Burna Boy is gearing up for the release of his 7th studio album titled “I Told Them”, and by all indications, it just might be a hip-hop tape. The choice of singles (Sittin’ On Top Of The World and Big 7), snippets making rounds, as well as the rumored features which include J. Cole, Rza, Swizz Beatz, and Gza, all suggest that Burna Boy is finally releasing a full-length hip-hop album.
Burna Boy is versatility personified and he has shown his range, time and time again, seamlessly blending Afrobeats with other genres ranging from RnB, Hiphop to Dancehall. However, none of these other genres match his personality like Hip-hop. His style, antics, and audacious nature have always given him the markings of a rap star. As such, the arrival of this album has been a long time coming.
While “I Told Them” might be his first hip-hop album, we have heard Burna Boy on some incredible hip-hop cuts over the year. From captivating hooks to hard-hitting verses, we have compiled a list of our top ten Burna Boy rap cuts, to whet your appetite ahead of the release of “I Told Them”.
Notable Mentions
- We On: We On is one of Burna Boy’s most obscure tracks housed on the somewhat underappreciated Redemption EP (2016). “We On” is a trap-infused track that showcases the African Giant’s excellent flow and delivery.
- Siberia: If you could place a wager on an Afrobeats artist going toe to toe with a UK rapper on a track, your best bet would be Burna Boy. On “Siberia”, Burna Boy rapped alongside Headie One, one of the UK’s finest rappers, and matched him bar for bar.
- True Story: Burna Boy’s ability to recreate excellent rap hooks is probably the most understated tool in his arsenal. On this superb record, Burna Boy laid a smooth hook that allowed Ghost and Tec to shine.
- Devil in California: Burna Boy flexed his impeccable flow on this broody number. It is one of the deep cuts off his 2018 album, Outside.
- Real Life: This duo of Burna Boy and Stormzy is one that rarely misses. On Real Life, Burna Boy waxes lyrical and Stormzy delivered a special hook.
Top 10 Picks
10.) Link Up: Link Up with Phyno and M.I Abaga is one of Burna Boy’s most popular hip-hop performances. Delivering a breathtaking hook, Burna stole the show on a track with two of Nigeria’s most gifted rappers.
9.) Second Sermon: Burna Boy can do both Western hip-hop and African hip-hop effortlessly, and Second Sermon is proof of the latter. Teaming up with Ghana’s shining star Black Sherif, he delivered one of the most memorable verses of 2021.
8.) Sittin’ On Top Of The World: Burna Boy is the king of samples and interpolations. So when he flips a classic cut like Brandy’s Top of the World, you can be sure to expect magic.
7.) Want It All: Want It All is one of Burna Boy’s best and purest hip-hop songs. In typical hip-hop fashion, he raps about proving naysayers wrong, making it through the struggle, and his eventual success.
6.) Cloak & Dagger: J Hus and Burna Boy have amazing chemistry. Together they have dropped five banging collaborations, with Cloak & Dagger being the pick of the bunch. On this Telz-produced joint, Burna Boy delivered an infectious hook in Yoruba and pidgin English, with J Hus laying one of his most memorable verses recently.
5.) Naughty By Nature: When you feature hip-hop royalty like Naughty By Nature, it is important to bring your A-game to avoid being overshadowed. Burna Boy did just that on this track, matching the legendary group with his catchy hook and thrilling verses.
4.) Way Too Big: Talking a big game is part of hip-hop culture, and Burna Boy channels that on Way Too Big. With clever punchlines and braggadocious lyrics that pack a punch, Burna Boy absolutely glides on Leriq and Mike Dean’s production.
3.) Heaven’s Gate: One word to describe Heaven’s Gate? Energetic. Burna Boy’s lyricism, delivery, and flow on this track can only be matched by a handful of rappers anywhere in the world.
2.) All Eyes On Me: The bromance between Burna Boy and the late AKA produced some of the best Naija-SA collabs ever, one of which is the iconic “All Eyes On Me”. Burna Boy’s unforgettable hook on the track produced what is undoubtedly one of the best African rap songs of all time.
1.) Location: Location is one of the best summer jams of all time, and that is thanks to Burna Boy’s incredible hook. Based on its commercial success and critical acclaim, Location is Burna Boy’s best hip-hop cut.
