Fireboy DML Serves Fire — and a Little Soul — on ‘ZUKO!’ | Album Review
October 20, 2026 | Afrobeat Magazine | Reviews
They say you shouldn’t play with fire. Apparently, nobody gave Fireboy DML that warning.
The Nigerian Afrobeats star is turning up the heat with ZUKO!, his fifth studio album, released October 16, 2026, through YBNL Nation and EMPIRE.
And this time around, the man who made a career out of smooth melodies and love songs has decided to show us what else he’s got cooking.
The 13-track project moves between Afrobeats, R&B, dancehall, and South African dance music, bringing a different kind of energy to an artist whose silky vocals have long been his calling card.
But don’t worry, ladies. The lover boy hasn’t completely left the building.
He’s just got a little more fire in his belly.
From Prayers to Fire and Everything Between
The album opens with “DEAR FATHER,” featuring Judah Earl, a reflective record centered on faith, uncertainty, and the search for strength.
It’s an interesting way to begin an album called ZUKO!. Instead of kicking down the door, Fireboy starts with a prayer.
Then comes “BY FIRE!”, and suddenly that quiet reflection turns into something much more confrontational.
It’s a shift that helps explain the album’s personality. There’s confidence here, but there’s vulnerability too.
And Fireboy isn’t afraid to let both sides show.
On “GODDESS,” featuring Lojay, he slides comfortably back into romantic territory. The two Nigerian singers bring their melodic styles together for a smooth Afropop collaboration.
It’s the kind of record that reminds you why Fireboy became a favorite among Afrobeats lovers in the first place.
From Lagos to Johannesburg — With a Stop in Jamaica
One of the album’s most interesting collaborations comes on “IMALI,” featuring South African artists JAZZWRLD and Thukuthela.
Built around South Africa’s increasingly influential 3-step sound, the record shows just how naturally African musical styles can come together.
And that’s one of the beautiful things happening in African music right now.
The days of putting every African sound into one little box are fading. Artists are exchanging rhythms, borrowing influences, and creating music that crosses borders without asking permission.
Fireboy is clearly enjoying that freedom.
Then there’s “CLAAT!” featuring Jamaican dancehall star Masicka.
Now we’re talking a different kind of heat.
The collaboration brings Jamaican dancehall into Fireboy’s musical world, giving the album another international dimension. Originally released as a single in August, the track finds its place as the album’s third song.
From Nigeria to South Africa to Jamaica, ZUKO! is doing some serious traveling.
And nobody had to pack a suitcase.
There’s More to Fireboy Than Love Songs
Beyond the collaborations, records like “ONE MAN REGIMENT,” “KILOWI,” “MIMI NAWE,” and “LIGHT OF DAWN” give Fireboy room to explore different moods.
“ONE MAN REGIMENT” brings electronic dance influences into the mix, while “LIGHT OF DAWN” leans toward his softer R&B instincts.
The album closes with “FIGHTING,” a sentimental record that returns to themes of perseverance and finding the strength to keep going.