(Columbia)
The Nigerian superstar’s vocal prowess and smooth beats have their moments on his latest album, but at 17 tracks it could use an edit
One of the lodestars turning Afrobeats into an international phenomenon, Nigerian supernova David Adedeji Adeleke isn’t as famous in the UK as Burna Boy, Wizkid or Rema – he’s yet to have a hit such as Last Last, One Dance or Calm Down. Also, as his fifth album hints, his appeal may simply not be as global as theirs.
Davido’s albums (always 17 tracks) deal in the sort of subtle, luxurious beats that you’d hear anywhere from beachside bars to barbershops. At its best, 5ive is a decent sequel to 2023’s Timeless, which marked the apotheosis of Afropop’s ability to stealthily subsume elements of other genres into its wonderfully delicate, shuffling rhythms, creating something sui generis yet instantly comprehensible.