About the Song
“Real Life” is a powerful collaboration between Burna Boy and Stormzy, featured as the 14th track on Burna Boy’s 2020 album, Twice As Tall. Released in August 2020, the song moves away from straightforward celebration and focuses on the pressures, struggles and realities that people face away from the spotlight. Production was handled by Telz, with additional musical contributions including keyboards and piano from Mario Winans.
The Sound
The song combines Burna Boy’s Afro-fusion approach with Stormzy’s UK rap and R&B-influenced delivery. Its relatively restrained production gives both artists space to communicate the emotional weight of the record rather than turning it into a conventional party track.
Stormzy’s melodic contribution provides a strong contrast to Burna Boy’s more conversational performance. The track also incorporates a sample of T-Pain’s “I’m Sprung”, adding another layer to its musical foundation.
What the Song Is About
“Real Life” focuses on struggle, survival, friendship and the need for support. Burna Boy reflects on the difficulties that can exist behind outward confidence, while Stormzy adds his perspective on perseverance and the challenges that come with trying to build a better life.
The song’s central idea is that success and hardship can exist at the same time. People may appear strong from the outside while dealing with circumstances that are rarely visible to others. This gives the record a more vulnerable dimension and fits the wider themes of Twice As Tall, which Burna Boy described as being about the different sides of life, including difficult and joyful experiences.
The accompanying music video takes the message further by portraying the lives of young people in the UK and the consequences of street violence. Directed by Meji Alabi, the visual uses the story of twin brothers to explore how violence can affect families and communities in unexpected ways.
Listen on Hitzeer
Listen to “Real Life” by Burna Boy featuring Stormzy on Hitzeer and explore more songs from Twice As Tall, alongside other Afrobeats, Afro-fusion and international African music collaborations.
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