EDITORIAL
Record Labels and Artistes Disputes, Why Artistes are at fault (Vector and Kizz Daniel)
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Kizz Daniel, Ycee, Vector, Runtown, etc has all been involved in legal battles with their record labels.
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Just after MI Abaga dragged Vector for breaching his contracts with YSG, G Worldwide filed a fresh suit of 500 milion naira on Kizz Daniel.
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Why are Nigerian artistes always having issues with record labels?
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Let’s take Vector and Kizz Daniel’s case as a case study.
Vector
Olanrewaju Ogunmefun popularly known as Vector recorded a huge fight with his former employers YSG Entertainment which is a division of popular Transportation company Young Shall Grow. The crisis between Vector and his label began after Vector made complaints about why his career is stalling.
He called his labels attention to the fact that he has not been progressing and the label’s nonchalant attitude towards his career. He simply suggested more professional hands to be employed to push his career to the next level but the label was not cool with the idea. So Vector decided to hire the professionals and was paying them personally with no help from the label.
Weeks after, Vector received an invitation letter from the Commissioner of Police of Lagos state. He was summoned to the Area-E command (Festac). On getting there, he was presented with a “breach of contract” petition. The petition claimed he has engaged external hands to work for him. His parents got involved (as his dad is a retired police officer), and it was settled amicably.
Though his intentions were harmless at first, breaching his contract and walking out of YSG Entertainment was uncalled for and wrong.
Kizz Daniel
Kizz Daniel’s case is similar. Kizz Daniel was in 2018 forced to change his name from ‘Kiss Daniel’ to ‘Kizz Daniel,’ following a pending court case. The ‘Yeba’ hitmaker has made changes in some of his social media accounts to reflect his new name including his Spotify and Apple Music accounts where his new songs are featured.
Just when everyone thought the legal battle between Kizz Daniel and G Worldwide, the label slammed the act a fresh lawsuit for 500 million naira. The record label G-WorldWide is back in court and wants more than half a billion from Kizz Daniel.
General damages in the sum of Two Hundred Million Naira (200,000,000), special damages for breach of contract in the sum of N179,499,957.00 (One Hundred and Seventy-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Seven Naira) and N150, 000, 000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) for contract exit fees, among other reliefs.
My Thoughts
I sincerely belief the artistes, Kizz Daniel, Vector, Runtown, and Ycee are at fault for having legal battles with their respective record labels. To me, the problem with these disputes is the unwillingness of artistes to respect and stick to their record labels. Take for example, the likes of Wizkid, Reekado Banks, Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Tiwa Savage, etc respected their recording contracts and left their labels in peace. I think the desperation to get a recording contract takes away the wisdom to proof read those contracts by these artistes.
Though a times the record label contracts could be inhuman, crooked and all. It is wrong to abuse a legal document. I think the next generation artistes should learn from these rising stories so as to avoid falling into these evil contracts.
Lastly if your record label has failed to keep in terms with their promises in the contracts, stick around till the expiration of your contract. This is better than walking out on your contract. Two wrongs cannot make a right they say. It’s better you do the right thing and stick yo your contract maybe sue the label for not fulling their part of the deal afterwards.
Article Written By Dat Kulgee (@iam_kulgee)
What do you think? Who is at fault? Record labels or Artistes?
DaSOn
October 19, 2019 at 14:14
Please note unlike vector’s, M.I’s track isn’t a diss, Here are some memorable punchlines
1. “Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.” Gen. 49:8
Meaning…… God has predestined M.I to be greater than vector and there is nothing vector can do to change it.
2. So I swore by my name cause there is no higher authority.
Meaning…..That statement was adopted from Heb 6:13 & 16. God Almighty used that statement for himself. So M.I is saying he is not just the best Rapper but the GOD of rap.
3. You can never battle Jude your default setting is lose
That’s why I choose when you raise the alarm
To hit that snooze, you’ve always hated me.
Meaning…….vector does not have what it naturally takes to stand up against.
4. I’m happy my son is taller
Doesn’t mean you won’t dobale, chale.
Meaning…… That height is deceptive. A son can be taller than his father does not mean the child is now the father of his father.
5. You sinned against the order of heaven
Meaning……. vector is living a self destructive life
6. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon the viper any serpents, and over all the power of the enemies: and nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19.
Meaning……. God has give M.I the authority to destroy vector.
7. You came with chickens to my spot but didn’t buy chicken wings?
Meaning….Vector is overly broke.
8. You’re not even top 5 from Yoruba land
Mode, Eldee, Baddo, DaGrin, Remi’, YCee and Falz
Omoh .. See-the-queue(CDQ)
Meaning……. The cdq there even though its the name of an artiste does not mean that vector is No 9. It means the line is endless if Igbo & Hausa rapper are included). Simply put Vector is till upcoming.
9. When I’m the GOAT so tell me what I gain if me beat you?
Meaning…….. it is useless and pointless trying to compete with someone so below you.
10. Daddy was jealous from birth, was jealous inside the scrotum
Jealously looking at other sperm cells wishing you choke em
Meaning…….. vector jealous habit is not learnt but he was born with it.
11. Daddy was jealous of your mother and that’s how I fucked myself
Meaning….. jealousy ruined Vector’s relationship.
12. Daddy was jealous of MI but damn, I should’ve stopped myself
Meaning…..Jealousy ruined vector’s rap career.
13. But just don’t only win the beef, win in life.
Meaning….. Vector has his priority misplaced in life.
14. You called me short man at the Headies
And I could’ve been real petty
But my head is always heavy from the crown.
Meaning…… vector is childish and he M.I is way more matured than him..
15. Psalms 1, go read Psalms 1 bro
Meaning……. vector is cursed!