Nigerian music producer and influencer, Samklef has sparked fresh conversations within the entertainment industry after publicly claiming ownership of six tracks from Wizkid’s critically acclaimed debut album, “Superstar.”
In a recent post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the producer alleged that the classic 2011 album was largely recorded in his personal studio, yet the recording costs were never paid.
He further claimed that no formal contract was signed during the production phase, prompting his decision to seek negotiations with Banky W, the co-founder of Empire Mates Entertainment (EME), the record label under which the album was officially released.
Taking to social media on March 2, Samklef declared his intentions to revisit the financial arrangements of the decade-old project.
“Thank God I never used my masters to collect any loan,” Samklef wrote on X. “I’m about to negotiate with @BankyW since I didn’t sign any contract from the beginning. I hope the Wizkid Superstar masters were never sold.”
He went on to detail the basis of his claim, stating, “I own 6 tracks from the masters because Banky didn’t pay for the studio sessions, and I also own the studio where all the songs were recorded.”
Currently, it remains unclear whether Samklef holds any legitimate legal rights to the master recordings or if his assertions are based entirely on the alleged unpaid studio sessions from 2011. As of the time of this report, neither Banky W nor Wizkid has publicly responded to the producer’s allegations.
Released on June 12, 2011, “Superstar” remains a landmark project that catapulted Wizkid into the limelight and significantly shaped the modern Nigerian music landscape.
The iconic 17-track album featured production contributions from a host of talented beatmakers, including Samklef, E-Kelly, Jay Sleek, Shizzi, DJ Klem, Masterkraft, Q-Beats, Banky W, and Vebee. It also boasted heavy-hitting guest appearances from stars like Wande Coal, D’Prince, Banky W, and Skales.
