Slim Burna Biography (Nigerian Singer/MusicProducer)
Gabriel Soprinye Halliday was born in Essex, England. He returned to Nigeria with his family when he was just two years old and was raised in Port Harcourt. By 1995, the Halliday household had moved from Trans Amadi and Eligbam to D Line where Gabriel would spend the rest of his childhood and teenage years. He grew up in a Christian household composed mainly of girls and is the oldest of three children with a step sister Francoise who is nine years older.
Burna attended Tantua International High School and Ompadec science college where he played school soccer and was known for his prodigious heading ability. His Ikwerre mother Patience rizi Halliday (née Owhondah) was a business woman and his Bonny father Ezekiel Tamuno Halliday was the general manager of NTA Port Harcourt and a one-time Works commissioner in Rivers State, at age 73, he died due to high blood pressure (hypertension). Gabriel was in his late teens - 19 years old - at the time.
Growing up, Halliday said he was forced to listen to songs from artists like, Tracy Chapman, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson and Keith Sweat, but those songs didn't really interest him until he listened to 2pac, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Dmx, Obie Trice, Eminem, Cypress Hill, Wu-Tang Clan, and Ruff Ryders. That's when he fell in love with Hiphop and decided to start writing his songs. He formed a rap group while attending high school, and was also actively involved with the freestyle battle rap movement in Port Harcourt.
During his early years, Halliday's childhood friends gave him the name "Slim Burna" meaning "the slim bone that burns". Around 2002, Burna became close friends with P Jaydino whom he had met at different Gaming Lounges. The pair later discovered they shared an interest and passion for music which led them to form a group together dubbing themselves "Jay-Burna" under the tutelage of producers Frank D Nero, Duncan Daniels and Zubillionaire.
After graduating from high school, Burna ventured into music production. Ogoni native Roarhillz Neebuen introduced him to rapper M-Trill who was then signed with Grafton Records. "I got a call from Roarhillz that M-Trill wanted to see me. The next day I went over to meet M and he said he had a production job for me at Grafton, after I had agreed to work with him I was interviewed by Tony the manager and I had to let them know that I don't work alone, so I brought P Jay along and we began working there", He remembers.
During Burna's time at Grafton Records, he assisted in the production of music for artists such as Lilyjean and Lamili. After being falsely accused of theft of company property, Burna left the job and started Street Rhymes. By the end of 2008, he had already begun making beats and recording music in his own studio. His previous releases include "Whatz ur name", "Is 4 u", "I like to move it", "Kpasima" and "Highness Madness".
Slim Burnafirst rose to prominence through his 2009 remake of "Oyoyo" (originally recorded by J Martins) which was featured in several mixtapes put together by Naija DJs Coalition. The single became an instant hit. "Oyoyo" is a childhood slang in Nigeria used when the child's mum has returned home (mummy oyoyo). Burna said he decided to do the re-make of "Oyoyo" because he felt the song wasn't complete. He released his first-ever promotional music video in December 2011 with cameo appearance by Tha-Ibz.
In May 2012, he collaborated with M-Trill,an award-winning rapper from Port Harcourton the song titled "Oya Na" for his album effort "Dirty Dancehall". A remixed version of the song was later recorded with Ugandan artist Nick Nola and can be found on Nola's debut album, "Honey Moon".
Slim Burna previously released a couple of compilations, most notably "The Streets Mixtape" volumes 1, 2 and 3 which featured great songs from the upcoming and some of the best artists the Niger Delta and South South music scene has to offer. Also in 2012, Burna appeared in the music video for the duo 2Geez single "Celebrate" which he was featured in.
On April 11, 2013, Slim Burna released as a free gift for fans his debut mixtape "I'm On Fire". The 15-track musical offering saw the Port Harcourt musician turn 25 and featured guest appearances from Attitude of Dem Mama Soldiers, SQueeze, Bukwild Da Ikwerrian, Zubillionaire, Pi Piego, Knowledge, Young Stunna, DJ Joenel, and P Jaydino, among others. It was met with a positive reception from music critics, garnering an overall rating of 7 out 10 on Nigeriansounds website. It also became arguably the most successful mixtape ever released from a Port Harcourt based artist, with thousands of online downloads on multiple music sites, and reaching Number 3 on Music of Africa Top 10 Mixtapes.
Following the release of ''I'm On Fire'', Burna was invited to make a cameo appearance in the music video for the single 'Murder Dem' by Port Harcourt hip hop artist and radio personality Zubillionaire (Zubi Wokocha). He also appeared on the song 'Bad Girl' from Young Paperboyz's second studio album ''Naija Boss Techno Reloaded''.
In a September 2013 interview with Afro-Hits, Slim Burna mentioned that there's a possibility he might work with songstress Muma Gee. Few weeks later, on September 23, 2013, he tweeted out a photograph of himself, his co-producer P Jaydino and Muma Gee in the studio.
On October 1, 2013, he released 'Oh Na Na Na' in celebration of Nigeria's 53rd Independence Day Anniversary. The song received its first radio play on Port Harcourt's Rhythm 93.7 FM on September 28, 2013.
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Slim Burna biography pageon Nigeria Music Network will be updated from time to time as new information becomes available.
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