Nigerian rapper Zerry DL has joined the growing chorus of artistes publicly calling out music executive Damilola Akinwunmi, popularly known as Dapper, accusing him of owing money and refusing to account for his catalogue. In a series of blunt posts shared on X, Zerry DL declared, "Even if na my 10 naira you thief, you go pay dapper," adding pointedly that "all thief na thief even if you wear suit."
The rapper's outburst forms part of a much larger and rapidly escalating industry dispute that has consumed Nigerian music circles over the past week, pulling in some of the biggest names to have passed through Dapper Music's roster, including Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi, and T.I Blaze. Zerry DL, whose real name is Divine Uzama, is the younger brother of Shallipopi and has been closely associated with the Dapper ecosystem since early in his career, making his decision to publicly speak out particularly significant given the family ties running through this controversy.
The current wave of allegations began on Friday, August 14, 2026, when T.I Blaze first went public, questioning how royalties and other earnings from his music had been handled during his time with Dapper Music. He alleged that approximately ₦1.2 billion in revenue remained unexplained and raised pointed questions about how Virgin Music Group had become involved in licensing arrangements tied to his catalogue. He further claimed his contract had expired months earlier, and that he had waited roughly seven months for the matter to be resolved privately before deciding to speak publicly.
The following day, Shallipopi added his own explosive allegations, accusing Dapper of withholding royalties from 46 of his songs, including earnings from his breakout hit "E Don Cast." Shallipopi went further, alleging that his catalogue had been sold to Virgin Music without his knowledge or proper accounting, and announced plans to file a formal statement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. In a particularly serious claim, Shallipopi also alleged that Dapper had maintained separate secret emails under artistes' names and forged signatures on agreements, including what he described as a 10-year distribution deal he never knowingly signed.
Seyi Vibez, whose public departure from the label first became known back in September 2024, also returned to the dispute with fresh allegations of his own, claiming that money generated from his success had been used to sign other artistes without his knowledge or consent.
It is against this backdrop that Zerry DL's message, "Where is my catalog dapper?? Come outside with your two left leg," lands with particular weight. His reference to "puff & pass blew up before I met you" appears to be a pointed rebuttal to any suggestion that Dapper played a role in launching his career, referencing his breakout 2023 single "Puff & Pass," which marked his first entry on the TurnTable Top 100 chart. His additional line, "if to say I be nobody you for nor follow me package," similarly pushes back against any narrative crediting Dapper with discovering or building his profile from scratch.
Dapper has not remained silent amid the mounting allegations. Responding directly on his own X account, the music executive insisted he had "nothing to hide," stating that financial records already exist with relevant authorities and challenging both Seyi Vibez and Shallipopi to submit their contracts for an independent forensic audit through reputable firms such as KPMG, PwC, or Deloitte. Dapper maintained that a previous audit had already been conducted, and suggested that the artistes involved were reluctant to undergo further scrutiny while continuing to spend money on luxury items rather than settling the matter through proper legal channels.
This is not the first time tensions have surfaced between Dapper and artistes who passed through his label. Seyi Vibez's exit in 2024 came with early signs of friction, while Shallipopi's formal departure that December was similarly accompanied by accusations of financial mismanagement. What has changed in August 2026 is the scale and simultaneity of the allegations, with multiple former signees, now including Zerry DL, airing grievances within the same narrow window, suggesting a coordinated reckoning with a label that once appeared to be one of the most dominant forces behind Nigeria's street-pop movement.
As the dispute continues to unfold, with threats of EFCC involvement and calls for forensic audits now on the table, all eyes remain on whether Dapper Music will formally address Zerry DL's specific allegations, and whether the mounting pressure from his former artistes will push the matter beyond social media and into a more formal resolution.
Gist source: GistCity News — follow them on YouTube/Instagram/TikTok @gistcitynews
Comments
Post a Comment