September 20, (THEWILL) – In the wake of the passing and burial of Nigerian music sensation, Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad, a series of intriguing controversies have ignited within the music industry.
This ripple effect has extended to another rapper, Oluwadamilare Okulaja, widely recognised as Durella, as he has taken a bold step in confronting Bamidele Inubile, the owner of his former record label, TC Records, whom he refers to as Mr D.
Durella, famous for his hit song Shalaye, narrated how a long-standing grievance regarding unpaid royalties from his former boss, spanning 14 years, has caused him to worry.
Durella explained: “Mr D has withheld my royalties for an extensive period, even after I had parted ways with his record label. I tried with some IT experts to reclaim those royalties, but they informed me that I required the main copyright for the songs, which is currently in Mr. D’s possession, as he initially distributed them.’’
Durella, the first Nigerian artiste to own a shoe line, Durella Sneakers, named after his famous slogan ‘2Gbaski’, broke into the music scene in 2006 after he met executives from TC Records while performing at a fashion show. He signed a deal a week later.
However, after a few years, he decided to part ways with TC Records, later joining IKONIC Records in 2011.
Since he parted ways with TC Records, the musician claims he never received royalties for his songs.
Despite his persistent efforts, Durella said his attempts to regain control of the copyrights to his music remain futile.
Their geographical location further complicates matters, as Mr D resides in London and only occasionally visits Nigeria.
Recalling his early days, Durella stated, “When I joined TC Records, I was supposed to receive an apartment as per our contract, but when our relationship soured, he made off with the contract, knowing I didn’t possess a copy, hence his stubborn stance. I am the rightful owner of these songs; I am the one who created them. They culminate in my life’s work, yet he is collecting royalties.”
The singer said that his songs exist on several streaming sites. Still, he needs help accessing the backend to ascertain the earnings because his former label boss owns the copyrights to his catalogues.
Durella also clarified that the TC Record label has long ceased to exist, as he was one of the last artists the label worked with.
In a heartfelt appeal on Instagram, Durella beseeched his fans and streaming platforms to support his quest for the unpaid royalties owed to him by TC Records.
He wrote, “I need this man to do the same video clip. It is exactly what I am going through from TC RECORDS MR D. He has been in charge of all the money I made from all the streaming platforms for over 14 years. Please, my fans, I need your help. Help me report, my fans.”
Durella is not affiliated with any record label, but his songs continue to garner streams across various music platforms, with royalties paid to his ex-label boss.
