On his sixth studio album, Burna boy is still enjoying the zenith of his career, a form he seeks to push to new heights with every record. Love Damini is just the next first-class flight to greatness, with the Grammy award winner controlling things from his compartment.
Afrobeats is currently enjoying its best run in the music industry, topping charts, and multiple performances overseas, at the just-ended BET awards. Burna Boy performed his lead singles “kilometre” and “Last Last” at the 2022 billboard music awards, with the latter predicted as a contender for song of the summer by Billboard.
The album’s intro “Glory” features South Africa’s legendary singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whose vocals set the tempo for Burna boy, while he goes on an emotional rant with his writing, looking back at his time served at Chelmsford HMP after being trialled as minor for allegedly murdering an individual.
It’s the perfect start for an album that celebrates his life. “Science” is more like Burna, a transition from an emotional roller coaster to leg works infused production, with the singer bringing his dancing shoes to the table whiles appreciating his lover.
One of the album’s highlights is J Hus’s presence on “Cloak & Dagger”, who announced his comeback with a verse that screams typical J-Hus blunt scene-setting, with Telz wrapping the record with a fitting production. It’s already a fan favourite and proof J-Hus and Burna don’t miss on a record. One of the album’s strongholds is Burna’s ability to thrive on contrast.
He isn’t just about getting your groove on like one “Jagele”. On “Whiskey”, he is also an activist for his country, specifically his hometown Port Harcourt, where he tackles the soot pollution crisis and ongoing air pollution that has haunted the people of Port Harcourt for years, crying out loud via lyrics like “Because of oil and gas, my city so dark Pollution make the air turn black”.
The album’s best run starts with whiskey and transitions to lead single last and the potential next banger, an Amapiano record with one of Nigeria’s hottest prospects Victony. “Different Size” holds heavy replay value thanks to Victony’s malleability on the production, allowing Burna to finish the perfect club anthem.
The perfect run doesn’t end there, “Its Plenty” Carries the baton, where Burna is in a celebratory mood. He sounds happy and ready to risk it all on an Amapiano-inspired beat with a catchy hook, the type you sing out loud in the club with your bros.
LD is a personal album; it’s Burna just crooning about his everyday life, from the slow-paced “Dirty Secrets” where he gets very vulnerable to “Solid”, in which he features Kehlani & Blxt.
It’s an all-new Burna who sounds like he is ready to risk it all for another “breakfast”. The Album’s feature list is carefully chosen; Popcaan’s slow-wine style on “Toni-Ann Singh” to the duet with Ed Sheeran, it’s the perfect match to elevate the album, “For My Hand” sounds way better than what we heard at Ed Sheeran’s show.
The song sees both acts exploring Love’s Ups & Downs on a very smooth Afro-pop beat; it’s one of the team-ups we didn’t know we expected but are grateful it happened. As much as he allows international acts on his album, his presence still remind listeners of who runs the show.
like on “Rollercoaster” with one of the world’s currently biggest artists J Balvin, they both input their styles on the song but keep its balance. It’s for the pretty African ladies and Latina cuties, the proper bop, and you don’t have to understand Balvin before shaking toe to this. It’s strictly for the dance floor.
Burna is a spiritual person who believes in the earth’s elements. He teams up with Khalid for “wild dreams”, showing how deep his ambitions run whiles Khalid tones things down with his soft vocals. “Vanilla” is also a summer bop. Just like the title, it’s the only edible fruit of the orchid family, which he boats about his lover serving him that, just like the visuals, it’s a very colourful song that highlights the sugary parts of love.
The spirituality gets more space on the hour-long album, with inspirational words from some of the industry’s global personalities. He sums it up as “How could it be” looking back at his come up with no regrets, it gives the feel this journey into his life is reaching the victory lap, just like how he started it.
He ends the album with The Ladysmith Black Mambazo group crooning over snapped fingers. He looks back at some of the things he could’ve done and would want to do, regretting not interacting with sound sultan more before his death; he also seemly draws out his flaws and traits, vocalizing his anger issues which have coated him over the years with problems, a trait he seeks to work on, it’s the perfect send-off, accepting what he is and working towards it, easily up for another Grammy nod in the coming years.
