Shallipopi, Seyi Vibez, T.I Blaze publicly accuse label boss over unpaid royalties
Nigerian artists T.I. Blaze, Seyi Vibez, and Shallipopi have publicly accused Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, CEO of Dapper Music, of unpaid or unaccounted royalties, unauthorized licensing of catalogs, and, in Shallipopi’s case, signature forgery.
The accusations surfaced on X on 14 August 2026. T.I Blaze, whose contract with the label had expired, asked how ₦1.2 billion in revenue went unexplained. He questioned how Virgin Music obtained a share in an arrangement he said should have limited Dapper Music to a 30 percent cut. He also stated that after generating more than a billion naira, he was left with a negative balance of $185,000 and had waited seven months without a new release while seeking an amicable resolution. He offered to pay to recover his catalogue and accused the label of licensing his intellectual property without mutual agreement.
Seyi Vibez, who left Dapper Music in September 2024, posted that he was “bigger than the whole Dapper and his entire generation,” that his money had been used to sign other artists since “Chance (Na ham),” and that he “made Dapper.” He also linked catalog revenue to spending involving Hilda Baci.
Shallipopi followed with more specific claims. He alleged Dapper was withholding royalty income from 46 of his songs, including the hit “Cast.” He further claimed Dapper transferred artists’ catalogs to Virgin Music Group, collected payment from the deal, and kept the proceeds. On the contracts, Shallipopi said he signed only a management agreement with Dapper in 2023. He alleged his signature was forged on a 10-year distribution contract (despite already using DistroKid) and on a deal with Virgin Music Group. He stated that Dapper collected money from Virgin and told him to keep working because his money was “in the future.” Shallipopi said he had already submitted a statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and called for the agency, government, and media to treat the matter seriously. He also proposed setting a court date.
Dapper responded on 16 August 2026. He denied the allegations of cheating or improper accounting and invited the artists to a forensic audit by firms such as KPMG, PwC or Deloitte, or by top law firms, to examine accounts and contracts. He questioned inconsistencies in Shallipopi’s account, noting earlier public statements by the artist about being pushed into a Dapper Digital deal, and disputed some timeline and attendance claims. He said his relationship with at least one of the artists dated to 2021, when he funded a debut project before receiving music in return.
The three artists had previously departed or publicly clashed with Dapper Music and related entities (including Dvpper Digital) in 2024 over contracts, finances, and transparency. No independent audit results, court filings confirming the forgery claim, or verified royalty statements have been reported as of the latest coverage. The dispute remains a public exchange of allegations and denials on social media.
