Nigerian rapper YCee has disclosed that he never received a single royalty payment from his former record label, Tinny Entertainment, despite accumulating over 100 million streams on his hit songs. The revelation came during a recent appearance on the Afropolitan Podcast.
Contractual Dispute Over Royalties
According to YCee, the lack of payment stemmed from the terms of his recording contract with Tinny Entertainment, which stipulated a 70/30 split in favor of the label. The label reportedly claimed it had not yet recouped the investment made in the artist, thereby withholding all royalty payments.
"The mega hits and 100 of millions of streams that I have had, I didn't get any money off them. I was signed to Tinny Entertainment. I had a recording contract and it was a 70/30 split. It was a situation where I wasn't being remitted off the earning because at the time, my previous employer felt he hasn't recouped what he invested," YCee shared on the podcast.
External Success vs. Internal Financial Strain
The rapper explained that while his career appeared thriving from the outside—with hit songs, endorsement deals, and international travel—his financial reality told a different story. "At that time, the songs were going crazy, endorsements, and I was travelling the world, and it was looking good from the outside looking in, but it wasn't making sense to me in other areas. So I didn't make any money off my streams," he added.
This disparity between public success and private financial struggle ultimately contributed to the deterioration of his relationship with the label.
Rise to Stardom and Hiatus
YCee first broke into the Nigerian mainstream in 2015 with his smash hit 'Jagaban,' followed by a remix featuring Nigerian hip hop icon Olamide. He continued his ascent with successive hits, including 'Omo Alhaji' and 'Juice' featuring Maleek Berry. After parting ways with Tinny Entertainment, YCee attempted to navigate a rapidly changing music industry shaped by digital streaming and the global rise of Afrobeats.
However, he eventually took a hiatus from the public eye. Speaking about his time away, the rapper revealed that in 2020 he was diagnosed with a mental health challenge, which led to brief hospitalizations.
Return with New Album
YCee recently returned to the music scene with a new album titled 'Out of Sight - Out of Mind - Volume 1,' a double-sided 14-track project showcasing his range as both a rapper and singer. The album marks his first major release after a prolonged absence.
