Fireboy Reveals He Couldn’t See Lagbaja’s Face During Their Studio Session
In a recent interview on Apple Music Africa Now, Nigerian Afrobeat star Fireboy DML opened up about his experiences collaborating with music legends for his self-titled fourth album. The album features notable artists including Lagbaja, Seun Kuti, Jon Baptiste, and Lojay.
Fireboy shared an intriguing detail about his collaboration with Lagbaja, known for his signature mask. The singer revealed that during the recording of their track “Back & Forth,” he never got to see Lagbaja’s face. Despite his curiosity, Fireboy acknowledged that the anonymity is a key part of Lagbaja’s mystique.
“That’s a special record, right there. It means a lot to me getting a legend like Lagbaja on that record, in [the] time that we are in now,” Fireboy said. “One major theme around the album is nostalgia—there’s this nostalgic feeling when you listen to the album, so it’s only right that I employed my legends in the game to help me push this message. Right from the very beginning, I knew this record was special, and I could not wait for everyone to listen to it.”
Fireboy also discussed his collaboration with Seun Kuti, crediting YBNL label boss Olamide for suggesting the Afrobeat star for the track. He described Kuti as an amazing, funny, and down-to-earth person, highlighting the enjoyable experience of working with him.
“Big shout out to Olamide, one of the A&Rs on the album. When we worked on the song together in the studio, he advised me, ‘I hear Seun Kuti on this,’ and the moment he said that it just clicked,” Fireboy explained. “He’s a very cool guy, Seun Kuti. Amazing person, very funny, down to earth, and really hilarious. He has a very colorful personality and it was fun making the record with him.”
In a nod to the legends of African music, Fireboy named a song on the album after Wande Coal. He described the track as a tribute to the influential Afropop star and to the broader legacy of African music.
“I recorded that in 2021 in SPINALL’s studio in Lagos,” Fireboy said. “When the time is right, this record will come out—it just made a lot of sense. I listened to the beat once and it just immediately took me back to 2015-2016, when I was listening to one of Wande Coal’s records. It just sounded like something Wande Coal would love, something he would have loved to have spit on. It’s sort of like a tribute to him; [everyone] knows I respect him so much.”
Fireboy’s latest album is a reflection of his growth and a tribute to the icons who have shaped African music over the years.
