In 2016, Tekno was on top of the Nigerian music scene, churning out hits like “Rara,” “Pana,” and “Diana.” However, his success was short-lived as he lost his voice in 2017 and couldn’t sing the songs he wrote. Little did we know that this setback would lead to one of the biggest collaborations in Afrobeats history.
Tekno had written a song called “IF” and was planning to record it. However, his voice was gone, and he couldn’t bring his vision to life. That’s when he turned to Davido, one of the biggest names in the industry at the time.
Tekno reached out to Davido, offering him the song, but Davido didn’t take him seriously. He was too busy clubbing and living his best life.
Not one to give up easily, Tekno took matters into his own hands. He tracked Davido down to a club and convinced him to come to the studio and record “IF.” The rest, as they say, is history. Davido recorded the song, and it became one of the biggest hits in Afrobeats history.
The success of “IF” was unprecedented. The video became the first African song to hit 1 million YouTube views in 24 hours. The song was certified RIAA Gold in the US, making it Davido’s first song to achieve this feat.
It also became 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, cementing his position as one of the biggest names in Afrobeats globally.
To this day, Davido still appreciates Tekno for changing his life with “IF.” Tekno’s determination and perseverance paid off, and he gave Davido a song that would take his career to new heights. Tekno may have lost his voice, but he gained a reputation as a songwriter and producer who can create magic.
Tekno’s contribution to Afrobeats cannot be overstated. He gave us hits like “Rara,” “Pana,” and “Diana,” and his songwriting skills are still in high demand. Despite his setbacks, Tekno remains a respected figure in the music industry, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists.