Meet Shallipopi, the Pluto Presido
Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, is the Benin-born hitmaker whose charm lies in how effortlessly he turns street slang into sonic gold. Bursting onto the scene in 2023 with the viral Elon Musk, he introduced a refreshing blend of street-pop and trippy vibe the fits perfect into the name he christened it, âPlutomania.â Welding Edo traditional tunes with Afrofusion bounce, heâs been able to drop back-to-back smashes like Ex Convict, Obapluto, and Cast featuring Odumodublvck. His 2023 debut project Planet Pluto and follow-up Presido La Pluto in the same year validated him as one of Afrobeatsâ most unpredictable new stars. Now running his own label, Plutomania Records, with signees like Zerrydl and Tega Boi DC, Shallipopi has proven heâs more than a viral act; heâs a full-blown culture shaper. His music speaks to the streets but travels the world â raw, rhythmic, and always wrapped in that Plutonic mischief that keeps everyone hooked. If youâre new to the wave, tracks like Elon Musk, Obapluto, Things on Things, and Cast will tell you all you need to know about the boy who turned slang into stardust.
Music Rights – The New Trend, Renting Instead of Selling
Labels donât always own an artistâs master recordings (music rights) anymore, some artists now license their music to labels instead of signing it away. This means that instead of permanently selling their masters (like older contracts used to demand), artists now rent out their music rights to labels for a set period (say, 5â10 years). The label handles marketing and distribution, but once the deal expires, the artist gets full ownership back. This is evident in how Olamideâs YBNL has signed several licensing deals, including his partnership with Empire, which lets him and his signees (like Fireboy DML and Asake) keep ownership while enjoying global distribution. Itâs a new era, and this is a testament to the fact that for artists, exposure is not enough, equity also matters.
Sports Fun Fact
Pride yourself as a sport person? How many of these did you know? – Origins: Started in England (1870s) as “lawn tennis” (played on grass). – Grand Slams: 4 majorsâWimbledon (oldest, grass), US Open (hard), French Open (clay), Australian Open (hard). – Scoring: “Love” (0 points) comes from French “lâoeuf” (egg, shaped like 0). – First tournament: 1877 Wimbledon. – Tiebreaker: Invented in the 1970s to speed up matches.
Sports Motivational Quote
Monday motivation with American actor and professional wrestler, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Meet Mavo, the Street-Pop Polyglot
Born Marvin Ukanigbe Oseremen in Ekpoma, Edo State, the 21-year-old sensation, Mavo stands out because of a new street lingua franca he’s incorporated into Afrobeats; a sound he calls âBur Bur Music,â where street slang & rap swagger meet at the confluence point of melodic bounce. His debut EP Ukanigbe (2023) introduced his sermon, followed by SANKO and SANKO II, projects that sharpened his identity in the noise of new voices. The game changed for him when Escaladizzy (feat. WAVE$TAR) went viral, & Escaladizzy II came stacked with Ayra Starr, Zlatan & Shallipopi to confirm heâs not just rising but taking over. What’s especially special about him is the way he crafts a vibe; slang becomes chorus, street stories become anthem. Every move is a testament to the fact that Mavo isnât waiting for a moment, heâs building his own. Wanna get acquainted? Start with tracks like Escaladizzy, Tumo Weto & his latest hit with Ckay, Body.
Shelving – The Dark Side of Why Record Labels Sign Some Artists
Labels sometimes sign artists just to shelve them, meaning they buy the rights to their music and then never release it. The artist still belongs to the label (by contract), but their music never sees daylight. But why? Itâs business, nothing personal. Labels just do it to: âą Eliminate competition between similar artists. âą Keep control of trends. âą Or wait until âthe right timeâ (which sometimes never comes). It sounds harsh, but it’s actually true. Some artistsâ entire careers have been paused because their music got trapped in a label shelf. Some instances of shelving in the Nigerian music industry are listed below; âą Brymo & Chocolate City (2013) â After a fallout, Brymo claimed he was unable to release new music because of his contract. His album Merchant, Dealers & Slaves faced roadblocks until legal intervention. âą Kizz Daniel & G-Worldwide â Kizzâs early success with Woju and Laye was shadowed by a strict contract that limited collaborations and releases. When he tried to evolve, the label reportedly refused to clear new material, effectively freezing his output until he left and rebranded as âKizz Daniel.â âą May D & Square Records â May D was signed under P-Squareâs label but barely released music before being dropped. He later revealed he had songs ready that were never put out. âą Ycee & Tinny Entertainment â Ycee accused his former label of withholding royalties and control over his music after he left, hinting at how labels can slow an artistâs momentum post-signing. This is why most new artists nowadays (and even big names) now move independent, or use distribution deals instead of full label contracts as it gives them creative control over their art and ensures no one can lock up their art.