Music executive Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi has responded to public allegations from three of his former signees, Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi and T.I Blaze, who have separately accused Dapper Music of withholding royalties, mishandling catalogues and, in Shallipopi’s case, forging a signature.
The controversy began on 14 August 2026 when T.I Blaze publicly questioned how ₦1.2 billion in revenue from his music went unexplained and how Virgin Music Group came to be involved in an arrangement he said should have limited Dapper Music’s cut to 30 percent. Seyi Vibez followed with his own grievances, alleging that earnings from his success were redirected to sign other artists, while Shallipopi claimed his signature was forged onto a 10-year distribution contract and that royalties from 46 of his songs remain unpaid.
Akinwunmi has rejected the allegations in a series of detailed public statements, saying every artist was sent their contract in advance with time to review it, and that Seyi Vibez was accompanied by his own legal counsel from their first meeting. He said Dapper Music had invested heavily in the artists, citing specific figures including more than $200,000 for a single US trip, and challenged the artists to submit their contracts and financial records for independent forensic audit. “I have nothing to hide. The records exist. The authorities have them. Let the process establish the truth,” he wrote.
The dispute is not entirely new, with Seyi Vibez having publicly separated from the label in 2024 to launch his own Vibez Inc imprint. As it stands, the claims from both sides remain competing allegations rather than an established finding, pending any formal audit or legal process.
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