Shallipopi is a Nigerian rapper and songwriter who gained recognition in the Nigerian music industry after the release of his hit single in 2023 titled ‘Elon Musk”.
And the same year he followed up his hit single with a debut EP titled “Planet Pluto” and a debut studio album which was titled “Presido La Pluto” And both EP and the studio album was met with commercial success after debuting at No. 1 on the TurnTable Top 50 and Apple Music top 100 albums.
During a recent interview with Zero Conditions podcast, the rapper revealed that his decision to join the Dapper Record label as an artist was not about making money but rather for them to give him a platform to become popular as he witnessed them did to Seyi Vibez.
But sadly, Shallipopi would eventually exit the record label before the expiration of their contract and the reason why he left is what we are going to explore in this post.
So without further ado, let us get started right away.
What happened between Dapper and Shallipopi.
What happened between Dapper and Shallipopi is that Dapper as a record label was trying to exploit Shallipopi as a musician because they did not adhere to the royalties percentage payment agreed upon in their contract.
Why Shallipopi left Dapper records.
Shallipopi revealed via his social media handle that he left Dapper records because hey broke his trust, were unable to manage his finances as and disregarded his rights as an artist.
He said: “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.”
Shallipopi also accused his management of deceiving him into signing a with Dvpper Digital Limited, another company owned by the same individuals, where they prioritized their profit over his growth and stability as a musical artist.
He alleged that funds earned under his name and catalogue were mishandled, and this resulted in significant debt.
“My management pushed me into a deal with Dvpper Digital Limited, another company owned by the same persons. Instead of prioritising my growth, they prioritised their profits, risking my career and dreams.
“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 yet to ascertain,” he wrote.
Shallipopi also went on to express his frustration on the record label denying him access to be acquainted with his financial records after he made multiple requests to that effect. records.
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.”
He also maintained that “devastating and unacceptable” for any creator to be left in the dark about their financial standing.
“They tried to lock me into a contract where they’d take 30% of my earnings forever. Even after we parted ways. That’s not just unfair; it’s exploitation, and it is cruel,” he wrote.
In another statement, Shallipopi also maintained that his decision was part of a broader fight for fairness and respect for artists.
“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,” he stated. “It’s about standing up for fairness, integrity, and the respect we all deserve.”
He ended his statement by assuring his fans that his exit from Dapper Music would not hinder his ability to create music and still stay on top of his game.
