L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity

L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity
Studio album by Burna Boy
Released August 12, 2013[1]
Genre
Length 59:00 (Standard edition)
63:05 (Deluxe edition)
Label Aristokrat Records
Producer
  • Peedi Picasso (exec.)
  • LeriQ
Burna Boy chronology
Burn Identity
(2011)		 L.I.F.E
(2013)
Deluxe edition cover
Singles from L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity
  1. "Like to Party"
    Released: May 30, 2012[3]
  2. "Tonight"
    Released: September 24, 2012[4]
  3. "Always Love You"
    Released: March 6, 2013[5]
  4. "Run My Race"
    Released: March 11, 2013[6]
  5. "Yawa Dey"
    Released: August 5, 2013[7]

L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity (stylized as L.I.F.E) is the debut studio album by Nigerian musician Burna Boy, released by Aristokrat Records on August 12, 2013.[1] It is the follow-up to his second mixtape Burn Identity, which was released in 2011. The album sold 40,000 copies on the first day of its release. Aristokrat Records later sold the album's marketing rights to Uba Pacific for N10 million.[8] The release of the album was preceded by the singles "Like to Party", "Tonight", "Always Love You", "Run My Race" and "Yawa Dey".

The album features guest appearances from 2face Idibia, M.I, Timaya, Olamide, Reminisce and Wizkid. It was produced solely by LeriQ.[9] The album was ranked 10 on Nigeria Entertainment Today's 12 best albums of 2013.[10] The music of L.I.F.E draws heavily from the music of Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Bob Marley. Upon its release, the album received generally good reviews from music critics. Many critics applauded the album's production for being versatile. The album was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

Background and production

The album was mixed and mastered by LeriQ at Solid Sound Studios in Ikota, Lagos.[11] In an interview with Bellanaija, Burna Boy said he titled the album L.I.F.E in order to leave a lasting impact and showcase the realism of his life.[2] In another interview with Toolz on NdaniTV's The Juice, Burna Boy said that the album describes his journey through life.[12]

Album cover, listening party, and launch concert

On July 17, 2013, Aristokrat Records unveiled the album's cover art to the general public. The cover art for both the standard and deluxe editions of the album was designed by Peedi Picasso. Burna Boy shares the cover art with Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Bob Marley. The record label, in a press release, said that the album would be release in three installments: Street, Original, and Deluxe. The record label also said that the release of the album would be met with an album release party, CD signings, and a tour.[13] In August 2013, Burna Boy held an album listening party at Cafe Vanessa in Victoria Island.[14] In September 2013, he launched a concert titled "The Burna Boy Experience" to promote his album in the cities of Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi.[15]

Composition

L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity embodies a mixture of reggae, dancehall, afrobeat and fuji sounds. The album draws heavily from the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade and Bob Marley. The sound on L.I.F.E is an original contemporary sound created by Burna Boy. "No No No" is a fusion of the aforementioned genres. On the song, Burna Boy tells listeners that he is from Ahoada, Rivers State. "Say So" is a groovy jazzy highlight song with a saxophone riff. "Na so E Suppose Be" is an ode to the coolness of 90s music. "Yawa Dey" is a tribute to the galala sound championed by several Ajegunle ragga artists, including Daddy Showkey and Baba Fyro. On "Run My Race", Burna Boy impersonates Fela Kuti over an electro afrobeat instrumental. On "Boom Boom Boom", he samples a line from Fela Kuti's "Army Arrangement". "Smooth Sailing"'s hook consists of a Yoruba fairy tale. On "Outro: Remember Me", Burna Boy reiterates the album's theme to listeners.[16][17]

Singles

On May 30, 2012, Burna Boy released the album's lead single "Like to Party". The music video for the single was shot and directed in Lagos by Adasa Cookey; it was uploaded onto YouTube on September 4, 2012 and ran for 4 minutes and 8 seconds.[18]

On September 24, 2012, "Tonight" was released by Aristokrat Records as the album's second single. The song was recorded in English, Yoruba, and Igbo.[19] The music video for the single, directed by Mex, was uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 4 minutes and 4 seconds.[20] The music video for "Tonight" was nominated in the Most Gifted Newcomer Video category at the 2013 Channel O Music Video Awards.[21]

Burna Boy debuted the album's third single "Always Love You" on March 6, 2013 via iTunes. The song is a pop song with influences from house and dance music.[22]

"Run My Race" was released as the album's fourth single. The song was recorded in English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin.[23] The music video for the song was shot and directed at The New African Shrine by Clarence Peters.[24]

On August 5, 2013, Burna Boy released the album sixth single "Yawa Dey". The music video for the song was also directed by Clarence Peters; it features various light-hearted scenes of posse dancing and beach soccer. A hyperrealist color scheme was used to shoot the video.[25]

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Hip Hop World Magazine[26]
Nigerian Entertainment Today[16]
Jaguda8.5/10[27]

Upon its release, the album was met with generally good reviews from music critics. Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today gave the album 3.5 out 5 stars, stating that "the biggest flaw of the album is not what is in it but what is not. While new producer Leriq does a commendable job of producing the whole album and not making it sound repetitive or boring, L.I.F.E lacks a knock out hit to seal the stateliness of the LP."[16]

Wilfred Okiche of YNaija reviewed the album and said that "L.I.F.E is a fair attempt at a debut album. It avoids the pitfalls of monotony and boredom that could easily have befallen the disc but the overall sound is still a tad unsatisfying, like there is stuff Burna Boy is holding back."[17]

Ayo Alloh, whose review was posted on Jaguda, gave the album 8.5 out of 10. He concluded that although the album was solely produced by Leriq, it was never monotonous.[27]

Enemigin Neye of Hip Hop World Magazine gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, adding that the album goes to show the everyday improvement in the sound called Nigerian music. He also added that he believes Burna Boy is here to stay. Moreover, he believes that the album is definitely one to remember.[26]

Accolades

L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity was nominated for Best Album of the Year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.[28] The album was also nominated for Best R&B/Pop Album and Album of the Year at The Headies 2014.[29]

Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) Results
2014 The Headies Best R&B/Pop Album Nominated
Album of the Year Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Album of the Year Nominated

Commercial performance

The album was released in Nigeria and reportedly sold 40,000 copies on the first day of its release. The marketing rights for the album were later sold to Uba Pacific for N10 million.[8]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Intro: My Life"  Damini OguluLeriQ 3:14
2. "No No No"  Damini OguluLeriQ 2:37
3. "Say So"  Damini OguluLeriQ 4:36
4. "Abeg Abeg (Remix)" (featuring 2face Idibia and Timaya)
  • Damini Ogulu
  • Innocent Idibia
  • Enetimi Odom
LeriQ 3:32
5. "Na so E Suppose Be"  Damini OguluLeriQ 4:16
6. "Run My Race"  Damini OguluLeriQ 4:14
7. "Boom Boom Boom"  Damini OguluLeriQ 3:50
8. "Yawa Dey"  Damini OguluLeriQ 3:57
9. "Ma Loda Ma Motto"  Damini OguluLeriQ 3:04
10. "Tonight"  Damini OguluLeriQ 4:10
11. "Like to Party"  Damini OguluLeriQ 4:09
12. "Smooth Sailing"  Damini OguluLeriQ 4:06
13. "Don't Run" (featuring Reminisce and Olamide)
  • Damini Ogulu
  • Olamide Adedeji
  • Remilekun Safaru
LeriQ 3:22
14. "Jahs Love Is True" (featuring Wizkid)
  • Damini Ogulu
  • Ayodeji Balogun
LeriQ 4:09
15. "Outro: Remember Me"  Damini OguluLeriQ 3:40
Total length:
 59:00
Notes

Personnel

Release history

Country/Digital platform Date Version Format Label
  • Nigeria
  • iTunes
 August 12, 2013 Standard
Aristokrat Records

References

  1. 1 2 "L.I.F.E - Leaving an Impact for Eternity (Deluxe Edition) by Burna Boy". iTunes.apple.com. iTunes. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 O, Onos (17 August 2013). "BN Saturday Celebrity Interview: An Enigma and ‘Boy’ Who ‘Likes to Party’ Burna Boy Exclusively Sits Down with BellaNaija". Bellanaija. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Like to Party - Single by Burna Boy". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Tonight - Single by Burna Boy". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Always Love You - Single by Burna Boy". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Run My Race - Single by Burna Boy". iTunes. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Burna Boy – Yawa Dey - L.I.F.E Album Tracklist". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. August 5, 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  8. 1 2 Abulude, Samuel (6 September 2013). "Nigeria: Burna Boy Sells Debut Album Rights for N10 Million". allAfrica.com. allAfrica via Leadership Nigeria. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Iwar, Sute (23 August 2013). "Burna Boy’s Album Debut ‘L.I.F.E’". Okayafrica.com. OkayAfrica. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Alonge, Osagie (29 December 2013). "12 best albums of 2013 – The definitive list from Nigerian Entertainment Today". thenet.ng. Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Burna Boy – L.I.F.E Album Tracklist". Notjustok.com. Notjustok. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Aiki, Damilare (August 22, 2013). "Must Watch Video! Burna Boy gives Toolz all the Scoop on his Superstar Life on Ndani TV’s The Juice". Bellanaija. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "He’s Ready! Burna Boy Unveils the Artwork to His Debut Album "L.I.F.E."". Bellanaija.com. Bellanaija. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  14. ↑ Debrah, Ameyaw. "Burna Boy’s mum and grandma attend "L.I.F.E" album listening party!!!". ameyawdebrah.com. Ameyaw Debrah. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "BURNA BOY TO LAUNCH L.I.F.E. ALBUM IN ACCRA & TAKORADI THIS WEEKEND". modernghana.com. Modern Ghana. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 Ayomide, Tayo (18 August 2013). "ALBUM REVIEW: Burna Boy’s L.I.F.E (Leaving An Impact For Eternity)". Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  17. 1 2 Okiche, Wilfred (29 September 2013). "Album review: Burna Boy’s ‘L.I.F.E’ is not as good as you’ve been made to believe". ynaija.com. YNaija. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "New Video: Burna Boy – Like To Party". 1TribeRadio. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "Burna Boy – Tonight". NotjustOk. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Video: Burna Boy ‘Tonight’". OkayAfrica. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Channel O Africa Music Video Awards 2013 nominees announced". Biz Community. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  22. ↑ Itie, Harry (5 April 2013). "Audio: Nigeria’s Burna Boy ‘Always Love You’". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  23. ↑ "Audio: Burna Boy ‘Run My Race’". OkayAfrica. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  24. ↑ Ogbu, Rachel (11 June 2013). "#InCaseYouMissedIt: Burna Boy drops new music video, Run My Race (WATCH)". YNaija. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  25. ↑ "Burna Boy ‘Yawa Dey’". OkayAfrica. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  26. 1 2 "ALBUM REVIEW: BURNA BOY – L.I.F.E". hiphopworldmagazine.com. Hip Hop World Magazine. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  27. 1 2 "Album Review: Burna Boy – L.I.F.E". jaguda.com. Jaguda. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  28. ↑ Abimboye, Micheal (31 May 2014). "Pop duo, Skuki, reject Nigerian Entertainment Awards nomination". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  29. ↑ Ochugba, Mary (10 October 2014). "The Headies unveils 2014 nominees". Business Day. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
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