Nigerian record labels have been fleecing their artists for a long time and only now, the artists are now getting bold enough to speak about deals made out to exploit them. One of the artists doing so is YCee, “Omo Alhaji”.
In fact, YCee’s outburst on the web yesterday was a conduit for many other artists to weigh in on the subject. Bella Alubo, who was equally signed to Tinny Entertainment three years ago, joined Omo Alhaji to voice her grievance too.
What led to their frenzied comments was a celebratory posts by Tinny Entertainment, where YCee and Bella were signed under. They even released individual project and a joint effort, Late Night Vibration under the label.
All their efforts, along with that of other artists like Dapo Tuburna have now garnered 100 million streams for the label. YCee alleged that not a single dime from that money came to his pocket.
Recall that last year, YCee claimed that none of the proceeds from his biggest song till date, “Juice” came to him.
The artist wrote as part of lengthy post yesterday that if he had raised alarm earlier than he did, Bella and Dapo Tuburna wouldn’t have fallen victim to the label’s parasitic moves.
However, now YCee wants to simply move on and let anybody know the label isn’t what it looked like it is outside.
“I have been silent as I have quietly been focused on rebuilding my life and career and also out of respect to my previous employer but he, in turn, has not accorded me that same respect,” YCee said.
“Actions ranging from attacks on my reputation by spreading falsities about me, saying I betrayed him by leaving his label (knowing fully well the terms on which our business relationship ended) to leaking my music which he absolutely has zero rights to release but unfortunately happens to possess in order to delay and destabilize my debut album release.
“Before anyone asks why I’m doing this, it is simply to protect any other artistes from suffering the same fate and falling into the hands of this manipulative and delusional human being.”
YCee is now focused on releasing his upcoming album.