Nigerian singer cum powerhouse entrepreneur, Mr Eazi has built a career around making bold decisions people do not always understand. From turning down American rapper Jay Z’s offer, among other deals, to moving deeper into tech and business, that’s how he has protected his independence.
But his latest confession has surprised many Afrobeats fans, because he said he deliberately stays away from Burna Boy’s music. While some people may see it as beef, Eazi says it is something he does to protect his creativity. Before looking at why one of Afrobeats’ biggest stars decided to hit “mute” on the African Giant, let’s first look at who Burna Boy and Mr Eazi are.
Two Different Paths in Afrobeats: Who Are Burna Boy and Mr Eazi?
To understand why Mr Eazi avoids listening to Burna Boy while making music, you first have to understand how different yet similar both artists are.
Burna Boy: The African Giant
Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, is one of the biggest names in the music industry today. The singer who won a Grammy award for his Twice as Tall album and became the first African artist to solo headline a UK stadium is known for mixing Afrobeats with reggae, dancehall, and strong African sounds. He is famous for his energetic performances, global hits, and selling out huge venues, including London Stadium. Over the years, he has become one of Africa’s biggest music exports.
Mr Eazi: The Business-Minded Hitmaker
Oluwatosin Ajibade, known as Mr Eazi, took a different path. He became popular for Banku music, a calm mix of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian sounds. Beyond music, he has built a strong business brand. Through emPawa Africa, he has supported and funded young African artists. He has also invested in businesses through Zagadat Capital, including tech and sports betting companies.
What Mr Eazi Said About Burna Boy’ And Why
For Mr Eazi, staying away from Burna Boy’s music is not about beef or bad blood. According to him, it is actually due to his deep admiration for the African Giant.
Speaking during an interview, Mr Eazi explained that Burna Boy is one of the few artists he is a real fan of. He even pointed to Burna’s line, “Biggie man wey no dey wear agbada,” as an example of the kind of writing that impresses him deeply.
To Eazi, the line goes beyond fashion. In Nigeria, especially in places like Lagos, “big men” are often linked with expensive agbada outfits and flashy appearances. But Burna’s lyric flips that idea, suggesting that true power does not always need loud displays. Eazi compared it to billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who are often seen in simple clothes instead of expensive traditional outfits. In his words:
“…‘Biggie man wey no dey wear Agbada’. I was like, fuck. This is hot, man. This is cool… You know how deep that line is?… if you’re a big man in Lagos, you have to wear your Agbada to show like, Obasanjo… but when you say big man wey no dey wear agbada that’s like some Elon Musk, that’s Mark Zuckerberg shi…that’s a punch line.”
The singer admitted that moments like that make him admire Burna Boy’s creativity so much that he intentionally avoids listening to his music too often. Why? Because he believes he easily absorbs what he listens to.
Mr Eazi described himself as “a sponge,” saying that if he listens to too much Burna Boy music, traces of it could start showing up in his own songs. He also pointed out that both of them have somewhat similar deep vocal tones, making it even easier for their sounds to overlap.
The funny part is that Mr Eazi and Burna Boy are not even strangers. They performed together at Coachella in 2019 and have worked on songs like Miss You Bad. But because their deep vocal styles sound somewhat similar, Eazi feels he has to protect his own sound by keeping a little creative distance. Mr Eazi’s continued:
“Burna is one of the only guys I’m genuinely a fan of, so when I hear Burna sometimes I’m like mann! I don’t even like to listen to Burna, yeah I’ve said it before because I’m a sponge so if I listen to so much you would hear it in my music so I try my best to stay away from Burna because it’s like I have a low register as well in my voice so I can I can kind of sound similar if I want to…”
Conclusion
In the end, Mr Eazi avoiding Burna Boy’s music is not about competition or bad blood. For him, it is about protecting his own sound. At a time when many artists are quick to follow trends, Eazi believes keeping his distance helps him stay original. Instead of copying Burna Boy’s style, even unintentionally, he would rather focus on preserving the unique sound he built his career on.
In a way, it also shows how much he respects Burna Boy’s talent. He knows the music is powerful enough to influence him, so he chooses to admire it from a distance instead of letting it shape his own sound.
