Gabriel Halliday or Slim Burna as he is known in the music ranks is a rapper, dancehall artist and record producer all the way from Bony, Rivers state, Nigeria. Born in Essex in the UK, he returned to Nigeria with his family when he was two years old and lived in different districts in Port-Harcourt city, Trans Amadi and Orazi.
He got the name “Slim Burna” in the early on in his music career from his childhood friends, which translates to ” the small bone which burns” and he has since kept it.
Growing up his family listened to artists such as Tracy Chapman, Keith Sweat and Boyz2 Men. That type of music did not interest him. He fell in love with the music of Tupac, DMX, Shagy, Bone Thugs and Harmony, Wu-Tang Clan and Ruff Ryders. He then started writing his own songs.
Slim has a numerous singles out already including “Whatz ur name” ” Its 4 u” “I like to move it” “Kpasima” “Highness Madness” and the popular remake of “Oyoyo” which he released in 2009. The song was a hit and made his name known in the industry. Oyoyo is a childhood Nigerian slang used for when a Mother has returned home. He decided to do a remake of the because he felt the song was not complete.
The 24 year old Slim Burna has two current singles out, one from his upcoming Mixtape titled “I’m on fire” and ”Oya Na” featuring M-Trill, which will be on his upcoming album Dirty Dancehall.
If you have not heard none of his songs, here we go. First up Dirty Dancehall:
Then his single with M Trill, Oyana:
If you’d like to download his music you can go to download I’m on fire” – http://www.hulkshare.com/vwr3yqaammm8
and here to download “Oya na” (Feat. M-TRILL) – http://hu.lk/w4lrndj8mlkm
Follow him on twitter @slimburna1 and like his page on Facebook Slim Burna
Lebogang is an intern at JucyAfrica. She is in her final year of Journalism studies and loves hip hop and playing with words.
