Mr Eazi, a Nigerian music icon, entrepreneur, and global traveler, has unveiled the creation of Choplife Soundsystem, a new pan-African music collective. The group will feature DJ Edu, a Kenyan-born afrobeats selector and tastemaker based in the UK, as its resident DJ, as well as a diverse assortment of contributing DJs, musicians, and producers from across the continent. Mr Eazi will serve as the primary vocalist on Choplife Soundsystem tracks, as well as the MC, or Minister of Enjoyment, at live events.
The name Choplife Soundsystem is inspired by the popular West African pidgin phrase "chop life," which means "enjoy life," as well as Jamaican music culture's conventional soundsystems. A soundsystem, according to Jamaican terminology, is a mobile team of DJs and MCs who typically collaborate to present music at public gatherings like street parties, clubs, and festivals and are usually financed by a prominent local businessperson.
In recent years, international groups such as Diplo's Major Lazer project have put their own spin on the soundsystem format by acting as both creators and performers of original music, as well as tastemakers for DJ crews. With Choplife Soundsystem, Mr Eazi, a forward-thinking artist, is bringing a modern African twist to soundsystem culture by incorporating genres like amapiano and afrobeats to create the ultimate African party experience on original studio recordings and curated live events.
Mr Eazi's successful Ghana holiday party, Detty Rave, inspired him to take the vibe and spirit of the event on the road, culminating in the "soft launch" of Choplife Soundsystem in 2022 with events in Cotonou, Benin; Stockholm, Sweden; and Kigali, Rwanda. Mr Eazi will disclose more details about Choplife Soundsystem, including new music releases, collaborations, and live events, later this Spring.
“I’m going back to where I started from, hosting the biggest parties at uni,” Mr Eazi says. “That’s how I started singing. I am looking forward to this new and fun ride, and I can’t wait for all the music to start dropping and the accompanying live experience”
Follow Choplife Ministries on Instagram and on Twitter for further updates and announcements
