Nigerian music producer and influencer Samklef has stirred controversy by claiming ownership of six songs from Afrobeat star Wizkid’s debut studio album, Superstar.
In a post on social media platform X, Samklef alleged that the 2011 album was recorded at his studio without payment for the recording sessions. He also stated that no formal contract was signed at the time and said he is prepared to reopen discussions with Banky W, co‑founder of Empire Mates Entertainment (EME), the label that released the album.
“Thank God I never used my masters to collect any loan. I’m about to negotiate with Banky W since I didn’t sign any contract from the beginning. I hope the Wizkid Superstar masters were never sold,” Samklef wrote in the post.
“I own six 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.”
Samklef’s claim has raised questions about his legal rights to the songs, with observers noting that he did not provide documentation to substantiate the ownership assertions. It also remains unclear whether the producer has taken legal steps to assert rights over the contested tracks.
Superstar, released on June 12, 2011, marked a major breakthrough in Wizkid’s career and is widely regarded as one of the defining albums in modern Nigerian pop music. The project included production from several notable music producers, including Samklef, E‑Kelly, Jay Sleek, Shizzi, DJ Klem, Masterkraft, Q‑Beats, Banky W, and Vebee.
The album prop
