Love (Burna Boy song)
| "Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Burna Boy | ||||
| from the album No Sign of Weakness | ||||
| Released | 10 July 2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:56 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Dre Skull | |||
| Burna Boy singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Love" on YouTube | ||||
"Love" is a song by Nigerian singer Burna Boy, released as the fifth and final single from his eight studio album No Sign of Weakness (2025). Produced by Dre Skull, the track blends Afrobeats with elements of pop and dancehall, and has been noted for its emotional lyrics and minimalist production.
Background and release
Following the success of Burna Boy's seventh studio album I Told Them... (2023), he announced a follow-up project in 2024.[1] His eighth studio album No Sign of Weakness was released in July 2025, with "Love" serving as the fourth track on the project. The song was released for digital download and streaming on 10 July 2025, by Spaceship Records, Bad Habit, and Atlantic Records.
Composition and lyrics
"Love" features a mid-tempo rhythm driven by Afro-fusion percussion, soft synth melodies, and layered vocal harmonies. The lyrics explore themes of emotional vulnerability, self-worth, and devotion, marking a more introspective side of Burna Boy compared to his previous works.[2]
The song centers on loyalty, trust, and self-protection. In the lyrics, Burna Boy reflects on the importance of surrounding oneself with people who offer genuine love and support, especially during difficult times. He emphasizes loving people especially those who truly love and stand by you, contrasting real loyalty with hypocrisy and false accusations from the world. The song also encourages listeners not to live to impress others, warning that some people may harbor ill intentions.
He further highlights self-reliance, family responsibility, and focusing on personal growth and survival, particularly within the Nigerian environment. Throughout the track, the refrain reinforces the idea that not everyone will reciprocate love, so one should prioritize authenticity, protect their peace, and value those who remain loyal.[2]
Critical reception
Writers for the music website Afrocritik described "Love" as a Dre Skull-produced mid-tempo track in which Burna Boy "flips the script," delivering "a meditation on loyalty and reciprocity." The review highlighted the lines "Na who love me I go love / Na who love us we go love," adding that "the message lands firmly," carried by "a steady bassline."[3] In a less enthusiastic review for Pitchfork, Boutayna Chokrane criticized "Love," writing that its lyrics feel "hollow" and that repetition "registers as filler." She saw the line "fuck the world with the large condom" as "a clunker," adding that its "synth-pop backing" makes it "a jarring line." Chokrane concluded that Burna Boy "doesn’t sound like he’s having fun anymore," but instead "sounds like he’s bracing for a fall no one else is predicting."[4] NME writer Kyann-Sian Williams called "Love" a "lukewarm ballad that drifts off before finding purpose, weighed down by generic sentimentality."[5] Omotoyosi Idowu of Premium Times wrote that "Love" was marked by the line "Na who love us, we go love," and reveals a "quiet unravelling of trust" and vulnerability, describing it as a departure from his usual defiance.[6] Chibuzo Emmanuel of Deeds Magazine said that "Love" was "one of the best songs" on No Sign of Weakness, noting its "somber" focus on "love's redemptive power," and adding that placing it after two "high-octane songs" makes for "a jarring listen."[7]
Music video and live performances
On 8 December 2025, Burna Boy previewed a 22-second clip of the official music video for "Love" on his Instagram page.[8] The official music video was released on 9 December 2025, at 5 PM WAT.[8] Directed by his sister Ronami Ogulu and filmed by Clarence Peters, the video opens with a framed childhood photo of Burna Boy alongside his grandmother.[9][10][11]
In December 2025, Burna Boy performed a medley of "Love" and "Update" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The episode featured guests Millie Bobby Brown and Kenan Thompson. His set included two dancers, three backing vocalists, and an eight-piece band. The performance coincided with the final dates of his No Sign of Weakness World Tour, which supported his album No Sign of Weakness.[12]
Credits and personnel
- Damini "Burna Boy" Ogulu – vocals, songwriting
- Students of Chalcedony School – choir
- Andrew "Dre Skull" Hershey – production, songwriting
- William Morris Dintenfass – songwriting
- Jackson Haile – assistant mixing
- Millamix – engineering
- Gerhard Westphalen – mastering
- Jesse Ray Ernster – mixing
- Otis Millstone – recording engineer
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[13] | 1 |
| UK Afrobeats (OCC)[14] | 4 |
| US Afrobeats Songs (Billboard)[15] | 2 |
Accolades
| Organisation | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grammy Awards | 2026 | Best African Music Performance | Nominated | [16] |
See also
References
- ^ "Burna Boy Announces Eighth Album 'No Sign of Weakness' & New Single 'Bundle by Bundle'". Billboard. 17 December 2024.
- ^ a b "5 Takeaways From Burna Boy's 2025 Album No Sign of Weakness". OkayAfrica. July 11, 2025.
- ^ Samson, Abioye; Olowofoyeku, Yinoluwa; Okoro, Emmanuel (16 July 2025). ""No Sign of Weakness" Review: Burna Boy's LP Is Technical, Polished, Yet Safely Played". Afrocritik. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Chokrane, Boutayna (18 July 2025). "Burna Boy: No Sign of Weaknes Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (15 July 2025). "Burna Boy – 'No Signs of Weakness' review: a bold genre experiment with messy execution". NME. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Idowu, Omotoyosi (13 July 2025). "From "Kabiyesi" to "Empty Chairs", Burna Boy unveils every layer on 'No Sign of Weakness'". Premium Times. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Emmanuel, Chibuzo. "No Sign of Weakness Review". Deeds Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ a b Fesan, Yewande (9 December 2025). "Burna Boy set to release visuals for 'Love'". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Oshunloye, Taiwo (9 December 2025). "WATCH: Burna Boy puts family, true fans first in 'Love' visuals". TheCable. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Ben, David (10 December 2025). "Burna Boy Leans Into Image Reset With 'Love' Music Video Release". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ "Burna Boy Unveils Video For 'No Sign Of Weakness' Track Love". Stereoboard. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ Paul, Larisha (8 December 2025). "Burna Boy Brings 'No Sign of Weakness' to 'The Tonight Show' With 'Update' and 'Love'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 8 December 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100". TurnTable. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "Official Afrobeats Singles Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs". Billboard.
- ^ "Burna Boy Leads as Davido, Wizkid, Ayra Starr Bag Grammy Nominations". This Day. November 7, 2025.