Dremo, the Nigerian rapper whose real name is Aboriomoh Femi Raymond, has spoken about his time at Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), revealing that the label did not provide financial support during his tenure. In an interview with Echo Room, he stated that DMW functioned more as a platform than a fully supportive record label. He noted that there was little collaboration among artists on the label, including with fellow rapper Idowest, and that no official DMW compilation album was ever released. According to Dremo, management prioritised Davido, the label's CEO and lead artist, over other signees. "The label didn't give me money. It was like a platform. I didn't get what I wanted from the label," he said. This experience, he added, influenced his decision to pursue music independently.
Dremo's candid account exposes the imbalance in how some Nigerian record labels operate—where star power overshadows collective growth. With Davido at the centre of DMW's strategy, other artists like Dremo were left to navigate careers without financial backing or collaborative opportunities. This reality may force upcoming musicians to rethink signing with celebrity-led labels that offer visibility but limited structural support. Independence, as Dremo chose, might be the more sustainable path for artists seeking full creative and financial control.
