I just got this report from NET reporters..(read report below)
Nigerian rapper Skales has parted ways
with record label, Empire Mates
Entertainment (EME) following the
expiration of his contract a few weeks
ago.
The popular label which signed Skales in
2010 has decided not to extend their
initial three-year contract with the
rapper.
NET reached out to EME boss Banky W
who has confirmed the development.
‘Yes it’s true’, Banky told our reporter
over the phone.
Both parties have met and reached an
agreement, an inside source told NET
tonight.
We’re told EME decided not to renew its
deal with Skales because they feel it may
no longer be a profitable venture.
According to those familiar with the
current situation at the Lagos label, the
large part of that decision was made,
based on the fact that the direction of
Skales’ music has considerably changed
since he was signed.
‘EME signed Skales as a rapper back then
with Wizkid; the plan was to mould him
into one of the biggest HipHop acts in
Nigeria, you know something like a
younger M.I’, a source close to both
parties tells us.
It wasn’t long until Wizkid blew in 2011
and the EME trio of Banky, Wizzy and
Skales went on several tours – that’s
when Skales style of music began to
change, morphing him into a more Pop
act.
‘Skales wanted to change, them Banky
wouldn’t allow it but he was insistent. He
saw how Wizkid was getting love and so
he was pressured to do Pop music rather
than rap’.
In November 2011, Skales released his
first official single off the label titled
‘ Mukulu’, which saw him ditch his Hip-
Hop sound for Pop music.
‘It’s not like he was great at it but Skales
was so determined to do the kind of
music Wizzy does. Banky and co didn’t
want to stop him so they let him run with
it, in fact they supported him all the way’.
EME shot four different solo videos for
Skales – ‘ Mukulu’, ‘ Komole ’, ‘ My baby ’,
and ‘ Take of care of me ’.
‘They’ve spent millions on him and
haven’t gotten anything back.
Signing a
new deal with him won’t be smart of
them to do. I can’t blame them’.
But another source argues that EME have
nobody but themselves to blame for the
situation.
‘If they signed Skales as a
rapper why didn’t they insist that he keep
on that path?’.
NET investigations reveal that while
Skales has left the label, he is still quite
determined about his music career as he
plans to release his long awaited debut
‘All of the Above’.
The 21-year-old Edo
State-born, Kaduna State raised youngster
is currently working with M.et.al
Management , the same talent company
that discovered him and got him the EME
deal in 2010. M.et.al is strongly affiliated
with EME.
Skales recently released a new song ‘ Very
soon ’ where he details his issues with
EME;
‘…Even the click wey I dey, they
tolerate me, they say I too scatter, dem
need to co-ordinate me/dem sey dem no
like my style, money no dey enter to
make them smile, everyday controversy
just dey pile/I never make even though
I’ve been here for a while’, Skales raps.
The rapper has removed EME from his
official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
pages. He recently tweeted about having
a ‘new hustle’, ‘new team’, ‘new life’ and
having a ‘fresh start’.
NET has also learnt that EME has planned
a ‘package’ for the rapper to make things
easy as he starts a new chapter in his
career. ‘They got him some money to run
his own team, that’s the best they could
do, they are still cool’.
All attempts to reach Skales proved
abortive as his manager Osagie
Osarenkhoe of M.et.al has not
responded to our calls or replied our text
messages. Skales has also refused to
respond to our text messages or pick up
our calls.
EME in February 2013 faced a similar
situation when a prized act at the
label Wizkid threatened to walk out of his
contract . He later reconciled with the
label, honouring his contract.
Skales isn’t the only one who’s parted
ways with his label in recent times; the
likes of Pop singer Wande Coal (formerly
with Mavin Records) and Jesse Jagz
(formerly with Chocolate City ) have in
the past few months left the labels too.
EME is now home to only label head and
R&B singer Banky W, Pop singers Wizkid,
Shaydee, disc jockey DJ Xclusive and
rising female artiste Niyola.
