“They call me Shallipopi!”.
If you’re an avid Afrobeats music listener, you already know what comes after this proclamation. I bet you’re also asking how Shallipopi became so famous in such a short period. It felt like we blinked, and Shallipopi’s music was suddenly everywhere. Well, I’m here to walk you through Shalllipopi’s debut into the African music scene, dissecting his music, sound, and controversial fan base.
Here we go.
Shallipopi: Road to 50K and Beyond.
In a recent interview with Zero Conditions, Shallipopi shared that he was paid N50,000 for his first appearance on stage. From what seemed like a humble beginning, Shallipopi quickly climbed the ranks and is worth more than 50K now.
A good chunk of Shallipopi’s listeners knew him from his hit break-out single, Elon Musk. I’m not Shallipopi’s biggest fan, but even I had that song on repeat. Before Elon Musk, Shallipopi had been dabbling in music, although not a lot.
His discography boasts of barely three songs released before 2023. I know you’re probably asking how he has done so little, but has gotten the recognition he has. Well, I have the same questions too! His past songs (and I had to do some serious digging to find them) include Gra Gra, released in 2021, and Power and Shaka, released in 2022.
After that, he released a couple more songs to capitalize on Elon Musk’s nationwide success.
Shallipopi’s Debut EP: Presido La Pluto
This is one of the fastest EP releases for someone who just debuted in the music scene. However, I cannot fault him for striking while the metaphorical iron (or mic, in this case) is still hot.
In November 2023, Shallipopi announced the release of his EP, Presido La Pluto, released that same month. The album features artists like Odumodublvck, Focalistic, and ZerryDL.
With songs like Cast and Over the Seas, Shallipopi showcases his bold delivery and applaudable chemistry with the featured artists.
Shallipopi’s Controversial Side
Like most street artists, Shallipopi has had his fair share of controversy surrounding his debut. Shortly after Elon Musk, the EFCC arrested Shallipopi on the grounds of his affiliation with internet-related fraud.
Although he was sentenced to serve two years in prison with the option of fines, he was released shortly after. So, we can only assume he paid a hefty fee to get out. While we can’t prove his guilt or innocence, we all know that there’s usually no smoke without fire.
This shoddy reputation has led to a divided fanbase for Shallipopi. Some fans want to truly vibe to his music, but are at risk of being tagged as “uncouth” due to Shallipopi’s alleged past crime history. And then there’s the latter group, who would throw all their cares to the wind and sing along to every Shallipopi track that comes on.
Conclusion
Shallipopi’s breakout was one of the fastest we’ve ever seen in the industry. From all indications, he wants to remain in the spotlight for as long as possible.
While I must applaud his ability to blend traditional African rhythms, contemporary beats, and a distinctive vocal style, I’m afraid his music just doesn’t cut it for me.
What’s next for Shallipopi? You’ll have to stick around to find out. 2024 seems like a promising year for the breakout artist, and Soot Africa will bring all the juicy news to your screens.
Till then, follow our social media pages to stay up-to-date!