Buju (BNXN) has achieved a high level of success and credibility, duly based on his talent proven on hit singles plus his remarkable input in popular collaborations with prominent acts in the Nigerian music industry. Surely, this is a feat few independent artists can match.
If you have been pondering the next step to take your music career to the next level, Buju fka BNXN may as well be the ideal man to mirror after.
Who is Buju and What are His Musical Accomplishments?
Buju is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer now known by the stage name BNXN (actual name Daniel Benson; born on May 14, 1997; age: 25). The young lad from Akwa Ibom State became famous after establishing himself on Buju songs like “Do Me Nice,” “Spiritual,” “L’Enu,” and “Mood,” where he worked with singers like Show Dem Camp, Zlatan, Burnaboy, and Wizkid.
Buju has significantly contributed to the development of the distinctive and intriguing modern Afro-fusion sound we have today. It stands to reason that he consistently collaborates with notable musicians in the industry and is currently regarded as one of Nigeria’s hottest acts that one could possibly feature in the music industry.
On April 16, 2020 (just around his 23rd birthday), Buju was signed by Burna Boy’s record label – Spaceship Collective. Surprisingly, the Afro musician did not renew the one-year contract when it expired in 2021. Instead, he made the decision to go at it independently and take advantage of other opportunities that come with being an indie artist.
Buju currently has his own record label – To Your Ears Entertainment, which he founded in 2018. It is under TYE Ent. that he has recorded songs like “Sorry I’m Late“, “Never Stop,” “Outside,” “Kilometer,” “Italy Refix,” “To Your Ears,” and “Catch a Vibe“.
Notably, on February 18, 2022, the talented musician changed his stage name formally. Due to ongoing identity and possible marketing name disputes between himself and the renowned Jamaican reggae dancehall performer, Buju Banton, Buju changed his name. We now refer to him as “Buju fka BNXN.”
Since breaking into Nigeria’s competitive entertainment industry, Buju (BNXN) has established himself as one of the most sought-after and acclaimed musicians in the country. His distinctive vocals and harmonies are always noteworthy, so he has gotten a ton of acclaim and great reviews. One of his most notable achievements was when he got to perform at Buju Songs at Wizkid‘s three-day concert in 2021 at London’s 02 Arena. His fame began to reach heights and spread across the globe.
Buju earned The City People Entertainment Award of Revelation in 2021 despite having just been in the industry for a little period of time. His collaboration with Wizkid, Mood, debuted on the UK Afrobeat Singles Chart in 2021. In the same year, he was nominated for “Best Promising Artiste” at AFRIMMA for his smash hit, “Outside”. He subsequently earned the “Next Rated” award and “Best Rap Single” with his collaboration with Ladipoe on “Feelings” at The Headies Award in 2022.
We think this has been a successful career – especially as an indie artist – for Buju (BNXN) since he came into the limelight. We have provided some excellent tips to help you improve as an artist, just as Buju (BNXN) did it.
Tip 1: Develop Your Own Sound and Style
Today’s world of the Nigerian music industry competitively demands that every artist – vocalist, songwriter, singer, and producer – have their own distinctive sound, and that’s exactly what Buju fka BNXN did! You really can’t make it out especially as an independent artist if you don’t try to stand out unique.
Tens of thousands of new songs are released every day, trust me, you don’t want your music to sound exactly like everyone else’s. You should go for “harmony and memorable rhythms”, this hack makes you easily recognizable. You’d note that Buju (BNXN) even began freestyling with the aim of introducing his unique style, and owning his sound.
Tip 2: Create Quality Content & Utilize Social Media Effectively
Freestyles? Guess where Buju (BNXN) dropped them? On the internet of course. Independent or not, we all recognize the major role social media influence plays in the trajectory of a record’s success.
With social media, you can reach millions of people with one click – one retweet, one repost by the right person could really just take you to where you want to be. Think of your audience as a true music enthusiast base. You can even give your fanbase a tag, and note what they like about you, plus their critics. You should also make an effort to provide a detailed description of who you are. Then drop solid and quality content that fits the audience you’ve created.
Tip 3: Connect with Top Artists in the Industry and Build Strong Relationships
BNXN has shown he’s world-class and one of Africa’s brightest acts. He does this, especially with his features. Now every artist wants to feature Buju (BNXN)! That’s right, the talented act has collaborated with established A-list artists, up-and-coming ones, and mid-level artists.
See some noteworthy records that Buju (BNXN) songs feature on:
- Feeling – Ladipoe
- Finesse (Folake for the night) – Pheelz
- Cold Outside – Timaya
- Mood – Wizkid
- Confident – Savage
- Hustle – Reminisce and D Smoke
- Bling – Blaqbonez
- 0903 – Enograe
- Your Body – Basket Mouth
- Icecream – Falz
- Alubarika – Zlatan
His numerous collaborations with these artists are actually a proven showcase of his musical talent. You can really take a cue, take advantage of strategic relationships with folks in the industry and create with them.
Tip 4: Experiment with Different Genres and Styles of Music
Whether it’s Juju, Apala, Highlife, or Afrobeat, a good mix of distinct melodies and rhythm has always been a powerful presence in Nigerian music, along with a variety of sounds and a groovy vibe to it. Buju fka BNXN does this mix so efficiently and with ease, he never fails to flex his songwriting prowess every chance he gets to.
Notably, you can take a cue from Buju (BNXN) songs as he casually mixes R&B, Pop, Jazz, and Hip-Hop with Afrobeat. He also didn’t tag the distinctive sound, he just make melodies for his audience to vibe to. That’s content!
Tip 5: Develop a Consistent Release Strategy for Your Music
With Buju as a case study or not, every artist and management should note that effective music marketing requires a constant content release strategy now more than ever. Creating the art is one thing, but a strategic content release is particularly another aspect of the music business. You can maintain this strategy each and every month, it will definitely require extensive planning, not to mention execution.
