Who is Burna Boy? His story and best songs
Are you from Africa and a fan of reggae-dancehall music? In that case, there is no missing out on this Nigerian dancehall artist. Yes! I am talking about none other than the heartthrob, Burna Boy. Our African continent is known for its beautiful culture and art. Many musicians who were produced here went ahead to become renowned artists because of their talents and persona. Born on 2nd July 1991, Burna Boy is one of those extraordinary artists who has made Nigeria proud with his trendy music. He has won the hearts of many with his music and he has amassed a huge fan-following. Take a few minutes off your busy schedule and check out this post discussing Burna Boy's life and reggae music.
Burna Boy profile
Born: 2nd July 1991
Age: 27 as of 2018 come July
Origin: Mbiama, Rivers State, Nigeria
Occupation: Singer, dancer, performer, songwriter
Famous for: Afroabeat songs
Facebook: @Officialburnaboy
Twitter: @burnaboy
Instagram: @burnaboygram
Burna Boy biography
Born on 2nd July 1991, Burna Boy age is only 27 and he is a renowned singer and songwriter from Nigeria. Famous by the name Burna Boy, this Nigerian artist was originally named Damini Ogulu. He was born and brought up in the Garden City of Port Hacourt by a wealthy family.
Damini Ogulu believes his music to be different from many others. He calls his music Afro Fusion which has the influence of Fela, Ninja Man, Buju Banton, Super Cat and a few others. His songs are a combination of Afro Beats, R&B, dancehall, and Hip Hop. It is hard to come across musicians who are able to deliver different kinds of music in a proper way, but Burna has been able to do that. Some of his music touches controversial issues while others are all about dancing and living the moment.
Burna Boy education
Burna's is well-educated and he has completed both primary and secondary school. He attained primary education from Montessori international School, after which, Ogulu moved to Lagos and joined Corona Secondary School, Agbara; where he completed his secondary education. He later went to the United Kingdom for higher studies; and that is where his passion for music sparked.
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Burna Boy career
Burna Boy came back to Nigeria with an aim to take his music career to the professional platform; he made his entry into the scene in the year 2010. He signed a 2 year contract with Aristokrat Records, made his own songs and launched them. The first song from Burna Boy was Abeg Abeg Abeg. He did good but was restricted to his hometown until the release of Like to Party in 2012. This song was released after he moved to Lagos. Like to Party got Burna, the public and the media's attention. He climbed higher on the charts. The song was a good hit because the fizz it created never ceased to exist. From being just an inner-city musician, he turned into an international celebrity.
He went on to release more songs afterwards which took him as far as becoming one of the best Dancehall/ Raggae acts in Nigeria. One of his albums sold over 50,000 copies on its first day. Kind of a big deal, would you not say?
While signed with Aristokrat Records, Burna Boy launched two mixtapes back in 2011, viz. Burn Identity, and Burn Notice. His first song, Abeg Abeg Abeg is from Burn Notice, and so is the dancehall inclined song Wombo Lombo Something. Another one of his hits Sweetest Girl ft Leriq belongs to the same album. In 2013, he released the album named L.I.F.E. It stands for "Leaving an Impact For Eternity". On A Spaceship followed in 2015; and in 2016, Redemption, his extended play was launched.
Burna Boy family
Have you heard of Fela Anikulapo Kuti? I am assuming you have; i.e, if you followed the older music scene or love classic music. Popular as Fela or Fela Kuti, Anikulapo hailed from Nigeria and was a musician, multi-instrumentalist and composer. Well, Burna's grandfather, Benson Idons was the manager for this famous celebrity. One probable reason behind his passion for music.
It seems to be true when people say you learn from your surroundings and adapt according to what you have seen, heard and taught. Damini was born to Bose and Samuel Ogulu. His father, Samuel used to be a huge fan of reggae, dancehall, and Jamaican music. Every Sunday, he would play his collection of such music and some Afro Beats from vinyls, records, and CDs- another reason behind Burna's love for reggae/ dancehall music. Bose Ogulu, his mother used to be his manager for a while. Cool, right? Enough to understand where he gets his passion from. It runs down through the family. During his childhood days, Burna Boy's girlfriend introduced him to R&B music. No wonder the influence of the genre can be traced in some of his songs.
Burna has a younger sister who goes by the name Nissi Ogulu. That is her below:
Burna Boy accomplishments
Damini Ogulu has worked hard to make his mark in the Nigerian dancehall scene and his efforts have not gone in vain. He has been able to secure a few awards and nominations to his name. It is easy to guess how tough it can be to win an award; let alone the "Best New Act of the Year", which he won from Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2013. In the same year, South South Music Awards awarded him with the "Best Pop" title. He also earned nomination for "Next Rated".
In the following year, Burna obtained the "Best New Act" award from MTV Africa Music Awards, as well as Nigeria Entertainment Awards' "Best Album of the Year". It was in the same year that he was nominated four more times, for different titles- "Hip Hop Revelation of the Year, Best R&B/Pop Album, Best R&B Single, and Album of the Year".
He was nominated again in 2015, for the "Best Pop Artiste of the Year" from Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Even with so much to his name, Burna Boy net worth is but only a guess.
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Burna Boy new album
Chill out, for your wait for Burna Boy's latest album has finally come to an end. You heard it right; new album, and it is named Outside. This album will feature 13 tracks and you will see him in his signature dancehall flavour, as he delivers fun-packed songs from the beginning to end.
The album will open with his song More Life. Burna Boy revealed that he had originally written the song for Drake. It is among the five songs he worked on for his project with Drake. Out of the five, Drake and his team chose More Life and confirmed it would be used in the project which clearly did not happen. What happened is that the whole project of Drake was called More Life, and it broke many streaming charts while also making it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart. Sadly, no credits were given to the Nigerian dancehall musician whatsoever.
"This [More Life] is produced by Baba Stiltz and it's actually a tune I recorded for the More LifeDrake album. It ended up being an Outro type thing to a song. I ended up making the whole song mine, and made it the first track on my album."
Leaving all the sad songs aside, I am pretty excited about Outside. It has been a while since he has hit us with his latest songs. Burna Boy tracks have been fun and meaningful, and this album is definitely going to be just as awesome.
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Burna Boy latest news
Not much has been heard about this celeb ever since the controversy last year, which included fellow musician Mr. 2Kay leveling allegation against him for physical assault and robbery. People probably expected the dancehall musician to lay low until the clearing but he seemed to be having all the fun while Burna Boy manager Joel Kantiock along with 3 other suspects deteriorate in Prison.
On being accused, Burna pleaded not guilty. He was given a bail of 100,000 Naira with two sureties until the matter cleared. Whatever is going on, Burna is focused on his work and is already up with his latest album Outside.
The suspects involved in the case are Baloguun Ademola, Tunmise Omotore, Obinna Igwe, and Burna's road manager Joel Kantiock. What has been raising the brows of many is why Burna, alone, was granted the bail but not the other few.
Nothing can be said until more updates on this matter is put forward.
List of Burna Boy songs and albums
1. L.I.F.E. - Leaving an Impact for Eternity [2013]
- My Life (Intro)
- No No No
- Say So
- Abeg Abeg Abeg (Remix) ft. 2face Idibia & Timaya
- Na so E Suppose Be
- Run My Race
- Boom Boom Boom
- Yawa Dey
- Ma Loda Ma Motto
- Tonight
- Like to Party
- Smooth Sailing
- Don't Run ft. Reminisce and Olamide
- Jahs Love Is True ft. Wizkid
- Remember Me (Outro)
2. On A Spaceship [2015]
- Intro
- Oluwa Burna
- The Realest
- Mine Tonight ft. Nyanda
- Ring Ring
- Single ft. Wizkid
- Sampudi
- As e Be (Skit)
- Rizzla
- Jealousy
- Duro Ni Be ft. Phyno
- Another One
- Before ft. Flavour
- Trance
- On a Very good Day ft. Wande Coal
- Birthday ft. AKA, Kid X & Da Les
- Gone
- Mi O Ni Gba
- If People Must Die
- Soke
3. Redemption (EP) [2016]
- Pree Me
- Fa so LaTi Do
- Boshe Nlo
- Mary Jane
- Body to Body #ycd
- Plenty Song
- We On
4. Outside [2018]
- More Life
- City Vibration
- Koni Baje
- Sekkle Down ft. J Hus
- Where I'm From
- Heaven's Gate ft. Lily Allen
- Ye
- Giddem
- Street of Africa
- Rock Your Body
- Devil In California
- Calm Down
- Outside
Source: YEN.com.gh
