Burna Boy’s rapid ascent to becoming one of this generation’s biggest international superstars is a true wonder. The Nigerian-born star brought "Afro-fusion" — an infectious blend of Afrobeats, dancehall and reggae, hip-hop and pop — to the masses all while shattering stereotypes that Africa has a singular sound.
Burna Boy’s success in Afrobeats is multi-faceted: The 31-year-old artist has refused to be put in a genre-specific box, combining playful ego with an inability to ignore the political issues in his homeland. His journey — which netted a GRAMMY win for Best Global Music Album in 2021 — continues with his sixth studio album, Love, Damini.
Released on July 8, the 19-track album was initially meant to arrive on July 2 (the artist’s birthday) as a present of sorts. It’s his most personal record yet, telling a story of the discovery (and loss) of romance, finding peace within the overwhelmingly bright lights of fame, frustrations with the Nigerian government, and throwing a party with a handful of guest artists.
"It’s a bit personal [because] it’s bringing you into my head on my birthday — when you turn 31 and ain’t got no kids, everything is going good and bad at the same time. You reflect and then you get as lit as possible," Burna Boy told Billboard of the album title in May. "Then you sleep and wake up and reflect again. I’m reflecting on everything — what I’m doing and what’s happening where I’m from. Where I’m from is a part of where I’m going."
Here are five takeaways from Burna Boy’s new album Love, Damini.
Love, Damini Is A Love Letter Not Only To Burna's Fans, But To Himself
Don’t let album titles like African Giant and Twice As Tall fool you; Burna Boy hasn’t lost his sense of gratitude. On Love, Damini, the artist flips g the spotlight from himself to his fans. The album’s title is a blatant indicator of its theme.
The appreciation for his fans is seen in jovial anthems like "Kilometre" (which instantly became a party favorite when it was first released last April). "For My Hand" reunites Burna Boy with Ed Sheeran, where he borrows the latter’s signature passionate balladry: "Whenever I'm lonely, you're there for my soul / Wherever you are, girl, that's where I call my home."
There are also elements of self-love (especially on the title track), where Burna Boy forgives himself for past feelings of anger and reveals how he continues to work on being a better man.
Burna Boy Is Still A Master At Choosing Guest Features
Part of Burna Boy's charm is attributed to his "open arms" attitude toward collaboration, which he has been doing since his 2013 debut L.I.F.E. These selected artists often reflect Burna Boy’s own cultural memoir (born and raised in Nigeria, studying in London, discovering dancehall music as a kid, finding his place in the industry stateside). The guests on Love, Damini is arguably Burna Boy’s most mainstream pop-leaning in a general sense, following his own recent features with artists like Beyoncé, Sam Smith, Justin Bieber and Becky G.
As his star status rises worldwide, so do the guest features, but don’t confuse "mainstream" with being disingenuous — Burna Boy still sticks true to his background. Nigeria is reflected in the playful Squid Games-sampling "Different Size" featuring Victony; London appears through rapper J Hus ("Cloak & Dagger") and Sheeran ("For My Hand"); "Toni-Ann Singh" featuring Popcaan is a sweltering escape to Jamaica; J Balvin brings Burna Boy to reggaeton with "Rollercoaster." America also gets shown love with the Blxst and Kehlani-assisted "Solid" and the motivational "Wild Dreams" with Khalid.
His Introspective Lyricism Has Gotten Even Deeper
"My life came turnin’ around from runnin' wild in my town to the glory," Burna Boy muses on Love, Damini's opener "Glory." We’ve gotten a glimpse of the artist’s plight with juggling massive fame on 2020’s Twice As Tall, but Burna's latest finds him pulling back the curtain on his emotions even further. "It’s Plenty" is a self-reflective groove where he hopes to leave the darkness behind him and bask in celebration ("Don't wanna waste my days / I want to spend them on enjoyment").
But it’s "How Bad Could It Be" that displays Burna Boy at his most vulnerable. The track opens with British singer Jorja Smith, Nigerian martial artist Kamaru Usman and supermodel Naomi Campbell detailing how they overcome bad moods. Burna Boy’s brooding vocals and tearful lyrics will hit close to home for many ("Get nervous, then anxiety take over your mind / And your trouble just increase in size"), while showcasing how the artist breaks diasporic taboos of discussing mental health.
"Last Last" Is A Soon-To-Be Classic
Burna Boy’s albums often have that "it" track that is immediately branded as a surefire smash. "Ye" from 2018’s Outside quickly reached signature song status and the flirty "On the Low" from 2019’s African Giant became a beloved song on social media. Now, "Last Last" joins the ranks.
This album highlight tugged at heartstrings when it first dropped in May, thanks to the combination of Burna Boy’s genuine expression of post-relationship heartache to the brilliant sample and twist of Toni Braxton’s 2000 single, "He Wasn't Man Enough." "Last Last" is laced with pure, infectious magic and will likely hold international song of the summer status for years to come.
Celebrating The Diaspora Is A Beautiful And Delicate Dance
Marrying themes of socio-political commentary, personal problems and celebration is often tricky, then throw in attempts to top charts and dominate radio without coming off as trying too hard. However, Burna Boy has yet to face this issue because he sticks to his roots. While Love, Damini may be a more sonically mellow album, it still follows his goal of highlighting the African and Caribbean diaspora. There is a beautiful balance, from the jovial anthems to shining a light on his native Nigeria’s economic issues.
Burna Boy has risen significantly on the global stage since he was first introduced in 2013, but it’s clear he’ll never falter on his musical mission — no matter how heavy his crown gets.
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