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How TC Records has denied me royalties for over 14 years – Durella

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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.

One such incident revolves around the feud between Mohbad and his former record label boss, Naira Marley.

However, this ripple effect has extended to another rapper, Oluwadamilare Okulaja, widely recognised as Durella, as he has taken a bold step in confronting the owner of his former record label, TC Records, Bamidele Inubile, whom he refers to as Mr D.

Speaking exclusively with Freelanews, Durella, famous for his hit song ‘Shalaye’, narrated how a long-standing grievance regarding unpaid royalties from his former boss, Mr Inubile, spanning 14 years, has caused him to worry.

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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 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. He is famous for some of his hit songs like ‘Enu O Se’, ‘ My Life’ Ft Terry G, ‘Shayo’ ‘Club Rock’ ‘GaGa’ featuring Wizkid and ‘Wiskolowiska’.

2008, Durella was awarded “MTV Base Advance Warning Artist” of the Year. He is the first Nigerian artiste to own a shoe line: Durella Sneakers, named after his famous slogan “2Gbaski”.

However, after a few years, he decided to part ways with TC Records, later joining IKONIC Records in 2011.

Since his parting ways with TC Records, the musician claims he never received royalties for his songs.

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Despite his persistent efforts, Durella said his attempts to regain control of the copyrights to his music remain futile.
Challenges

Their geographical location further complicates matters, as Durella informed this newspaper that 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 my life’s work, yet he is collecting royalties.”

The singer told this newspaper 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.

This newspaper also contacted Mr Inubile via an email provided by Durella but is still waiting to receive a response.

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Durella also clarified that the TC Record label has long ceased to exist, as he was one of the last artistes 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.”

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“Police Explain Teargas Use at Lekki Toll Gate During Mohbad’s Candlelit Funeral”

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Lagos State Police issued a statement on Friday explaining their use of teargas to disperse a gathering at the Lekki Toll gate on September 21, a day that saw a candlelit funeral procession held in honor of the late singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, at Victoria Island, Lagos.

In their statement, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesman in Lagos State, emphasized that no live ammunition was discharged, and they employed crowd management strategies to handle the unruly crowd, ensuring no injuries or casualties occurred.

Hundeyin went on to address the prevalent misinformation surrounding the incident, particularly regarding the agreement made with the procession organizers. He explained that the police had an arrangement with the organizers to conclude the candlelit procession no later than 8 p.m. at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island. Additionally, due to heavy traffic on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, it was agreed that the Lekki Toll Gate would be off-limits.

However, after the procession concluded at Muri Okunola Park with police providing security throughout, some individuals gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate with intentions unrelated to the #justiceforMohbad initiative. This gathering violated the established agreement, prompting the police to engage the procession organizers in persuading the crowd to disperse peacefully.

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Despite hours of persuasion and social media messages urging dispersal, the crowd remained defiant, and traffic on the expressway was at a standstill. Given their prior experience with such situations and the potential for chaos, the police decided to use teargas, considering it the least harmful method to disperse the crowd, following the failure of verbal and social media-based persuasion.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, issued a warning to individuals or groups causing disturbances, stating that they would be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The police expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the procession organizers and assured both supporters of #justiceforMohbad and Lagos residents that they would prioritize safety and security. The investigation into Mohbad’s death is ongoing, and the police called on the public to avoid creating unnecessary distractions and allow the police to conduct a conclusive and timely investigation.

Hundeyin emphasized that the police have been working closely with support groups for #justiceforMohbad and pledged to maintain this collaboration while keeping the public informed of the investigation’s progress.

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Burna Boy releases date for his music video

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Nigerian multiple award-winning singer, Burna Boy, has confirmed the release date of one of the songs off his new album ‘I Told Them’ titled ‘City Boy.’

Burna Boy has been making waves in the music industry since the release of his album “I Told Them” with fans all over the world enjoying the infectious beats and meaningful lyrics. “City Boy,” one of the album’s standout tracks, has gained immense popularity thanks to its catchy melody and thought-provoking message.

Fans who have been eagerly waiting for the visual accompaniment to Burna Boy’s “City Boy” track can now rejoice as the release date for the music video has been announced. Known for his dynamic and creative music videos, Burna Boy is expected to deliver nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece with this one. It’s exciting news for fans, who can’t wait to see what the talented artist has in store for them.

Details about the concept and production of the music video are closely guarded secrets, building anticipation for the visual experience that matches the energy and passion of the song.

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Fans of Burna Boy are eagerly waiting for the release of his upcoming “City Boy” music video on September 22, 2023. The release of this video is expected to be another significant achievement in the artist’s already illustrious career, cementing his status as a global music sensation even further.

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Burna Boy’s concert cancellation: low ticket sales cited among the problems

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Multi-award-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy continues to trend on social media as most of his fans talk about the cancellation of his concert that was set to take place in South Africa.

The African Giant, as he is affectionately known, was expected to perform at the FNB Stadium on September 23 in a highly anticipated show.

But as news that the show was been postponed to December, news that it had been cancelled entirely emerged.

Entertainment commentator Phil Mphela revealed that 17 000 tickets were sold for the Burna Boy concert.

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“Around 17k tickets were sold for the FNB Stadium concert that was meant to happen this weekend.

“The erroneous 1 500 number was just a Twitter ‘joke/ jab’ that went over many’s heads and became the running number… 17k is still a low number for a stadium capacity.”

He further cited the “inability of the promoters to fulfil their contractual, financial, production and technical obligations; and production vendors had apparently not been paid on time”.

“Management conceded that the agreed production standard needed for the venue size could not be achieved. TicketPro has seized all sales of tickets to the concert,” he said.

While Burna Boy’s name continued to be a hot subject on social media, the singer took to his Instagram account and said: “I was in SA last year, and I had 100 thousand of the most Beautiful South Africans Outside for me, So no dead agenda can Agend. I will see you again real soon South Africa. I * you.”

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Last year, the “Ye” hitmaker delivered a stellar performance after headlining the DStv Delicious event.

Despite having an unsuccessful concert in South Africa, Burna Boy made it into the “Hollywood Reporter’s” inaugural Platinum Players power list, which honours 25 acts in music who are on top of the charts and at the top of the game.

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