Today, May 7, 2026, marks exactly 15 years since David Adedeji Adeleke, known globally as Davido, released his debut single "Back When" featuring Naeto C, announcing his arrival to Nigeria and the world. Fifteen years later, he is being inducted into Atlanta's Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame alongside Ludacris. This timing is not coincidental but a testament to years of hard work and sustained relevance in the Afrobeats scene. Here are 15 songs that illustrate his remarkable trajectory.
1. 'Back When' (2011)
Released on May 7, 2011, "Back When" was more than a debut; it was a statement of intent. It introduced a young man with ambition and the resources to back it up, serving as the lead single for his first studio album, Omo Baba Olowo.
2. 'Dami Duro' (2011)
Released October 30, 2011, "Dami Duro" bypassed the typical emerging-artist phase and propelled Davido straight to superstardom. Produced by Shizzi and Davido, it became a cultural phenomenon even before his debut album was released.
3. 'All of You' (2012)
A defiant industry statement produced by GospelOnDeBeatz, "All of You" showcased the courage of an artist who knew exactly who he was, even when the world was still figuring him out.
4. 'Skelewu' (2013)
Released August 13, 2013, "Skelewu" demonstrated his grip on the music scene and his ability to move culture simultaneously. The song generated over 100,000 fan dance videos on YouTube, a viral marketing phenomenon extraordinary for its time.
5. 'Aye' (2014)
Released February 1, 2014, "Aye" solidified him as a continental hitmaker. Produced by T-Spize and directed by Clarence Peters, it became one of the defining love songs of its era and won Song of the Year at The Headies 2014.
6. 'Fans Mi' feat. Meek Mill (2015)
Released June 9, 2015, this track was his clearest statement of international ambition, bridging Nigerian and American hip-hop. The music video hit 1 million YouTube views in 15 days, making it one of the fastest-rising Nigerian music videos at the time.
7. 'IF' (2017)
Released February 17, 2017, "IF" was both a comeback and a reset. After a poorly received Sony EP, Davido renegotiated his contract, returned to local Nigerian talent, and released a ghost-written Tekno production that reminded everyone why he mattered.
8. 'Fall' (2017)
Released June 2, 2017, "Fall" became the longest-charting Nigerian pop song in Billboard history and the first Nigerian song to receive RIAA gold certification. It further opened global doors for Afrobeats.
9. 'FIA' (2017)
Released November 10, 2017, "FIA" was part one of a four-song streak that made 2017 Davido's most dominant year. This comeback single became one of the defining Nigerian pop songs of its era.
10. 'Like Dat' (2017)
Released November 24, 2017, "Like Dat" closed out a stunning year: four consecutive hits including "IF", "Fall", "FIA", and "Like Dat" that very few Nigerian artists have matched in a single calendar year since.
11. 'Assurance' (2018)
Released April 30, 2018, "Assurance" was a public love letter to Chioma Rowland, who would become his wife and the mother of his children. It became a love anthem across Africa and made Chioma a household name overnight.
12. 'Blow My Mind' feat. Chris Brown (2019)
Released July 26, 2019, this marked the beginning of a genuine friendship and creative partnership with one of America's biggest artists. It gave Afrobeats mileage on the global scene and signaled that the genre's biggest stars were now peers with the world's top pop acts.
13. 'FEM' (2020)
Released September 10, 2020 as a diss aimed at Burna Boy, "FEM" took on an entirely different life when Nigerian youth adopted it as the unofficial anthem of the #EndSARS protests in October 2020. Davido did not plan a protest song, but he made one anyway.
14. 'Unavailable' (2023)
The Amapiano-tinged "Unavailable", featuring South African producer Musa Keys, reached No. 3 on Billboard's U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart and earned Davido his first Grammy nominations: Best African Music Performance, Best Global Music Performance, and Best Global Music Album. This confirmed his longevity at a moment when many assumed the next generation had passed him by.
15. 'With You' feat. Omah Lay (2025)
Released as the 17th track on his fifth album 5IVE, "With You" almost did not make the tracklist. It surpassed 100 million Spotify streams and earned Davido a fifth Grammy nomination, categorical proof that fifteen years in, he still maintains his position at the top.
