Album Review: Burna Boy, No Sign Of Weakness

By now, Burna Boy needs little introduction. The Nigerian superstar has already sold out a US stadium, headlined Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, and won a Grammy for his groundbreaking fifth studio album, Twice As Tall.

With No Sign Of Weakness, his eighth record and follow-up to 2023’s I Told Them…, he doubles down on his high-energy, rap-leaning side without abandoning the heart-wrenching Afrobeats flourishes fans have come to expect.

The album opens with Burna in full swagger, leaning into his rapper instincts more than ever before. The heart of the record, though, lies in its genre-blurring collaborations. Burna remains the undisputed king of collabs, seamlessly adapting to his guests’ styles without losing his own.

‘Pardon,’ with Stromae, is a soulful love song, with Burna’s vulnerability matching Stromae’s introspective, Multitude-era lyricism. Meanwhile, ‘Change Your Mind,’ with Shaboozey, veers into pop territory, though Shaboozey’s low, languid tone perfectly complements Burna’s high-energy delivery. The standout track, however, is the Travis Scott–assisted ‘TaTaTa’, an explosive, percussion-heavy anthem with inventive flute outros.

With No Sign of Weakness, Burna Boy cements his place as one of the most versatile and ambitious artists of his generation.

8/10

Out now