Review: Fireboy DML “APOLLO”

Fireboy DML – APOLLO

YBNL’s Starboy finally shows us how ready he is to lead the new era of diverse-Afrobeats, indulging his crooning tendencies alongside a new cast of productions, channeling a music exploration on his second album.

Of course, being under Olamide’s guidance is like Po under Master Oogway; thorough prepping on how to overcome the best, in this field the industry, and APOLLO shows Fireboy is ready to take over. APOLLO, being a god in Greek mythology and the main source/god of healing, medicine, archery, music, poetry and the sun is the perfect attribute to tag under the 17 songs project song.

The first song into the 48 minutes project and “Champion” feels like a Triumphant entry into the album, with a gloomy verse from the winner of “Rhythm & Flow” and Sir’s brother D-Smoke. DML doesn’t just sound like a winner, he’s confident,  claiming to be a king of his era. On the production wheel, YBNL in-house producer Pheelz steers  Fireboy’s Vocals with Hazy, groovy production, gliding through different moods, he crafts 9 songs on the album, making him the most credited producer on the project, of course, he knows all YBNL artistes in and out, and this is shown on the first 3 songs, “Spell” is DML amazed on the power and attributes of a girl,  laying it all down to a typical Pheelz production, fast-paced drums with local Nigerian sounds, and a matured guest feature from Wande Coal, reminding us he still got it in him. “Eli” is powered by a flute, and plays around Ancient Chinese sounds, creating a Chinese room read by Fireboy’s tender voice as he asks to be saved from a Delilah type of girl.

There’s room for intimacy on the album and “Tatoo” which was released as a single off the album has it all, a gaping slow jam that lingers in the comfort and ecstasy that love can bring, treating Sex as a raison d’être with his lover.

The production detail takes a throwback when “Favorite song” is bathed with a mix of disco, soft rock, prog-pop, and riff-heavy EDM that glows with 80’s music and a sample of Los del Rio’s 1995 hit “Macarena”, giving the song peak Disco vibes, all schemed by Pheelz. Type A, who produced Tattoo, also cooked the smooth summer anthem “New York City Girl” which was also a single off the project. “Lifestyle” takes us into what the spotlight life is with Fireboy, on a Caribbean-esque production, the singer free falls with his life, given zero f*cks about critics and thanking Olamide for discovering him, meanwhile “Airplane Mode” traces the problems he faces, trials and tribulations and living a two-faced- life with the Spotlight eyeing every move, leading him to croon about being left alone, peak celebrity problem. To top the level of versatility on his project so far, Fireboy flexes his vocal muscles on the “24 Interlude”, with what sounds like a “Send off” message to a dead and buried love, and it was perfect to kick it off with a bagpipe that runs through the first seconds of the song, matching his farewell verse, before transitioning into “Dreamer”, a guitar phases crooning song that subs at his dreams with love. The transition between both songs answers why there’s so much confidence in Pheelz.

One major take on this project is the room for guest features, there’s little room for that, allowing Fireboy to be heard and felt on his project, joining Wande coal and D-Smoke on the Collab list is mentor and boss Olamide, who delivers a sermon-like verse on “Afar”.

As peak as DML’s heartbreak writing skills gets, “Go Away” is the standout song off the project, with a production that bristles with paranoia, Fireboy cushions the song with soulless writing, a piece of that energy is catapulted into “Shadé”, an open letter to an unknown lover, whiles “Friday Feeling” is that song you play on your way to meet the bros after a long week filled with work, the perfect party starter. Fireboy’s ability to switch from a turn king to an emotional figure locked up listening to sad songs mood is well uniformed, “God only knows” sees the loverboy oh his knees, trying to make you things work, with a penning skill that bleeds regret. He caps the album off with two songs that seem to register this project as a classic, “SOUND” is how far music as a profession has brought him whiles “Remember Me” tells how deep he wanted his name installed on the greatest list.

Fireboy’s crossed-out twisted love life and daily issues make his theme and easygoing production camaraderie delightful, and he is yet to unlock more add-one prior to his good skills.

Listen to Fireboy DML’s “APOLLO.”