Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has sparked reactions online after responding to rapper Erigga over comments about musicians who built their careers without family wealth.
The exchange began after Erigga shared a social-media message celebrating artists who came from modest backgrounds and had to work for their earnings without relying on wealthy families.
Erigga wrote a message praising musicians who “don’t come from family money” and had to struggle for every dollar they earned.
Davido responded by highlighting another group of successful artists — those who grew up with financial privilege but still worked hard to establish themselves in the music industry.
The singer, whose father is billionaire businessman Adedeji Adeleke, told Erigga that musicians from wealthy families could also be recognised for putting in the work required to reach the top.
The exchange became more pointed when Davido dismissed Erigga’s message as “useless motivation”.
He subsequently suggested that he could eventually step away from music and concentrate on his business interests, saying he would “leave their music” to others while pursuing his financial ambitions.
Davido also questioned the desirability of poverty in a follow-up remark.
Davido and Erigga took different paths
The exchange has drawn attention partly because of the contrasting backgrounds of the two musicians.
Davido was born into an affluent family and is the son of Adedeji Adeleke, a prominent Nigerian businessman and billionaire. Despite his privileged upbringing, he pursued a music career and began building his profile with releases including “Back When” before achieving a major breakthrough with “Dami Duro” in 2012.
He has since developed an international career with projects such as Omo Baba Olowo, A Good Time, A Better Time and Timeless, the latter earning Grammy nominations.
Erigga, whose real name is Erhiga Agarivbie, emerged from Warri, Delta State, and built his reputation around street-focused storytelling and Pidgin-infused rap.
His career includes projects such as A Trip to the South and The Erigma, helping establish him as one of the distinctive voices in Nigerian hip-hop.
Business interests
Davido’s comments about potentially leaving music appeared to point towards his business interests rather than an immediate retirement announcement.
The singer has previously maintained interests outside music, while continuing to release songs, perform internationally and build his position within the global entertainment industry.
For now, his remarks have generated a fresh online conversation about wealth, struggle and whether an artist’s background should influence how their success is viewed.