Nigerian rapper YCee has revealed that he has never received royalties from his music despite recording more than 100 million streams across various digital platforms.
The rapper made the disclosure during a recent appearance on the Afropolitan Podcast, where he spoke openly about his experience with his former record label, Tinny Entertainment, and the financial challenges he faced despite enjoying massive commercial success.
According to YCee, the recording agreement he signed with the label was based on a 70 to 30 revenue sharing arrangement. However, he explained that he never received any royalty payments because the label maintained that it had not yet recovered the money invested in his career.
Recalling that period, YCee said many of his songs became nationwide hits, but he earned nothing from the streaming revenue generated by those records.
He explained that while he appeared to be thriving from the outside, the financial reality behind the scenes was completely different.
“The mega hits and over 100 million streams I have recorded did not bring me any money. I was signed to Tinny Entertainment under a recording contract with a 70 to 30 split. At the time, my former employer believed the investment made in me had not yet been recovered, so I never received any royalty payments,” he said.
The rapper added that his music career was flourishing in many ways during that period. His songs dominated the airwaves, he secured endorsement deals, travelled to different countries, and enjoyed widespread public recognition.
Despite those achievements, he said the financial rewards many people assumed he was receiving never materialised.
“Everything looked good from the outside. The songs were everywhere, I was getting endorsement deals and travelling around the world, but financially things were not adding up. I never made any money from my streams,” he stated.
YCee’s revelation has surprised many music fans, especially those who believed his chart topping records had earned him substantial income over the years.
The rapper rose to national fame in 2015 after releasing the hit single Jagaban, which later received a remix featuring Nigerian hip hop star Olamide. He went on to cement his place in the industry with other successful songs, including Omo Alhaji and Juice, featuring Maleek Berry.
Following his departure from Tinny Entertainment, YCee continued making music while adjusting to the changing landscape of Nigeria’s music industry, which was increasingly shaped by digital streaming and the global rise of Afrobeats.
The rapper eventually stepped away from the spotlight for a period. Speaking about his absence, he disclosed that he spent time in and out of hospitals in 2020 after being diagnosed with a mental health condition.
YCee has now returned to the music scene with a new album titled Out of Sight Out of Mind Volume 1. The 14 track project showcases his versatility as both a rapper and singer, marking what he hopes will be a fresh chapter in his career.
