Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that he faces intense criticism largely due to his privileged upbringing.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Culture Knock Out podcast, Davido said being labeled a “rich kid” could have hindered his music career if he hadn’t initially kept his family background private.
“In the beginning, people didn’t know my father was rich.
I had already released three hit songs before they found out,” he said, referring to his father, billionaire businessman Dr. Deji Adeleke.
Davido noted that criticism intensified once his background became public, but he remained focused on his music. “I just wanted to do music. I didn’t care if I had to be homeless. That was all I wanted to do,” he said.
He added that fame often attracts backlash.
“Once you become the biggest in anything, you get criticised. It’s like politics—people love you when you’re running, but they hate you when you win,” he said.
Despite the negativity, Davido affirmed that he continues to release successful music and remain at the top of his game.