Shallipopi Exits Dapper Music over Denied Access to Financial Records

Nigerian Rising Rapper Shallipopi has announced his exit from Dapper Music, the record label owned by Damilola Akinwunmi, over denied access to his financial records.

According to reports, the partnership began with Shallipopi’s rise to stardom in 2022.

Shallipopi, in a recent post shared via his Instagram handle, described the split as the most painful decision of his career, accussing Dapper Music of breaching the foundation of their partnership, citing a lack of transparency and manipulative practices.

He wrote, “I come to you today with a heavy heart but an unshakable determination. I’m Crown Uzama, your Shallipopi, and l’ve made one of the toughest decisions of my career. Today, I’m officially ending my agreements with Dapper Music and Dupper Digital. This wasn’t a choice I made lightly, but it’s a step I had to take after my trust was broken, my finances mishandled, and my rights as an artist were disregarded.

“This is bigger than just me. It’s about every artist and creator who pours their soul into their work, only to face betrayal and exploitation from people who should be looking out for them. It’s about standing up for fairness, integrity, and the respect that we all deserve.”

One of the most explosive revelations was the claim of a glaring conflict of interest, which accused Dapper Music of reportedly coercing him into signing a publishing deal with its subsidiary, Dupper Digital, essentially controlled both his creative output and financial rights.

He continued, “Dapper Music and Entertainment Limited, my management company, pushed me into a deal with Dupper Digital Limited, another company owned by the same person(s). Instead of prioritizing my growth, they prioritized their own profits, putting my career and dreams at risk.”

“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 of my money. Imagine not knowing how much you’ve earned or where it’s gone. This is devastating and unacceptable.”

Perhaps the most damning allegation of all was Shallipopi’s claim that Dapper Music attempted to trap him in a predatory “forever contract.” According to the rapper, this contract would have entitled the label to a staggering 30% of his revenues indefinitely, effectively chaining him to the label’s control for life.

“They tried to lock me into a contract where they’d take 30% of my earnings forever, even after we parted ways. Even after they no longer work for me, they want to continue to take a whole 30% of my earnings in perpetuity. That’s not just unfair, it’s exploitation and it is cruel.”