Burna Boy Is Crossing Over & He’s Bringing Africa With Him

Born Damini Ogulu in Nigeria, the 28-year-old singer-songwriter is one of the championing artists of contemporary African music—particularly Afrobeats, an exquisite blend of jazz, funk, calypso, highlife, and traditional Nigerian Yoruba sounds. In the late 1960s, the genre was pioneered by the late Fela Kuti, a musician and human rights activist whose manager is none other than Burna Boy’s grandfather. Come through, legacy.

Burna Boy’s major-label debut, Outside, released in January 2018, finds him gliding over tracks like the dancehall-inspired “Sekkle Down” and the retrospective “Heaven’s Gate,” with an impressive vocal contribution from UK hothead Lily Allen. He can truly hold his own on any rhythm. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart

Consequently, as a result of labeling, we may be overlooking the rich influences that make up African music, and as a byproduct, Burna Boy’s distinct catalog. Outside carries hints of hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, calypso, and road rap, and birthed the global breakout banger “Ye,” which landed on nearly every Nigerian publication’s top songs list and was named one of The Best Nigerian Songs of 2018 by OkayAfrica.

“Ye” is more than just a crowd favorite, though. In addition to being a beautifully crafted song over an exquisitely orchestrated rhythm produced by Phantom, “Ye” has a feel-good vibration. In April, Jamaican reggae fusion sensation Koffee performed a cover of the song on the BBC show 1xtra Live Lounge. The moment was a testimony not only to Koffee’s musical tastes, but the massive impact and influence Burna Boy’s music is having across continents and cultures.

Listen/Download “Ye” below courtesy of xclusiveloaded

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Following the success of Outside, Burna Boy created his brand of Afrobeat and Nigerian highlife sounds, enmeshed in Caribbean dancehall, reggae, UK road rap, and R&B. From growing up with Fela Kuti, who he says “was like Superman to him,” to collaborating with the next generation of Afro-Caribbean artists like fellow Nigerian singers Wizkid and Mr. Eazi, to recording with the legendary Damian Marley, Burna Boy, in many ways, is moving more like an ambassador than an artist.

Burna Boy’s commitment to his sound and message is evident in his music—the lyrical content, rhyme patterns, drums, horns, chants, roars, melodies. He creates music that goes beyond classification. It’s an energy; something you listen to with your heart, not just your ears. Africa is in Burna’s voice, his tone, and the very essence of his being. Rather than dominating a record, he invites listeners to take a look from beyond his shoulders.

In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, Burna Boy revealed the inspiration behind his music is himself, “an African man, who was born in Africa.” Stepping up and into his own identity, he discovered a way to pay homage to both his motherland and native tongue while creating undeniably great music.

The result of Burna Boy’s artistic maturation is African Giant, his newly-released 19-song masterpiece, which he humbly proclaims is his most personal work to date. While the album is being heralded by media outlets as a crossover project, it feels much more symbolic of where Burna Boy is coming from—not just where he’s going.