2020 was the OG year of working from home, and Burna was not exempt. Collaborating with Diddy (who served as the executive producer) via Zoom, he managed to put together an album that he won’t forget in a hurry: it gave him his first Grammy win, after a near-miss with 2019’s African Giant that seemed to be the spur he needed for this album. 

The album is full of twists and turns, with a mix of expected sounds like his usual fusion of dancehall and Afro-pop, and some nobody could’ve seen coming, like the rock joint Monsters You Made. With a solid lineup of producers from Nigeria (Telz, LeriQ, Rexxie), the UK (P2J, Jae5), and the US (the legendary Mike Dean and Timbaland), and features including Stormzy, Naughty By Nature, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and African icon Youssou N’dour, Twice As Tall leaves little to be desired.

5 years on, we’re revisiting the album to share our unfiltered thoughts on each song. Check out our ranking (from least favorite to best) below:

15. Bebo

Unnecessary. Apologies to everyone involved, but if this song had simply been left off the project, it would truly have been an album with no skips.

14. Comma

While this is not a terrible-sounding song, the best thing about it is Rexxie’s production. The song is supposed to be lighthearted and a bit cheeky, but there’s nothing really funny about perpetuating a particular beauty standard for years and then clowning women for trying to align with it. Press play if you’re in the mood for some legwork with no thinking required. 

13. Time Flies 

Time Flies is only ranked this low because every other song is just too good. One of Burna’s greatest qualities shines through on this song: his ability to blend seamlessly with almost anybody, in this case, Kenyan group Sauti Sol. It has a really chill vibe that makes it a perfect song to have on in the background while you work. 

12. Naughty By Nature

On this track, we see Burna being playful and experimental, pouring himself over a sample of the 1999 track Jamboree by hip-hop group Naughty By Nature, who are featured on this song. His joy is palpable, exactly what you’d expect when an artist collaborates with others he has cited as a musical inspiration. It’s one of those songs that exists somewhere on the extremes of the spectrum that’s Burna, a sound we hope to hear more often.

11. Monsters You Made

The words that come to mind when one hears this track are ‘powerful’, ‘rebellious’, and ‘inspired’. Speaking truth to power is something Burna does well, and as usual, he sounds amazing doing it. It’s a gut-punch of a song: the harshness of the sound was a little unexpected, but in his hands, it makes sense. The Chris Martin feature leaves mixed feelings, though: it works, but it’s also hard to imagine the song missing anything if he wasn’t on it. The outro, on the other hand, the clip of legendary writer Ama Ata Aidoo, helps to drive the message home as clearly as possible.

10. No Fit Vex

This track gives us ‘understanding Burna’: some friendships are just not meant to last forever, there’s really no hard feelings.  It’s an inevitable part of life, but at least Burna gave us a great song to vibe to while mourning all the relationships that have fallen by the wayside. It’s not sad by any means, just quietly reflective. Everyone’s going through something, and this lesson has maybe taken him a bit of time to learn. LeriQ also does his thing on this.

9. Wonderful

After hustling (like Adebayo Ogunlesi) for your daily 2k, there’s really no place like home, and ‘home’ is exactly what this track sounds like. It’s loud, it’s busy, it’s percussion-heavy, it’s distinctly West African, and it sounds like happiness and warmth. It was a great choice for a lead single, an instant mood booster.

8. Wetin Dey Sup

‘Burna the Port-Harcourt Boy’ is in full effect on this track. He wants you to know he’ll show you a great time, but you better not try to cross him. He’s minding his business, and simultaneously ready for whatever: “I’m watching my back and facing my front”. The gunshots and ambulance sirens in the background are there to let you know what kind of time he’s on. If you’re looking for ghetto philosophy, look no further: “they only respect the money and the violence”, and more street wisdom awaits you on Wetin Dey Sup. Diddy’s yapping on the outro transitions the song into Real Life so smoothly, you could miss it if you don’t pay attention.

7. Level Up

This track is a strong contender for the best intro of all time on a Burna Boy album. Featuring a sample from Pat Boone’s “Twice As Tall,” Burna’s unfiltered verses, Youssou N’Dour’s powerful delivery on the hook, and Diddy’s monologue all come together to establish the album’s mission. The song clearly conveys its message without holding back.

6. Real Life

Without a doubt, this is the best collaboration on the album. In a typical Burna Boy and Stormzy joint, one might expect the Afrobeats star on the hook while the grime rapper handles the verses, but they switch “traditional” roles here. Stormzy’s sobering hook provides a contrasting backdrop for Burna’s braggadocious verses. Long before anyone asserted he was “HIM,” Burna made it clear that he has always been “the guy,” and in this track, he is in his “element”. Many of the best songs on albums accentuate the core theme of the project, in this case, that the African Giant is now “Twice as Tall.” He makes this fact evident and unavoidable throughout the album.

5. Alarm Clock

A P2J and Burna Boy combo is always a problem. Add in drums by THE Anderson .Paak and you’re about to cause a riot of a record. At 2 minutes and 13 seconds, it might feel too short, but it’s just enough to leave you wanting more. It serves as a perfect transition from the intro to one of the most essential tracks on the album, “Way Too Big,” maintaining the energy while standing strong between two key pieces of the album.

4. Onyeka (Baby)

If you’re not aware, “loverboy Burna” is top 3 Burna Boy. Behind the bold image he often portrays, there is a softer side that emerges beautifully in both his lyrics and sound. The title pays tribute to the late Onyeka Onwenu and now feels like a fitting homage to the legacy of the Elegant Stallion.

3. Bank On It

Burna Boy is one of those artists who understands the importance of an album’s intro and outro to the overall listening experience. This album showcases his range, from vulnerable to braggadocious, lovey-dovey, and social commentary, and “Bank On It” serves as a reflective concluding statement.  It is the best Burna Boy outro of all time. Beginning with a minimalist intro and culminating in an orchestra-driven closing hook, this track exemplifies the Burna Boy experience at its finest.

2. Way Too Big

If there were a song that encapsulates the essence of “Twice As Tall,” it would be this one. It is undeniably the cornerstone track of the album, showcasing Burna Boy at his most confident. He asserts, “It’s been a landslide for a long time” and challenges others by saying, “All of una combined… do am if e easy.” 

“Your back and your spinal cord e go break, if you carry my weight”

Nah, I’ll be so mad if I were an opp.

The production, provided by Leriq and THE Mike Dean, creates a backdrop as grand as Burna’s ego. The last 40 seconds of this song are otherworldly and also contribute to the statement of how far ahead he believes he is compared to everyone else. “Twice As Tall” wouldn’t be Twice As Tall without this record.

1. 23

This is not as forceful as ‘Way Too Big’ or ‘Real Life’, but it’s more contemplative while still exuding confidence. Here, Burna compares himself to one of the greatest athletes of all time, reinforcing his “Twice As Tall” narrative, albeit in a less aggressive manner.  While “Way Too Big” is a sharper representation of his mindset for this album, “23” reflects Burna’s overall career. It tells the story of how he has overcome hypocrites and doubters, all while honing his craft and proving that he is who he believes he is.