2024 NAACP Image Awards: 5 Tracks that Showcase Burna Boy's Unique Sound
There’s no denying that Burna Boy is one of the biggest and most talented international icons to emerge from Africa’s rich music scene. His star power, cemented by eight defining studio albums, has led to history-making achievements, revolutionary music, and the birth of a new sound out of the dominating Afrobeats movement, elevated by the African giant himself. It’s no wonder he branded his signature style of music and fusing of cultures — it stands out above the rest.
For years, Burna Boy has boasted his self-defined Afro-fusion sound—an infectious genre-bending blend of Afrobeat, dancehall and reggae, hip-hop, and pop. He’s spread this pioneering vision to the masses worldwide, which helped him transcend borders and leave an undisputable mark on the music industry. While it’s impossible to shrink Burna Boy’s vast discography to one short list, here are five tracks that reveal the Grammy-winning afro-fusionist’s distinctive global sound.
“City Boys”
Burna Boy’s fan-favorite song “City Boys” perfectly exemplifies his ability to spur his unique style into a familiar yet totally transformed hit. With a sample of Jeremih's classic song "Birthday Sex,” the Nigerian-born singer made a floor-stomping smash out of his sexy shenanigans.
“Sittin’ On Top of the World” feat. 21 Savage
“Sittin’ On Top of the World,” featuring 21 Savage, is a true testament to Burna Boy’s wide-reaching appeal. The song, which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100, sampled Brandy’s 1998 Ma$e-assisted track “Top of the World,” turning the beloved R&B and hip-hop classic into a modern victory jam about Burna Boy’s life as a global megastar.
“Ye”
Burna Boy’s “Ye” is the game-changing Afro-fusion single that shifted everything into focus for him. The song became a massive hit of epic proportions and quickly became Nigeria's unofficial modern-day national anthem. It’s also part of the reason why Burna Boy arose as one of Nigeria’s biggest success stories.
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“Anybody”
Following the success of “Ye,” Burna Boy offered his groovy song “Anybody,” featuring the signature diaspora-connecting production that catapulted him to stardom. The head-nodding track was one of the handful of standouts from the singer’s Grammy-nominated album, “African Giant.”
“Last Last”
Burna Boy held the summer down when he released his 2022 Billboard-charting hit “Last Last,” also considered one of the biggest songs of that year. Leaning again on old-school R&B samples, the superstar singer turned Toni Braxton's 2000 track “He Wasn't Man Enough” into an upgraded, captivating Afrobeat anthem, earning him a Grammy nomination.
Watch the NAACP Image Awards Sat, March 16 at 8/9 pm on BET.
