African All-Stars Series: @theycallmeshallipopipp

His songs don’t just play they travel. Rooted in authenticity and rhythm, @theycallmeshallipopipp's music continues to inspire creators worldwide while celebrating the pulse of African sound on TikTok.TikTok has played a huge role in spreading your music. How do you and your team think about creating songs and visuals that are “TikTok-ready” without forcing virality?We don’t go into the studio saying, “this one is for TikTok.” We focus on energy first. If the song feels good, and catches you naturally, people will run with it. We think about the feel, the bounce, phrases people can repeat. Sounds that make you want to move your body. TikTok boosts what’s already there. The songs that really travel for me are the ones that feel free and authentic, not calculated.What has been the most creative or unexpected way a fan or creator has used your music in their videos?People react to my music in various ways. Be it dancing in the middle of the street or dancing with friends on TikTok. The content I come across on TikTok always amazes me.As Artist of the Year, what does the African creator community mean to you, especially the dancers and creators who helped soundtrack 2025 with your music?They mean everything. The TikTok creators gave life to my music. African creators understand my rhythm, confidence, humour, and movement in a way that's natural. Seeing dancers take my sound and turn it into TikToks people replay over and over is incredible. This award doesn’t feel like it’s just mine. I feel like I can share it with everyone who pressed record and made the music move.Looking ahead, how do you plan to keep evolving your sound while still giving your fans what they love about your music?By staying honest and real. I feel like people enjoy my personality. As long as my roots are still there, I can keep exploring new sounds. I listen to a lot of music, I experiment, I travel. But I never lose myself trying to change. Growth doesn’t mean leaving what people love behind. I think it means stretching it further.If you could give one piece of advice to emerging African creators reading this, what would it be?Be yourself and don’t rush the process. Real motion takes time and it's something I have realised. Create with your real accent, from your real environment, your story. Don’t try to sound like what’s already popular. Let people catch up to you. And most importantly, enjoy it. When you’re having fun, people can feel it.