Burna Boy earned his flowers as he ripped through a majestic set at Madison Square Garden. He's the first Nigerian to headline the famed venue.
The only moment of relative stillness from the audience came as they intently took in a new song sampling Toni Braxton’s “He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me.” Burna performed the unreleased track after revealing that his next album would be calledand drop on his 31st birthday, July 2. Beyond that, the crowd at the Garden was in constant motion, their rows of bodies like waves in a dark ocean of predominantly Black diasporans.
In the pit, three young men moshed to his remix of Ghanaian rapper Black Sherif’s “Second Sermon,” cautiously throwing their bodies into each other without disturbing the folks around them. Deeper in the seats, a young woman in a hot-pink bandage-wrapped top had a spiritual response to “Way Too Big,” from Burna’s most recent album, the pandemic-produced.
The show reimagined Burna’s lengthy catalog, elevating already excellent songs. A brass section tore downstandout “On the Low.” Violins raised the stakes of “Location.” A saxophonist competed with Burna’s impassioned vocal runs as they wrapped up “Onyeka.” To “Ja Ara E,” a team of traditional African drummers surrounded his trusted background vocalist of five years, Christina Matovu, and they danced in unison from left to right as they performed.
Burna performed several collaborative songs solo — the remix of “Second Sermon,” the late Pop Smoke’s “Enjoy Yourself,” his newest record with Wizkid “Ballon D’or,” and his remix of Nigerian rapper Asake’s “Sungba” . In fact, other than a quick spoken introduction by Busta Rhymes, there was only one musical guest, one of his heroes, Senegalese legend Youssou N’Dour, who ushered in the show with his song “New Africa,” which was smartly translated onscreen.
Still, Burna Boy — whose team barred him from being asked political questions during the interview for his— is more rockstar than pundit. He smashed an acoustic guitar to bits, sprinted down his extensive runway, danced with bouncy knees and quick feet, and maintained absolutely pristine vocals throughout the entire performance. The energy, the joy, and the feeling of being seen was palpable in the Garden.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Burna Boy Brings Nigeria to New York at Sold-Out Madison Square Garden Show: Concert ReviewOver the last decade, Afrobeat has blossomed from a continental staple into a global sound, with artists such as Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and even Ed Sheeran incorporating the genre into their music an…
Read more »
Boy, 17, struck and killed by Amtrak train in Logan SquareAmtrak and Chicago Fire Department officials said, around 9:30 a.m., a Milwaukee-bound Hiawatha line train struck the boy in the 3900 block of West Armitage Avenue.
Read more »
Wisconsin boy, 14, accused of planning rape, killing of 10-year-old girlThe juvenile suspect in the death of Illiana “Lily” Peters is being held on a $1 million bond.
Read more »
6-year-old Connecticut boy brutally burned, mother says he was bulliedThe boy's parents were his injuries were the result of bullying while the mother of the other children claimed the injured boy's mother failed to keep an eye on them.
Read more »
6-year-old Connecticut boy brutally burned, mother says he was bulliedThe boy's parents were his injuries were the result of bullying while the mother of the other children claimed the injured boy's mother failed to keep an eye on them.
Read more »