About the Song
“Start Am” is one of the energetic records on Shallipopi’s 2024 album Shakespopi. Released on April 11, 2024, the song appears as the eighth track on the nine-song project and was produced by Larrylanes. At just under three minutes, it delivers a compact dose of Shallipopi’s distinctive street-pop personality, combining humour, confidence and lifestyle-focused storytelling.
The record fits naturally into the playful world Shallipopi created around Shakespopi. Rather than taking a serious or heavily emotional approach, he embraces his eccentric delivery and turns everyday experiences around nightlife, money and attention into an entertaining performance.
The Sound
“Start Am” is rooted in Afrobeats and contemporary Nigerian street-pop, with an Afro-piano-influenced groove underneath Shallipopi’s unconventional vocal delivery. The production comes from Larrylanes, who was responsible for several tracks on Shakespopi.
The song moves at approximately 113 BPM, giving it a brisk but comfortable rhythm. Its instrumental is built to support movement, with a steady percussion pattern and enough space for Shallipopi to switch between melodic phrases and his characteristic conversational flow.
What makes the record particularly recognisable is Shallipopi’s delivery. He does not rely heavily on traditional vocal techniques. Instead, his timing, repetition and unusual phrasing become part of the musical appeal, creating the loose and spontaneous quality associated with his style.
What the Song Is About
The central theme of “Start Am” is confidence and the determination to follow through once something has begun. The recurring idea behind the title connects with Shallipopi’s wider approach to ambition: starting a journey, making an impact and seeing it through to the end.
The song also spends considerable time in the world of nightlife and luxury. Shallipopi portrays himself as someone who attracts attention wherever he goes, while references to expensive watches, money and his social lifestyle reinforce the image of an artist enjoying the rewards of his growing success.
There is plenty of humour in the record as well. Shallipopi mixes exaggerated confidence with everyday situations, giving the song an intentionally unserious quality. His ability to turn simple observations into memorable musical moments is an important part of what makes his catalogue distinctive.
“Start Am” also reflects the broader character of Shakespopi. The album moves between ambition, cultural identity, introspection and party-oriented records, while maintaining Shallipopi’s playful personality throughout.
Listen on Hitzeer
Listen to “Start Am” by Shallipopi on Hitzeer and explore more Afrobeats, Amapiano, street-pop and contemporary Nigerian music from Shallipopi and other artists.
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