Rapper Kel does not plan to renew her contract with Clarence Peters’ Capital Hill records.
The 24 year-old debutant, who’s mostly known for her hit single ‘waa wa alright’, has allegedly told the label she wants out; with the label in return giving her departure conditions.
It’s nearing seven years since the rapper’s first single (‘roc da mic’, 2003) and sources say she and her manager Osagie Osarenkhoe are hoping to ‘take things to a whole new level’.
Kel was signed to gospel label ‘Testify music’ before pitching her tent with Clarence, when the director launched his record label. Their contract was originally scheduled to end in 2011.
But with the relationship now deteriorating rapidly, 2011 looks like a thousand years away.
Capital Hill is one of Nigeria’s many mushroom music labels; and although the label is growing fast, sources close to Kel say she is dissatisfied with the way the label is handling her career, and is desperately searching for the exit doors.
Meanwhile, it is unlikely that Mr Peters has reaped the dividends of his investment in Kel; and sources say he is ‘bent’ on ‘getting all he can’, before allowing her take a walk. Both parties are already meeting, to agree on how much Kel needs to pay to get out of her contract; who retains the rights to all her previously-released audio and video materials, and for how long she must stay before releasing another album. Plus, there’s a clause that may prove controversial: sources say Capital Hill owns the exclusive trademark to the brand name ‘Kel’. (The name is actually the first three letters of the rapper’s real name – Kelechi. Her surname is Ohia)
And we are also told that Peters – who has been accused of having an on-off affair with Kel – is not the only one handling the talks. Tobechukwu Ejiofor (the rapper known as Ill Bliss), who recently left his job at Ultima Productions to join the management team at Capital Hill, is also in on the negotiations; keen on representing the label’s interests, according to inside sources.
The label’s interest is for Kel to stay and see her contract through; or take a walk and pay the price. Kel’s interests, according to those who know, is to take a walk if the conditions are right – and so far, it looks like that’s what’s going to happen.
However, if you ask them, both parties will tell you all is well. They’ll tell you people are just speculating, and that Kel and her label are back on very good terms. ”If at all anything changes, we’ll issue a press statement and let everyone know what’s happening” Osarenkhoe told NET recently.
But their actions speak otherwise. At a press launch to announce Kel as an ambassador for Soulmate Haircare products today in Lagos, Clarence Peters was conspicuously missing. Those present say there was no representation from Capital Hill – suggesting the label may have already washed its hands off its prized act.
The pattern of artiste-label relationships in Nigeria is an interesting one. Apart from Mo’ Hits, EME and Soul Muzik where the top acts are also part-owners, most labels lose their hit-makers after the first few hits. And it’s usually after accusations and counter accusations: ‘the label has not done enough for me’, ‘they’re cheating me’, the artiste would say; while the label accuses the artistes of being too ‘greedy, impatient and ungrateful’.
Remember Soul E and Colossal Music? Asa and Questionmark? Faze and Westsyde? Will we soon be saying same about Kel and Capital Hill?
Or, if they eventually agree to separate, will they be able to manage it maturely and responsibly like the case of 2face and Kennis music?
‘All I can say for now’, says a source in Kel’s camp, ‘is that we’re right now finalizing the terms of the dissolve, and it’s been pretty smooth, to God’s glory
Source;Thenetng
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