Dapper Responds to Claims of Mismanagement from Former Artists

Music executive and founder of Dapper Group, Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, has denied claims made against him by his former artists, T.I Blaze, Seyi Vibez, and Shallipopi.

The three artistes have accused the label of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and unfair contracts on their social media pages.

T.I Blaze left the label in June. Seyi Vibez, who joined in 2021, exited in September 2024. Shallipopi left on 11 December 2024.

In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Dapper denied these claims. He insisted he has never sold any artist's catalogue to a distributor or any third party.

Social Media is Not a Court of Law

He also criticized the use of social media to support these claims. He said, “Social media is not a court of law, a tweet is not evidence, a viral video is not a judgment, and repeated insults are not arguments.”

Dapper added, “If there is a disagreement about money, contracts or accounting, let us put the documents on the table. We have said this several times, and each time we are brought back to the same circle of tarnishing my name and my business. Let me be direct about one specific claim, because it keeps being repeated.

“I have not sold anyone’s catalogue. Not to a distributor, not to a third party, not to anyone.

Ownership sits exactly where the agreements say it sits, and those agreements are among the documents I am asking to be examined. I will also address the suggestion that the documents were forged. It is a serious accusation, and I will not let it go unanswered. It is false. No signature on any Dapper agreement was falsified, and no document was fabricated.”

Audit

Dapper stressed that any issues between him and his former signees could be verified.

He expressed his willingness to undergo an independent audit and challenged his former signees to show where he cheated them and the amounts involved, using verified findings instead of figures shared online.

“An Invitation to Independent Audit. I welcome scrutiny. If anyone believes Dapper has cheated them, I invite them to call for an independent forensic audit conducted by a reputable firm. This can also be done by any trusted auditing or legal institution that can examine the books, the contracts, the payments, and the accounts.

“Let the numbers speak. Let the documents speak. If there is evidence that we owe anyone anything, let it be established properly and let the appropriate action follow. We will give any such firm the company’s complete accounting records and every distribution statement we have received, not summaries prepared for the occasion. Both sides should see the same documents at the same time. I will accept the findings of any such firm, and I will say so publicly whichever way they fall,” said Dapper.