Nigerian guitarist and singer-songwriter, Oluwafemi Abolade Leye, known professionally as Femi Leye (FL), has lambasted on-air personalities (OAPs) and radio stations demanding money to play his songs.

The Ẹkaabọ singer took to Instagram on Monday to set the records straight, sounding a note to warming to those fond of making such unrealistic demands.

FL who has two studio albums, two EPs, a live album and multiple singles is not small-timer, having worked and performed with Grammy Award winners/nominees including of Youssou N’dour, Angélique Kidjo, Salif Keita and Akon.

The 31-year-old has also played for the likes of Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold, Di’ja, Reminisce, Chidinma Ekile, Burnaboy, Juls, and Brymo.

In a multipost rant, the multi-instrumentalist who holds a 2016 Beatz Award for Best Afrojazz Producer said,

“It’s always annoying anytime I put out original music and you have these radio stations coming into my DMs on Twitter and saying that pay us this amount of money so that we can play your music.

“You need to understand first that if you play any of my contents, you are supposed to pay me and you will pay me because I have my lawyer. I will sue all of you. I know my right…

“First of all, creating this music, you think it’s easy? 98 per cent of what I’ve done in my career, I produced myself… Thankfully I have amazing engineers that work with me, so they mixed and mastered for me. I produce myself, I make this music, I sing, I perform, I write and then I put the music out and you’re telling me to pay you for what I created so that you can play it.

“This morning a station in Abuja still sent me a message. They will make you feel like ‘oh they love your music’ then you’ll now put the money thing like you have to pay us, I don’t have to pay you and I’m not going to pay you. You can keep your radio stations to yourself and that goes for radio stations in Lagos too.

“I don’t do interviews anymore because of this nonsense because the day I go for the interview, they play the music that same day and they don’t play it anymore. I’m not going to start rubbing hands with you or start saying oh please play my music, I’m not going to kiss your ass, no, I’m not that guy. I’m the wrong one. I’ll always make music and will always put it out. People that will listen to it will listen to it,” he said in an Instagram video.”

The Sise singer who perform to a 2500 audience at sky theatre Minnesota, USA opening for Congolese Artiste Fally Ipupa added, “I don’t play that game. see ehn, I’m going to be a musician for a long time… I’m not about the fame life… the reason why I started playing music was to cause a change, happiness and peace in people’s hearts and minds that is why I can play all these instruments, its a gift that God gave to me and I’m using it to the best of my ability.”

Watch the full video below:

 

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