Burna Boy

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8 Feb 2024

Burna Boy

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is often referred to as the "King of Afrofusion" and is credited, alongside Davido and Wizkid, for popularizing Afrobeats globally.
Burna Boy gained prominence in 2012 with the release of "Like to Party," the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2017, he signed with Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music Group internationally, leading to the release of his third studio album, Outside (2018).

In 2019, Burna Boy won the Best International Act at the BET Awards and was named an Apple Music Up Next artist. He also released his fourth studio album, African Giant, which won Album of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards and received a Grammy nomination for Best World Music Album. He followed this success with his fifth studio album, Twice as Tall, in 2020, which won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.

In 2022, Burna Boy released his sixth studio album, Love, Damini, which achieved significant success internationally, including debuting at the highest position of an African album on the Billboard 200 chart. He was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic plaque for his contributions to music in Nigeria. Rolling Stone ranked him as one of the greatest singers of all time in 2023, and he won his fourth Best International Act at the BET Awards the same year. Additionally, he received awards at The Headies for his contributions to Afrobeats music.

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. His mother, Bose Ogulu, worked as a language translator, while his father, Samuel, managed a wedding company. Interestingly, his maternal grandfather, Benson Idonije, had once managed the legendary musician Fela Kuti. Later on, Burna Boy's mother took on the role of his manager.

Growing up in Southern Nigeria, Burna Boy developed an early interest in music production and began making his own beats using software like FL Studio. He attended Corona Secondary School in Agbara, Ogun State, and then pursued further studies in London, England. He studied media technology at the University of Sussex from 2008 to 2009, followed by media communications and culture at Oxford Brookes University from 2009 to 2010.
After his time in the UK, Burna Boy returned to Port Harcourt and undertook a year-long internship at Rhythm 93.7 FM. It was during this period that he decided to pursue a career in music, and upon returning to Lagos, he began actively working on establishing himself as a musician.

Burna Boy's debut studio album, L.I.F.E, was released on August 12, 2013, marking a significant milestone in his career. It followed his second mixtape, Burn Identity, which was released in 2011. Upon its release, L.I.F.E garnered considerable attention, selling 40,000 copies on the day of its release. The marketing rights were later sold to Uba Pacific by Aristokrat Records for ₦10 million.
The album boasted five singles released prior to its launch: "Like to Party", "Tonight", "Always Love You", "Run My Race", and "Yawa Dey". Produced entirely by Leriq, L.I.F.E featured notable guest appearances from artists such as 2face Idibia, M.I Abaga, Timaya, Olamide, Reminisce, and Wizkid, among others.

Drawing inspiration from legendary musicians like Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Bob Marley, the album showcased Burna Boy's musical versatility and unique style. Critics praised its production quality, and it received generally positive reviews. L.I.F.E was even nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
In August 2013, L.I.F.E achieved significant success, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
Following his departure from Aristokrat Records in 2014, Burna Boy established his own record label, Spaceship Entertainment, in February 2015. This move allowed him greater creative freedom and control over his music career.
His second studio album, On a Spaceship, was released on November 25, 2015, marking another milestone in Burna Boy's journey as an artist. Additionally, he released his debut extended play, Redemption, in September 2016, which featured the lead single "Pree Me", debuting on Noisey.

On January 19, 2018, Burna Boy collaborated with American rock band Fall Out Boy on the song "Sunshine Riptide", featured on Fall Out Boy's seventh studio album, Mania. Just a week later, on January 26, 2018, Burna Boy released his third studio album, Outside. Described by Burna Boy as a mixtape, Outside incorporated elements of afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, and road rap. The album featured guest appearances from English musicians J Hus, Lily Allen, and Mabel.
Outside was supported by six singles: "Rock Your Body", "Streets of Africa", "Koni Baje", "Sekkle Down", "Heaven's Gate", and "Ye". Its production was handled by a talented roster of producers, including Leriq, Baba Stiltz, Jae 5, Juls, Chopstix, Steel Banglez, Fred Gibson, Phantom, and FTSE.
The album received widespread critical acclaim, earning praise for its production quality and Burna Boy's musical versatility. It was ranked as the best Nigerian album of 2018 by Pulse Nigeria and Nigerian Entertainment Today. Furthermore, it won Album of the Year at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Outside debuted at number three on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart in February 2018, solidifying Burna Boy's growing international presence. The single "Ye" from the album topped numerous year-end lists as the biggest song of 2018 in Nigeria.
In October 2018, Burna Boy performed to a sold-out crowd at London's O2 Academy Brixton, demonstrating his increasing popularity on the global stage. Additionally, he was named as one of Spotify's Afro Hub takeover artists and YouTube's Artist on the Rise for three months.
In January 2019, Burna Boy was announced as one of the performers at the prestigious Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. He went on to win four awards at the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, further solidifying his status as one of Africa's top musical talents.
Throughout 2019, Burna Boy continued to make waves in the music industry, releasing a collaborative EP with DJDS titled Steel & Copper, winning the Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards, and being named an Apple Music Up Next artist. He also contributed to Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack with the track "Ja Ara E".

In July 2019, Burna Boy released his highly anticipated fourth studio album, African Giant. Supported by six singles, including "Gbona", "On the Low", and "Anybody", the album showcased Burna Boy's growth as an artist and his ability to blend various musical influences. African Giant was praised for its personal and introspective lyrics, marking a significant milestone in Burna Boy's career.
Throughout 2019, Burna Boy continued to break barriers and make history, becoming the first Afrobeats artist to sell out the SSE Arena and receiving special recognition for his achievements. His collaboration with Stormzy on the single "Own It" further solidified his position as a global music icon.