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| Burna Boy stands tall, voice of hope |
When Burna Boy met Nigeria activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) at a Lagos club on June 28, 2025, the talk stayed far from light small-talk. He told VDM, “I don’t mind the criticism so long as it’s real and I know you are very real.” Then he added, “NIGERIANS ALWAYS WANT TO SEE THE GOOD PEOPLE FALL.”
The pair spoke from dusk till dawn, only about Nigeria’s future. No talk of cars or money. No politics bickering or fleeting party life. They shared history lessons and sketched solutions. By sunrise, Burna Boy looked VDM in the eye and said, “NIGERIA GO BETTER.” He ended with a nod to the Ratel Movement: “That is your Ratel Movement, ehn?” ❤️👍🏿
Their bond shows the power of honest talk. Burna Boy rides high this year. In mid-June, he unveiled his No Sign of Weakness Tour, a 17-date, 16-city North American run set to back his new album this July . His latest single “TaTaTa” with Travis Scott dropped May 21, 2025 . The album arrives July 11 on Spaceship and Atlantic Records .
Off-stage, critics chase him, yet he stands firm. His net worth sits near $32 million, from sold-out shows, streams and deals . He uses his platform to spark change, not just drop beats.
Nigeria itself shows mixed signs. The economy grew 3.84 percent in real terms in Q4 2024—its fastest pace in three years . The IMF now pegs 2025 growth at 3.2 percent . Yet high prices and debt still bite many homes.
Burna Boy and VDM’s chat echoes a wider hope. Young leaders see better days ahead if they build on real talk and real plans. He urged Ratel members to keep at it, to shine light on fresh ideas.