Adedamola Adefolahan (born 5 February 1996),[1] known professionally as Fireboy DML, is a Nigerian singer. He is signed to YBNL Nation, a record label founded by Nigerian rapper Olamide.[2] His debut studio album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps was released in 2019.[2] He won Listener's Choice and was nominated for Song of the Year for "Jealous" at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.[1]
Fireboy DML | |
---|---|
![]() Fireboy DML chatting with Wazobia Max TV in March 2019 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Adedamola Adefolahan |
Born | (1996-02-05) 5 February 1996 (age 26) Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria |
Genres | Afrobeats, R&B |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | YBNL Nation, Empire Distribution |
Website | fireboydml |
Fireboy DML was raised in Abeokuta, Ogun state and was a member of his church choir.[3] He developed interest in music while studying at Obafemi Awolowo University.
His breakthrough single "Jealous" first appeared on YBNL Nation's collaborative album YBNL Mafia Family (2018), before being re-released on 25 March, 2019.[4][5] The song is composed of guitar riffs, traditional drums and percussion; it combines African harmonies with elements of country and soul music.[4][3] "Jealous" was produced by Cracker Mallo and is centered around love and the complicated feelings that go along with it.[3] The visuals for "Jealous" was directed by Director K.[4]
On 14 June 2019, Fireboy DML released the romantic single "What If I Say".[6] It was produced by Pheelz, who incorporated a mix of percussion, ambient synth harmonies, and a drum riff into the production.[7] The visuals for "What If I Say" was directed by TG Omori.[7] On 1 August 2019, Fireboy DML released another single "King", in the song, he declares his worth to his love interest.[8][9] The accompanying music video for "King" was directed by TG Omori; it contains images of Fireboy and his love interest in a rose petal embellished Rolls Royce, as well as images of him singing at a fashion show where models walk on a runway.[9]
Fireboy DML released his debut studio album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps on 29 November, 2019. It was initially scheduled for release on 25 November.[10] The album's music is a brand of R&B that combines love and social issues with empirical songwriting.[10] LTG comprises 13 tracks and doesn't feature any guest artist; it amassed over 6 million streams on Spotify three days after its release.[11][12] It received generally positive reviews from music critics, but was criticized for being labeled an "Afro-Life" record instead of an R&B album. LTG was supported by the previously released singles "Jealous", "What If I Say" and "King".[13] The single "Vibration" was a fan favourite.
On 17 August 2020, Fireboy released the tracklist to his sophomore album, Apollo.[14]
In a review, Pitchfork gave Apollo an 8.3 rating out of 10 and called it "the peak of his vision so far, a melodious, detailed, and effortless album of feel-good pop and R&B."[15] NotJustOk wrote: "At the base of his writing is a deep-seated knack for introspection, the desire to be himself and a whole others like himself, spinning personal and borrowed accounts of existential crisis, ambition, love, lust and depression."
In 2021, Fireboy DML released the single "Peru," which Music in Africa wrote "affirms [his] Afrobeats intelligence."[16] He was featured on Ladipoe's hit "Running"[17] and WSTRN's single "Be My Guest",[18] and Cheque's single "History."
He made a musical appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and performed a medley of the songs "Vibration," from Tears, Laughter and Goosebumps, and "Champion," from Apollo.[19]
On 7 February 2022, his song - Peru Remix featuring Ed Sheeran debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[20] [21]
On 3 March 2022, Fireboy was featured on the Sickick remix to Madonna's 1998 single "Frozen".[22] The official music video was filmed on the same day.
On 6 July 2022, Fireboy announced via his official Twitter account that his third studio album titled "PLAYBOY"[23] would be out by 5 August, 2022.
Fireboy DML describes his sound as "Afro-Life" and said he writes songs that audiences can relate to.[3] Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork characterized his sound as "slow-groove pop" and said it "tells stories about love with the formulaic structure of a Hallmark Christmas romance".[24]
He has cited Jon Bellion, Passenger and Wande Coal as his key contemporary influences.[3]
In 2020, Fireboy DML gained media coverage in Nigeria when his hit "Champion" was used by FC Bayern Munich for their UEFA Super Cup celebrations.[25]
His song "Scatter" from his debut album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps was included in the FIFA 21 game soundtrack.[26]
In November 2022, Fireboy DML's song, "Coming Back to You," was featured on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - Music From and Inspired By.[27]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
US [28] | |||
Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps[29] |
|
— | |
Apollo[30] |
|
— | |
Playboy |
|
123 |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CAN [31] |
FRA [32] |
IRE [33] |
SWE [34] |
SWI [35] |
UK [36] |
UK Indie [37] |
US [38] |
US World [39] |
WW [40] | ||||||
"Jealous" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps | |||
"What If I Say" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"King" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
"New York City Girl" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Apollo | |||
"Eli" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
"Tattoo" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
"Champion" (with D Smoke) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
"Peru" (solo, with Ed Sheeran, or with 21 Savage and Blxst) |
2021 | 37 | 40 [41] | 7 | 35 | 31 | 2 | 13 | 53 | 2 | 34 | Playboy | |||
"Running" (with Ladipoe)[44] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Providence | ||||
"Beauty & the Madness" (with Rexx Life Raj and Wale)[45] |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |||
"Playboy"[46] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Playboy | ||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Dance [47] | |||
"Frozen (Fireboy DML remix)" (Madonna vs Sickick featuring Fireboy DML) |
2022 | 12 | Non-album single |
Year | Award ceremony | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | The Headies | Next Rated | Himself | Nominated | [48] |
Viewer's Choice | Nominated | ||||
Song of the Year | "Jealous" | Nominated | |||
City People Music Awards | Most Promising Act of the Year | Himself | Won | [49] | |
Best New Act of the Year | Nominated | ||||
Revelation of the Year | Nominated | ||||
2020 | Soundcity MVP Awards Festival | Song of the Year | "Jealous" | Nominated | [50] |
Listeners' Choice | Fireboy DML for "Jealous" | Won | |||
Best New MVP | Himself | Nominated | |||
The Headies | Album of the Year | Apollo | Won | [51][52] | |
Best Pop Album | Won | ||||
Best R&B Album | "Tears, Laughter and Goosebumps" | Won | |||
Best R&B Single | "Tattoo" | Won | |||
Headies Revelation | Fireboy DML | Won | |||
2021 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Song of the Year | "Peru" | Nominated | |
All Africa Music Awards | African Fan's Favourite | Himself | Won | ||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding International Song | "Peru" | Nominated | [53][54] | |
The Future Awards Africa | Prize for Music (Endowed by Infinix) | Himself | Nominated | [55] | |
2022 | The Headies | Best Songwriter of the Year | "Peru" | Nominated | [56] |
Best Afrobeat Single (Nigeria) | Won | ||||
Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
Viewer's Choice | Himself for "Peru" | Nominated | |||
BET Awards | Best International Act | Himself | Nominated | [57] |
The 23-year-old artist...
Media related to Fireboy DML at Wikimedia Commons