Peace by Piece Fireboy DML Pheelz review
Introduction
On paper, Peace by Piece should have been a statement project. Fireboy DML, one of Afrobeats’ most emotionally articulate songwriters, teaming up with Pheelz, a producer-turned-artist whose recent run has positioned him as a spiritual mouthpiece for mainstream success, feels like a collaboration built on intention. Instead, the EP arrives sounding unsure of what it wants to say, relying heavily on repetition, familiar cadences, and already exhausted themes.
What we get is not a body of work that pushes either artist forward, but one that leans too comfortably on their established identities.
A Concept That Never Fully Forms
Across Peace by Piece, the idea of searching for peace, gratitude, enjoyment of success, and spiritual reassurance is constantly referenced. However, these ideas are never fully developed. Rather than unfolding as lived experiences, they appear as slogans repeated across different instrumentals.
Afrobeats as a genre thrives on repetition, call and response, and communal phrasing. That is not the problem here. The issue is that the repetition in this EP often replaces depth instead of reinforcing it. Many of the songs feel closer to loosely arranged freestyles than carefully structured compositions. For artists of Fireboy and Pheelz’s caliber, that lack of refinement stands out.
“Kentro”: Spiritual Language Without Emotional Weight
“Kentro” attempts to sit at the intersection of struggle, faith, and perseverance. There are references to survival, divine protection, and personal resilience, expressed through a mix of Yoruba phrases and conversational English. In theory, this should be fertile ground.
In practice, the song leans too heavily on chant-like repetition. The spiritual expressions are not unpacked or grounded in specific moments. We are told about hardship and protection, but not shown enough to feel invested. The result is a song that gestures at meaning without fully earning it, sounding more like a vibe exercise than a testimony.
“Gozi”: Celebration Without Perspective
“Gozi” continues a recurring theme across the EP: material success as proof of divine favor. Expensive cars, global travel, and public validation dominate the narrative. While this type of content is common in Afrobeats, what usually makes it compelling is context, contrast, or personal reflection.
Here, the song feels trapped in a loop. The celebration never evolves, and there is no tension between past and present to give the success emotional dimension. Without that contrast, the song plays like a highlight reel rather than a story, relying on familiarity to carry it forward.
“Shake”: Function Over Creativity
“Shake” is the most transparent example of the EP’s reliance on click-value appeal. Its goal is clear: create a dance-ready record that works instantly in social settings. And while the production does its job rhythmically, the songwriting feels intentionally minimal to the point of laziness.
The repeated phrases and instructional lines dominate the track, leaving little room for personality or originality. It sounds engineered for playlists rather than crafted as a memorable record, which is disappointing given Fireboy’s usual ability to inject subtle emotion even into upbeat songs.
“Young Again”: A Glimpse of What Could Have Been
“Young Again” comes closest to offering something substantial. The song touches on aging, responsibility, financial pressure, and the awareness that time is irreversible. There is a sense of reflection here that the rest of the EP lacks.
However, even this track eventually falls back into repetition, circling the same ideas instead of expanding them. The emotional core is present, but it is never fully explored. It feels like the first draft of a stronger song that was never pushed far enough.
Familiarity as the EP’s Biggest Weakness
Across Peace by Piece, generic cadences, predictable melodic patterns, and recycled phrases dominate the listening experience. Nothing here sounds offensively bad, but very little sounds necessary. The EP feels designed to tap into an already loyal fanbase rather than challenge or surprise them.
Final Thoughts
Peace by Piece is not a failure, but it is a missed opportunity. It sounds like a project made quickly, relying on repetition, familiarity, and spiritual language as shortcuts rather than tools. Fireboy DML and Pheelz are both capable of far more intentional storytelling and sonic experimentation than what is presented here.
In the end, the EP feels less like a carefully assembled body of work and more like a collection of ideas that were never fully developed. For listeners expecting growth, depth, or evolution, Peace by Piece offers moments of promise, but never quite delivers on them.
Peace by Piece Fireboy DML Pheelz review
