TEKNO: THE UNSUNG HERO BEHIND DAVIDO’S MONUMENTAL HIT, “IF”
In 2016, Tekno was on top of the world, churning out hits like “Rara,” “Pana,” and “Diana,” which solidified his position as one of Nigeria’s biggest musicians. However, his career took an unexpected turn in 2017 when he lost his voice, rendering him unable to sing the songs he had written.
One of those songs was “IF,” a track that would later become a game-changer for Davido. Tekno had written “IF” and was planning to record it, but fate had other plans. He began reaching out to Davido, offering him the song, but the latter was too busy clubbing to take Tekno seriously.
Undeterred, Tekno took matters into his own hands. He tracked down Davido at a club and convinced him to head to the studio to record “IF.” The rest, as they say, is history.
The song’s release was a watershed moment in Afrobeats history. “IF” became a massive hit, breaking records and earning accolades. The music video made history by becoming the first African song to hit 1 million YouTube views in 24 hours.
The song’s success didn’t stop there. “IF” became Davido’s first song to be certified RIAA Gold in the US and the first solo song by an African artist to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify. The song’s royalties and sales earned Davido over $10 million, catapulting him to the top of the Afrobeats food chain.
Despite the song’s monumental success, Tekno’s contribution to its creation was often overlooked. However, Davido has always been quick to acknowledge Tekno’s role in changing his life with “IF.” The song’s impact on Afrobeats cannot be overstated, and Tekno’s legacy as a talented songwriter and producer remains unrivaled.
_Tekno’s Impact on Afrobeats_
Tekno’s influence on Afrobeats extends far beyond his work on “IF.” His hits like “Rara,” “Pana,” and “Diana” remain staples of the genre, and his innovative production style has inspired a new generation of producers.
As the music industry continues to evolve, Tekno’s contributions to Afrobeats will always be remembered. His story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and creativity, and his legacy will continue to inspire artists for years to come
EXCERPT
Tekno was one of the biggest musicians in Nigeria in 2016 after dropping Rara, Pana, and Diana. In 2017, he lost his voice and couldn’t sing the songs he wrote.
He started contacting Davido to give him the song IF, which he had written and was planning to record. Davido did not take him serious and was busy clubbing. Tekno took out his time one day, went to the club and carried Davido to the studio to record the song and the rest was history!
After Davido recorded and released IF, it became one of the biggest hit songs in Afrobeats history!
When the video dropped, it became the first African song to hit 1 million Y0uTube views in 24 hours.
It became Davido’s first song to be certified RIAA Gold in the US and the first solo song by an African artist to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify!
Davido made over $10 million from royalties and sales of this song, and it literally placed him at the top of Afrobeats globally!
Till date, Davido still appreciates Tekno for changing his life with that song!
Tekno gave us hits that Afrobeats can never forget!
Credit: Music Base Africa
