Nigerian singer and social media personality Mr Real has publicly criticised D’Banj, accusing the veteran musician of being stingy and ungrateful in their professional relationship.

During his appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast, Mr Real said, “D’Banj is a stingy man. If I die and D’Banj no settle me… after working for him for more than two years, the only thing I gained was five hundred dollars. For what? I don’t know. Maybe na for moimoi, maybe not for Agidi, maybe na for Adi Para.”

He dismissed the notion that respect for an industry elder should prevent him from speaking his truth, adding, “Forget all this OG nonsense. Because an OG does that mean I shouldn’t say my fate? I shouldn’t say the truth? Because it’s an OG that I’m disrespecting?”

Mr Real recalled his sacrifices and dedication, revealing, “They call me for shows, I go without asking for money. I would go perform without asking for money. I would go days without asking for money. He would take me around, carry me up and down, show people as if I were his artist… and after all that, people would say I’m stingy.”

He explained how his experience with D’Banj affected his reputation, saying, “Because of this man, people on my streets felt I was stingy because they felt I was seeing the money. But I didn’t have the money; I was just there giving my all.”

The remarks have sparked reactions online, with fans and industry observers debating compensation, recognition, and the treatment of younger artists by established stars in the Nigerian music industry.