Burna Boy and thousands of his fans are not pleased that MTV awarded Jack Harlow with the song of the summer over his global chart topper “Last Last.”
The African Giant posted a video of revelers at the Notting hill Carnival in the U.K. on Monday with the caption: “Wow so many heartbroken people 😥 #LastLast #Songofthesummer.”
@burnaboyofficial Wow so many heartbroken people 😥 #LastLast #Songofthesummer
Several persons on social media lash out and accused VMAs of currying favor with Harlow who won the fan-voted category over global pop stars BTS’s Jung Kook, Doja Cat, Lizzo, and others. Jack Harlow who also co-hosted the awards alongside Video Vanguard winner Nicki Minaj, as well as Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame legend LL Cool J won with First Class.
Previously Former US President Barack Obama added the track to his his 2022 Summer Playlist and persons are saying “First Class” was a hit record, but it did not have the same impact as ‘Last Last’ or the other songs nominated by Beyonce, Doja, Lizzo and others.
Currently the music video for Last Last has 62 million views on YouTube while First Class has 59 million.
The breakup anthem took on a life of its own globally after the Nigerian singer performed it at the Billboard Music Awards in May. Soon after he revealed that the song samples Tony Braxton’s Darkchild produced “Wasn’t Man Enough,” at a cost of 60% royalties to Braxton.
Burna Boy, 31, stopped by the Million Dollars Worth Of Game Podcast where he shared the information about how the sample came about.
“I just wanted to use that sample, and I knew Chopstix(Producer) could do sumn crazy with it, so yeah, I just pointed that shit out and just take it from there , that’s one of the special creative processes ever,” he explained.
“But she is taking sixty percent of the shit,” he says with a huge grin. With the huge sample fee he hopes Toni Braxton will join him on tour for one of his shows.
“He Wasn’t Man Enough” was the lead single for Braxton’s third studio album, The Heat (2000), written by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, and Harvey Mason, Jr. The song was released by LaFace Records on February 29, 2000.
It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained there for two weeks behind the classic “Maria Maria” by Santana featuring The Product G & B. In total it spent 37 weeks on the chart. It debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart. Last Last gave Burna Boy his first top 20 UK Singles Chart hit.
Braxton also earned her fourth Grammy Award from Wasn’t Man Enough For Me for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song in 2001.
During the interview it was also revealed that Burna Boy’s Grandfather, Benson Idonije was the manager of Afrobeat music pioneer Fela Kuti. Burna says his Grandfather always gave advice along the way in his musical journey.
“He kinda made me understand that I could do this.”
– Burna Boy, on his grandfather’s influence
Burna Boy, real name Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, defines his music as Afro-fusion because he says there wasn’t anything he could identify with when he came on the scene. He also sought to break down the difference between the musical genres coming out of Africa for American audiences who may have the terms and genres confused. He explained that as Nigerian music was becoming popular and taking form, a name was needed so people referenced the name Afrobeat and added an “s” to call it Afrobeats. He maintains that he doesn’t know who is responsible for that addition but went on to educate the hosts.
“It wasn’t Afrobeats in Africa, have Highlife, we have Juju music, we have Fuji music, we have all types of music, we have South African Kwaito music, we have Amapiano now, we have all types of music, we have real African hip hop, we have afro-pop, we have all types of genres in Africa,” he says.
He continued, “So to be really sincere, for you to just call everything Afrobeats, it kinda does a disservice.”
Last Last is currently No. 1 23 countries outside of home country Nigeria on Apple Music. Burna says,
“I always knew I was bigger than the space I was in, I always knew that where I was at is not where I belong, I didn’t belong in that situation and that place I belong in the world.”
He continued, “I identify myself as a global citizen.”
Last Last is the No. 1 song on the Billboard Afrobeat Chart for another week as DJs and fans and help to push the song into mainstream territory.
