It has been a couple of years since Afrobeats has made its way overseas and hit the mainstream waves in the US. The genre is quickly rising to become a staple sound in the music that we hear today. As an individual raised in a Nigerian household and the culture, it is something beautiful to see. Many artists are continuing to put out quality work such as Wizkid, Davido, Maleek Berry, etc.
There is a particular artist that has been an underdog in the African music industry that is stepping out and showing his true potential. Burna Boy is a powerhouse and has been working with many American music artists. The Nigerian singer-songwriter has stepped out and released his highly anticipated album African Giant.
African Magnificence
While the album is about 19 tracks and approximately an hour long, Burna Boy shows that he has found his lane and a clear direction with his sound. Upon listening, there is a heavy Fela Kunti influence while still maintaining the sound of modern Afrobeats. Along with that, he also touches different genres such as pop, hip-hop, and some R&B. Although the Nigerian artist touches on many topics familiar to his music such as love, the standout theme was more on the political side of things. Burna Boy maintains a balance between the vibes as well as educating people on the culture.
Another aspect of the album that stood out was the features. The tracklist featured many familiar names in the game such as Jorja Smith, Damian Marley, Jeremih, and more. Each and every one of them brought the right amount of spice to the tracks they were on. However, there was hesitation in regards to Future and YG on the tracklist but surprisingly they didn’t throw it off.
Overall, Burna Boy shows immense growth throughout the entire project. He is stepping up and owning up to his rightful respects when it comes to him being in the industry. The album was exceptional and we should definitely keep an eye opened to what he has in store next.
