Nigerian Producers and DJs Allege Exploitation by Top Artists
Three prominent Nigerian music producers and DJs—Sarz, Ozedikus, and DJ Kaywise—have publicly detailed experiences of alleged financial and credit exploitation by established musicians, sparking industry-wide discussion about business practices within Nigeria’s booming music sector.
The conversation was ignited by Sarz during a recent appearance on the Afropolitan podcast. He stated that multiple popular artists previously took advantage of him, completing musical work without compensation. Sarz cited a specific instance where he created two songs for a major artist but was only paid for one. He noted that the experience led him to adopt stricter business practices, refusing to work without agreed-upon payment.
Following the circulation of Sarz’s interview, fellow producer Ozedikus corroborated similar treatment. In a social media post, he recounted producing over 30 tracks for an unnamed artist within a two-month period in 2016/2017 but receiving no payment. Ozedikus claimed he was also denied production credit and that his attempts to secure even social media attribution for “exposure” were unsuccessful.
DJ Kaywise then entered the discourse, alleging a separate incident involving rapper and label executive Eldee The Don. He stated that in 2012, Eldee promised to sign him to his record label. According to Kaywise, he fulfilled this implied agreement by creating more than 1,000 mixtapes for Eldee and his artists during his time operating in Lagos’s Alaba market. Kaywise asserted that the promised label deal never materialized, with Eldee indicating an announcement would follow after signing another artist. Kaywise identified this as a pivotal reason for his continued independence, a stance he now regards as financially prudent.
As of publication, Eldee The Don has not publicly responded to the allegations made by DJ Kaywise.
These accounts highlight persistent concerns regarding contractual integrity and fair compensation for behind-the-scenes talent in the Nigerian music industry, a sector often celebrated for its global cultural export but where backend business practices are less frequently examined. The producers’ disclosures underscore a critical dialogue about sustainability, credit, and professional respect for technical creatives who are instrumental to the genre’s success.
