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Fireboy DML set to release his fourth album, speaks about creating Afro-Life to add depth & soul to Afrobeats
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‘Afrobeats just vibes, lacks pure lyricism’ – Fireboy
Nigerian music sensation Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan, professionally known as Fireboy DML, is gearing up for the release of his fourth album, as he aims to pioneer a new genre called Afro-Life, aiming to infuse depth and soul into Afrobeats.
Since his breakthrough into the mainstream in 2019 with his debut album ‘Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps’, Fireboy has enjoyed remarkable success, contributing significantly to the global prominence of Nigerian music.
In a recent interview with BET, the award-winning artist provided insights into his innovative Afro-Life genre, which he describes as a fusion of Afrobeats with added levels of soul and depth.
Fireboy expressed that while Afrobeats music has always been captivating, he felt it lacked a certain depth and lyricism. He believes his music brings a new dimension to Nigerian mainstream pop music with his Afro-Life genre, injecting soulful elements and meaningful lyrics into the vibrant soundscape of Afrobeats.
“The Afrobeats scene before I came in, has always been beautiful. It was built on vibes and energy and percussion and instruments and everything. But I realized that there was something lacking, and that was pure soul and lyricism in our music. That was what I brought into the game. And I figured if you’re bringing something new to the table, it needs a name. That’s why I call it Afro-Life — it’s Afrobeats that has some depth to it.”
Fireboy’s recent statement regarding the lack of soul and lyricism in Afrobeats music echoes sentiments expressed by Burna Boy in his interview with Zane Lowe in 2023, where Burna Boy criticized the genre for its lack of substance.
This trend of Nigerian artists distancing themselves from the Afrobeats label is becoming more prevalent, with artists like Fireboy seeking to carve out their own musical identities.
In addition to discussing his new genre, Fireboy also provided insights into his upcoming fourth album, set to be released later this year. Describing it as the culmination of his experiences over the past few years, Fireboy expressed his intention to delve into personal themes and explore what success means to him.
Furthermore, Fireboy revealed his aspirations to collaborate with notable artists such as Nigerian Grammy winner Burna Boy as well as international stars like Post Malone, Travis Scott, and Don Toliver in the near future.