T.I Blaze royalties dispute deepens as the singer questions Dapper Music over an alleged ₦1.2bn discrepancy and Virgin Music’s involvement
Nigerian singer T.I Blaze has challenged music executive Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi over an alleged ₦1.2 billion discrepancy involving royalties and the licensing of artists’ intellectual property in the Nigerian music industry.
T.I Blaze raised the allegations on X on Friday, August 14, 2026, questioning how revenue from music catalogues was being distributed and why he believed a substantial amount remained unexplained.
“How did Virgin Music get into a business where you’re supposed to take 30 percent and bounce, from whose cut is Virgin taking their bag? … how did 1.2 billion naira go unexplained. Dapper Music come and answer?” T.I Blaze wrote.
The singer also questioned whether another party’s intellectual property had been licensed without the necessary agreement from the rights holder.
“Who dey licenses another person intellectual property without mutual agreement? Dapper your cup don finally full,” he added.
T.I Blaze further accused the executive of allowing commercial interests to override the contributions of people who helped generate the money.
“When you get so drunk on your dreams and can’t fight greed spirit, betrayed those that make the Bag primarily. you’ll be that colorful butterfly that goes back to being a caterpillar,” he said.
The allegations have not, from the material available, been independently established as fact, and Dapper Music had not publicly responded to the specific ₦1.2 billion claims at the time of reporting.
The dispute is significant because Dapper Music has been closely linked with T.I Blaze’s career.
The singer was part of Dapper Music’s roster during a period in which his profile grew considerably, and the company’s partnership with Virgin Music has been credited with helping its artists achieve strong streaming results in Nigeria.
Industry data published in 2025 showed that Virgin Music and Dapper Music had a significant presence in the Nigerian streaming market.
Dapper Music CEO Damilola Akinwunmi previously told BusinessDay that the company uses contractual provisions designed to provide financial checks and balances. Akinwunmi said artists could have independent lawyers review agreements and that contracts included audit provisions for verifying financial records.
The latest confrontation also follows reports that T.I Blaze parted ways with Dapper Music earlier in 2026 and began releasing music under his own imprint, Rhythm Vault Records.
Virgin Music’s involvement is also relevant to the wider picture. The company operates as a global music distribution and artist-services business, working with labels and artists across different markets.
For T.I Blaze, however, the central issue is now accountability. His public questions have placed the alleged ₦1.2 billion discrepancy, royalty arrangements and ownership of intellectual property at the centre of a fresh dispute.
Until the parties provide supporting financial records, contractual documents or formal responses, the allegations remain claims made by the singer rather than established findings.
The development nevertheless highlights a recurring concern within the Nigerian music business: the complicated relationship between artists, management companies, distributors, licensing arrangements and the money generated from intellectual property.
