Afrobeats star opens up on the power of global collaboration, street realities, and the fine line between success and survival in Nigeria.
By IDNN Entertainment Desk | April 23, 2025
[LAGOS] — Nigerian music megastar, Davido, has opened up on two defining encounters in his life—one with American R&B star Chris Brown, and the other with convicted Nigerian socialite Hushpuppi—during a candid appearance on the Bagfuel Brigade podcast.
Speaking on the podcast, Davido said meeting Chris Brown in 2018 marked a turning point in his career, both creatively and internationally.
“Meeting Chris Brown changed my life,” Davido said. “I met him in 2018. He had a Nigerian best friend who FaceTimed me with my song playing. I was shocked—it was Chris’ house! Then Chris danced to my music, we spoke, and a few months later I was in America linking up with him.”
Since then, the duo have collaborated on several tracks, including the global hit “Blow My Mind”, solidifying Davido’s place as a global Afrobeats ambassador.
The Chris Brown Connection: Afrobeats Goes Global
That first 2018 encounter sparked a natural friendship and creative partnership. From studio collaborations to joint performances, Chris Brown’s influence helped open global doors for Davido, giving Afrobeats more traction in the U.S. and beyond.
“From the first time we met, we just naturally became friends,” he said.
Their bromance has since produced a wave of crossover moments, amplifying Davido’s global appeal and pushing Afrobeats further into the mainstream.
On Hushpuppi: Between Friendship and Fallout
In the same podcast, Davido addressed his controversial friendship with Ramon Abbas, a.k.a. Hushpuppi, the flamboyant Nigerian Instagram celebrity convicted of cyber fraud and currently serving a jail term in the U.S.
“Hushpuppi is coming out soon. He lived life. To me, it’s not worth it to be locked up. But I won’t make excuses for fraud,” Davido said.
He admitted they were friends before the scandal but claimed he was unaware of Hushpuppi’s illegal dealings. Davido also pointed to Nigeria’s harsh economic realities as a driver behind youth involvement in fraud.
“Some people are just happy to ball for five years, then disappear,” he added, triggering debates about morality, survival, and the price of ‘success’.
Societal Reaction: When Success Comes with a Side of Street Cred
Davido’s remarks have sparked divided reactions online. While some fans praised his honesty, others criticized his perceived glorification of crime.
Cultural analysts say this reflects a larger issue in Nigerian society, where a combination of celebrity worship and economic hardship often blurs the line between hard work and hustle, fame and fraud.
“Nigeria’s youth admire Davido because he represents success, but when icons flirt with controversy, it confuses the moral compass of a struggling generation,” said Prof. Dolapo Ayegbayo, a sociologist at the University of Ibadan.
Music, Morality, and the Nigerian Hustle
Davido’s story underscores a paradox: fame thrives at the intersection of talent and timing, but in Nigeria, it often coexists with the gritty shadow of survival tactics.
His Chris Brown tale is one of global recognition—proof that collaboration, not isolation, opens doors. But his Hushpuppi remarks stir a deeper debate: What defines a role model in a country where the lines between struggle, shine, and sin are often blurred?
In a time when Nigerian youths are caught between “make it or fake it,” artists like Davido carry more than a mic—they carry the moral weight of millions watching.
