Veteran highlife maestro Bright Chimezie says he feels deeply honoured after Davido publicly acknowledged that his hit track ‘With You’ featuring Omah Lay was inspired by Chimezie’s iconic song, Because Of English.
The legendary singer, who recently signed a publishing deal with Sony Music West Africa, made the revelation while speaking with Hip TV following his surprise appearance in the newly released visuals for With You. The music video, which dropped earlier this week, has been trending across digital platforms.
Chimezie revealed that he wasn’t aware his music had been sampled until Davido personally called to confess. “He put a call across to me and confessed that he was inspired by my song. The humility and everything, I feel so happy about it,” Chimezie said, glowing with admiration for the Afrobeats superstar.
The Zigma Sound creator emphasized how rare it is for younger artists to credit their predecessors and praised Davido for his humility. “Words cannot describe how I feel. I’m so delighted. I feel honoured. And I’m grateful to Davido for recognising that he drew inspiration from me,” he said.
Their connection has sparked excitement among both highlife and Afrobeats fans, many of whom see the collaboration as a symbolic bridge between generations of Nigerian music. The veteran’s cameo in the video has been widely praised as a powerful nod to his legacy.
Chimezie, whose career dates back to the 1980s, confirmed that despite the break in spotlight, he’s still very much in the studio. “We gave way to allow the younger generation shine, but I’ve been creating. The Zigma sound lives on,” he affirmed.
With this renewed attention and a Sony deal under his belt, Chimezie’s music is once again finding new ears—and hearts—proving that legends never fade, they evolve.
