Davido is undeniably a household name, not just in Nigeria but across the globe. His reputation for delivering memorable hits and larger-than-life albums has cemented his place among Afrobeats royalty. After the global success of Timeless, expectations were high for his next offering — and that came in the form of 5ive. While the album had the weight of expectation on its back, a proper review couldn’t be rushed. Now that the dust has settled and listeners have had time to live with the music, a more grounded verdict can be made.
A Follow-Up That Feels Like a Sequel
On first listen, 5ive doesn’t immediately strike as a weak album. In fact, it’s quite the opposite — it’s decent. But it doesn’t push new boundaries or carve a unique identity. Instead, it echoes a lot of what we heard on Timeless. The energy, the pacing, the sound — all feel like they could’ve easily been part of an extended version of his previous project. This lack of clear direction makes 5ive feel more like a continuation rather than a standalone experience.
Davido’s attempt to keep the momentum going with amapiano influences is clear throughout the album. However, these tracks, while trendy, no longer hold the novelty they once did, especially in Nigeria where the amapiano wave is already saturating the market. The result is that several songs blend into each other and lose the individuality that fans have come to expect from a Davido record.
A Soundscape Lacking Cohesion
One of the most noticeable flaws of 5ive is its conflicting sonic palette. In an interview, Davido mentioned that he usually works with songs already created by the artists he wants to feature, picking from what they send him. While this collaborative method can yield gold, it can also cause a clash of creative energies — and that seems to be what happened here. Instead of a well-curated journey, 5ive ends up sounding like a playlist of individually good songs that don’t quite sit well together.
Each featured artist brought their own flavor, but not every track found synergy with Davido’s signature sound. The transitions across the album lack fluidity, making it feel disjointed at times.
The Standout Track That Saved the Album
There’s no denying it — “With You” featuring Omah Lay is the crown jewel of the album. The chemistry between both artists, the smooth production, and the unique beat pattern give it a refreshing standout quality. It feels like a single more than part of the album, which ironically becomes part of the problem. “With You” was so successful that it became the defining song of 5ive, unintentionally overshadowing the rest of the tracklist.
The song paints a vivid picture of intimacy and romantic vulnerability — a soft bed on a rainy day, heartfelt confessions of love, and that feeling of comfort and heat only lovers understand. It’s no surprise the audience treated this as the main course and left the rest of the album cold on the plate.
Hidden Gems That Deserved Better
Some songs on 5ive deserved more attention than they received, and “Titanium” is a prime example. Featuring longtime collaborator Chris Brown, the song had all the ingredients of a hit — strong vocals, meaningful lyrics about strength and resilience, and polished production. But perhaps due to fatigue from repeated pairings of Davido and Chris Brown, the audience simply overlooked it. The chemistry is there, but the novelty isn’t, which led to underappreciation of what is genuinely a well-crafted track.
Another overlooked track is “Offa Me” featuring Victoria Monét. A beautiful Afrobeats love song about offering your best self to someone you cherish, it carried emotional weight and melodic grace. Unfortunately, the song didn’t get its deserved spotlight, partly due to Monét’s relatively low recognition in Nigeria. In a different context, or with better promotion, this could’ve easily been a standout.
“Lover Boy” — A Missed Global Opportunity
One of the more interesting songs on the project is “Lover Boy” featuring Tayc and Dadju. It blends Afrobeats with French pop influences, even touching on the viral charm reminiscent of CKay’s “Love Nwantiti.” With the global music market increasingly open to multilingual tracks, this song had the potential to make waves internationally. But again, because the album lacked a unifying sound or emotional direction, the song feels out of place. Rather than adding flavor, it highlights the lack of cohesion in the overall project.
Final Thoughts
Davido’s 5ive is by no means a poor album — but it suffers from a lack of identity. Rather than standing tall as a bold, fresh statement, it feels like a safe continuation of what we’ve already heard. “With You” featuring Omah Lay lifts the album and gives it commercial life, but in doing so, it inadvertently exposes how the rest of the project didn’t live up to the same standard.
There are flashes of brilliance — songs that in isolation could be hits. But as a collective work, 5ive falls short of being memorable. Over time, fans may come to appreciate it more, especially when revisiting it without the hype or expectation. But for now, 5ive stands as a reminder that even megastars like Davido are still experimenting with balance — between hits and cohesion, between collaboration and direction.
