Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy has revealed that American R&B star Toni Braxton receives 60 per cent of the streaming royalties from his hit song, ‘Last Last’.
The singer made the disclosure during an appearance on the American podcast Million Dollaz Worth of Game, hosted by Gillie Da King and Wallo267, where he discussed the inspiration and creative process behind the 2022 hit.
Burna Boy explained that sampling Braxton’s 2000 song, ‘He Wasn’t Man Enough’, was an idea he had considered for some time before Nigerian music producer Chopstix helped bring it to life.
“It was actually my idea, to be honest. I just always wanted to use that sample and I knew Chopstix could do something crazy with it. I just pointed that out and he took it from there. That’s one of the most special creative processes ever,” he said.
Speaking about the royalty arrangement, the singer disclosed that Braxton receives a substantial share of the song's streaming royalties.
“But she is taking 60 per cent of it. I’m not complaining. Hopefully, she even comes out to one of the shows,” he added.
However, Burna Boy later clarified the arrangement during an appearance on Shopping for Sneakers, explaining that Braxton's 60 per cent share applies to streaming royalties rather than the song's overall earnings.
He also disclosed that ‘Last Last’ had earned him more money than any other song in his career at the time, despite the royalty arrangement.
Released in May 2022, ‘Last Last’ became one of the biggest songs of Burna Boy's career, gaining popularity in Nigeria and internationally.
The song samples Braxton's ‘He Wasn't Man Enough’, released in 2000 as part of her third studio album, The Heat. The original song earned Braxton the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001.
‘Last Last’ is the seventh track on Burna Boy's sixth studio album, 'Love, Damini', released in July 2022. The 19-track project features collaborations with international artistes including Ed Sheeran, J Hus, Kehlani and Khalid.
The song's success further strengthened Burna Boy's international profile and highlighted the role of music sampling and royalty agreements in the global music industry.
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