Renowned Afrobeats artist Damini Ogulu, known by his stage name Burna Boy, has expressed frustration over the prevailing belief among Nigerians that he doesn’t hold the same stature as American musicians.
In a conversation with the Los Angeles Times, he voiced his disappointment with how his compatriots often rank him lower than emerging American rap artists.
He remarked that Nigerians tend to underestimate his accomplishments due to his distinct vocal style. Burna Boy believes they find it difficult to fathom how someone with his vocal approach could be on par with American musicians.
He also revealed that his upcoming album, titled “I Told Them…”, is a response to those who have doubted his abilities and undermined his achievements since the inception and progression of his career.
Burna Boy expressed his sentiments:
“To this day, there’s many Nigerians who can tell you an American rapper who just started their career, and they’ll say they’re bigger than Burna Boy. They don’t understand it. They’ll say, ‘There’s no way someone who talks like me, can even be on the same level as an American artist.'”