When Burna Boy first teased “Empty Chairs” in a lit rehearsal room video back in June last year, and later performed it during a stirring live concert, it came across as yet another stripped-down, emotionally charged song in his ever-expanding and genre-fluid catalogue.
The track brimmed with raw vulnerability, thoughtful pauses, and soulful minimalism. Even though it remained unreleased at the time, listeners were already captivated, anticipating how its resonance and the song’s in-depth message would eventually command attention and ascend the charts.
When “Empty Chairs” finally appeared on Burna Boy’s 2025 album “No Sign of Weakness”, it arrived with an unexpected twist.
The unmistakable voice of Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger, cuts through the chorus with raw emotion: “Am I the only one that’s sitting in this hot seat? / Am I the only one that’s listening to this heart’s beat? / Your friends all lie, and your enemies cheat / Watching the world drive by,” he sings on “Empty Chairs.”
The production had been subtly reworked, Burna’s Afro-fusion roots now danced with the smoky twang of bluesy rock. It was a creative genre-crossing revelation.
Still, the collaboration didn’t come out of a traditional studio meet-up. Instead, it began through a WhatsApp message. Connected by Naomi Campbell, the supermodel and longtime advocate for global Black artistry, Burna and Jagger found themselves in conversation.
They traded notes, shared ideas, and aligned on something more profound than just a viral hit. “That’s how I see the future of our music,” Burna Boy said in a recent interview. “Music that lasts. Music you can perform forever.”
Of course, many tweets say that “Empty chairs” without Mick Jagger would’ve been so much better after the album was released. But that sentiment of making music he can perform forever rather than a viral hit lies at the core of “Empty Chairs”.
The track is a fusion of sounds, with two icons from different continents reflecting life by using “Empty Chairs” as a metaphor. Jagger’s high-pitched grit as a legendary rockstar pairs seamlessly with Burna’s deep, steady delivery.
The production embraces the Afro-fusion percussion to match up with the old-school rock guitar licks, with both artists carving out space to be fully themselves. Together, they craft a sonic masterpiece.
The feature also signals Burna Boy’s evolving artistic direction. While some of his peers are doubling down on chart performance and dance-floor energy, Burna is thinking long-term. He’s seeking out collaborators who challenge genre boundaries and bring depth and resonance. Jagger, at 82, represents precisely the kind of legacy Burna Boy aspires to.
It also marks a turning point for Burna Boy. “No Sign of Weakness” is an album full of ambition, energy, and sonic experimentation. But “Empty Chairs” stands out as one of its most mature moments, largely because of who’s featured.
In the end, “Empty Chairs” is a statement of intent from a Nigerian artist who has long flirted with the idea of legacy and collaborating with his dream artiste, and through Naomi Campbell’s connection, he made it happen.
