Timeless (Davido album)

In June 2022, Davido told Rolling Stone magazine that Timeless was nearly complete.[3] In November of that same year, he took a break from social media to grieve the death of his three-year-old son.[4] On March 21, 2023, he announced on Instagram that the album would be released on March 31.[1] The announcement marked his return to social media.[5] Prior to making the announcement, he briefly broke his social media hiatus when he performed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.[5] On March 29, 2023, Davido revealed the album's track list and announced the signings of singers Morravey and Logos Olori to DMW.[6]

Timeless marked Davido's first album in three years.[7] He told CNN that the album's title, suggested to him by record producer Don Jazzy, is a manifestation of his goal for the album to be remembered as a classic for decades.[4][8] He also told the news channel that the album went through three different phases before its final version.[4] Comprising 17 tracks, the album features collaborations with Skepta, Angelique Kidjo, Asake, Focalistic, The Cavemen, Fave, Musa Keys, Dexta Daps, Morravey, and Logos Olori.[9] Its production was handled by Magicsticks, Rage, Darmie, Blaisebeatz, 1da Banton, Caltonic SA, and Young Alpha, among others.[10] Primarily an amapiano record, Timeless explores other musical styles such as dancehall, ragga, konto, highlife, and Afropop.[11] The album's cover art features an image of Davido's head, two enclosed elephants, and a pathway that leads to a large hourglass.[10]

Davido released a theatrical trailer after announcing the album's release date on Instagram; the trailer is composed of tour footage.[2] In it, he is seen writing out a note under his own narration. The trailer also features shots of him seated at an office desk, along with various performance and behind-the-scenes clips.[3] Davido drew inspiration from the book of Ecclesiastes, saying, "There is a time for everything, a time to grieve and a time to heal, a time to laugh and a time to dance. A time to speak, and a time for silence".[12] In anticipation of the album's arrival, Davido teamed up with Spotify to curate a playlist of Afrobeats tracks that he considers timeless.[13] Called the "Timeless Afro Playlist", it features tracks by artists such as Wizkid, Tekno and Mr Eazi.[13]

Davido will hold three concerts in April 2023 to celebrate the album's release.[14] The concerts will be held at the Irving Plaza, Koko, and Tafawa Balewa Square, respectively.[14] On April 4, Davido performed a medley of "Feel" and "Unavailable" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; he shared the stage with several drummers and The Compozers, a four-man vocal group.[7] On April 7, he discussed the creative process behind each song on the album while guest hosting Apple Music's Africa Now Radio.[15]

The album's opener "Over Dem" is a mid-tempo rhythmic track that features horns and a saxophone riff.[11][10] Described as a "triumphant track", the song alludes to the Biblical tale of David and Goliath.[11][10] The amapiano record "Feel" has been described as a "party-starter" and a "boisterous shaker" track.[11][10] The romantic song "In the Garden" features guitar riffs and is supported by amapiano elements.[10] The Native's Dennis Peter praised Morravey's voice on the track and likened her to Waje.[16] In the introspective record "Godfather", Davido considers himself to be the head of the table. He also glorifies God and acknowledges the grace and blessings that have shaped him into the man he is. In "Unavailable", Davido talks about his no-stress life; the song has been described as a "tightly-controlled, message-filled, and highly danceable club tune".[11][10] The dancehall track "Bop" features vocals by Jamaican singer Dexta Daps.[11] Pulse Nigeria's Adeayo Adebiyi said the song is similar in flow pattern to A Good Time's "Risky".[11]

In the Pon Pon track "E Pain Me", Davido addresses romantic betrayal and specifically talks about a girl who left him.[10] Afrocritik writers Emmanuel Daraloye and Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku likened the song to Fireboy DML's "Afar" from Apollo (2020).[10] In "Away", he considers himself to be the King of Gbedu; the song's production features pianos, amapiano shakers, and synths.[11][10] In the ragga and konto track "Precision", Davido explores individuality as exemplified by lyrics like "I dey try sort myself, you for try sort yourself".[11] The Damie-produced track "Kante" features an on off-beat chords, saxophone accents, and afro drums.[10] Adebiyi praised Fave's vocals and artistry and said Davido's choice to name the song after a "famous footballer appeals across the board while possessing huge syncing potential".[11] "Na Money", a highlife track that features vocals by Angélique Kidjo and The Caveman, is composed of rhythmic percussion and guitars.[10] Daraloye and Olowofoyeku said the song "exemplifies the power of money on romantic interests and friends alike".[10]

The Skepta-assisted track "U (Juju)", which is composed of Afroswing drums and chords, interpolates a line from Ice Prince's "Juju" single.[11][10] The Asake-assisted track, "No Competition", is built on guitars, basses, and percussive drums.[10] The slow burner track "Picasso" features vocals by Logos Olori; it is composed of off-kilter drums, jazzy keys, guitar chords, and sax accents.[11][10] Musically, "For the Road" features a central bass synth, soft keys, strings, and piano accents; Adebiyi praised Davido for "delivering a konto rhthym that deploys timeless genre-appropriate vocabulary and technique".[10][11] The penultimate track "LCND", an acronym for "Legends Can Never Die", was produced by Yung Willis. On the record, Davido bemoans the losses he has suffered personally and pleads for the freedom to live his life as he pleases.[16][11] The closing track to Timeless, "Champion Sound", ends the project in a celebratory tone.[10]

The Focalistic-assisted track "Champion Sound" was released on November 19, 2021, as the album's lead single.[17] Considered an amapiano record, the song was jointly produced by Caltonic SA and Tee Jay.[18] The visuals for the song was shot and directed in London by Dalia Dias.[18] Davido previously collaborated with Focalistic on the remix of the latter's single "Ke Star".[18]

In a review for Clash magazine, Robin Murray assigned a rating of 8 out of 10, characterizing the album as an "ambitious yet extremely finessed record" and saying it is "easily one of Davido's most mature, rounded projects".[19] Reviewing for the website Afrocritik, Emmanuel Daraloye and Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku also awarded the album 8 out of 10, praising its production, lyrics and Davido's voice.[10] Moreover, they consider the album to be "one of the most accomplished releases of Davido's career" and said it "is a testament to the singer's growth and development as an artist".[10] Ovwe Medeme of Premium Times newspaper thought the album was monotonous, but ended the review saying Davido chose to "focus on the lighter things of life".[20] Pulse Nigeria's Adeayo Adebiyi gave the album a rating of 7.6 out of 10, calling it "Davido's most musically accomplished album yet" and praising its production.[11] Adebiyi also notes the record lacks "thematic depth and offers no singular sonic pattern".[11]

The Native critic Dennis Peter said Timeless is a "reassertion of Davido's greatness" and that its "driving force is invincibility".[16] In a review for GRM Daily, Ore Bolarin commended Davido for "returning to form and displaying different feelings of longing, joy, and love".[21]