City Boys

Album: I Told Them... (2023)
Charted: 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A city boy is a slang term for a man who lives his best life. He is someone who focuses on his success and is seen as sophisticated.

    On this braggadocious anthem, Burna Boy blends his signature Afro-fusion with US hip-hop. The Nigerian star boasts of how he's a successful city boy who gets girls from both the ghetto and uptown.
  • "City Boys" kicks off with a snippet from British rapper J Hus' Instagram story. In it, J Hus dismantles the notion of his own "ugly" perception and proudly declares himself "sexy." The sample is a potent declaration of self-love and self-acceptance.
  • Burna Boy delivers the first part of the chorus in Yoruba, a language spoken in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

    Mi o fa'gbo lo rado
    BRKFST mo n fa o


    Translates into English as:
    I don't listen to noise
    I have breakfast with you


    He's not talking about the first meal of the day. BRKFST is Burna Boy's cannabis brand.

    Mi o de ni mu Jekonmo
    Azul and Champagne ni ma mu o


    Translates as:
    I don't have time for Jekonmo
    I'll have Azul and Champagne with you


    Burna Boy doesn't care for Jekonmo, a Nigerian herbal mixture sold in local markets and online. He prefers indulging in upmarket foreign beverages like Azul and Champagne.
  • MD$ & Ruuben produced the track. They incorporate a sped-up sample of Jeremih's "Birthday Sex."
  • "City Boys" is a track from Burna Boy's seventh album I Told Them… In the week following the release of the album, the song charted worldwide thanks to the "City Boys" dance challenge on TikTok.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.