D`banj”˜s quest for dominance in the Nigerian music scene won`t stop now; he might have lost out on signing Olamide and Davido but he has nicked another artiste, this time a familiar friend-foe.
The self-proclaimed ”˜African Michael Jacskon”˜, we`ve learnt has signed his friend-turned-foe-turned-friend Oluwadamilare Okulaja better known to the public as Durella.
The move might however not come as a surprise to everyone, considering that Banger Lee (that`s D`banj`s new nickname by the way) and the ”˜King of the Zanga` Durella recently settled their differences. Some weeks back, D`banj and his DB Records crew released a single ”˜Ibadi e”˜ off their compilation album (D` King`s Men) which featured a verse from Durella.
Fans were very excited to see the pair had reunited after a very long and well publicized fall out between the pop acts.
FLASHBACK
The beef between Durella and D`banj started in late 2006 when the latter accused Banger Lee of jacking his style of singing. Apparently when D`banj and Don Jazzy returned to Nigeria in 2004, they met up with Durella and soon became friends. Sources tell us that D`banj and Durella were quite close and were spotted together in the studio several times.
”˜I remember when Durella followed D`banj, Don Jazzy to Jahborne`s music factory studio when D`banj wanted to record ”˜Tongolo` remix`, a source recounts.
Of course D`banj had blown up and had released his second album ”˜Rundown` in 2007 when Durella signed with TC Records and finally launched his career. It didn`t take long for Durella to blow up too with hits like ”˜In da Zanga`, ”˜Wiskolowiska` and ”˜Shayo` gaining massive appeal. He also won the MTV and Zain ”˜Advance Warning` reality show in 2008.
Then came the interviews; Durella clearly stated that D`banj had stolen his style. The media of course jumped on it, comparing both artistes. Truthfully, they did sound very similar. And it seemed like D`banj was aware as he switched up the flow on the 2008 Nigerian Pop classic album ”˜The Entertainer`. Their fight sort of fizzled out though as Durella later backed off. ”˜D`banj is my man, aaah, I like his mo gbono feli feli jam`, Durella told Onome ”˜BigTyme` Oyaide in an interview on urban radio station Rhythm FM 93.7 in late 2008.
BACK TO THE MATTER
We are told that D`banj and DB Records bought out Durella`s contract from his present record labelIKONIC Music where the Pop act`s career has been in limbo since he signed in mid-2011 after ending his three-year contract with TC Records. His upcoming album ”˜Back/Better/Bada` has been pushed back one too many times
”˜Durella has signed with D`banj, he (D`banj) bought out the contract, that`s what I can tell you`, a source in Durella`s camp tells us.
A rep for D`banj refused to respond to enquiries after asking us to send text messages to her mobile phone.
Source:TheNETng
