Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy recently shared a fascinating encounter he had with American rapper J. Cole. During his appearance on the Rap Radar Podcast, hosted by Elliott Wilson, Burna Boy reminisced about finding himself in the company of J. Cole and a group of basketball players. Before diving into their musical pursuits, the group engaged in a heartfelt conversation about life and its complexities.
Known for his direct and candid approach to conversations, Burna Boy passionately expressed his thoughts. It was during this exchange that J. Cole made a profound statement. He gestured towards Burna Boy and declared, “This guy is Tupac,” capturing the attention of everyone present and highlighting the Nigerian artist’s significance.
“For me, I don’t really like to have conversations with people that don’t live with me. You know, I don’t have long conversations like that. So, I found myself just going off.
“And before we start [recording], he (J. Cole] just goes, ‘Bro, this n*gga is Tupac. And then I looked around to see who he was talking about. It’s me he’s talking about. He’s like, this n*gga is like Tupac reincarnated in Africa.”
Tupac Shakur, frequently celebrated as one of the most exceptional rappers and influential figures in the history of hip-hop, unquestionably left an enduring legacy within the genre.
Burna Boy, understandably surprised by the comparison, felt profoundly honored by J. Cole’s acknowledgment. Essentially, J. Cole was implying that Burna Boy embodied the essence of Tupac, particularly within the African context.
In an exciting musical collaboration, Burna Boy and Dave have come together for the latest single ‘Cheat On Me,’ a track featured on Burna Boy’s highly anticipated seventh album ‘I Told Them.’ Additionally, Burna Boy has thrilling news for his fans – he’s set to perform an intimate live show in London. Get ready to experience the magic of their musical synergy and witness Burna Boy’s electrifying performance up close.
The musical synergy between the ‘African Giant’ and the Streatham sensation has proven to be pure gold, as evidenced by their previous hit collaboration ‘Location’ from Dave’s Mercury Prize-winning album ‘PSYCHODRAMA’. With over a staggering 456 million plays on Spotify, ‘Location’ stands tall as one of Dave’s most beloved tracks. Their electrifying chemistry also graced the stage at Burna Boy’s monumental sold-out London Stadium performance in June.
Now, the duo is back, uniting their prowess on the compelling anthem ‘Cheat On Me’. Echoing Burna Boy’s recent trend of innovative sampling, the track ingeniously flips London singer Kwabs’ 2015 song ‘Cheating On Me’.
The musical magic between Dave and Burna Boy is undeniable, and this latest collaboration is set to further solidify their status as unstoppable forces in the industry. Stay tuned for the sensational fusion of their talents!
In the captivating music video that accompanies the track, the camaraderie between the two artists shines through as they share moments in the studio and electrify the stage. The visuals also take us on a journey, capturing Burna’s vibrant presence not only in the studio but also during his travels to New York and other international escapades.
‘Betray Me’ Emerges as Latest Gem: Burna Boy Unveils Third Pre-Album Single in Anticipation of ‘I Told Them’
As the countdown to his eagerly awaited album ‘I Told Them’ intensifies, Nigerian sensation Burna Boy gifts fans with ‘Cheat On Me’ – the album’s third pre-release track. This follows his sensational collaborations, including the Brandy-inspired ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ with Atlanta’s own 21 Savage in May and the album’s debut single ‘Big 7’ that graced our ears last month. Get ready to embark on a musical journey with Burna Boy as he masterfully paves the way to the much-anticipated album drop.
Despite the ongoing food rivalry between the two countries, Nigerian musician Burna Boy has had reason to defend Ghanaian jollof when the chance presented itself.
It all started when a pop quiz about his knowledge of the various kinds of cuisines available in Africa was interjected into an interview on Complex about his new album.
The dish on the chopping board was ‘Jollof’.
It is a rice-based dish from West Africa typically made with, tomatoes, onions, spices, and vegetables among other accompaniments.
Burna Boy recognised Nigerian and Senegalese jollof rice with ease, but his assurance waned when he tasted what he believed to be poor jollof.
Although he mistook the third plate’s country of origin, speculating that it might be from Kenya, he was not entirely off the mark when judging its quality.
Burna Boy learned that his assumption about the origin of the jollof rice he thought was less flavorful was wrong and that it actually came from Ghana.
He expressed his surprise by saying that this particular plate did not live up to his expectations because his experiences with Ghanaian jollof were very different.
“Ghana jollof is way better than this even if Ghana jollof is bottom of my list, it is a lot better than this. The real Ghana jollof is a lot better than this,” he insisted.
With this bold statement from Burna Boy, can we now say Ghana Jollof is better than Nigerian Jollof.
In a recent interview with Complex, the Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy found himself in a moment of astonishment during a jollof-tasting segment.
He was presented with a diverse selection of jollof rice dishes, each hailing from different African countries. Burna Boy’s task was to taste each dish and correctly guess the country of origin.
The singer appeared to be navigating the challenge successfully until he encountered what he described as “low-quality jollof”.
“I don’t think anywhere makes jollof like this. I think this may be a mistake. If Kenya made jollof, this would be their jollof,” he laughed and exclaimed while taking a jab at Kenya to emphasise the poor taste of the jollof.
The host then broke the news to him that what he had just tasted was Ghana jollof.
Still in shock, Burna Boy asked how anyone could not get Ghana jollof right.
As the release ofGrammy Award-winning singer Burna Boy’s upcoming album ‘I Told Them’ approaches, additional segments from his interview have continued to surface on social media.
Responding to a Google search result that indicated his net worth at 22 million dollars (N17 billion), the Grammy Award winner’s reaction was captured in one of the videos circulating online.
The video captured the instant when the interviewer informed Burna Boy about the Google search result displaying his net worth as 22 million dollars.
Burna Boy responded with hearty laughter. However, he expressed his preference for others to perceive his value in that manner.
While the singer acknowledged that the Google result is entirely inaccurate, he didn’t specify whether it was overestimating or underestimating his worth.
Social media users pointed out that Burna Boy had reportedly earned a million dollars in just the previous year, leading them to question the accuracy of Google’s net worth estimation.
See netizens reactions here:
bush__dexter: “Oga Atlantic records unkor how una Dey do perce ?”
miguel_ihekwoaba: “Na so google de write $42m for rick ross. But baba buy big house for 36m last two weeks. Believe google at ur own peril.”
boss_baby619: “You for just telling me say you get money pass Drake make I rest one time na.”
itzsoeclassiq: “He made 100 million dollars last year alone.”
The track, which was unveiled on Tuesday, includes a reference to the legendary Ghanaian footballer by Dave, who incorporated his name into the song’s melodic rap.
The song, titled “Cheat on Me,” is part of Burna Boy’s upcoming album, scheduled for release on August 25th. It’s anticipated to become a popular hit.
“I’m Asamoah Gyan, the way I hit the bar,” said Dave, referring to the ex-footballer’s 2010 World Cup penalty against Uruguay.
Gyan took to social media to share his reaction, using a fire emoji to express his endorsement of the song’s popularity.
The UK rapper is recognised for skillfully incorporating football references into his music, as previously observed with players such as Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Aaron Wan Bissaka.
This marks Burna Boy and Dave’s second collaboration, following their successful global hit “Location.”
Meanwhile, Gyan’s passion for music is also well-known, as he has collaborated with various Ghanaian artists, including reggae-dancehall star Stonebwoy.
At 37 years old, Gyan recently retired from professional football in June, concluding a distinguished career that spanned over two decades, as reported by the BBC.
Nigerian music sensation, Burna Boy has clarified the misconception surrounding his music style, emphatically labeling it as Afro-Fusion rather than the previously reported term Afrobeats.
The accomplished artist shared these insights during an interview conducted in the United States.
Burna Boy was probed about the distinctions between his musical genre and Afrobeats, to which he responded by tracing the origins of “Afrobeat” back to the late musical icon Fela Kuti.
He expressed his lack of awareness regarding the genesis of the term “Afrobeats.”
According to Burna Boy, “Afrobeat” inherently belongs to Fela Kuti, the revered African legend.
He pointed out that those who adopted Fela’s style needed a distinct label for identification purposes, and that’s when the term “Afrobeats” emerged, with the addition of an “S.”
He admitted his uncertainty about its origin, speculating that it might have originated from the UK or another source. Regardless, he made it clear that it wasn’t originally “Afrobeats.”
Burna Boy went on to define his musical style as Afro-Fusion, an intricate fusion of diverse sounds that encapsulate the essence of the African experience.
He explained that when he embarked on his Afro-Fusion journey, he found no pre-existing label that resonated with his unique sound.
Consequently, he coined the term “Afro-Fusion” to encompass the amalgamation of various musical elements. He likened the African essence within his music to the container holding the entire concoction, signifying its core identity.
“Afrobeat is Fela Kuti. The African legend called Fela Kuti. That’s Afrobeat. Those who adopted his style needed to call it something to be able to identify. And somehow, they just said Afrobeat and added an S. I have no idea. Maybe it’s the UK or maybe I don’t know who. But it wasn’t Afrobeats.
“So for me, it’s like when I started the Afro-Fusion thing, there was nothing that I could identify myself with. So I just said, you know what? I’ll call it Afro-fusion. Because it’s a fusion of everything, really. And the Africaness is the bottle that holds the whole drink,” he added.
Former Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan’s name has been featured in Burna Boy‘s latest song featuring British rapper Dave.
Gyan is referenced in the track by Dave, who smoothly rhymes on the anticipated hit titled “Cheat on Me.”
The song is part of Burna Boy’s upcoming album scheduled for August 25 release.
Dave’s lyrics include, “I’m Asamoah Gyan, the way I hit the bar,” recalling Gyan’s 2010 World Cup penalty against Uruguay.
Gyan took to social media, sharing a fire emoji in reaction, indicating his endorsement of the song’s quality.
Dave is renowned for skillfully incorporating football references in his music, previously mentioning players like Anthony Martial and Aaron Wan Bissaka of Manchester United.
This marks Burna Boy and Dave’s second collaboration, with their initial joint effort “Location” becoming a global hit.
Meanwhile, Gyan’s passion for music is notable; he has collaborated with Ghanaian artists including reggae-dancehall star Stonebwoy.
At 37, Gyan retired from football in June, culminating a remarkable career exceeding two decades, as reported by the BBC.
Following a coup in the Sahelian nation of Niger, Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy has mocked the Nigerian government’s proposed military intervention.
President Tinubu asked for backing from the Senate for military action against the military junta in the Niger Republic, but the Senate declined.
During an Instagram Live session on Tuesday, Burna Boy questioned how the federal government intended to invade the neighbouring c given the ongoing fuel subsidy crisis.
The musician born Damini Ogulu during an Instagram Live session on Tuesday questioned how the federal government plans to invade the neighbouring country with its prevailing fuel subsidy crisis.
Speaking in Pidgin English, Burna Boy said, “Wettin dey sub na? Dem say na War we wan enter like this o [laughs]. Fuel never dey you wan go fight war.
“How you wan reach the battlefield? You go use….Wettin dem dey use that generator now do? Gas generator. E shock me. Wahala no dey ever tire Nigeria.”
A resurfaced post from 2012 by Burna Boy, the Grammy Award-winning singer and self-proclaimed ‘African Giant,’ has ignited discussions on social media once again.
In the post shared on his Twitter page, Burna Boy cautioned men against dating women who are associated with a large number of men, emphasizing that such relationships could be perilous.
He stated: “Avoid dating a girl that knows too many boys.”
As the post gained attention, social media users shared a wide range of opinions in response.
Some individuals agreed with Burna Boy’s perspective, echoing his concerns. On the other hand, some argued that when a woman has many male acquaintances, it could signify her attractiveness and strong moral character.
According to certain netizens, partners involved with such women should feel fortunate and appreciative that they have been chosen from among the many suitors.
See comments here
iam_RockeFeller: “Word to my brethren”
_miraclefx: “red flag that”
nanacaramel0: “If your girlfriend has lots of guy friends, that means she is attractive (both physically and in personality). Other guys may like her too just as you do. Instead of worrying about it, you should be proud of yourself, because with all those guy friends, she chose you.”
SerwaaAbabio: “Never date a boy that knows too many girls”
iam_opc: “Las Las, na everybody go chop breakfast”
Fajojulilfaj1: “No cap detected…this tweet cap free”
A resurfaced post from 2012 made by Grammy Award-winning singer Burna Boy has sparked discussions on social media. In the post shared on his Twitter page, the African Giant’ issued a warning to men, advising them not to date women who have connections with numerous men. Burna Boy stated that it could be dangerous for a man to be involved with such women.
The post has drawn various responses from social media users, with opinions differing on the matter. Some people agreed with Burna Boy’s statement, while others contended that when a woman knows many men, it indicates she is attractive and has good moral values. Some netizens even suggested that partners of such women should feel privileged and grateful to have been chosen among the many suitors.
The post has ignited debates about relationships and societal perceptions of women’s interactions with men. Different individuals hold contrasting views on the significance of a woman’s social circle and what it means for her character and desirability as a partner.
nanacaramel0: “If your girlfriend has lots of guy friends, that means she is attractive (both physically and in personality). Other guys may like her too just as you do. Instead of worrying about it, you should be proud of yourself, because with all those guy friends, she chose you.”
SerwaaAbabio: “Never date a boy that knows too many girls”
iam_opc: “Las Las, na everybody go chop breakfast”
Fajojulilfaj1: “No cap detected…this tweet cap free”
African Giant, Burna Boy, has at last responded to Davido calling him a “new cat” in the music business in a way that demonstrates his assurance and self-assurance.
The “new-cats vs. old-cats” feud that developed in response to Davido‘s remarks appeared to be centred on the standing and hierarchy of musicians in the Nigerian music industry.
In Dvaido’s opinion, Wizkid and other “old cats” like himself deserve praise for having paved the way for artists like Burna Boy, Rema, and others who are currently in charge of the music industry.
But Burna who has achieved significant success and international recognition for his music, likely felt the need to establish himself as one of the top-tier artistes in the industry.
Weeks later, in a recent chat with Apple Music’s Ebro, Burna Boy finally opened up on his thoughts regarding the matter.
He emphasised that it is a good thing to be called a ‘new cat’ since it gives him a sense of youthfulness.
“It is a good thing that people think my movement is new. I love that. Because it keeps me young. It means like, I can do so much more, you know. It stretches my life span.
‘I’m living longer than I thought I would than I even planned to, you know,” he said.
Nonetheless, the debate stirs on as his fans have argued on his behalf that he is among the old cats, if not, even better than them.
At Sunday night’s BET Awards in Los Angeles, Nigerian singer Burna Boy was hailed as the best international talent for the fourth time.
This time, he was competing against artists including South African Ko, British Stormzy, and British Central Cee.
The BET audience’s choice for the best new international performer went to Libianca of Cameroon.
Her song People (Check On Me) has been streamed more than 320 million times since December. It sat on the top of the UK’s Afrobeats chart for eight weeks and got into the UK’s official Top 10 – a first for an artist from Cameroon.
Burna Boy has once again proven his musical prowess by winning the Best International Act Award. Among his fellow African nominees, including Ayra Starr, K.O, and Uncle Waffles, Burna Boy stood out and secured the honor. This achievement marks his fourth consecutive win in the category, as he previously claimed the title in 2019, 2020, and 2021. However, in 2022, the award was won by Tems, highlighting the dynamic talent within the African music scene.
Tems, who won the Best Collaboration award last year for her contribution to Wizkid’s remix of ‘Essence’ featuring Justin Bieber, once again emerged victorious in the same category. This time, she was recognised for her appearance on Future’s ‘Wait for U’ featuring Drake.
Libianca emerged as the winner of the Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act award after surpassing Asake (Nigeria), Camidoh (Ghana), Flo (UK), Maureen (France), MC Ryan SP (Brazil), Pabi Cooper (South Africa), Raye (UK) and Werenoi (France).
Five years after winning the Best International Act at the awards, Davido returned to the BET Stage, treating the audience to a medley of his singles ‘Feel’ and ‘Unavailable’, taken off his recent new album Timeless.
Meanwhile, SZA and Beyoncé emerged as big winners, each taking home three awards, including tying for the highly coveted Album of the Year Award.
Below is the full list of winners:
Best International Act
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Central Cee (UK)
Ella Mai (UK)
K.O (South Africa)
L7nnon (Brazil)
Stormzy (UK)
Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Tiakola (France)
Viewer’s Choice Award
‘Wait For U’ by Future ft. Drake & Tems
‘Last Last’ by Burna Boy
‘Break My Soul’ by Beyoncé
‘Jimmy Cooks’ by Drake ft. 21 Savage
‘Kill Bill’ by SZA
‘First Class’ by Jack Harlow
‘Super Freaky Girl’ by Nicki Minaj
‘About Damn Time’ by Lizzo
Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act
Asake (Nigeria)
Camidoh (Ghana)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
Libianca (Cameroon)
Maureen (France)
MC Ryan SP (Brazil)
Flo (UK)
Raye (UK)
Werenoi (France)
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Tems
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
SZA
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Burna Boy
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Chris Brown
Drake
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
City Girls
Drake & 21 Savage
Dvsn
Flo
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & Takeoff
Wanmor
Best Collaboration
‘Call Me Every Day’ by Chris Brown ft. Wizkid
‘Wait For U’ by Future Feat. Drake & Tems
‘Big Energy (Remix) by Latto & Mariah Carey ft. DJ Khaled
‘Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2’ by Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ by King Combs ft. Kodak Black
‘Creepin’ by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
‘F.N.F. (Let’s Go)’ by Hitkidd & Glorilla
‘Tomorrow 2’ by Glorilla & Cardi B
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Glorilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby
Video of the Year
‘We (Warm Embrace)’ by Chris Brown
‘2 Million Up’ by Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey ft. Rob49
‘About Damn Time’ by Lizzo
‘Bad Habit’ by Steve Lacy
‘First Class’ by Jack Harlow
‘Kill Bill’ by SZA
‘Tomorrow 2’ by Glorilla & Cardi B
Video Director of the Year
Burna Boy
A$Ap Rocky For Awge
Benny Boom
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor
Best New Artist
Ambré
Coco Jones
Doechii
Flo
Glorilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke
Dr Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
‘Bless Me’ by Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
‘Finished (Live)’ by Tamela Mann
‘I’ve Got Joy’ by Cece Winans
‘Kingdom’ by Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin ft. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
‘New’ by Tye Tribbett
‘One Moment From Glory’ by Yolanda Adams
‘The Better Benediction (Pt.2)’ by PJ Morton ft. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Bet HER
‘About Damn Time’ by Lizzo
‘Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2’ by Pinkpantheress, Ice Spice
‘Break My Soul’ by Beyoncé
‘Her’ by Megan Thee Stallion
‘Lift Me Up’ by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – music from and inspired – by Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson
In a significant achievement, Audiomack has declared Burna Boy, the award-winning Nigerian singer, as the first African artist to reach one billion streams on its platform. This milestone not only highlights Burna Boy’s tremendous popularity as a globally recognized musician but also showcases the extensive reach and influence of Audiomack in connecting artists with a worldwide audience.
Burna Boy expressed his gratitude to his fans and Audiomack, commenting on his achievement, saying, “I am incredibly grateful and humbled; much love to everyone who has streamed my music and continues to support me; you all are the true MVPs.”
Burna Boy is a central figure in the worldwide ascent of African music over the last half-decade. His two most recent albums, 2020’s Twice As Tall and 2022’s Love, Damini, have both garnered over 300 million streams on Audiomack, with the latter also winning a GRAMMY Award for Best World Music Album, making him the first Nigerian artist to receive the recognition.
“We have been avid supporters of Burna Boy since the early stages of his career,” commented Jason Johnson, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy at Audiomack. “We are incredibly proud to be a part of his journey not just in amplifying his music but in supporting his growth as an artist.”
In August 2019, Burna Boy reworked a trio of his biggest hits alongside an orchestra for Audiomack’s Trap Symphony performance series. In October 2021, Audiomack awarded Burna Boy a plaque for reaching over 300 million streams on the platform. Less than two years later, the African Giant has emerged as the first African artist to surpass a billion streams on Audiomack.
With over 25 million monthly users globally, Audiomack continues reinforcing its commitment to enhancing access for African music artists and fans and promoting the Afrobeats genre extensively.
Renowned Ghanaian music producer, Appiah Dankwah, widely known as Appietus, has provided insight into the challenges preventing Ghanaian music from gaining international recognition and how hard it would be for Ghana to take over Afro
During an open interview on the Showbiz University podcast with King Kweku Mensah, Appietus expressed his belief that one of the primary obstacles faced by Ghanaian music is the constant inclination to explore and experiment with new genres, rather than focusing on a specific style.
However, he lamented the fact that Ghana has drifted away from its musical roots, leaving behind genres like high-life, Afro-beat, Azonto, and others.
He expressed his concerns, stating, “That thing is difficult. Ghanaians like to change. I think it’s been a problem. We like to change, even when it’s not necessary. We just always want to see if this one will also do well. We leave the rest behind.”
Appietus proudly mentioned that Afrobeat originated in Ghana, citing his song “O Waee” as an example that predates Nigerian artists’ adoption of the genre.
He acknowledged that Nigerians picked up the vibe and made it their own, stating that he doesn’t blame them for doing so.
However, he expressed uncertainty about how Ghana can reclaim ownership of Afrobeat, as Nigeria has successfully appropriated the genre.
“They’ve taken it. It will be difficult to take it from them. Very difficult. I don’t know how we’re going to do it,” he confessed.
He cited the example of artists now following the South African Amapiano trend and urged them not to lose their unique identity in the pursuit of international recognition.
Comparing the music scenes in other countries, he pointed out the enduring presence of specific genres in America, Nigeria, and Jamaica.
“In America, hip-hop is still there. Rock music is still there. Country music is still there. If you go to Nigeria, they still have Juju music. They have added a full beat, and they’ve stuck to it,” Appietus explained.
Appietus emphasized thatGhana’s rich music heritage, particularly in highlife, gives the country an advantage over Nigeria.
“We left Highlife, we left Azonto, all those Alkayeeda. Now we are playing Afrobeat. Afrobeat even started from here,” he expressed on the podcast.
Ghanaian dancehall artist Stonebwoy has also hoped on the ‘new cat’ conversation.
He asserted that popular Nigerian Grammy-award winner Burna Boy isn’t a ‘new cat’ in the music industry as purported.
Davido, in an earlier interview, tagged Burna Boy as ‘new cat’ and this has since stirred mixed reactions from netizens on social media.
However, sharing his two cents on the issue, Stonebwoy has stated that the assertion isn’t entirely true and that Davido, perhaps, did not mean his comments literally.
Speaking in a recent interview with GoldMyne TV, the ‘Apotheke’ hitmaker, while citing reasons, explained that Burna Boy has been in the music scene for over a decade.
“Burna Boy is not a new cat to me because Burna has been there for more than a decade. If Davido said that, I honestly do not believe that he meant that outrightly. New cats would be Rema and Ruger them. So, I don’t believe Davido meant that, but also if you ask me, I think Wizkid and Davido have had a fair share of international appeal earlier than Burna,” Stonebwoy explained.
Stonebwoy remains good friends with both Nigerian stars; Davido and Burna Boy.
Nigerian afrobeat singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly called Burna Boy, on Saturday performed at the UEFA Champions League final.
The 2023 UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City and Inter Milan took place at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
Burna Boy performed alongside Brazilian singer, Anitta.
It can be recalled that Burna Boy on Friday received four nominations in the 2023 edition of the Black Entertainment Television, BET, Awards.
This is coming a week after the singer became the first African artiste to sell out the 80,000-capacity London Stadium in the UK.
On Saturday Nigerian afrobeat singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known as Burna Boyperformed at the UEFA Champions League final.
The 2023 UEFA Champions League final football match between Manchester City and Inter Milan took place at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
Burna Boy performed alongside Brazilian singer, Anitta.
It can be recalled that Burna Boy on Friday received four nominations in the 2023 edition of the Black Entertainment Television,BET, Awards.
This is coming a week after the singer became the first African artiste to sell out the 80,000-capacity London Stadium in the UK.
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Davido has generated significant discussions on social media by referring to fellow artist and Grammy Award winner Burna Boy as a “new cat.”
The superstar during an interview stated that he and Wizkid were the first young artiste to have blown up in the music industry.
Davido averred that Burna Boy, Rema, Asake, Mayorkun are set of new cats who are doing incredibly well in the industry.
The statement did not sit well with many social media users as it sparked mixed reactions.
The fact that Davido and Burna Boy both came out in 2012 led some to believe that Davido shouldn’t have referred to Burna Boy as a “new cat” and shouldn’t have also compared him to artistes like Rema and Asake.
Others, on the other hand, agreed with Davido and said Burna Boy wasn’t on the same level as Wizkid and Davido, but they also said Davido should have added Olamide to the list of young artistes that broke through.
See comments here
AsieduMends: “But what Davido talk nu he no lie oo. Facts nkoaaa”
SirKay_Tiger: “I think it was quite a disrespectful thing to say outrightly. Burns,new cat??? That’s a low low one. Naah,maybe the drinks or something. In terms of David’s set, himself,Wiz, Olamide and Burna started making waves almost the same time. Putting Burna in dem Rema and co’s set,lol”
ThaBoyYom: “But Burna can’t be a ‘young cat’ to Davido sha.. “Holla At Your Boy” blew in 2010, “Back When” blew in 2011, “Like To Party” blew in 2012 If na by that one, we might as well say David is also a ‘young cat’ to Wiz.”
According to davido, burna boy is a cat not a gorilla pic.twitter.com/N03vxnXtuL
— Prom Prom???? (@effizzzyy) June 8, 2023
Wizkid giving Davido and Burna Boy their props for their contribution to Afrobeats to the world movement while also acknowledging the effort of the young generation of artistes. pic.twitter.com/DWsFOF6UrS
— OLAMIDE ???????? (@Olamide0fficial) June 8, 2023
Burna Boy’s recent historic concert in London has garnered widespread praise, solidifying his status as a trailblazer in the music industry.
The Nigerian sensation made history on Sunday by becoming the first African artist ever to headline a stadium show in the UK, a remarkable achievement that has captivated audiences and critics alike.
Some 80,000 fans watched the Nigerian star’s sellout show with a setlist spanning his decade-long career, from early hit Like to Party to the anthemic Last Last.
“Words can’t explain my emotions right now… there’s nothing else I’d dreamed more of,” said the Grammy-winning star, who grew up partly in the British capital.
Burna Boy was flanked onstage by dozens of dancers and was joined by a succession of stars – including Stormzy, J Hus, Dave and Popcaan – during the two-hour set at the grounds of West Ham United football club.
“This isn’t the first time African music is at the forefront,” says Eddie Kadi who presents the Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show on BBC radio.
But, he says, we can credit afrobeats’ huge popularity to the way it absorbs and transforms a variety of genres, and because young people from Africa’s global diaspora have cemented African music in the cultures where they live.
James Cook, a 26-year-old artist from Essex, had a delightful surprise when he received recognition from singer Burna Boy for his unique typewriter portraits.
The talented artist was commissioned by the Coachella music festival to create portraits of several headline acts, showcasing his exceptional skills.
After sharing his artwork on social media, Cook captured the attention of Nigerian musician Burna Boy, who expressed praise and admiration for his work. The unexpected recognition from the acclaimed singer left Cook pleasantly surprised and undoubtedly encouraged by the positive feedback.
He retweeted a video saying: “So sick. How long did it take to make this?”
Burna Boy’s response garnered more than 800 retweets, over 5,000 likes, over 300,000 views and many comments complimenting the artist’s work.
“I was really pleasantly surprised to see that he saw the work and that he liked it,” said the 26-year-old, who is from Braintree.
“It’s always a vote of confidence because you never know if you’re able to convey a good likeness of someone and whether they actually genuinely liked that recreation of them.
“That was the cherry on top of the project.”
Crafting the A3 portrait of the singer required an impressive dedication of approximately 60 to 70 hours of meticulous work.
The artwork consists of an astonishing 50,000 to 60,000 individually typed marks meticulously placed. The artist strategically concentrated some of these marks to achieve the desired effect, particularly in areas that demanded darker tones, such as Burna Boy’s beard and eyebrows.
Image caption,The artwork includes between 50,000 and 60,000 individually typed marks and took 60 to 70 hours to complete
“The paper has gone through the machine at least 60 to 70 times because that’s how you build the ink up onto the page to get the darker regions,” Mr Cook explained.
“Over a period of 30 to 40 minutes, what you’ve put on the paper will initially be quite dark, but as it dries it lightens, so you have to keep building the ink to retain those details.”
Mr Cook says his portraits work on two different levels: “You stand back and the drawing is revealed and then you get up close and the drawing conceals hidden typed words.
Image caption,Nigerian singer Burna Boy shared James Cook’s video on twitter saying: “So sick. How long did it take to make this?”
Burna Boy has not been the first celebrity to comment on the artist’s work, however.
In May 2022, actor Tom Hanks signed a depiction Mr Cook made of him in 2018 with the words: “To James Cook. This is super! Tom Hanks.”
Mr Cook said that getting messages of support from across the world was “incredibly rewarding”.
“It’s so lovely to see that the art resonates with people,” he said.
Image caption,Mr Cook was also asked by Coachella organisers to create a portrait of Blondie’s Debbie Harry
Coachella took place in April and also featured Gorillaz, Bad Bunny, Wet Leg, Charli XCX, Blink 182 and Bjork.
Burna Boy, a Nigerian singer gave a stunning performance on Saturday, May 20, at Paris, France’s La Défense Arena.
Burna Boy who is now on his “Love, Damini” World Tour, completely filled out the 40,000-seat Arena as he brought attention to both Africa and Afrobeats.
A standout aspect of the performance was when singer Jorja Smith joined Burna Boy on stage to perform at his concert.
The Afrobeats musician received praise from social media users for his outstanding performance and for filling a venue with 40,000 people in a French-speaking nation.
Here are some comments
Iajerielz: “The amount of help this man is doing is crazy… how e no go win… each and everyone of his band stylist and organizers travels with him everywhere … chai burna no fit fall”
Etek_notionz: “40,000 capacity in a French-speaking country is no jokes . Thanks for representing ????????????????????????????????????????. We are now respected because of your music”
Dadju: “Congrats bro Next time i’ll be there”
Boy_director: “Inspiration”
Marierms_: “Thank you for your energy yesterday was amazing ! Merci. Paris se souviendra de toi”
The 2023 Met Gala, one of the biggest fashion and fundraising events in the entertainment industry, saw the debut of Nigerian artistsBurna Boy and Tems.
The event, which traditionally holds every first Monday of May, had its 2023 theme as, ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ honouring the late designer, who died in 2019.
While Burna Boy donned a Burberry Blue and Black suit, Tems wore a black and white dress.
PICTORIAL: Burna Boy, Tems Attend Met Gala 2023
By Victoria Edeme
Nigerian singers Burna Boy and Tems made their debut at the 2023 Met Gala, one of the biggest fashion and fundraising events in the entertainment scene.
The event, which traditionally holds every first Monday of May, had its 2023 theme as, ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’ honouring the late designer, who died in 2019.
While Burna Boy donned a Burberry Blue and Black suit, Tems wore a black and white dress.
The A-list attendees were requested to dress in attire that honored the German fashion designer, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 85, for the Met Gala’s theme this year.
From 1983 until his passing in 2005, Lagerfeld was the creative director of Chanel. In his memory, many Met Gala attendees wore timeless looks from the French fashion company.
Others, however, preferred to make reference to Lagerfeld’s adored cat Choupette, who was just as closely associated with the German designer’s signature style as his sunglasses and white hair ponytail.
The biggest night in the fashion calendar was unfortunately not attended by Choupette herself, but she apologized in an Instagram post.
“Many people invited me to walk the red carpet of the Met Gala in tribute to Daddy [Lagerfeld], but we preferred to stay peacefully and cosy at home,” said the cat.
“We pay tribute to my Daddy every day since his parting and we are very moved to see one more day dedicated to him.”
Here are some of the most eye-catching outfits from this year’s Met Gala.
1. Doja Cat understood the assignment
When your stage name is Doja Cat, and you’re asked to pay tribute to a man who loved his cat, your red carpet look really takes care of itself.
The US rapper did not disappoint, wearing a gown which featured cat ears, while sporting facial prosthetics to give herself more cat-like features.
Her glittering silver dress was designed by Oscar de la Renta and featured a dramatic ruffled train, which she accessorised with some equally dazzling jewellery.
2. Barry Keoghan and Burna Boy matched up
We’ve all experienced one of those awkward moments where you turn up at work and find you’re wearing an identical outfit to one of your colleagues.
So we sympathise with Irish actor Barry Keoghan and Nigerian singer Burna Boy, who wore strikingly similar chequered blue Burberry outfits to the Met Gala.
To be fair, both of them looked brilliant, and we applaud male stars who shun the standard black tuxedo on a red carpet in favour of a splash of colour.
3. Lil Nas X won the night by a whisker
The rapper turned up covered in sparkling silver body paint and jewels and wearing a matching metallic thong, in one of the most ambitious and unusual outfits of the night.
Upon closer inspection, fans spotted that his bejewelled eye mask also featured beaded whiskers – another likely reference to Lagerfeld’s cat.
To hammer home the point, when Lil Nas X was interviewed by reporters on the red carpet, he answered their questions by simply meowing and waving his claws.
4. Jenna Ortega hit peak Wednesday
While Ortega wore a bright pink Valentino dress to last year’s Met Gala, this time around she went with a distinctly spookier and more gothic vibe.
Her dark ensemble fitted the Lagerfeld aesthetic, but also reflected Ortega’s starring role in Wednesday, Netflix’s hugely successful Addams family spin-off.
Ortega recently told InStyle that playing the character had influenced her personal style. “I do think that Wednesday changed my taste a lot,” she said. “I have a hard time getting her off of me, at least clothing-wise.”
5. Jared Leto gave everyone paws
OK, back to the cats.
Actor Jared Leto can always be relied upon to deliver some of the craziest looks at the Met Gala – but he really outdid himself this year.
The Oscar winner turned up literally dressed as a cat. That’s it. There really isn’t much more we can say.
We’re lucky he decided to remove his giant cat head while posing for photographs – or we may never have even known it was him.
6. Ice Spice didn’t want to forget her first Met
The hottest rising star in music was making her Met Gala debut this year, so she understandably wanted to remember every moment.
Perhaps unaware of the invention of the smartphone, the 23-year-old instead brought her own jewel-encrusted camera to take photos (and complement her custom Balmain outfit).
According to TMZ, the New York rapper was personally invited to the Met Gala by Anna Wintour, who asked her to attend as a guest of Vogue.
7. Janelle Monáe is up for a game of badminton
The singer and actress looked frankly stunning in her mismatched black-and-white Thom Browne coat, which she later took off to reveal a shuttlecock-shaped sheer dress.
“My first Met Gala was in 2011, and I went with Karl [Lagerfeld]. So this is sort of full circle for us to be honouring him,” Monáe told People.
Monáe accessorised with a white leather quilted cat bag – yet another reference to Choupette.
8. Jeremy Pope wore Karl on a cape
The outfit which perhaps most explicitly referenced Lagerfeld was worn by actor Jeremy Pope.
The Hollywood star lit up the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s grand staircase in a huge cape emblazoned with the recognisable face of the designer.
The 30ft cape featured a hand-drawn illustration of Lagerfeld and was reportedly made by 70 seamstresses, with more than 5,000m of silk chiffon.
9. David Byrne forgot his helmet
Despite being famous for hits such as Lazy, singer David Byrne was possibly the only guest who turned up looking ready to do some exercise.
The Scottish-born star brought his bicycle with him – but wisely decided to walk it up the red carpet, which we imagine was a relief to the Met’s health and safety team.
Byrne wore an all-white outfit – which must have got muddy when he presumably had to cycle home – with some brightly-coloured trainers.
You may recognise the monochromatic suit, as it’s the same one Byrne wore when he performed the theme song to Everything Everywhere All At Once at the Oscars in March.
10. Glenn Close had a bit of trouble changing her sheets
We’ve all been there. You attempt to change your bedsheets by yourself, lose track of which corner is which, and end up in a right old tangle.
Actress Glenn Close arrived at the Met Gala looking as if she was still trying to figure it all out, so decided to bring her entire bedspread with her.
Her flowing gown was, in fact, a custom Erdem dress. “Like any great fashion designer, he has a passion to create something beautiful and distinctive,” the actress said of the designer.
11. Margot and Nicole remembered Karl
The Australian actresses both paid tribute to Lagerfeld with their choice of gowns and shared their memories of the designer.
Kidman wore a pale pink dress adorned with 3,000 silver crystals created by Lagerfeld for a Chanel No. 5 commercial she starred in.
“I’m very grateful to wear it,” Kidman told The Associated Press. “He was so much a part of my life, as were his whole team. He was the one really sort of shepherded me… in terms of my love of fashion.”
Robbie, meanwhile, explained she was the last Chanel ambassador to be handpicked by Lagerfeld. She said it was an “honour” to wear a 1993 black Chanel gown which Cindy Crawford first wore on a runway.
12. Jordan Roth doesn’t need an air conditioner
The US theatre producer may not be a household name, but he has consistently served up interesting looks at the Met Gala.
This year, Shiaparelli’s designer Daniel Roseberry transformed Roth into a human fan for the evening.
In an article for Vogue, Roth explained the outfit was an homage to the signature accessory that Lagerfeld often carried around with him.
“The fan is a form that transforms, has function as well as decoration, and it has inherent movement,” Roth explained. “It calls to be to be animated and energised, as an extension of your own body.”
13. Billie Eilish brought her brother
The singer wore a black lace gown, embellished with a floral design by Irish designe Simone Rocha.
“I was inspired by Billie herself, her talent, her world and her powerful femininity,” Rocha said of creating Eilish’s custom look. “I wanted to celebrate her femininity through fragility and strength.”
The star was accompanied by her brother and musical collaborator Finneas, who went for a more casual outfit, wearing a textured brown trench coat tied at the waist.
14. Florence Pugh defied gravity
The British actress wore a strapless white Valentino gown, but everyone’s attention was firmly on her head.
Firstly, because Pugh wore a headpiece that looked like it would come in handy clearing cobwebs from a ceiling.
But also because Pugh’s appearance confirmed recent rumours she had shaved her hair off for a role in a forthcoming film.
“I’ve actually had it for about three weeks now,” she told reporters of her shaved head. “I thought, what is a better way than to release it at The Met?”
15. Rita Ora had better not bite her nails
The British singer walked the red carpet with her partner, film director Taika Waititi, wearing a reported $90,000 (£72,000) worth of Buccellati jewellery.
It included a pearl bracelet and long diamond extensions which hung off the end of her nails.
Waititi wore a gun metal blazer by Prabal Gurung which he wore shirtless and paired with smart white trousers.
16. Kendall referenced Karl’s collar
Kendall Jenner wore a sparkly leotard with long sleeves which efficiently doubled as a train. The whole outfit, including the sparkly towering black boots, was designed by Marc Jacobs.
But there was also a reference to Lagerfeld in her outfit – Jenner’s high white collar was a nod to those worn by the late fashion designer.
17. Serena and Karlie revealed their pregnancies
Tennis star Serena Williams arrived at the Met Gala with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and confirmed that she is pregnant with her second child.
Williams showcased her baby bump in along-sleeved dress with a V-neckline, paired with pearl necklaces.
Writing on Instagram, Williams said she was “so excited when Anna Wintour invited the three of us to the Met Gala”.
Hers was not the only pregnancy revealed on the red carpet – model Karlie Kloss also announced she is expecting her second child with husband Joshua Kushner.
“I got a plus one, don’t tell anybody,” Kloss joked in an interview with Vogue on the red carpet. “You know what, this is also the first time I’m sharing my news, so it’s very special.”
Image caption,Karl Lagerfeld’s sunglasses, white ponytail, and beloved cat Choupette were all part of his signature look
Twitter has stripped notable Nigerian musicians of their Legacy verification tick.
The microblogging platform, on Thursday, removed the verification badges of the Nigerian singers, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and Peter Okoye.
Recall that Twitter owner, Elon Musk, had in March, in a tweet accompanied by links to subscribe to the premium program, hinted at plans to commercialize verification tick.
He said, ”We will begin winding down our legacy verified program and removing legacy verified checkmarks on the 1st of April. To keep your blue checkmark, individuals can sign up for Twitter Blue.”
Announcing the final date for the free Blue badge removal on his verified Twitter handle, Elon Musk wrote: “Final date for removing legacy Blue checks is 4/20.”
The removal of the Legacy Blue Tick of the Nigerian superstars may be connected to the non-payment of their verification subscription fee announced by Musk.
Reacting to his Blue Tick removal, in a tweet on Friday, Peter Okoye said, ”Elon Musk is a businessman period.”
Report indicates that Nigerian singer, Burna Boy has beaten American singer, Beyoncé to sell out his tickets for their tours in the Netherlands.
It was said that both singers booked a stadium tour in the Netherlands on the same night.
Some claim thatBurna Boy’s ticket sold out quickly because they are cheaper and affordable while Beyonce’s tickets are on the high side.
Reacting to the news, some social media users said;
mychukwuebuka: Imagination wan kee burna boy. Firstly Beyonce already sold out twice of that stadium and the third date is the one still on sale with twice the amount of Burna boy’s ticket. Burna boy being less expensive and I mean cheap enough for anybody over there to afford, he still did “buy one ticket and get one free”,can never be Beyonce. Y’all should calm down, they never born Burna boy well to dare get compared to the biggest living artiste. Y’all think this is Africa where you disregard female musicians..Burna has the rest of his life to keep trying to meet up with Beyonce, which isn’t happening.
t_2collins: Apart from price, Beyoncé needs to understand that people have outgrown her type of song. Afrobeat is the future and legacy
elovina_bespokeandaccessories: Beyoncé’s price is higher na. She had a show recently in America. Even her die hard fans were seriously complaining they couldn’t afford it. It was $1k that’s straight buy value o not resell.
thecreatives_woo: Well burna shoes would be €50 to €70/100. And Beyoncé won is like €2500 or higher .. which do you think would sell faster?
peaceememjonathan: Make una rest… see who una won compete with.. Biko we get bigger problem for dis country
hotice_offical:You think beyonce ticket is 100 euro Dey play go check her ticket is from standing 500 euros setting down 1000k euros from roll 3k 5k some country is 12k 15k dollars ooo
lawrix: Prices definitely different.. but burna is doing great
The 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®, which will take place on Saturday, June 10, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, will feature award-winning and multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter, and producer Burna Boy as co-headliners.
Known for his global chart-topping hits Last Last and It’s Plenty, the Nigerian star will bring his energy and signature soulful vibes of afrobeats to millions of fans before the biggest club fixture in football gets under way.
Burna Boy
“As a huge football fan myself, I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the UEFA Champions League! That’s why I’m so excited to be performing on the Pepsi stage at this year’s final. Music and football are the ultimate combination, so you already know I’ll be bringing the vibes and making magic in Istanbul. The world isn’t ready for what we have in store!”
Now in its seventh year, the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi® – formerly known as the UEFA Champions League Opening Ceremony – unites music, sport and culture through a show-stopping performance. This year’s other co-headliner will be announced soon.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA marketing director, said: “The UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show is a significant part of our joint efforts with Pepsi, providing an incredible opportunity to reach new and younger audiences with the some of the biggest names and rising stars in music. We’re excited to showcase a line-up of talented artists at this season’s final in Istanbul in what is sure to be an energetic and memorable performance.”
Burna Boy to perform at 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®
For the first time ever, fans have the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the performance and can visit the @PepsiGlobal TikTok channel for more information.
Gustavo Reyna, Pepsi senior director of global marketing, said: “The UEFA Champions League final is the stand-out date of the club football calendar, and Pepsi prides itself on marking the occasion with the very best entertainment spectacles. The newly named ‘Kick Off Show by Pepsi’ is going to be huge this year; we’re so excited to welcome Burna Boy, one of the world’s most exciting artists, to the final stage and we can’t wait to see which fans are selected to feature as part of this truly unmissable performance.”
Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter and producer Burna Boy will co-headline the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show by Pepsi®, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday 10 June.
Known for his global chart-topping hits Last Last and It’s Plenty, the Nigerian star will bring his energy and signature soulful vibes of afrobeats to millions of fans before the biggest club fixture in football gets underway.
Burna Boy
“As a huge football fan myself, I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the UEFA Champions League! That’s why I’m so excited to be performing on the Pepsi stage at this year’s final. Music and football are the ultimate combination, so you already know I’ll be bringing the vibes and making magic in Istanbul. The world isn’t ready for what we have in store!”
Now in its seventh year, the UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi® – formerly known as the UEFA Champions League Opening Ceremony – unites music, sport and culture through a show-stopping performance. This year’s other co-headliner will be announced soon.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA marketing director, said: “The UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show is a significant part of our joint efforts with Pepsi, providing an incredible opportunity to reach new and younger audiences with some of the biggest names and rising stars in music. We’re excited to showcase a line-up of talented artists at this season’s final in Istanbul in what is sure to be an energetic and memorable performance.”
Burna Boy to perform at 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show by Pepsi®
For the first time ever, fans have the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the performance and can visit the @PepsiGlobal TikTok channel for more information.
Gustavo Reyna, Pepsi senior director of global marketing, said: “The UEFA Champions League final is the stand-out date of the club football calendar, and Pepsi prides itself on marking the occasion with the very best entertainment spectacles. The newly named ‘Kick Off Show by Pepsi’ is going to be huge this year; we’re so excited to welcome Burna Boy, one of the world’s most exciting artists, to the final stage and we can’t wait to see which fans are selected to feature as part of this truly unmissable performance.”
American comedian, actor, and TV host Steve Harvey encouraged black Americans to travel to Africa to gain a better understanding of African culture and the significant contributions made by Africans to the world.
Harvey in a recent post shared by Nigerian YouTuber Walethewave1 advised people to put aside any preconceived notions and experience Ghana first, followed by Botswana, which he describes as the world’s second-largest diamond producer with a lot to offer.
“Leave everything you’ve ever heard. After you go to Africa, you got to go to Ghana first, and then you need to go to Botswana because you need to see what we… (Pause.)”
He also highlighted Johannesburg as another essential destination to understand the true nature of African people.
Harvey specifically cited Burna Boy, a popular Nigerian musician who has been accused of copying American music styles, and claimed that it is the opposite.
“Them Africans is us mhen; they are the beat; they are the rhythm; they are the song. They are the hard work; we get our courage from them. When you see them, people, they look just like your family,” he added.
Harvey believes that seeing Africans in person will help people understand that they are just like everyone else, with the same rhythm, song, and hard work that everyone relies on.
Nigerian artiste,Burna Boy, has been subjected to criticisms following his silence on issues that emanated from the country’s 2023 election.
A critic, Ayodeji Rotinwa, called out the singer on Instagram for not getting involved in the election despite positioning himself as a politically conscious artiste who cares about positive change.
The critic claimed thatBurna Boy’s lyrics mostly highlights corruption, the fight for rights and freedom among others, and yet, he did not lift a finger when things went south during the elections.
Burna Boy however, responded that he does not believe in any of the three candidates.
The ‘African Giant’ crooner added that, he did not publicly campaign for any of them because he does not want to be held accountable should the candidate fail in office.
He further claimed that he has contributed more positively to Nigeria than the three presidential candidates combined.
“Why una mumu like this? First of all, sir. Out of the hundreds of songs I have, there are only about seven songs about these topics, and they barely made me any money at all.
“I’ve positively contributed more to Nigeria than you and all 3 candidates combined, and neither I nor my parents have ever taken a kobo from the government for any reason. so I’m more than qualified to tell people like you to shut the fuck up when you don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stated on Instagram.
He added that the few songs he wrote about political did not fetch him money.
While Burna Boy’s response may seem defensive to some, it highlights a common sentiment among many Nigerians who feel frustrated with the country’s political system.
Many Nigerians feel that politicians have failed to deliver on their promises, and the country remains plagued by corruption, poverty, and insecurity.
Although he is known to have been vocal about the many happenings in Nigeria, Burna Boy has been silent during the 2023 general election.
Taking to his Instagram stories, he stated that many people have taken offence – calling him out for not being as vocal about the election as his other colleagues.
However, the ‘Anybody’ hitmaker says his silence is because he does not trust in any of the political parties and their candidates vying for the presidency.
Burna Boy added that he does not want to make known his support for any party to sway votes in their favour.
He explained that if the party eventually wins the election but fails to deliver its mandate, the people would turn on him.
“I don’t know why it’s such a big deal to some Nigerians that I’ve not been vocal about the elections,” he wrote on his Instagram stories.
“Personally, I don’t have a candidate that I believe in. I’ve never supported any political party or candidate in my life because I don’t want to make you vote and then blame me when the person f**ks up as usual. That being said, I hope all votes count and the best man wins,” Burna Boy’s post read.
Although Burna Boy has not shown support for any party, on Sunday, he called out the electoral agency INEC following reports of vote rigging.
“Let Nigeria decide o! @inecnigeria. No try any result magic,” he wrote.
Grammy Award-winning musician Burna Boy, known in real life as Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has responded to online trolls who have criticized him for not voting or participating in Nigerian politics.
Burna Boy responded by claiming he has never received money from the Nigerian government in his Instagram story on Tuesday.
The singer, who affirmed his political stance, stated that he does good for the country because of his heart and not for social media validation.
“I’ve never made money from any Nigerian government and I never took any house, land or money from any governor.
“I’ve never been appointed into any public office and I never intended to be. All the good I do for my country comes from my heart, pockets, time and emotions. it’s not for social media validation and it’s definitely not because I owe anybody.
“I say I nor vote. Make everybody getat,” he wrote.
Afriyie of Ghanaian music group Wutah has disclosed how top-rated Nigerian musician, Burna Boy, sampled one of his songs without his consent.
Per the Wikipedia definition of sampling, it is ‘the reuse of a portion (or sample) of a sound recording in another recording. Samples may comprise elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, sounds or entire bars of music, and may be layered, equalized, sped up or slowed down, repitched, looped, or otherwise manipulated’.
So, in the view of Afriyie, the above is just what the ‘Last Last’ hitmaker did.
Speaking with Nana Romeo on Accra FM’s midmorning drivetime show, he mentioned that he was aware from the very moment Burna Boy released his ‘Common Person’ that it was his ‘Here To Stay’ that was sampled.
However, he got really convinced after another colleague in the music industry called Jack called to confirm the same.
Afriyie added that later some other people also called to confirm the same thing and stressed that what Burna Boy did could be likened to theft because he made a few changes.
“Some people are saying it’s creativity, while others are saying it’s theft. He also somehow changed the key, and he didn’t sing like me, but the sax and the flow…For some of my melodies, he played the guitar,” he said.
Asked if he had any plans to confront Burna Boy over this issue, he quickly said he was not going to do so because people will attack him and possibly tag him a hater of the ‘African Gaint’
Afriyie was quick to add that he was however happy that people who have musical ears have seen this and are talking about it.
One of the members of the once vibrant music group Wutah, Afriyie, has disclosed how top-rated Nigerian musician, Burna Boy, sampled one of his songs without his consent.
Per the Wikipedia definition of sampling, it is ‘the reuse of a portion (or sample) of a sound recording in another recording. Samples may comprise elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, sounds or entire bars of music, and may be layered, equalized, sped up or slowed down, repitched, looped, or otherwise manipulated’.
So, in the view of Afriyie, the above is just what the ‘Last Last’ hitmaker did.
Speaking with Nana Romeo on Accra FM’s midmorning drivetime show, he mentioned that he was aware from the very moment Burna Boyreleased his ‘Common Person’ that it was his ‘Here To Stay’ that was sampled.
However, he got really convinced after another colleague in the music industry called Jack called to confirm the same.
Afriyie added that later some other people also called to confirm the same thing and stressed that what Burna Boy did could be likened to theft because he made a few changes.
“Some people are saying it’s creativity, while others are saying it’s theft. He also somehow changed the key, and he didn’t sing like me, but the sax and the flow…For some of my melodies, he played the guitar,” he said.
Asked if he had any plans to confront Burna Boy over this issue, he quickly said he was not going to do so because people will attack him and possibly tag him a hater of the ‘African Gaint’
Afriyie was quick to add that he was however happy that people who have musical ears have seen this and are talking about it.
Watch the interview below and listen to the two songs for yourself…
It appears that marriage proposals in the church are gradually becoming a trend among Christians in 2023.
Quite recently, two young people got social media talking after one Christian brother surprised his girlfriend in church and proposed to her in front of the entire congregation.
After all the positive reactions that the video received, there has been another surprise proposal in the church.
A video sighted by zionfelix.net has another Christian brother called Jesse going on his knees to ask his girlfriend, Gladys, and asking her to be his wife in front of the entire congregation.
The lady, who was obviously one of the few who didn’t know about this planned proposal was busily doing her work as the videographer of their church.
Out of the blue, the Christian brother appeared behind her, got on his knees, and touched her hand.
As soon as she saw the ring in the hand of her boyfriend, the Christian sister almost fainted in the church, and one of the gentlemen had to rush to get the camera from her hand.
Well, she accepted the proposal and took the ring. The two love birds shed some tears and eventually a warm embrace.
According to him, he had advised AKA to purchase a gun after the latter had called him ‘wild’ for owning one.
Grammy winning Nigerian singer, Burna Boy, has reacted to the heartbreaking demise of South African rapper, Kiernan Forbes alias AKA.
Ogulu took to his Instagram stories where he shared an unreleased track in which he sang about the tragic death of the artiste.
According to him, he had advised AKA to purchase a gun after the latter had called him “wild” for owning one.
“WTF is all of that about? I just heard he died, seen that video at that restaurant. Took me out of a positive mood/ Took me back to that day when you saw my gun and you said I was wild/ Then I told you you should have one too,” he sang.
The ‘Last Last’ singer also referenced his beef with the rapper and stated that despite their differences, he never wanted him dead.
“But I didn’t want you dead, it was like that with me and you, have one too/ Cuz it weren’t like nig*az wasn’t dying but I thought you knew/ And I ain’t really f**k with you/
“Wicked! I hope they catch whoever did you wicked/ I hope you rest in peace, even though we ain’t kick it/ At the end of the day we some grown ass ni**az,” he continued.
At the height of the 2019 xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa, Burna Boy condemned the act and threatened not to step foot in the country.
However, the issue escalated into a spat between him and the South African rapper on Twitter.
The South African artiste was shot dead in a drive-by attack at a restaurant in Durban, South Africa. His longtime friend, Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane, was also killed in the shooting.
Award-winning singer, Burna Boy has lamented the tragic death of South African rapper, AKA.
The 35-year-old rapper was shot dead outside a popular restaurant on Florida Rd in Durban, South Africa on Friday, February 10, 2023.
Burna Boy expressed shock over the assassination of the rapper, adding that the news turned his positive mood sour.
According to Burna, he advised the deceased to get a gun after he saw his and tagged him wild.
Burna added that although they have had several misunderstandings and industry ‘beefs’ in the past, he never saw death for the South African star and he hopes that the culprits are caught and arrested.
Burna’s post read: “WTF is all of that about? I just heard he died, seen that video at that restaurant. Took me out of a positive mood/ Took me back to that day when you saw my gun and you said I was wild/ Then I told you you should have one too.
“But I didn’t want you dead, it was like that with me and you, have one too/ Cuz it weren’t like niggaz wasn’t dying but I thought you knew/ And I ain’t really f**k with you/
“Wicked! I hope they catch whoever did you wicked/ I hope you rest in peace, even though we ain’t kick it/ At the end of the day we some grown ass ni**az.”
According to music lovers, Burna Boy rode on Diddy’s influence to secure a Grammy award.
Following Burna Boy’s loss at the 65th Grammy award ceremony, a viral Instagram post purportedly made by Diddy jabbed the Nigerian singer and claimed that his disassociation from his camp gave him a chance of winning an award despite bagging two nominations.
“I helped you win your first and only grammy award which I did out of kindness, and somehow you thought you could win another without my help ?? Oh okay,” the Instagram post read, but according to Diddy, the image in circulation is fake and not from him.
“This is fake,” he responded to a tweet amidst the allegations levelled against him.
Burna Boy’s 2022 album “Love, Damini” earned him a Grammy nomination in the “Best Global Music Album” category, but he lost out to Masa Takumi’s “Sakura”.
Also, the Afrobeats star lost out on his Best Global Music Performance to South African artistes Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode and Wouter Kellerman.
The 65th Grammy Awards ceremony took place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 5, 2023.
The Nigerian music industry is in a very dominant form as it proves its mettle yet again. The YouTube index for the most-streamed artists in Africa was recently released, and Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz tops it with Burna Boy in 2nd place.
Essence crooner, Wizkid ranked 3rd then followed by internationally renowned Congolese singer, Fally Pupa.
The six other positions were filled up by Nigerian singers. The Afrobeat industry is no doubt on a world rage of global dominance, and Africa knows it.
See the official list of the most streamed African singers on YouTube in the Sub-Saharan region:
See how Nigerians have reacted to the list of most streamed African singers on YouTube
@iam_kinglq:
“Wizkid with how many videos Abeg? Make una count their videos use am judge.”
@paulinxx09:
“Una sha squeeze David’s picture put… Justice for fally ipupa.”
@icesun_y3:
“Who dey even stream this diamond sef.”
@didashaibuofficial:
“Diamond platnumz is biggest Artist in Africa After wizkid, burna and Davido.”
@reims_wrld:
“The king OBO is 5th despite that he hasn’t dropped jam oo still he’s at the 5th, then come to think of it you will see that he’s the true king and by may the king is definitely taking back his position.”
@ayll30bg:
“All of them upload video pass Davido, davido uploaded most of his old videos on Dmwhq with 500m+ views, and wizkid is not the only one using that YouTube channel it’s called Starboy TV not for only wizkid, the channel is for all the artists under the Starboy label, if you know you know, go and brush before you reply me!!!”
@iam_bravosky:
“So pelu gbogbo 24hrs 1million.Wizzy still top 001.”
@successfulcollinso:
“Make una they play go on the YouTube and check yourself Burna boy has posted over 160 videos there while Diamond has posted over 750 videos and Wizkid, Davido, Rema and Ckay has posted lesser than 70 videos and still has such streams no hate but they deserve great accolades. All wizkid first 2 Albums were posted on Banky W page while Davido on Dmw page but Burna and Diamond has everything on their page so I guess you should know the difference now.”
Artiste manager, Bullgod has declared ‘war’ against popular sound engineer, Appietus on social media.
Bullgod, who owns Bullhaus Entertainment, the record label under which Ghanaian artistes 5Five released some banging hits, has called out Appietus for greed and theft.
Appietus produced the beat for their monster hit ‘Muje Baya’ sometime in 2010 but he is still making money from the song at the blind side of Bullgod and the artistes involved.
The beats maker disclosed this in a discussion with Citi TV while narrating how he is cashing out thousands of dollars, after uploading some songs he once produced on digital stores.
“The big boys in Nigeria are doing business. I’m referring to Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy and co. They have entered the digital world. Some white guy came to tell me about the digital world and how it started. Some Israelite, he flew all the way to Ghana. One day he said, let me put your songs there and I gave him. He asked of my dollar account and I gave him. One day, I got an alert and I had to call the bank to trace it because I was shocked. Then I started chopping the money.
“As I was chopping, I was still scared because I thought someone made a mistake. After three months, I had another alert and I asked myself who at all was sending me the money. I’m talking about thousands of dollars. One day, I was going through my email and I saw that it came from the digital guys,” he stated.
This development has angered Bullgod to an extent that he has stormed social media with threats of taking legal action against Appietus.
Bullogod who insists that Appietus is making money off his sweat and that of his artistes, has asked the latter to pay back every dime accrued from their songs so far.
“YOU WILL PAY FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU COLLECTED OFF MY INVESTMENTS AND YOU WILL PAY WITH INTEREST. You have been feeding your family and yourself with our investments for almost 10 years by selling 5Five songs — executive produced and promoted by Bullhaus Entertainment on digital platforms globally without our permission. GET READY – TIME TO PAY UP. You will hear from our counsellors. #INDUSTRYTHEFT #focusonGod #sikanhyiraadomaseda,”
At the All Africa Music Awards (Afrima), which were held on Sunday in Dakar, Senegal, Nigerian afrobeat artist Burna Boy took home the Best Act in Africa honor.
He also received the Best Album of the Year honor.
Asake, a fellow Nigerian celebrity, earned Breakout Artist of the Year, and Didi B, an Ivorian singer, won Song of the Year.
According to him, his leisure time at the beaches in Ghana gives him inner peace because it seems God lives there.
“The year just started. Started the year going to Ghana because that is where I have actual genuine peace. When you go to Labadi beach and you’re looking at the water, you see that there is this line at the end where it separates the sky from the water, I feel like that’s where God lives.
…I will do like four shows a day, then I just break down then that’s when I go to Ghana,” he added while speaking in an interview with the media.
Ghana has become the best destination for tourists, especially during the yuletide season.
The government’s Year of Return and Beyond the Return initiative has paid its dues for the country and has made the West African country a go-to destination for tourists.
Nigerian superstar, songwriter, and performer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, who just headlined his 2023 Lagos Concert had his fans displeased with the outcome.
A video of Burna Boy kicking a fan who tried to touch him at his Lagos concert, where he chastised fans after keeping them waiting for 7 hours, has surfaced.
Though fans eventually stayed back and enjoyed the concert despite his comments, in a video seen on the internet, Burna can be seen kicking a fan at the concert as he tried to touch his trousers.
Burna Boy while addressing fans at the show stumped on the face of an overzealous fan who attempted to climb the podium.
In the video making rounds on social media, the fan was seen as he fell off after the unexpected kick from Odogwu.
The African giant, who has sold out iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden, State Farm Arena, and a slew of other venues around the world, recently announced that he would kick off the new year with a homecoming performance in Lagos.
The event, which was slated to start by 6 p.m. Nigerian time on January 1, 2022, did not see the African Giant climb until 3:30 a.m. Nigerian time on January 2, 2022
According to several reports by the show attendees, no sort of apology was issued by the singer, but he instead went on to claim he would have left the event if not for street-hop act Seyi Vibez. According to multiple sources, the singer claims that Nigerian fans dislike him because they have spread false rumors about him and that he is family in the past.
