The best way to enjoy Shallipopi’s music is to not set too high an expectation for him. He’s an artist who doesn’t understand the depth of music artistry and it is only ideal for every listener of his music to go with that vibe.
Shallipopi doesn’t make music because of the passion to create art, he makes it because it’s a form of expression for him, a way to gain fame and as they say, to just “cruise”.
So if the artist isn’t as deep as with his music and the creative art, pardon him, you as a listener with a repulsive thought for his music is because you set too high an expectation for him.
When Shallipopi made his land in the Nigerian music industry, he thrived on his Benin and streetwise lingos, with the profound use of terms such as ‘Evian’, ‘clear road’ and ‘men mount’— no one really put much thought into his music and how watery his pen game is, so truthfully, is there really a need to ever dissect him thoroughly? Other than the fact that in a span of time, he dutifully turns in hits after hits, which often comes on the back of criticism, a more direct way of saying “it will grow on you”
A very vivid word to explain Shallipopi’s music and the manner with which he makes his release is haste. The artist doesn’t understand the intricacies of carefully curating music and ensuring longevity of his music. While one must attest to the fact that he makes music that has you gyrating on a chilly Friday night, it doesn’t go beyond that. Vibes, gyration and shallow enjoyability.
This explains why his music fades away quickly, just like the tide, overshadowed by new releases from him or other talented artists.
One would think that after his improperly put together debut album, ‘Presido La Pluto’, Shallipopi would take much precaution into his sophomore project, ‘Shakespopi’, given an album is not some child’s play, and particularly with how he launches his sophomore album with a bang song, ASAP. Alas we’re mistaken because the artist has shown himself to be an artist of shallow artistic integrity.
If you take time to give the artist his due flower, you must however attest to the fact that Shallipopi is creative, he makes music from the most inane things and turn them to groovy music— his infusion of Money Heist’s theme song, Bella Ciao, in the second track off the album, “High Tension”
Shallipopi’s sophomore album, ‘Shakespopi’ opens with a burst of energy in ‘ASAP’, where he samples Sir Waziri Oshoma’s music, your ears are serenaded with rich Benin innuendos, and you’re swooned into a rush of adrenaline that comes with the captivating effect of the song.
Titling the song ‘ASAP’ was a right choice, with how the song settles well within the mind. On first listen of this track, you can paint a picture of an uppity scene, with sweating bodies jumping like frogs at clubs and parties. This song, after much denial which you must have reveled in, holds much potential to be a club banger.
Shallipopi does a very good job at steering us into the next track, ‘High Tension’, displaying utter creativity with his sampling of Money Heist’s theme song, ‘Bella Ciao’ and for people like this writer, there is the awe of how creative an artist with such shallow artistic context can be.
The artist explains his level, his predominant position and how richer he is than his “haters” in ‘New Cat’, where he expresses his thoughts using his reflective phrases such as “we no be enemies that no mean say we be friends”. Of a truth, asides catchy phrases as this, Shallipopi’s lyrics are jumbled, watery and lack proper understanding. For this artist, his way of making music is simply to ‘vibe’, and this negates the art of music itself.
To Shallipopi, music is his way of expressing himself through how he speaks in his music, rather than singing, which should be quite understandable, only one cannot clearly understand what exactly he is expressing about himself through his music. While fighting against imaginary haters, turning down ‘b*tches’ and idolizing fraudulent practices, Shallipopi hasn’t been able to express himself much. His music, has in no way reveal his true identity.
On first listen after hearing these tracks, you’re immersed in pride at how Shallipopi has now understood proper musicality and intention behind music albums, however, Shallipopi loses the attention he has managed to capture from his audience from ‘Find Me’, the album takes a declining slope and it establishes a connection with his debut— repetitive tones, repetitive themes, lack of evolution and growth, and as usual, basic ‘vibes’.
Shallipopi’s music is a very subjective art— for some, his music is very refreshing because of its citrusy feel of groove, for others, it’s a display of musical clownery, and for some others, it’s simply music that reverberates constantly to a point of acceptance and sensibility in its pattern.
His music, is in summary the kind that you constantly are forced to listen to, and eventually, it sticks in your head.
The progression of the album, ‘Shakespopi’ is very sloppy, it starts with a very high note and melts down into an even worse level of mediocrity.
It’s now a struggle to get through the album, because you cannot help but fathom how an artist refuses to embrace growth and work on evolution— there is no direct comparison between his debut and sophomore, or a level of improvement on the second. However, the level of disappointment is minimal because as this writer once said, to enjoy Shallipopi’s music, you should not expect much.
For a music project that was released as a somewhat philosophical perspective, Shallipopi really released a project that acts as a slapstick to the majestic works of the late Shakespeare. His album is a slapstick to Afrobeats and the philosopher from which his album stems from.
The declining slope from the fourth track, ‘Find Me’ which seems to have an even manageable tune in generality puts the album at a chaotic level. This writer pens down the thought that the album has a lot going on, with no direction whatsoever and without the album living up to its philosophical roots, except you choose to enlist the few phrases noted by Shallipopi.
It is appalling how it is hard to get through the end of a simplistic nine track album and though few, is highly disorganized. Shallipopi might have his good sides to the many facets of music, but it still doesn’t change that he’s thriving on the grounds of the “hits” he graces the public with.
This writer believes that if you finished the album thoroughly and have the opinion that it is enjoyable, you have a very questionable music taste and though it’s fine, speaks a lot about you.
Shallipopi it seems sadly isn’t packing up his music kit any time soon, with his three acceptable tracks off the album, his sophomore album, ‘Shakespopi’ is a mildly enjoyable album with a 2.5 replay rate, and this stems from the massive replay value of the intro song. The album generally should be set to hang its boot as the month of April packs up in exit for May.
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