Burna Boy’s cadre, in the music industry today is at the top. He’s achieved a status for himself, that makes him one of the A-List artists. Burna is a force to reckon, both in Africa and internationally.
The singer, who describes his style as Afro-fusion, is one of the ‘big boys’ in today’s industry. All thanks to his fusion music, which has dance hall, reggae and afrobeat influences.
He broke out, in 2012, with the summer hit “Like To Party,” which was a club Anthem in 2012. The video also enjoyed massive rotations on TV Channels, nationwide. With that, Burna Boy, became a bonafide. And he’s been dishing out more and music, since then.
He’s got three albums, an EP and two mixtapes in his nearly-a-decade career, and like I said earlier, he’s a force to reckon with.
In this edition of Mp3bullet’s “Facts You Don’t Know” series, we present to you, seven previously unknown facts about OluwaBurna.
- PORT-HARCOUT’S SON
Many people think Burna Boy’s Yoruba, because he has a powerful command of the dialect, and he vibes in Yoruba at times. But, in fact, Burna, whose real name is Damini Ogulu is a Port-Harcourt boy, and only lived in Lagos (where he must have learnt the Yoruba).
Duncan Mighty isn’t the only PH son blessing the industry, after all.
- NEXT RATED 2013
When artists don’t get Awards, we really don’t care if they were nominated or not. And that’s why many people don’t know Burna Boy also had the chance of getting the Next Rated, in 2013. Then it’d have been, Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy… But he lost to Sean Tizzle. He’s yet to get any award from The Headies, though.
- COLLABO/ HITS
Burna Boy is one of the few, if not the only artist that has worked with the powerful trio, Wizkid (Jah’s Love), Davido (Trumpet) and Olamide (Omo Wobe Anthem). He’s also worked with a wide array of top creatives including, Phyno, M.I, Shank, Skales, AKA, Major Lazer, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Airboy and more.
Interestingly, most of his biggest hits are solo (Like To Party, Tonight, Soke, Check & Balance, Yawa Dey, Ye), but still, any jam he jumps on Issa Banger. Meanwhile, he has a hit with D’banj, “Won Da Mo!”
- WEED
If Burna doesn’t roll up some joint, he can’t vibe. He cannot do without smoking some weed. You’ve probably seen him smoking weed in some of his videos, and you said to yourself “na just video he’ll be gentle in real life”? We’re not saying he’s not gentle, but I can assure you, he is to our industry what Wiz Khalifa is to America.
He’s said to be a regular face at the ‘New Afrika Shrine, and we all know Fela. (You can ask Wizkid, too!)
- FELA TATTOO
Burna Boy’s biggest influence is the late Afrobeat Legend, Fela Kuti. His granddad was Fela’s manager, and so, he probably consumed a lot of Fela materials, as a kid. You can hear it on songs like “Soke” and “Gbona.”
In 2013, Burna decided to tattoo Fela’s face, on his arm. He has a lot of tattoos, so you may not know Fela is actually on his right arm. But he is!
- DRAKE
Think Wizkid is the only Nigerian artist that has linked up with Canadian rapper, Drake? Oh, no. Burna Boy, too.
Last year, when the “God’s Plan” rapper, was working on his playlist. He reached out to Burna, for music – a possible collaboration, that is. Burna Boy had sent about four tracks to the Drake camp, including one titled “More Life,” which ended up being the name of Drake’s album.
However, Drake didn’t make use of the Burna songs. He only sampled one of ’em, and didn’t even give Burna Boy any credit. Imagine.
- 50, 000 COPIES A DAY
Burna has dropped three albums. “On A Spaceship,” “L.I.F.E” and the most recent, “Outside.”
“L.I.F.E.,” which stands for Leaving an Impact For Eternity, was said to have sold 50K copies, on the day of the release.
According to him, that was what gave him the courage to carry on with his music. So, he kept pushing.
Now, he’s one of the biggest arts on the continent!