Nigerian artist Shallipopi has revealed in an interview how his attempts to connect with prominent musicians were mostly ignored until he rose to fame.

In an honest and relatable conversation, Shallipopi shared that he often reached out to his favorite celebrities, but his messages went unanswered, a reality he believes many upcoming artists experience.

He acknowledged, however, that he never took it personally, understanding that these artists were simply busy and unaware of him at the time.

“They don’t know you,” he explained. “It’s not personal – they have their own lives and work. If you’re unknown, it’s natural they won’t answer. But when you make it, that’s when people start entering your DMs.”

He specifically mentioned singer Rema as an example, explaining how their eventual collaboration on the track Benin Boys came about only after his music began to gain traction.

“For Benin Boys, I messaged Rema first, as the upcoming artist, while he was already established,” Shallipopi shared. “When my music started gaining attention, Rema finally noticed and responded, encouraging me to keep going. We eventually connected in the studio, and that’s how Benin Boys was created.”

His advice for others in similar situations is to keep pushing forward, as recognition often follows persistence and success.