I Told Them...

In support of his sixth studio album Love, Damini (2022), Ogulu embarked on a global tour starting in May 2022,{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/burna-boy-announces-summer-2022-tour-dates/|title=Burna Boy Announces Summer 2022 Tour Dates|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|website=Pitchfork|date=16 May 2022|access-date=29 July 2023}} with dates in North America, Europe and Africa. On 3 June 2023, he performed in front of a sold-out 60,000 crowd at the London Stadium, becoming the first African artist to headline a stadium tour in the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-65810233|title=Burna Boy makes history with sold-out London Stadium gig|last1=Farooq|first1=Iqra|last2=Mansfield|first2=Mitch|website=BBC|date=5 June 2023|access-date=29 July 2023}} Reacting to this achievement, Ogulu first alluded to the album title, saying, "I told them that I'm a genius".{{cite web|url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/06/05/i-told-them-im-a-genius-burna-boy-brags-after-selling-out-london-stadium/|title=I told them I'm a genius – Burna Boy brags after selling out London stadium|last=Ayodele|first=Racheal|website=Daily Post (Nigeria)|date=5 June 2023|access-date=29 July 2023}}

The first single "Sittin' on Top of the World" was released on 1 June 2023, supported by a remix featuring 21 Savage three weeks later.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/videos/burna-boy-21-savage-sittin-on-top-world-1234768462/|title=Burna Boy, 21 Savage Channel '90s Energy In "Sittin' On Top Of The World" Video|last=Griffin|first=Marc|website=Vibe|date=27 June 2023|access-date=29 July 2023}} On 21 July, he shared another single titled "Talibans II" with Byron Messia.{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2023/07/burna-boy-i-told-them-big-7-stream/|title=Burna Boy Announces New Album I Told Them..., Shares "Big 7": Stream|last1=Anderson|first1=Carys|last2=Vito|first2=Jo|website=Consequence|date=28 July 2023|access-date=29 July 2023}} Ogulu announced the album on 27 July.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/698990-burna-boy-big-7-stream-music-video|title=Burna Boy Preps For Upcoming Album With New Single, "Big 7"|last=Bras Nevares|first=Gabriel|website=HotNewHipHop|date=28 July 2023|access-date=29 July 2023}} The announcement was accompanied by an album trailer and the release of the single "Big 7".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/burna-boy-announces-new-album-shares-video-for-new-song-big-7-watch/|title=Burna Boy Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song "Big 7": Watch|last=Lindert|first=Hattie|website=Pitchfork|date=27 July 2023|access-date=29 July 2023}} The song arrived with a Benny Boom-directed music video, featuring cameos by RZA, Busta Rhymes, Junior Mafia and Shameik Moore.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/burna-boy-big-7-new-album-i-told-them-1234796481/|title=Burna Boy Announces New Album, Rolls Out 'Big 7' Single|last=Zemler|first=Emily|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=28 July 2023|access-date=29 July 2023}} On 22 August, Burna released the fourth single titled "Cheat on Me" featuring UK rapper Dave.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-22 |title=Burna Boy And Dave Collab For "Cheat On Me" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/705020-burna-boy-dave-cheat-on-me-new-single |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=www.hotnewhiphop.com |language=en}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 78/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/i-told-them/burna-boy|title=I Told Them... by Burna Boy Reviews and Tracks|website=Metacritic|access-date=6 June 2024}}

| rev1 = African Folder

| rev1score = 8.2/10{{cite web|url=https://africanfolder.com/burna-boy-i-told-them-album-review/|title=I Told Them By Burna Boy: More Hip-Hop, Less Afrobeats|website=African Folder|last=Anifowose|first=Bomi|date=25 August 2023|access-date=2 September 2023}}

| rev2 = AllMusic

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-told-them-mw0004051950|title=Burna Boy - I Told Them... Album Review|website=AllMusic|last=Monger|first=Timothy|date=25 August 2023|access-date=3 December 2023}}

| rev3 = The Arts Desk

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-burna-boy-i-told-them|title=Album: Burna Boy - I Told Them...|website=The Arts Desk|last=Muggs|first=Joe|date=1 September 2023|access-date=3 December 2023}}

| rev4 = Evening Standard

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/burna-boy-i-told-them-review-21-savage-j-cole-dave-b1101897.html|title=Burna Boy: I Told Them review – flaunts his talent over great pop melodies|newspaper=Evening Standard|last=Smyth|first=David|date=30 August 2023|access-date=3 December 2023}}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/24/burna-boy-i-told-them-review-afrobeats-superstar-punches-closer-to-the-mainstream|title=Burna Boy: I Told Them review – Afrobeats superstar punches closer to the mainstream

|newspaper=The Guardian|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|date=25 August 2023|access-date=26 June 2023}}

| rev6 = The Independent

| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/burna-boy-i-told-them-review-b2397963.html|title=Burna Boy, I Told Them... review: Nigerian star pulls his punches on a lovingly crafted but middling new album|website=The Independent|last=Brown|first=Helen|date=25 August 2023|access-date=26 August 2023}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score ={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/burna-boy-i-told-them-review-lyrics-tracklist-3488091|title=Burna Boy – 'I Told Them...' review: titan of Afrofusion takes a well-deserved victory lap|website=NME|last=Jolley|first=Ben|date=25 August 2023|access-date=26 August 2023}}

| rev8 = NotJustOk

| rev8score = 7.7/10{{cite web|url=https://notjustok.com/article/album-review/burna-boy-i-told-them-album-review/|title=Burna Boy dumps Afrobeats on his new album, 'I Told Them'|website=NotJustOk|last=Godson|first=Betty|date=25 August 2023|access-date=26 August 2023}}

| rev9 = Pitchfork

| rev9score =7.8/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/burna-boy-i-told-them/|title=Burna Boy: I Told Them... Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last= Shepherd|first=Julianne Escobedo|date=30 August 2023|access-date=30 August 2023}}

}}

I Told Them... received generally positive reviews from music critics; at review aggregator Metacritic, it received a score of 78 out of 100 based on seven critics' reviews. Betty Godson from NotJustOk noted that Burna "makes use of different sonic elements to achieve the impressive sound of the album" while stating that his "delivery is strong and charismatic." Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis spoke on the album's production, noting that "[it] hones Burna Boy's sprawling influences into music that feels punchy, inimitable and impressively streamlined." Oyebanji Akins of CTDAmongblacks podcast in his review said that Burna Boy is working to bring Black Americans and Africans closer.{{cite web | url=https://dailytimesng.com/burna-boy-working-to-bring-black-americans-and-africans-closer-oyabanji-akins/|title=Burna Boy working to bring Black Americans and Africans closer – Oyabanji Akins| date=27 August 2023|website=Dailytimes | access-date=8 January 2024}}

Ben Jolley from NME stated that "there's plenty of radio-ready gold to enjoy in the album's many singalong choruses and interesting production choices" while concluding his review by writing that the album "is not only more memorable and focused than its expansive predecessor, but it's his strongest album yet." The Independent{{'}}s Helen Brown stated that the album is "richly and lovingly crafted, with easygoing mix of Afro-pop, rap and R&B, loaded with texture and pleasant melody, all held together by Ogulu's appealing voice.

Writing for Pitchfork, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd wrote that the album "is succinct and grand as an opening salvo, which explores the '90s U.S. hip-hop he grew up loving, preemptively hedging scepticism."

I Told Them... debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 14,164 album-equivalent units in the first week, becoming Burna Boy's first number-one album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/a-global-music-juggernaut-austin-daboh-toasts-burna-boy-s-no-1-promises-more-success/088460|title='A global music juggernaut': Austin Daboh toasts Burna Boy's No.1 & promises more success|magazine=Music Week|date=6 September 2023|access-date=6 October 2023}} Becoming the first number one album ever on the chart by an African artist.{{cite web |date= September 1, 2023 |title= Everything you need to know about Afrobeats: a timeline |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-afrobeats-a-timeline__30220/ |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=Official charts}} Singles "Sittin' on Top of the World", "Big 7", and three other songs for the album charted on the UK Singles Chart: "Sittin' on Top of the World" (36), "Big 7" (53), "Cheat on Me" (19) and "City Boys" (14). UK chart rules prevent artists from having more than three songs in the top 40 at once, otherwise, Burna Boy's album would have generated further new entries in the countdown.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/burna-boy-uk-chart-history-i-told-them-1235404913/|title=Burna Boy Makes U.K. Chart History With I Told Them...|magazine=Billboard|last= Brandle|first=Lars|date=3 September 2023|access-date=6 October 2023}}

The album also debuted at number 31 in the US after selling 21,000 copies in the country in its first week.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/709081-russ-burna-boy-first-week-sales-hip-hop-news|title=Russ Questions Burna Boy's U.S. First Week Sales For I Told Them...|website=HotNewHipHop|last= Nevares|first=Gabriel Bras|date=3 September 2023|access-date=6 October 2023}}

{{Track listing

| headline = I Told Them... track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Told Them

| note1 = featuring GZA

| writer1 = {{hlist|Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu|Gary Grice|Alli Odunayo|Harper Gordon|Kevin Ekofo}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Gordon|Kofo|Telz}}

| length1 = 3:09

| title2 = Normal

| writer2 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Marco Daniel Borrero}}

| extra2 = Mag

| length2 = 2:04

| title3 = On Form

| writer3 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Ashton Sellers|Richard Isong}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|P2J|Sellers{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 3:42

| title4 = Sittin' on Top of the World

| note4 = featuring 21 Savage

| writer4 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph|Fred Jerkins III|Isaac Phillips|LaShawn Daniels|Mason Betha|Matthieu Le Carpentier|Nycolia "Tye-V" Turman|Rodney Jerkins|Traci Hale}}

| extra4 = Skread

| length4 = 3:08

| title5 = Tested, Approved & Trusted

| writer5 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Adrian Eccleston|David Sprecher|Soraya Lapread}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Adrian X|Yeti Beats}}

| length5 = 3:40

| title6 = Cheat on Me

| note6 = featuring Dave

| writer6 = {{hlist|Ogulu|David Orobosa Omoregie|Jimmy Napier|Kwabena Sarkodee Adjepong|Taras Slusarenko}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|LiTek|WhyJay|Jay Blu}}

| length6 = 3:42

| title7 = Virgil

| writer7 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Virgil Abloh}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Danitello|MD$}}

| length7 = 1:07

| title8 = Big 7

| writer8 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Santeri Kauppinen|Miles|Otis Millstone|Daniel Okas|Michael Washington Jr.}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Danitello|MD$|Mikewavvs|Otis|Miles}}

| length8 = 2:23

| title9 = Dey Play

| writer9 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Charles Malo Josek|Eric Isaac Utere|Guy Solomon Josek|Louis Amon Josek}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|255|LeriQ}}

| length9 = 2:33

| title10 = City Boys

| writer10 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Jeremy Felton|Keith Eric James|Michael Abram Schultz|Robert Laukkanen|Santeri Kauppinen}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|MD$|Ruuben}}

| length10 = 2:33

| title11 = Giza

| note11 = featuring Seyi Vibez

| writer11 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Loseyi Balogun|Olanite Olaoluwa Elijah}}

| extra11 = Modra

| length11 = 2:59

| title12 = 12 Jewels

| note12 = featuring RZA

| writer12 = Robert Fitzgerald Diggs

| extra12 = RZA

| length12 = 0:27

| title13 = If I'm Lying

| writer13 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Pahuldip Singh Sandhu}}

| extra13 = Steel Banglez

| length13 = 3:17

| title14 = Thanks

| note14 = featuring J. Cole

| writer14 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Jermaine Cole|Ashton Sellars|Jonathan Lee|Ras Kassa Alexander}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Sellars|Jay Weathers}}

| length14 = 3:36

| title15 = Talibans II

| note15 = with Byron Messia

| writer15 = {{hlist|Ogulu|Byron Messia|Onugba Enojo Paul}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|EJ Fya|Spaceship Billy|Ztekk Records}}

| length15 = 2:56

| total_length = 41:35

}}

;Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer.
• "Sittin' on Top of the World" contains a sample of "Top of the World" (1998), written by LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Isaac Phillips, Nycolia "Tye-V" Turman and Mason Betha, as performed by Brandy featuring Mase.

• Burna Boy – vocals
• Gerhard Westphalen – mastering
• Jesse Ray Ernster – mixing
• Otis Millstone – engineering
• Andrea Mastro – recording (track 1)
• Eric Isaac Utere – recording (4)
• GZA – additional vocals (1)
• Ashton Sellars – guitar (3)
• Ife Ogunjobi – trumpet (3)
• Nadia Simon – trumpet (3)
• Virgil Abloh – vocals (7)

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for I Told Them...}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Nigeria|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|certref={{cite X|user=TurntableCharts|author=TurnTable|number=1838896815724224711|date=September 25, 2024|title=@_Telz presented with his @TCSNOfficial plaques for production credits on titles by @burnaboy, @fireboydml, @patorankingfire & more}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Burna Boy|title=I Told Them|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|id=19567-5148-2|access-date=30 August 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{Burna Boy}}

Category:2023 albums

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Burna Boy albums

Category:Yoruba-language albums

Category:Albums produced by P2J