Davido’s new album, 5ive, opens with a stirring minute-long poem and unfolds across 17 tracks of introspection, romance and high-energy Amapiano rhythms. The record refines his signature optimism yet falters in its sequencing, and raises the question of whether a leaner tracklist might have strengthened its impact.
Davido’s just-released album, 5ive, opens with powerful spoken-word poetry by Alhanisam (Maryam Bukar).
“5ive is freedom unbound by borders. Rising by lifting others. The artist, the father, the man walking two worlds. Here, in this moment, legacy is not just what you leave behind; it’s what you breathe into the future. And, as the giant fell before the might of one, so does David rise.”
The minute-long poem sets the tone for the 17-track journey of self-introspection, banter, and romance.
Since his 2012 debut, Omo Baba Olowo, Davido has fashioned an optimism-fuelled autobiography through his music, most notably on the time-themed trilogy, A Good Time (2019), A Better Time (2020), and Timeless (2023). On 5ive, he returns with a sharpened focus on both the lyricism and melodies, leaving gaps, however, in mostly tracklisting and melodic direction.
The first half of the record offers a window into Davido’s reflective mental state, yet upbeat tempos retain its vibrance. The album’s tracks celebrate family — particularly his wife Chioma Adeleke — and touch on loss, gratitude, resilience, and patience, themes sharpened by personal tragedies, including the loss of a child and years of online trolling. He projects renewed confidence on Anything, Be There Still, Don’t Know, and CFMF, where he brags about “…starting all the way from a face-me-I-face-you (a popular Nigerian multi-tenant cottage), but now I’m living real large, all thanks to Jesu.”
Apart from the motivational thoughts, songs like Offa Me, featuring American R&B singer Victoria Monet, Awuke, featuring Jamaican reggae star YG Marley, and RnB, featuring two other Jamaican stars Shenseea and 450, and 10 Kilo, showcase Davido’s romantic side in equal measure.
In the album’s second half, songs like Tek (with Becky G), Lover Boy (with Congolese singers TayC and Dadju, Funds (with Chike and Odumodublvck), and the powerful Omah Lay-assisted closer With You, follow Davido’s love train, preaching loyalty and affection through each verse. Other songs like Lately, Nuttin Dey, and the Chris Brown-assisted Titanium, also balance introspection with dance-floor appeal, all delivered in Davido’s charismatic style.
Amapiano percussion underpins much of the album, from the log-drum warmth on Anything to the three-step grooves of Be There Still and Awuke. Yet several Amapiano cuts echo Davido’s previous releases, risking listener fatigue. A streamlined track-listing with fewer party-focused anthems might have enhanced cohesion and improved recall.
Standouts include the sultry Afrobeats–reggaeton fusion with Shenseea and 450, as well as the vivid collaborations on Tek, Lover Boy, and Offa Me. Tempoe’s production on With You stands out for its bold Afro-funk textures, a welcome reminder of Nigeria’s genre-blending golden era.
Behind the scenes, producers Dayo Grey, Jon P, Mikababeatz, Marvey Muzique, Yung Alpha, Ucee, Loudaa, Blaisebeatz, 1da Banton, DJ Maphorisa, Black Culture, Spencer Stewart and Michael Brün help Davido weave a feel-good album that thrives with the thrill of his fast-paced pop and the sobriety of his inner recollections.
Over time, Davido’s experience as a music producer continues to surface in his songs, especially with his interesting ability to sample his own work; on CFMF, he samples his La La song off his A Good Time album, complete with studio chatter from the original session.
Overall, 5ive flourishes with optimism and Davido’s trademark energy. The rich poetry that shapes the record on both the intro and Funk-fusion outro add a cinematic feel to the album. The album’s lyricism successfully attempts to launder strong emotion with upbeat melodies, reminding one of Magic System’s 1999 global hit, Premier Gaou, where he turns a heartbreak story into an evergreen Reggae-pop dance floor groove.
Despite some sequencing missteps and occasional filler, 5ive is a vibrant addition to Davido’s discography — a legacy-shaping record that reaffirms his global stature and celebrates Africa’s percussion and melodic heritage.
Save for the tedious tracklisting and needless fillers that seem to emphasise little and add nothing new to 5ive’s innate musings on the human condition and the singer’s life, the album feels like a good addition to Davido’s discography. It’s a legacy-shaping moment that promises good returns for his global image and market performance, especially with the choice of collaborations involved. Ultimately, it’s a vibrant record that helps Davido find new solace in the mixed tempos of African percussion and chord progressions, one that brims with solid production, audio-engineering, and positive lyricism.
