VGMA Artiste of the Year, Black Sherif in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, has offered insight into his decision to feature only Burna Boy on his debut album, “The Villain I Never Was.”
The album, which made an impressive debut at number 12 on the Billboard World Albums Chart, has been making waves not only for its chart success but also for the unique creative choices made by the 21-year-old.
According to the “Kweku Frimpong’ singer who is known for his emotive storytelling and introspective lyricism, he initially had plans to collaborate with multiple artists on his debut album.
However, he ultimately decided against it in order to fully express his individual perspective.
“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.
One notable collaboration on the album is with Nigerian Afrofusion sensation Burna Boy.
Black Sherif explained that his connection with Burna Boy extended beyond the music; it was about mutual appreciation and shared creativity.
“It doesn’t even feel real. he first interaction with him it wasn’t about the music. It was the appreciation he made about my sound and it was the thing I do with no filter. It made me feel different about what I do, “ he added.
Speaking on the impact of his music, the “Oil In My Head” singer who was raised in rural Konongo Zong disclosed that he is still in shock over the reach of his songs across the world.
“It’s shocking because even in my neighbourhood in Konongo Zongo, it was only people in my home that knew I could sing and make music,” he added.