A Better Time: Not Davido's Best Work, But He Delivered Precisely What He Promised

A Better Time is filled with bangers but it's not exactly a great album. It, however, achieves what Davido intended for it.

When A Good Time dropped, I must confess that I slept on it a little. It was around that time Fireboy dropped his album, LTG. I was so blown away by the singer’s debut album that I hardly paid any attention to Davido or his project. But my friend, Doyin, wouldn’t stop playing the album in the house. And that’s how I caught the virus. After every song, I couldn’t help but ask for the name of almost all the songs. Before I knew it, I was stuck on the album.

Naturally, because of what happened with A Good Time, I built up some anticipation for A Better Time. I’m a big Davido fan (I honestly don’t see why anyone shouldn’t be). However, my anticipation opened way for a deluge of disappointment. It took me some time to accept Fem. Then something happened. My journalist friend visited me and decided to take me on a trip to wonderland, a place of unimaginable beauty. He played me some songs on Davido’s A Better Time. The first song that got my attention was Holy Ground. That Nicki’s verse was surreal. I was so overwhelmed that the other songs breezed past my ears. My anticipation returned. I wanted to listen to the album properly on Apple Music, so I waited.

HMMMM. FRIDAY. A BETTER TIME DROPPED.

The first time I listened to A Better Time I didn’t like it. But I knew I made the wrong decision by listening with the speakers in my room. I’m not proud to say they are broken but wetin man go do? To correct my mistake, I listened with headphones. Whoa. What was Davido’s intention when he made this album? Why did he arrange the songs this way? Then my legs, they couldn’t stop moving. I wanted to danceeee. So far, my favorites are Jowo, Something Fishy, Holy Ground, I Got A Friend, Very Special. According to Davido, A Better Time is an album that is filled strictly with bangers. Now, I understand. But that only increased my curiosity. I wanted to know what the process of recording this album was like. Only that I didn’t want to talk to Davido nor Asa Asika. I considered reaching out to Ayo Freeman (he’s Mayorkun’s A&R)…

…BECAUSE LIFE WALKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS, I MET THE CELEBRITY STYLIST REUS

I went for a video shoot together with yusufkanbai a few weeks back. It was at the shoot that I ran into Reus. He’s someone I’m very familiar with and he has styled many of your favorite Nigerian artists. Cars were parked. Boys were chilling, drinking and smoking, waiting for the shoot to start. Davido’s A Better Time was playing in the background. It ignited a conversation and before you know it we were analyzing the album. My ears perked up when Reus said “I dey when them record some of those songs now.” Just exactly what I was looking for.

DAVIDO RECORDED FEM AT PERUZZI’S HOUSEEE

I mean, I had a hunch that Huncho (see what I did there?) did some writing on this song the first time I heard it. Surely, Davido did some of the writing too. I don’t particularly like the song but it grew on me. I still think it’s an okay song anyway.

I have to break your heart just like Reus broke mine. I wasn’t able to reach him to have a proper conversation. My aim was to analyze the songs from the perspective of someone who was present during most of the recordings but you guys will have to manage what I can offer.

WHY DAVIDO? WHY?

I have some issues with this album. Let it be known that whatever issues you and I have with this album is not going to take away the fact that there are really good songs on it but why did the album’s intro have to be Fem? That ruined the experience of the album for me. Albeit just a little.

DAMN BRO, JOWO IS A MF JAM

Jowo is actually my favorite jam on the album. Totally loved the progression of the chords. The chords. My God, the chords. It’s such a beautiful song. I can imagine making (SCREEEEECH)…Davido spazzed.

Something what??? This is some feel good music. What my people refer to as gbedu. This Something Fishy song usually makes me want to expend my legs. Without any shred of mercy. A likkle Henny and ice and the end result is someone of a lit nature. Accept my gratitude, Davido.

I wasn’t kidding when I said I lost my mind the first time when I heard Holy Ground. I didn’t imagine a Davido and Nicki collab would slap this hard. It was like I poured hot ogi on a soldier’s uniform. THIS SONG SLAPS SO MUCH. Nicki murdered her verse. The video is definitely going to cause me to lose my shits.

FEELS SO REALLLL

Okay. That was some fake hype. I fail to see why people are so in love with the song. It’s a ‘just there’ song for me. The beat feels incomplete for some reason. Big shout out to Davido (and his team) though for working with El Jack (the guy who produced Omah Lay’s You) on this song. It goes to show you how much Davido is in tune with the culture and is ever willing to put niggas on. Heaven still no sweet to me like that tho.

I like how this album has sleeper hits. Very Special is one of them. It’s one of those songs that catches your attention without any trace. You don’t know you really love it until you’re doing something random and the song enters. Then you’re moving your body uncontrollably. Ah mogbe seems to be your first reaction. Don’t worry, you’re not the only victim.

Hmm. Omo. I won’t exactly say what I have in mind. Allow me to affirm to you that Mayorkun has cracked the code of making hit songs. At this point, the man needs to write a handbook so many others can learn. What a poet Mayorkun is. He really made it known to us that Betty couldn’t possibly dissociate herself from a negro and confidently say she has another man in the terrestrial world. Such palatable poetry. Give the man his accolades. Semzii is also another person that deserves a lot of credit for his massive contribution to the instrumental.

HOW DOES DAVIDO DO IT?

Chris Brown and Young Thug on a song? What you thought bro? My admiration for Davido increased after hearing this collab. You can just easily tell how intentional he is as an artist. The song is aptly titled, especially considering the collaboration. Personally, I like the song. However, I don’t know if the song is going to make any impact in the Nigerian market.

Oh my baby you are too fine. Another sleeper hit? Maybe. It sounds like a contender. Davido has gotten better at singing. It might be difficult for you to notice that if you don’t pay close attention. There’s more cohesion in his vocals. If Sunlight is ever going to be a sleeper hit, its listeners will need to spend some time with it.

Maybe if I hadn’t heard Park Well, I would have loved Tanana more. I’m sorry but Tanana doesn’t exactly do it for me. I expected much more from a Davido and Tiwa Savage collab. Even worse that I have heard something better. I know I’ll still end up liking the song. (I’m shamelessly a Davido fan like that). That’s not enough to stop me from speaking objectively anyway. I wish Tanana was better.

Bruh. Fear Davido. I didn’t see this collab coming as well. I can’t believe Davido got Mugeez spitting alongside him on a beat. That’s legendary. Like a beast that Mugeez is, he ate.

When I heard this La La song, I was dumbfounded. What in the world are those vocals? Is Ckay trying to kill me? How can music be so melodious? The way Davido attacked the instrumental is also commendable. The song is undoubtedly a banger. Na Corona wan spoil e shine but e no reach. Although if clubs were open, the song would be doing much better.

You know, the comments after this song dropped made me realize that you shouldn’t take folks on social media seriously because all they do is engage in group think. Many of the people who give opinions on things on social media barely think for themselves. So Crazy is a very good song. Quote me anywhere. Lil Baby could have obviously done better but I think his verse was alright. And that Davido’s verse? Phenomenal.

Birthday Cake? R. Kelly? Sorry. Next.

I GOT A FRIEEEEEEND NOWWWW

You see this jam ehn! Nobody can drag it with me. Just leave it for me. Abeg wetin Fresh take before e nack this beat? Amapiano really suffered in the hands of Nigerians this year. Fresh went crazy on the drums. Every time I hear this song on loud speakers, I ascend to a realm where elation dwells. All the participants on this song delivered.

Bella Shmurda makes beautiful music. I hope he’s aware of that and never deprives us of the humongous talent he’s been blessed with. Davido made a wise decision by putting Bella on this project. What a catchy hook. I’m convinced that Bella is going to take street hop/pop to another level.

Out of all the issues I have with A Better Time, This song tops the list. The album could have done without this song. If at all Davido wanted to feature an artist from the eastern part of the continent, it shouldn’t be a boy band who is more inclined to singing their hearts out. That’s how I see it sha.

I respect Davido’s craft a lot, and as much as I’m not totally in love with the album, I understand what he intended to do with it. Gbedu full there. And that’s not always a bad thing.