Entertainment
Burna Boy Becomes Apple Music’s New ‘Up Next’ Artist
Burna Boy is the latest artist to get a spot in Apple Music’s Up Next programme.
The Nigerian afro-fusion star has been coming off a huge year that saw him perform at Coachella and win the BET Award for Best International Act. He’s also readying the release of his upcoming album, African Giant, from which we’ve had the infectious single ”Anybody” on repeat.
Burna Boy’s inclusion in the program comes with a new Beats 1 , which is live today, and an upcoming short documentary on the Nigerian artist due July 16.
“I’m super excited to be part of the Apple Music Up Next campaign,” says Burna Boy. “Apple continuously comes up with new initiatives to support artists globally and push the African culture. It’s an honor to be a part of this and with my African Giant album coming out soon, the timing is perfect.”
“My granddad was a DJ in Lagos; all the records would come to him first,” Burna Boy tells Apple Music in the Up Next short. “I would find myself being inspired by things that I’ve heard as a kid: Nigerian music or African music, some French music or some Jamaican music. When it’s time for music to be made, it’s almost like my ancestors just come into me and then it’s them.”
“Burna Boy has built his brand his way and has been on fire all over Africa and the UK,” mentions Ebro Darden, Apple Music’s Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B.; “He does things his way and Apple Music is honored to be able to connect with Burna Boy on this moment and help make the name even more well known!”
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
