Fireboy DML Biography: Real Name, Age, Songs and Career

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Quick Facts

• Real name: Adedamola Adefolahan
• Born: February 5, 1996, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
• Occupations: Singer, songwriter
• Years active: 2017 to present
• Label: YBNL Nation, Empire Distribution
• Breakthrough single: “Jealous” (2018)
• Global crossover hit: “Peru” featuring Ed Sheeran (2021)
• Latest studio album: Adedamola (2024)
• Recent release: “IMALI” (2026)

Ask yourself how an unsigned songwriter selling tracks for thirty thousand naira becomes a global Afrobeats voice collaborating with Ed Sheeran and Madonna. Fireboy DML answers that question through patient, deliberate craft. Let us trace his path.

Who Is Fireboy DML?

Fireboy DML’s real name is Adedamola Adefolahan. Born on February 5, 1996, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, he is 30 years old in 2026. He is the first of three sons. Fireboy works as a singer and songwriter. He is signed to YBNL Nation and Empire Distribution. His music blends Afrobeats with other influences in a style often described as Afro-Life.

Early Life and Education

Fireboy DML grew up a quiet, introspective child in Abeokuta. He preferred staying indoors, reading and writing, rather than spending time outside with friends. That early habit of writing shaped the songwriting instincts that later defined his career.

He studied English at Obafemi Awolowo University, graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts. He began taking music seriously after writing his first real song during that period.

Career Beginnings

Fireboy DML moved to Lagos State to enter the music industry, initially working as a songwriter for other artists. He has admitted selling songs for as little as thirty or fifty thousand naira, tracks he now regrets parting with. He called it part of the process, a necessary step before building his own catalog.

In 2017, he became an unsigned artist, releasing music to SoundCloud because he lacked money for any other digital platform. That resourceful, low-budget beginning eventually caught the right attention.

Signing With YBNL Nation

Nigerian rapper Olamide discovered Fireboy DML in 2018 and signed him to YBNL Nation that October. That signing gave him access to infrastructure and visibility he could not have built alone. His debut single, “Jealous,” followed shortly after and introduced his smooth, melodic songwriting to a much wider audience.

Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps

Fireboy DML released his debut studio album, Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps, on November 29, 2019. The project established his reputation for emotionally rich, melody-driven Afrobeats. It gave him a full-length showcase for the songwriting sensibility he had spent years refining as an unsigned artist.

Apollo and International Breakthrough

Fireboy DML followed his debut with Apollo in 2020, produced largely by Ridimakulayo. The album built further on his established sound while expanding his audience beyond Nigeria. His next major moment arrived through “Peru,” released in 2021, which became one of the biggest Afrobeats crossover singles of the era.

A remix of “Peru” featuring Ed Sheeran entered the Billboard Hot 100, a rare achievement for a Nigerian artist at the time. That same period, he collaborated with Madonna on a remix of her 1998 single “Frozen,” placing him alongside one of pop music’s most recognized names.

Playboy and Continued Global Reach

Fireboy DML released his third studio album, Playboy, in August 2022. The project included “Bandana” with Asake, a song that further cemented his presence within Afrobeats’ mainstream. His international collaborator list kept expanding during this period, with features from Jax Jones, Jon Batiste, Jon Bellion and Justin Timberlake following in subsequent years.

Adedamola and Creative Reinvention

Fireboy DML released his fourth studio album, Adedamola, on August 29, 2024, naming the project after his own first name. The album included “Iseoluwa,” a track drawing on Apala music’s folk drums and melodies inspired by Musiliu Haruna Ishola. He used the song to express gratitude for his career, with lyrics reflecting on how far he had come.

Critics described the album as a genuine reinvention, with Fireboy DML embracing a more personal, reflective persona throughout the project. The shift showed an artist willing to revisit his roots rather than simply repeat his earlier crossover formula.

Collaborations and 2026 Releases

Fireboy DML continued collaborating widely into 2025 and 2026. In April 2025, he joined Johnny Drille on the dreamy single “Angelina,” released through Mavin Records. In 2026, he released “CLAAT!” through YBNL Nation and Empire, followed by “IMALI” on September 14, a collaboration with South African producers Andre Vibez and Kabza De Small associate Kgotso Xolani Dube.

These releases continued his pattern of working across Nigerian, South African and Western music scenes simultaneously. Few Afrobeats artists maintain that level of cross-border collaboration this consistently.

Musical Style and Influence

Fireboy DML’s sound blends Afrobeats with R&B, soul and occasional traditional Nigerian influences like Apala. His songwriting favors melody and emotional clarity over aggressive, trend-chasing production. He has said he expects his name to remain part of Afrobeats history, a confidence his crossover catalog has consistently supported.

His willingness to work with artists as varied as Ed Sheeran, Madonna, Justin Timberlake and South African producers shows a career built on genuine musical curiosity rather than a fixed formula.

Current Career

As of 2026, Fireboy DML remains one of Afrobeats’ most internationally recognized voices, with nearly a decade of consistent output behind him. His continued releases, including “IMALI,” suggest an artist still actively building rather than coasting on earlier hits like “Peru.” His collaborator list keeps expanding across genres and continents.

Conclusion

Fireboy DML’s journey from an unsigned SoundCloud artist to a Billboard Hot 100 entry alongside Ed Sheeran shows what patient songwriting craft can achieve. His four studio albums trace a steady evolution from melodic Afrobeats toward more personal, genre-blending reinvention. His continued international collaborations suggest his influence on Afrobeats will keep growing.