LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Afrobeats superstar Davido has revealed why he does not plan to spend his 40s competing with younger artistes for space in the music industry.
The singer made the disclosure during an interview on The Uncut Podcast, where he reflected on the strength of his catalogue, wealth creation and his plans beyond music.
Davido explained that spending many years at the top of the music industry gives artistes an advantage that younger artistes may not yet have.
According to him, a long career allows to explore other businesses and build a wider wealth portfolio.
The “I Know Who I Be” singer said artistes should understand when it is time to step back rather than compete indefinitely with younger generations.
“This is everyone’s last 5-6. I’m not going to be 40, still dragging with guys in their 20s,” Davido said.
Davido revealed that he does not see taking a break from music as the end of his career. Instead, he pointed to American rapper Jay-Z as an example of how an established artiste can step away from releasing music yet remain highly influential.
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Jay-Z released his last solo studio album, 4:44, in 2017. By 2026, he has gone nearly nine years without another solo album, while continuing to remain prominent through business, performances and other ventures.
Davido disclosed that he could follow a similar path without losing his ability to draw a crowd or sell out shows.
“Jay Z took a break and he’s doing his thing. I can take 10 years break, come back and still do a 50 Arena tour, I have the catalogue. If I stop making music today, nobody is still touching my catalogue,” he added.
He maintained that a strong catalogue can continue working for an artiste even during periods when new music is not being released.
The singer also opened up about his latest album, Oriadé, explaining that the project took a different direction from his previous album, 5ive.
Davido said he initially approached his sixth studio album Oriadé as a straightforward project because it was his final record under his deal with Sony.
His original intention was simply to make the music, release it and move on.
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However, that plan changed once he began working on the album. He became more invested in the project and decided it deserved a more deliberate approach rather than being treated as a contractual obligation.
“Oriade wasn’t like the 5ive album at all. I just wanted to make music and drop the album because it was my last record with Sony. But my mind changed when I started, and I decided to do it properly,” Davido stated.
He also revealed that the album’s marketing was not his responsibility, pointing out that the record company was expected to handle that side of the project.
“The marketing wasn’t on me; that was the company’s responsibility,” he added.
Davido maintained that with a successful catalogue, business interests and a growing focus on long-term wealth, artistes do not have to bother about their career long after making hits.
