In a recent interview on Echo Room, Nigerian artist Spyro shared the story of a missed opportunity to release the remix of his hit single Billing featuring Davido. According to Spyro, the highly anticipated remix was scrapped due to external influences, primarily involving Davido’s manager, Asa Asika.
Spyro revealed that Asika stopped the release because Davido, at the time, was involved in numerous collaborations and preparing to drop a new album. “David was on the remix of Billing. We wanted to drop it as the original, but some people blocked it from dropping,” Spyro disclosed during the interview.
Spyro expressed gratitude to musician and influencer Tunde Ednut, who played a significant role in facilitating the collaboration. “As I was calling David, Tunde Ednut was also calling him to make the collaboration happen,” he recounted.
Despite these efforts, the remix faced resistance, leaving Spyro disheartened. Determined to salvage the situation, Spyro paid a visit to Davido’s home to discuss the matter in person. However, his attempts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful, as the decision to block the song’s release appeared to come from influential figures in Davido’s team.
Explaining the reasons behind the decision, Spyro revealed that one major factor was his refusal to distribute the track under The Plug, a music distribution company owned by Tobi Mohammed, Bizzle Osikoya, and Davido’s manager, Asa Asika.
This choice seemingly led to a standoff that ultimately cost Spyro the chance to release what could have been a major career milestone. “Asa Asika’s name kept popping up as the person behind the decision to scrap the release,” Spyro stated.
Spyro candidly admitted that the situation deeply affected him, describing how it almost made him lose hope in his career. “It was very painful for me, and it’s one of the things that made me almost lose hope,” he shared.
The inability to release the remix denied Spyro the opportunity to amplify his breakout hit further and gain more visibility in the competitive Nigerian music scene. Despite the setback, Spyro has continued to grow, with Billing establishing him as a rising star when it was released in 2022.
The announcement of a Davido collaboration had generated significant excitement among fans, who eagerly anticipated the single. Spyro’s Billing remix was expected to solidify his presence in the mainstream and potentially become one of the biggest hits of his career.
However, the song’s cancellation wasn’t an isolated case, as Davido’s other guest appearances, including his feature on Wande Coal’s Come My Way, were also scrapped during the same period.
Spyro’s story sheds light on the challenges artists face within the Nigerian music industry, where collaborations and distribution decisions are often influenced by behind-the-scenes politics.
Despite the disappointment, Spyro remains determined to push forward in his career, and his account serves as a reminder of the hurdles many artists must overcome to achieve success. As fans continue to support his work, Spyro’s resilience and talent suggest that he has more in store for the future.
