Burna Boy – Twice As Tall

Following the huge success of 2019’s Grammy nominated ‘African Giant’, an album in which the Port Harcourt native addressed corruption, instability and colonialism in Nigeria, Burna Boy is back in our speakers with his fifth studio album ‘Twice As Tall’ a year and a month later. He continues from where he left off in ‘African Giant’: addressing injustice within society whilst making feel-good danceable tracks, however ‘Twice As Tall’ is more personal to Burna Boy. In a press release from his label (Atlantic Records), he says the album is about “period of time in his life” and does not hold back in expressing himself.

In this album, Burna Boy draws upon various talents in the form of artists and producers all over the world. Kickstarting the album with the first track entitled ‘Level Up [Twice As Tall]’, Burna Boy calls upon the Senegalese legend Youssou N’dour. This is one of the songs which make it apparent why the album is personal to him. He recalls a time at which he was finding it difficult to reach the top, to the extent where he almost decides to quit. “Start feeling like I had enough, then I contemplate giving up”. Burna also self reflects on the Grammy awards, where he was so close to winning. This would have been a moment of self-fulfilment for him, but rather a time where he may have been doubting his own great ability. “Asking questions like why was it not us, almost had a n***a feeling envious”. One of three executive producers on the album is Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs (along with Burna Boy himself and Bosede Ogulu) , who’s voice leads and directs the album from the end of the track straight into the second track ‘Alarm Clock’. This song is basically an awakening of the spirit inside the listener’s body with steady-thumping drums representing his signature sound. At the end of ‘Alarm Clock’ Diddy asks: “Ay yo, you awake yet?”

The album takes a change in instrumental and verbal tone from Burna on “Way Too Big”. With an upbeat electric dance instrumental whilst maintaining the Afro core and increased confidence (one may mistakenly take for arrogance), Burna plainly tells the haters he is “way too big to be f******g with you” and “way too cool to be losing my cool”.

‘Bebo’ and ‘Comma’, both produced by Rexxie, suggest danceable rhythms that a routine can easily be put together for and a party can easily be started. ‘Comma’ is not only one for dancing. Like ‘Onyeka (Baby)’, Burna Boy makes these two songs for the ladies. In a video on Instagram, Burna Boy describes a ‘Comma’ lady as someone who looks good on the outside, but something is out of place somewhere. “This girl makes sense, but her booty no dey match her leg or something like that, she get comma”. In ‘Onyeka (Baby)’, Burna’s mellow flow and smooth vocals as he drops various names is one to draw all the ladies to him.

‘Naughty by Nature’ featuring the renowned US hip-hop trio Naughty by Nature allows Burna Boy to rap and harmonise at the same time on a rap-infused instrumental. It allows him to be cheeky and free. “I be naughty by nature, I be gang-gang”. Naughty by Nature also bless the beat as they bring their retro flows and lyrics making the song one of the standout tracks on the album and one of my personal favourites.

‘No Fit Vex’ and ‘23’ have a slow vibe attached to them. Produced by Leriq and Skread respectively, ‘No Fit Vex’ talks about losing friendships once cherished in order to reach personal goals. Burna Boy wishes those he has lost along the way well and does not show negativity towards them. “ I wanna hear better news about you and smile and it dey ginger my soul / I dey see your struggle, I no fit vex for you” he says in Pidgin English. In ‘23’ Burna equates the feeling of making music to the iconic basketball player Michael Jordan – that is when he is at his greatest point.

‘Monsters You Made’ is a true reflection of how outspoken Burna Boy can be when addressing oppression within society. In an interview with NME, Burna reveals that during his schooldays that he wasn’t taught on the history of his own country, but another country’s history. He was even taught that Mungo Park, a Scottish explorer of the 1700’s, discovered the River Nile – a place that has been around since the days of the Bible. Chris Martin, the lead singer of UK’s Coldplay, teams up with Burna Boy on a rock beat which aids in getting his frustration at institutions and systems. Burna Boy is as clear as day here: “When they been working like slaves / To get some minimum wage/ You turn around and you blame/ Them for their anger and rage/ Put them in shackles and chains/ Because of what they became/ We are the monsters you made”. He dismisses the deceit in believing Mungo Park discovered the River Nile. “F**k Mungo Park, the fool”. The song closes with a snippet of an interview in 1987 with Ghanaian author, Ama Ata Aidoo. “Over ? Is it really over?” she asks as the interviewer suggests the wrongdoings of Europeans faced by Africans is over. If you haven’t seen that interview, take the time to watch it.

‘Wettin Dey Sup’ is by far my favourite track on the album. Whilst the song is predominately in Pidgin English, Burna Boy dabbles between English and Yoruba. The production by Telz of Burna Boy’s ‘Spaceship’ camp and co-production by Timbaland allows Burna Boy to set the scene in the song as the sirens and gunshots depict a picture of what violence looks like within the cities of Nigeria. Burna alternates between rapping with a gangster flow and singing on the hook perfectly. One line in the song shows how those in who are in the ghettos do not see past it. “They only respect the money and the violence / So I get to show dem wetin dey sup”. The synthesis of the bass, snare and trumpet that sounds each time Burna says ‘Wettin Dey Sup” truly makes this one for the streets.

UK’s Stormzy joins Burna on ‘Real Life’. He isn’t rapping here though, but instead delivers slick vocals on an R&B rhythm. ‘Time Flies’ and  ‘Wonderful’ both bring happy feels. with Kenya’s Sauti Sol allows Burna to connect with his East African fans with the Swahili language on the Chorus. This song reminds us to live our lives as we aren’t getting any younger. Burna Boy describes ‘Wonderful’ in a press release (Atlantic Records), as “the ‘wonders’ of seeing the impact of my music on people’s lives while touring, and it also serves as a note that no matter how far you go, or how hard you work; you must be ready to come home. Above all, Africa is home, it is the motherland to all people”. Burna Boy also allows his listeners to do their research as he mentions Adebayo Ogunlesi, a managing director of a private equity firm and a Nigerian billionaire.

The album closes with ‘Bank On It’. JAE5, undoubtedly one of the biggest producers within the UK scene, connects with Burna Boy here to give a calm, gospel-like feel with the aid of a choir. Burna Boy asks God to protect him in everything he does. “Guide and watch over me Oh Lord / I cannot trust my neighbour”. This track is also one of my favourites as it is all about positivity.

Burna Boy doesn’t miss with this album. Although ‘African Giant’ is my favourite album of his and can never be topped, this album is a close contender as he conveys the messages of each song and the album altogether clearly. As he said in ‘Level Up [Twice As Tall]’, to those who doubt him, he vows to make sure you never forget about him.