Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps is the title of Fireboy’s debut studio album. The music project was released in 2019 under Olamide’s record label, Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL).
The music project was released to predominantly positive reviews from music critics and pundits. Specifically, Fireboy was acknowledged for his penmanship and ability to work on 13 tracks without featuring other artistes. It is important to note that no Afrobeats musician has been able to attain this feat until Fireboy entered the scene.
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He was majestic in his own approach and wasn’t mediocre with his lyricism and the duration of his songs. At the time when Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps was released in the latter part of 2019, most musicians were gradually becoming lackadaisical with their style of music.
Specifically, musicians such as the legendary Wizkid preferred to release songs that weren’t up to the 3-minute mark. Listen to his songs, ‘Joro’ and ‘Ghetto Love’, which failed to fascinate audiences due to the ephemeral timeframe of the songs; also, pundits described the lyrics of the songs as ‘shallow’.
Other next kids on the block, such as Joeboy, Rema, and Oxlade, who were contemporaries to Fireboy, also failed to match up to his musicianship and impeccable nature of his music. Fireboy gave his spirit, soul, and body to his debut album, and these elements quickly made the project an instant Afrobeats classic.
Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps: Album Theme
At 22, Fireboy released a masterpiece. He delivered music from the depths of his heart and spoke into the ears of those who cared to pay attention.
His album has a purpose, poetically inclined and lyrically ahead of his contemporaries. From ‘Jealous‘ to ‘Need You‘ and ‘High on Life‘, every track on the album has its own narrative.
13-solid tracks, songs that will age well and remain an archetype for generations to come.
This is a masterpiece, l’ll give it to Olamide for meticulously working with his protege.
Alphonse Pierre of the American media platform, Pitchfork, characterized his sound as “slow-groove pop” and stated it “tells stories about love with the formulaic structure of a Hallmark Christmas romance.”
Where is Fireboy Now?
Adedamola Oyinlola Adefolahan, known professionally as Fireboy DML, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. In 2018, he signed a record deal with YBNL Nation, a record label founded by rapper Olamide.
The Nigerian singer-songwriter has cited Jon Bellion, Passenger, and Wande Coal as his key contemporary influences. Meanwhile, Fireboy describes his sound as “Afro-Life” and said he writes songs that audiences can relate to.
Following the release of Laughter, Tears & Goosebumps, Fireboy has gone on to release three more studio albums. In 2020, he released his sophomore album, Apollo, followed by Playboy (2022) and, most recently, Adedamola (2024).
Other Major Achievements
In 2020, Fireboy DML gained media coverage in Nigeria when his hit single “Champion” was used by FC Bayern Munich for their UEFA Super Cup celebrations.
His song “Scatter” from his debut album Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps was included in the FIFA 21 game soundtrack.
In November 2022, his song, “Coming Back For You,” was included on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Fireboy DML received a plaque as he joins other mainstream superstars such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Wizkid, Jay-Z, The Beatles, Adele, and Elton John on the list of Artistes who have sold out London’s most iconic venue, Royal Albert Hall.
