"How Davido pretended to be poor in his early career" – Maleek Berry

By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi

Afrobeats singer and producer, Maleek Berry, has opened up about his early experiences with global music star Davido during their days as up-and-coming artistes.

Speaking on the ’90s Baby’ podcast, the ‘Kontrol’ hitmaker shared a surprising story about Davido’s humble demeanour despite his wealthy background.

Berry revealed that when they first met and began working together, Davido portrayed himself as just another struggling artiste, blending in with his peers who were genuinely facing the challenges of the music industry.

“I was there when Davido only had four thousand YouTube views,” Berry recounted.

“When he came to London, I would take him to a studio in Bermondsey and record him. It was one of his cousins who connected us via social media. He wasn’t even known then. We were just two Nigerian guys who loved music and got connected.”

Despite Davido’s modest behavior, Berry was in for a surprise when he visited the singer’s family home.

“He acted around us like one of those poor kids. But when I pulled up to his dad’s crib, I was surprised. There’s money, and there’s money! I was just so taken aback because, at the time, my mind didn’t used to move like he [Davido] had money. He used to blend in with us. When I saw the tower, I was like, okay, they’re rich.”

Berry also revealed another transforming moment in his career, crediting Davido for introducing him to Wizkid, another major player in the Afrobeats industry, which further solidified his position in the industry.