Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Crown Uzama, professionally known as Shallipopi, has ignited a major music industry storm after publicly accusing prominent record executive Dapper of withholding his royalties and secretly selling off his music catalogue.
In a series of highly charged posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the singer laid bare his grievances, alleging that Dapper Music is sitting on revenue generated from 46 of his tracks, including his breakout chart-topping hit “E Don Cast.”
Allegations of Royalty Withholding and Catalogue Offloading
According to Shallipopi, the dispute centers on massive unpaid earnings. The singer directly challenged Dapper online, demanding the immediate release of his funds. “Dapper, do not forget that my hard-earned money is with you. You are withholding royalty income for 46 of my songs, including my ‘E Don Cast’ money,” the singer expressed in Pidgin English.
Beyond the unpaid royalties, the singer made a startling revelation regarding his intellectual property. He alleged that Dapper brokered a deal with global music distributor Virgin Music, transferring the music catalogues of several signed artists and pocketing the proceeds without proper accountability or consent.
Threats of EFCC Intervention
The escalation has moved past mere social media callouts, with Shallipopi threatening to involve Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The artist made it clear that he is ready to take formal legal steps to recover his assets.
“Dapper, you are holding my money, and you sold my catalogue. Now you are acting confused. I am going to the EFCC office to write a formal statement against you,” Shallipopi warned.
He further alleged that Dapper had already approached the EFCC to present a false narrative, adding that he is not the only artist affected by these questionable business practices. “You went to another EFCC office to lie to them, forgetting that I am not the only one you have scammed,” the singer added.
Accusations of Industry Manipulation
Concluding his online outburst, Shallipopi labeled Dapper a “master manipulator,” accusing him of exploiting young talents from modest backgrounds. He insinuated that the music executive uses manipulative tactics to silence artists, claiming that if he had not been vigilant, his career would have been severely compromised.
As of the time of reporting, Dapper Music has not issued an official response to these weighty allegations. This developing story highlights the ongoing tension between rising Nigerian artists and record labels over intellectual property rights and fair revenue-sharing agreements.