Spotlight on one of the world most sought after African acts and the Grammy awards academy recognized Nigerian acts. The Afro-fusion singer and songwriter who has categorically called his sound Afro-fusion- a blend of Afropop, R&B, hip-hop and dancehall. He recently clinched the Best International act at the 2019 BET awards joining Nigerians acts who have won the BET award for Best International act talking the Wizkid, 2baba, Davido, D’banj, Iceprince as winners of the award from Nigeria. He is that Nigerian artist who in his words delivers different style and doesn’t have equivalent. He was so confident saying “I don’t have no equivalent,” MCM does not have equivalent for real?
Well! Burna thinks of Afro-fusion genre ” as a pizza where Afrobeats is the dough” then he just puts different things to make it the best Pizza. According to him, there is Dancehall, reggae, Highlife…” Perhaps that informs his claim on not having equivalent in that style of music you just never know. Let’s talk on how Burna started out actually.
Burna Boy born Damini Ogulu was born on 2nd July 1991. He’s lived the most of his life in UK. Burna has been staying through to the hustle all the way from 2012 after releasing the single “Like to Party” and his debut studio album, L.I.F.E (2013) via Aristokrat Records. L.I.F.E was a follow-up to his second mixtape, Burn Identity (2011) and prior release, it was preceded by five singles: “Like to Party”, “Tonight”, “Always Love You”, “Run My Race” and “Yawa Dey”.
No 4: Like to Party (lead single off his debut studio album, L.I.F.E (2013). won South South Music Awards Best Pop in 2013. He also won two other categories for himself in the same award)
L.I.F.E was released via Aristokrat records and in August 2013 peaked at #7 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. The album was also ranked the album 10th by Nigeria Entertainment Today on their list of the 12th best albums of 2013.
In 2014, Burna Boy split from Aristokrat records and created his own record label Spaceship Entertainment in 2015. He released his second album On a Spaceship in November 2015. The Album spawns 20 tracks and features some top Nigerian artiste like A.K.A, Nyanda, Wizkid, Kid X, Da L.E.S, Wande Coal and Phyno. In September 2016, he released the 7-track EP Redemption, with the lead single “Pree Me” debuting on Noisey.
In 2017, Burna Boy signed with Bad Habit/Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Group internationally. His 3rd studio album Outside was released in January 2018 via Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit and Atlantic Records. Outside features guest vocals from English musicians J Hus, Lily Allen and Mabel. Outside was supported by six singles: “Rock Your Body”, “Streets of Africa”, “Koni Baje”, “Sekkle Down”, “Heaven’s Gate” and “Ye”.
Outside won Album of the Year at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. In February 2018, Outside debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. The album actually marked Burna’s major-label debut.
In July 2019, African Giant his fourth studio album was released in the United States by Atlantic Records/Bad Habit and abroad by Warner Music (excluding Africa)
No 3: Don Gorgon (nominated in the category Best R&B Single at the Headies Awards in 2014.
No 2: Anybody
The #2 song was one of the six singles that supported African Giant the album. Others are: “Gbona”, “On the Low”, Killin Dem”, “Dangote”, and “Pull Up”. The album also features guest appearances from Zlatan Ibile, Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Serani, M.anifest, Damian Marley, Angelique Kidjo, Future and YG.
NO 1: Ye (was the biggest Nigerian song of 2018. It won Listener’s Choice and Song of the Year at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival in 2019)
ALBUMS: L.i.f.e (Leaving an Impact for Eternity) in 2013, On a Spaceship in 2015, Outside in 2018, African Giant in 2019.
AWARD & NOMINATION: Burna has clinched more awards for himself
2013
– Nigeria Entertainment Awards – Best New Act of the Year
– South South Music Awards – Best Pop – “Like to Party”
2014
– MTV Africa Music Awards – Best New Act
– Nigeria Entertainment Awards – Best Album of the Year
2019
– Soundcity MVP Awards Festival – Listener’s Choice & Song of the Year – “Ye”
– Soundcity MVP Awards Festival – Best Male MVP
– Soundcity MVP Awards Festival – African Artiste of the Year
– BET Awards 2019 – Best International Act
Burna Fact:
– The name Burna Boy was inspired by the artist’s love for comic books which he claimed were his favourite distraction.
– Burna Boy was denied a visa in 2013 despite being booked for a show
– 2016 was the perfect time for his concert and emergence as the new sound of Afrobeat!
– He’s currently dating Stef London and plans to marry her even though there’s been rumors and fake news about him cheating which he denied.
