2018-2020: Debut and Apollo
His breakthrough single "Jealous" first appeared on YBNL Nation's collaborative album, YBNL Mafia Family (2018), before being re-released on 25 March 2019. [7] [8] The song is composed of guitar riffs, traditional drums and percussion; it combines African harmonies with elements of country and soul music. [7] [5] "Jealous" was produced by Cracker Mallo and is centered around love and the complicated feelings that go along with it. [5] The visuals for "Jealous" were directed by Director K. [7]
In June 2019, Fireboy DML released the ballad single "What If I Say". [9] It was produced by Pheelz, who incorporated a mix of percussion, ambient synth harmonies, and a drum riff into the production [10] and plugged by Olaitan. [11] The visuals for "What If I Say" was directed by TG Omori. [10] On 1 August 2019, Fireboy DML released another single titled "King", where he declares his worth to his love interest. [12] [13] 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, and images of him singing at a fashion show where models walk on a runway. [13]
Fireboy released his debut studio album, Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps , on 29 November 2019. It was initially scheduled for release on 25 November. [14] The album's music is a brand of R&B that combines love and social issues with empirical songwriting. [14] LTG comprises 13 tracks and doesn't feature any guest artist; it amassed over 6 million streams on Spotify three days after its release. [15] [16] 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". [17] The single "Vibration" was a fan favourite.
On 17 August 2020, Fireboy unveiled the tracklist to his sophomore studio album, Apollo. [18] Ivie Ani of Pitchfork gave the album an 8.3 rating out of 10, calling it "the peak of his vision so far, a melodious, detailed, and effortless album of feel-good pop and R&B". [19] 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." [20]
In 2021, Fireboy released the single "Peru," which Music in Africa wrote "affirms [his] Afrobeats intelligence." [21] He was featured on Ladipoe's hit "Running" [22] and WSTRN's single "Be My Guest", [23] and Cheque's single "History". He made a musical appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , performing a medley of his songs "Vibration" from Tears, Laughter and Goosebumps, and "Champion" from Apollo. [24]
On 24 December 2021, he released a remix version of "Peru" with Ed Sheeran, which debuted at number 53 on the United States' Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 2 on the United Kingdom's Official Singles Chart in 2022. It became certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [25] [26] [27]
2022-present: Collaborations, Playboy and Adedamola
On 3 March 2022, Fireboy was featured on the Sickick remix to Madonna's 1998 single "Frozen". [28] 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 entitled Playboy [29] would be out by 5 August 2022.
In 2024, Fireboy was featured on the Justin Timberlake song "Liar", appearing on Timberlake's sixth studio album Everything I Thought It Was . [30] [31] He released his fourth studio album, Adedamola , on 29 August 2024. The album featured prominent Nigerian and international artists such as Lagbaja on “Back n Forth" and Jon Batiste on “Ready” and “Jon’s Interlude”. [32]
