Burna Boy keeps his flame lit with the release of “I Told Them.”
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TOP 5
Honorable Mention. Thanks (Ft. J. Cole)
Who’s manager do Burna Boy and J. Cole need to call to get their respect?
So, this song isn’t my favorite at all; it sounds a little too raw (I’m not a big fan of songs with half beats). What I do love is the passion that Burna Boy sings with as he demands his respect for “making his people proud” and creating/carrying the afrofusion genre. Strangely, I like the lack of passion J. Cole raps with on his verse; it makes his competitive lyrics and clever punchlines standout. At the end of the day, this is a very interesting/borderline weird track.
5. Talibans II
Imagine seeing a song called “Talibans” pop up randomly on your Apple Music.
Byron Messia has a hit on his hand with “Talibans.” Currently, the song has over 23 million views on Spotify alone. While the title might throw you off, the hit is appealing because it boasts infectious melodies and some effortlessly gangsta lyrics. In “Talibans II,” Burna Boy follows Byron’s violent and infectious path. Throughout the song, he lets his enemies know what might happen to them if they step on his sneakers or play him like he’s dumb. The good news is this: Despite Burna’s aggressive lyrics, he still hits us with smooth, highly infectious vocals.
I don’t know what will happen to you if you don’t like this song…
4. Big 7
Big Carmelo Anthony?
I love the vibes attached to “Big 7.” In the track, driven by dynamic production that defies easy categorization, Burna Boy employs a stimulating singing approach to honor his departed friends and brothers, while also dismissing those who don’t fit within his circle. While he keeps it cool as hell in his verses, the hook sounds as emotional as it gets. All in all, this is the ultimate feel-good record.
This is a great Virgil homage track.
3. City Boys
City Boys in every country are taking the women of innocent men and leaving toilet sets up at every house they stay in.
Every City Boy in the world has some demon in them, too, so I’m not surprised at all that Burna Boy brings out his most carefree lyrics in this banger. What’s interesting is that he starts the song off sounding slick as hell; by the time it ends, he sounds as dramatic as Tyrese Gibson. It’s like the first portion of the song is for the women he got, while the second verse is for the women he didn’t get on his first try and is currently trying to get on his second.
Finding a way to flip Jeremih’s “Birthday Sex” beat into some hard-hitting, club-ready s**t is impressive as hell.
2. Cheat On Me (Ft. Dave)
Whenever Burna Boy and Dave link up, drop everything you’re doing (Including your woman).
“Cheat On Me” is another Burna Boy gem. Firstly, the song is driven by a laid-back beat accompanied by Alvin and The Chipmunks-esque vocals. In terms of Burna and Dave, both artists shine brightly. Burna delivers powerful vocals that impeccably match his lyrics about uplifting his community, while Dave contributes a clever rap verse centered on enjoying moments with loved ones. Combining all the elements I’ve just highlighted leaves you with a smooth banger that offers an enjoyable experience.
1. Sittin’ On Top Of The World (Ft. 21 Savage)
Burna Boy and 21 Savage appreciate ’90s female R&B more than you and I.
In my humble opinion, “Last Last” is one of the best songs from this decade. The way Burna Boy merges Toni Braxton’s vocals from “He Wasn’t Man Enough” with his own powerful vocals is fantastic. Burna tried to use that same exact formula for “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.”
“Sittin’ On Top Of The World” flips Brandy & Mase’s popular hit “Top of the World.” As a matter of fact, you’ll hear Brandy’s vocals from her 1998 hit in this song. For the most part, though, Burna Boy does the cooking. Not only does he hit us with some infectious adlibs and strong vocals throughout, but his lyrics also indicate that he knows that Chilvary isn’t dead. As for 21 Savage, he hits us with a sly-ass verse that has him sounding like the dude who swept your woman off her feet. The more I play the song, the more I like it.
Burna Boy needs a former female R&B star just as much as Bron needs shooters around him.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
1. I Told Them (4/5)
2. Normal (4/5)
3. On Form (3.5/5)
4. Sittin’ On Top Of The World (5/5)
5. Tested, Approved & Trusted (3.5/5)
6. Cheat On Me (Ft. Dave) (4.5/5)
7. Virgil (N/A)
8. Big 7 (4.5/5)
9. Dey Play (4/5)
10. City Boys (4.5/5)
11. Giza (Ft. Seyi Vibez) (3.5/5)
12. Jewels (N/A)
13. If I’m Lying (4/5)
14. Thanks (Ft. J. Cole) (3.5/5)
15. Talibans II (With Byron Messia) (4.5/5)
RGM RATING
(B-)
In my opinion, the foremost factor that elevates an artist from being good to exceptional is their capacity to not only make you hear their music but also to make you feel it. Every time I play Burna’s music, I unquestionably become engrossed in his robust vocals; I also get lost in the vibes he presents to us. In I Told Them…, I feel like the vibes are everything.
During his press runs this week, Burna Boy made it a mission to let the world know that he doesn’t make Afrobeats music; he makes Afrofusion music. What’s the difference? Afrofusion incorporates several genres, such as Afrobeats, Afropop, Afrojazz, and more. While most people baselessly claim they are different from the pack, Burna proves it with his music. Based on the songs from I Told Them…, It’s hard to tie some of his production to a particular genre, while he usually intricately tackles everyday topics in his verses. In other words, his lyrics are not only about love and heartbreak; it’s also about respect, loyalty, resilience, and strong relationships that come with being a solid dude. I appreciate that.
As advanced as Burna’s music usually sounds, he does still rely on gimmicks here and there to get to the finish line of his songs. For example: “Sittin On Top Of The World” is from a playbook we’ve seen before. Burna also employs flows that I’m extremely acquainted with, yet for some reason, them s**ts never get old. Probably because he told us he doesn’t write that I am noticing it, but Burna’s approach to music-making is pretty damn raw.
It’s evident that Burna Boy is putting forth every effort to create music that stands the test of time, and this album indeed boasts a handful of tracks that possess a timeless quality. In my opinion, he’s becoming harder and harder to tie to a certain genre, country, or tax bracket. Usually people like that are supserstars.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
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