Chocolate City Music has dismissed allegations circulating online that the Nigerian record label is funded by the CIA or has a contractual relationship with Universal Music Group. In a statement posted to its official X account on Tuesday, the company called the claims "false and irresponsible" and reaffirmed its independence.
The label, whose roster includes BlaqBonez, Young Jonn and M.I, said it has operated as an independent African business for more than two decades. The statement rejected suggestions that it is funded, controlled or directed by any foreign intelligence agency or state actor.
"Our attention has been drawn to false claims circulating about Chocolate City Music," the statement read. "For over 20 years, we have built an independent African business through talent, hard work and legitimate commercial partnerships. Any suggestion that Chocolate City Music is funded, controlled or directed by any foreign intelligence agency or state actor is false and irresponsible."
The company also addressed what it described as a "fundamental error" in the content spreading online: the claim that it has a relationship with Universal Music Group. Chocolate City said it has never had a contractual relationship or affiliation with UMG, and that the suggestion misrepresents the nature of its operations.
"Chocolate City Music has never had, and does not have, any contractual relationship or affiliation with Universal Music Group," the statement continued. "Chocolate City Music remains wholly Nigerian-owned, proudly independent, and focused on building lasting value for African creatives and the African creative industries."
The statement arrives as conversations on social media have turned to the ownership, funding and international affiliations of Nigerian music companies. Chocolate City is one of the country's older labels, having been active since the early 2000s. Over that period it has worked with a number of notable artists and executives across Nigeria's entertainment sector.
The label's response does not name the specific posts or accounts that prompted it. The claims it refers to appear to have gained traction over the past week, though the exact origin of the allegations is not clear from the statement.
Chocolate City's history in the Nigerian music industry stretches back to a period when the domestic industry was far smaller than it is today. The label has been home to several generations of artists, from early acts in the 2000s to the current roster that includes BlaqBonez and Young Jonn. M.I, one of the most respected rappers in the country, has been associated with the label for years.
The company has also been involved in distribution and partnerships with international firms over time, though the statement makes clear it does not have a formal arrangement with UMG. The distinction matters in an industry where major labels have acquired stakes in or signed distribution deals with African companies.
Universal Music Group has expanded its presence in Africa in recent years, including through partnerships and acquisitions in Nigeria and other markets. That activity has made the company a frequent topic of discussion in conversations about the business of African music, and it may be part of why the allegations about Chocolate City gained attention.
Chocolate City's response is direct and leaves little room for ambiguity. The label described the claims as false, denied any foreign intelligence funding, denied any UMG affiliation, and restated its ownership structure. It did not announce any legal action or further steps in the statement.
The post appeared on the label's official X account and was later picked up by Nigerian music blogs. The statement itself is brief, running a few sentences, but it covers the main points of the allegations: funding, control and corporate affiliation.
For a label that has spent two decades building its name in African music, the response serves as a public reset of its position. The company ended its statement by describing itself as wholly Nigerian-owned and focused on building value for African creatives.
According to NotJustOk.
