Steel & Copper is a collaborative extended play by Nigerian singer Burna Boy and American production duo DJDS.[1] The EP comprises four tracks and was released on March 21, 2019, through Spaceship Entertainment, Bad Habit, Atlantic Records and Loma Vista Recordings.[2] It is the follow-up to Burna Boy's third studio album, Outside (2018), and DJDS' fourth studio album, Big Wave More Fire (2018).[2] Steel & Copper blends Burna Boy’s upbeat melodies with DJDS' slinky trap beats.[3]
| Steel & Copper | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | March 21, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 10:00 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | DJDS | |||
| Burna Boy chronology | ||||
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| DJDS chronology | ||||
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Composition
editSteel & Copper is a dancehall, reggae, afropop, and trap album.[3][4] The title track, "34", is a reference to Giannis Antetokounmpo's jersey number; the song first appeared in a freestyle Burna Boy did for Link Up TV's Behind the Barz.[3][4] In "Innocent Man", Burna Boy talks about surviving in the cold; he switches from melodic flows to fast paced rapping.[4][3] In the Rastafarian-influenced track "Darko", he voices his frustrations with the authorities and why he is not bothered about the things people say about him; the song begins with an upbeat piano sound and references his 2014 hit record "Don Gorgon".[4][3] In "Thuggin", Burna Boy narrates the deep tale of living life despite all the people he's lost; the song is composed of a guitar-led R&B beat that is reminiscent of a church choir worship session.[4][3] Ehis Ohunyon of Pulse Nigeria praised the song's structure and content.[4]
Releases
editThe video for "Thuggin/Darko", a merger of the songs "Thuggin" and "Darko", was released on April 1, 2019.[5] It was directed by Daniel Regan and features styling from Nigerian fashion photographer Stephen Tayo.[5] The video contains spiritual elements and is a depiction of life and death; it also contains melancholic images of Burna Boy caring for a motherly figure in his home before engaging in a street fight that turns deadly for one of the men involved.[5]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Spill Magazine |   [6] |
| Pulse Nigeria | [4] |
Steel & Copper received generally positive reviews from music critics. Pulse Nigeria's Ehis Ohunyon awarded the EP 3 stars out of 5, saying it "succeeds through sheer force of will, cutting edge style and his simple approach to achieving excellence".[4] In contrast, Ohunyon criticized its length and said it "lacks the gusto to leave a memorable mark in the mind of listeners".[4] The Native's Debola Abimbolu said Steel & Copper is a continuation of the genre-bending antics that DJDS explored on their 2018 album Big Wave More Fire; Abimbolu also commended Burna Boy for helping the duo explore the sound of Afropop.[3]
Writing for The Spill Magazine, Adam Nosalik granted the EP 4 stars out of 5, commending it for being a well put-together project.[6] Notiki Bello of Filter Free Nigeria called the EP "smooth" and said "there is no noticeable sonic glitch in any of the songs".[7]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "34" | Damini Ogulu | DJDS | 2:40 |
| 2. | "Innocent Man" | Ogulu | DJDS | 2:30 |
| 3. | "Darko" | Ogulu | DJDS | 2:02 |
| 4. | "Thuggin" | Ogulu | DJDS | 3:44 |
| Total length: | 10:00 | |||
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Version | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | March 21, 2019 | Digital download | Standard |
|
References
edit- ^ Wandera Hussein (March 21, 2019). "Burna Boy and DJDS connect for new joint-EP Steel & Copper". The Fader. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ a b Evan Minsker (March 21, 2019). "DJDS and Burna Boy Release New Steel & Copper EP: Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Debola Abimbolu (March 22, 2019). "Essentials: Burna Boy and DJDS's 'Steel and Copper'". Native. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ehis Ohunyon (March 25, 2019). "Burna Boy's Steel and Copper with DJDS is his most experimental project yet". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ a b c Damola Durosomo (April 1, 2019). "Watch the Stunning Music Video for Burna Boy and DJDS' 'Thuggin/Darko'". OkayAfrica. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ a b Adam Nosalik (21 March 2019). "SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BURNA BOY & DJDS – STEEL & COPPER". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ Notki Bello (March 25, 2019). "Here is Quick Verdict on DJDS X Burna Boy project "Steel & Copper"". Filter Free Nigeria. Retrieved 25 January 2020.