Hitmaking rapper Shallipopi has officially ended his partnership with Dapper Music, the record label that has managed him since his mainstream breakthrough in 2022.
The Benin-born artist announced the split via an Instagram post on December 11, 2024, citing breaches of trust, lack of transparency, and exploitative practices as reasons for his decision.
In the emotional announcement, Shallipopi described the decision as the hardest of his career, framing it as a stand for creatives against unfair industry practices. “This is not just my fight; it’s for every creative who pours their heart and soul into their craft,” he wrote.
The split comes amid growing tensions between Shallipopi and Dapper Music, first hinted at when the rapper unfollowed the label’s CEO, Damilola Akinwunmi, on Instagram.
In his statement, Shallipopi accused the label of prioritizing profits over his career growth, citing a conflict of interest involving a publishing deal with Dapper Music’s subsidiary, Dvpper Digital.
“Dapper Music pushed me into a deal with Dvpper Digital, 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,” Shallipopi alleged.
He also raised serious concerns about the label’s financial transparency, stating that repeated efforts to access his earnings records were blocked. “Imagine not knowing how much you’ve earned or where it’s gone. This is devastating and unacceptable,” he said.
One of the most damning accusations was the claim that Dapper Music tried to tie him into a “forever contract” that would entitle the label to 30% of his revenues indefinitely. “They want to take 30% of my earnings forever, even after we part ways. That’s not just unfair, it’s exploitation and cruel,” Shallipopi declared.
Despite the acrimonious end, the partnership between Shallipopi and Dapper Music yielded significant success, propelling the artist to stardom and enhancing the label’s standing in the Nigerian music industry.
Neither Dapper Music nor its CEO has responded to the allegations at the time of this report.
