Over the past few years, Burna Boy has become a larger-than-life figure on the international music stage, achieving soaring worldwide fame and helping to bring Afrobeats to the world alongside the likes of Wizkid, Rema, and Tems.
Ever since his breakout hit “Ye”, the Nigerian singer has been on an impressive album run, which continues with his latest project “I Told Them”, a proudly confident project that feels like Burna Boy putting together all the sound he has been nurturing and curating throughout his discography so far.
The album features big names like Dave and 21 Savage and also two guest verses from Wu-Tang legends RZA and GZA, who both add an old-school sense of flavour and wisdom to Burna Boy’s style. This old-school style is also seen on “Sittin on Top of the World”, which flaunts a club-oriented bling-era instrumental that harkens back to the early 2000s.
The song “Thanks” sees J. Cole glide over a slow-paced, introspective instrumental, sptting a typical well-penned conscious verse about overcoming struggle and reaping the rewards.
A song that seems to be going viral off the album is “City Boys”, a tongue-in-cheek boys’ anthem that’s about everything the title suggests.
Giza,” featuring Seyi Vibez, is also getting a bit of attention for its Amapiano-inspired production and instantly catchy vocals. Burna Boy mixed with Amapiano is a new musical direction that I think everyone would like to see.
So, if you’re wondering if Burna Boy has struck gold again, he most certainly has. “I Told Them” is a fantastically fun and well-produced album that includes a variety of nuanced sounds while staying true to its Nigerian core.
Written by Jake Campbell.
