Nigerian musician and businessman Mr Eazi has announced the launch of Choplife Soundsystem, a new pan-African music group.
As its resident DJ, the group will also include UK-based, Kenyan-born afrobeats selector and tastemaker DJ Edu, as well as an informal crew of contributing DJs, musicians, and producers from around the continent. Mr Eazi will act as the principal vocalist on Choplife Soundsystem releases, as well as the MC — or Minister of Enjoyment — during live performances.
Choplife Soundsystem takes its name from the common West African pidgin slang phrase chop life, which means “enjoy life,” as well as the classic Jamaican soundsystems. A soundsystem is a mobile crew of DJs and MCs, generally supported by a major local businessperson, who deliver music together at public events such as street parties, clubs, and festivals in Jamaican terminology.
International organizations like producer Diplo’s Major Lazer project have put their own take on the format in recent years, operating as both makers and performers of original music, as well as a tastemaking DJ crew.
With Choplife Soundsystem, the ever-visionary Mr. Eazi is giving soundsystem culture a contemporary, African touch by fusing amapiano and afrobeats to create the ultimate African party atmosphere, both on original studio recordings and at specially-curated live events.
Mr Eazi “soft launched” Choplife Soundsystem in 2022 with events in Cotonou, Benin, Stockholm, Sweden, and Kigali, Rwanda, inspired on his successful Ghana holiday party Detty Rave. Later this Spring, Mr Eazi will reveal more information about Choplife Soundsystem, including new music releases, partnerships, and live events.
“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.
