If there’s one thing we can never take away from Burna Boy, it’s that he’s unarguably the most versatile Nigerian pop artiste, a genre-bending act who can tap into different styles and still deliver quality without losing the essence of his sound.
Long before his crossover into Afropop’s Big 3, Burna Boy had already shown deep reverence for Jamaican music. Whether it’s through his use of patois, dub-style basslines, or the unmistakable bounce of a dancehall riddim, the self-styled African Giant has consistently tipped his hat to reggae and dancehall legends. His Afro-fusion may be rooted in Nigeria, but it often pulls from the deep wells of Caribbean soundscapes.
In fact, ahead of his upcoming album No Sign of Weakness, Burna gave us a nostalgic nudge back to his reggae era with the release of “Sweet Love”, a warm, heartfelt tune that proves the influence still runs strong.
And now, while we wait for the album’s arrival, we highlight five tracks that reveal just how deeply reggae and dancehall flow in Burna Boy’s sonic bloodstream.
Check and Balance (2014)
Produced by Spellz, “Check and Balance” is one of Burna Boy’s early forays into a full-blown dancehall groove, a vibrant, high-energy track where Afro-fusion meets yard-style swagger. The beat thumps with unmistakable dancehall bounce, while Burna switches between English, Pidgin, and patois with the ease of a seasoned deejay.
The hook, “Owu no be small thing / Suffer na long thing / God no go ’gree that one for me…”, carries the weight of struggle and the joy of resilience, a recurring theme in reggae. It’s playful yet conscious, and it shows just how fluently Burna Boy translates Caribbean soundscapes into his own.
“Smoke Some Weed” (2013)
When he’s not dipping into his deep dancehall bag, Burna Boy often draws from reggae’s more laid-back, meditative side, and “Smoke Some Weed” is a prime example. Featured on his debut album L.I.F.E., the track is drenched in classic reggae vibes: a warm, groovy bassline, slow-skank guitar rhythm, and a beat that invites you to sway like you’re in a Rasta circle.
It’s a stoner anthem and also Burna Boy paying homage to reggae’s spiritual and sonic roots by tapping into the music’s long-standing link with herb, healing, and higher consciousness.
“Yawa Dey” (2013)
One of Burna Boy’s grittiest dancehall cuts, “Yawa Dey” shows just how comfortably he wields patois within his Afro-fusion arsenal. Released in 2013, the track brims with dancehall energy, edgy, bass-heavy, and rebellious in spirit. His vocal delivery channels the cadence of a Jamaican sound system toaster, and the chorus feels lifted straight from a dancehall basement.
The music video only turns things up a notch: hyperrealist colors pop against gritty backdrops, and Burna serves standout looks, from an LL Cool J-style bucket hat with no shirt to denim overalls paired with bold gold chains. It’s brash, stylish, and unmistakably Caribbean in influence, yet rooted in the chaos and cool of Port Harcourt.
“Rockstar” (2015)
Released under Spaceship Records in 2015, “Rockstar” is a slow-burning track that finds Burna Boy leaning into reggae’s introspective core. The stripped-down production is laced with dub-style reverb and subtle reggae guitar strums, creating a meditative atmosphere.
Burna’s vocals are raw and reflective as he sings about the highs and costs of fame: “Ooh, I’m a rockstar baby / Some kind of idol, people do things that I do.” There’s no heavy patois or flamboyant styling here — just a reggae-tinged confessional that stands out in his catalogue for its emotional restraint and spiritual undercurrent.
“Sweet Love” (2025)
Ahead of his eighth studio album No Sign of Weakness, Burna Boy stretches both sound and sentiment on “Sweet Love”, a reggae-tinged ballad that adds emotional depth to his evolving artistry. Produced by Major Seven, the track floats on a mellow groove with warm guitar strums and dub-inspired echoes.
Burna sings with a voice that’s as textured as it is vulnerable: “I want to give you love, sweet, sweet love.” It’s a far cry from his brasher dancehall moments, instead, “Sweet Love” leans into the romantic, soul-stirring side of reggae, proving Burna can channel tenderness just as convincingly as bravado.
