Back in August, Burna Boy unveiled his fifth studio album Twice As Tall, which boasts 15 tracks and features from Youssou N’Dour, Naughty by Nature, Chris Martin, and more. Today, the Nigerian artist delivers a new visual for “Real Life,” which features South London emcee Stormzy and sees the two harmonizing about personal struggles, survival, and needing support to progress and succeed over production from Telz and Mario Winans:
“I wonder which style dem guys dem go try now, if una never hear my story mek you find out, I know say nobody is an island, but if dem wan f*** you for nyash, mek you no lie down/
And I know you fit later realize am, but the way you don dey move I no dey like am, somebody want to wear the shoe wey no size am, me, I be Destiny’s Child, a survivor Real…/”
The video comes courtesy of Meji Alabi, and centers around British youth in the midst of an increase in knife crime. The clip appears to show one man in particular, who seems to mix between mischief on the streets and building a family with his pregnant significant other. At some point, a presumed retaliatory stabbing ensues, revealed that said man has a twin brother — and it was the innocent twin who tragically lost his life. Add in the fact that his killer was an apparent friend, and it becomes clear how senseless the violence in the Black community really is, no matter what country you reside in.
“Real Life” follows music videos for “Wonderful” and “Monsters You Made.” In addition to his own work, Burna Boy has also spent this year providing assistance on tracks by Dave, Sam Smith, Pop Smoke, and more.
Press play on Burna Boy and Stormzy’s “Real Life” below.