I Told Them...

2023 studio album by Burna Boy
I Told Them...
Studio album by
Burna Boy
Released25 August 2023 (2023-08-25)
Length41:35
Label
  • Atlantic
  • Spaceship
  • Bad Habit
Producer
  • 255
  • Adrian X
  • Danitello
  • EJ Fya
  • Harper Gordon
  • Jay Blu
  • Kelly Blatz
  • Kofo
  • LeriQ
  • LiTek
  • MD$
  • Mag
  • Mikewavvs
  • Miles
  • Modra
  • Otis
  • P2J
  • Ruuben
  • RZA
  • Ashton Sellars
  • Skread
  • Spaceship Billy
  • Steel Banglez
  • Telz
  • Jay Weathers
  • WhyJay
  • Yeti Beats
  • Ztekk Records
Burna Boy chronology
Love, Damini
(2022) 		I Told Them...
(2023)
Singles from I Told Them...
  1. "Sittin' on Top of the World"
    Released: 23 June 2023
  2. "Talibans II"
    Released: 21 July 2023
  3. "Big 7"
    Released: 27 July 2023
  4. "Cheat on Me"
    Released: 22 August 2023
  5. "City Boys"
    Released: 22 September 2023
  6. "Tested, Approved & Trusted"
    Released: 4 April 2024

I Told Them... is the seventh studio album by Nigerian singer Burna Boy. It was released on 25 August 2023, through Atlantic, Spaceship Records, and Bad Habit. The album features guest appearances from 21 Savage, Dave, Seyi Vibez, J. Cole, GZA and RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, and Byron Messia. The album was preceded by four singles, "Sittin' on Top of the World", "Talibans II", "Big 7", and "Cheat on Me".

Background and singles

In support of his sixth studio album Love, Damini (2022), Ogulu embarked on a global tour starting in May 2022,[1] with dates in North America, Europe and Africa. On 3 June 2023, he performed in front of a sold-out 60,000 crowd at the London Stadium, becoming the first African artist to headline a stadium tour in the UK.[2] Reacting to this achievement, Ogulu first alluded to the album title, saying, "I told them that I'm a genius".[3]

The first single "Sittin' on Top of the World" was released on 1 June 2023, supported by a remix featuring 21 Savage three weeks later.[4] On 21 July, he shared another single titled "Talibans II" with Byron Messia.[5] Ogulu announced the album on 27 July.[6] The announcement was accompanied by an album trailer and the release of the single "Big 7".[7] The song arrived with a Benny Boom-directed music video, featuring cameos by RZA, Busta Rhymes, Junior Mafia and Shameik Moore.[8] On 22 August, Burna released the fourth single titled "Cheat On Me" featuring UK rapper Dave.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
African Folder8.2/10[10]
All Music[11]
The Arts Desk[12]
Evening Standard[13]
The Guardian[14]
The Independent[15]
NME[16]
NotJustOk7.7/10[17]
Pitchfork7.8/10[18]

I Told Them... received generally positive reviews from music critics. Betty Godson from NotJustOk noted that Burna "makes use of different sonic elements to achieve the impressive sound of the album" while stating that his "delivery is strong and charismatic."[17] Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis spoke on the album's production, noting that "[it] hones Burna Boy’s sprawling influences into music that feels punchy, inimitable and impressively streamlined."[14] Oyebanji Akins of CTDAmongblacks podcast in his review said that Burna Boy is working to bring Black Americans and Africans closer.[19]

Ben Jolley from NME stated that "there’s plenty of radio-ready gold to enjoy in the album’s many singalong choruses and interesting production choices" while concluding his review by writing that the album "is not only more memorable and focused than its expansive predecessor, but it’s his strongest album yet."[16] The Independent's Helen Brown stated that the album is "richly and lovingly crafted, with easygoing mix of Afro-pop, rap and R&B, loaded with texture and pleasant melody, all held together by Ogulu’s appealing voice.[15]

Writing for Pitchfork, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd wrote that the album "is succinct and grand as an opening salvo, which explores the ’90s U.S. hip-hop he grew up loving, preemptively hedging scepticism."[18]

Year-end lists

Select year-end rankings of I Told Them...
Publication List Rank Ref.
Rolling Stone The 100 Best Albums of 2023
71
Time Out The 30 best albums of 2023
6

Commercial performance

I Told Them... debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 14,164 album-equivalent units in the first week, becoming Burna Boy's first number-one album.[22] Becoming the first number one album ever on the chart by an African artist.[23] Singles "Sittin' on Top of the World", "Big 7", and three other songs for the album charted on the UK Singles Chart: "Sittin' on Top of the World" (36), "Big 7" (53), "Cheat on Me" (19) and "City Boys" (14). UK chart rules prevent artists from having more than three songs in the top 40 at once, otherwise, Burna Boy's album would have generated further new entries in the countdown.[24]

The album also debuted at number 31 in the US after selling 21,000 copies in the country in its first week.[25]

Track listing

I Told Them... track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Told Them" (featuring GZA)
  • Gordon
  • Kofo
  • Telz
3:09
2."Normal"
  • Ogulu
  • Marco Daniel Borrero
Mag2:04
3."On Form"
3:42
4."Sittin' on Top of the World" (featuring 21 Savage)Skread3:08
5."Tested, Approved & Trusted"
3:40
6."Cheat on Me" (featuring Dave)
  • LiTek
  • WhyJay
  • Jay Blu
3:42
7."Virgil"
  • Danitello
  • MD$
1:07
8."Big 7"
  • Ogulu
  • Santeri Kauppinen
  • Miles
  • Otis Millstone
  • Daniel Okas
  • Michael Washington Jr.
  • Danitello
  • MD$
  • Mikewavvs
  • Otis
  • Miles
2:23
9."Dey Play"
2:33
10."City Boys"
  • MD$
  • Ruuben
2:33
11."Giza" (featuring Seyi Vibez)
  • Ogulu
  • Loseyi Balogun
  • Olanite Olaoluwa Elijah
Modra2:59
12."12 Jewels" (featuring RZA)Robert Fitzgerald DiggsRZA0:27
13."If I'm Lying"Steel Banglez3:17
14."Thanks" (featuring J. Cole)
  • Sellars
  • Jay Weathers
3:36
15."Talibans II" (with Byron Messia)
  • Ogulu
  • Byron Messia
  • Onugba Enojo Paul
  • EJ Fya
  • Spaceship Billy
  • Ztekk Records
2:56
Total length:41:35

Note

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.

Personnel

  • Burna Boy – vocals
  • Gerhard Westphalen – mastering
  • Jesse Ray Ernster – mixing
  • Otis Millstone – engineering
  • Andrea Mastro – recording (track 1)
  • Eric Isaac Utere – recording (4)
  • GZA – additional vocals (1)
  • Ashton Sellars – guitar (3)
  • Ife Ogunjobi – trumpet (3)
  • Nadia Simon – trumpet (3)
  • Virgil Abloh – vocals (7)

Charts

Chart performance for I Told Them...
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] 56
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[27] 14
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] 39
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 20
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 11
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[31] 18
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[32] 13
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[33] 2
French Albums (SNEP)[34] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[35] 46
Irish Albums (OCC)[36] 25
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[37] 12
Nigeria Albums (TurnTable)[38] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[39] 6
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 7
UK Albums (OCC)[42] 1
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[43] 1
US Billboard 200[44] 31
US World Albums (Billboard)[45] 2

Certifications

Certifications for I Told Them...
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Nigeria (TCSN)[46] Platinum 50,000[47]
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Strauss, Matthew (16 May 2022). "Burna Boy Announces Summer 2022 Tour Dates". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ Farooq, Iqra; Mansfield, Mitch (5 June 2023). "Burna Boy makes history with sold-out London Stadium gig". BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  3. ^ Ayodele, Racheal (5 June 2023). "I told them I'm a genius – Burna Boy brags after selling out London stadium". Daily Post (Nigeria). Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  4. ^ Griffin, Marc (27 June 2023). "Burna Boy, 21 Savage Channel '90s Energy In "Sittin' On Top Of The World" Video". Vibe. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ Anderson, Carys; Vito, Jo (28 July 2023). "Burna Boy Announces New Album I Told Them…, Shares "Big 7": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  6. ^ Bras Nevares, Gabriel (28 July 2023). "Burna Boy Preps For Upcoming Album With New Single, "Big 7"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  7. ^ Lindert, Hattie (27 July 2023). "Burna Boy Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song "Big 7": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ^ Zemler, Emily (28 July 2023). "Burna Boy Announces New Album, Rolls Out 'Big 7' Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Burna Boy And Dave Collab For "Cheat On Me"". www.hotnewhiphop.com. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  10. ^ Anifowose, Bomi (25 August 2023). "I Told Them By Burna Boy: More Hip-Hop, Less Afrobeats". African Folder. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  11. ^ Monger, Timothy (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy - I Told Them... Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  12. ^ Muggs, Joe (1 September 2023). "Album: Burna Boy - I Told Them..." The Arts Desk. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  13. ^ Smyth, David (30 August 2023). "Burna Boy: I Told Them review – flaunts his talent over great pop melodies". Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy: I Told Them review – Afrobeats superstar punches closer to the mainstream". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  15. ^ a b Brown, Helen (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy, I Told Them... review: Nigerian star pulls his punches on a lovingly crafted but middling new album". The Independent. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  16. ^ a b Jolley, Ben (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy – 'I Told Them…' review: titan of Afrofusion takes a well-deserved victory lap". NME. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  17. ^ a b Godson, Betty (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy dumps Afrobeats on his new album, 'I Told Them'". NotJustOk. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  18. ^ a b Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (30 August 2023). "Burna Boy: I Told Them... Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Burna Boy working to bring Black Americans and Africans closer – Oyabanji Akins". Dailytimes. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  20. ^ C., N. (30 November 2023). "The 100 Best Albums of 2023". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  21. ^ Wilkinson, Chiara (1 December 2023). "The 30 best albums of 2023". Time Out. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  22. ^ "'A global music juggernaut': Austin Daboh toasts Burna Boy's No.1 & promises more success". Music Week. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Everything you need to know about Afrobeats: a timeline". Official charts. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  24. ^ Brandle, Lars (3 September 2023). "Burna Boy Makes U.K. Chart History With I Told Them...". Billboard. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  25. ^ Nevares, Gabriel Bras (3 September 2023). "Russ Questions Burna Boy's U.S. First Week Sales For I Told Them...". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  26. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 September 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1748. Australian Recording Industry Association. 4 September 2023. p. 6.
  27. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Burna Boy – I Told Them..." (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Burna Boy – I Told Them..." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Burna Boy – I Told Them..." (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Hitlisten.NU Album Top-40 Uge 35, 2023". Hitlisten. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Burna Boy – I Told Them..." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  34. ^ "Top Albums (Week 35, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Burna Boy – I Told Them..." (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  37. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  38. ^ "TurnTable Charts Official Top 50 Albums". www.turntablecharts.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Album 2023 uke 35". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  40. ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 35". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Burna Boy – I Told Them...". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  43. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  44. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  46. ^ "TurnTable Certification". www.turntablecharts.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  47. ^ "Burna Boy Makes History With 11 Plaques: A Triumph In Nigeria's Music Industry". www.turntablecharts.com.
  48. ^ "British album certifications – Burna Boy – I Told Them". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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  • "All My Life" (remix)