Omo Baba Olowo

Omo Baba Olowo
Studio album by Davido
Released	July 17, 2012 (2012-07-17)[1]
Recorded	2011–2012
Genre	Afropop, hip-hop, afrobeats
Length	1:04:59
Label	HKN Music
Producer	Executive producers David Adeleke Adewale Adeleke Adedeji Adeleke Asa Askia Sharon Adeleke Kamal Ajiboye Additional producers Shizzi Jay Sleek Maleek Berry GospelOnDeBeatz Spellz Dokta Frabz Theory Soundz
Davido chronology
Omo Baba Olowo (2012) Son of Mercy (2016)Son of Mercy2016
Singles from Omo Baba Olowo
"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[8]

Omo Baba Olowo (Yoruba: Son of a Rich Man),^[9] stylized as Omo Baba Olowo: The Genesis or simply O.B.O, is the debut studio album by Nigerian recording artist and record producer Davido. It was released by HKN Music on July 17, 2012.^[1] As one of the executive producers of the album, Davido collaborated with producers such as Jay Sleek, Maleek Berry, GospelOnDeBeatz, Spellz, Dokta Frabz, Mr. Chidoo, Theory Soundz and Shizzi. The music of Omo Baba Olowo embodies afropop and afrobeat sounds, with an influence of hip hop. The album features guest appearances from Naeto C, Sina Rambo, B.Red, Kayswitch, Ice Prince and 2 Face Idibia.^[10][11]

Upon its release, Omo Baba Olowo received generally negative reviews from music critics. Many critics denounced the album's lyrical content and production, while commending its overall theme in a general fashion. The album won Best R&B/Pop Album and received a nomination for Album of the Year at The Headies 2013.^[12] It was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.^[13] The album was preceded by the release of four singles: "Back When", "Dami Duro", "Ekuro" and "Overseas".

Composition

The album opens up with "All of You", a song with a mid tempo beat. On "Dollars in the Bank", Davido addresses gold diggers who are out for his wealth. On "Video", he lures a female fan into shooting an adult film with him. "Mary Jane" has two different connotations. From the surface, the song is about a "bad girl" that makes Davido's head swell. In a deeper meaning, the song is an ode to marijuana. On the drum-infused "Gbon Gbon", producer Shizzi tries to reproduce the sound of "Dami Duro". "No Visa" is an amalgamation 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. "New Skul Tinz", produced by Maleek Berry, has an imperceptible dancehall feel to it. On "Enter the Center", Davido is reminiscent of Terry G.^[10][11]

Album launch concert

To celebrate the successful culmination of the album, HKN Music held an album launch concert at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.^[14] The concert, which took place on July 22, 2012, was sponsored by Flytime entertainment. Some of the biggest names in the Nigerian Entertainment Industry attended the event, including D'banj, Ikechukwu, Naeto C, Toke Makinwa, Munachi, Sasha, Freeze, Adaure Achumba, Mo'Cheddah, DJ Xclusive, May D, Dayo Ephraim and Funke Akindele-Oloyede.^[15] Davido's father, Deji Adeleke, and Aliko Dangote also attended the event.^[16]

Singles

The album's lead single "Back When", which features Naeto C, was released on May 7, 2011.^[2] The song was recorded on Old Kent Road in London.^[17] The music video for the single was shot and directed in Nigeria by Clarence Peters. It was uploaded onto YouTube on May 9, 2011, at a total length of 3 minutes and 48 seconds.^[18]

The album's second single, "Dami Duro", was released on October 30, 2011. The song was recorded in October 2011. Davido told Adeola Adeyemo of BellaNaija that he was skeptical when he dropped the song.^[19] "Dami Duro" was released during the Occupy Nigeria protests. The music video for the single was shot and directed in Lagos by Clarence Peters.^[20]

The album's third single, titled "Ekuro", was released on January 25, 2012. The song was produced by Shizzi. The music video was shot and directed in Miami by Antwan Smith.^[21] The music video has surpassed 1 million views on YouTube. Aramide, a female artist previously signed to Trybe Records, released a R&B cover which is a soulful rendition of "Ekuro".^[22]

"Overseas", featuring Sina Rambo, was released as the album's fourth single. The song was produced by Shizzi and released on May 6, 2012. An unfinished version of the song, titled "Take You Round The World", was released a week prior to the official release.^[5] The music video, uploaded onto YouTube at an approximate length of 4 minutes, was also shot and directed in Miami by Antwan Smith.^[23]

On September 28, 2012, HKN Music released "All of You" as the album's fifth single. The song, produced by GospelOnDeBeatz, was rumored to be a "beef track". Its music video was shot and directed in Brooklyn, New York by Sesan.^[24] "Gbon Gbon", the album's sixth single, was released on October 17, 2012. It was produced by Shizzi. The music video for the single was shot and directed in Lagos by Clarence Peters.^[25] On December 8, 2012, Davido released the album's seventh single titled "Feel Alright". The song, which was produced by Dokta Frabz, features Ice Prince. Aje Films shot and directed the music video in Lagos.^[26]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Nigerian Entertainment Today	[10]
Hip Hop World Magazine	[27]

Omo Baba Olowo was met with generally negative from music critics. Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, concluding: "Davido delivers on what he knows about – money, fame (the highs and the lows), balling, and women. He has a beautiful cast of producers but they fail to cover up his failings as an artiste – his songwriting skills could be better and his voice could be better groomed. Having said that, O.B.O is a satisfactory album from a 19 year old boy who succumbs to the thinking of most teenagers - money can solve anything."^[10]

Tobi Amoo, a writer for Hip Hop World Magazine, gave the album 1 out of 5 stars. He said: "An artiste’s début album is usually the most difficult to put out and one in which a difficult balance must be struck. David’s début 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."^[27]

Ore Fakorede of YNaija extensively said: "Inspired by the jack-of-all-trades running wild in Nigeria’s unfortunately prolific movie industry, Davido wears multiple hats – singer, songwriter and (occasional) producer – to disastrous effect on ‘Omo Baba Olowo’. While I can bite my tongue and allow his passable singing voice, er, pass without much comment, it is impossible to voluntarily ignore his particularly terrible songwriting. Like the now epically failing Mo’ Cheddah before him, Davido is a spawn of the hype machine. So much noise has been made about him, with little thought given to what kind of artiste he is or if he is making real music for that matter. And with only two good singles to his name, the buzz surrounding his career far outsizes the substance that exists, and his potential to create more of that substance."^[28]

Wilfred Okiche, whose review was posted on the Daily Post Newspaper website, concluded: "It is not certain just how far Davido is intent on taking this music thing. He is the son of a very wealthy man (and never lets us forget) and possibilities are endless should he decide on other career paths. But if he hopes for a viable stint in music, then he needs help and he needs it now. A trip back to the drawing board should resolve most of these outstanding issues and save us- and his career the horror of another record like this. We have given him so much. We don’t deserve this."^[29]

Toni Kan of Africa Magic added: "The 17 track album sounds very familiar in places, leaving you with a heavy feeling of dejavu especially with tracks like Ekuro, Overseas, Back When and Dami Duro. Davido had a good run on the strength of just two mega hit singles, Damiduro and Back When, and I suspect that there would have been some apprehension as he prepped his full album. But apprehension be damned, the young man has produced and delivered an album that acquits him well, one that shows that he is here to stay. The production is sharp, he manages to slow the pace of his rapid fire delivery and delivers songs that would tear up dance floors and steam up car windows."^[11]

Accolades

Despite the negative reviews, the album managed to win Best R&B/Pop Album at The Headies 2013. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the aforementioned ceremony. It was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.^[12][13]

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from the back cover of Omo Baba Olowo.

Release history

References