Runtown recently held a concert at the o2 Indigo Arena in London. The rave of the moment performed new hits like “Mad Over You” and “Painkiller”, as well as popular songs from his debut album Ghetto University. Wizkid was a surprise guest at the show and the two performed songs like “Lagos to Kampala” and “Bend Down Pause”, but there was another guest in the building that was also very important and needed to be acknowledged. That person is billionaire businessman Prince Okwudili “Dilly” Umenyiora, owner of Eric Many Records, the record label that Runtown is signed to. The two men took the a picture backstage at the “Mad Over You” concert, the picture is iconic for 3 reasons:

1. Dilly and Runtown Are Back in Business

Dilly and Runtown fell out spectacularly last year. Runtown walked out of his contract in May, claiming that Eric Many owed him money, among other contractual breaches, and that Dilly, himself, had pulled a gun on him when they couldn’t work out a resolution. Eric Many on their part filed a lawsuit against Runtown and did their best to stop him from performing abroad. So a few months ago, this London show itself would have been a major doubt, never mind the two men sitting backstage and looking like two friends sharing a laugh.

Mu na Dilly na ku si and we’re steady getting money

(Runtown – Ima Ndi Anyi Bu)

Runtown floated his own label Power in the Music (PITM) a month after his issues with Eric Many hit the public domain and it seemed as though both parties had gone their separate ways. But late in 2016, Runtown released “Mad Over You” through Eric Many Records and it gave us the clearest indication that the two had buried the hatchet and were willing to work again. This picture is further proof that the relationship has done a complete 180.

2. Dilly’s White Fur Jacket and Runtown’s “FELA” hoodie

Guys, we’ve done it! We’ve finally found a picture of Dilly smiling! Runtown’s boss is a man of international mystery and the allegation that he pulled a gun on a singer that was signed to him, Suge Knight-style, only added to the legend of the man. But seated there with a smile on his face while he listens to the same singer talk is a sight that ought to be framed and placed in a museum for contemporary music.

But a smile isn’t the only thing Dilly is wearing, the label boss adorned the kind of off-white fur coat that would make PETA punch the report abuse button on Instagram till Jesus comes. The weather in London has been chilly in the past few days, so he had the perfect excuse. Runtown was also well covered but not so expensively, the singer had on a hoodie that twisted the logo of South Korean sporting goods company FILA and made into “FELA”. Brilliant! These hoodies need to hit stores soon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQhwpxVhsqv/?taken-by=instablogafrika

3. Runtown Is Up and Running in 2017

Runtown is a man on a mission. Yes “Mad Over You” is an incredible song but the roll out and the way it’s been supported has been incredible as well. Runtown has strategically contributed to 3 other important songs that could keep in him in our faces for the next few months, from the energetic dance track “Kilogram” by TSpize, to the “Mad Over You” soundalike “Alhaji” by Illbliss and the easy-on-the-ear “Painkiller” by Sarkodie. When you add all these songs to a catalogue of hits from his debut album Ghetto University, you have an artist who can perform on stage for several minutes.

For an artist to host a show all by themselves is a big deal, for an artist to host a show in a country that isn’t theirs all by themselves is a huge one. There are rumors that Columbia Records has taken noticed and is currently sniffing around and looking for his signature and it’s not surprising, the concert was a bold statement from Runtown and a clear indication that he isn’t here to play games in 2017. All 2,350 seats at the Indigo arena in London weren’t filled up but a sizable crowd did come out to see the Sound God.