Music

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union stopped classifying Pluto as our solar system’s ninth planet and demoted its status to “dwarf planet.” But 17 years later, Nigerian singer Shallipopi tells Billboard he’s “claiming it now” as his own domain.
He’s intimately familiar with that level of sovereignty, as Shallipopi – born Crown Uzama in Benin City, Edo, Nigeria – descends from a line of kingmakers, the Uzamas, who are the highest-ranking chiefs in the Benin Kingdom who appoint the new Obas, or traditional Edo rulers. And even though the 1994 Taiwanese kung fu comedy film Shaolin Popey that he grew up watching at home inspired his stage name, his self-appointed nickname Pluto Presido speaks more to his prestige — and the rule he has over his fans, the Plutomanians.

He’s even labeled his musical style “Afro Pluto,” a rousing fusion of Nigerian street-pop, Afropop, hip-hop and amapiano that’s littered with local slang with an infinite number of meanings and guided by a cadence that’s closer to talking than singing. And in just a few short years, it’s helped Shallipopi grow into one of the most in-demand up-and-comers from the continent. He says South African DJ/producer Tyler ICU texted him to hop on the remix of “Mnike,” the biggest amapiano record of 2023 that Rihanna claimed was one of her favorite songs that year. A week before the “Mnike” remix’s release, Shallipopi tag-teamed with Rema on their hometown hit “Benin Boys,” the first single from the latter’s Grammy-nominated album Heis. He’s also linked up with a range of other emerging and established Afrobeats acts like ODUMODUBLVCK on the chant-worthy club banger “Cast” and YBNL boss Olamide on “Order.”

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And two years after his 2023 breakout hit “Elon Musk” in honor of “the richest man in the world,” he says, Shallipopi strives for that level of astronomical wealth on his biggest hit to date “Laho,” which means please in the Edo language of Bini. While he name checks Italian footballer Mario Balotelli to prove the kind of prosperous company he keeps, “Laho” has attracted plenty of ballers in real life.

A month after the song’s release, Indiana Pacers power forward Pascal Siakam explained how he adopted the viral “Laho” dance, featuring pointed fingers and shuffling feet, to celebrate the team’s three-point shots in an interview with ESPN. “I just be playing it, and the guys, I think JJ [James Johnson] is the first one that saw me do it. And he was like, ‘Nah, I like that for a three-point celebration,’” said the Cameroonian basketball player, who added that he and his teammates “gon’ pull it out for sure in the playoffs.”

And while celebrating his team becoming Premier League champions again, Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott wrote “Minister of Enjoyment,” a phrase from the hit’s second verse — meaning someone whose main purpose is to find pleasure in life and enjoy it to the fullest — in his Instagram caption. Manchester City defender Rúben Dias posted the song on his Instagram post when his team qualified for their third FA Cup final (even though they eventually lost against Crystal Palace).

“Laho” has peaked at No. 5 on U.S. Afrobeats Songs and has registered 11.5 million official on-demand U.S. streams, according to Luminate. While major leaguers quickly gravitated to it, the African Giant Burna Boy added his international star power to the song’s second version that Shallipopi doesn’t refer to as the “Laho” remix – because that’s still on the way.

Billboard spoke with May’s African Rookie of the Month about “Laho” becoming an international sports anthem, performing it on massive world stages alongside Burna Boy and Central Cee, and setting his sights on even bigger collaborations.

When did you know music was your calling?

Pretty young, like my early teenage years. We always played music at home growing up, a lot of reggae and Afrobeats, old Afrobeats. My parents played a lot of Fela [Kuti], Lucky Dube, Bob Marley.

Your younger brothers Zerry DL and Famous Pluto also make music. How did you guys come to share that interest and pursue your own paths in this business?

We all grew up in the same house by the same parents who listen to the same music. I feel like they’re following in my footsteps because they feel like they can do it too. And they’re doing it already.

Who are your favorite artists whom you’re currently listening to?

I listen to a lot of Billie Eilish and Ken Carson.

How did you actually start making music?

I went to the studio [when I was 15] and said, “Let me try something. Let me sing on this beat. Let me test this thing finally and see if it goes.” But before that, I had voice memos on my phone, playing free beats off websites and vibing off it. I was just freestyling, not really recording original, mastered songs.

What kind of sounds and styles does your music encompass? How would you describe your music in your own words?

I would say groovy, energetic, fun. Club bangers. It’s for having a good time and raising your mood from being unhappy to being happy.

You earned a computer science degree from Auchi Polytechnic in 2023. How did you balance your schoolwork and your passion for music? 

That was not really difficult. I just take music as a hobby and I focused on my education until I was done. When I decided to study computer science, I didn’t think music was really a way to sustain an income. You have to go study a real course to survive. You can’t be studying music, we’re in Africa. I decided to go with science because you have to chase the bag. [Laughs]

It’s dope to see you turn music from a hobby into a career. Is that something you expected?

Honestly, I didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect it to come this soon. But it’s God’s blessing. I was thinking, “Oh, it’s going to take time.” Or the way everybody prays, “Let my time come.” It’s like, “Oh, my time is here.”

A common thread in your music is the local slang you use, from “Evian” in “Elon Musk” to “Oscroh” in “Oscroh (Pepperline).” Which are your favorite terms that you’ve used in your music?

“Evian,” just because it got so popular. It’s my family name.

Travis Scott is a huge fan of “Cast.” What was it like to link up with him, especially when he started singing the song to you?

He was feeling the energy of the song, I think he likes Pluto’s songs. [The video was taken] backstage at his concert in London.

“Cast” recently won best rap single at The Headies this year, while Zerry DL took home the rookie of the year award. That must’ve been a proud family moment!

It was lit. We celebrated together, I’m happy for him. We partied all night and chilled together as family.

You announced in a letter last December that you ended your agreement with Dapper Music and Dvpper Digital because they mishandled your finances. Three months later, you released your biggest record to date with “Laho.” What was going through your head during that in-between period? How were you feeling about the trajectory of your career?

The career of a man is not really in the hands of anybody except him. Your career is in your hands at the end of the day. Your fans are waiting for you to do something, so it’s really the only thing at the end of the day that matters. Nobody’s going to really stop you.

“Laho” has been heavily embraced by the sports world. Did you expect it to become an anthem for athletes all around the world? Why do you think this demographic has gravitated to “Laho” so much?

No, I didn’t expect that one. I’m still in shock. I watch and enjoy, it because they’re not from the same sports. Some play football, some play basketball. I just really f—k with that s–t.

When did Burna Boy get involved with the “Laho” record? He wrote on his Instagram Story that he was on the original version but he couldn’t clear it at the time because it “clashed with other releases that had to do with me.” So should “Laho II” not be considered the remix? 

“Laho II” is “Laho II.” We were just in the studio [in Lagos], I was playing the album and he was like, “Yeah, I f—k with that. Let’s do this.” And he dropped a verse on it. Wait for the remix.

Can we expect other big guests on the remix?

Just wait and see. But expect fire.  

You two performed the song together at Manchester’s Co-op Live and at Paris’ State de France. What was it like to bring your song to life in front of tens of thousands of people?

It was lit. I was feeling the energy of everyone singing it back to me. It was amazing.

Central Cee also brought you out during his show at London’s O2 Arena to perform “Laho.” How did the opportunity come about?

He just told me to pull up and come perform “Laho.” I told him, “Cool, bro — I gotchu.”

You started your own record label, Plutomania Records, in 2023. Why were Zerry DL and Tega Boi the best fit as the label’s first signees?

They’re my family, I had to support them first before I bring in all the others.

What is your hope for the future of Plutomania Records in the next five to 10 years?

I want us to expand, to grow more business-wise.

What’s been the biggest “pinch me” moment of your career so far?

Performing at the stadiums. I was like, “Oh my God! Ah!”

Were you extra nervous?

I’m never nervous, I’m just happy to be there.

Who would you love to collaborate with this year?

Maybe from the Latin side, like Bad Bunny. It has to be a very big artist or have a big fan base, like Drake.

What’s next for Shallipopi in 2025? What can fans expect?

Concerts, so they can come see live, and more good music.