Damini Ogulu, globally celebrated as Burna Boy, has carved an undeniable path as a Grammy Award-winning Afrobeats icon. Yet, behind the sold-out stadiums and chart-topping hits lies a fascinating origin story of raw ambition and resourceful ingenuity. In a recent candid chat with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden, the 34-year-old superstar peeled back the layers, revealing that his very first song was recorded when he was just 13 years old, under the most unconventional of circumstances.
Before the state-of-the-art studios and professional producers, Burna Boy's initial foray into music was a testament to his innate drive. He vividly recounted a DIY recording process involving a simple radio and a tape recorder. In a truly ingenious move, he sourced his beats not from professional instrumentals, but directly from video game soundtracks.
He specifically recalled using rhythms from classic titles like NBA Street, Volume II, and the iconic Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This revelation paints a vivid picture of a young artist driven solely by passion, crafting his sound with whatever tools were at hand – a humble yet powerful genesis for a future global giant.
He specifically recalled using rhythms from classic titles like NBA Street, Volume II, and the iconic Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This revelation paints a vivid picture of a young artist driven solely by passion, crafting his sound with whatever tools were at hand – a humble yet powerful genesis for a future global giant.
This peek into his past comes hand-in-hand with another significant moment of reflection from the African Giant. In an earlier interview on The Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show with Eddie Kadi, Burna Boy took the opportunity to apologize for his infamous statement about Afrobeats lacking substance. This controversial comment had previously stirred considerable debate within the music community. The Grammy winner candidly explained that with the deeper knowledge and perspective he now possesses, he would unequivocally retract those disparaging remarks.
Burna Boy elaborated on his change of heart, stating that at the time he made the initial controversial comment, he was unaware that "Afrobeats" functioned as an umbrella term. He now understands it as a collective movement primarily used to advance Nigerian music on a global scale, rather than being confined to a singular music genre. This nuanced understanding highlights a mature evolution in his thinking, transforming him from a critic into a more informed ambassador for the continent's vibrant sound.
