No doubt, Fireboy DML has proved himself to be the prince of Afropop in the African music space.
We know all very much about this Fireboy DML, and the point of discussion channels as to why he is the prince of Afropop in the African music space.
As the land of afrobeat, Nigeria is transforming itself into an international hip-hop nation, competing more and more with new US rap talent.
Freshly released a few months ago, Fireboy DML climb on the bandwagon and quickly found a first-class seat by joining YBNL, Olamide label, ready to conquer the world with his youthful and fluid flow that provides a breath of fresh air.
Quick Bio
Adedamola Adefolahan, known professionally as Fireboy DML, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.
He is signed to YBNL Nation, a record label founded by Nigerian rapper Olamide.
His debut studio album Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps was released in 2019.
He won Listener’s Choice and was nominated for Song of the Year for “Jealous” at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.
Editorial
has been altered irreparably in the past two years. If we were back in 2018, Fireboy would be spending his summer days cooped up at a friend’s place, using their home studio (a set-up that’s commonplace in Nigeria’s music scene, owing to a lack of accessible professional resources) recording embryonic versions of his sweet, melodic tracks, and nurturing dreams of becoming a star.
Now, Fireboy DML has millions of fans from across the world streaming his second album, Apollo, and a relentless schedule of international press duties.
Ten nominations and two wins in local Nigerian awards, radio appearances from BBC 1Xtra to Apple Music’s Beats1, and two entries into the Billboard charts have all become his new reality.
It was his breakout single, Jealous, which introduced Fireboy DML to Nigerian listeners on a compilation from the label to which he’s signed, YBNL (Yahoo Boy No Laptop) Nation.
YBNL is helmed by Nigerian music mogul and indigenous rapper, Olamide, and also represents DJ Enimoney and Temmie Ovwasa.
However, it wasn’t until Jealous’ theatrical music video dropped that the track infiltrated the wider public consciousness, dominating radio channels and generating ten million streams in just 18 months.
Fireboy had a bonafide hit on his hands, the infectious, circular groove of the track heard everywhere from sweat-soaked nightclubs in Lagos’ affluent Victoria Island, to fashion parties in east London.
After three elegant singles, the handsome Nigerian releases his first album Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps, hip-hop, and Afropop love story.
It is true that between the sweet Afropop stroll of What if I say, the romantic hit Jealous, or the sexy and throbbing King, the young Nigerian has enough to convince.
It’s time to discover a little more about this first album Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps, in which the loverboy turns his emotions and experiences into music, determined to rally the youth of his generation to his cause.
However, Fireboy DML topped the winners’ list at the 14th HEADIES which was held on Sunday night 2021, by carting five awards in keenly contested categories.
They are ‘Album of the year’, ‘Best R&B album’, ‘Best Pop Album’, ‘Headies Revealtion’ and ‘Best R&B Single’. For a first-timer, it was quite a feat.
Following the win, he takes over from his boss, Olamide Badoo, who won the ‘Album of The Year’ award for three consecutive albums between 2013 and 2015; YBNL, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth, and Street OT.
Fireboy’s second studio album, ‘Apollo’, released in 2020, is the fourth YBNL album to clinch the ‘Album of The Year award.