Buzz
Grammy Awards 2021: Does Burna Boy stand a chance this time?
The year 2019 was great a year for Nigerian Superstar Burna Boy. With the release of his fourth studio album, “African Giant” followed by well attended concerts all over the world, the “Odogwu” was poised for all the many accolades he could receive in the music world.
“The album which features guest appearances from Jorja Smith, Jeremih, Damian Marley and Future, among others, received generally favourable reviews from music critics, who called it cohesive and praised Burna Boy for not diluting his sound. It was included in the year-end lists issued by several publications, including Billboard, Complex and Pitchfork.”
See below weekly and year-end rankings of “African Giant” album.
Weekly charts
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 58 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 98 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) | 33 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 12 |
French Albums (SNEP) | 54 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) | 80 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 64 |
UK Albums (OCC) | 16 |
US Billboard 200 | 104 |
Year-end rankings
Publication | Accolade | Rank | |
---|---|---|---|
Complex | The Best Albums of 2019 | 13 | |
Billboard | The 50 Best Albums of 2019 | 14 | |
Pitchfork | The 50 Best Albums of 2019 | 26 | |
Vice | The 100 Best Albums of 2019 | 12 | |
The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s | 63 | ||
Rolling Stone | The 50 Best Albums of 2019 | 46 | |
The Atlantic | The 18 Best Albums of 2019 | — |
|
It was therefore not a surprise at all when “African Giant was nominated in the ‘Best World Music Album’ category at the 2020 Grammy Awards together with Altin Gün, Bokanté & Metropole Orkest, Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet and Angelique Kidjo.
Despite receiving formidable reviews, doing well on music charts and winning some major awards, Burna Boy lost out on the ultimate Grammy Awards.
While receiving the Grammy award for the best world album on January 27, 2020, Angelique Kidjo dedicated the award to Burna Boy and stated that indeed, Burna Boy is the future of African music.
“Four years ago, on the stage, I was telling you that the new generation of artistes coming from Africa are going to take you by storm. And the time has come. This is for Burna Boy. Burna Boy is among those young musicians that come from Africa that is changing the way that our continent is perceived and the way that African music has been the bedrock of every music,” she said during her acceptance speech at the award show.
After loosing out on the one thing that would have crowned all of his hard work, Burna Boy revealed that he “felt totally sick” but was however poised to work “Twice as tall.”
“Sick. Totally sick,” he stated. “My musical Mother @angeliquekidjo told me everything I needed to understand about the Grammys. So now I’m “Twice as Tall” (that’s the name of my next Album by the way dropping in July by the grace of the most High),” he wrote in a tweet.
Indeed, the African Giant worked twice as hard and released his fifth studio album, “Twice as Tall”on August 14, 2020, this time, gathering the talents of Youssou N’Dour, Naughty by Nature, Sauti Sol, Chris Martin and Stormzy.
Executive produced by American singer and songwriter Diddy, with generally favourable reviews from music critics as well, “Twice as Tall” set out to take great positions on some music charts.
See chart performance for Twice as Tall below:
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 69 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 22 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 22 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) | 19 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 10 |
French Albums (SNEP) | 29 |
Irish Albums (OCC) | 31 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 47 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 12 |
UK Albums (OCC) | 11 |
US Billboard 200 | 54 |
The pandemic has brought everything to a halt, which has stalled momentum with Twice as Tall. While it is doing amazing on charts, a world tour, as he did with “African Giant,” would have cemented its position.
This year at the Grammys, Burna Boy faces competition from Antibalas, Bebel Gilberto, Anoushka Shankar and Tinariwen.
“Twice as Tall firmly establishes Burna’s political stance and like the album cover, a hero poised for greatness.
But will a “heroic” album get him a Grammy win when a dazzling crossover moment with African Giant didn’t?
We’ll find out on January 31, 2021.
Buzz
Manhyia Palace displays repatriated Asante royal artifacts at Manhyia Museum
The Manhyia Palace has displayed looted artefacts from the Asante Kingdom by British colonisers for public viewing. (more…)
Buzz
Quables Breaks Silence on Allegations Surrounding Sika Official’s Stabbing
In the wake of the shocking stabbing incident involving Ghanaian social media blogger Sika Official, co-founder of the Dance With Purpose Academy (DWP Academy), Ernest Kwablah, alias Quables, whose name was mentioned as suspect since the video popped up has finally broken his silence. (more…)
Buzz
Ghanaian blogger Sika Official stabbed at a pub
Award-winning Ghanaian social media blogger, Dennis Kweku Sika, otherwise known as Sika Official, has found himself in the hospital after a harrowing altercation that culminated in a stabbing incident at Levels pub in Accra. (more…)
Buzz
AYRA STARR ANNOUNCES SORPHOMORE ALBUM “THE YEAR I TURNED 21 “
Grammy-nominated singer, OyinkansolaSarah Aderigbe, well-known in the music fraternity as Ayra star is gearing up to thrill fans with her second album dubbed, “The Year I Turned 21”. (more…)
Buzz
DJ Isaac Cool Laid To Rest
The late Ghanaian Disc Jockey and resident DJ of Starr FM, Isaac Anim Appiah, professionally known as DJ Isaac Cool who passed away while receiving treatment after a tragic accident has been laid to rest. (more…)
- Buzz1 week ago
I underestimated the extent of my influence – Serwaa Amihere apologizes
- Buzz1 week ago
Why single mothers struggle to find partners – Joselyn Dumas
- World News1 week ago
Kanye West reportedly planning to launch porn studio
- Buzz7 days ago
Some Wealthy Ghanaians Lack Philanthropic Spirit – Michael Blackson asserts
- People & Lifestyle1 week ago
Why Ghanaians question the authenticity of King Promise’s alleged wedding
- Buzz7 days ago
Dress decently to the gym; some men want to make it to heaven – Williams Uchemba tells ladies
- Buzz5 days ago
Funeral arrangements announced for late Nollywood actor Junior Pope
- People & Lifestyle2 days ago
Techiman-to-Accra: Seidu Rafiwu’s Record-Breaking 380km Walkathon
- Buzz1 week ago
I produced most of the biggest hit songs in Ghana last year – Beatz Vampire claims the crown ahead of TGMA 2024
- People & Lifestyle1 week ago
Delta to serve Ghana with new Airbus A330-900neo
- World News2 days ago
Former US Army Servicemember, Sanda G. Frimpong Sentenced to Prison in Money Laundering Romance Scam
- Buzz1 week ago
I’m going to have eleven children; my late son will return – Yul Edochie