Nigerian superstar Davido has disclosed that his Grammy-nominated hit song “With You” featuring Omah Lay almost didn’t make it onto his album, despite the track’s subsequent global success and critical acclaim.
The revelation offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the difficult creative decisions artists face when finalizing album tracklists, and how close the music world came to missing out on one of 2025’s most celebrated Afrobeats collaborations.
Speaking about the song’s journey to release, Davido explained that “With You” faced uncertainty during the album selection process, with the track coming perilously close to being left off the final cut. He did not elaborate on the specific reasons that nearly led to the song’s exclusion, though such decisions typically involve considerations of album flow, thematic coherence, or simply the challenge of narrowing down numerous quality recordings.
The decision to ultimately include “With You” proved to be inspired, as the track went on to become one of the standout songs from the project. The collaboration between Davido and rising star Omah Lay showcased a perfect blend of both artists’ strengths, combining Davido’s mainstream appeal with Omah Lay’s distinctive melodic approach.
“With You” earned widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, generating millions of streams across digital platforms and receiving extensive airplay across Africa and internationally. The song’s success validated its place on the album and demonstrated the strong chemistry between the two artists.
The track’s impact extended beyond commercial success, earning recognition at the highest level of the music industry with a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards. It competed alongside other notable African releases including Burna Boy’s “Love,” Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” Tyla’s “Push 2 Start,” and “Hope & Love” by Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin.
While the award ultimately went to South African artist Tyla for “Push 2 Start,” the nomination itself represents a significant achievement and further cements “With You” as one of the defining Afrobeats tracks of the period.
Davido’s revelation underscores the unpredictable nature of music creation and the importance of trusting artistic instincts. What nearly became a discarded track instead became a Grammy-nominated hit that expanded both artists’ global reach and contributed to the ongoing international recognition of African music.
The story also highlights the collaborative process in modern music production, where multiple perspectives and extended deliberation often shape final decisions about which songs make it to the public.
For fans of both Davido and Omah Lay, the disclosure serves as a reminder of how close they came to never hearing one of their favorite collaborations, and reinforces appreciation for the creative process that ultimately brought “With You” into the world.
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