After relocating to Hamburg in 2003, Nneka has been working closely with the hip hop beatmaker DJ Farhot. As a young singer she first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark. After much acclaim, Nneka released her debut EP The Uncomfortable Truth with the music label Yo Mama's Recording Company after which she performed on her first tour with Patrice, playing shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
She finished recording her first album in the autumn of 2005. Entitled Victim of Truth. Garnering rave reviews from the media, the UK's Sunday Times later declared it “the year’s most criminally overlooked album”, comparing it favourably to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'.
In February 2008, she released her second album, No Longer at Ease. The title of the album is taken from a novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe and reflects the lyrical content of the record. Most of the songs are political, talking about the plight of the Niger Delta and the corruption in Nneka’s homeland. “No Longer at Ease” combines the political and the personal in “a winning mix of soul, hip-hop an reggae”. The lead single from it, "Heartbeat", became her first song to break into the German Top 50.
In November 2009, Nneka staged her first concert tour of the United States where she performed shows in New York City, Vienna (Washington DC), Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Furthermore she was a special guest on The Roots Jam session. Her first US release Concrete Jungle was set for 2 February 2010.
Nneka recorded her last album Soul Is Heavy in Nigeria. She also co-founded a charity foundation called the "ROPE foundation" with Genda, Ahmed Nyei from Sierra Leone. She has worked extensively in charity and arts with the foundation in Sierra Leone. Nneka has also worked with Reebok and her track "Shinning" topped global charts in 2013.
Burning Bush
Nneka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are u stressed out
Are u wondering what 4
And tell everybody 2 get out
U are in a good mood
Only when u are at home
U smoke so much of...
That u can not get along
Chorus
Do u feel pesecuted 4 the sake of love
Throw ur hands up can u feel me
Do u feel guilty cos u are a victim of ur truth
Identify urself, can u feel me
Do u hide behind ur holiness
And make other people confess
Are u a teacher, not willing 2 learn
Or a scholar not bold enough 2 teach
Are u, are u the one
That I am very pleased 2 meet
Oh what I see this world
Is this life's so bitter so sweet
Chorus
Do u admit that u are part of this system
Throw ur hands up we stand up
Do u wanna face this pain and all this world grief
Raise ur hands up, can u feel me
Do u know the truth of our existence
Do u know we are stuck in these system
U can not extract urself
U are here, right in the game
Nneka's "Burning Bush" is a song centered around self-reflection and awareness. The lyrics are poignant and powerful, pulling the listener into a state of introspection. The opening lines of the song ask if the listener is in a rage or stressed out, wondering what it's all for. The lines that follow paint a picture of someone who is only happy when they are at home, smoking so much that they cannot get along. The chorus asks if the listener feels persecuted for the sake of love or if they feel guilty for being a victim of their own truth. It's a call to identify oneself, a challenge to be honest about one's own place in the world.
The song then turns to the listener's role in the world. The lyrics question whether the listener hides behind their supposed holiness, making others confess to their own sins. It asks if they are a teacher who is not willing to learn, or a scholar who is not bold enough to teach. The next line is a moment of recognition, acknowledging that the person in question is someone whose acquaintance the singer is pleased to make. The song then switches to the reflection of the world that surrounds the singer. She sees the world as bitter and sweet, full of pain and joy.
Overall, "Burning Bush" is a song about the search for personal identity and the recognition of one's place in the world. It is a call to honesty and introspection, urging the listener to be aware of themselves and their surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
Are u in a rage
Do you feel angry and frustrated?
Are u stressed out
Do you feel overwhelmed and anxious?
Are u wondering what 4
Do you feel lost and unsure of the purpose?
And tell everybody 2 get out
Do you prefer being alone or feel you need space?
U are in a good mood
Do you feel happy and content?
Only when u are at home
Is your home your safe space?
U smoke so much of...
Do you consume substances to cope?
That u can not get along
Does it affect your ability to interact with others?
Chorus
Refrain asking if the listener feels the same way and can relate to the upcoming statements.
Do u feel pesecuted 4 the sake of love
Do you feel discriminated against for the people you love?
Throw ur hands up can u feel me
Are you raising your hands to acknowledge and relate to the experience?
Do u feel guilty cos u are a victim of ur truth
Do you feel shame for being authentic to yourself and your values?
Identify urself, can u feel me
Are you able to see yourself in this situation and relate to it?
Do u hide behind ur holiness
Do you use religious beliefs as a way to excuse negative behavior?
And make other people confess
Do you use your beliefs to pressure others into admitting wrongdoing?
Are u a teacher, not willing 2 learn
Do you claim to be knowledgeable but refuse to learn and grow?
Or a scholar not bold enough 2 teach
Do you feel too scared to share your knowledge with others?
Are u, are u the one
Are you the kind of person described in the previous lines?
That I am very pleased 2 meet
I am curious to know more about you and your beliefs.
Oh what I see this world
I have a certain perspective that affects how I view the world.
Is this life's so bitter so sweet
Life is a mix of good and bad experiences.
Do u admit that u are part of this system
Do you acknowledge your role in society?
Throw ur hands up we stand up
Let's raise our hands to symbolize standing up to the system.
Do u wanna face this pain and all this world grief
Are you willing to confront the pain and negativity in the world?
Raise ur hands up, can u feel me
Are you raising your hands in support and understanding?
Do u know the truth of our existence
Do you have an understanding of what it means to exist?
Do u know we are stuck in these system
Do you realize that we are trapped in this society and its flaws?
U can not extract urself
You cannot simply escape and avoid the issues at hand.
U are here, right in the game
You are here, existing in this flawed and complex world.
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.