Less than a decade into his career, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy has climbed to heights most of his contemporaries in the Nigerian music industry can only dream of. But none higher than his ‘Best Global Music Album’ nomination for his 2020 album “Twice As Tall” at the 2021 Grammys. Here’s all you need to know about Nigeria’s biggest international superstar of the moment:
A: Aristokrat Records, run by Priye Isokrari, was the label that first signed Burna Boy to a professional contract in 2012.
B: Burn Notice series – a run of 2 mixtapes (Burn Notice & Burn Identity) that Burna Boy released in 2011 just before signing professionally to Aristokrat records.
C: The Calabar Carnival is where he first performed on stage for the first time.
D: Don Gorgon – another alias he goes by.
E: Burna Boy is the first Nigerian artiste to be nominated for an MTV EMA, a BET award and a grammy in the same year.
F: In “Freedom Freestyle,” off his Burn Series mixtapes, he tells the story of his run in with the law in the UK which led to him being banned from entering the country for a few years.
G: Gambo – the name of Burna Boy’s childhood best friend who passed away. He’s named in at least five Burna Boy songs and he also has a tattoo of his name on his torso.
H: Burna Boy was really high when he made “Ye” after Shina Peller convinced him to record the song while he turned up at the club owned by Peller.
I: Internationally, he has inked deals with Spotify, appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Tiny Desk by NPR, Genius, Apple Music’s Up Next, among others.
J: On July 23rd, 2019, Burna Boy appeared on late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, becoming only the second Nigeria to appear on US late night TV.
K: A producer named Kel P produced 10 out of the 19 songs on Burna Boy’s ‘African Giant’ album.
L: LIFE (Leaving an Impact For Eternity) was Burna Boy’s debut studio album. It was released on 12 August 2013.
M: Mbiama, in Ahoda West Local Government area, Rivers State is where Burna Boy’s family is from.
N: Nissi Ogulu, his second sister is also a musician and tours with him performing her music as an opening act.
O: “On A Spaceship” is Burna Boy’s second album and his first on his own label, Spaceship Entertainment.
P: Port Harcourt – where Burna Boy was born and the city he returned to on his return from the UK. The first makings of Burna Boy the artiste started in this city.
Q: Quilox Night Club, located in Victoria Island Lagos, is where he recorded his mega hit song, “Ye”. The club has a studio and restaurant on its premises and he has said he is close friends with the owner, Shina Peller.
R: Ronami Ogulu is Burna Boy’s younger sister and also his stylist.
S: “Steel & Copper” is a collaborative EP he did with Los Angeles-based electronic duo DJDS. It was released in March 2019.
T: Treehouse Studio, owned by producer Leriq, is where he first started recording music.
U: Under his distribution deal, he retains the right to distribute his music and the proceeds thereof on the African continent.
V: Burna Boy has contributed verses as a guest artiste to over 30 songs since 2012.
W: Burna Boy signed an international distribution deal with Warner Music in 2017.
X: Burna Boy has openly advocated against Xenophobia in Africa, especially South Africa.
Y: “Ye,” released as a single off his third studio album “Outside” is his biggest song yet.
Z: In March 2019, at a show in Zambia, Burna Boy kicked a fan who was trying to rob him of his ring, almost pulling him into the crowd. Burna Boy later apologized.
Extras:
* Burna Boy released his fifth studio album, ‘Twice As Tall’ on August 14, 2020, under his Spaceship Entertainment record label. It debuted at number 54 on the Billboard 200. The album got him his second Grammy nomination in the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category this year.
* The ‘Twice As Tall’ album features Chris Martin, Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour, Naughty by Nature, Kenyan band, Sauti Sol, Stormzy, Leriq, Timbaland, Anderson Paak and several others. Grammy-award-winner, Sean Diddy Combs co-executive produced the album alongside Burna Boy’s mom, Bose Ogulu.
* In 2020, Burna Boy won the ‘Best International Act’ at the BET AWards, Edison Awards, and MOBO Awards. He received a nomination in that same category at the Brit Awards.
* He has collaborated with some of the biggest acts across the world like Beyonce, Sam Smith, Stormzy, Dave, Pop Smoke, Major Lazer, J Hus, DJ Snake, Rita Ora, Vybz Cartel, Becky G, and many more.
* The 29-year-old is scheduled to perform at the 63rd Annual Grammys.
* Burna Boy has a tattoo of the Nigerian Coat of Arms on his arm. The words ‘Omo Naija’ (Nigerian child) are inscribed around it.
* Burna Boy is managed by his mother, Bose Ogulu.
* Burna Boy’s grandfather, Benson Idonije, is Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s first band manager and publicist.
* He also has Psalm 38 tatted on his right arm, which he says he got at a dark time in his life.
* He is the only featured act with a solo song on Beyonce’s Lion King: The Gift album. The album is also in contention for the ‘Best Pop Vocal Album’ award at this year’s Grammys.
* His father’s name is Samuel Ogulu.