Burna Boy shares his love for The Clash and responds to wild rumors in new interview

Global star Burna Boy sat down with Dotty on The Dotty Show on Apple Music 1 to talk about his tireless pace of working and why passion is the main reason he keeps creating. He spoke about whether he’s ever come close to feeling burned out, and why, once he puts an album out into the world, he never goes back to listen to it. Burna also touched on his wide taste in music, from his admiration for rock icons The Clash to viewing every genre as a shared language, and even responded to some of the most unusual rumors about him.

Burna Boy shares his love for The Clash and appreciation of all kinds of music...

I’m a music person, that’s really the truth. You probably wouldn’t believe the range of things I play. I listen to rock groups like The Clash, and songs like ‘Bankrobber.’ “He was a bank robber. He never hurt anybody. He loves to live that way. He loves to take your money.” That’s The Clash. And then there’s The Clash again, ‘I Fought the Law.’ That’s the music my mum used to play. It’s not like I only hear a little of it; I listen to everything. Anything that makes me feel something. I value it because that’s what music really is. Music is a language. Just like English is a language, French is a language, and you can understand them. But the issue is that those languages all divide people. English, though, is a universal language. You see what I mean? Everyone can connect to it, even if they speak a different language. I listen to every type of music and respect all of them the same way I respect my own sound.

Burna Boy on his constant work ethic and why he never slows down...

For me, it stopped being about business a long time ago. It was never really about business to begin with. It’s about passion. That’s the right word, but it feels even deeper than that. Even in a year where I didn’t release an album, I already had one finished. So that shows I was still working. I was still out doing concerts and tours everywhere. There is always something to create. There is always a song waiting to be made, and if I don’t record it when it comes, I feel like I failed to do my part.

Burna Boy talks about coming close to burnout and stepping away...

Not in a serious way, you understand? It’s just in certain moments. For example, recently in Germany, I had to perform in the rain. I love that, but then suddenly my mic cut off. It wasn’t just mine; the rain had affected all the equipment. I had to walk off stage the first time and wait for them to sort it out. That waiting felt like punishment. You know what I mean? Then I went back out, continued the show, and it happened again. I care so much about this that things like that can throw me off balance. Right after it, I told myself maybe I should stop performing for a while. But then by the very next day, I don’t really mean it anymore. When I say that in the moment, it’s just because I’m frustrated. Once I calm down, I realize I’m too passionate about it. I want to be back on stage again right away.

Burna Boy on always looking ahead and never naming a favorite album...

For me, whichever one I am working on is the best until it's released. As soon as it’s released, my mind has already moved on to the next project. So when I am touring an album, my energy is already with the new one. That’s why I’ve never sat down to really reflect on any of my albums the way someone else might. If I stepped outside myself and viewed it like a fan, maybe then it would make sense. But I’ve never actually done that.

Burna Boy reacts to strange rumors in Nigeria about never shaving his armpits...

Burna: Plenty. One thing I dislike is shaving my armpits. People take that to mean something. You know how Sam in the Bible had power in his hair, right? They claim my strength is there, too.
Dotty: Burna, they think your power is in your armpit hair. That’s a new one for me.
Burna: You’re not in Nigeria. Over there, you hear all kinds of crazy talk.
Dotty: That’s really a story people say in Nigeria?
Burna: Yes.
Dotty: The power is in the pits.
Burna: Exactly.
Dotty: Are you practicing juju from your armpits?
Burna: I wish I were, honestly. I would try to see if that’s even real. But I’ve heard everything already. Trust me.