LADIPOE’s next move is about the power of his pen. The Nigerian rapper and songwriter has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony Music Publishing Nigeria, bringing his existing songwriting catalogue and future compositions under the company’s publishing arrangement. Announced on 22 October 2026, the deal arrives at a significant point in his career, following the release of his latest album, REVIVAL, and his 2026 BET Hip Hop Awards nomination for Best International Flow. For an artist whose reputation has been built as much on the precision of his writing as on his delivery, the agreement puts his songwriting at the centre of an expanding international conversation.
Born Oladipo Eso, LADIPOE has spent much of his career developing a distinctive place within Nigerian hip-hop. His writing favours layered references, considered wordplay and narratives that reward close listening. Songs such as Know You, featuring Simi, and Feeling, featuring BNXN, introduced his music to wider audiences, while records including Running with Fireboy DML and No Level with British-Nigerian rapper Pa Salieu have extended his reach across different musical audiences. His identity as the self-styled Leader of the Revival has also become closely associated with his effort to give Nigerian rap a stronger place in the country’s popular music conversation.
The publishing agreement is particularly relevant because it concerns the songs themselves, rather than simply the recordings listeners hear on streaming platforms. Music publishing covers the rights attached to a composition, including its lyrics and melody. A publisher can help administer those rights, register works, pursue licensing opportunities and collect royalties when songs are used commercially. Sony Music Publishing says the agreement covers LADIPOE’s catalogue and future works written by him, on a worldwide basis. The financial terms and duration of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed.
For songwriters, the value of such an arrangement can extend well beyond the release of a successful single. A composition can generate income through streaming, radio play, public performance, film and television placements, advertising and other forms of commercial use. A worldwide publishing partner can also provide access to licensing networks and royalty collection infrastructure across territories. For LADIPOE, whose writing is central to his artistic identity, the opportunity lies in giving those compositions a wider commercial life while reaching audiences and creative partners beyond Nigeria.
His latest album, REVIVAL, released in July 2026, provides an important backdrop to the announcement. The project reflects his continued interest in the place of lyricism within contemporary African music and his belief that Nigerian songwriting can travel internationally without losing its cultural character. In his statement following the signing, LADIPOE described the album as a new chapter, creatively and personally, adding that he was excited to have Sony Music Publishing as a partner as he continued to develop his music and writing. His manager, Emmanuel Egwere, similarly highlighted the opportunity to give the rapper’s songwriting greater reach.
Uzor Daniel, Director of A&R and Operations at Sony Music Publishing Nigeria, described the agreement as part of the company’s wider effort to invest in African songwriters whose work can connect with audiences across borders. That interest reflects a larger shift in the international music business. As African music gains audiences in more territories, attention is extending beyond performers and hit records to the writers, composers and producers whose contributions shape the sound. Publishing agreements are one way global music companies are positioning themselves within that expanding market.
LADIPOE’s relationship with Mavin Records remains an important part of his career story. He joined the label in 2017 as its first rapper, helping establish a place for hip-hop within an imprint widely associated with Nigerian pop music. The Sony agreement, however, is a publishing arrangement and should not be confused with a transfer of his recording contract or master recordings. Those are separate rights, governed by separate agreements. The distinction matters in an industry where the ownership and commercial administration of a song can involve several different parties.
For LADIPOE, the agreement places his writing before a wider international network at a time when African hip-hop is continuing to negotiate its place in the global music economy. His BET Hip Hop Awards nomination and the release of REVIVAL have brought renewed attention to his artistry, but the publishing deal points to another measure of his professional growth: the value of the work behind the voice. The songs have found listeners. The next opportunity is to make sure the writing behind them can travel further, reach new markets and create lasting value.
