They call him Burrnaaaaa Boy. Trust me Nigeria, it is not everyday we get to hear a new flavour of music. Everyday songs are released and it is always the same bullsh*t. Especially these days when artistes hide their lack of creativity under the umbrella of making "Commercial" music. Burna Boy has succeeded in turning out an album that not only brings a new flavour, it is also original and proudly Nigerian by all standards. This is my personal review of Oluwa Burna's L.I.F.E album.
Burna Boy, though has been around the Nigerian Music industry for a roughly 4 years since 2009, came into the lime light particularly in 2012 with his hit single "Like To Party". This song enjoyed so much AirPlay and garnered the Port Harcourt native quick fame. The somewhat slow-tempo song had a feel and style that Nigerians hadn't heard before. Burna Boy further eased himself into our music playlists with another hit single "Tonight" and a smashing 15 track mix tape titled "Burn Identity". Burna's music is an infusion of Afro beat, jazz with the swagger and feel of a reggae. You have to admit that makes a totally unconventional combination, unconventional yet undeniably soothing to the ears.
Burna Boy released his L.I.F.E album on the 12th of August and I bought my copy off iTunes a few days later (Yes, I'm one if the few people that buy Nigerian Music). On hearing the first track "My Life" I knew I had just spent my best $9.99 (N1500) of this year. The album mostly composed of songs, mixed and mastered by budding Nigerian music producer "Leriq", kudos for a job well done I must add. The album didn't disappoint at all, as every song from "No No No" up to #YawaDey (which brought back Galala to our ears and made it cool again by the way) on the album was cooked to perfection in my own book.
I have to admit though, I wasn't too impressed by the features on the album, excluding "Don't Run featuring Reminisce and Olamide" which I consider fair enough. The remaining songs that had featured artistes, sounded drag slow and even at a stage discomforting. It made it seem like Burna Boy would have done better going solo. My biggest disappointment by far was "Abeg Abeg remix featuring 2face and Timaya". 2face sounded like he was dragged out of bed and was having a bad day when he was dragged to the studio to record, Timaya tried to revive the song but his efforts grew from "What is this one saying?" To just being plain annoying. Another disappointing feature, though still a good track after a few replays is "Jah Love Is True featuring Wizkid". Being a collabo I had been looking forward to since forever, I was disappointed to hear the eventual outcome. Wizkid did justice to the song in his own way and Burna did not lag behind either. But maybe because it is a mid tempo song coupled with the annoying effect that played in the background from the beginning of the track to the end, or the producer, just Leriq didn't know what to do with having the genius of Wizkid and Burna Boy in the same studio. Compared to Burna's collabo on the track "Trumpet" with Davido off his "Burn Identity" mixtape, this collabo didn't hit the spot for me at all.
Burna Boy's L.I.F.E for me has left an impact on me may be not for eternity but impact nonetheless. Practically all the songs on the album are stuck on mental replay in my head right now, except for Track 9 titled "Ma Loda Ma Motto" I don't even know why that song was on the album. The song was fast paced noisy and all round repulsive. I also noticed Burna Boy, hard lipped and freestyled a lot through the album, which is not bad, but quick advice Burna, I personally love your music's rhythm and flavour but please give us more lyric, at least let us know the words of what we are singing along to.Thank You.
If you are in search of a new Nigerian rhythm to listen to, Burna Boy's L.I.F.E album should be the way for you. But before i list this album as a classic, i am going to shelve it for now and play it again in six months time, if I still feel like I feel now towards the album, I'm going to officially hit it with the "Classic" stamp. You just do your best to get a copy.
This is my own personal opinion, feel free to drop your views and comments.
Twitter: @ToyeTrill
@ToyeTrill you disappointed me when you called the track " Jahs Luv " disappointing.. that's a weird thing to say about that track. it's hot and frosh.. you dig !
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