NEW YORK, USA — As plenty padi dem dey dream of becoming teachers, doctors, and professional athletes in school, Burna Boy had one goal: to be a rock star. Imagine the shock when his teacher asked him, ‘What do rock stars do?’ and he no fit answer (chai, talk about early career goals!). Fast forward to now, this guy is collecting awards and making history, like the first African artist to sell out the grand Stade de France in Paris just last month!
His new album, ‘No Sign of Weakness’, is set to drop today, and from the gist we don gather so far, it’s basically Burna flexing on how he don survive all these years in the game. ‘I just wan make sure say everybody wey dey work with me on dis project fit call demself rock stars too,’ Burna talk, as him dey celebrate his success.
After the success of 2023’s Grammy-nominated album, ‘I Told Them…’, dis new album dey carry some hot collaborations, including jams with country star Shaboozey and hip-hop king Travis Scott. With 16 tracks, he follow im usual process: just dey record, pick the bangers wey fit di theme and voila! We don already jam some singles like ‘Bundle by Bundle’ and ‘Update’ wey dey give us that sweet Afrobeats vibe.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, African and Middle Eastern music revenue dey skyrocket, and no be lie! Sub-Saharan Africa dey lead as the fastest-growing music industry, with artists like Burna, Davido, and Wizkid ruling the scene (talk about people dey collect money!).
No be small wah for Burna o. He don express di pressures wey dey come with fame, as fans dey expect plenty from am. ‘I feel blessed but e get the kind pressure wey I dey face,’ him talk. ‘If I no vote, dem go still dem blame me!’ He sure dey carry di leadership badge as the voice of di people.
But no fear, ‘No Sign of Weakness’ no be all serious matter. One track ‘Dem Dey’ dey give us gist about some recent small wahala wey he sabi for social media. Plus, he link up with Jagger for ‘Empty Chairs’ wey mix Afrobeats and rock – beta vibes for dancefloor!
In ‘Change Your Mind’ with Shaboozey, people dey beg make dem get second chances. Talk about relationship lessons from dis Igbo boy wey don blow up for America (na wah!).
As Burna dey shine for movie features with Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, he dey pray make Afrobeats remain relevant, no be just fad. ‘We get to sabi make our differences work for us and not against us,’ he talk, adding that unity should start from artists wey fit cause real change.
As di world tour don launch with North American dates dis November, Burna dey encourage fans to enjoy the show. ‘This circular stage go make everybody dey see di show better,’ him talk, clearly excited. ‘And I dey have more fun than all of una, I fit die go Heaven stage — every time I dey perform, my smile dey shine!’ (E be like say joy dey flow for him).
Suffice to say, Burna Boy dey continue to flex his music muscle and we dey enjoy di ride with am!
