Nigerian Artists T.I Blaze, Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi Accuse Dapper Music

Three Nigerian artists, T.I Blaze, Seyi Vibez and Shallipopi, have publicly accused Dapper Music and its founder, Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, of financial and contractual breaches, renewing scrutiny of artist contracts, royalties, catalogue ownership and financial transparency in Nigeria’s music industry.

The latest dispute began on Friday, August 14, 2026, when T.I Blaze accused the label of failing to account for revenue from his music and questioned the licensing of his intellectual property.

T.I Blaze’s claims

He alleged that about 1.2 billion naira in revenue was unexplained and questioned how Virgin Music became involved in the business relationship. T.I Blaze also said his contract with Dapper had expired and that he had waited about seven months for a private resolution.

He demanded the release of his catalogue and said he was willing to settle what he described as an outstanding $185,000 balance. These figures and claims are allegations made by T.I Blaze and have not been independently established.

Seyi Vibez and Shallipopi join the dispute

Shortly after T.I Blaze’s posts began circulating, Seyi Vibez, who previously worked with Dapper Music, made his own accusations. He claimed that money generated from his success was used to sign other artists and alleged that Dapper had benefited significantly from his career.

Seyi Vibez also warned artists still associated with the label to be cautious, suggesting they could eventually face similar problems. His intervention widened the dispute into a broader conversation about the experiences of former Dapper Music artists.

Shallipopi, another former Dapper Music act, accused the label of withholding money owed to him. He alleged that Dapper had sold or transferred his catalogue without proper accounting and that royalties from 46 songs remained outstanding. He also threatened to report the matter to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Shallipopi further alleged that his catalogue, along with those of other artists, had been transferred to Virgin Music and questioned how the resulting revenue was handled. These are public allegations; no independent finding has established them.

Shallipopi’s earlier exit

In December 2024, Shallipopi announced his departure from Dapper Music and Dvpper Digital. He specifically alleged that Dapper Music and Dvpper Digital were connected businesses. His public claims included:

• broken trust, mishandled finances and disregarded rights as an artist
• advances obtained against his name and catalogue without his knowledge or approval
• a proposed deal that would allow the company to take 30% of his earnings even after the relationship ended

He also said he had repeatedly requested access to financial records. Shallipopi subsequently established Plutomania Records, with Zerry DL and Tega Boi among the artists associated with the label.

As of August 15, 2026, Dapper Music and Damilola Akinwunmi had not publicly responded to the latest allegations from T.I Blaze, Seyi Vibez and Shallipopi.