Shallipopi, the Nigerian singer, has officially announced his departure from Dapper Music, the record label that helped launch his career.
In a statement on Wednesday, the singer accused the label of breaching his trust, mishandling his finances, and neglecting his growth as an artiste.
He also called out the exploitation of creators in the music industry, framing his experience as part of a larger systemic problem.
“I’m officially ending my agreements with Dapper Music and Dvpper 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,” he said
“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.
“Instead of prioritizing my growth, they prioritised their own profits, putting my career and dreams at risk. Dvpper Digital Limited, as a distributor, will give advance to Dapper Music and Entertainment Limited under my name and catalogue, while Dapper Music and Entertainment Limited continues to squander the same, all without my knowledge and approval. This debt has now accrued up to a huge sum of money we are even yet to ascertain.”
Shallipopi’s departure follows a similar move by Seyi Vibez, another Nigerian artiste, who also parted ways with Dapper Music earlier this year.
The singer rose to fame in March 2023 with his debut single ‘Elon Musk’.
In October 2023, he launched Plutomania Records, his own record label, which is home to artistes like Zerry DL and Tega Boi.