Afrobeats singer, Rema has explained Shallipopi in his “HEIS” album, adding that he chose his kinsmen from Benin City to keep Afrobeats.
In an interview, Rema implied that the “HEIS” album is not exactly to gain international milestones. Rather, it serves as a bold statement to gatekeep Afrobeats which, according to him, is becoming lost into the hands of the foreigners.
During the album listening party, he asked, who else in the world would make a song like “Ozeba” or “Azaman?” – songs steeped in the unique rhythms and textures of Benin culture. And he’s right.
Of course, due to his influence, the album will reach an international audience, and appear on multiple charts in different countries, but it doesn’t take the very essence he made the album; to make a statement that Afrobeats belongs to where it comes from, not anywhere else. He said it is why “Benin Boys” with Shallipopi was the first song released off the album. It is the first time Rema would feature an artist. And who else but his kinsman, his Benin man?
