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"City Boys"
Single by Burna Boy
from the album I Told Them...
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2023
Genre
Length2:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • MD$
  • Ruuben
Music video
"City Boys" on YouTube

"City Boys" is a song by Nigerian singer Burna Boy, released on September 22, 2023, as the fifth single from his seventh studio album, I Told Them... . It was produced by MD$ and Ruuben and samples Jeremih's February 2009 single, "Birthday Sex".[1][2] "City Boys" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[3]

Background

[edit]

Burna Boy first teased the track on August 17, 2023, through his TikTok, posting a clip from the official music video of the track.[4] He released the single, alongside a music video, on September 22, 2023.[5][6]

Critical reception

[edit]

Betty Godson of NotJustOk described the album as a "headbanger" with "a wonderful tinkling sound and a strong first verse."[7] African Folder's Bomi Anifowose noted that the track is "chest-thumping" and is "riveting and dynamic as the snippet." He also stated that "the record displays braggadocio in esteemed ramification."[8] Writing for The Independent, Helen Brown wrote that the track "applauds sly angles of urban masculinity to a marimba and concrete punch of a beat."[9] Julianne Escobedo Shepherd for Pitchfork wrote that on the track, Burna "explores the spoils of his talent and renown, weaving triumphantly through wealth, women, [and] weed."[10]

Awards

[edit]

"City Boys" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards,[3] and Best Afrobeats at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.[11][12]

Live performances

[edit]

Burna Boy performed the song at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards[13][14] and at Glastonbury Festival 2024.[15]

Charts

[edit]
Weekly chart performance for "City Boys"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 70
France (SNEP)[17] 27
Global 200 (Billboard)[18] 143
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 44
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 14
New Zealand Hot Singles( RMNZ) 12
Nigeria (TurnTable)[21] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 58
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 24
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 14
UK Afrobeats (OCC)[25] 1
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[26] 5
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[27] 20

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "City Boys"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[28] Gold 100,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy Releases New Album 'I Told Them...' f/ J. Cole, 21 Savage, RZA, and More". Complex. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Mamo, Heran (2024-05-06). "14 American Songs That Burna Boy Has Sampled or Interpolated". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  3. ^ a b Markowitz, Douglas (11 November 2023). "Here Are The Nominees For Best African Music Performance At The 2024 GRAMMYs". Grammys. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Godson, Betty (August 18, 2023). "Fans react as Burna Boy teases new single". NotJustOk. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Helfand, Raphael (September 22, 2023). "Burna Boy drops video for "City Boys"". The Fader. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  6. ^ Inman, DeMicia (2023-09-22). "Burna Boy Invites Quavo To Live The "City Boys" Lifestyle In Music Video". Vibe. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  7. ^ Godson, Betty (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy dumps Afrobeats on his new album, 'I Told Them'". NotJustOk. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  8. ^ Anifowose, Bomi (25 August 2023). "I Told Them By Burna Boy: More Hip-Hop, Less Afrobeats". African Folder. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Brown, Helen (25 August 2023). "Burna Boy, I Told Them... review: Nigerian star pulls his punches on a lovingly crafted but middling new album". The Independent. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  10. ^ Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (30 August 2023). "Burna Boy: I Told Them... Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Atkinson, Katie (2024-09-12). "Here's the Full List of 2024 MTV VMAs Winners". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  12. ^ Peter, Dennis Ade (August 7, 2024). "Burna Boy, Tyla and Ayra Starr Among Best Afrobeats Nominees at MTV VMAs 2024 | OkayAfrica". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  13. ^ Bloom, Madison (2024-02-05). "Watch Burna Boy Perform "On Form," "City Boys," and More at the 2024 Grammys". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  14. ^ Moorman, Taijuan (2024-02-05). "Burna Boy becomes first Afrobeats star to take Grammys stage joined by Brandy, 21 Savage". USA Today. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  15. ^ Firth, Abigail (2024-06-30). "Burna Boy gets his deserved big billing at Glastonbury 2024". Dork. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  16. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Top Singles (Week 41, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Burna Boy – City Boys" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Nigeria Top 100". TurnTable charts. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Burna Boy – City Boys". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Burna Boy – City Boys". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Official Afrobeats Singles Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Burna Boy Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  28. ^ "French single certifications – Burna Boy – City Boys" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  29. ^ "British single certifications – Burna Boy – City Boys". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
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