What exactly does superstar see in Dremo, Mayorkun?

Davido is a dad with many hats this year. At home he has the pretty little Imade, jumping around, attacking her toys, and squealing to be loved, adored and fawned over. He has even gone through the crucible of battle over her, with Dele Momodu getting a comical position in pop music lyrical hall of fame for all his troubles. (Listen to ‘Osinachi’(remix) and ‘Bahd, Baddo, Baddest’).

Parenting aside, Davido still has to don another hat at work, overseeing the parentage and growth of two young individuals who have committed their short-term and long-term futures to his superstar hands. The wily and talented duo of Mayorkun and Dremo, have aligned their careers to his fledgling Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), a raging mad house of music, women and bling, from where they hope to impact on Nigerian pop culture, and perhaps take the message worldwide.

For Davido, this is a fresh start at management, and another shot at redemption, after the creative malaise and melancholia that has plagued the familial HKN Music; a house where the lines that separate business and brotherhood have become blurred and objectivity has gone out the window. Entitlement rules now, and the toxicity of such an environment has seeped into the media.

Davido is starting over with two hungry acts who owe him nothing, require no special treatment, and expect him to be fair to them, in line with the legally-binding contract that guides their relationship. In DMW, there is to be no debilitating entitlement, neither will the shrewd wisdom of business be ditched for the line ‘we are all family’. Everyone earns their lunch and works hard for their keep.

Already, DMW has received more music-inspired media highlights in its few months of existence, as compared to the lifestyle-centric vibes that emanate from HKN. Mayorkun’s debut single ‘Eleko’ has created a following, and Dremo who is yet to have an official single is on a good wave with his ‘Fela’ song, a cover of Desiigner’s hit single ‘Panda’. That’s progress right there, and it is immediate, gratifying, and tangible. The numbers also bear testament to this, with Dremo’s viral video, has over 100, 000 views while ‘Eleko’ is coasting on the verge of 2 million, after racing in its first ten days to the enviable 7-figures.

Away from the feeling of happiness and satisfaction that comes with a new personal project, Davido also see a future in the talents of these boys. Mayorkun is a raw, creative, and amorphous act which can be made malleable and reformed to suit the pop culture. The young man, who had to quit a job in the bank, is a bundle of talents, and a joy to watch during performances. He still comes off as everyone’s kid brother, with a boyish grin, and an easy-going demeanor that instantly draws you in. He has a huge amount of songs recorded, and every day that number grows. Loyalty will not be hard to find from the young man, as his bread and butter is from DMW.

Dremo is that popping bad guy with the demeanor of a sharp shooter. Dremo’s attitude, motivation, and dedication towards his art has kept him going higher in the industry and he has worked with some of the best producers in the Nigerian music industry, the likes of Legendury Beatz, D’Tunes, Shizzi and many others have found him a joy to work with.

Davido understands the potential in these acts and marries that with his second chance at spawning a new movement to take over Africa and position him for greatness. That’s what he see’s, and perhaps with more work, we will begin to see these too.