Shallipopi Declares ‘I Nor Be Rapper’ After Headies Win; Vows Never to Attend Again

Nigerian artist Shallipopi has stirred controversy following his recent win at the 17th Headies Awards, held on April 27, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos. Despite clinching the Best Rap Single award for his hit song “Cast,” featuring OdumoduBlvck, Shallipopi expressed dissatisfaction with the event and announced he would not attend future ceremonies.

In a candid post on X (formerly Twitter), Shallipopi wrote:​

“Mtchewwww”​

“The next one if una see me make I bend”​

“I nor go even lie for una sef, I nor want that award give the real rappers wey dey the category, me Shallipopi I nor be rapper”​

These statements suggest his frustration with the ceremony’s organization and his perceived misplacement in the rap category. Notably, Shallipopi was also nominated for the Next Rated award, a category he did not win.

His remarks have ignited discussions about the evolving nature of Nigerian music and the criteria for categorizing artists. While Shallipopi’s style blends elements of rap, Afrobeat, and street-hop, his comments highlight the challenges artists face in fitting into traditional genre classifications.​