune with a strong bassline. Featuring CKay, this is a afropop/afrohouse song which is easy to vibe to. Nas and Hit-Boy change the scene with drums resembling the 90’s hip-hop sound, bringing a distinctive track to the album with ‘Birthday Cake’. There are no mad punchlines or storytelling as a Nas fan may expect but his verse is well suited for the song which makes the track a hit. Finally, ‘On My Way’ featuring Sauti Sol brings a calm close to the album. The Swahili language sounds soothing on the hook. I found out the line “the sweetest taboo” comes from the British group Sade, with their hit song “The Sweetest Taboo” in 1985. The resounding keys of the piano accompanied by percussion makes this song a personal favourite.
‘A Better Time’ is a step up from ‘A Good Time’ without a doubt. ‘ A Good Time’ had too much going in the album and it was quite difficult to find theme or themes of the album. Davido, for me, is more of a ‘singles man’ where brings out hit after hits in good time one after the other that makes great playlists and songs for parties. When it comes to bodies of work however, the consistency throughout doesn’t always stick as some songs could be left out of the album (e.g. “Shopping Spree” and “Go Crazy”) due to collaborations. However, one thing I like about Davido is that he is very experimental in his sound, so for me, he has done well overall in this album.
perspective of j.k.l. 