Shallipopi speaks out against exploitation in music industry, breaks ties with Dapper Music

Nigerian music star Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, has announced his decision to terminate his agreements with Dapper Music and Dvpper Digital.

In a statement shared on his X handle on Wednesday, Shallipopi revealed the reasons behind his decision, highlighting issues of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and exploitative contracts that he claims were imposed upon him.

In the statement titled, “A Message from Shallipopi: Standing Up for Artists and Creators Everywhere,” he wrote, “I come to you today with a heavy heart but an unshakable determination. I’m Crown Uzama, your Shallipopi, and I’ve made one of the toughest decisions of my career.

“Today, 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.”

The artist shared that Dapper Music, his management company, had “pushed me into a deal with Dvpper Digital Limited, another company owned by the same person(s),” where he alleged that they prioritised their own profit instead of his growth, which put his career and dreams at risk.

This deal allegedly resulted in advancing money under Shallipopi’s name and catalogue, only for those funds to be mishandled.

“Dvpper Digital Limited, as a distributor, will give advance to Dapper Music and Entertainment Limited under my name and catalogue…

“This debt has now accrued up to a huge sum of money we are even yet to ascertain,” he wrote.

Shallipopi also voiced his frustration over the lack of transparency regarding his earnings.

He said, “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 money.”

The artist said it was “devastating and unacceptable” for any creator to be left in the dark about their own financial standing.

Another issue was the “unfair forever deal” that Shallipopi claimed that Dapper Music allegedly attempted to impose on him.

“They tried to lock me into a contract where they’d take 30% of my earnings forever, even after we parted ways,” he wrote.

“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.”

In his message, Shallipopi said his actions were “bigger than just me” but as part of a broader fight for fairness and respect for all artists and creators.

“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,” he stated.

He also reassured his fans that this setback would not hinder his ability to create music.

Instead, he vowed that it would fuel his creativity and determination to produce even more music for his supporters.

It was reported in November that Shallipopi had removed Dapper Music’s name from his bio and had unfollowed the label’s boss, signalling a likely end to their collaboration.

The breakup also comes on the heels of Shallipopi launching his own label, Plutomania Records.