Peru affirms Fireboy DML's Afrobeats intelligence

4 Nov 2021 - 18:59

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

The sweeping success of Fireboy DML’s ‘Peru’ brings the singer’s Afrobeats intelligence into sharp focus.

Fireboy DML.

The single, released in July, has spawned numerous covers, including those from fellow Nigerian artists Maleek Berry and Buju. It currently enjoys ubiquitous presence on radio and major digital streaming portals, as well as video-sharing platforms like TikTok, which, in the Gen Z era, is an indicator of critical success.

‘Peru’ contains advertisement about a forthcoming LP – something I suspect is the goal of the song: “I’m not playin’ with you, I’m not jokin’ (jokin’)/ My third album is loadin’”.

Mission accomplished, then: Anticipation around the final piece of his trifecta is at fever pitch. Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps and its successor Apollo have distinguished Fireboy among his peers. On both projects, the singer’s probing lyrics, enduring melodies and instant traction made him a songwriting poster child. The new album is expected to expand the 25-year-old’s cachet as a dynamic and clinical composer.

‘Peru’ points to its author’s Afropop wit. Whether they are constructed around recurring themes of love, dance and struggle held together by catchy melodies, or undergo the soulful retooling Fireboy refers to as ‘Afro-life’, the singer has risen to the occasion. ‘Peru’ is anchored in the former, imbued with infatuation and vulgar lust, but also ambition and success that has led to his globetrotting adventures.

Won ni wan wa mi
Won ni wan wa mi
I'm in San Francisco jamming
Won ni wan wa mi
Won ni wan wa mi
I just flew in from Miami

Were this another artist, the record would be dismissed as Afrobeats pathology. But this is Fireboy. He knows what he is doing. “Sometimes, it’s about the melodies, it’s about the vibe,” he told me in July. “You don’t have to compromise your songwriting and I have proved that a lot of times – but also, sometimes you do have to compromise lyrics for melody and vibes depending on the kind of song it is. I’m just bringing my own different spice into it.”

‘Peru’ was produced by Shizzi, who is popular for his extensive work with the likes of Davido and Wizkid. It is steeped in lasting groove invoked by spare percussion work and ultra-fine melody. The song is a lean two minutes long but leans heavily to the replay button. African pop is constantly fleeting, and so new songs will come. Still, one gets the sense that this song’s shelf life will be long, and even after it has finally been knocked off the charts, ‘Peru’ will rear its head regularly in conversations recalling Afrobeats’ golden age. “That song was a solid jam,” interlocutors would say with a nostalgic smile. Fireboy himself will revisit ‘Peru’ from time to time, patting himself on the back for the track’s magical simplicity.

Fireboy’s albums arrive a year apart, so a 2021 LP is more than likely. An Afrobeats revisionist, his new work will not only grow his influence but also prove a valuable addition to the genre, which now boasts Grammy recognition, chart-topping records and an ever-expanding global audience.