Nigerian singer Mr Real has openly accused D’Banj of being stingy, revealing years of unpaid work and personal sacrifices during their professional relationship.
He claimed that despite working with D’Banj for more than two years, the only payment he received was five hundred dollars. “For what? I don’t know. Maybe na for moimoi, maybe not for Agidi, maybe na for Adi Para,” he said, questioning the fairness of the arrangement.
Mr Real dismissed the idea that respect for an industry elder should prevent him from speaking out. “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?” he said.
He described his dedication to the partnership, explaining that he often performed without asking for money and went days without pay. “They call me for shows, I go without asking for money. I would go perform 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 added.
Mr Real also noted that his experience affected how people in his community viewed him. “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,” he said.
His remarks have ignited discussions online about fairness, recognition, and how younger artists are treated by established figures in the Nigerian music industry.
“D’banj is a stingy man. If I die and …”
– Mr. Real pic.twitter.com/DbURfK921Y
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) December 15, 2025
