Burna Boy’s hype train left years ago and now the internet is basically people accusing others of not climbing aboard early enough. From his emergence after “Like to party” to “Tonight” to “Run my race” there was something about him that just stuck out, especially if you are one conscious of the direction of pop culture and its nuances. Burna was a sensation back then but he has taken that extra leap of artistic consistency (without the off-street problems which were becoming a subtle distraction) that he needed and no one, and I really mean it when I say no one, has had as good a year as Burna has had in terms of the acknowledgement of his prowess at home and recognition away from home. Artiste of the year last year and this year he looks a shoe in for the same award. He has unsheathed an unparallel level of consistency that has blitzed him into a top 3 artiste in Nigeria.  This paroxysm has led to a sort of battle to prove who was a stan in the beginning. Burna has always been good, probably not this good cos his journey shifted gears in the last 2 years and its obviously okay for people whose sensibilities had not been opened to this new level that he operates on to be able to climb aboard this ride. There’s enough room for everyone to stan.

Outside was a master piece that critics appraised and continue to testify to its acclaim. It was the perfect album to usher him into this season and time where he can’t seem to do anything wrong. African Giant is a wistful breeze through the cloudy terrains that Burna’s voice imbues on any sound. There is something about his sound that causes one to recline into his/her own mind and this awakes a subtly different consciousness even if he is asking us to “gbese” or “gbe body”. There is an air to his almost tender afrobeats sound that caresses our musical senses with genteel. He manages to retain the great elements of Outside while sticking to one linear sound (for most of the album) without straying too far from his comfort zone which allows him to create that ambience the cool cats call a vibe. The linearity of the sound allows him to maintain that ambience for most of the duration of the album. Burna whose idol has always been the iconic musician and activist Fela Kuti exacts his own critique about Nigeria’s state of affairs in his unique way and while it may not bear the jagged tendencies of much of Fela’s discography, it is encouraging to see him bearing the torch. There is something sensuous about his music that touches that sweet spot of our musical perception and the fact that he keeps the album within the confines of a linear tempo gives us enough time to achieve climax upon climax inside this bubble of rhythmic ecstasy.

“African Giant” is the first tune and its tingly afrobeat sensations dance around with our musical senses from the beginning with Burna attesting to his status and trajectory not just in Nigeria’s stratosphere but even that of the whole the continent. The hoopla that surrounded Burna’s declaration of his African Giant stance may have been slightly comedic, but he stood his ground and you really can’t argue with this seeing where he is at right now. One of the singles that preceded the projects release is “Anybody” and he maintains the mid-tempo afrobeat rhythm from the first track as he anchors us through those realms where even if the words he speaks have no bearing on us, we are swooned into his vocal bliss. “Wetin man go do” is an ode to the tireless hustle spirit within Nigerians as he while never directly praising it, alludes to it. It is the unyielding relentlessness inherent in the average Nigerian that has us trying to break away from mediocrity in a system that thrives on confining citizens within the vicious cyclical nature of poverty. It (the spirit) is not only for those who have been trapped within this disheartening cycle but even the made men, as Burna attests to on the next track “Dangote”. Nigeria’s richest man displays this characteristic while playing on a much grander field which Burna respects. This is an undeniably brilliant transition (“Wetin Man go do” to “Dangote”) that shouldn’t go unnoticed. He also mentions Otedola and Adenuga, appreciating their steadfastness in the grind. “Gum Body” features the lovely Jorja Smith as he croons about his interest on a calypso/highlife blend that Jorja surprisingly handles well. While Burna casually goes about his music on any plane he always features artistes that perform on whatever sound he puts them on (see his collabo with Lilly Allen and J hus). “Killin Dem” was one of the anthems that protruded through speakers to shake up dancefloors or any stage at all where it happened to be played. He combines effectively with Zlatan for this dance inducing jam that coincided with the popularization of the zanku dance to create a frenzy upon its release. “Omo” reverts to the mid-tempo flow and Burna is appraising an interest’s traits (comparing her to beauty to Omotola and her money to Otedola) as he seeks her to try him. Now of the songs that were not released as singles in anticipation of this work, this will definitely be a fan favourite as Serani delivers a sweet chorus beckoning an interest to keep a “Secret”, Jeremih and his indelibly autotuned sound also make a casual appearance and it makes for a fine tune. On “Collateral Damage” he entreats us Nigerian’s to fight our fear, stop the sycophancy and demand our rights. Demanding for better treatment is something he doubled down on when he demanded his name to be changed from its small fonts on the Coachella line up and say what you may, he demanded what he felt was his right, leading by example and here he is imploring us to do the same from our leaders. Fela would surely be proud. 

An intro into “Another Story” starts with a skit about the origins of British rule in Nigeria (Niger area) and Burna enlists the help of Ghanaian Manifest as they reminisce about the lying culture of their leaders and their use of propaganda in their rule. Another tune Fela would be super proud of. “Pull Up” sees him return to his Mr lover persona as he inclines an interest to pull up. It’s a romantic tune that serves up all the entreaties we have become used to on Burna’s part. Jamaican Blak Ryno delivers a skit before Burna comes back on “Destiny”, explaining how his achievements and the plaudits he is earning are tied to his destiny. He maintains that his destiny cannot be touched even if they take his life. Featuring Damian Marley is already impressive now add Angelique Kidjo into the mix and you can see how much of a big deal “Different Lies” is. They combine to shed light on our individual and collective differences. These differences lead to greater inequalities and a far greater divide within society. “Gbona” is the melodic gbedu that came as a single, it still has that innate ability to set one up in that mood to feel all the pleasures out to be felt. “On The Low” is another romantic tune that slowly inebriates with Burna’s romantic assertions, driving one into that reclusive but tuneful ecstasy where one finds oneself lost in a harmonious paradise without a care in the world. “Show & Tell” might not be as impressive as his other foreign collaborations as he and Future (Lord Scommander and grand patron of toxic masculinity) brag about their exotic lifestyle. May have missed it a bit here. “This Side” features YG and they continue the braggadocio set on the previous tune, but this holds more water. “Spiritual” is the final tune and he reverts to the sustained mid-tempo flow of the project and even though it is hard to decipher what exactly he is trying to talk about, I’m just glad he is back to his usual style.

Burna drew on the positives from Outside while honing this album and it shows. Bustling through subjects like his love interests, his miniature political activism and his realization of self-worth, he caresses each subject matter with his carefree but soothing sound that evokes unbridled feelings. When the dust settles, you will see a lot of comparisons between this album and Outside, please negate them and allow yourself to be enthralled wholesomely into what he is offering. It might not garner the acclaim of his previous release, but this is a delectable project on offer. The production aligns perfectly to his Afrocentric posture of superiority as it even emboldens even the foreign artistes to ride his wave. Do not be surprised to see this album in the running for album of the year because it has all it takes. Burna is unashamed of his African roots and lays it bare on this project while leaving his subtle anecdotes of Political activism and romantic cravings. With his originality and authenticity firmly on display on every record, its hard not to allude to him being an African Giant.

Listen to African Giant below:

Burna Boy is an African Giant.