Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
Sometimes the magic happens when you least expect it. Afrobeats heavyweight Davido just pulled back the curtain on one of music’s most organic collaborations, revealing that Zlatan’s infectious appearance on “Nakupenda” was never part of the original blueprint. What started as studio banter turned into one of the track’s most memorable moments—and it almost didn’t happen at all.
During a candid conversation with Kiss Xtra, Davido broke down how the collaboration came together. The song was originally conceived as a three-way link-up between himself, South African duo TXC, and rising star Shoday. But when Zlatan happened to be in the studio and started joking around with the beat, everything changed. “It was just meant to be me, TXC & Shoday. Then I heard Zlatan playing around. He said, ‘What is this?’ and everyone started laughing in the studio. We asked him to do the ad-libs, then ended up getting him to record a verse,” Davido explained. What began as playful studio vibes escalated quickly, with Zlatan’s natural energy proving too good to pass up.
The story perfectly captures the spontaneous alchemy that defines great Afrobeats records. Instead of meticulously planned features and calculated collaborations, “Nakupenda” benefited from pure creative instinct and the kind of chemistry that can’t be manufactured. Zlatan went from spectator to ad-lib contributor to full-fledged verse holder—all because he was in the right place at the right time with the right energy. For fans of both artists, this behind-the-scenes revelation adds another layer of appreciation to a track that’s already resonating across the continent and beyond.
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