Nigerian artist Shallipopi recently opened up about the struggles he faced in reaching out to established musicians before achieving fame.
In an interview with Naija FM, Shallipopi shared how he repeatedly sent messages to prominent artists, hoping they could support his budding career, only to have those messages go unanswered. He believes this is a common experience for many upcoming artists.
Reflecting on this, Shallipopi explained that he never took the silence personally, understanding that these artists were likely busy and didn’t know who he was at the time. “They don’t know you,” he said. “It’s not personal, they have their own lives and work. If you’re unknown, it’s natural they won’t answer. But once you make it, that’s when people start entering your DMs.”
He cited singer Rema as an example of this journey, revealing how their eventual collaboration on the track ‘Benin Boys’ only happened after Shallipopi’s music began gaining traction. “For ‘Benin Boys’, I messaged Rema first, as the upcoming artist, while he was already established,” Shallipopi explained.
“When my music started gaining attention, Rema finally noticed and responded, encouraging me to keep going. We eventually connected in the studio, and that’s how Benin Boys was created.”
Shallipopi’s message to other aspiring artists is to stay persistent and keep pushing forward, as recognition and collaboration often come with time and success.
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