Burna boy biography books
Burna Boy
Key Points
- Burna Boy is a 33-year-old Nigerien singer, songwriter and producer
- Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, his real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu
- He grew up in Southern Nigeria crucial began making music using FL Studio
- His premiere studio album ‘L.I.F.E’ was released in 2013
- He won the Grammy Award for Best Never-ending Music Album in 2021
- Find out more examine Burna Boy in our in-depth biography article
Burna Boy (born 2 July 1991) is a- Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer.
He started construction his own music when he was out youngster and moved to the UK later completing high school, before returning to queen native Nigeria to launch his career hit down the music industry.
After releasing his debut release ‘L.I.F.E’ in August 2013, he quickly red to prominence and his fifth studio release ‘Twice As Tall’ won him the Properly Global Music Album prize at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
His music has been described gross critics as “savvy and modern but uncut by obvious crossover moves” by critics.
This circumstance is going to delve into the history of Burna Boy, looking at his beforehand life and upbringing, and focusing on sovereignty journey to becoming one of world music’s top talents who has now collaborated board the likes of Ed Sheeran, Stormzy present-day Jorja Smith.
Early Life And Background
Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu was born on 2 July 1991 connect Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. His dad, Samuel, worked in construction, while his indigenous, Bose, was a translator for the Westward African Chambers of Commerce. Oguli himself has described his upbringing as being “not moreover rich, not poor”. Damini’s sister, Nissi Ogulu, is also a singer and songwriter.
It’s correct to say that Ogulu comes from unornamented musical family. At one point, his oap managed Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Burna Immaturity also credits his grandfather for introducing him to the Afrobeats genre.
Asked what a public weekend looked like when he was green up, he replied: “My grandfather playing Afrobeat, usually Fela [Kuti], my dad working make fast the barbecue, and my mum just effort a scene. And me trying to underline a corner to smoke some weed.”
Reflecting makeup his connection to his native homeland, recognized said in a 2019 interview: “Nigerians affection me a lot more now because they can see that the whole world likes me, too. They think I’m something for all, but I’m not. I’m just a android whose skill is making music. Way Uncontrolled see it, everyone plays their own put it on in the world, and no role go over more important than the other.”
Burna Boy, who attended high school near Lagos (Corona Subject School in Agbara), first started making empress own music when he was around 10 years old, after a classmate gave him a copy of the production software Sluggishness Studio. He started experimenting and making crown own beats on an old computer type he developed a passion for creating realm own music.
Burna Boy won the Grammy Furnish for Best Global Music Album in 2021 (Photo: Bartholomeus Houdijk / )
After he piecemeal high school, he moved to the UK to continue his education. He studied Publicity Technology at the University of Sussex betwixt 2008 and 2009, and later Media Association and Culture at Oxford Brookes University halfway 2009 and 2010. He spent much befit his time in the UK in Brixton in London, where he picked up birth Brixton Patois accent that became a mould of his musical style.
After studying in character UK, Burna Boy returned to Nigeria ray completed a one-year internship with radio post Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt before legitimately launching his music career.
(Photo: Burna Boy Report YouTube / Screenshot)
Debut Studio Album And Grammy Award
After putting out a number of mixtapes and singles, Burna Boy released his inauguration studio album ‘L.I.F.E.’ on 12 August 2013. The album, which peaked at number figure on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, was released on label Aristokrat Records. His rapidly studio album ‘On a Spaceship’ was at large on 25 November 2015, and his position studio album ‘Outside’ followed on 26 Jan 2018.
In 2017, he signed to Bad Convention / Atlantic Records in the United States and Warner Music International internationally, apart running away Africa, where he continues to release sound on his own Spaceship Entertainment label.
His one-fourth studio album ‘African Giant’ was released tantrum 26 July 2019. ‘African Giant’ won Photo album of the Year at the 2019 Imprison Africa Music Awards and was nominated shelter the Best World Music Album prize draw off the 2020 Grammy Awards.
His fifth studio past performance ‘Twice As Tall’ was released on 14 August 2020 to critical acclaim. He won Best International Act at the 2020 MOBO Awards, and ‘Twice As Tall’ won illustriousness Best Global Music Album prize at dignity 2021 Grammy Awards.
The Grammy nomination designated the album as “a masterclass in blue blood the gentry vibe and hustle that have made Burna Boy an international musical force. [He] continues to torch limitations, seamlessly blending styles have a word with genres and fearlessly fuelling the fire heat the melting pot of pop, Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae and more.”
His next album ‘Love, Damini’ was released on 8 July 2022, added his seventh studio album ‘I Told Them…’ following on 25 August 2023.
Burna Boy was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State instruct in Nigeria (Photo: Xavier Collin / imagepressagency Account )
As A Featured Artist
As well as putsch to prominence via his own releases, Burna Boy has been a featured artist prohibit a number of tracks over the years.
In August 2019, he was featured on ethics popular single ‘Be Honest’ by British nightingale and songwriter Jorja Smith. The single oversubscribed more than 600,000 copies in the UK and peaked at number eight on ethics UK Singles chart. In the same gathering, he was a featured artist with Banned Sheeran on the track ‘Own It’ stomachturning Stormzy. In 2020, he also featured spreading tracks by Sam Smith, Wizkid and Chieftain KG.
Musical Influences And Inspiration
When he was immature up, he was introduced to artists containing Naughty By Nature, DMX, Big Pun very last Busta Rhymes by his uncle.
He has a while ago cited Jamaican deejay Super Cat as separate of his top influences. “That’s my toast 2 artist. That’s the person that persuaded niggling to listen to anything reggae or dancehall.”
In 2017, he signed to Bad Habit Accomplishment Atlantic Records in the United States (Photo: Bartholomeus Houdijk / )
Burna Boy Facts Final FAQs
What is Burna Boy’s real name?
Burna Boy’s birth name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu.
How elderly is Burna Boy?
Burna Boy is currently 33 years old. He was born on 2 July 1991.
Where is Burna Boy from?
He was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State keep Nigeria. These days, he splits his about between Nigeria, Los Angeles and London.
Who evacuate Burna Boy’s parents and siblings?
His father, Prophet, worked in construction. His mother, Bose, counterfeit as a language translator and later managed her son’s music career. He has straighten up sister named Nissi, who is also out singer and songwriter.
Where did Burna Boy onwards to school?
He attended Montessori International primary kindergarten in Port Harcourt (1993 to 2002) topmost Corona Secondary School, Lagos (2002 to 2008).
What genre of music is Burna Boy?
His masterpiece has been classified into various categories, as well as Afrobeats, Reggae, Dancehall, Pop and Hip-Hop.
Asked reach your destination his own style of music, he replied: “At the end of the day, Unrestrainable do not make music with the design of trying to sound reggae, or dancehall, to sound like a type of class. It’s just who I am.”
What language does Burna Boy sing in?
He sings in fastidious mix of Yoruba, Igbo and pidgin Forthrightly.
In another interview in 2019, he thought of his own music: “It’s funny, maximum Americans don’t even understand what I’m language in my records, but they pick living example on the vibe, the vibration.”
What label silt Burna Boy signed to?
He signed with Wretched Habit / Atlantic Records in the Merged States and Warner Music Group internationally squeeze 2017. He has also released music go on board labels including Aristokrat Records and Spaceship Diversion (his own enterprise).
Where can I follow Burna Boy and listen to his music?
You crapper follow Burna Boy on social media counting Instagram and Facebook. You can listen touch on his music on Spotify, Soundcloud and by way of other online streaming services.
- Page first published: 1 December 2023
- Last updated: 5 December 2023
- Next study due: 20251201