By the late 2000s, there were quite a good number of independent labels running the industry, from Chocolate City to EME to Mavins and whatnot.
The 2010s, of course, came with a more radical approach to the record label thing with every stakeholder in the industry wanting to have a record label. This was the time labels like Olamide’s YBNL and Wizkid’s Starboy came around.
But regardless of how Mavin and YBNL are thriving today, it wasn’t always rosy. More than a few times, record companies have had fallouts with their artists, and sometimes, it became dirty.
There’s less and less of that these days though. But we’d like to refresh your memory with some of the fallouts that made headlines and had tongues wagging.
1. Wizkid v. EME
According to Banky W, Wizkid breached the contract agreement which required him to drop 5 albums within five years (2011-2015). Wizkid only dropped only two albums.
Wizkid’s response to that claim was of course the “LOL” he posted months ago. And, that’s about everything he’s said about that issue since. There seems to be more to the fallout, though, and it’s not all love like they want to pretend.
2. Kizz Daniel v. G-Worldwide
This one happened in 2018. Kizz Daniel suddenly pulled out of the G-Worldwide umbrella and Emperor Geezy wasn’t having it. So, they went to court to get an order to bar Kizz Daniel to perform under the name “Kiss Daniel.”
That was the time he dropped the “ss” for the “zz” and the rest is history. He has since released two albums and hasn’t had any trouble with his former label.
3. D’banj v. Mohits
Actually, D’banj was one of the integral parts of the defunct Mohits Records. Without him, the label couldn’t exist. No disrespect to Don Jazzy, but D’banj was the backbone.
After their fallout, D’banj left with his brother, Kayswitch, and Don Jazzy went on to create Mavin Records. In those days, though, it was quite a messy fight with rumors of personal altercations even going around.
4. Vector v. YSG Records
The YSG boss accused Vector of going to the US to sign a deal when he is still in contract with YSG. He was charged to court because of that.
Vector later talked more about that ordeal on his M.I Abaga diss, “Judas The Rat” in 2019, when he said he barely got out with his life.
5. Runtown v. Eric Many
Runtown wanted freedom for himself and also more percentage, a request his boss wouldn’t grant him.
He exited the label and was later charged to court for breaching the contract. Later on, after some back and forth, he won the case against Eric Many, being one of the very few to have done that.
6. Brymo v. Chocolate City
This one was one of the most controversial because it happened when Brymo was barely two years in his career. He was pretty successful then too. Brymo accused the company of failing to promote his album and sidetracking him.
The music company then came out to say that the artiste had breached a five-year contract that required him to release three albums between 2011 and 2016. He never did anything under Chocolate City after that, and he even won in court.
7. May D v. Square Records
Jude Okoye explained that May D wanted to use flashy cars and live a good life within a year forgetting It took the P-Square duo eight years to build what they had.
Last year, though, May D came out and revealed publicly that he wasn’t treated well when he was a Square Records artist. He said he didn’t even have a bank account. That was when Davido took pity on him and signed him to DMW.
Leave a Reply