Nigerian singer Shallipopi has announced his split from the popular record label Dapper Music to whom he was signed since breaking into the mainstream in 2022.
In a post on his Instagram page on December 11, 2024, Shallipopi announced the split in a public release where he cited a breach of trust and lack of transparency as the reasons for his decision.

The announcement by the Benin-born rapper confirms the news of a split earlier after Shallipopi unfollowed Dapper Music founder and CEO Damilola Akinwunmi on Instagram.

In his announcement, Shallipopi described the decision as the hardest one he has ever made while also capturing it as a fight for all creatives who put their all into their craft.

“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.”

Shallipopi accused Dapper Music of a conflict of interest after the label got him to sign a publishing deal with one of its subsidiary companies Dvpper Digital.

“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.”

He also accused the label of a lack of transparency over the use and remittance of his earnings. According to the chart-topping artist, all efforts to get the accurate state of his financials proved abortive.

“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.”

In a damning allegation, Shallipopi claimed that Dapper Music attempted to lock him into a “forever contract” that will entitle the label to 30% of his revenues in perpetuity.

“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.”

While Shallipopi’s time with Dapper Music has come to an acrimonious end, the partnership yielded positives for both partners as Shallipopi rose to stardom while the label consolidated its position as one of the biggest in Nigerian music.

American rapper Jay Z has refuted the claims that he raped a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in 2000, as stated in the amended lawsuit against Diddy.
The woman, who is identified as a ‘Jane Doe’ in the lawsuit, said she was only 13 years old at the time Diddy and Jay Z allegedly assaulted her at an after-party on the heels of the Video Music Awards in 2000.

According to her suit, she alleged that she began to feel woozy after ingesting a drink at the party and wandered into a nearby bedroom, adding that Jay Z raped her first, followed by Diddy. The woman further claimed that she hit Diddy and was then able to run out of the party.

After the reports became public, a detailed statement was published on X by Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation.

Bashing the lawyer behind the lawsuit, the statement read, “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. He had calculated that the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are,”

“These allegations are so heinous that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whoever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case” Jay Z added.

In his statement to CNN, he said, “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age.”

This updated lawsuit comes on the heels of the original one filed against Diddy who was arrested for sex trafficking, sexual assault, racketeering, and other crimes on Monday, September 17, 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his criminal trial is currently slated to begin on May 5, 2025.

Anita Natacha Akide, a former Big Brother Naija housemate popularly known by her first name, Tacha, has finally fulfilled her promise to remove a tattoo of Nigerian music star Davido.

Tacha vowed to remove a tattoo of Davido’s face drawn on her chest after they fell out late last year.

True to her promise, the reality TV star shared a video of the procedure to remove the tattoo on social media.

In the video, Tacha is seen undergoing the laser procedure before the aftermath which shows the tattoo is now off her chest area.

Recall that Tacha and Davido fell out late last year when the reality TV star tackled the singer for liking a shady tweet about Phyna.

Although Davido issued an apology following the backlash he received, it was not enough to calm Tacha who tagged the apology as fake.

In response, Davido went on to like a tweet that subtly shaded Tacha. In return, Tacha responded by berating him for setting Phyna up for more dragging with his fake apology.

Amid the altercation, a troll predicted Tacha’s downfall as Davido isn’t one to mess with. Tacha replied by reminding the troll that her career didn’t end in 2019 after she was disqualified from BBNaija, declaring that her altercation with Davido will be no different as man is not God.

The two again had a go at each other online when Tacha weighed in on Davido’s beef with Tiwa Savãge, siding with Tiwa. Tacha called out Davido for his audacity and God-complex personality, admonishing him to take up someone his size for once.

Seeing this, Davido liked a tweet ridiculing Tacha and she retaliated by subtly framing Davido as a bully, pointing out the irony in Davido attending Mohbad’s candlelight night while being a bully himself. Tacha noted that Davido doesn’t feed her, hence, she wouldn’t hesitate to call out his foolishness.