Chidi Okereke
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Soul E vs Colossal Entertainment
Remember “Soul E baba dey here …”? That song was a monster hit in 2006 /2007 – not only because it was a different kind of groovy sound, but because of the level of airplay it had on radio and TV. If you know how these things work, you’ll know that the record label must have spent a fortune on Soul E’s production and promotions. His public image was also well taken care of as he was seen as the fresh boy everybody loved.
Then all of a sudden, Soul E decided to get married to Queen Ure, and after the wedding, he issued a press statement saying he was quitting Colossal Entertainment. Apparently, his wife – a much older and richer woman – pushed him to drop the label, so she could become his sponsor. But Colossal rejected Soul E’s ‘resignation’. They issued a statement to radio and TV stations and banned them from playing Soul E’s songs. They took the crooner to court, claiming the contract he signed in 2005, stated that he will release 6 albums under Colossal Records, and so many other things which the singer agreed to. They also claimed they had picked him up from the streets, spent millions on branding him, making him a star, but had not gotten returns. They claimed that even the name Soul E was their trademark and he had no right to use it.
The record label eventually won the case, and a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the singer to pay Colossal the sum of N168million and five more albums to complete their agreement. And unless Soul E pays Colossal that money and give them the 5 albums, he can never perform on stage again as Soul E.
Has he paid? We don’t know. What we know is that he has since parted ways with Queen Ure (a union he says he regrets), and has become a Prophet and Gospel artiste.
