Apollo (Fireboy DML album)

Apollo
Studio album by
Fireboy DML
Released20 August 2020
Genres
Length48:00
Languages
Labels
Producers
Fireboy DML chronology
Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps
(2019)		 Apollo
(2020)		 Playboy
(2022)
Singles from Apollo
  1. "New York City Girl"
    Released: 22 June 2020
  2. "Eli"
    Released: 27 July 2020
  3. "Tattoo"
    Released: 12 August 2020
  4. "Champion"
    Released: 3 March 2021

Apollo (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by Nigerian singer and songwriter Fireboy DML. It was released on 20 August 2020 by YBNL Nation and distributed by Empire Distribution. The album featured guest appearances from Olamide, Wande Coal and D Smoke. Fireboy enlisted production from Pheelz, Type A, IamBeatz and P.Priime. The album is a follow-up to his debut, Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps (2019).

Background

In an interview with OkayAfrica, Fireboy DML said he took a break after the release of Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps (2019) to work on a follow-up project, which later became Apollo. He said that the COVID-19 lockdown period did not disrupt his work even though it prevented live performances. He also stated that the album’s title was drawn from the Greek god Apollo, which he said reflects how he views his artistic identity.[1]

Singles

The album's lead single "New York City Girl" was released on 22 June 2020 alongside a Clarence Peters-directed music video. The song was produced by Type A.[2] The second single, "Eli" was released on 27 July 2020 and was produced by Pheelz.[3] The third single, "Tattoo" was released just a week before the album's release on 12 August 2020 alongside its music video which was also directed by Peters. The song was produced by Type A.[4] The Pheelz-produced track "Champion" featuring D Smoke was released as Apollo's fourth single. Its accompanying music video was directed by TG Omori.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Afrocritik6.8/10[6]
Pulse Nigeria7.6/10[7]
Pitchfork8.3/10[8]

Apollo received positive reviews from critics. Motolani Alake of Pulse Nigeria described Apollo as "more sonically and topically diverse" than his debut, adding that "if Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps was his battle cry… Apollo is his victory parade", and called it "another solid body of work… not exceptional, but very good", rating it 7.6/10.[7] Jerry Chiemeke of Afrocritik said that it "falls short" in production compared to Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps but "the penmanship can hardly be faulted", adding that calling it a "sophomore slump would be reaching", and rated it 6.8/10.[6]

Dennis Ade Peter of The Native described Apollo as "a chance… to start properly building his mythos and legacy", noting its "diverse" but not "ground-breaking" production and added that, despite containing "filler material", Fireboy "overcom[es] the sophomore slump with relative ease".[9] Emmanuel Esomnofu of NotJustOk wrote that Apollo "does not succumb to the slump associated with second albums", calling it "a quality tape” with strong songwriting and introspection, but noted that its "complications with track listing" and uneven transitions affect its structure.[10] Ivie Ani of Pitchfork said Apollo was "easy, exciting, and earnest" with "soothing, feel-good music" built on "simplified songwriting" that "becomes unforgettable", rating it 8.3/10.[8]

Accolades

Apollo won Best Pop Album and Album of the Year at the fourteenth edition of the Headies.

Track listing

Apollo track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Champion" (featuring D Smoke)
Pheelz2:59
2."Spell" (featuring Wande Coal)
Pheelz2:53
3."Eli"AdefolahanPheelz2:52
4."Tattoo"AdefolahanType A2:56
5."Favourite Song"AdefolahanPheelz2:33
6."New York City Girl"AdefolahanType A2:20
7."Lifestyle"AdefolahanIamBeatz2:32
8."Airplane Mode"AdefolahanType A2:57
9."24" (interlude)AdefolahanPheelz1:21
10."Dreamer"AdefolahanPheelz3:00
11."Afar" (featuring Olamide)
IamBeatz2:51
12."Go Away"AdefolahanType A3:29
13."Shadé"AdefolahanType A3:29
14."Friday Feeling"AdefolahanPheelz2:36
15."God Only Knows"AdefolahanPheelz3:11
16."Sound"AdefolahanPheelz3:27
17."Remember Me"AdefolahanPheelz2:51
Total length:48:00

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Apollo
Chart (2022–23) Peak
position
US World Albums (Billboard)[11] 14

Release history

Release history and formats for Apollo
Region Date Format Label
Worldwide 20 August 2020
11 June 2021 CD
19 July 2022

References

  1. ↑ Louis, Tochi Praise (14 September 2020). "Interview: Fireboy DML Gets Deep & Personal with 'Apollo'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. ↑ "Watch Fireboy's New Music Video for 'New York City Girl'". OkayAfrica. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Patrick (27 July 2020). "Rising Nigerian Artist Fireboy DML Releases New Song "ELI"". Hypebeast. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  4. ↑ "LISTEN TO FIREBOY DML'S SULTRY NEW SINGLE "TATTOO"". The Native. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Bloom, Madison (3 March 2021). "Fireboy DML and D Smoke Share New "Champion" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 Jerry Chiemeke (1 June 2021). "FIREBOY DML STICKS TO FAMILIAR NARRATIVES ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM "APOLLO"". Afrocritik. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  7. 1 2 Motolani Alake (23 August 2020). "'Apollo' documents Fireboy's artistic and personal evolution [Album Review]". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  8. 1 2 Ani, Ivie (26 August 2020). "Fireboy DML: APOLLO Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  9. ↑ Dennis Ade Peter (20 August 2020). "A 1-listen review of Fireboy DML's 'APOLLO'". The Native. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  10. ↑ Esomnofu, Emmanuel (21 August 2020). "Album Review: Fireboy DML's APOLLO: Does He Avoid The Sophomore Slump?". NotJustOk. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fireboy DML | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
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