Dapper Music denies Shallipopi, Muyeez’s exploitation claims, pledges legal cooperation

Nigerian music label Dapper Music and Entertainment, owned by Damilola Akinwunmi, has refuted allegations from two of its former signees, who announced their decision to terminate their agreements with the company.

In statements shared on social media on Wednesday, Crown Uzama, aka Shallipopi, and Moshood Abdulmuiz, aka Muyeez, accused Dapper Music of mismanagement, exploitation, and lack of transparency in their contracts as the reasons behind their decisions.

Addressing the allegations, Dapper Music & Entertainment issued a public statement on its Instagram page on Thursday defending its business practices and claiming that the accusations were unfounded.

The company emphasised that the contracts signed by Shallipopi and Muyeez were clear, fair, and mutually agreed upon

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The statement partly read, “At Dapper Music & Entertainment, we prioritise transparency and fairness in all our operations.

“Every contract we offer is presented with clarity, ensuring that both parties fully understand and agree to the terms. Our artists are always provided with the opportunity for legal representation.”

It added that all parties, including the artist, “willingly agreed to a 30% management commission,” which it said reflects the substantial investment required to launch and sustain their careers.

The company also rejected the allegations of a “forever deal” with Shallipopi, insisting that the terms of his contract had been renegotiated in October 2024.

The statement read, “We do not have any agreements with Mr. Crown Uzama that tie the artist’s future earnings to our business indefinitely.

“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.

“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. This was a collaborative decision, not coercion.”

The company further expressed surprise at Shallipopi’s “false claims,” stating that they had been cooperating with the auditors he engaged.

Regarding Muyeez’s accusations of being a minor when he signed his contract, Dapper Music said, “It is completely false that Moshood Abdulmuiz p/k/a Muyeez signed a contract with us as a minor.”

It clarified that the artist’s guardian and father, Moshood Basheer, had signed the contract on his behalf with witnesses present during the signing ceremony.

Dapper Music expressed disappointment that despite its investment in the careers of its artists, it was now being met with accusations of mismanagement.

It described the allegations as “premeditated, false, calculated, and sponsored attacks” orchestrated by “proxies” in response to the company’s growing success.

It also stated that any claims of mismanagement or disruption to the artist’s career are “baseless and difficult to prove.”

In conclusion, Dapper Music stated that any disputes should be handled through legal channels, rather than in the court of public opinion.

“We have a legal system and legally binding agreements that protect both parties and are still subsisting. We are confident that we have conducted business with the highest integrity and are prepared to seek redress in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Accordingly, all matters moving forward should be taken to court or the dispute resolution process and decided fairly. They should not be tried in the court of public opinion, and neither should any ineffective unilateral pronouncements or unsubstantiated allegations on the agreements made,” the statement read.