KEHINDE OSASONA in this piece x-rays Nigerian artists who left their record labels in controversial circumstances.
Wizkid
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid or Machalla, cut his teeth under EME Records, owned by another artiste and Lagos Party crooner, Bankole Wellington aka Banky W. During his tutelage, Wizkid gained prominence, and his rise to stardom became the talk of the town.
Apart from dropping hot singles back to back, he was always the cynosure of all eyes at concerts and festivals in Nigeria and across Africa. His reason for leaving the record label was not immediately known as it was shrouded in secrecy until recently.
Dissatisfied, music enthusiasts and critics were quick to attribute his action to his quest for quick breakthrough and contract review.
Others insisted he fell out with EME because of the unfavourable split he was given on his contract, where he was reportedly getting 25% of his turnover despite being a major artist on the label and one of the biggest acts in the country.
He later reportedly asked for a review of the contract, but an agreement wasn’t reached, and as a result, he left. The parting of ways later led to online spat.
Today, he has launched his Starboy record label, and he is renowned globally for his classy singles and collabos
He is a recipient of the prestigious Grammy awards, and he is still cool with his former boss, Banky W.
Asake
Another fast-rising artist, Asake, recently severed ties with his boss, Olamide, owner of the YBNL music label. According to scoops from music buffs and followers, Asake’s contract with YBNL has expired recently, and he allegedly refused to renew it despite Olamide’s efforts.
Reports have it that although Badoo, as Olamide is fondly called, proposed a new deal, Asake turned it down and chose to pursue independence.
After all said and done, he eventually walked away from the record label, which shot him to the limelight. Asake, at a point, unfollowed everyone on social media and removed YBNL from his Instagram bio, signalling a definitive break.
Lytta
Another new sensation and Monallisa crooner, Lytta, also fell out of favour when he allegedly called for a review of his contract by the YBNL boss, Olamide Badoo. Lytta later left unceremoniously, and information at our disposal has it that he is yet to find his feet, and worst still, he has not been linked to a new record label.
Cynthia Morgan
A few months after Cynthia Morgan secured a recording contract with Jude Okoye’s Northside Entertainment Inc. in 2013, she released two chart-topping songs, “Don’t Break My Heart” and “Lead Me On,” which were well received by fans. She was later nominated for “Best Reggae/Dancehall Single” at the 2014 Headies.
Thereafter, Cynthia went into seclusion after recording a few popular songs only to fizzle out. In 2020, she resurfaced on social media again and trended after accusing the record label of cheating her.
Kizz Daniel
The Woju exponent Kizz Daniel started enjoying prominence in 2014, when he released his popular song Woju. He was signed to G-Worldwide Label at the time before they fell out in 2017.
The Twe, twe singer was allegedly in breach of the conditions of his seven-year contract, which he signed in 2013; a situation that led to his exit. The deal was due to expire in 2020, but there was a twist when Kizz opted to leave the label before it expired.
Several constraints along the line were imposed on the singer’s ability to cooperate with other artists. At a point, a legal brawl ensued as court ordered injunction, preventing him from performing over the holiday season of 2017.
Temmie Ovwasa
When singer Temmie Ovwasa made some allegations against her former record label boss, Olamide, she claimed he ‘messed her mind up.’
In an instagram handle, the singer was asked by a fan if she still keeps in touch with the YBNL boss, she said “although Olamide gave her a platform, she rejected all the deals.”
Ovwasa also alleged that her former boss stopped her from releasing songs.
“That man brought me to Lagos from Ilorin as an 18-year-old, put me on a platform, then proceeded to reject every show I got, every offer I got. Stopped me from releasing songs, and kept me in his house with his wife (who spoke to me like I was garbage in front of her friends) and kid in the name of ‘family’. Put my face on the wall on an album where the ‘men’ were allowed to be people,” she said.
Runtown
Runtown signed a record deal with Eric Many Entertainment in 2014. Prince Okwudili Umenyiora, the millionaire CEO of Dilly Motors, is the helmsman. Their relationship, however, hit the rock after the rave of the moment drops a few hits.
After a while, his label accused him of signing up for and attending events behind his firm’s back a situation they termed breach of contract. Sensing danger and dwindling career, Runtown attempted to cancel his contract in May 2016.
Among others, he claimed that he never got compensation for live concerts, recorded royalty revenue (MTN Music Plus, caller ringback tracks), and so on. The musician further claimed that the label threatened him with death.
Brymo
The media was abuzz with allegations of contract violation between Brymo and Chocolate City record labels. He accused the firm of neglecting to promote the record and ignoring him.
The singer later left the record label in 2013, after his debut album, Son of a Carpenter, was released. The record label it would be recalled had allegedly violated a five-year contract that required him to release three albums between 2011 and 2016.
May D
After leaving Square Records in 2012, May D took to the social media claiming he lived under unbearable conditions while signed with the P Square brothers.
The Sure Boy crooner painted a grim picture of shared living quarters, using a television carton as a makeshift bed and covering himself with his shirt.
In defence, Jude Okoye explained that they signed artists to give back to society, but encountered issues when May D wanted to become a part of a brand that took years to build.
