Burna Boy, a.k.a Odogwu, concluded the final lap of his year-long Love Damini tour at the GelreDome Arnhem stadium in Netherlands on July 23, 2023.
After breaking and setting records as the first African artist to sell out four stadia shows in less than a year, he took to social media to announce the end of the tour and a brand new single in the same tweet.
But the biggest excitement was the news of his forthcoming album.
According to Chuka Obi, who worked as a creative director on Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall album, all ‘Outsiders’ should get their plates, Damini is coming again with a fantastic feast. Here’s what we know about the coming album.
It’s out in August
Burna Boy’s new album arrives in August, although the exact date hasn’t been revealed yet. Would it be odd to note that Burna has put out his last three albums (African Giant, Twice As Tall and Love, Damini) between July and August of 2019, 2022 and 2022?
He’s not resting after tour
I’m beginning to think that Burna Boy doesn’t need rest, it’s rest that needs him. He just finished his tour a few days ago, and he’s already gearing to drop a new music project. You know what that means? Another international tour is just around the corner.
His 7th album
When this album joins his discography in August, it’ll become his seventh studio album. His eleventh music project if we include mixtapes like the 2011 Burn Notice (2011), the 2012 Burn Identity (and 2016’s Redemption and Steel And Copper with DJDS in 2019. Workrate >>>>
There is no title or tracklist yet
Trying to predict what the album title could be futile because Burna is unconventional. Burna Boy’s albums usually have between fifteen to twenty tracks. If he can’t perform it for almost an hour at his show, it’s not Burna album material.
Exciting features
There’s news of heavy international features from J. Cole and legendary Wu-tang members GZA and RZA. With these names on deck, Burna Boy might be rapping this time. You can hear J. Cole’s voice rapping on what seems to be their collabo in the background.
American producer Swizz Beat also previewed a song with Burna; it sounds like a summer bop. Time is going, they should drop the new album quickly, we can’t wait to hear it.
Only one Naija feature
Since 2019, Burna Boy has featured only one Nigerian artist per album — Zlatan Ibile (African Giant) and Victony (Love, Damini). It’s been pointed out that he’s doing the same thing this time, too. We just have to wait and find out which Nigerian act it is.
The singles
Before Sittin’ On Top Of The World was released on June 1st, 2023, he played the song for RZA in a video he posted on social media (the linkup makes sense now after hearing the Wu-tang member is on the album). On June 22, Sittin’ On Top Of The World was re-released with a guest feature from American rapper, 21 Savage; we hope it makes the album. If not, maybe the Big 7 single coming out Friday, 28th of July, will.
Looks more like Hip-Hop than Afrobeats
We might be getting a Hip-Hop album from Burna Boy. All the signs are there; from the sounds of his latest single to the features from American rap titans. Also, he’s one of the few Nigerian artists that can’t be boxed in. Give Burna any style or genre of music; murder is the case. It’s not hard to tell African Giant is about to feed us ferocious rhymes and bars.
