Afrobeats singer and producer Maleek Berry recently opened up about his early days in the music industry, sharing an intriguing story about his experiences with fellow artist Davido before they both became household names. In an appearance on the ’90s Baby’ podcast, the “Kontrol” hitmaker reminisced about how Davido, despite coming from a wealthy background, pretended to be just another struggling artist while they worked together in the studio.
Berry revealed that he was initially unaware of Davido’s affluent background, describing how they connected through a mutual cousin and spent time recording in a London studio. “I was there when Davido only had four thousand YouTube views,” Berry recalled. “When he came to London, I would take him to the studio in Bermondsey and record him. He wasn’t even known then. We were just two Nigerian guys that loved music and got connected.”
The real surprise came when Berry visited Davido’s family home for the first time. “He acted around us like one of those poor kids. But when I pulled up to his dad’s crib, I was shocked. There’s money, and then there’s money!” Berry shared, still sounding amazed by the experience. “I was so taken aback because, at the time, my mind didn’t think he had money. He used to blend in with us. But when I saw the tower, I realized, okay, they’re rich.”
Berry also revealed that Davido played a significant role in his later career by connecting him with another Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid, further demonstrating the strong bonds and mutual support among these Nigerian music giants during their early days.
