How Wizkid, Davido squabble set social media ablaze

Social media was practically set ablaze early in the week when popular singer, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid, fired ‘shots’ at his longtime rival, David Adeleke, aka Davido; and singer, producer and record label owner, Don Jazzy.

In the early hours of Monday, April 29, 2024, Wizkid had made some controversial tweets, which became the major topic of discussion in the entertainment industry for the week. Saturday Beats takes a look at the ‘Pakurumo’ singer’s on-and-off relationship with Davido; and other people he has had feuds with over the years

Never-ending fight with Davido

The rift between Wizkid and Davido is not a secret in the music industry and even beyond. Wizkid’s recent social media post, in which he posted a video showing Davido in tears, kneeling on the floor and begging someone (presumably a lady) drew sharp criticisms from both industry insiders and fans.

Wizkid had posted the embarrassing video, which had surfaced on the Internet some weeks back, in response to a fan who had asked him to release a new song.

Wizkid stated that his fans must beg him for a new song the same way Davido was pleading in the video, before he would consider their request.

However, the singer did not stop there. He also threw ‘shades’ at Peruzzi, an artiste signed to Davido’s record label. Perruzi is believed to have written many of Davido’s songs; a fact that the latter has confirmed on different occasions. In one of the controversial tweets, Wizkid wrote, “You and all your crew, plus your pant washer songwriter, go to sleep at night thinking you actually got anything on me in music. Wish you all well.”

Responding to Wizkid, Perruzi dared him to swear that he had not also sought for him. On his part, Davido responded, “You’re a sick man”. In a now deleted tweet, Davido also called Wizkid a woman beater.

Apparently on a posting spree, Wizkid did not also hesitate to throw Don Jazzy under the bus.

A fan of his had stated that he should respond to Ladipo Eso, aka Ladipoe; a rapper signed to Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records for a comment he (Ladipoe) had made earlier. A day before Wizkid’s tweets, Ladipoe had written on Twitter, “Nigerian rappers that survived ‘hip hop is dead’ watching afrobeat artistes go through their own.”

However, in his response to the fan, Wizkid insinuated that Don Jazzy was merely an influencer. He wrote, “Never chatting to anyone signed to an influencer. Next.”

His comments sparked outrage among fans who felt that Don Jazzy deserved more respect for his contributions to the industry. This caused lots of backlash, with prominent figures such as an artiste and blogger, Tunde Ednut; and an actor, content creator and activist, Mr Macaroni, voicing their support for Don Jazzy.

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Reacting to the post, Ednut wrote, “You call him an influencer? Big shout out to all influencers, but Jazzy should be respected and kept on a high pedestal. He is not your mate in anything.”

Ednut, who is known to be close to Davido, also chastised the latter for mocking Davido. He wrote, “All I know is that Davido will never disrespect Wizkid, and I thank God Davido doesn’t even reply to some things anymore. Posting that was unnecessary. Anyway, it’s his time. He should enjoy.”

On his part, Mr Macaroni maintained that Wizkid was wrong to have mocked Don Jazzy, whom he described as the biggest entertainment influencer in Africa. He wrote, “Don Jazzy is perhaps the biggest entertainment influencer in Africa. And the beautiful thing is that his influence cuts across. From music to content, films, brands etc.

“However, we would all be hypocrites to say that the context in which he was called an influencer isn’t disrespectful to everything he has done and is still doing for the Nigerian music industry. An absolute legend.”

As the controversy raged, Don Jazzy did not make any comment, but he ‘unfollowed’ Wizkid on social media.

Fans question Wizkid’s actions

Many were taken aback by Wizkid’s tweets, particularly because he rarely makes social media posts. That also led many to speculate on what could have caused his newfound love for controversies, as he has made a number of tweets that raised eyebrows in recent times.

While some attributed Wizkid’s behaviour to personal struggles, particularly the loss of his mother, others were of the opinion that he intentionally stirred the hornet’s net to promote his forthcoming album, which he has named after his mother, ‘Morayo’. Before his mother’s demise last year, the singer had always spoken about her support for him as an artiste, while openly professing his love for her on different occasions. He even went as far as dedicating a song titled, ‘Mummy Mi’, to her. References to her can also be found in some of his songs like ‘Joy’ and ‘Jaiye Jaiye’. This was in addition to tattooing her name, ‘Morayo’, on his hand.

Bromance turned sour

Wizkid and Davido have seemingly not been on good terms for the most part of their careers. Over the years, their relationship had been characterised by a rollercoaster of highs and lows, marked by intense rivalry and moments of reconciliation. However, many fans thought they had finally buried the hatchet and embraced peace.

When Davido lost his son, Ifeanyi, to a drowning accident in 2022, Wizkid had condoled with him.

Wizkid took things a step further when he paid a tribute to Davido during a performance at the Madison Square Garden in the United States of America that same year. While on stage, he said, “Davido we got you, OBO we love you. I see you New York, this one is for OBO.”

In a later interview with a radio station, Davido revealed that when he lost his son, Wizkid called him almost every week to check up on him. The duo also hinted on plans to have a joint music tour, which was scheduled to hold this year, 2024.

Similarly, when Wizkid lost his mum in 2023, Davido penned him a condolence message. He wrote, “Praying for you my brother @wizkidayo. Sadness flies away on the wings of time.”

Though it is not known when the perceived rivalry actually started, in 2014, shortly before his New York show, Wizkid had made a tweet on X where he wrote, “Proper shows, proper venues.”

The post was perceived as a ‘shade’ towards Davido, who had recently performed in New York. However, during a 2016 interview with a radio host, Olisa Adibua, Wizkid said that the tweet was not directed at Davido but was rather expressing his frustration with the poor sound system at a previous concert.

In 2015, fans were thrilled when both A-list artistes performed together at an event in Lagos. Some of the songs they performed were Davido’s ‘Dami Duro’, and Wizkid’s ‘Ojuelegba’.

However, by 2017, things got really intense between them again. They started arguing on social media, and there were even fights between their teams.

Davido’s post on Snapchat, seemingly criticising Wizkid’s music style, made things worse. He had written, “Nah pon pon sound they reign now oo!! No Jonze, all other sounds nah the least for now.”

The exchange culminated in Wizkid saying a certain ‘local’ champion should not be jealous of the international success of his peers.

Davido then went ahead to seemingly respond to Wizkid in ‘Summer Body,’ his collaboration with Olamide, where he sang, “With Yankee passport, they say we local. You better catch up, I’ll see you later.”

Ostensibly responding, Wizkid posted, “My people, make una remember say Yankee passport no be baba blue, e no dey cure frog voice.”

Davido however turned that particular lemon to lemonade by making a custom frog head ice necklace out of the slander.

Meanwhile, in 2018, the artistes performed at each other’s concerts.

Wizkid detaches from Afrobeats, says rap is dead

Wizkid had received heavy backlash in March when he stated that he should not be described as an afrobeats artiste. Taking to Instagram, he had announced the completion of his forthcoming album, adding that he did not identify as an afrobeats artiste. He also told his fans not to expect afrobeats songs on the album, adding that afrobeats lovers should stay away from the album.

One of his posts read, “And, if you like Pakurumo (one of his old songs) Wizkid, don’t download this new album. In fact, delete me from your playlist and your life!

“If you like afrobeats, don’t download my album. I am not an afrobeats artiste. I am not Afro-anything.”

In December 2022, the singer had also courted controversy when he stated that rap was a dead genre of music. He had said, “If I am being honest, I don’t listen to any other genre of music anymore. I don’t listen to rap; it is boring to me. It’s dead now and tiring. These guys do the same thing; rap on the same beats, and the same flows.”

Wizkid’s history of social media squabbles

Over the years, the singer has been involved in other social media feuds. In 2016, the artiste got involved in a social media war with popular blogger, Linda Ikeji. The blogger had written a story stating that Wizkid’s rent had expired in a house, which many had thought was his own. Apparently displeased with the story, the singer lashed out at Ikeji.

That same year, Wizkid and Dammy Krane had engaged in a physical altercation at a Lagos club, Quilox. The fight allegedly started over Krane’s claim that Wizkid stole the song, ‘Baba Nla’ from him.

Also, in 2015, Wizkid and Skales had exchanged words on Twitter after Skales alleged that the former stole his beat to produce ‘Azonto’, one of his hit tracks. Skales also claimed to be the original writer of ‘Superstar’, another of Wizkid’s songs, Punch news reported.