In the ever-evolving world of music, Nigerian sensation Burna Boy, real name Damini Ogulu, stands as a beacon of creativity and originality. His 7th studio album, “I Told Them…,” was released early on August 24, 2023, and is already sending shockwaves through the industry. The album features a star-studded lineup with flows and melodies that push boundaries and already, the album is the fasted African album to reach top 5 on US iTunes chart.
Rapper turned podcaster Joe Budden while admitting Burna is “the biggest artist in the world” has taken issue with Burna Boy’s Talibans 2 Remix with Byron Messia. The song which cracked the Hot 100 at No. 99 is a remix of Messia’s breakout hit Talibans, but it’s on “I Told Them…” now with Burna Boy as the lead singer. Joe thinks this will work against Byron.
“I am never a fan of people doing that (giving away the heat), to the biggest artist in the world, yeah I am not a fan of when that happens. if you make the heat go work it, if Burna Boy is on it, that should be yours now, but unless you not paying for it, I don’t know the business. And as an artist you need turn down the look but I don’t remember that going well for somebody,” the Pump It Up rapper said.
The remix was released July 21 via Spaceship/Bad Habit/Atlantic Records, and has so far sold more than 30,000 units in the US. according to data provided to WMV by Luminate, the highest single sales for Messia’s career so far.
Joe then drew reference to hip hop collaborations where a bigger artists took a lesser known artist’s single and it worked against the new act,” Designer and Kanye I was vehemently against it.”
Joe Budden crowns Burna Boy as the biggest artist in the world…
— ChartsAfrica 📊 (@chartsafrica) August 23, 2023
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Still the album is out and the bonus track is Talibans 2, so let’s dive in:
The Road to “I Told Them…”
The journey to “I Told Them…” began with Burna Boy’s previous Afro-fusion album, “Love, Damini,” released in July 8, 2022 following his sold out Madison Square Garden shows. After its release, he embarked on a global tour that spanned North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and the Caribbean. A defining moment occurred on June 3, 2023, when he took the stage at London Stadium, to a crowd of 60,000.
Burna Boy made history as the first African artist to headline a stadium tour in the UK. He cryptically hinted at the album title, proclaiming, “I told them that I’m a genius.”
Singles
Riding on the fact that he is the most streamed African artist on YouTube so far this year, he released “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” a sample of Brandy and Mase’s “Top Of The World” on May 31, 2023, setting the stage for the direction of the album. A month later, Burna Boy surprised fans with a remix of the track featuring 21 Savage, further solidifying his global appeal.
He dropped “Talibans II,” after visiting Jamaica to record the song and shoot a music video in collaboration with Byron Messia. This track showcased Burna Boy’s versatility and his ability to seamlessly blend genres.
The official announcement of “I Told Them…” came on July 27, 2023, accompanied by an electrifying album trailer and the release of “Big 7,” which earned Burna the biggest streaming debut for a solo song by an African artist on Spotify of all time.
This track was accompanied by a star-studded music video directed by Benny Boom, featuring appearances by RZA, Busta Rhymes, Junior Mafia, and Shameik Moore. It was evident that Burna Boy was aiming for the American audience both with the samples and the cameos.
The album itself is a kaleidoscope of talent, featuring guest appearances from 21 Savage, Dave, Seyi Vibez, J. Cole, GZA and RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, and Byron Messia (the only dancehall artist on the album).
The Producers Behind the Magic
Behind the scenes, producers’ credits go to Danitello, Ej Fya, Kelly Blatz, MD$, Mike Wavvs, Otis Skread, Spaceship Billy, and Super Miles.
Burna Boy’s “I Told Them…” is more than just an album; it’s a statement of his genius and a testament to his commitment to pushing musical boundaries. With this release, Burna Boy has firmly established himself as a global musical force, and “I Told Them…” stands as a testament to his ongoing legacy in the world of music.
If thats not enough the full Track-list can be found no a billboard in New York City.
