Nigerian crooner Bnxn, formerly known as Buju, has become one of Afrobeats’ most reliable feature killers, taking hits like Wizkid’s “Mood,” Pheelz’s “Finesse,” Ladipoe’s “Feeling,” and Timaya’s “Cold Outside” above and beyond. Once signed to Burna Boy’s Spaceship Records, Bnxn has also made big moves as a frontman, with his debut album, Sincerely Benson, in 2023 and the stellar EP Bad Since ‘97 the year prior. Still, he’s perhaps best known as a collaborator and not a solo star.
Now, with his second album Captain, out today, Bnxn tells Rolling Stone, “The album itself represents growth. It shows that I’m skilled and I’m a crucial player in this field. In the ocean of the industry, I’m rocking a ship and I’m in total control of it. In good storms and bad storms, I’m still in charge.” He’s most proud of the titular track. “It was one of the songs I recorded last minute. Every time I listen back to the record, it makes me feel like I made a bop for me,” he says. “Since I recorded it, I can tell you, I listened to it every blessed day.”
The 16-track album includes the previously released singles “Phenomena,” (“Phenomena reminds me of summer, of sun, cocktails, happy times,” Bnxn says, describing it as the album’s most fun track), “Fi Kan We Kan” featuring Rema, “Very Soon” featuring FOLA, and “Cutesy.” A sexy drill track that earned Bronx innovator Cash Cobain’s blessing, “Cutesy” was produced by Jiggi, who also produced “Fisherrrr” for Cash.
For his own features, on Captain, Bnxn also brought in Seyi Vibes, Victony, and Soweto Gospel Choir. The latter group joins him for the final track, “In Jesus Name.” “There’s a lot of emotion that went into that,” Bnxn says, naming it the album’s most sentimental for him. “They were able to bring out the spiritual feel I needed from the record.”
Bnxn will take Captain on the road with a North American tour in August, hitting cities like Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Dallas, and Vancouver. Tickets are available for sale at bnxnlive.com
