By Osagie Alonge
The inevitable battle line has been drawn; what was once considered an enviable model set up by thriving record label EME, is now being torn into shreds by a recent alleged fall-out between Pop singer Wizkid and the label’s management.
You read it right: Ayodeji ‘Wizkid’ Balogun is at war with his label Empire Mates Entertainment and might just be walking out of his record deal for good. The pop singer’s recent outburst on social media Twitter and Instagram has confirmed weeks, even months of rumoured disagreement between both parties.
Details are sketchy but we can confirm there’s a lot of bad blood between Wizzy (as he is fondly called) and EME which is run by label executives Banky W and Segun Demuren (Demuren plays a more background role but is fully involved in executive decisions).
The controversy started many months ago – tongues started wagging when Wizkid fired his manager Osagie Osarenkhoe and hired long-time friend Godwin Tom in September 2012. Godwin Tom, we learn had been pitching Wizkid to several labels since 2007 before Osarenhkoe came into the picture and introduced him to EME, the label that groomed him and push his career to the very top.
Sources say EME were not pleased with the move to fire Osarenkhoe, but gave in to Wizkid’s demands. The label retained Osarenkhoe to manage EME”s other acts – Skales, Niyola and Shaydee. Wizkid has now also signed an international management deal with UK based Disturbing London, run by rapper Tinie Tempah. The young singer has been in England for weeks now.
Insiders say Wizkid has also moved out of the EME ‘mansion’ in Lagos and acquired his own home in Lekki Phase 1, this was shortly after he bought his BMW X6 auto-mobile late last year. The distance became glaring; the core of the squad had detached himself from unit.
Sources who spoke with NET anonymously say Wizzy would come late to public appearances and Banky would spend the whole time apologizing. ‘They would always come separate to any gig. It looked like Wizzy and Godwin had formed their own team and didn’t need them Banky anymore‘, an inside source told this newspaper, Saturday.
It also showed emotionally; Wizkid was not seen at most of the rehearsals for their concert in December. He appeared at the later stage and rarely talked with the crew. ‘But they all tried to suppress what was going on; only the in-house team knew the whole truth‘.
NET investigations gathered that concerned parties tried desperately to keep the young superstar under control, but nothing, it seems, would work.
On Friday, February 1, 2013, the first bombshell dropped: Wizkid took to twitter and Instagram to make subliminal remarks about his label. ‘Don’t take Loyalty for stupidity..don’t!’, ‘Moving on to start all over again!…Fuck it!..‘, and went on to say ‘If dey sleep on u..move on!‘.
It came as a shock to fans worldwide; especially coming barely days after Banky W’s interview assuring fans Wiz was not leaving the label and that rumours of his departure were false.
The controversy continues with Wizzy updating his Twitter profile, removing ‘EME/Konvict’ and replacing it with his management’s contacts.
‘Wizkid is the one hurt, that’s why he is the one talking, he will still say more‘, one source tells us, even as many who claim to be familiar with the situation say ‘the problem is that he thinks he’s grown too big for the label and he’s suddenly forgotten where he’s coming from and the many sacrifices Osagie and Banky especially had to make to help him grow‘.
No word from both camps as EME and Wizzy’s management remain mum over the matter. Godwin Tom did not respond to repeated enquiries even as an EME executive failed to get back to us despite promising.
In less than one year, there have been quite a number of fallouts with artistes parting ways with their record labels. The most controversial still remains the Mo’Hits saga with D’banj and Don Jazzy breaking ties back in February 2012.
Others include May D getting thrown out of Square Records, Flowssick parting with Kollertunz Records because he failed to sign his artiste contract, Yung6ix dropping the 411 Entertainment label, fully pitching his tent with Storm Records and urban Hip-Hop group L.O.S dropping BankHead Entertainment to fully sign with Storm Records.
There are so many unanswered questions but we have a strong feeling more events will unfold. The biggest question for now is will Wizkid make an appearance at Banky W’s February 15 concert?
16 comments
wizzy if this is true its not good oh,eme made u wachu are today dont do anything stupid oh
I doubt it
Let him do what he likes… But the way it works out for taiwo might not work out for kehinde oo… My broda,think b4 making any decision.. Love u
My fear 4 him is dat , he may not be d wizkid we knw if he leavs, eme record banky w made wizkid wots he is 2day. My advice 4him is 2 tink wel b4 makin d decition 2 leavs
if wizzy is hapi @ eme records…he wouldn’t b leavin…so people shld quit the shoutin about wat eme did for him…na dem give am voice or write him songs…y can’t dey replecate dere achievements wit wizzy..on nyola & skales..
We shldn’t b myopic by sayin cos dey helped him wit his career den he shld b forever indepthed to dem and remain dere even if he is unhappy…as far as him concern dey didn’t help him cos dey loved,dey did cos dey saw his talent n did business dey could do wit it..and by far made a return on dere investment…..as for wat happens wen he leaves lives …leave dat to God…wen tuface parted wit kennys him glory die?….ehn ehn..so gboju
Wizkid u ar vry stupid o,n so selfish,i shud u tink dat wat u wana do is ryt,afta all eme n banky had don 4 u n u wan 2 betrayed him,wizkid is nt gud o,wizy jst let dis b a rumour,always b loyal,dnt let ur luv run away 4rm hrt o,tink twice b4 u take dis ur decision.
The baddest boys eme da best crew y wizzy if u live u lost all ur fan to davido hkn neva breakin up
Nobody knows what EME did to wizkid before he decided part way with his manager and now quiting the record label,wizkid is a humble person,his rift witg davido sometimes ago proved that,because he kept silent over the issue through out,and again every man prays to move to the next level,even we up-coming artist pray for progression.***guys pls leave my mentor alone,let him ride on with is life,he is blessed with a golden talent,after all he is currently the best in the country as far i am concerned,he is second to none.move on WIZZY the sky is yours.i am counting on you for grammy.wizzy da glamour kid,da swagger messiah,da super star,da star boy,da swagger lord,fresh kid,cash endowned.lolz,***B-)LAGIS noni***;-)
Wizzy wizy wizzyla…jar lord noni..guy me no cum 2 hail yah 2 much sha buf,av goht few wrdz 4 ya..if truly u av made ya decis’n n u fink z rit,dem el dandy z alwayz behind ya.:-*even if u dy tk marijuana god bles ya.if u dy smoke igbo god bles ya.even if u dy liv EME god bles ya
My broda go on God will follow u in step u take in ur life. wizkid i love u and anything around u .long life 4 u jooooooooooooooooøooooooooo
Banky w … If money is d problem pls add money becus he is d only one who make EME hot..bet if money is not d problem wizkid u are mistaking by living d crew.banky u still have S to the K,if u ned igbo in EME crew her i am …. Age 18 i can even sin life contract wit u 2 show u dat i can’t live u…. Wizzy pls pls don’t live EME crew day are d one dat raz u up…my Facebook name is Awizyyoung
Wizkid,shuld tink abt his mentor wich made him,wat he is 2day n nt 2 tink dat he is a big boy…………
2me there is nthin new on earth again,even if som1 is stayin under his parent/guardians,he need 2 hav freedom,so wizkid has decided to be on his own,bcos he is not getin younger anymore,so ma broda wat i wil tel u is 2 move on,but dont 4get where u ar cumin 4rm,it’s ur boi kzeeblo,luv u ooooooooo
BANKY you have to take it easy with wizkid because is a kid and dont know what is doing i bet it wizkid will surelly come back,wizkid please forgive and forget whatever eme may did to you am one your best fan i will never go any where except from you no matter the condition may be.remember that banky is the source of your wealth today pls and pls am not begging you to go back just make pics with them
my guy (wizkid) keep on going, u r going global,. Allah will be with u. but don’t 4get where u r coming from, be with them to the call, love u