Dangote Gets Mixed Reactions From Fans; Are The Standards For Burna Too High?

Early last year, Burna Boy released his massively-acclaimed jam Ye which went on to become the biggest Afrobeats song of 2018. The Reggae artist has since enjoyed massive love and support from his fans. His album Outside topped several charts widely. He has also released a string of hit songs like Gbona, On The Low, Killin Dem (feat Zlatan). An African giant as he has referred to himself as Burna is making waves both locally and internationally. He is being regarded as one of the major African acts changing the narrative of African music in the global world.

Burna Boy

Burna won so many awards last year and his concert in December was legendary. Critics and music lovers believe that Burna might be one of the Africans to fully break in into the US market. He has been on some interesting songs this year as a featured act.

Burna Boy has released his first single of the year Dangote. He tells the story of a typical Nigerian on the song; the battles being fought by the country’s citizens, the high rate of unemployment amongst the youth, the ills in the Nigerian society. He talks about the endless need and hustle for money. He mentions how the drive of wealthy Nigerians like Mike Adenuga, Dangote serves as a motivation for him.

Burna

Shortly after dropping the song, a video followed. The compelling visuals was shot by Clarence Peters and it tells different stories of the challenges Nigerians face on a regular basis. The video has racked about 400k views and the song has been climbing several charts. However, unlike Ye or as a matter of fact, any of Burna’s hit singles he released last year, Dangote has yet to leave a major mark on fans. Many music lovers and social media users have taken to their Twitter pages to share their different reactions. Some people opined that Burna Boy was trying to live up to the expectations of Fela by being a social conscious artist. Others believe that Burna is relying too much on Kel P to produce hit songs. A number of people have expressed their displeasure at the song while some have heaped praises on the Gbona hitmaker.

Burna Boy captures the essence of Afro Beat in that Dangote song.

That song is such a fucking Jam

Christ

— Osikhena Dirisu (@Osi_Suave) March 6, 2019

So far, I am yet to like Burna Boy’s ‘Dangote.’

Listened and pushed myself to love it, but it hasn’t happened because something about it doesn’t sit right.

Give it another week, and let’s see what happens, but I doubt I’ll love it.

— Joey Akan (@JoeyAkan) March 3, 2019

dangote is trash, we’re just playing it because it’s burna boy.

— your fav sugar daddy. (@paschalthegr8) March 2, 2019

Burna’s Dangote is nice.

— Sanogo. (@Gideonxx_) March 5, 2019

Idk why we acting like burna boy didn’t just release dangote #africangiant

— Hayze Arungah (@ArungahHayze) March 4, 2019

Now playing for the 45th time. Burna Boy – Dangote.

My president has opened 2019 on a strong note. pic.twitter.com/s4msLzPZ86

— PASTOR OLA (@Biisi96) March 2, 2019

Who has heard Burna Boy’s new jam ‘Dangote’??

If you have, is it a hit or miss?

— Aba Boy (@Frank_LeanXV) March 1, 2019

I don’t know what Burna was thinking but that Dangote song ain’t it!

— B E A M (@Dappa_ibim) March 3, 2019

How can y’all even be comparing Dice Aile’s Otedola to Burna’s Dangote?

They have no business being on the same table. The only similarity the songs have is being titled after rich men, they are not age mates

— Stew (@dammy_stunna) March 6, 2019

After seeing Burna Boy’s “Dangote” video, I think I like the song now.

— Olumide O.G (@OlumideOG) March 6, 2019

This Dangote song bt Burna has to be Burna’s worst song. What was that?

— Ola’wale (@whoishabyb) March 6, 2019

Dangote might not be as good as Ye or any of Burna Boy’s hit singles, but it is not nearly as bad as some make it out to be. The plain truth is that the song would eventually catch with repeated play. The problem is that Nigerians have high expectations because of the level Burna Boy has attained. Fans need to understand that it’s not every song that an artist drops will be an instant hit. Obviously, the hullabaloo that has generated recently as a result of Nigeria’s unfair politics and the terrible state the country is currently in has affected Burna Boy and he has decided to use his voice. Sometimes, artists need to use their music to make comments on socio-political issues. Not every time dancehall.

Burna

A standard has been set for Burna Boy and music lovers expect that any song he drops should be an instant banger. It is important for fans to note that not every song will turn out to be big. Collectively, we need to be less critical of Nigerian artists and try to understand the reason behind the music they put out. Dangote is a reflection of what the average Nigerian is going through and is more of conscious music than danceable music. This probably does not sit well with people who want music they can dance to. Burna Boy has promised that he has recorded about three albums so there are definitely more jams on the way.