5 Artists Who Have Had Label Issues After Their Debut Album

Most artists and label fallouts have happened after a successful debut album. Here is a list of five of such artistes.

So following the recent ongoing drama involving Runtown that has seen his label make counterclaims to earlier allegations from the camp of the artiste suggesting blackmail, lack of support and numerous contract breaches by the label, the trend of young artists falling out with their label after the success of their debut album keeps increasing.

What may have gone wrong in these situations? Is it a case of the artistes suddenly getting too big for their own ego or the labels not fulfilling their end of the deal? We take a look at 5 artists who at the prime of their careers have been entangled in contractual battles with their labels.

1. Runtown:

From the streets of Enugu to the highbrows of Lagos, the name Runtown rings a bell that churns out pretty loud. The Producer/ Songwriter has been able to carve his own niche in the industry, from delivering hits like ‘Gallardo’, ‘Lagos to Kampala’, ‘Mad over you’, ‘Energy’ and the recent Coca-cola sponsored ‘Said’ with Nasty C.

Runtown has effectively proven himself to be a master of the hits. But at the point where greater things were expected of him and the consolidation of his debut project ‘Ghetto University’, things seem to be falling apart for the talented act.

With two lawsuits in the past couple of years plus a nasty fall out with the label boss, Eric Manny, his fans await with bated breath to see how the entire scenario will pan out and how much damage this could cause to the career of the promising act at a point where he finally seems to be gaining international recognition and the likeliest to break the duopoly of Wizkid and Davido.

2. Kiss Daniel:

From G-Worldwide Entertainment to Flyboi Inc, now the boy seems to have found not just his wings but the ‘freedom’ he craved with recent features on CDQ and Omawunmi’s singles. The journey has not really been smooth for the ladies man.

He first came to our consciousness when he serenaded us with the hit single ‘Woju’ in 2014, from that point, there was no looking back as he served the hits in ‘Laye’ and ‘Good Time’before the release of his debut album ‘New Era’ which solidified his place in the industry.

But after a while of seeming inactivity and artistic limitations due to contractual agreements, questions began to be asked and just when he rolled out new singles in preparation for his sophomore effort, news broke that Kiss Daniel was to leave G-Worldwide Entertainment.

This did not go down well with the CEO Emperor Geezy which led to some dirty revelations and court injunctions.

Luckily for the lad, things seem to have taken a turn in the right direction for him as he has since gone ahead to release further singles that have made solid impressions on the charts and also performed on some of the biggest stages across Africa.

Now if rumors are to be believed, the young superstar has not only broken free from his 7 year deal with G-Worldwide to own his own imprint, but he also has the ‘hottest chic in the game’ wearing a matching tattoo with him.

3. Kelly Hansome:

Fresh off the success of his ‘Maga don pay’ album and signing a 6-year deal with the biggest label in the land at the point, Kennis Music.

Kelly Hansome was deemed as the heir apparent to the legacy that 2face had left in the label, he was destined to be the next big deal, but after failing to appear at the label’s annual Easter Fiesta where he was advertised as the headline act, rumors emerged that there was trouble in the camp.

playKelly Hansome with his birthday cake (Now Muzik)

First, Kelly Hansome claimed that the label had failed to meet all the promises in their agreement. This led to the label charging him to court and Kelly Hansome vowing that he and his unborn generations will never forgive Kennis Music.

The court battle ensued and for many years, Kelly Hansome could not put out any music or get invited for shows, and even though all these seem to have been put behind them as both parties have been seen together at several public events, his career never recovered from the episode despite his obvious talent.

4. Wizkid:

In 2009, a partnership that will forever change the lives of all the parties involved was cemented when the young act, Wizkid signed what is purportedly a 7-year contract with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (EME).

This marriage gave birth to a groundbreaking debut album titled ‘Superstar’ that announced his talent to the world. Wizkid’s legend soon began to rise and even though the label consisted of other acts, he was clearly the rock upon which the empire was built.

playWizkid poses with Banky W when they were still a team (ToyoBaby)

But like celebrity marriages these days, cracks soon began to appear as the act was said to have complained about the percentage, an alleged 75-25% sharing formula and sought an increase, things soon generated into online exchanges as both parties ‘washed their dirty linens in full public glare’.

After a period of several interventions by high placed personalities and common sense prevailing, they arrived at a settlement that saw the artist release his sophomore effort ‘Ayo’ on his Starboy imprint and EME three years after his debut effort. Perhaps, the peaceful resolution is key to how well the artist has since grown not just at home but internationally.

5. Vector:

The rapper who was once likened to Jay Z at the initial stage of his career was signed to YSG Records, a label run by the son of ‘Young Shall Grow Motors’ mogul, Chief Vincent Obianodo.

Shortly after the release of his debut album which propelled the rapper to several awards at the Headies and A-list acts in the country, dispute reared its head as Vector was rumored to be demanding for more professionals on the label to push his brand.

This he claimed the label did not immediately adhere to forcing him to employ people and pay them personally. The label soon claimed that he had to the U.S without their permission and had plans to sign a record deal elsewhere. This led to the police getting involved and threats to his life.

The label also went ahead to file an injunction against the rapper which dragged for months and derailed his career.

Even though the issue has now died down with him issuing a public apology and Vector has put out the ‘Lafiaji’ project and other singles, he has failed to attain that pedestal that he was riding on before the incident, while for the label, they seem to have abandoned any further plans of investing in the talents.

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