Burna Boy, the Nigerian Afrobeat sensation, stole the spotlight at the 66th Grammy Awards held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday night, February 4th. The Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., introduced Burna Boy as the “superstar from Nigeria.”
Burna Boy’s energetic set commenced with “On Form,” captivating the audience and setting the tone for a memorable performance. The artist then transitioned seamlessly into “City Boys,” surrounded by his entourage.
A highlight of the performance saw Burna Boy escorting 12-time Grammy nominee Brandy to the main stage for their collaboration on “Sittin’ on Top of the World.” The track, which samples Brandy’s 1998 Mase-assisted hit “Top of the World,” features the acclaimed 11-time Grammy nominee, 21 Savage, who was also in contention for five awards at the ceremony.
Released on June 1, 2023, as the lead single from Burna Boy’s seventh studio album, “I Told Them…,” “Sittin’ on Top of the World” made waves on the charts, peaking at No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 2 on Rhythmic Airplay. The parent album achieved notable success, peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on World Albums.
Burna Boy entered the Grammy Awards with four nominations, making his mark in categories like Best African Music Performance for “City Boys,” Best Global Music Album for “I Told Them…,” Best Global Music Performance for “Alone,” and Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Sittin’ on Top of the World” with 21 Savage. This year’s Grammys marked the debut of the Best African Music Performance category, with Tyla securing the inaugural award for “Water.”
While Burna Boy didn’t secure additional Grammy wins this year, it’s important to note that his achievements extend beyond the awards. The 10-time Grammy nominee clinched his first Grammy in 2021 for Best Global Music Album with his fifth studio album, “Twice as Tall.”