(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] Burna Boy's dominance on the music scene
has taken the world by storm.
The Nigerian born Hip Hop and Afro-fusion artist
rise to stardom,
is paved with several chart topping albums,
a series of awards and global influence
that rivals some of the biggest and baddest names.
Burna Boy's interest in music began at an early age.
His grandfather once managed musical giant
from Nigeria, Fela Kuti.
In homage to the musician and political activist,
Burna Boy wears a diamond encrusted Fela piece on his neck.
Burna Boy attended schools in the United Kingdom,
where he learned about media, technology and production.
And first began producing tracks
using the popular music production software, Fruity Loops.
After honing his skills and returning to Lagos,
the self proclaimed African giant
began winning awards in 2013 at the South South Music
and Nigerian Entertainment Awards,
after dropping his debut release, "Life,"
in 2012 to fans' delight.
(upbeat music)
From there, Burna Boy began
lighting international stages on fire
with his melodic intertwining of Afrobeat, R&B,
Hip Hop and Afro-fusion.
He delivered a series of hard hitting singles
from 2013 to 2014,
and his Sophomore, release in 2015, "On A Spaceship,"
and fans all over the world took notice.
That same year, Burna Boy won Album Of The Year
at the Nigerian Music Awards
and awards for Collaboratory Tracks
at the All African Music and MTV African Music Award.
2018 saw the release of Burna boy's third album, "Outside,"
as well as the accumulation of Awards
for Album of the Year
and Best African Dancehall Reggae Act
from the Nigerian Music
and African Muzik Magazine Awards respectively.
The following year, in 2019,
was when the awards poured in like a monsoon.
The African giant won Song of the Year,
Best Collaboration Artist of the Year
and Best Male West Africa
at the African Muzik Magazine Awards,
West African Artist of the Year
and Artist of the Year in Africa,
at the All African Music Awards.
African Artist of the Year,
at the Ghana Music Awards.
And last, but certainly not least,
Best International Act at the BET Awards.
Awards, however, do not dictate the magnitude
in which "Odogwu," a song title from his 2020 single
meaning leader, warrior, a man of greatness,
or hero that Burna Boy's fan bestowed upon him
as a nickname, has affected his audience and global culture.
- The fact that everyone's in a situation,
the whole world's in a situation right now,
where we all need each other and we do not...
There's no space for greed.
There's no space for dictation at this point,
because it's bigger than any one person
or one nation, right now.
It's about healing the world (indistinct).
- [Narrator] His track, "Ja Ara E," was featured on
Beyonce's collaboration album, "The Lion King: The Gift,"
which became visual album, "Black Is King."
Odogwu also collaborated with Sam Smith,
Angelique Kidjo and Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Odogwu song is also highly distinctive.
While his productions are programmatic,
instrumentation largely sampled
and voice delicately merging auto tune
and husky baritone sound,
the unexpected nature of the way his beats play,
leave audiences wanting more.
Continuing his trail blazing success in 2020,
Burna Boy continued racking up awards,
including another BET Awards, Best International Act,
a Best World Album for his fourth release, "African Giant,"
at the Edison Awards and notably a Grammy Award Nomination
for Best World Music Album.
2021 proved to be another huge year for the artist,
going on to win an Artist of the Year
at the Global Music Awards Africa,
Best International Act Award at the BET Awards
and a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album,
for his fifth album, "Twice As Tall."
In his acceptance speech,
he continued along his path of motivation
in merging the paths for people
from the Black diaspora around the globe.
"I've never picked up a pen and paper,
"and written down a song in my life,"
he shared with the New York times.
"It all just comes, like someone is standing there
"and telling me what to say.
"It's all according to the spirits.
"Some of us are put on this earth to do what we do."
With a Grammy, mind blowing collabs, sold out shows
and a third BET Award under his belt,
2021 was the year Burna Boy's talent shown brighter
than the diamonds on his neck.
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