Adedamola is back.
By midnight, when I got the notification that Adedamola’s album was ready to be played, I cannot explain what made me get on my feet to start dancing in the thick of the night as I played the first song on the album, ‘Iseoluwa.’ At that point, the only thing that came to my mind was that ‘Fireboy is truly back.’
Fireboy, with his last 3 albums, has solidified himself as one of the best vocalists in the Nigerian music space in these times. Wande Coal is still somewhere with that crown firmly on his head, though, and we will always be here when that brother has our time. Fireboy will always be a star, and he will never stop scoring hit songs. His discography is insane, but we can all agree that something has been missing in his songs for the past 2 years.
We all noticed it. This is Fireboy, and although he will still pull numbers, perform at the top shows, and make his cool money, there was still something missing. Many artists are springing up daily in such a crowded industry, but it was evident that Damola was struggling; he was drowning in a way. I mean, this is Fireboy. He should be different, but why was the appeal not as strong compared to when he started out. Were his experiments with sounds failing?
Something was not connecting. Was it that we were not used to the fast-paced songs? or was the bad boy persona throwing us off? Was it that obvious Adedamola is a soft boy, a proper lover boy who all we just wanted from him was those love songs that made our hearts flutter? In all, there was a sauce missing from all his ‘Cookings.’
However, with this new album he has cleared up all our doubts. He has satisfied himself by pleasing us with a mix of everything he has been trying to do while bringing back that air of familiarity we have been used to with him. I have always known that the Fireboy we have all grown to love was still in there somewhere, and with Adedamola, he is truly back!
Fireboy Dml is a lover boy, and with this album, it seems he has fully tapped into his experiences with lagos women and he has allowed the ‘leg-curling’ orgasms he has admitted to being the inspiration behind some of his songs in the past come to the fore. Our sweet, soft boy is back. As you listen, you will almost want to reach out and hug him while knocking his head, asking him where he has been for the past 2 years.
Fireboy on this album features a plethora of artists—famed ones too, from the original omo baba muko muko himself, Lagbaja, who needs no introduction, to the Grammy-winning jazz legend Jon Baptiste, another glorious vocalist, Lojay, and the scion of the Afrobeats originator himself Seun Kuti, who pulled his weight in this body of work. Adedamola is such a perfect body of work, and he has finally scored the trifecta he almost got with the Playboy album in 2022.
As you start on Adedamola, one of the first things that hits you is its perfect production. Fireboy took his time on this album, and the result of his efforts shows so well. It was so well mixed and mastered, and virtually all the instruments used in the studio came through, properly blending into each other. The song sequence was also intentionally done so that you were so immersed in one song that you overlooked it as it slipped into one another.
On Iseoluwa, the sounds hit you immediately, and the accompanying drums, trumpets, and percussion sounds warm your heart. The talking drum is a goated musical instrument, and it really does wonders on this track. Here, Damola is thanking God for where he is, for the blessings on his life, for the struggles, the good, the bad, and the ugly. He is all appreciative on this song.
‘Blessings on blessings upon my life till they see me for Valhalla. Life has been good to me; I do not take this with levity. Lowkey I am grateful for everything…’
On Call me, he shakes things up a little. The log drums come on, and he does some amapiano here but does not lose focus. He is a ‘bad man,’ but he is not in a rush to love his orekelewa. She can call him anytime, and he will be right there to stand by her. He will always be available for her. See, the romance is coming to the fore again, but he also does a little bit of yearning, singing on about how his love is the best thing ever, and even though he has tried, he will do more.
Ecstasy will quickly become a fan favorite on the album. It's perfect for when you want to enjoy the company of your loved one. The singles will not love this one. It's calm, pleasurable, and enjoyable. Adedamola wants to put his hand all over her body; he is not about that internet love; he wants it fulfilling, intoxicating, and present. Seun Kuti uses the sax powerfully, giving us a Kenny G semblance. He plays around and does his thing, adding flair to the album.
Oh, hell and Back; Adedamola is done here, and he does not want to go back to a love turned sour. Lagos women will do that to you; he has been to hell and back; he almost lost his head, but now he is healed, and he does not want a lagos woman. He needs to be left alone. It departs from the current progression, but the romance still seeps through. He extols the quality of his love, but he understands how risky it is to take her back.
On Letting Go, Lojay shows us why he is one of the best vocalists in the country. That boy never misses anything, and he proves it again here. Both Damola and Lojay understand that love may sometimes not be enough and are now ready to go. They are tired of love and understand that love is letting go. They are now ready to go but need assurance that it may be enough for us to wait if the love is still there.
Oh, how much I have missed Lagbaja’s songs. The nostalgia kicks in perfectly here. If you are like me and have wondered what a Fireboy Dml and Lagbaja’s song will look like, be ready to be blown away by this track. On back n forth, I dare to say the synergy between Lagbaja and Fireboy was impeccable. The legend allowed the Young Blood to dazzle, and he added the excellent touch he still has so much of.
‘Sometimes I know it, Sometimes I don’t know how to show it. But somewhere at the back of your mind, I hope that I love every moment with you’
On Ready, Adedamola tries something different with the famed Jon Baptiste. Jon is one of the most talented musicians the world has seen, and there are no drums here; it's just Damola showing off his vocal dexterity. Jon must have assured him he was in good hands, and all he had to do was sing like the superstar that he was. He is finally ready to love here, and all he wants is for his love to open the door, and he will be there kneeling.
‘Call me your baby, I wanna be with you’
As this track played on, all that was on my head was me softly dancing with the love of my life in my hands. Mo, I have been ready since I saw you. We have got this baby.
On Wande’s bop with Dj Spinall, I understand why this song was named Wande’s bop. Throughout this song, I have been confused about who is singing. Was that Fireboy or Wande Coal? At a point, I was expecting to hear Wande come through with that chorus, ‘ One by one, Two by two, on the line, line… you remember that jam, yeah? This one is a sure club jam any day. I still need to know who produced that fire track.
With Change Your Life, Fireboy gives us a perfect club groove. Something you could listen to when you are stuck in lagos traffic, thinking about your life. That up-tempo jam with the sax playing in the background mesmerizes us all. In this track, fireboy also yearns for love, promising his love interest he wants to change her life. He is the man of the moment now, and whatever Onyeoma wants, she gets. Fireboy again taps into his lover-boy persona here;
‘Mo Popular, Mo lowo sha, Agba singer I no be criminal’
Obaa Sima, Yawa, and Every Day have Adedamola shining. Although they are previously released tracks, listening to them as part of the album gives more context to their meanings. You fully understand why they had to be part of the album. YBNL and Olamide serving as the A&R of the album just make the album a cohesive joint. On Need Me, the seamless transition from one track to the other on the album shines forth; you were previously grooving to Obaa Sima, and Need Me comes on before you could pay attention. Fireboy is focused on delivering us an enjoyable piece and wants no skips from you.
The remaining tracks on the album are familiar, but Jon’s Interlude is another great one. Adedamola is rounding up here, but what better way to do this than to allow one of the best instrumentalists and jazz musicians to dazzle us as the album winds to an end? There will be mixed reactions to this work, but I think that with ‘Adedamola,’ Fireboy scores perfect trifecta. It might not have been consecutive, but he finally joins the legendary list, and no one can doubt his talent anymore.
Then finally, I hope you do not change anymore. I hope this shows you how much of a superstar you are. I hope it boosts your confidence that we have ‘boxed’ you. Stop stressing us, and just be the lover boy that you are in peace. I will be on the lookout for the video of ‘Back n Forth’. Its been long we saw Lagbaja on our screens, don’t deny us the opportunity of seeing that synergy.
Album Ratings—A solid 9/10, and this is because I wrote this review. If you don’t agree, write your own.
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