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Burna Boy Before Fame: The Untold Story of an Afrobeats Star
Burna Boy is one of the most successful and influential artists in the African music scene. He has won numerous awards, including a Grammy award for his album ‘Twice As Tall’ at the 2021 ceremony. He is known for his fusion of Afrobeats, reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop genres. He is also a vocal advocate for social justice and African unity. But before he became the African Giant that we know and respect, he was just a young boy with a passion for music and a dream to make it big. This is the untold story of Burna Boy before fame.
Early Life and Family Background
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu was born on July 2, 1991, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He is the son of Samuel Ogulu, a welder, and Bose Ogulu, a translator and former university lecturer. He has two sisters, Nissi Ogulu and Ronami Ogulu.
Burna Boy grew up in a middle-class family in Port Harcourt. He attended Montessori International School for his primary education and Corona Secondary School for his secondary education. He developed an interest in music at a young age and learned to play the drums from his grandfather, Benson Idonije, who was a music critic and manager of the legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti.
Burna Boy was influenced by various musical genres, such as Afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, R&B, hip-hop, and rock. He listened to artists like Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Snoop Dogg, DMX, 2Pac among others.
Education and Career Buildup
After graduating from high school, Burna Boy moved to London to study media technology at the University of Sussex. However, he dropped out after two years and transferred to Oxford Brookes University. He later dropped out again and returned to Nigeria.
Burna Boy then decided to pursue his music career full-time. He joined a group called Aristokrat Records in 2010 and started recording songs with producer Leriq. He also met fellow Nigerian artists like Wizkid, Davido among others.
Burna Boy’s breakthrough came in 2012 when he released his first single “Like to Party”, which became an instant hit and a club anthem. The song showcased Burna Boy’s unique style of blending Afrobeats with pop and dancehall elements. It also earned him a nomination for the Next Rated award at The Headies 2013.
Burna Boy followed up with his debut studio album L.I.F.E (Leaving an Impact For Eternity) in August 2013. The album featured more hit singles like “Tonight”, “Run My Race”, “Yawa Dey”, and “Don Gorgon”. The album was a commercial success and established Burna Boy as one of the leading artists in the Nigerian music scene.
Rise to Fame
Burna Boy did not rest on his laurels but continued to release hit singles between 2014 and 2016. Some of these include “Rockstar”, “Soke”, “Check and Balance”, “On A Very Good Day”, “Pree Me”, and “Rizzla”. He also collaborated with other African artists like Sarkodie, AKA, Wande Coal among others.
In 2015, Burna Boy left Aristokrat Records and founded his own label Spaceship Entertainment. He also signed a deal with Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group in 2017.
In January 2018, Burna Boy released his third studio album Outside, which was his first major international project. The album was supported by six singles, including “Heaven’s Gate” featuring Lily Allen, “Ye”, “Devil In California”, “Gbona”, “On The Low”, and “Killin Dem” featuring Zlatan. The album was well received by critics and fans and featured guest appearances from J Hus, Mabel among others.
In July 2019, Burna Boy released his fourth album African Giant, which was nominated for the Best World Music Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards. The album was supported by six singles, including “Dangote”, “Anybody”, “Pull Up”, “Gum Body” featuring Jorja Smith, “Omo”, and “Secret” featuring Jeremih and Serani. The album was a critical and commercial success and received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. It also featured guest appearances from Damian Marley, Future among others.
In August 2020, Burna Boy released his fifth album Twice As Tall, which won the Best Global Music Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards. The album was supported by four singles, including “Wonderful”, “Monsters You Made” featuring Chris Martin, “Real Life” featuring Stormzy, and “Way Too Big”. The album was a critical and commercial success and received positive reviews from critics and fans alike. It also featured guest appearances from Youssou N’Dour, Naughty By Nature among others.
Burna Boy released his sixth album African Giant 2 in November 2022. The album was a sequel to his 2019 album and featured collaborations with Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage among others. The album was hailed as a masterpiece and a landmark in Afrobeats history.
Conclusion
Burna Boy is a living legend and a trailblazer in the African music scene. He has produced some of the biggest hits in Nigeria and Africa and has represented the continent on the global stage. He is not only a talented musician but also a vocal advocate for social justice and African unity. He is also a philanthropist, a businessman, a cultural ambassador, and a role model.
Burna Boy’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and success. He is a testament to the fact that with hard work, dedication, and talent, anything is possible. He is truly an Afrobeats star who has made his mark on the world stage.
References
1: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/15/africa/burna-boy-grammy-award-intl/index.html 2: https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/burna-boy.html 3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burna_Boy.