Afrobeats sensation Kizz Daniel has officially regained ownership of his debut album New Era, marking a significant victory in his years-long battle for control over his musical legacy.
The singer, whose real name is Daniel Anidugbe, announced the milestone via his X handle, thrilling fans with the news that he has finally retrieved the masters of his New Era album as well as his hit singles Yeba and Sofa from his former record label, G-Worldwide Entertainment.
In his heartfelt post, Kizz Daniel wrote:
“From long nights in the studio to several meditations, finally, I now own every song on the ‘New Era album’ 2016 + Yeba & Sofa (singles). I got my masters back. This means more than words can explain. Thank you for riding with me. #NewEra #MyCatalog #Grateful.”
Released on May 14, 2016, New Era was a commercial and critical success, solidifying Kizz Daniel’s status as one of the leading voices in Afrobeats. However, the journey that followed was riddled with legal tussles and contractual disputes.
In November 2017, Kizz Daniel parted ways with G-Worldwide and went on to establish his own imprint, Flyboy I.N.C. The split led to a drawn-out legal battle with his former label boss, Emperor Geezy. The artist was eventually acquitted of all charges brought against him.
Despite their fraught history, the relationship between Kizz Daniel and Emperor Geezy appears to have taken a positive turn. In a surprising move in 2023, Kizz Daniel announced that he had appointed Emperor Geezy as the Chief Executive Officer of Flyboy I.N.C., signaling a renewed sense of collaboration.
The reclaiming of his masters is being hailed as a major win for Kizz Daniel and a landmark moment in the Nigerian music industry, where artists’ rights and catalog ownership are increasingly gaining prominence.
With this victory, Kizz Daniel joins a growing list of global artists who have successfully taken back control of their creative work solidifying not just his music empire but also his legacy.
