Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy has revealed a surprising origin story behind one of his boldest collaborations to date. While promoting his latest album, he described how the partnership with rock icon Mick Jagger materialised, and the catalyst was none other than global supermodel Naomi Campbell.
During his appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Burna Boy explained that the idea for the track “Empty Chairs,” off his eighth studio album No Sign of Weakness, came about almost serendipitously. He shared that Naomi Campbell, who has long been entrenched in the global fashion and entertainment world, introduced him to Mick Jagger, and the meeting paved the way for the genre-bridging collaboration. “It’s actually crazy because it was initiated by Naomi Campbell,” he said. “Before I knew it, I was talking to Mick Jagger, and it felt like we’d known each other forever.”
This revelation underscores how Burna Boy is continuing to blur musical and cultural boundaries. The album No Sign of Weakness is itself a statement of ambition: he is reaching beyond the traditional Afro-fusion realm and inviting global icons into his creative fold. According to prior coverage, the project features global heavyweights like Belgian pop innovator Stromae, hip-hop star Travis Scott and the very Mick Jagger he references.
The collaboration with Jagger is especially noteworthy. Jagger, known primarily as the frontman for the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones, represents a musical tradition far removed from Afrobeats’ rhythms. Yet Burna Boy described the studio session and creative chemistry as unexpectedly fluid, despite their different musical backgrounds. The track reportedly fuses Afrobeats rhythm with classic rock sensibilities, making it a potentially pivotal crossover moment for the African artist globally.
For Burna Boy, this collaboration is another step in his evolution. As he once put it, the “African Giant” persona has shifted, and with No Sign of Weakness he’s articulating a new version of himself: global, genre-fluid, rooted but expansive.
Ultimately, the revelation reveals more than just a name drop. It highlights how network, culture and genre lines are dissolving in today’s music world. Through Burna Boy’s story, we see the power of introduction, the weight of legacy, and the potential of African music to meet rock royalty on equal footing. The outcome remains to be seen — but the spark of this collision is already alive.
