Burna Boy was born Damini Ogulu in Lagos in 1991. He began making music at just ten years old when a fellow classmate at school gave him a copy of the production software FruityLoops. Armed with these means, he began to create his own beats on an old computer.

After he graduated, he moved to London to attend university, but he dropped out after two years and moved back to Nigeria. In 2010, the 19-year-old Ogulu traveled to Nigeria’s southern coast, where a mutual acquaintance, producer LeriQ, had some studio space. This marked a period when he began to connect to the music of his native country, having spent most of his youth immersed in American acts like DMX.

He delved into the dancehall and reggae music his father listened to and explored the Afro-beat music preferred by his grandfather (who had also been Fela Kuti’s first manager). As a result of his new discoveries, Ogulu created a confluence of genres that would become his signature sound.

With production by LeriQ, Burna Boy created “Like to Party,” which marked his rise to prominence and generated a local buzz along the way. 2013 saw the release of his debut studio album; featuring guest slots from Wizkid, Timaya, 2face, and M.I., L.I.F.E drew favorable reviews from the music press. For his sophomore effort, 2015’s On a Spaceship, Burna parted ways with both his record company and LeriQ, and delivered a record even more diverse than his first. In 2017, he teamed up with producer Juls for the single “Rock Your Body.” A host of singles followed throughout the year, including “GBA,” “Streets of Africa,” “Koni Baje,” and “Sekkle Down,” featuring J Hus. Dropping the Lily Allen-aided single “Heaven’s Gate” in early January 2018, Burna delivered his third album, Outside, later that month. He returned a year later with the single “Killin Dem,” a collaboration with Zlatan. Along with additional singles like “Dangote” and “On the Low,” it was later included on his fourth album, African Giant, which saw release in July 2019.

Burna Boy was born Damini Ogulu in Lagos in 1991. He began making music at just ten years old when a fellow classmate at school gave him a copy of the production software FruityLoops. Armed with these means, he began to create his own beats on an old computer. After he graduated, he moved to London to attend university, but he dropped out after two years and moved back to Nigeria. In 2010, the 19-year-old Ogulu traveled to Nigeria’s southern coast, where a mutual acquaintance, producer LeriQ, had some studio space. This marked a period when he began to connect to the music of his native country, having spent most of his youth immersed in American acts like DMX. He delved into the dancehall and reggae music his father listened to, and explored the Afro-beat music preferred by his grandfather (who had also been Fela Kuti‘s first manager). As a result of his new discoveries, Ogulu created a confluence of genres that would become his signature sound.

With production by LeriQ, Burna Boy created “Like to Party,” which marked his rise to prominence and generated a local buzz along the way. 2013 saw the release of his debut studio album; featuring guest slots from Wizkid, Timaya, 2face, and M.I., L.I.F.E drew favorable reviews from the music press. For his sophomore effort, 2015’s On a Spaceship, Burna parted ways with both his record company and LeriQ, and delivered a record even more diverse than his first. In 2017, he teamed up with producer Juls for the single “Rock Your Body.” A host of singles followed throughout the year, including “GBA,” “Streets of Africa,” “Koni Baje,” and “Sekkle Down,” featuring J Hus. Dropping the Lily Allen-aided single “Heaven’s Gate” in early January 2018, Burna delivered his third album, Outside, later that month. He returned a year later with the single “Killin Dem,” a collaboration with Zlatan. Along with additional singles like “Dangote” and “On the Low,” it was later included on his fourth album, African Giant, which saw release in July 2019.

The Up Next program is created by Apple to support rising artistes. Each month ‘Up Next’ selects a rising artist for which Apple Music uses all its resources to give their music visibility to new audiences. This will include an introductory documentary shot on the artiste, an audio EP from a live session which will include an interview and live performance on Beats 1 and an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden which Apple Music partnered with.

Speaking about the collaboration in his Beats 1 interview with Julie Adenuga, the ‘Ye’ singer who seems to be climbing new heights every now and then; from Coachella to BET, expressed his excitement to be a part of the Up Next campaign as he said;

“I’m super excited to be part of the Apple Music Up Next campaign, … 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.”

From the snippet of the documentary, the singer was seen talking about the birth of his relationship with music;

“My granddad was a DJ in Lagos; all the records would come to him first … 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.”

Speaking about Burna’s collaboration with Apple Music, Apple Music’s Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B, Ebro Darden said

“Burna Boy has built his brand his way and has been on fire all over Africa and the UK … 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!”

The exclusive documentary with Apple Music will be dropping on the 16th of July after which his new album, African Giant, which is presently on Pre-order will drop on the 26th of July.

Bose Ogulu, the manager and mother of the Afro-fusion musician accepted the award on her son’s behalf. Ogulu, who has accepted trophies for her son in the past, also came with a quick word for African-Americans.

“Thank you very much BET, thank you, Africa. That is the constituency for which we got noticed. The message from Burna would be that every black person should please remember that you were Africans before you became anything else.”

See the full list of winners below:

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Beyoncé (WINNER)
Ella Mai​

H.E.R.

Solange

SZA

Teyana Taylor

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Bruno Mars (WINNER)

Chris Brown

John Legend

Anderson .Paak​
Childish Gambino​

Khalid

Best Group

Migos (WINNER)
Chloe x Halle​
City Girls
Lil Baby & Gunna​
The Carters

Best Collaboration

“Sicko Mode,” Travis Scott ft. Drake (WINNER)

“A Lot,” 21 Savage ft. J. Cole

“Please Me,” Cardi B & Bruno Mars

“I Like It,” Cardi B ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin​

“Could’ve Been,” H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller

“Taste,” Tyga ft. Offset

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Cardi B (WINNER)
Kash Doll
Lizzo
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj​
Remy Ma

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

Nipsey Hussle (WINNER)
21 Savage
Drake
J. Cole
Meek Mill
Travis Scott

Video of the Year

“This Is America,” Childish Gambino (WINNER)
“A Lot,” 21 Savage ft. J. Cole
“Money,” Cardi B
“Please Me,” Cardi B & Bruno Mars
“Nice For What,” Drake
“APES**T,” The Carters

Video Director of the Year

Karena Evans (WINNER)
Benny Boom
Colin Tilley​
Dave Meyers
Hype Williams

Best New Artist

Lil Baby (WINNER)
Blueface
City Girls
Juice WRLD​
Queen Naija

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational

“Blessing Me Again,” Snoop Dogg ft. Rance Allen (WINNER)
“All Of My Life,” Erica Campbell ft. Warryn Campbell
“Tell Me Where It Hurts,” Fred Hammon​
“Love Theory,” Kirk Franklin
“Never Alone,” Tori Kelly ft. Kirk Franklin

Best International Act

Burna Boy (Nigeria) (WINNER)
AKA (South Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Dave (UK)
Dosseh (France)
Giggs (UK)
Mr. Eazi (Nigeria)

Best New International Act

Sho Madjozi (South Africa) (WINNER)
Headie One (UK)
Jokair (France)
Nesly (France)
Octavian (UK)
Teni (Nigeria)

Best Actress

Regina King (WINNER)
Issa Rae
Regina Hall
Taraji P Henson​
Tiffany Haddish​
Viola Davis

Best Actor

Michael B. Jordan (WINNER)
Anthony Anderson
Chadwick Boseman
Denzel Washington
Mahershala Ali
Omari Hardwick​

Young Stars

Marsai Martin (WINNER)
Caleb McLaughlin
Lyrics Ross
Michael Rainey Jr.
Miles Brown

Best Movie

BlacKkKlansman (WINNER)
Creed 2
If Beale Street Could Talk
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
The Hate U Give

Sportswoman of the Year

Serena Williams (WINNER)
Allyson Felix
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year

Stephen Curry (WINNER)
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Odell Beckham Jr
Tiger Woods

Album of the Year
Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B (WINNER)
Astroworld, Travis Scott
Championships, Meek Mill
Ella Mai, Ella Mai​
Everything Is Love, The Carters

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice

“Trip,” Ella Mai (WINNER)
“I Like It,” Cardi B ft Bad Bunny & J Balvin​
“This Is America,” Childish Gambino​
“In My Feelings,” Drake
“Middle Child,” J. Col
“Sicko Mode,” Travis Scott ft. Drake