Dapper Music & Entertainment has announced its readiness to pursue legal action following allegations of financial exploitation and poor working conditions levelled against the company by two of its artists, Crown Uzama, widely known as Shallipopi, and Moshood Abdulmuiz, also known as Muyeez.
In a statement issued on Thursday titled “Addressing Recent Allegations with Transparency and Integrity,” the record label denied the accusations and claimed it had operated with transparency and fairness in all its dealings with artists.
Recall that the controversy began when Shallipopi announced on his X page on Thursday that he had officially terminated his agreements with Dapper Music and its affiliate, Dvpper Digital. Describing the move as the “toughest decision” of his career, the artist accused the companies of prioritising profits over his growth and career aspirations.
“Instead of prioritising my growth, Dapper Music and Dvpper Digital prioritised their own profits, putting my career and dreams at risk,” Shallipopi alleged.
He further accused the companies of mismanaging funds tied to his name without his consent.
“Dvpper Digital Limited, as a distributor, will give advances to Dapper Music under my name and catalog, while Dapper Music continues to squander the same—all without my knowledge and approval,” he claimed.
Shallipopi also alleged that he was denied access to financial records and had no clarity on how his earnings were spent.
“I’ve worked hard, and like anyone, I deserve to know where my money is going. Despite repeated requests, I was denied access to clear financial records. Imagine not knowing how much you’ve earned or where it’s gone. This is devastating and unacceptable,” he said.
The artist further alleged that the companies sought to lock him into a perpetual 30% commission contract, even after severing ties with them.
“I urge the public not to engage with Dapper Music and Dvpper Digital regarding anything related to me. They no longer represent me starting today,” he declared.
Muyeez also accused the record label of exploiting him, claiming he was a minor when he signed his contract with record label.
“This contract is not only flawed but also unfair under the law. I was forced to overwork myself, with no regard for my health or well-being,” he said.
The artist further alleged that the workload was unrealistic, and he never received any accounting for royalties or revenues generated by his music.
“The lack of transparency is both hurtful and unjust,” he added.
However, min its rebuttal, Dapper Music refuted the claims by the duo, insisting that all parties, including Shallipopi and Muyeez, willingly agreed to the terms of their contracts, including a 30% management commission.
“Our contracts solely relate to recordings and opportunities worked on and provided by our team within the contract term, which is common practice in the recording industry,” the company stated.
Dapper Music clarified that Shallipopi’s contract was renegotiated in 2024, providing him with more freedom.
“After the success of Mr. Crown Uzama’s first album, he had the opportunity to review and renegotiate the terms with full legal representation. On October 28, 2024, we varied the terms to ensure he had the freedom to explore new opportunities. Confident in our partnership, he and his representative willingly signed a second agreement,” the statement read.
The label also denied signing Muyeez as a minor, stating that his father, Moshood Basheer, signed the agreement on his behalf.
“It is completely false that Moshood Abdulmuiz, a.k.a. Muyeez, signed a contract with us as a minor. On the contrary, his guardian and father specifically signed the said contracts on his behalf with witnesses at the signing ceremony,” the company stated.
Dapper Music criticised what it described as attempts to damage its reputation through public opinion.
“We have received several emails from legal representatives threatening to destroy our business by utilizing the court of public opinion. We are confident that we have conducted business with the highest integrity and are prepared to seek redress in a court of competent jurisdiction,” it said.
The company expressed disappointment over the allegations, highlighting its contributions to the careers of several successful artists.
“The latest allegations are extremely disappointing, especially after Dapper Music & Entertainment and Dvpper Digital have worked to build several artists’ careers that have dominated the Nigerian and global charts,” the statement concluded.
As the dispute unfolds, Dapper Music confirmed its cooperation with auditors engaged by Shallipopi while maintaining its stance of fairness and transparency.
