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LaTesha Harris | March 3, 2022
Dearly beloved: we are gathered here today to get through this thing called "Afro-life." Surrounded by lush greenery and soft lavender lighting, Fireboy DML makes his Tiny Desk (home) concert debut from Lagos, Nigeria. The Nigerian singer-songwriter delivers the three-song set with an earnest reverence – his warm vocals reflecting a depth of passion and devotion best attributed to being brought up in a church choir.

Fireboy DML describes his wide-ranging sound – a fusion of R&B, Afrobeats, pop and alté (Nigeria's alternative scene) – as "Afro-life." This ambient, feel-good experimentation emerged in 2018 with his breakout single, "Jealous." He went on to drop his debut album, Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps, in 2019 and his sophomore album Apollo in 2020. A member of YBNL Nation, a record label founded by Nigerian rapper Olamide, Fireboy DML is pushing the vanguard of Afropop alongside contemporaries like Rema, Joeboy and Oxlade. His third album, Playboy, is forthcoming.

SET LIST
"Like I Do"
"Tattoo"
"Peru"

MUSICIANS
Fireboy DML: vocals
Vibe Kings (backing band)
Best Amakhian: guitar
Femi Jacobs Isaac: keyboard
Ebenezar Olayinka: drums
Julius Olabiyi: trumpet
Ayodele Olusegun: bass

CREDITS
Video: Greene 'Abula' Abdulazeez, Bolaji Kareem, Tina Jaiyesinmi, Eniola Awode
Audio: Glitch Africa, Don Zenith, Kenechi Raphael, Sifon Alphonsus
Producer: Ladi Sodimu
Assistant Producer: Adenugba Kelvin
Editor, Colorist: Greene "Abula" Abdulazeez
Location Manager: Yusuf Ganiy
Camera assistant: Demylade Olurombi, Oresajo Opeyemi
Gaffer: Folorunsho Olagunju
Production company: The Greenade Company

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Abby O'Neill
Video Producer: Kara Frame
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Bobby Carter, Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Ashley Pointer
Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

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