There has been no shortage of praise since Burna Boy released his latest album on Thursday 7 July via Atlantic Records/Spaceship Collective/Warner Music.
The highly anticipated album titled Love, Damini has raised the Nigerian singer and songwriter many notches higher than his contemporaries in the afrobeats genre.
“Burna Boy’s unique marriage of afrobeats, dancehall, and hip-hop feels earthy, alive, and innately spiritual; each cut (about love, lust, and stunting on haters) is somehow fortifying—like an aural amulet”, says Rolling Stone in its review of the album.
Pithtfork lists the 19-track album among the eight new albums you should listen to now alongside Brent Faiyaz’s Wasteland [Lost Kids], Kali Malone’s Living Torch [Portraits GRM], Wu-Lu’s Loggerhead [Warp] and a host of others.
For Variety, which says the Nigerian pushes afro-fusion pop into the future with the album, Love, Damini represents “Burna Boy’s most accessible work without losing touch with the soul and the struggle of Nigerian heritage”.
The album features Ed Sheeran, J Balvin, Popcaan, J Hus, Khalid, Kehlani, Blxst, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Victony.
Love, Damini is a follow-up to the Grammy-winning Twice As Tall LP released two years ago, which earned his highest placement on the Billboard 200 chart, debuting at No. 54.
Since the rollout of his previous album in 2020, Burna Boy has released singles like “Question” featuring Don Jazzy, “Want It All” featuring Polo G and “B. d.Or” featuring Wizkid, and “Last Last”.
He released the album just days after his 31st birthday.
