Olamide - Burukutu

Some artists chase global trends. Others remind you where they came from. Olamide's "Burukutu" belongs to the second category — a record that takes its name from a traditional fermented grain drink and uses it as a doorway back into the street-level authenticity that built his career.

I came across this track the day it dropped, and what struck me first was the title itself. "Burukutu" is not a word you hear in mainstream Afrobeats. It is a local reference, the kind of everyday Nigerian detail that Olamide has built his entire legacy on. When I pressed play, the production was immediate and the energy was familiar — this is Olamide doing what he does best, drawing from Yoruba language, street slang, and the textures of everyday life . I found myself replaying it before the track even finished. If you have followed Olamide's journey from indigenous rap to global recognition, this is a return to the roots that made him.

"Burukutu" was released on October 19, 2026, through YBNL, Olamide's own record label . It arrived alongside a music video directed by TG Omori . The track serves as the fourth song on Olamide's upcoming album, Time and Space, a ten-track project scheduled for release later this year . Production on "Burukutu" was handled by BlaiseBeatz .

What makes this release significant is its placement in Olamide's career arc. Following his 2025 self-titled album Olamidé, which explored more relaxed musical arrangements, "Burukutu" signals a return to the street-pop energy that defined his earlier work . The title itself is a deliberate cultural statement — burukutu is a traditional fermented drink enjoyed across parts of Nigeria and West Africa, and using it as a song title connects the music directly to the experiences and memories of his core audience . This is not a record designed to chase international playlists. It is a record designed to resonate in Lagos, in Ibadan, in the streets where Olamide's music has always lived.

The song's release also arrives at a pivotal moment for Olamide. He is preparing for a concert at London's O2 Arena, scheduled for March 25, 2027 — a testament to the global reach he has built over a career spanning more than a decade . Yet "Burukutu" reminds listeners that his foundation remains firmly in Nigerian soil. The lyrics reference locations from Miami to Barcelona to New York, but the spirit of the record is unmistakably local, rooted in the Yoruba language and street culture that have been his signature from the beginning .

Worth listening? Yes, if you want to hear Olamide returning to the street-pop energy that made him a legend.

Stream "Burukutu" on Audiomack and all major streaming platforms below.