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Fireboy DML speaks on working with Lagbaja & whether the icon revealed his face
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The YBNL singer opens up about his new album ‘Adedamola’ and the thrill of collaborating with legends Lagbaja and Seun Kuti.
Nigerian artist and performer Fireboy DML has spoken out about his new album “Adedamola” and the thrill of working with music icons Lagbaja and Seun Kuti.
In an interview with Apple Music Africa Now, Fireboy talks about his new album and the experience of collaborating with Lagbaja and Seun Kuti.
The album features an impressive lineup, including Nigerian music legend Lagbaja, Grammy-nominated Afrobeat star Seun Kuti, Grammy winner Jon Baptiste, and hitmaker Lojay.
Fireboy discussed his collaboration with Lagbaja, revealing that he never saw Lagbaja’s face during the recording of their track “Back & Forth” due to Lagbaja’s famous mask. Fireboy expressed his admiration for Lagbaja and his intention to bring a sense of nostalgia to the album by working with legends.
“That’s a special record right there,” Fireboy said. “It means a lot to me getting a legend like Lagbaja on that record at this time. One major theme around the album is nostalgia, and it was important for me to involve legends in the game to help convey this message. From the very beginning, I knew this record was special, and I couldn’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
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Fireboy also recounted an amusing detail about Lagbaja’s masked presence: “I did not get to see his face. I had some interesting thoughts about asking if I could see it! But what matters is that we made the music. Lagbaja’s anonymity is part of what makes him special.”
On working with Seun Kuti, Fireboy credited Olamide, the album’s A&R and YBNL label boss, for suggesting Kuti for the track. He described Seun Kuti as an “amazing and funny person” and enjoyed the collaboration.
“Big shout out to Olamide,” Fireboy said. “When we were in the studio, he suggested, ‘I hear Seun Kuti on this,’ and it immediately clicked. I pictured Seun Kuti in a dark room with a spotlight and his sax blowing away—it just made perfect sense. He’s a very cool guy, very funny, and down-to-earth. Working with him was a lot of fun.”
The album also includes a track named after the seminal Afropop star Wande Coal. Fireboy explained that the song and the album are tributes to legends who have shaped African music.
“I recorded that track in 2021 in SPINALL’s studio in Lagos,” Fireboy said. “It made a lot of sense to release it now. The beat took me back to 2015-2016, a time when I was listening to Wande Coal. It sounded like something he would love. It’s a tribute to him, reflecting the deep respect I have for him.”
Overall, Fireboy views “Adedamola” as a tribute to the legends of African music and a testament to his own growth as an artist.