8 Vector vs YSG
The beef between Vector and YSG (a division of Young Shall Grow motors, run by Obiora Obianodo, first son of the transport guru – Chief Vincent Obianodo) began in 2013, after the rapper complained about his progress-rate and the label’s nonchalant attitude towards his career. He suggested that they employ more professionals and when they refused, Vector hired people and was paying them personally. Things escalated after Vector – who was at the peak of his career then – went on a vacation to the USA. When he returned, Obiora, the YSG boss accused him of going to sign a record deal there. Vector denied, but weeks later, he was summoned by Lagos State Police Command, Festac. There, he was presented with a ‘breach of contract’ petition, claiming he had engaged external hands to work for him. His parents got involved (as his dad is a retired police officer), and it was settled amicably.
Feeling unsafe and threatened, Vector surrendered the car and apartment YSG had provided for him and went about his daily life, until – at a video shoot for a song he was featured on – he was arrested and detained till his lawyers came through. The label went ahead to file an injunction against Vector at a Federal High Court, stopping him from recording, composing or releasing any material as a recording artiste. For 9 months, his career stalled as he battled the injunction, until both parties decided to settle out of court – with Vector buying out his contract, at a discounted rate. The whole debacle ended with the artiste writing an open letter where he apologized to the label for ‘everything’.
Today, Vector is still a force to reckon with in the music scene. YSG, well, not heard anything from them in a while.
9 Runtown vs Eric Many Entertainment
Before ‘Mad over you’, and household-name status, Runtown signed a record deal with Eric Many Entertainment, owned by Prince Okwudili Umenyiora, billionaire CEO of Dilly Motors. A few hits later, the relationship deteriorated and situations escalated after his label accused him of signing for and attending musical shows without their knowledge – a breach of contract. Runtown then sought to terminate his contract in May 2016, claiming that there were payments he never received – from live performances, recorded royalty income (MTN Music Plus, caller ring back tunes), etc. He also alleged death threats were made to him by the label.
The label responded by obtaining an injunction that prevented him from performing at any event or any form of recording pending the determination of their lawsuit. They took it a step further by obtaining another injunction against him in the USA, where he was billed to kick off a US Tour.
Eventually, both parties resolved their issues out of court and Runtown remained in the label for one more year. But his contract was improved as the new deal gave him more control.
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