Among the crop of Nigerian stars succeeding on a global scale, few burn as bright as
Burna Boy. After breaking into the mainstream with 2019's
African Giant, the singer cemented his international status with the success of 2022's
Love, Damini, which hit number 14 on the U.S. pop chart and nearly topped the U.K.'s top position. After a tour playing to packed houses in North America and Europe,
Burna sold out London Stadium, becoming the first African artist to headline a U.K. stadium tour. Released in August 2023, his seventh album is something of a victory lap. He addresses that concert in particular on the title track, singing "I told them I'm a genius, had to show them what the meaning is" alongside a guest spot from
Wu-Tang legend
GZA, the latest in a series of high-profile guests who have joined him in the studio.
RZA gets in the game, too, offering up a spoken affirmation on the brief "12 Jewels." Other guests include
J. Cole,
21 Savage, and
Seyi Vibez, but of course they are only guests; this is
Burna's party and he is operating at the top of his game. Despite the cockiness of its title, his songs remain pleasingly mellow and eclectic, working through a range of styles (highlife, dancehall, Afro-Cuban) and delivering memorable hooks and melodies with the confidence of his status. ~ Timothy Monger