Entertainment
Burna Boy Makes Grammy History With A Dazzling Performance
(CTN News) – In a press release distributed prior to the Grammy Awards, Burna Boy’s representatives noted that he is the first Afro-fusion artist to perform at the event.
While Burna Boy is best known for the more widely known genre of Afrobeats – which itself is often a fusion of genres such as highlife, hip-hop, R&B, and more – he has long attempted to distinguish himself by referring to his own music as Afro-fusion.
Several artists, including Ghanaian singer Amaarae, have also been categorized as Afro-fusion artists. The evening’s proceedings began with a few jokes from Trevor Noah, the South African host. Next, fellow African Burna Boy took the stage.
When I was a child growing up in South Africa, I used to bring my mom Afrobeats every time I came home past curfew,” he chided before welcoming the Grammy-winning sensation.
Burna Boy’s performance featured energetic dancers and a backing band dressed in green, symbolic of the Nigerian flag. In a red rhinestone-encrusted quilted jacket, gray pants, and a snapback hat, Burna Boy strutted the Grammy stage with swagger and smiles.
It was then he moved to the more modern song “City Boys” before dazzling the audience with the song “Sittin’ On Top of the World” and bringing out Brandi, whose 1998 song “Top of the World” with Ma$e is sampled in this song.
This singer, who hasn’t performed live since the Nineties, dressed in a black trench coat and large clear glasses, and complete with stunning scarlet boots, delivered smooth vocals during the concert. The singer has been a member of the band since 1999.
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