Dapper Group CEO responds to artist contract and royalty disputes

Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, founder and CEO of Dapper Group and Dapper Music, has issued a formal response to allegations of financial mismanagement, contract irregularities, and exploitation made by former artists, including Seyi Vibez, Shallipopi, and T. I. Blaze.

Akinwunmi rejected claims of withheld royalties and master ownership disputes, stating that the company’s investments in artist development and promotion have actually exceeded the revenue generated. He noted that many artist accounts remain unrecouped, meaning funds are owed to the company rather than the artists. To address the controversy, he has called for an independent forensic audit to examine the financial records.

Regarding the validity of the contracts, Akinwunmi asserted that all agreements were negotiated with legal counsel and that the artists were businessmen making informed decisions. He specifically mentioned that Seyi Vibez was accompanied by legal counsel during their professional relationship. Akinwunmi explained that his previous silence was intended to allow disputes to be resolved through legal channels, but he felt compelled to speak as his silence was being interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing.