Outside (Burna Boy album)

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Outside
Leriq
  • P2J
  • Phantom
  • Steel Banglez
    • Burna Boy chronology
    Redemption
    (2016)     		Outside
    (2018)     		Steel & Copper
    (2019)
    Singles from Outside
    1. "Rock Your Body"
      Released: April 28, 2017
    2. "Streets of Africa"
      Released: November 24, 2017
    3. "Koni Baje"
      Released: December 8, 2017
    4. "Sekkle Down"
      Released: December 11, 2017
    5. "Heaven's Gate"
      Released: January 19, 2018
    6. "Ye"
      Released: August 6, 2018

    Outside is the third

    FRED
    and Phantom.

    In February 2018, Outside debuted at number three on the

    Nigerian Entertainment Today considered Outside to be the best Nigerian album of 2018. Outside won Album of the Year at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and was nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2019
    .

    Background

    Described by Burna Boy as a

    Leriq, Baba Stiltz, P2J, Jae 5, Juls, Chopstix, Steel Banglez, Fred Gibson, Phantom and FTSE.[3][4] The album's opener, "More Life", was one of five songs recorded for Drake's playlist of the same name, released on March 18, 2017. However, it was only featured on the outro of More Life's track "Get It Together". Burna Boy recorded the album's title track "Outside" on Pete Townshend's studio boat.[2] He revealed that "Ye" was unconsciously recorded after a great night out at a Lagos nightclub.[5] On January 21, 2018, Burna Boy held a private listening session for the album at the WeRe House in Lekki, Nigeria. During the session, he talked about the inspiration behind each track on the album.[6] A few days later, he held a second listening session at the Curtain Hotel in London.[7]

    Composition

    On the house-influenced interlude "More Life", Burna Boy paints a picture of relaxation and in the drum-infused "Ph City Vibration", he pays homage to his hometown.[8][5] The Jùjú-inspired "Koni Baje" features talking and bongo drums; the song highlights the flexibility of Burna Boy as an artist and has been described as a "tribute to his career and a prayer for himself".[9] The Lily Allen-assisted track "Heaven's Gate" focuses on themes of betrayal and victimhood.[5] In the introspective record "Ye", Burna Boy sings about his drive and ambition.[10] Nigerian record producer Phantom created the beat for "Ye" in less than two hours and layered his vocals on it; the beat features a kick, piano synths and a few snares. A writer for Native magazine said "Ye" is being viewed as a new anthem because it "embraces the anathema of every self-interest seeking seemingly good-natured Nigerian."[11] In the reggaeton-laced "Giddem", Burna Boy alternates between singing for his love interest and showcasing his skills.[8]

    The nostalgic track "Streets of Africa" was recorded over a cartoon-sounding trap beat popularized by American rapper

    purple drank to numb his pain.[15] The album's closing and title track "Outside" is a cross between dance and pop; it addresses his struggles and victories.[16]

    Singles

    The album's lead single "Rock Your Body" was released on April 28, 2017.[17] The accompanying music video for "Rock Your Body" was directed by Clarence Peters. In it, Burna Boy spots a girl in a club and tries his best to convince her to leave her friends and dance with him.[18] Most of the video's footage was shot in a production studio. Peters implemented the use of "dark lighting and closeted aesthetic" while shooting it.[14] The album's second single "Streets of Africa" was released on November 24.[19] Reviewing for Konbini Channels, Daniel Orubo said Burna Boy "effortlessly alternates between highlighting the joyfulness of being African, bragging about his prowess with the ladies, praising his own musical ability, and warning his haters not to fuck with him."[13]

    On December 8, "Koni Baje" was released as the album's third single.

    Beats 1 radio show the previous day.[22] Prior to the release of "Sekkle Down", both artists recorded "Good Time", a track from J Hus' debut studio album Common Sense (2017).[22] On January 19, 2018, Burna Boy released the Lily Allen-assisted "Heaven's Gate" as the album's fifth single.[23] The accompanying music video for "Heaven's Gate" was released on the same day. Described as a "16mm filmed family affair", the video features a woman dancing in the kitchen, as well as young girls playing video games.[24] A snippet of "Sekkle Down" is also included in the video.[23]

    The album's sixth single "Ye" was released on August 6, 2018, along with its music video.[11] "Ye" saw a 200 percent spike in its streaming numbers after searches for Kanye West's album Ye unintentionally caused listeners to stumbled upon it.[25] Burna Boy thanked Kanye West for the confusion on Twitter.[26] The single peaked at number 31 at the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts.[27] "Ye" won Song of the Year and Listener's Choice at the 2019 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.[28] In an email to The Fader magazine, Burna Boy said the video "essentially shows the unrelenting nature of Nigerians".[29]

    Reception

    Professional ratings
    Review scores
    SourceRating
    BellaNaija8/10[30]
    One Tribe[15]
    Pitchfork7.7/10[2]
    TooXclusive[10]

    Outside received critical acclaim from music critics. Pitchfork writer Claire Lobenfeld praised Burna Boy's versatility and said his kaleidoscopic output on the album makes it "a fine lesson in mixing genres without making mud".[2] One Tribe magazine applauded Burna Boy for experimenting with different sounds, but ended the review saying the LP lacks "a common theme to piece all the songs together".[15] Segun Akande of Pulse Nigeria said Outside is Burna Boy's "most personal project yet" adding it is "a deeply expository look at himself and the fears and influences that have made him such a divisive figure".[8]

    Reviewing for

    Nigerian Entertainment Today said that from a sonic standpoint, the album is Burna Boy's "most versatile offering that saw him push far beyond the boundaries of his musical dimensions – balancing speed, depth, and storytelling".[5] Jim Donnett gave the album 4 out of 5 in a review for TooXclusive.[10] Donnett praised the album's diverse sounds saying it "tells more of the realities of the life of an African man than [Wizkid's] Sounds from the Other Side did".[10]

    Wilfred Okichie said each song on the album "tells its own story and serves a purpose, leaving no room for waste or excess". Okichie felt the album is the "best thing Burna Boy has done in a long while, maybe his entire career."[1] Mellowviews' writer Mutsinzi Eric said, "Burna Boy’s music is delivered like performance arts, it is marked by a heart-felt expressionism and always masked by a non-chalant [sic] melancholy."[32] A writer for BellaNaija, who goes by the moniker Black Boy, wrote that Outside "bears evidence that Burna Boy remains defiant of the norms of the industry, the lores that trick other artistes to believe that only the pop music makers are relevant in the industry."[30] In a review for Music in Africa, Osareme Edeoghon described the album as being "partly reflective and autobiographical", stating the singer's efforts on the LP match the album's title.[33]

    In February 2018, Outside debuted at number three on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, spending nine weeks on the chart.[34]

    Accolades

    The website Pulse Nigeria and

    Nigerian Entertainment Today considered Outside to be the best Nigerian album of 2018.[35][36] Outside won Album of the Year at the 2018 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and was nominated for the same award at the 2018 City People Music Awards.[37][38] Moreover, it was nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2019.[39]

    Track listing

    Production credits were adapted from Burna Boy's interview with Vice.[3]

    No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
    1."More Life"Damini OguluBaba Stiltz1:32
    2."Ph City Vibration"OguluI Am Beats3:46
    3."Koni Baje"Ogulu
    Leriq
    		3:30
    10."Rock Your Body"OguluJuls3:41
    11."Devil in California"OguluP2J3:15
    12."Calm Down"OguluJae54:25
    13."Outside" (featuring Mabel)
    • Ogulu
    • Mabel McVey
    		FTSE3:38
    Total length:44:00

    Notes

    Personnel

    • Damini Ogulu  – primary artist, writer
    • Momodou Jallow  – featured artist, writer
    • Lily Cooper  – featured artist, writer
    • Mabel McVey  – featured artist, writer
    • Baba Stiltz  – production (track 1)
    • I Am Beats  – production (track 2)
    • Peter Jay  – production (tracks 3, 11)
    • Jonathan Mensah  – production (tracks 4, 12)
    • Pahuldip Singh Sandhu  – production (track 5)
    • Fred Gibson  – production (track 6)
    • Phantom  – production (track 7)
    • Chopstix  – production (track 8)
    • Eric Isaac Utere  – production (track 9)
    • Juls  – production (track 10)
    • FTSE  – production (track 13)

    Charts

    Chart (2018) Peak
    position
    US Reggae Albums (Billboard)[34] 3

    Release history

    Region Date Format Label Ref
    Various January 26, 2018 CD, Digital download
    		[40]

    References

    1. ^ a b Wilfred Okichie (20 August 2018). "Album Review: Outside- Burna Boy". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    2. ^ a b c d Lobenfeld, Claire (2 February 2018). "Burna Boy Outside". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
    3. ^ a b Hattie Collins (26 January 2018). "Burna Boy talks us through his J Hus-featuring mixtape, track-by-track". Vice. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    4. ^ a b Ohunyon, Ehis (5 February 2018). "Album Review: 'Outside' - Burna Boy is a jerk, who is also a Genius". Medium. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    5. ^
      Nigeria Entertainment Today. Archived
      from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    6. ^ "Burna Boy Holds Listening Party in Lagos for "Outside" Album". MTV Base. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    7. ^ Praise, Billy (27 January 2018). "Burna Boy's "Outside" Album Is Here". The Guardian Life. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    8. ^ a b c d Akande, Segun (26 January 2018). "Burna Boy and Damini Ogulu are the same person on "Outside" Album". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    9. ^ "Burna Boy Drops "Koni Baje", a Spiritual New Single for the Closing Year". The Native Magazine. December 9, 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    10. ^ a b c d Donnett, Jim (7 February 2018). "This Is The Original Sounds From The Other Side! – Burna Boy "Outside" Album Review". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    11. ^ a b "Why Burna Boy's "Ye" is the Modern Day National Anthem We Truly Deserve". The Native Magazine. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    12. ^ a b c Kaunda, Mayuyuka (8 February 2018). "Burna Boy Confirms His Genre-Straddling Genius In His New Album 'Outside'". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    13. ^ a b Daniel Orubo. "Burna Boy's 'Streets Of Africa' Is The Best Thing He's Done All Year". Konbini. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    14. ^ a b Segun Akande (29 November 2017). "The visuals for "Rock Your Body" are finally here". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    15. ^ a b c d "Album Review: Burna Boy – Outside". One Tribe Magazine. 5 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
    16. ^ Jay Tijani (31 January 2018). "WPGM Recommends: Burna Boy – Outside (Album Review)". We Plug Good Music. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    17. ^ "Rock Your Body - Single by Burna Boy". Apple Music. April 28, 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
    18. ^ Daniel Orubo. "Burna Boy Drops Dark, Eerie Music Video For 'Rock Your Body'". Konbini. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    19. ^ "New Music: Burna Boy – Streets of Africa". BellaNaija. November 24, 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    20. ^ Marcus Brown (December 8, 2017). "Burna Boy – Koni Baje [New Song]". tooXclusive. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    21. ^ Kam, Killa (December 11, 2017). "Burna Boy and J Hus Link Up For This New Banger, 'Sekkle Down'". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    22. ^ a b Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (December 11, 2017). "Burna Boy connects with J Hus on "Sekkle Down"". The Fader. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    23. ^ a b Bere Wangge (January 24, 2018). "burna boy goes the extra mile in 'heaven's gate'". Globetrotter. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    24. ^ Jordan Darville (January 19, 2018). "Burna Boy shares video for "Heaven's Gate" featuring Lily Allen". The Fader. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    25. ^ Durosomo, Damola (December 13, 2018). "Burna Boy Won 2018". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    26. ^ Wandera Hussein (4 June 2018). "Kanye's album title is accidentally leading fans to Burna Boy's "Ye". The Fader. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    27. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
    28. ^ "Full list of winners at the 2019 Soundcity MVP awards". Premium Times. January 6, 2019. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    29. ^ Myles Tanzer (6 August 2018). "Burna Boy's "Ye" video is an aspirational dream". The Fader. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
    30. ^ a b Boy, Black (10 February 2018). "Black Boy: Burna Boy Was Inspired by Truths on his "Outside" Album". BellaNaija. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    31. ^ Galil, Leor (31 May 2018). "Reprints Share Nigerian Afrobeat star Burna Boy captures the sound of now on Outside". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    32. ^ Mutsinzi Eric (9 January 2018). "Outside — Burna Boy's remarkable third studio album". Mellowviews. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    33. ^ Osareme Edeoghon (13 February 2018). "Burna Boy soars on Outside". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    34. ^ a b "Burna Boy Chart History (Reggae Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    35. ^ Ehis Ohunyon (12 December 2018). "Pulse List 2018: Top 10 Nigerian albums". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
    36. ^ Atayero, Adeoluwa (7 December 2018). "Ranking The 10 Best Albums Of 2018". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
    37. ^ Ohunyon, Ehis (19 November 2019). "Davido, Tiwa Savage and Burna Boy win at 2018 Nigerian Entertainment Awards [See full list". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
    38. ^ "#CPMA2018: City People Music Awards Nominees' List Out". City People. October 17, 2018. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
    39. ^ Gbenga Bada (October 20, 2019). "Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13th edition of music award". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
    40. ^ "Outside by Burna Boy". Apple Inc. January 26, 2018. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
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