Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has sparked a wave of online excitement after footage emerged of him seemingly vibing to Nigerian singer Fireboy DML’s Afrobeats single “Playboy” during a basketball event. (Punch Newspapers)
The clip in question
The video, reportedly taken at a match of The League in Los Angeles on October 23, shows Bieber on-court for team SKYLARK vs Nahmias. As he heads into game mode, the 2022 track “Playboy” by Fireboy plays in the background. (Punch Newspapers)
In one shot, Bieber appears to mouth the lyric:
“Shawty wanna play with a big boy like me.” (Punch Newspapers)
The clip quickly garnered tens of thousands of likes and sparked social-media discussion about the crossover impact of Afrobeats. (Punch Newspapers)
Why this matters
This moment highlights how Afrobeats continues to break into global pop culture, with Fireboy’s track getting spotlighted by one of mainstream pop’s biggest names.
For Fireboy DML, already known internationally, the exposure may reach new audiences in North America and beyond.
For Bieber, the listening choice signals his openness to global sounds and suggests a bridging of genres and geographies.
Reactions online
Social-media users were quick to celebrate the moment:
“Shout out to Fireboy for the background music — ‘Playboy’ never misses.” — user #jbanj (Punch Newspapers)
One Instagram commenter wrote:
“This is proof #fireboydml is recognised and respected outside Nigeria.” (Punch Newspapers)
Some debate emerged whether the track was played live or was added in post-editing, reflecting how viral clips blur lines between spontaneous moments and curated content. (Punch Newspapers)
What’s next
It will be worth monitoring whether Bieber’s musical team officially acknowledges the clip, or whether Fireboy, his label or representatives comment.
Streaming numbers for “Playboy” may see a surge, especially across US and Canadian platforms as the clip spreads.
For 95News readers interested in music and culture: this is a handy example of how Nigerian music is influencing global stars—and how such moments can ripple into business, sync deals, and cross-market collaborations.
This may also open discussions about Afrobeats’ role in global pop culture, the power of informal viral moments for artists, and the evolving tastes of big-name pop acts.
