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Shallipopi splits with Dapper Music, accuses the label of breach of trust

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.

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Entertainment

Davido pays N2 million per haircut – Singer’s Barber Reveals

Nigerian afrobeats superstar Davido Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, pays as much as N2 million every time he gets a haircut, according to his long-term barber, Kufre Nnah.

Kufre made the revelation in a social media post, in which he shared a picture of himself working on Davido’s hair.

The Barber, who runs his business as Kayz Place, also revealed that he’s been Davido’s Barber since he was 12, when he used to pay only N200 to get a haircut.

Disclosing that Davido now pays him N2 million per haircut, Kufre admired the singer and appreciated him for being a part of his journey over the years.

Kufre’s post, which also had pictures showing Davido’s haircut up close, was captioned:

“I started cutting Davido’s hair when he was just 12 years old, when he used to pay me 200 Naira. Today, he’s paying 2 million for a haircut…what a journey! So proud to have been part of his story from the beginning. Big thanks to you, brothe,r for trusting me all these years. Your success is truly inspiring.”

Recall that earlier this weekend, on Saturday, Davido was out showing up for another long-term associate, his manager Asa Asika, at his traditional wedding where he was on groomsmen duties.

In his heartfelt speech at the ceremony held in Lagos, Davido recounted how he and Asa worked hard together to build their music empire from absolutely nothing.

Davido hailed Asa for being more than just his manager, saying he’s his ‘shield,’ his sanity, and his brother in every battle.

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Entertainment

Wizkid Cancels multiple North America dates on ‘Morayo’ Tour, Sparking Online Debate

Nigerian superstar Wizkid has cancelled several dates on the North American leg of his much-anticipated ‘Morayo’ world tour, sparking concern among fans and insiders alike.
The cancelled shows include major venues such as:

June 5 – State Farm Arena, Atlanta

June 7 – Madison Square Garden, New York

June 11 – Scotiabank Arena, Ontario, Canada

June 15 – CFG Bank Arena, Baltimore

While his team has yet to release an official statement explaining the latest development, fans anxiously await clarity and possible new dates.

Despite the setback, sources suggest that the European leg of the Morayo Tour will continue as planned, with no current indications of change.

However, reactions online hint at deeper personal struggles. A close associate, Godson, stirred concern on social media when he responded to a fan’s inquiry about the cancellations by asking for prayers for Wizkid.

“Add him to your prayer. I think he’s still grieving, and nobody is helping him achieve this. Sad,” Godson posted.

Fans have since flooded social media with messages of support, urging the Star Boy to take all the time he needs to heal.

News of Wizkid’s North American tour cancellations has sparked a social media frenzy, with fans and critics flooding platforms like X (formerly Twitter) with mixed reactions, ranging from deep concern to outright mockery

Some fans expressed disappointment over the show cancellations, while others pointed fingers at poor planning, low ticket sales, and questionable timing.

Here are some of the most viral reactions:

@abazwhyllzz: “So none of his fans could buy ticket despite the ticket price reduction??? Brooo, this guy is finished.”

@mafia3O: “Cancelled in the midnight thinking people would not notice.”

@bigHotbaby1: “Wizkid scheduled his tour the same day there’s a big game in New York? Who’s advising this guy?”

@Zillionhood: “WizKid should retire this year with little dignity, by 2026 he will be retiring with mucha shame on him.”

@twnty__one: “Shey dem him fans no see money buy ticket ni or why the cancellation? Lol popsy una.”

Fanbase Rivalries Heat Up
The news also reignited the age-old Stan wars between fanbases, with some accusing media platforms of showing bias in their coverage.

@sakpo0007_: “Nah you guys are unreal. No single post on your page about Davido’s ‘5ive’ Spotify streams deduction but yeah it’s Wizkid news, y’all are active now… Fvckers.”

@bisolaa_0: “You updated this faster than Davido deducted streams on Spotify. Smh.”

@1stsonofdavido: “You see Wizkid downfall? I’m always there like Toyota Hilux. If it was Davido, everywhere for don scatter. Like I said, any Wizkid slander, I’m always there.”

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Celebs

Burna Boy gears up for the release of his 8th album with ‘Sweet Love’

Burna Boy

Grammy award-winning global icon Burna Boy ushers in his highly anticipated eighth studio album ‘No Sign of Weakness’ with today’s release of the seductive new single ‘Sweet Love.’

The song is set to be followed by a music video, which will complement its breezy feel.

The song produced by Major Seven is a romantic, reggae-leaning track that showcases Burna Boy’s unmistakable vocal charisma and signature blend of global influences with melodic pop sensibility.

‘Sweet Love’ continues Burna Boy’s standout year, building on the momentum of No Sign of Weakness’s first single, ‘Update’.

Produced by P2J (Beyoncé, Tems) and built around a sample of Soul II Soul’s iconic 8 the track blends Afrobeats with anthemic, club-ready energy.

The official video, which weaves together powerful visual vignettes inspired by the album’s central themes, has already surpassed 5 million views on YouTube.

Burna Boy has previously released the bubbling ‘Bundle By Bundle,’ which has amassed over 24M Spotify streams and 8.5M video views.

Most recently, Burna Boy joined French-Haitian singer Joé Dwèt Filé for the remix of the viral hit ‘4 Kampé,’ fusing Afrobeats and Haitian Kompa into a cross-cultural anthem that continues to chart across platforms globally.

Last month, Burna Boy became the first-ever cover star of Billboard France, coinciding with his historic, sold-out show at the Stade de France, making him the first African artist to headline the iconic venue.

The multi-award-winning global star followed up on his Stade De France concert with another historic concert in Manchester, where he sold out the Co-op Arena, which is the biggest indoor Arena in England.

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