Rap has long been a powerful form of rhythmic expression, with its origins often credited to block parties in 1970s New York City, as noted by NPR. However, some sources, like Four over Four, suggest that rap actually traces back to West Africa, where storytellers used rhythmic patterns to share their tales, accompanied by the beat of drums.

A prominent figure embodying this rich tradition is Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu. As highlighted by The New York Times, Burna Boy hails from Nigeria and serves as a modern-day historian, using his music to convey stories of the past, present, and future.

Despite facing significant setbacks early in his career, including label issues in 2015 and being overlooked by influential figures in Nigeria, Burna Boy’s fortunes changed dramatically in 2018. According to The Fader, his breakthrough came through an unexpected turn of events. In 2018, he released an album featuring the hit song “Ye.”

Coincidentally, around the same time, Kanye West released an album also titled “Ye.” This led to a surge of Kanye’s fans searching for his album, and many stumbled upon Burna Boy’s track. Intrigued, they began to explore the rest of Burna Boy’s music, resulting in a significant increase in his international recognition.

Fast forward to 2022, Burna Boy has solidified his position as a respected artist both locally and globally, continuing to share his stories and cultural heritage through his impactful music.