Omo Baba Olowo

Last updated
Omo Baba Olowo
Omo Baba Olowo cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 17, 2012 (2012-07-17) [1]
Recorded2011–2012
Genre
Length65:00
Label HKN Music
Producer
Davido chronology
Omo Baba Olowo
(2012)
Son of Mercy
(2016)
Singles from Omo Baba Olowo
  1. "Back When"
    Released: May 7, 2011
  2. "Dami Duro"
    Released: October 30, 2011
  3. "Ekuro"
    Released: January 25, 2012
  4. "Overseas"
    Released: May 6, 2012
  5. "All of You"
    Released: September 28, 2012
  6. "Gbon Gbon"
    Released: October 17, 2012
  7. "Feel Alright"
    Released: December 8, 2012

Omo Baba Olowo (Yoruba: Son of a Rich Man) is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer Davido. [2] It was released by HKN Music on July 17, 2012, and is a mixture of Afrobeats and hip hop. [1] The album was produced by Jay Sleek, Maleek Berry, GospelOnDeBeatz, Spellz, Dokta Frabz, Mr. Chidoo, Theory Soundz and Shizzi. Omo Baba Olowo features collaborations with Naeto C, Sina Rambo, B-Red, Kayswitch, Ice Prince, May D and 2 Face Idibia. [3] [4] It produced the singles "Back When", "Dami Duro", "Ekuro", "Overseas", "All of You", "Gbon Gbon", and "Feel Alright".

Contents

Omo Baba Olowo received generally negative reviews from music critics, who panned its lyrics and Davido's songwriting. The album won Best R&B/Pop Album and received a nomination for Album of the Year at The Headies 2013. It was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Launch concert

On July 22, 2012, the album's launch concert was held at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. [5] Davido's father Adedeji Adeleke and Aliko Dangote attended the event. [6] Other celebrities who attended include D'banj, Naeto C, Toke Makinwa, Daddy Freeze, and Funke Akindele, among others. [7]

Composition

The album opens with "All of You", a song with a mid tempo beat. In "Dollars in the Bank", Davido addresses gold diggers who are out for his wealth. In "Video", he lures a female fan into shooting an adult film with him. "Mary Jane" has two meanings. On the surface, the song seems to be about a "bad girl" who makes Davido's head explode, but underneath, it is an ode to marijuana. In the drum-infused track "Gbon Gbon", producer Shizzi reproduces the sound of "Dami Duro". "No Visa" is a fusion of Europop and Azonto. "All of You" reveals a conceited Davido who sees himself as a victim of unjust castigation. "Feel Alright" is a song about the wax and wane of a relationship. The Maleek Berry-produced track "New Skul Tinz" has an imperceptible dancehall feel to it. In "Enter the Center", Davido is reminiscent of Terry G. [3] [4]

Singles

The album's lead single, "Back When", was released on May 7, 2011. [8] It features a rap verse from Naeto C and was recorded on Old Kent Road in London. [9] The music video for "Back When" was filmed in Nigeria by Clarence Peters, and uploaded to YouTube on May 9, 2011. [10] The album's second single, "Dami Duro", was released on October 30, 2011, during the Occupy Nigeria protests. Davido told Adeola Adeyemo of BellaNaija he was skeptical when he dropped the song. [11] The music video for "Dami Duro" was shot and directed in Lagos by Peters. [12]

The album's third single, "Ekuro", was released on January 25, 2012. Nigerian singer Aramide released a soulful rendition of the song. [13] The accompanying music video for "Ekuro" was filmed in Miami by Antwan Smith. [14] "Overseas" was released as the album's fourth single on May 6, 2012. It features vocals by Sina Rambo and was produced by Shizzi. An unfinished version of the song, titled "Take You Round The World", was released a week prior to the official release. [15] The music video for "Overseas" was also directed by Smith. [16]

The album's fifth single, "All of You", was released on September 28, 2012. The song was produced by GospelOnDeBeatz and was rumored to be a beef track. Its music video was shot and directed in Brooklyn, New York by Sesan Ogunro. [17] The Shizzi-produced track "Gbon Gbon" was released on October 17, 2012, as the album's sixth single. The accompanying music video for the song was shot and directed in Lagos by Peters. [18] "Feel Alright" was released on December 8, 2012, as the album's seventh single. It was produced by Dokta Frabz and features vocals by Ice Prince. Aje Filmworks shot and directed the music video in Lagos. [19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Nigerian Entertainment Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Hip Hop World Magazine Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [20]

Omo Baba Olowo received generally negative reviews from music critics. Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today awarded the album 3.5 stars out of 5, saying Davido's "songwriting skills could be better and his voice could be better groomed". [3] Tayo criticized the album's producers for "failing to cover up Davido's failings as an artiste". [3] Tobi Amoo of Hip Hop World Magazine gave the album 1 star out of 5, extensively stating: "David's debut album fails to strike that balance; not only does it not have enough hits to leave any impression as to his talents as a recording artiste, it possesses too many songs of the same mediocre quality, leading you to wonder if there will be a follow-up attempt or if indeed there need be." [20]

Ore Fakorede of YNaija criticized Davido's songwriting and singing voice. [21] Wilfred Okiche said a "trip back to the drawing board should save his career the horror of another record like this." [22] Toni Kan of Africa Magic praised the album's production, but ended the review saying it "sounds very familiar in places, leaving you with a heavy feeling of deja vu." [4]

Accolades

Omo Baba Olowo won Best R&B/Pop Album and received a nomination for Album of the Year at The Headies 2013. [23] It was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. [24]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."All of You"David AdelekeGospelOnDeBeatz3:07
2."Back When" (featuring Naeto C)
  • Adeleke
  • Naetochukwu Chikwe
Davido3:40
3."New Skul Tinz" (featuring Sina Rambo and B-Red)
  • Adeleke
  • Shina Adeleke
  • Bayo Adeleke
  • Mr. Chidoo
  • B-Red
4:10
4."Video"AdelekeMaleek Berry3:53
5."Ekuro"AdelekeShizzi3:27
6."Down"AdelekeSpellz3:51
7."No Visa" (featuring Sina Rambo)
  • Adeleke
  • Shina Adeleke
Theory Soundz4:13
8."Enter the Center" (featuring B-Red)
  • Adeleke
  • Bayo Adeleke
Maleek Berry3:22
9."Dollars In the Bank" (featuring Kayswitch)AdelekeShizzi3:42
10."Sade"AdelekeJay Sleek4:00
11."Gbon Gbon"AdelekeShizzi3:26
12."Feel Alright" (featuring Ice Prince)
  • Adeleke
  • Panshak Zamani
Dokta Frabz4:10
13."Mary Jane"AdelekeJay Sleek3:22
14."For You" (featuring 2 Face Idiba)
  • Adeleke
  • Innocent Ujah Idibia
Maleek Berry3:39
15."Overseas" (featuring Sina Rambo)
  • Adeleke
  • Shina Adeleke
Shizzi4:30
16."Dami Duro"Adeleke
  • Shizzi
  • Davido
4:12
17."Bless Me" (featuring May D)
  • Adeleke
  • Akinmayokun Awodumila
Shizzi4:14
Total length:65:00

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's back cover.

Release history

RegionDateVersionFormatLabel
VariousJuly 17, 2012StandardHKN Music

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