Burna Boy’s star power is undeniable. Over the past few years, the Grammy-award winning artist has embarked on a peerless run, as he conquers all frontiers in his path to ubiquity. With every milestone he crosses, he manages to add a new layer of freshness to his artistry, taking on new styles and morphing with the times while staying true to himself and his core fans.

On his latest offering ‘Love, Damini,’ the Port Harcourt-born singer casts his sights on his biggest mission yet: himself. Across the project’s 19 tracks, Burna Boy delivers plaintive choruses and sharp verses cutting through a range of topics from love to becoming. While he’s always been a formidable singer, here he also sounds like she learned that with global superstardom comes the freedom to set ones own agenda.

Off the back of selling millions of records, hosting countless arenas across the globe, of which the most recent was the sold out 20,000 capacity at Madison Square Garden, Burna Boy continues to connect with his audiences back at home with familiar slangs and colourful lyrics that remind us he’ll never stray too far from home. While it was the ‘Twice As Tall’ that earned Damini Ogulu his Grammy, his 4th studio LP ‘African Giant’ that set him on his globe-throttling mission.

3 years ago today, just the release of ‘African Giant,’ his 4th studio album, Burna Boy was at a pivotal stage of his career. Afropop was witnessing early stages of its world dominating defining moment and artists such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, and more were at the forefront of that revolution. Coachella 2019 happened and then Burna Boy maintained that momentum with ‘African Giant,’ one of the most impressive body of works in Afropop today. The album featured a series of artists across the world, from Jorja Smith to Damian Marley to one of his icons, Angélique Kidjo and cut across many different genres and sounds, weaving poignant stories on the Nigerian Government to levelling up and attaining his achievements at the time. 

The importance of an album such as ‘African Giant’ can simply not be overstated. To that end, today, on its third year anniversary, we spoke to a number of OG Burna Boy fans about the album that set Burna Boy on his current streak. Enjoy.

Sapphire (19)

 Top 2 songs on ‘African Giant?’ 

“Gumbody” and “Anybody” but this was a very tough decision for me

What was your first impression of ‘African Giant’ when you initially heard the album? Was this an easy album to get into or did you need some time?

My first impression of African Giant, honestly speaking, I listened to the album head to tail at once this year.  In the past, I just used to pick, play and go. It is a solid 10/10 album, in my opinion Burna’s best album till date. It is a masterpiece. 

Three years from its releases, how impactful will you say ‘African Giant’ has been?

When I got this message I revisited the album and all I can is that shit is forever going to be legendary. The next generation and generation after that, will bow to the supremacy of that album. Everybody that listens to ‘African Giant’ will feel the impact of the album.

Chidinma – (26)

Top 2 songs on ‘African Giant’

My favourites are  “Pull Up” and “Gum Body”

What was your first impression of ‘African Giant’ when you initially heard the album? Was this an easy album to get into or did you need some time?

I would say I liked it, I wasn’t entirely wowed initially but I knew it had a couple of good songs and the  replay value was good too. For me because of the replay value I knew I was going to easily get into it. I just needed some time with it, that’s how I am with all Burna’s albums, I have to take my time to appreciate the art.

Three years from its releases, how impactful will you say ‘African Giant’ has been?

In terms of impact, I think it helped place Burna on a global scale. Most people might say “Ye” did that but I think ‘African Giant’ went on to solidify that, it Introduced Burna’s sound to the world and I’m happy about that for him.

Tobilola (23)

Top 2 songs on ‘African Giant?’

Honestly there are too many songs to pick from but i think i might just have to go with “African Giant” and “Omo”

What was your first impression of ‘African Giant’ when you initially heard the album? Was this an easy album to get into or did you need some time?

My first impression was that this was burna boy coming to prove himself honestly because the album is clearly a work of art, right from the first listen I was hooked and I’m even still hooked. Burna Boy created an unbelievably great album

Three years from its releases, how impactful will you say ‘African Giant’ has been?

 I feel ‘African Giant’ was like a stepping stone for Burna Boy into the international scene which impacted the world of music as a whole because it literally got him his first grammy nomination. Before the album most international features were from the top dogs in the industry but after you’ll notice a lot of international artists started working a whole lot more with african artists which was a massive push for the continent as a whole.

Ade Tee (28)

Top 2 songs on ‘African Giant?’

“Gum body” and “Gbona” does it for me 

What was your first impression of ‘African Giant’ when you initially heard the album? Was this an easy album to get into or did you need some time?

I’ve been a Burna girl since the days of “Like to party” so listening to ‘African Giant’ was very easy for me. I was basically like “yess Oluwa burna is back to finalise the statement he made with ‘Outside’ and he definitely did. The album is too solid.

Three years from its releases, how impactful will you say ‘African Giant’ has been?

Normally, Burna is a good story teller with his music so African Giant has been impactful and will always “Gbona feli” (be hot) in coming years. Burna Boy understands his audience and whether you’re an Outsider or not, you’ll feel the impact of his entire discography.

Haneefah (21)

Top 2 songs on ‘African Giant?’

That has to be “Dangote” and “Collateral Damage” 

What was your first impression of ‘African Giant’ when you initially heard the album? Was this an easy album to get into or did you need some time?

My first impression was “this album is just there” then i listened to it again after and it was a really nice album. For me, it was one of those albums that just needed to grow on me and that happened in a twinkle of an eye, I git into the album quicker than I expected.

Three years from its releases, how impactful will you say ‘African Giant’ has been?

A couple years later, I feel like it has been impactful, it’s a very good body of work with so many classics, from songs like “Gum Body” to “Omo” you already know Burna finished work. I’m still upset that this wasn’t the album that won him his Grammy, It was almost just too good.

Tolu (30)

Top 2 songs on ‘African Giant?’

My top 2 songs on the african giant album are; Pull up and Different.

What was your first impression of ‘African Giant’ when you initially heard the album? Was this an easy album to get into or did you need some time?

I remember Burna saying he dropped the album because of the whole Africa giant, small and big font saga.  I will say I loved the album more over the years. Initially when i heard i was expecting something just like outside but he showed us another part of him, and quite a number of songs on the album have come to stay .

Three years from its releases, how impactful will you say ‘African Giant’ has been?

The album has been impactful as a Nigerian especially, Burna Boy spoke about injustices and other stuff currently going on the nation, that’s him doing his part, and it definitely made impacts in certain other parts of the world, especially Nigerians in the diaspora.

Revisit ‘African Giant’ here

Featured Image Credits/The NATIVE