Afrobeats star, Fireboy DML, has shared his journey to fame and how close he was to becoming a street trader before music changed his life.

Fireboy, whose real name is Adedamola Adefolahan, said he had plans to start selling rechargeable lamps under the Ajah Bridge in Lagos. This happened before popular rapper and music boss Olamide signed him to YBNL Nation in 2018.

Speaking during a recent interview on the 90s Baby Show in London, Fireboy said he had already been selling pepper soup at a local spot, but wanted to try a new business. He met a man under Ajah Bridge who told him about the lamp business, and he was ready to start.

“To me, it was more respectful,” Fireboy explained. “Being called a lamp seller was better than telling people I sold pepper soup. My parents didn’t even know I was doing such jobs.”

Thankfully, things changed when Olamide reached out to him on WhatsApp and offered him a record deal.

Fireboy became famous after his hit song ‘Jealous’ appeared on the YBNL Mafia Family album in 2018. The next year, he dropped his debut album ‘Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps’, which made him a big name in Nigerian music.

Today, Fireboy DML is one of the top Afrobeats artists, but he never forgets how far he’s come.