Fireboy Dml

Origin

Styles

Afrobeats (Afro-beat) Rhythm & Blues (R&B) africain

Biography

Fireboy DML: the soft voice of the new Afrobeats

In January 2019, in Lagos, a young Nigerian named Fireboy DML watched a vendor and her daughter sing his lyrics word for word. A few meters away, in a Toyota Highlander, he smiled: “I felt that my music deserved to have an identity,” he recalls. Three years later, “Peru” climbed to #2 on the UK charts and earned a platinum record in the United States. The path from this street scene to international stages remains, for Fireboy, confirmation that a sincere melody crosses all borders.

In brief


Full name	Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan
Birth	February 5, 1996, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Genre	Afrobeats, R&B, Afropop; the artist describes his style as Afro-life — a mindset rather than a genre
Notable works	“Peru”, “Jealous”, Apollo, Adedamola
Labels	YBNL Nation (since 2018), Empire Distribution
Education	English degree, Obafemi Awolowo University (2017)

Key dates

Year	Event
1996	Birth in Abeokuta (Ogun State, Nigeria); member of the church choir
2017	Obtained an English degree at Obafemi Awolowo University
2018	Moved to Lagos; signed with YBNL Nation, Olamide’s label
2019	“Jealous” became a national hit; release of first album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps (November)
2020	Release of Apollo, which won Album of the Year and Best Pop Album at the Headies 2020
2021	“Peru” reached #2 in the UK, #1 in 22 countries, first platinum record in the United States
2022	Release of third album Playboy, entry into the Billboard 200 (#123)
2024	Release of the autobiographical album adedamola

Origins, training, and arrival in Lagos

Born on February 5, 1996, in Abeokuta (Nigeria), Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan grew up surrounded by music but not professional artists. His father listened to Celine Dion, his mother listened to Yinka Ayefele and Tope Alabi, and the young boy discovered Elton John — “Sacrifice,” he asserts, “is the greatest song ever written.” At twelve, he knew he could sing. At sixteen or seventeen, at university, he grasped the measure of this talent.

He studied English at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ife, obtaining his degree in 2017. Music had already won him over: he wrote poems, composed songs, and hosted campus evenings. He was supposed to return to Abeokuta. He chose to pack his bags for Lagos.

“I didn’t know anyone in Lagos — just a few friends,” he recalls with Dazed. He squatted, paid to get hired, then realized this strategy didn’t work. For ten months, he locked himself in a friend’s apartment equipped with recording gear, recording non-stop. “I wrote for others, some for 30,000 nairas, others for 50,000. Songs I regret selling the rights to, but it was the process,” he says.

Late 2018, Olamide Adedeji, founder of YBNL Nation, signed Adedamola. The young man was almost unknown in the Nigerian industry, with a sound that wasn’t quite another. “I knew it would take time for my sound to establish itself,” he admits.

“Jealous”, LTG and the first breakthrough

Fireboy’s first move under YBNL was “Jealous,” released on the compilation YBNL Mafia Family in 2018, then relaunched in March 2019. Guitar riffs, traditional drums, percussion: the track combines African harmonies with country and soul accents, produced by Cracker Mallo. In a few weeks, the song flooded Nigerian airwaves, then Europe.

“I knew it was a crazy song, but I didn’t know it would become a hit,” he confesses. “This track continues to rage in Europe and elsewhere in the world.”

On November 29, 2019, he released Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps, his first studio album. Thirteen tracks, no features, recorded in five days with producers Pheelz and Cracker Mallo. The title echoes his intentions: “I want people to feel, because I feel that my music is something you listen to and you feel the exact emotions,” he explains to Ebony. “You will laugh, you will cry, violins at the end of a track can give you goosebumps.” The album surpassed 6 million streams on Spotify in three days. Pitchfork awarded it 8.3/10.

“Peru”, global recognition and Playboy

On July 20, 2021, Fireboy released “Peru.” The track reached #1 on the Billboard Afrobeats Songs Chart, peaked at #2 in the UK, #1 in 22 countries, and earned a platinum record in the United States and a diamond record in France. Ed Sheeran joined the remix, and Fireboy embarked on his first American tour in February 2022. The song was cited at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

On August 5, 2022, Playboy, his third studio album, arrived. Twenty-two tracks featuring Chris Brown and Shenseea, entry into the Billboard 200 at #123. Clash Magazine praised the work as a demonstration of Afrobeats versatility, blending Afro rhythms, R&B melodies, reggae, and soul.

The album adedamola: return to roots

In September 2024, Fireboy released adedamola, an autobiographical album that marks his return to his first names. “I stepped out of my shell to remind people that I haven’t lost the essence of who I am,” he explains to Ebony. The album draws on West African traditional instruments, featuring Lagbaja, Jon Batiste, and Seun Kuti.

Heritage and influence

Fireboy DML is part of the new generation of Nigerian artists who propelled afrobeats to the global stage: alongside Rema, Joeboy, and Oxlade, he embodies a deeply lyrical branch of the genre. His nickname, Afro-life — “movement, state of mind” in his own words — captures the ambition of his songs: to speak of love, daily life, and oneself, with a poetic precision that commands admiration.

“I don’t want to be number one,” he sings on “Airplane Mode”. “There are so many legends, I just want to be one of them.” This humility, coupled with rare consistency, makes Fireboy one of the most enduring artists of his generation.

Major works

Work	Year	Why it’s essential
“Jealous”	2019	The track that launched it all: guitar riffs, percussion, African and country harmonies. First national hit.
Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps	2019	Debut album: 13 tracks without features, 6 million Spotify streams in 3 days, 8.3/10 on Pitchfork.
Apollo	2020	Maturation: Album of the Year at the 2020 Headies, blending R&B, afropop, and alté, featuring Olamide and Wande Coal.
“Peru”	2021	Global breakthrough: #2 UK, top 22 countries, US platinum, French diamond, featuring Ed Sheeran.
adedamola	2024	Return to roots: autobiographical album, West African traditional instruments, collaborations with Jon Batiste and Seun Kuti.