Earlier this week, we published a ranking of Burna Boy’s albums, and a point stressed is that Burna’s most intense moments of introspection and self-adulation have occurred within the confines of his albums. Another point that needs to be made is that he has been the defining Afropop act of the last seven years. A lot of that has had to do with the strength of his catalogue and the sense of occasion that followed every successive Burna Boy release. There are few equivalents to the run from ‘Outside’ to ‘Twice As Tall’ on a lyrical and thematic level. 

The dynamic of Burna Boy having a chip on his shoulder used to add an heightened dose of anticipation to contending with his album. As the years have passed and his successes have become outsized, the need to prove himself has mellowed as he moves to more celebratory themes as motivation for his work. On ‘No Sign Of Weakness,’  his eighth album, that status quo is largely maintained. It’s intended as a message from the pinnacle of the genre. For Burna lovers, it’s meant to assure them that he remains at the cutting edge of the genre, while his foes are to be reminded that his rage and disregard for them have, in fact, not cooled.  

After a couple of listens, the team offers our reflections on Burna Boy’s latest album. 

WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF BURNA BOY GOING INTO THIS ALBUM?

Boluwatife: This was maybe the first time I wasn’t excited about going into a new Burna Boy album since 2019. Most of the pre-released singles didn’t do it for me, but I guess I was still holding on to some hope that it’ll all come together when the album is finally released.

Shina: To be honest, I didn’t have much of an expectation going into the album. The singles have mainly been underwhelming, so I wasn’t expecting anything crazy. But that first track was like a jolt to my ears; I wasn’t expecting that at all.

WHAT SONGS STOOD OUT ON THE FIRST LISTEN?

Wale: I liked the Shaboozey collab, “Change Your Mind.” I feel like it enlivened Burna Boy and pushed him to a new level, and it was a homecoming of sorts for Shaboozey. “No Panic” was a strong opener as well, and I enjoyed the drumming on that track, which also had shades of afrobeat. The flow Burna used on “No Panic” took me back to a different time in his career when he was keen on proving himself. 

Daniel Banjoko: “TaTaTa”  surprisingly worked a lot better than I thought it would.  I was curious as to how Burna Boy and Travis [Scott] would meld their distinct sounds together, and the Brazilian funk beat did the job of really giving us the best of both worlds.

Moore: “Empty Chairs” immediately pulled me in. Something is haunting and intimate about it. Burna sounds raw in a way that feels personal and stripped down. Mick Jagger’s raspy vocals give it this unexpected, soulful texture that lingers long after the track ends. It’s an unlikely pairing on paper, but it works beautifully.,

WHAT SONG IS THE BIGGEST SKIP? 

Moore: Probably “Pardon” featuring Stromae. Stromae’s contribution is actually the highlight for me, but overall it feels a bit underwhelming compared to the weight and energy of the rest of the album.

Sien: The biggest skip for me is “Change Your Mind.”

HOW WELL DO YOU THINK THE GUEST APPEARANCES ENHANCED THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE?

Moore: The guest appearances add layers and texture throughout the album. Some artists like Shaboozey were complimentary, while others contrasted and broke up the pacing in a good way. A few songs might have felt repetitive without these features, but these features helped the album feel more versatile.

Sien: I’ll give credit to Burna Boy for this because it feels like every feature was properly thought out with the artists gliding on the songs. 

Daniel Banjoko: I would have to go with ‘Dem Dey’ since there’s already been quite a lot of anticipation around the track’s release. Also, considering the controversial events that inspired the full track itself, a lot of people would be playing it.

WHAT SONG HAS THE BIGGEST HIT POTENTIAL?

Wale: I think “Empty Chairs” could be the one. It’s really interesting how he dovetailed with Mick Jagger on that one. The rock section was a nice touch, but I really liked the lyricism as well. Very few Nigerian acts can come up with that level of clear-eyed critique of the socio-economic situation of Nigeria. Within the album, “Update” sounds groovy. It’s the sort of song that I expect to go off in clubs. 

Shina:  It’s so hard to pick. Aside from the already pre-released singles, I think maybe the First Track, “No Panic” or “Empty Chairs”. Fans have been patiently waiting for “Empty Chairs” to drop, and I won’t lie, it didn’t disappoint. I have just a few issues with the Mick Jagger sample, but the song still holds some weight and seems to be doing well on the charts. “Dem Dey” is a good shout too. 

OVERALL FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Wale: I think it’s a serviceable listen, but it feels uneven like Burna Boy is presenting a performance to convince folks that there’s no sign of weakness in his armour. Ultimately, there are many songs I would be adding to my regular rotation, but it’s a dispatch from the top of the mountain that doesn’t quite match the best I’ve heard of Burna Boy. 

Shina: Generally, I think it’s an okay album. I wish Burna had gone all out with curating songs that fit in with the title to tell a wholesome story. It would’ve been nice to hear more about Burna’s struggles with vulnerability and overcoming weakness.  Only a few songs attest to the album title. It’s a decent listen all-round, definitely not the best I’ve heard from Burna. 

Listen to ‘No Sign Of Weakness’ here.