Afrobeats superstar Davido‘s fifth studio album, “5ive”, has sparked mixed reactions from fans and critics alike.
While the album has topped charts in multiple countries, including Nigeria, Gambia, Uganda, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, social media critic Daniel Regha has slammed the album, giving it a 2/10 rating.
Regha criticized the album’s lyrics and collaborations, citing tracks like “With You” ft. Omah Lay and “Titanium” ft. Chris Brown as examples of fumbled collaborations. He also accused Davido of lazy lyricism, citing lines like “Wheel-barrow” and “Toy-toy-toy” as evidence.
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Daniel Regha wrote: “5ive” the album review: -“With You” ft. Omah Lay is a fumbled collab, literally nothing to speak of. In the track “Titanium”, Davido wasn’t really on the same page with Chris Brown, and the song is basically the same as “Anything”.
“Again, when it comes to wordplay, Davido has terrible writing/rhyming skills. Words like Wheel-barrow, Toy-toy-toy, in the songs “R&B”, and “Don’t Know” are examples. In the track “CFMF”, the “face me, I face you” reference couldn’t be less accurate, since his rich background is no news. “10 Kilo” promotes bodyshamimg, as “Orọbọ” is a discriminatory word that conveys ridicule.”
“Lately” has a miss in the second verse, multiple themes. Some of the remaining tracks sounds like songs that were left out of his previous. That said, Davido was smart with his choice of Int’l collabs, as much as these collabs aren’t hits, it saves the album from being a total fl@p. The project is only listenable thanks to Davido’s signature sound and hype, but when it to lyrical content, it offers nothing new. Great beats though. It’s a 2/10. No offense.”
Despite Regha’s harsh words, Davido’s fans have rallied around the album, praising the Afrobeats superstar’s work ethic and creativity. Released on April 18, 2025, the album shot to number one on Nigeria’s Apple Music and iTunes Top Albums charts. Moreover, it charted in 40 countries, topping the charts in Gambia, Uganda, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
The album’s commercial success is undeniable, with tracks like “Anything” and “With You” cracking the Top 10 on Nigeria’s Apple Music Top Songs Chart.