To create the anthem of the summer, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy sampled Toni Braxton‘s R&B hit “He Wasn’t Man Enough.” Toni’s 2000 track reached the number-two spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 Song Chart.
Burna’s track “Last Last” also gained notoriety in the streets and on the music charts, peaking at number three on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
During an interview on the “Million Dollar Worth of Game” podcast, the “African Giant” revealed that it was his idea to sample one of Toni’s classics.
“It was actually my idea, to be honest. I just always wanted to use that sample,” the Grammy-winning artist told hosts Gillie Da King and Wallo Peoples. “And I knew Chopstix could do something crazy with it. I just pointed that s–t out and took it from there.”
For “Last Last,” the artist influenced by Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti worked with one of his frequent collaborators, Grammy-nominated producer Chopstix. He described the song’s creation as one of the most “special creative processes ever.”
“But she is taking 60 percent of that s–t,” Burna said about how much Toni earns in royalties. “I’m not complaining man. Hopefully, she pops out to one of the shows.”
Burna Boy continued the interview discussing his rise to fame, his cultural influence and his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden in New York. In April, he became the first Nigerian artist to perform at MSG with his concert “Burna Boy Presents One Night in Space.” He performed in front of over 20,000 people and announced his latest album, “Love, Damani,” which is out Saturday, July 9. One fan was so enthused by his performance she threw her pink bra onstage.
“It’s a great honor to me,” said the Nigerian artist about representing his country. “But at the same time, It’s something that comes with a lot of negative eyes. So it puts me in a higher place and in a greater place and in a more positive place, you understand? When it comes to my people and all that. But it also puts me in a very vulnerable place.”
