In 2006, our universal neighborhood, the solar system, witnessed a downgrade of Pluto’s rank from the ninth planet to a ‘dwarf planet’ by the International Astronomical Union. Some seventeen odd years later, famed Nigerian performer, Shallipopi, has whimsically declared it his territory. His familiarity with such regal status originates from his lineage – the Uzamas, an esteemed class of kingmakers in the Benin Kingdom responsible for the appointment of the new Obas, the traditional Edo rulers. His self-coined title, Pluto Presido, is a reflection of his prominence and the authority he possesses over his devout followers, the Plutomanians.
Shallipopi’s music is idiosyncratically branded as ‘Afro Pluto,’ a harmonious melange of Nigerian street-pop, Afropop, hip-hop, and amapiano. It is imbued with local lingo, teeming with endless interpretations, and navigated by a rhythm that parallels a casual conversation more than a melody. This unique style has projected Shallipopi onto the high-demand list of fresh talents hailing from Africa within a remarkably short span.
South African DJ/producer Tyler ICU was once moved to text Shallipopi for a remix of ‘Mnike,’ a track that gained widespread acclaim, including an endorsement from pop culture titan, Rihanna, in the year 2023. Just a week before its release, Shallipopi collaborated with Rema on the magnetic hit ‘Benin Boys.’ It served as the premier single from Rema’s Grammy-nominated album, Heis.
Shallipopi’s track record includes a myriad of partnerships with rising and already renowned Afrobeats artists. Some highlights include his contribution to the catchy club anthem ‘Cast’ with ODUMODUBLVCK, and a joint effort with YBNL’s chief, Olamide, for the song ‘Order.’ His 2023 hit ‘Elon Musk,’ a tribute to the ‘world’s wealthiest individual,’ signaled his aspiration for extraordinary affluence, a theme that continued to echo in his music.
‘Laho’ is Shallipopi’s most revered creation to date; it embodies a request—’please’—in his native tongue, Bini. The song subtly lists names of successful figures like the Italian football sensation, Mario Balotelli, as symbols of the prosperous community he associates with. ‘Laho’ extended its influence well beyond the music industry and seeped into the sports arena as well.
A month after the announcement of ‘Laho’, the Indiana Pacers’ power forward, Pascal Siakam, incorporated the viral ‘Laho’ dance, marked by distinctive finger pointing and foot shuffling, into his three-point celebrations – a fact he revealed in an interview with ESPN. Liverpool Midfielder Harvey Elliott, accomplished Premier League champion, borrowed a phrase from the song’s second verse as an Instagram caption to commemorate his team’s victory.
In a subsequent milestone, Manchester City defender Rúben Dias featured the song in his Instagram post, commemorating his team’s qualification for their third FA Cup final. Charting at No. 5 on U.S. Afrobeats Songs, ‘Laho’ has accumulated an impressive 11.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams and its popularity teaser amidst renowned players.
Adding to its resonance globally, African Giant Burna Boy offered his unique panache in a second version of ‘Laho.’ However, Shallipopi does not refer to this as a ‘remix’ of ‘Laho,’ hinting that there’s more to expect from the song. Shallipopi seems to harbor ambitious plans for newer, grander collaborations in his pipeline.
When asked about his initiation into the music world, Shallipopi reminisced, ‘I visited the studio and thought, ‘Let’s attempt something. Let’s contribute vocals to this beat. Let’s explore this finally and observe the outcome.’ Even prior to this, I possessed voice memos on my phone, singing along to free beats gleaned from websites and flowing with them. I was primarily improvising, not particularly recording fine-tuned, original songs.’
With a formal education in computer science, Shallipopi made a pivot towards music, transforming a leisure pursuit into a thriving profession – a trajectory that materialized sooner than he had anticipated. It appears as though this is merely the start of an exhilarating journey for Shallipopi. His fans can anticipate numerous concerts and an influx of compelling music in the near future.
The post Shallipopi Claims Pluto Territory, Shapes Afro Pluto Genre appeared first on Real News Now.
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