Nigerian artiste Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, is opening up about what he calls exploitation in the music business and his decision to terminate his agreements with Dapper Music and Dvpper Digital.
Shallipopi revealed the reasons behind his decision in a statement shared on his X handle on Wednesday.
In the post, he highlighted issues of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and exploitative contracts that he claims were imposed upon him.
The statement was titled “A Message from Shallipopi: Standing Up for Artists and Creators Everywhere.”
It stated: “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.”
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Shallipopi shared that Dapper Music, a business entity that acts as 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 prioritized their profit instead of his growth, which put his career and dreams at risk.
Shallipopi alleged that his deal with Dvpper Digital resulted in the taking of advanced money under his name and catalog, only for those funds to be mishandled.
The artist wrote, “This debt has now accrued up to a huge sum of money we are even yet to ascertain.”
He also voiced his frustration over the lack of transparency regarding his earnings.
He stated that: “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.”
Shallipopi went on to say that another issue was the “unfair forever deal”.
“They tried to lock me into a contract where they’d take 30% of my earnings forever, even after we parted ways. 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.”
These allegations come after a report surfaced indicating that Shallipopi was launching his label, Plutomania Records.
It also became visible last month when Dapper Music removed Shallipopi’s name from its bio and unfollowed the label’s boss, signaling a likely end to their collaboration.
In his post, he said his actions were bigger than him.
“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.
Shallipopi reassured his fans that this setback would not hinder his ability to create music.
