Davido, Mr Eazi and Tiwa Savage are starred in the cover for billboard's latest special issue, entirely devoted to Africa.
Queen of Afrobeats, Tiwa Savage, 40. A Nigerian artists, started with her '323 entertainment record label' and was previously signed 'mavin records', signed a recording deal with Universal music group and Motown Records. Songwriters for the likes of Monica and Fantasia, Backing Vocalist for the likes of Whitney Houston, George Michael and Mary J Blige. Currently working on her fourth studio album 'Celia' set to be released later this year.
In the interview, The songstress expressed what life during quarantine is like, cancelled shows and festivals, revealed she is currently spending time with her son, giving out to people in need.
She cleared the air that as a hard working woman, doesn't mean you don't have the time to be a good mom or wife, she also stated that its better now as an African artist as compared to before, when there was a lot of misconceptions. "It was a lot worse before, when people literally thought we lived in trees. That was a big misconception".
Davido, signed to RCA records through his own record label Davido Music Worldwide and Sony Music, UK. Davido released a mind blowing album November last year, 'A Good Time' which featured international acts like Chris Brown, Summer Walker, Gunna and Popcann.
His hit song 'Fall' spent 21 weeks on Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
Davido admitted adjusting creatively and personally to life during the pandemic has been difficult as his Fiancee tested positive for coronavirus but has since been recovered.
He had to cancel his American Tour due to the Pandemic, having only performed 6 shows and cancelled 19- sold out shows.
He admitted to still encounter stereotypes about Africa abroad. He said "Some people are still not fully educated about how life is here. I did an interview in Los Angeles a couple of months back and the dude was just so ignorant, basically asking if Afrobeats is a phase. The only way to understand is to come and see for yourself. When most people come down here, they’re both surprised and disappointed because for their whole lives they’ve had a different idea of what it’s like. Like everywhere else, there are good parts and bad parts in Africa. There are places even in America that look worse."
Mr Eazi, Founder of Empawa Africa, a platform that finds young talent. Grew in Lagos, but moved to Ghana to study, he attended University there.
He recently is based outside of London. He made his Coachella debut and toured with J Balvin, he is currently working on an EP as well as a collaboration with Major Lazer and Nicki Minaj.
When asked how he has been adjusting creatively and personally to life during the pandemic, he said living 19 minutes out of London and finally getting back to Jogging has been an eye opener for him.
He also revealed that during the pandemic, has not recorded any music, but rather spends time on zoom calls, business meetings, listening to new records from his new artists.
He revealed that the misconceptions of African music abroad he faces the most is that they think all African artists make Afrobeats music
"The misperception I always run into is one of general ignorance: people classifying all music coming out of Africa as Afrobeats. To drive from Lagos to Accra is a nine-hour drive. In that journey, you pass through Benin and Togo. Even within those two countries there are a lot of different tribes — the language and culture are as different as the rhythms and BPMs of the music. You can have a hit song in Nigeria, but it won’t be a hit in Ghana.
I didn’t go to America until I was 20-something. What I’d known of America was what I’d seen in music videos and movies. To see homeless people in places where it was cold and freezing — it was the first time I experienced that."
"I look forward to when we'll be on the same playlists as Billie Eilish or Justin Bieber. Give us that kind of global campaign — treat Afrobeats like a pop record and not a taste maker record or something that cool urban Kids in diaspora listen to." Tiwa Savage.
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