NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� While classmates dreamed of becoming teachers, doctors and professional athletes, on his future aspirations.
鈥淭hey would hand out the papers and the question would be, 鈥榃hat you wanna be?鈥� 鈥� I鈥檇 write 鈥榬ock star,鈥欌�� 鈥淥ne of my teachers asked me, 鈥榃hat do rock stars do?鈥� I didn鈥檛 really know what to say.鈥�
These days, the Grammy winner鈥檚 music talks for him. Fresh off becoming the first African artist to sell out Paris鈥� iconic Stade de France in April, Burna Boy has been on an incredible run, and hopes it continues with his new album out Friday.
鈥溾�橬o Sign of Weakness鈥� is really like a celebration of the fact that that I鈥檓 still here throughout all these years and all the trials and tribulations,鈥� explained the Nigerian artist. 鈥淚 decided to intentionally make sure everyone on this project could comfortably and genuinely say they鈥檙e a rock star.鈥�
Following 2023鈥檚 Grammy-nominated 鈥淚 Told Them鈥�,鈥� this project includes blockbuster features, like legendary , country hitmaker Shaboozey and hip-hop heavyweight Travis Scott.
Writing on all 16 tracks, Burna relied on his standard successful creation process: record constantly, choose some songs from his vault that fit his decided theme, and then craft the project around them. He's already dropped 鈥淏undle by Bundle,鈥� 鈥淯pdate,鈥� which features an interpolation of Soul II Soul鈥檚 classic 鈥淏ack To Life,鈥� 鈥淪weet Love鈥� and 鈥淭aTaTa鈥� featuring Scott.
in recent years. Regions in Africa and the Middle East reached double-digit gains in music revenue last year, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. In 2023, the group reported that sub-Saharan Africa was the fastest-growing music industry, with artists like Burna, Davido and Wizkid leading the way, along with
鈥淚 feel blessed. I also feel great responsibility 鈥� I鈥檓 blamed for everything, most especially, things I couldn鈥檛 possibly be responsible for,鈥� said Burna, alluding to demands in Nigeria. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 vote, and I鈥檝e never done it. But now, it鈥檚 to the point where even that: if I don鈥檛 vote, because I don鈥檛 say I鈥檒l vote for this person or vote for that person, it鈥檚 a problem.鈥�
But that weight of responsibility isn鈥檛 felt on his eighth studio album. 鈥淒em Dey,鈥� a tongue-in-cheek bop referencing his gossipy social media scandal with a Nigerian influencer which amused fans, is sure to crowd dance floors, while he and Jagger formed a dynamic duo on the Afrobeat-rock hybrid 鈥淓mpty Chairs.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I see the future of our music 鈥� music that鈥檚 supposed to last, music that you can perform forever,鈥� said Burna, who collaborated with the 81-year-old by trading ideas through WhatsApp after being connected by supermodel Naomi Campbell. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where I want to be when I鈥檓 that age.鈥�
For his country-infused 鈥淐hange Your Mind鈥� with Shaboozey, the pair plead for second chances after souring relationships.
鈥淗ere鈥檚 an Igbo boy from the eastern part of Nigeria who comes to America as a young guy,鈥� said Burna of the 鈥淎 Bar Song (Tipsy)鈥� singer. 鈥淗e鈥檚 flourishing in the country world. If I鈥檓 not proud of that, then I don鈥檛 think I can be proud of anything in life.鈥�
The Afrobeats superstar, currently featured on the movie starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, hopes the genre continues to thrive and not become a fad. But while the female artists are united, the top men have experienced friction in the past.
鈥淲e need to figure how to make our diversities into an advantage instead of a disadvantage, and that goes across 鈥� not just for Nigeria," said Burna, whose grandfather managed Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti. "It goes for everything Black and African, because the only thing we always lack is strong organization.鈥�
While , Burna Boy is cautious.
鈥淲hen we鈥檙e talking about uniting ... We鈥檙e talking about people who actually can help matters,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to discuss with people that it鈥檚 just going to end up a discussion, and there鈥檚 not going to be any action.鈥�
For the moment, he鈥檚 pressing forward. The 鈥淟ast Last鈥� artist launched his world tour this week with North American dates beginning in November. It features a circular stage, providing fans an equally enjoyable musical experience 鈥� although he鈥檚 certain he鈥檒l enjoy it more.
鈥淭his is going to sound selfish as hell 鈥� but I definitely have more fun than everybody 鈥� when I die, I want to go to a stage in Heaven,鈥� said Burna. 鈥淓very time I watch myself perform, I see a big smile on my face that I never see anywhere else.鈥�
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Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
