In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, VGMA Artiste of the Year Black Sherif provided insight into why he decided to include solely Burna Boy on his debut album, “The Villain I Never Was.”
The record, which debuted impressively at number 12 on the Billboard World Albums Chart, has gained attention for both its success on the charts and the 21-year-old’s original artistic decisions.
The singer of “Kweku Frimpong,” who is renowned for his moving storytelling and reflective lyrics, claims that he originally intended to work with a variety of singers on his debut album.
He ultimately opted against it, though, in order to completely express his personal viewpoint.
“I think that came during the process of making the album. It was very intense for me at that time where I was in my head. I had the studio right in front of my bed. So when I wake up that’s my studio,” Black Sherif further revealed during the interview “I made so many songs at that time and I felt like, the story I was going to tell I could tell it alone, I had plans of getting features in the album, but making the album and getting to like 70% of the album, I felt I could do it solo, because I had a lot to talk about,” he said.
The album features a famous collaboration with Nigerian Afrofusion superstar Burna Boy.
According to Black Sherif, their relationship went beyond music and focused on mutual respect and shared creativity.
The “Oil In My Head” singer, who was up in rural Konongo Zong, said of the effects of his music that he is still in disbelief over how far his songs have spread.