Chocolate City Releases Official Statement On The Jesse Jagz Story.

The rumour mill has been working overtime and the result is some information that has surfaced online regarding the Choc City versus Jesse Jags story. The NETNG.com website produced libellous information which made several allegations against the record label without confirming facts prior to the release.

In one allegation, it made comments that Choc City had two so-called “strong claims” against the said Artiste, one of which stated that Jesse Jags owed the label some un-paid debt and the other which claimed the label leaked that the Artiste was addicted to Marijuana. World PR Media (who recently began to handle PR activities on behalf of the label) released the following facts and forwarded the following statements on behalf of Choc City.

“Chocolate City has never released information on any owed monies by the Artiste “Jesse Jagz” and as a matter of fact is not being owed any monies by the Artiste through show performances or other means”. Furthermore, Chocolate City also states categorically that “Jesse Jagz does not have a history of Marijuana abuse neither did it or any of its staff make any allegations to that effect”.

In other parts of the defamatory release, it claimed that Jesse’s Manager “Sola Oladebo” was fed up of the Artiste but unwilling to leave him as yet. We can officially confirm that Jesse and Sola have had a very strong relationship over the past 5 years and this relationship continues as we speak. The entertainment website also continued to paint a very untrue picture of the relationship of the Artiste and the record label by claiming Jesse’s career was dormant. The Legal and Content Manager of the label commented and confirmed that “at no time has Jesse Jagz career been dormant. Stating that Jesse Jagz career has been dormant is a gross understatement as he has since the release of Jagz of All Trades, focused on the production aspect of his career working with Brymo and Ice Prince on their respective albums as well as featuring on several songs with various artists. His sophomore album Jagznation VOl1 will be released in 2013 as scheduled”. Furthermore, “it is untrue that Jesse Jagz has refused to appear at the Chocolate City Office when invited. At all material times Jesse and his team have always responded and communicated with Chocolate City in respect to all matters and continue to do so”.

Whilst certain issues are still under resolution, the Chief Executive Officer of the Music Group, Mr. Audu Maikori, confirms that “I never sent a summons to Jesse Jagz nor did I receive any derogatory email from Jesse Jagz refusing to attend any meetings”. What is even more ludicrous is that Audu Maikori has been in the USA on official business and as such couldn’t have summoned Jesse for a meeting when he was abroad. Jesse and Audu have and have always had a cordial and respectful relationship, a relationship that still exists till date.

Frankly we are surprised that a newspaper of such caliber as NETNG will give several conflicting stories in the same report. On one hand it states that “Attempts to reach him(Audu) and other staff at the label through emails, phone calls and text messages have been unsuccessful” Yet on the other hand they say that a “Chocolate City Staff” informed them about the above statements. For purposes of clarity, Chocolate City and its staff have not made any statements/ comments about any of the events till now.

The released statement from the Chocolate City camp ended with this encouraging note “Finally, we understand the concerns of fans and well wishers in respect the alleged Jesse Jagz “war” with Chocolate City. Our position is that there is no war within our camp. Like any relationship, there are ups and downs especially in our type of business, however, rest assured that these issues will be resolved and communicated subsequently”. “Thanks for your concern and continued support”.

Why Jesse Jagz’s Left Chocolate City.

Jesse Jagz on Wednesday, March 30, 2012 via his personal Facebook account shocked fans worldwide when he categorically stated that he was taking a ‘voluntary exit from his label Chocolate City’.

His statement:

‘I, Jesse Garba Abaga (also known as ‘Jesse Jagz’) an artist formerly signed to Chocolate City Music label hereby wishes to notify my fans and the general public about my voluntary exit from the label.

After my initial two year contractual agreement with Chocolate City, I do not wish to renew my contract with them and as such have proceeded to continue my music career with my new team at Jesse Jagz Nation.

I still maintain a cordial relationship with the management of Chocolate City and my former label mates and I wish them the best in all their future endeavours.

Any further information will be passed across through my publicist but until then, have a good day. Look out for my sophomore album JagZNation Vol. 1 coming out in July 2013′.

This comes as a sudden shock to everyone including some staff and executives at Chocolate City but those in the know will tell you this was long expected.

Close sources to Jesse Jagz and Chocolate City tell us there had been an ungoing war between the ‘Wetin dey’ singer and the popular label.

Jagz, one source told NET, ‘was fed up with the way the label was handling his career and decided to frustrate them in return.’

Jagz last release was his debut album in May 2010, after then he sort of went into comatose, save for his production of Ice Prince and Brymo’s albums in 2011 and 2012 and a few minor releases, we might not have noticed his presence.

‘Chocolate City have a one-year/one-artiste project run’, a staff at Chocolate City tells NET.

(2008-2009 was M.I, then ’09-’10 was Jesse, ’10-’11 was M.I again, ’11-’12 was Ice Prince, ’12-’13 was for Brymo, this year’s run ’13-’14 was meant to be for Jesse Jagz).

‘But Chocolate City signed three new acts – Pryse, Nosa and Victoria Kimani and started concentrating on the last two when they noticed Jesse had started giving them trouble’, our source adds.

‘Jesse would refuse to go to the label’s studio at Lekki Phase 1, he and the other choc boys M.I and Ice Prince had built separate studios in their Palmgroove, Lagos residence. Jesse just kept making music, a lot of music, over 100 songs’.

Then there were allegedly two strong claims the label made against ‘Jargo’; the first that he owed a lot of money.

‘Choc City said Jargo owed them money, there were several cases where he would travel to the North for a gig and wouldn’t bring back anything to the label. At times, he would claim they paid him just to appear and that didn’t hold under his contractual agreement’.

The second was his alleged substance abuse. There are very strong claims that Jesse Jagz, a truly talented rapper and producer, is addicted to Marijuana.

‘Everybody smokes ‘igbo’ but Jesse’s own was too much! He would be reeking of Igbo smell when he came up to the studio to hang out. Don’t you see his Instagram photos, don’t you read his revolutionary tweets? He thinks he’s Fela or Bob Marley for Christ’s sake!‘

Sources say Sola Oladebo, Jesse’s manager for the last three years, is tired of the whole situation.

‘Sola is tired, fed up but can’t leave him now, he has invested too much time in Jargo. At a time, there was nothing to do as Jesse career was dormant, so when Choc City fired Ice Prince’s former manager in 2012, they made Sola the interim manager’.

We are told till the night of his shocking announcement, elder brother M.I and the other Choc Boys were unaware of his self-imposed exit. M.I had just released his comeback single for his next album ‘The Chairman’ when Jesse dropped the bombshell.

‘M.I was as shocked as everyone else. He’s not happy Jesse didn’t tell him of the situation first. He has erased all thoughts of leaving Choc City now as a sign to show loyalty’, a friend to M.I says.

An insider told us over the weekend, that the last straw that broke the camel’s back was when Audu Maikori, top exec at the label summoned him via E-mail, he simply replied with two words ‘F**k You’.

Maikori could not be reached and we’re told that following Jagz’ statement, he immediately contacted all staff (including artistes) and instructed them not to speak to the press.

Attempts to reach him and other staff at the label through emails, phone calls and text messages have been unsuccessful.

Jesse’s manager could not be reached for comments as his mobile phone was switched off.

Will other acts follow suit? An insider tells us ‘Watch out for Brymo, he might also throw in the towel soon. He had issues with Vice Presido M.I in 2012, he also has grown wings, you can never tell’.

But there are the likes of M.I and Ice Prince  - two prized acts at the successful label who have publicly assured fans Choc City will remain home for a long time.

Jesse Jagz, 28, signed to the label along with his elder brother Jude ‘M.I’ Abaga in 2008 after the gifted rapper became an instant success with his debut ‘Talk About It‘.

Jesse Jagz in late 2009 went on to release his debut ‘Jagz of All Trades’ which spurned the hit songs ‘Wetin dey’ amongst other chart topping cuts.

[The NET]

CONFIRMED: CHOCOLATE CITY ANNOUNCES ARRIVAL OF FIRST FEMALE ACT - PRYSE

Connoisseur.com was undoutedly the first celebrity website to carry the news that Chocolate City which houses the likes of MI, Brymo, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince has signed its first female act. Now, barely 48 hours after we scooped the news, Chocity have issued an official press release to that effect. Below is it:

Press release

   The multi award winning record label, Chocolate City, is home to some of the music industry’s top house hold names, such as M.I, Jesse Jagz, Iceprince, and Brymo.

    With the rapid growth of the label and increasing success of artist management, Chocolate City has proven to be a hub of talent exploitation, and manifestation.  It is no surprise that a lot of youth, internationally and locally, have reached out to be signed to the label, in hopes of achieving their dreams.
    So far, Chocolate City has an all-male cast as its line up, and the general public have bugged the label to sign a female act.  Chocolate City, known for setting trends, decided to bide their time, and look out for the girl that possessed qualities of a Choc BOI – Bold, Original, Innovative.

     In came a young lady, full of energy and enthusiasm who welcomed the opportunity of being featured along-side, award winning Africa’s rapper numero uno, M.I on his upcoming mixtape “Deux Illegaux de Musique – Illegal Music 2”. After label heads, Audu Maikori, and Paul Okeugo heard her lyrical prowess on the song “No-tis” (a cover of Jay Z and Kanye West’s Otis), they decided to put her through the CC boot camp.

    Without further a-do, ladies and gentlemen, Chocolate City presents to the world, its first signed female artist, Pryse!(Pronounced Prize)

    Pryse is a talented Nigerian rapper who is eager to follow the footsteps of her fellow label mates in creating music that would not only entertain, but influence the public.  Born and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Princess Esindu a.k.a Pryse, started rapping in church at the tender age of 10.
     Pryse always knew she wanted to be a musician; encouraged by her family who own and run Frontline TV Studio in Port Harcourt, Pryse took a keen interest in entertainment.  Pryse knew she had to nurture her passion, so she went to study media in Nottingham, UK.  While in the UK, she took up writing her own songs, and co-producing with her older brother.  When asked who her influences are, Pryse lists, Jay Z, Drake, Lil Wayne, and M.I – it is precisely the admiration for M.I that led her to work her way to be signed by Chocolate City.  In an industry where female emcees are outnumbered by men, Pryse is sure she will keep the torch blazing for the young ambitious women out there.

   When asked what it meant to be the first female signed to Chocolate City, Pryse had this to say “ I thank God I’ve come this far, and I’m just happy its finally happened, and I’m ready to put in the work, so let’s go. I’m ready to be a BOI (Bold Original Innovative).”

The label is looking forward to presenting to the world its first signed female artist, Pryse.  “We hope they hear/see in her, what we did” – Doosuur Tilley-Gyado (Talent Mngr Chocolate City).

Pryse is available for interviews from March 20^th 2012.

MI, JESSE JAGZ WELCOMES FIRST FEMALE ACT TO CHOCOLATE CITY

It looks like top music label, Chocolate City which is now chaired by Hakeem Bello Osagie has signed their first female act. The label houses Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince, Brymo and MI.

Bankole Wellington a.k.a Banky W of EME wrote this on his facebook page. “wow. choc.city have gotten their first female artiste. Pryce”