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A Better Time

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A Better Time
Studio album by
Davido
Released13 November 2020 (2020-11-13)
GenreAfropop
Length54:00
Label
Producer
Davido chronology
A Good Time
(2019) 		A Better Time
(2020) 		Timeless
(2023)
Singles from A Better Time
  1. "Fem"
    Released: 10 September 2020
  2. "So Crazy"
    Released: 9 November 2020
  3. "Jowo"
    Released: 4 December 2020
  4. "The Best"
    Released: 28 January 2021

A Better Time is the third studio album by Nigerian singer Davido. It was released on 13 November 2020, through Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), RCA Records and Sony Music.[1] The album features guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Nas, Young Thug, Mayorkun, Chris Brown, Tiwa Savage, Mugeez, CKay, Lil Baby, Hit-Boy, Sho Madjozi, Bella Shmurda and Sauti Sol.[2] Its production was handled by Hit-Boy, Napji, Fresh VDM, Peruzzi and Speroach Beatz, among others.[3]

Davido had not planned to release an album in 2020, since he had announced a North American tour in support of his 2019 album, A Good Time and did not think he would have time to record, with the tour scheduled to begin in the winter and end in spring 2020.[4] However, in March 2020 he had to cancel the sold-out 26-show tour[5] due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,[6] and as a result returned to the studio to record the tracks that became A Better Time.[7]

Background

[edit]

Davido recorded A Better Time in Lagos, Nigeria, except for two songs ("Heaven" and Shopping Spree") which were recorded in Los Angeles. He told NME that "With the lockdown and me just being at home it gave me time to really work on the music rather than having to juggle it with being on the road. There was nothing to do. There were no shows. I was at home with my producers, just creating and creating all day."[8] NME described the album as making "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."[9] He told Complex, "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."[10]

The album's cover art features Davido with his then-one-year-old son Ifeanyi Adeleke.[11]

Singles

[edit]

The album's lead single "Fem" was released on 11 September 2020.[12] It was produced by Napji. With lyrics in both English and Yoruba, the title translates from Yoruba roughly as "Shut up." It has been sung by #EndSARS protesters in Nigeria,[13] protests which Davido himself traveled to Abuja to join.[14] The video attracted a million views within nine hours of its release[15] and three million in its first 24 hours,[16] while the single reached No. 1 on Apple Music in at least eight countries, including Nigeria, where it held the top spot for four weeks.[17] It also hit No. 8 on Billboard's World digital Song Sales chart.[18]

The album's second single "So Crazy" was released on 9 November 2020. It featured Lil Baby and was produced by Nick Papz and Xander. The music video was directed by David Wept and filmed in Los Angeles.[19]

The third single, "Jowo", was released on 4 December 2020, produced by Napji and Magicboi. The video, directed by Dammy Twitch and shot in Lagos,[20] received more than 24 million views on YouTube in its first four months.[21]

The fourth single, "The Best", was produced by Mayorkun and Senzi and released on 28 January 2021. In the music video, filmed in Lagos and directed by Dammy Twitch, the two artists paid homage to Japanese culture.

Critical reception

[edit]

In one of the first reviews to appear, Kevin EG Perry of NME awarded A Better Time 4 stars out of 5, comparing the album to its predecessor A Good Time as follows: "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." Perry added: "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."[22]

Tochi Imo of Clash Music wrote, "The feature-heavy project sees Davido match up with the likes of Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby on a tape filled with a mixture of both high and gentle energies throughout. Themes such as romance frequent the project and whilst Davido doesn’t stray too far from his lyrical comfort zone, we can enjoy an artist we know and love in his newest record."[23]

A mixed review by Wale Oloworekende at The Native stated: "Too many times on A Better Time, Davido’s hits-focused approach impedes the continuity of exciting concepts and sacrifices cohesion for dynamism, but the tradeoff is a body of work that doubles down on Davido’s worldview and presents a clear vision of how Nigerian pop can dovetail with American hip-hop at full blast."[24] Tomiwa at Too Xclusive wrote that the album was "a show of growth and development, although there are quite some misses on this one, the fact that he didn’t change the status quo and still kept it fresh with a slew of incredible features that makes it spectacular."[25]

Accolades

[edit]

At the 6th ceremony of All Africa Music Awards, A Better Time received a nomination for Album of the Year.[26]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2021 A Better Time Album of the Year Nominated

Track listing

[edit]

Credits adapted from OkayAfrica.[27]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fem"David AdelekeNapji3:22
2."Jowo"
  • Adeleke
  • Oladeinde Okubajo
  • Magicboi
  • Napji
2:56
3."Something Fishy"
  • Onome Ojoboh
  • Adeleke
Chillz2:53
4."Holy Ground" (featuring Nicki Minaj)
Speroach2:42
5."Heaven"
  • Wale Kwame Adadevoh
  • Adeleke
El Jack3:10
6."Very Special"
Dante2:44
7."The Best" (featuring Mayorkun)
Mayorkun3:46
8."Shopping Spress" (featuring Chris Brown and Young Thug)
Masterdon3:33
9."Sunlight"AdelekeNapji2:11
10."Tanana"
Kiddominant3:42
11."MeBe" (featuring Mugeez)
Speroach4:00
12."La La" (featuring CKay)
3:07
13."So Crazy" (featuring Lil Baby)
  • Nick Papz
  • Xander
2:50
14."Birthday Cake" (featuring Nas and Hit-Boy)
  • Adeleke
  • Nasir Jones
Hit-Boy2:50
15."I Got a Friend" (featuring Mayorkun & Sho Madjozi)
Fresh VDM4:38
16."Fade" (featuring Bella Shmurda)
Speroach3:26
17."On My Way" (featuring Sauti Sol)
Lord Sky3:50
Total length:54:00

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for A Better Time
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[28] 2
US World Albums (Billboard)[29] 4
UK Albums (OCC)[30] 88
US Billboard 200[31] 170

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label
Various 12 November 2020

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Admin (25 March 2021). "Davido on the Power of Afrobeats Music and Nigeria's". Afromovement. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  2. ^ Milmo, Dennis (11 November 2020). "Sauti Sol, Nicki Minaj & Chris Brown featured in Davido upcoming Album 'A Better Time'". Pulse Live. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. ^ Rufaro Samanga (22 November 2019). "Listen to Davido's New Album 'A Good Time'". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  4. ^ Matthew Strauss (17 December 2019). "Davido Announces North American Tour". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  5. ^ Jon Pareles (11 November 2020). "Davido's Enjoying The Best Of Both Worlds". New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  6. ^ Benjamin Njoku (14 March 2020). "Davido saddened as his US tour is postponed". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. ^ First Class, DJ (13 November 2020). "Davido releases new album 'A Better Time'". Revolt. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  8. ^ Kevin EG Perry (1 December 2020). "Davido on his song 'FEM' becoming an #ENDSARS anthem: "It's amazing to see"". NME. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  9. ^ Kevin EG Perry (11 November 2020). "Davido – 'A Better Time' review: joyous party anthems to soundtrack a brighter future". NME. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  10. ^ Joshua Espinoza (12 November 2020). "Davido Drops 'A Better Time' Album f/ Nicki Minaj, Lil Baby, Nas, and More". NME. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  11. ^ Odion Okonofua (20 October 2020). "Davido celebrates son Ifeanyi on his 1st birthday". Pulse. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  12. ^ "FEM - Single by Davido". Apple Music. 11 September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  13. ^ Jon Pareles (11 November 2020). "Davido's Enjoying The Best Of Both Worlds". New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  14. ^ Kevin EG Perry (1 December 2020). "Davido on his song 'FEM' becoming an #ENDSARS anthem: "It's amazing to see"". NME. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  15. ^ Mpoki Thomson (1 December 2020). "Diamond breaks Davido's YouTube Africa record within 8 hours". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  16. ^ topfella (11 September 2020). "Davido's 'Fem' hits 3 million views in 24 hours". Naija Music. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  17. ^ "DAVIDO – SO CRAZY × LIL BABY". 360 Magazine. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  18. ^ Jon Pareles (26 September 2020). "Davido's Enjoying The Best Of Both Worlds". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  19. ^ Matthew Strauss (9 November 2020). "Davido and Lil Baby Share Video for New Song "So Crazy": Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  20. ^ Regina Cho (7 December 2020). "Davido releases new "Jowo" video". Revolt. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Davido - Jowo (Official Video)". YouTube. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  22. ^ Kevin EG Perry (11 November 2020). "Davido – 'A Better Time' review: joyous party anthems to soundtrack a brighter future". NME. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  23. ^ Tochi Imo (13 November 2020). "Davido – A Better Time". Clash Music. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  24. ^ Wale Oloworekende (26 November 2020). "Review: Davido's 'A Better Time'". The Native. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  25. ^ Tomiwa (29 November 2020). "Review: Davido Experimented And Shines On "A Better Time" – Album Review". Too Xclusive. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  26. ^ Hansen, Gabriel Myers. "All Africa Music Awards 2021: All the nominees | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  27. ^ Shabangu, Nobantu (12 November 2020). "Davido Shares Track List for 'A Better Time'". Okayfrica. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Davido Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  29. ^ "Davido Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  30. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Davido Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
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