Nigerian indigenous rapper, Sodiq Abubakar Yusuf, popularly known as CDQ, has revealed why he turned down a record deal offer from award-winning Afrobeats star, Davido, at the peak of his career.
Speaking in a recent interview on Echoo Room, CDQ recounted how Davido reached out to him shortly after he gained national recognition with his breakout single “Indomie.”
According to CDQ, Davido contacted him via Twitter and expressed interest in signing him, claiming he had just returned from a lucrative African tour and wanted to invest in his music to make him “the biggest rapper in Africa.”
“Davido was like, ‘Bro, I just got back from my African tour, and I made a lot of money. I want to invest it in you,’” CDQ said.
However, the rapper said he insisted that his producer, Masterkraft, who had played a significant role in his rise to fame, must be part of any deal. This led to a meeting between the three of them to discuss the terms of the proposed partnership.
During the meeting, Masterkraft reportedly suggested a collaborative model rather than a conventional artist-signing arrangement, citing CDQ’s street credibility and grassroots support as valuable assets that warranted a joint venture.
“Masterkraft said CDQ already has a strong identity on the streets and should not just be signed. He proposed a partnership with Davido’s label,” CDQ explained.
But Davido and his team at HKN Music declined the proposal, choosing not to move forward with the deal under those conditions.
CDQ said the disagreement ended the conversation, and he continued building his career independently. Despite the missed opportunity, he expressed no regrets, noting that the decision helped him retain control over his brand and creative direction.
The revelation has sparked conversations online about the importance of artist autonomy and fair representation in record deals, especially within Nigeria’s evolving music industry.
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