Skales leaves EME as contract expires

Nigerian rapper Skales has parted ways with record label, Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) following the expiration of his contract a few weeks ago.

The popular label which signed Skales in 2010 has decided not to extend their initial three-year contract with the rapper.

It was gathered that EME decided not to renew its deal with Skales because they feel it may no longer be a profitable venture.

According to those familiar with the current situation at the Lagos label, the large part of that decision was made, based on the fact that the direction of Skales’ music has considerably changed since he was signed.

‘EME signed Skales as a rapper back then with Wizkid; the plan was to mould him into one of the biggest HipHop acts in Nigeria, like a younger M.I’, a source claim.

It wasn’t long until Wizkid blew in 2011 and the EME trio of Banky, Wizzy and Skales went on several tours – that’s when Skales style of music began to change, morphing him into a more Pop act.

‘Skales wanted to change, them Banky wouldn’t allow it but he was insistent. He saw how Wizkid was getting love and so he was pressured to do Pop music rather than rap’.

In November 2011, Skales released his first official single off the label titled ‘Mukulu’, which saw him ditch his Hip-Hop sound for Pop music.

‘It’s not like he was great at it but Skales was so determined to do the kind of music Wizzy does. Banky and co didn’t want to stop him so they let him run with it, in fact they supported him all the way’.

EME shot four different solo videos for Skales – ‘Mukulu’, ‘Komole’, ‘My baby’, and ‘Take of care of me’.

‘They’ve spent millions on him and haven’t gotten anything back. Signing a new deal with him won’t be smart of them to do. I can’t blame them’.

While Skales has left the label, he is still quite determined about his music career as he plans to release his long awaited debut ‘All of the Above’. 

The 21-year-old Edo State-born, Kaduna State raised youngster is currently working with M.et.al Management, the same talent company that discovered him and got him the EME deal in 2010. M.et.al is strongly affiliated with EME.

Skales recently released a new song ‘Very soon’ where he details his issues with EME; ‘…Even the clique wey I dey, they tolerate me, they say I too scatter, dem need to co-ordinate me/dem sey dem no like my style, money no dey enter to make them smile, everyday controversy just dey pile/I never make even though I’ve been here for a while’, Skales raps.

The rapper has removed EME from his official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. He recently tweeted about having a ‘new hustle’, ‘new team’, ‘new life’ and having a ‘fresh start’.