Shout out to Shallipopi and his hit track “Laho”! In the last two years, this Benin-born artiste has broken bounds to become one of the most sought after music artistes in the country. As silly as it sounds, Shallipopi didn’t gain the attention of many Nigerians when he started.
His music style was different from what people are used to, rappers or singers or people stuck in between; with plenty of words to fill the instrumentals that follow.
He had a more relaxed stance, with his rhymes sounding like a “big-baby” singing through a nursery rhyme. This actually ended up being his greatest asset as Shallipopi’s songs are easy to learn and sing along to.
In fact, many listeners find themselves singing along to Shallipopi’s songs just after listening to it a few times. That ticks the box on one of the necessities a song needs to cover, relativity, understandability and ease of singing along to.
Shallipopi’s Artistic Style – Genius or Immature?
On the other side, Shallipopi comes as an immature artiste who is more interested in the fame and fortune, and other perks that comes with being a superstar, instead of being a core musician, focusing on context and message.
His songs are usually generic of the average Afrobeat artiste, basing its message on making money, having the finest women, driving the best cars and living the superstar, lavish lifestyle. This just not demeans the efforts put in by many to keep the genre relevant, but also makes it seem unserious and lackadaisical in its message and feel.
A Look At Shallipopi’s Background
Many do not know that Shallipopi graduated from Auchi Polytechnic in 2023, receiving a higher national diploma in Computer science, so he is fairly fresh out of school. One wonders if he’d be progressing for a Higher National Diploma (HND) or to proceed to the university for a direct entry into his Bachelor’s degree. That may be a tall dream as it is well known that many artistes who gain fame while in school hardly have time to complete their studies.
How The Nigerian Military Blew “Laho” Up
Laho seems to break boundaries just like Shallipopi’s entire essence does in the Nigerian Afrobeat scene. At first release, it had no following or real feel, but it spirals out into the big leagues, the creme de la creme of street anthems through the efforts of the Nigerian military.
At the time of its release, someone on social media had the unusual sense to capture the song’s popularity around young soldiers of the Nigerian Army on the frontlines of the war against insurgency. The post consists of shots of different young officers going about their daily lives outside the theatre, singing along to the song.
Their activities go from cooking for the camp, to lacing boots and relaxing right after guard duty.
It was fun to see these young men who put their lives on the line, day-in-day out, seeing things that the average mind may never recover from; having the capacity of being human and in tune with their age and time through the song.
Lets face it, this track reminded the troops that they are youths who like to have fun and connect to their youthful perks whether they are killers or not. They are still human beings who want to have a good time, singing along to Laho!
The Meaning Behind “Laho”
It is exciting to understand that the entire song, Laho, is Shallipopi begging for things. The word “Laho” or “Lahor” is a Benin Language word from Edo state, Nigeria which means “please”, “I beg” or “Abeg” as many Nigerians would rather say it.
It is used when you want to implore for a favour or a chance for pardon. Looking at the lyrics, you can see how Shallipopi is begging everyone to help him stay financially buoyant.
Desperado, many, many
My amigo, Balotelli
Ladies taking me photo (confirm) (Ladies are taking photos with me)
Paparazzi, ahn
Don Julio, don dey high me, ah, ah (I’m getting high on Don Julio [an expensive tequila)
Ghẹ gunmwẹn dẹ ọ, lahọ (Please, don’t let me fall, please)
Ni paste aza, lahọ (I should paste aza, please)
Aza mwẹ dry o, lahọ (My aza is dry, please)
Ye, ye-oh, lahọ
Ghẹ gunmwẹn dẹ ọ, lahọ
Ni paste aza, lahọ (I should paste aza, please)
Aza mwẹ dry o, lahọ (My aza is dry, please)
The first line which states: Desperado, many many most likely points at how many Nigerians, especially Benin people, are very desperate to have a good life. The second line: “My amigo, Balotelli points at popular Italian footballer, Mario Balotelli who is well known for living a lavish lifestyle filled with drama. The word, “Aza” is a street slang for bank account or wallet.
The song can come in to forms: Shallipopi relieving his days struggling or him letting the world know that he is getting broke going through his lavish lifestyle.
He seems to be referring to the former, as his next words show it:
It’s not the way you’re seeing me here
Because of the way you’re talking to me here
You think if you see me in the street of Upper
You see me in the street of Sapele road, or you see me in Ugbighoko
Or you see me in Third Junction, you can talk to me like this?…
Now he has hit it big and no one can dare face him like they did. This shows how far this young man has gone, rubbing shoulders with the big boys at the top.
Laho shows Shallipopi’s connections with his Benin roots. He infuses his language, his experiences and lifestyle into the song. No wonder it is a hit!
Final Words
Whether Shallipopi is really begging or letting us know what he went through in his old days; we cannot deny the fact that Laho is and continues to be a banger!
Shallipopi may not be your average, everyday Afrobeat singer, but he sure is fun to listen to.
