[b][/b]“Burna Boy’s - I Told Them (Album) Review”

Burna Boy has always possessed a deep sense of his own greatness. While it might seem like he only recently started to express this, the Nigerian artist specializing in Afro-fusion (preferring it over the term Afrobeats) has consistently been his most fervent self-promoter.

In 2019, he called out Coachella for downplaying his name on their lineup and placing him in a less prominent position. This occurred just as he was beginning to establish himself on the international stage. His tracks “Ye” and “Heaven’s Gate,” the latter featuring Lily Allen, achieved reasonable success, further building on his significant influence in his home country. However, when he proclaimed himself an “African Giant” in the context of his Coachella criticism, it appeared slightly premature.

Yet, Burna Boy wasn’t feigning a persona. Instead, he was providing a glimpse of the identity he would eventually embody. This is clearly evident in his most recent album, “I Told Them…”.

“I Told Them…” is a meticulously crafted Afropop album punctuated with instances of self-assuredness that feel less like boastfulness and more like the realization of a pledge made. Throughout the album, Burna unequivocally conveys that he’s living up to the anticipation he’s cultivated, and he desires everyone, especially those who doubted him (whether real or imagined), to acknowledge this evolution. The album commences with the samba-infused track “I Told Them,” an audacious piece where Burna confidently raps over gentle guitar melodies and moderate drum beats. “I told them I was the realest, but they didn’t believe it/I told them they were gonna see this, for some reason they didn’t believe it,” he croons.

Since his 2019 release “African Giant,” the album that truly propelled him to global stardom, Burna Boy has achieved historic milestones. He became the first Nigerian artist to sell out New York’s Madison Square Garden and the initial African artist to pack a stadium in the United States. His music has resonated across the world, and it’s this broad impact that occupies his thoughts in this project. The tracks on “I Told Them…” are meticulously written, occasionally tender, and adeptly balance gravitas with moments of lightness. In “Cheat on Me,” featuring rapper Dave, Burna focuses on the economic struggles of Nigerians, advocating for their prosperity and even critiquing international visa policies. “Make embassy no deny my people visa,” he sings.

Source: https://crockvibes.com/music-burna-boy-i-told-them-album/