Early Beginnings
Crown Uzama, better known by his stage name Shallipopi, is rapidly etching his name in the annals of Nigerian music. The young artiste was born on April 12, 2000, in Benin City, Edo State. Throughout his evolution and growth, his ascension to fame has been defined by his passion and dedication to his work.
Sciences sparked Shallipopi’s interest from an early age while he was growing up in Benin City. However, his passion and imagination for music were stronger. His journey into music began when he was about 14 or 15, leading to his official start in 2016.
Education
Shallipopi is a Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria native, who completed his primary and secondary school there. The established identity of the schools is held private. Nevertheless, it is reported that he always had a fascination with science. After the completion of his secondary school, he joined Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State. In 2021, the singer graduated from the institution; the name of the course remains unknown.
However, his keen interest in science indicates that he may have studied a technical or scientific field. Shallipopi ‘s music emerged during his university period, which demonstrates his dedication to his degree and music. Shallipopi’s graduation from Auchi Polytechnic in 2021 presents him as someone dedicated to educational achievement despite entering the music arena.
Musical Journey
Although the foundation was laid during his first venture into the music industry, Shallipopi burst onto the scene after releasing his first hit, “Elon Musk,” in 2023. The hit, with catchy melodies and the seamless combination of music and Afrobeat, caught on social media platforms such as TikTok, making it highly popular among the youth and the general public. He became the trending artist in Nigeria when he was chosen as the Apple Music Up Next, an artist development program in the country in June of 2023. As a result, he released the remix to “Elon Musk,” featuring Fireboy DML and Zlatan, in August 2023.
The “Planet Pluto” EP, Shallipopi’s first, was released in July 2023 and went on to hit the #2 spot on the Turntable 100 chart. The musician’s tracks from the EP all charted individually and coexisted, establishing his musical mettle. Presuming that he relished success, Shallipopi wasted little time in releasing his debut LP later that year. The “Presido la Pluto” album debuted at #1 on the charts and received extensive radio and online play, making it as successful as the songs themselves.
Other Endeavors
In addition to the above musical accomplishments, Shallipopi has shown a good business venture. Shallipopi personalized its record label based in October 2023 after partnering with Dvpper Music Distribution. It is a business approach that will not only enhance Shallipopi’s command in the music industry but also provide opportunities for other artists, as demonstrated in his signings of Zerry DL and Tega Boi.
However, despite his success streak, the artist has managed to maintain a calm personal life. For Shallipopi, it is about producing good music and helping other young stars under the pouch of his record label. With all these, the journey of Shallipopi is just from the beginning. The future promises great harmony, more hits, and more Shallipopi in the music line.
