Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Shallipopi is at the center of a brewing controversy following allegations that he stole his hit song “Laho” from an unidentified female artist. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, claims that the chart-topping track was originally her creation. In a video circulating online, she performs what she asserts to be the original version of “Laho,” stating, “Shallipopi stole my song Laho and still threatened me in his verse 2. Nobody to help, poor man pikin dey suffer sha.”
The video has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. While some users express skepticism about the authenticity of her claims, others are rallying behind her, demanding accountability from Shallipopi. One commenter noted, “But she no even mention laho once na,” questioning the validity of her version.
This isn’t the first time Shallipopi has faced accusations of intellectual property theft. Veteran singer Blackface previously alleged that Shallipopi copied his song for the “Shakespopi” album. Additionally, highlife artist Monday Igbinidu filed a ₦200 million lawsuit against Shallipopi for allegedly sampling his 1996 track “Ovonramwen” without permission.
Despite the controversies, “Laho” has achieved significant success, reaching the top ten on the U.S. Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart and amassing millions of streams. The song’s popularity was further bolstered by a lavish music video release and a remix featuring Burna Boy.
As the debate over the song’s origins continues, fans and industry observers await a response from Shallipopi regarding these latest allegations
Shallipopi stole Laho from me – Lady cries out as she sings the alleged original lyrics pic.twitter.com/j6lfOy2Uxx
— Daily Viral Gist (@Dailygistz) May 8, 2025
