Nigerian singer Brymo has once again addressed his long-running dispute with former record label Chocolate City, insisting that the conflict was rooted in business disagreements rather than personal hostility.
The ‘Ara Nbe’ crooner made the remarks during a recent appearance on the Yanga FM podcast, where he reflected on the legal and professional tensions that defined his exit from the label and shaped the next phase of his music career.
According to him, the dispute, which stretched over several years, was ultimately resolved out of court after what he described as a breach of contract escalated into formal legal proceedings.
He pushed back against public interpretations that framed the fallout as a personal feud.
“It was business that didn’t work out, and I was taken to court. We were on the case for three years, and now the case is out of court.”
Brymo said the experience marked a defining moment in his evolution as an independent artist, pushing him toward greater control over his work and financial decisions.
“I was becoming a man. I was already 29 years old when it all started. I needed to make a living.”
He further alleged that during his time with Chocolate City, several contractual expectations were not fulfilled, claiming he was forced to take on responsibilities that should have been handled by the label.
According to him, he had to source producers himself and personally finance parts of his debut album after expected support allegedly failed to materialise.
Brymo also raised long-standing concerns about royalties from some of his early releases, including Son of a Kapenta and the popular collaboration Oleku, insisting he did not receive earnings from those works despite their commercial performance.
“They distributed the album and took the money they made from it. They still have the album to this day. I’ve not made anything from it. Nothing.”
The comments revive one of Nigeria’s most discussed artist–label conflicts, a dispute that has periodically resurfaced as Brymo reflects on his early career and transition into independence.
While the label has previously maintained its own position on the matter in public discussions, Brymo’s latest remarks continue to fuel debate within the entertainment industry about contract transparency, royalty structures, and the balance of power between record labels and artists.
The renewed attention underscores a broader issue within the Nigerian music ecosystem, where disputes over ownership and revenue sharing have become increasingly prominent as the industry expands globally.