Fresh reports made available by
PREMIUM TIMES, Chocolate City is
still in battle with Brymo for almost
20 million naira investment made on
a former artiste on the label Brymo
The mentioned newspaper had
access to court documents
from Chocolate CITY. The
documents brought to public notice
That Chocolate City had only
realized less than 3 million naira
compared to nearly 20 million
spent on Ashimi Olawale Ibrahim,
who we all know by the
name Brymo
The music imprint has been in a
protracted legal battle
with Brymo since 2013 on the
grounds of breach of
contract. Brymo’s controversial
contract with former label
chocolate City was supposed to be a
5 year contract spanning from
2011 to 2016. With the artiste
delivering three studio albums
within the contract span.
In a court document deposed at the Lagos
Division of the Federal High
Court, Brymo (the defendant) accused his
former label of short-changing him,
saying he never received any advance as
agreed in his contract for the
development of the album Son of A
Carpenter.
Brymo argued that he was never
paid a dime from royalties accrued
on the album son of a carpenter
neither was he given an initial
capital for the production of the
album.
“An email dated 14th May 2013 from the
defendant clearly stated that the
defendant is owed the sum of N925,
555.83 for the album Son of A
Carpenter.”
Also Brymo explained he had to
personally hire and pay a new
manager for himself after his first
manager assigned him by the label
was withdrawn and assigned to
another artiste. Further statement
has it that the label frustrated any
efforts to make another album
from him, siting that producing an
album was way too expensive to
be handled on his own. Therefore,
he Brymo opted for a release from
the existent contract.
The plaintiff Chocolate CITY also
raised claims blaming the
artiste Brymo, as reason for the
breach in contract terms. The
music imprint stated that contrary
to what the defendant said, all cost
of recording and production was
carried out strictly by the label as a
standard procedure.
Chocolate City, however, said it
paid for, on Brymo’s behalf, every
recording cost it authorised and for
which a prior approval was sought
and obtained by the singer.
The music group also said it is
standard industry practice for
record companies to pay for all
expenses incurred during
recording (paying producers, video
director, dancers, and others), as
opposed to giving the entire budget
to the artiste.
Chocolate CITY also mentioned that
the artiste in question was grossly
guilty of insubordination and had
a problem following “simple
instructions”.
“The defendant’s active and passive
promotion of drugs/marijuana included
posting of pictures of Indian hemp/
marijuana on his Twitter handle,
Facebook or Instagram,” the label said.
“It got so bad that no reputable company
was ready or willing to give him an
endorsement deal, thereby deny (sic)
himself and the plaintiff good revenue.
The music label denied telling Brymo it
lacked the funds to produce his second
album, and accused him of intentionally
creating a crisis and then announcing to
the public that he had become an
independent artiste.
Between his exit from Chocolate City in
2013 and this year, Brymo has released
three studio albums: Merchants, Dealers
& Slaves (2013); Tabula Rasa (2014), and
Klìtòrìs (2016).
Chocolate City has sought a
perpetual injunction from a
Federal High Court
restricting Brymo from recording
and also seeking 100 million naira
in damages.
On the other hand Brymo’s counsel
has asked the court to strike out
the case brought against it client as
it was out of the jurisdiction of the
Federal High Court.
What a story!
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