| Omo Baba Olowo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 17, 2012 (2012-07-17)[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 65:00 | |||
| Label | HKN Music | |||
| Producer |
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| Davido chronology | ||||
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| Singles fromOmo Baba Olowo | ||||
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Omo Baba Olowo (Yoruba:Son of a Rich Man) is the debut studio album by Nigerian singerDavido.[2] It was released by HKN Music on July 17, 2012, and is a mixture ofAfrobeats andhip hop.[1] The album was produced by Jay Sleek,Maleek Berry, GospelOnDeBeatz,Spellz, Dokta Frabz, Mr. Chidoo, Theory Soundz andShizzi.Omo Baba Olowo features collaborations withNaeto C, Sina Rambo,B-Red, Kayswitch,Ice Prince,May D and2 Face Idibia.[3][4] It was supported by the singles "Back When", "Dami Duro", "Ekuro", "Overseas", "All of You", "Gbon Gbon", and "Feel Alright".
Omo Baba Olowo received generally negative reviews frommusic critics, who panned its lyrics and Davido's songwriting. The album won Best R&B/Pop Album and received a nomination forAlbum of the Year atThe Headies 2013. It was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
On July 22, 2012, the album's launch concert was held at the Expo Hall of theEko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.[5] Davido's fatherAdedeji Adeleke andAliko Dangote attended the event.[6] Other celebrities who attended includeD'banj,Naeto C,Toke Makinwa,Daddy Freeze, andFunke Akindele, among others.[7]
The album's lead single, "Back When", was released on May 7, 2011.[8] It features a rap verse fromNaeto C and was recorded onOld Kent Road in London.[9] The music video for "Back When" was filmed in Nigeria byClarence Peters and uploaded to YouTube on May 9, 2011.[10] The album's second single, "Dami Duro", was released on October 30, 2011. Davido told Adeola Adeyemo ofBellaNaija he was skeptical when he dropped the song.[11] The music video for "Dami Duro" was directed in Lagos by Peters.[12]
The album's third single, "Ekuro", was released on January 25, 2012. Nigerian singerAramide 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 GospelOnDeBeatz-produced track "All of You" was released on September 28, 2012, as the album's fifth single; it was rumored to be abeef track. The accompanying music video for "All of You" was recorded inBrooklyn, New York bySesan Ogunro.[17] On October 17, 2012, Davido released the Shizzi-produced track "Gbon Gbon" as the album's sixth single. Its music video was 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 byIce Prince. Aje Filmworks recorded the music video in Lagos.[19]
The album opens with "All of You", a song with a mid tempo beat. In "Dollars in the Bank", Davido addressesgold 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 tomarijuana. In the drum-infused track "Gbon Gbon", producer Shizzi reproduces the sound of "Dami Duro". "No Visa" is a fusion ofEuropop andAzonto. "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 ofTerry G.[3][4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Nigerian Entertainment Today |    [3] |
| Hip Hop World Magazine | [20] |
Omo Baba Olowo received generally negative reviews from music critics. Writing forAfrica Magic,Toni Kan 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] In a review forNigerian Entertainment Today, Ayomide Tayo 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] Moreover, Tayo criticized the producers for "failing to cover up Davido's failings as an artiste".[3]
Tobi Amoo ofHip Hop World Magazine gave the album 1 star out of 5, 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]YNaija's Ore Fakorede 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]
Omo Baba Olowo won Best R&B/Pop Album and received a nomination forAlbum of the Year atThe Headies 2013.[23] It was also nominated for Best Album of the Year at the2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[24]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "All of You" | David Adeleke | GospelOnDeBeatz | 3:07 |
| 2. | "Back When" (featuringNaeto C) |
| Davido | 3:40 |
| 3. | "New Skul Tinz" (featuring Sina Rambo andB-Red) |
|
| 4:10 |
| 4. | "Video" | Adeleke | Maleek Berry | 3:53 |
| 5. | "Ekuro" | Adeleke | Shizzi | 3:27 |
| 6. | "Down" | Adeleke | Spellz | 3:51 |
| 7. | "No Visa" (featuring Sina Rambo) |
| Theory Soundz | 4:13 |
| 8. | "Enter the Center" (featuring B-Red) |
| Maleek Berry | 3:22 |
| 9. | "Dollars In the Bank" (featuring Kayswitch) | Adeleke | Shizzi | 3:42 |
| 10. | "Sade" | Adeleke | Jay Sleek | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Gbon Gbon" | Adeleke | Shizzi | 3:26 |
| 12. | "Feel Alright" (featuringIce Prince) |
| Dokta Frabz | 4:10 |
| 13. | "Mary Jane" | Adeleke | Jay Sleek | 3:22 |
| 14. | "For You" (featuring2Face Idibia) |
| Maleek Berry | 3:39 |
| 15. | "Overseas" (featuring Sina Rambo) |
| Shizzi | 4:30 |
| 16. | "Dami Duro" | Adeleke |
| 4:12 |
| 17. | "Bless Me" (featuringMay D) |
| Shizzi | 4:14 |
| Total length: | 65:00 | |||
Credits adapted from the album's back cover.
| Region | Date | Version | Format | Label | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | July 17, 2012 | Standard |
| [25] |
| Studio albums |
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| EPs |
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| Singles | |
| Featured singles | |
| Related articles | |
