Fireboy DML Crafts A Perfect Blend Of Afrobeat, R&B and Pop In Latest Album 'Playboy' [Review]

Nigerian-born Adedamola Adefolahan, known to us as Fireboy DML, burst onto the global stage with his debut record Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps back in 2019, and has since followed that up with sophomore effort Apollo in 2020. Now, Fireboy DML returns with his third studio album Playboy.

Playboy boasts an impressive feature list, including serial collaborator Ed Sheeran, R&B heavyweight Chris Brown and fellow Nigerian artist Asake, among others. The album blasts off with ‘Change’, a cut driven by light piano work and some delightful vocal work from DML. Driven by a gentle beat paired with trap-style hi-hats in the background, ‘Change’ is a masterclass on not only a great album opener but also an incredibly produced track.

The remix of DML’s hit single ‘Peru’, featuring Ed Sheeran, was the lead single in preparation for the album, and with over 160 million Spotify streams, it shows how eager the world is for Fireboy DML’s third effort (and it proves the power of a good feature). Sheeran gives a great performance on the track atop of the original instrumental. Chris Brown, another serial collaborator, hops onto ‘Diana’ along with Jamaican dancehall star Shenseea. Diana feels like a more laidback moment on the album compared to the majority of club-ready tracks on Playboy. All three stars show up with excellent verses. ‘Afro Highlife’ kicks off with a flurry of echoing plucks before launching into a sunshine-fuelled horn section stacked above a punchy beat.

Final track ‘Glory’ provides the listener with a satisfying close. The song also gives some of the most interesting production heard on the album, with the modern afrobeat sounds blended with some searing electric guitar and live drum breaks. The album is full of non-afrobeat influence, making the entire listen a diverse experience and creating something that could be the ideal introduction to modern afrobeat.

With more and more Western music being influenced by the sounds of Africa, it is clear that an artist like Fireboy DML is showing no signs of slowing down. Playboy is, in short, one of the most fun albums that has been released this year. Every track is rich with imagery, and Fireboy DML crafts a perfect blend of afrobeat, R&B and pop across the record.

Listen to Fireboy DML's Playboy here!