With Without signs of weaknessBurna Boy demonstrates one thing: the Nigerian artist is no longer content with representing the Afrofusion, a mixture of Afrobeat, r’n’b, rap and reggae, widen it, redefined it and, above all, wants to export it everywhere.
In his eighth album, presented this Friday, July 11, the singer with 22 million listeners per month in Spotify, takes the limits of his own music thanks to the daring collaborations and an alleged opening to unexpected genres, which allows him to consolidate his state as an international star.
“‘No sign of weakness’ is a way to celebrate the fact that I am still there after all these years and all these tests,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press agency.
“My career shows no signs of weakness (without signs of weakness in English, note), I do not show any sign of weakness, so we turn it into a slogan,” said the Nigerian artist.
Travis Scott and Shaboozey among guests
Without a doubt, they are the guests who best give the measure of the ambition of Without signs of weakness. Of the 16 titles of the project, Burna Boy summons many artists to the various universes, starting with Mick Jagger, he met thanks to the British model Naomi Campbell.
The Roca icon and the Rolling Stones leader give Burna Boy response in Empty chairsSurprising and daring alliance between rock and Afrobeats, which blurs the borders between Lagos and London.
Shaboozey, an American country phenomenon that became known thanks to its tube In the bar songIt is also present in the song Change your mindAn introspective ballad about love that combines guitar and Afrobeats rhythms.
Burna Boy also injects a touch of Brazilian funk in Without signs of weakness with TatataA witness with the heavyweight of Hip-Hop Travis Scott. A rhythmic production, cut for the party.
Finally, Burna Boy also offers the presence of the Belgian artist Stromae. Very rare in recent years, has made a surprising appearance in the title Pardon, Where he sings in French.
Raval the Afrobeats
This daring fusion of styles demonstrates how Burna Boy continues to reinvent himself to win internationally without denying his roots. For the artist, this eclecticism is a way of making his music last over time, as he explains with Associated Press.
“This is how I see the future of our music … the music that is supposed to last the music that we can play forever,” he says. “I decided to make sure that all participants in this project can say comfortable and sincerely that they are a rock star.”
Who proclaimed himself African giant In 2019, in 2019, this title seems to have exceeded. After I told them … (2023), designated for the Grammy Awards, Burna Boy became the first African artist who does not speak French in filling the Stade of France last April and spends a new course with today Without signs of weakness.
Currently playing the movie’s soundtrack F1 With Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, the Nigerian artist will launch his new tour of North America in November 2025. Objective, he will defend his album there, but above all he will celebrate, collect and embody more than ever the cultural dynamism of Afrobeats.
Source: BFM TV
