Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has thrown himself into Davido’s proposed $1 million hit-song battle, boldly claiming that his catalogue contains more hit songs than that of the Afrobeats superstar.
Portable made the claim while reacting to Davido’s recent declaration that he was willing to stake $1 million against any artiste who believed they had a stronger catalogue of hit songs.
Davido had sparked the debate after declaring that no artiste had more hit songs than him. The singer’s statement quickly attracted attention from music lovers and fellow artistes, with many debating which Nigerian musician has the strongest catalogue of commercially successful songs.
Portable, known for his outspoken personality and frequent public exchanges with other entertainers, appeared eager to accept the challenge, insisting that he has enough hit records to compete with Davido.
“I’m here to challenge Davido, say I get hit song pass am. My featuring, my single was a hit,” Portable said.
The Zazoo Zehh crooner went on to highlight some of the collaborations that helped establish his presence in the Nigerian music industry, particularly his collaboration with Olamide and Poco Lee.
According to him, Olamide’s involvement in his career played a major role in giving him hit songs, while British rapper Skepta also contributed to his catalogue through their collaboration.
“Olamide Baddo was a hitmaker. He hit me, he gifted me hit. Yes, he gave me a feature, just like Skepta. Skepta gave me a feature. They gave me a hit,” he added.
Portable rose to mainstream prominence following the release of “Zazoo Zehh,” a street-pop anthem featuring Olamide and Poco Lee. The song became a major hit and helped propel the singer from a relatively unknown artiste to one of Nigeria’s most talked-about street-pop acts.
Since then, Portable has released several singles and collaborated with both Nigerian and international artistes, including Skepta. He has repeatedly used his music catalogue and growing international visibility as evidence of his impact on the Nigerian music scene.
Continuing his boast, the singer suggested that his major concern was no longer proving his ability to make hit songs but enjoying the financial rewards that he believes should come from his musical success.
“I’m a single hit. I get hit pass Davido oo. Na money just remain to buy luxury cars like Lambo and the rest. Na everyday me I dey sing hit,” Portable said.
His comments have added a fresh dimension to the growing conversation sparked by Davido’s $1 million challenge.
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A hit-for-hit battle typically involves two artistes selecting and playing their most successful songs against each other, with fans or an audience determining which catalogue is stronger. Such battles often generate intense debates because artistes may have different definitions of what constitutes a hit, ranging from chart performance and streaming numbers to cultural impact and longevity.
Davido, who has enjoyed a career spanning more than a decade, has a catalogue that includes several internationally recognised songs and collaborations. His proposed challenge has therefore prompted discussions about which Nigerian artiste could realistically compete with him on the strength of their hit records.
Portable’s decision to put himself forward has now brought his name into that conversation.
While the singer remains confident that he can outmatch Davido, the claim is certain to fuel further debate among fans of both artistes, particularly over the difference between recent street-pop hits and a catalogue built over many years.
For now, Davido’s proposed $1 million hit-song battle remains a challenge, but Portable has made his position clear: he believes he has enough hits to go head-to-head with the DMW boss and emerge victorious.
The development is expected to generate further reactions from music fans as discussions continue over which Nigerian artiste truly has the strongest catalogue of hit songs.
