Shallipopi has opened up about his shift from rap to Amapiano, citing financial gains as the major reason. In a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, the 'Cast' artiste revealed he started out as a rapper and identified as a trap star, but found greater financial rewards in Amapiano music. He stated clearly that Amapiano is more lucrative staffing, "I have been rapping for a while. I am a trap star. They made me do Amapiano. It is Amapiano that bring food to the table, so we will do it. I will drag it with them." The singer expressed that while rap remains his "first love," he struggled to earn a substantial income from it, blaming the attitude of Nigerian music listeners and their limited support for rap music.
Shallipopi also addressed his controversial rejection of the Headies award for Best Rap Song, which his hit track 'Cast' won last year. He said he turned it down because the organisers tried to label him solely as a rapper. According to him, the song showcased both rapping and singing, so he believed he deserved recognition in both categories. He insisted that the award body should have acknowledged his versatility instead of placing him in one box. His comments have reignited discussions about genre classification in Nigerian music and how awards adapt to evolving artistry. The conversation highlights the tension between artistic identity and commercial reality in the current music scene.
Shallipopi admits he pivoted to Amapiano because it "bring food to the table," exposing the economic pressure shaping Nigerian music careers. His rejection of the Headies award for 'Cast' underscores a contradiction: he disavows being boxed as a rapper while still claiming rap as his "first love." The song won in a rap category he now refuses, yet he demands recognition in singing categories without documented wins there. His stance reveals a disconnect between artistic pride and the commercial choices he actively endorses.
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