Chocolate City

Chocolate City is a Nigerian record label founded in 2005 by lawyers Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo, and Yahaya Maikori. It operates as the music arm of Chocolate City Group, an entertainment organization whose activities have also included distribution, events, media, live entertainment, experiential marketing, and music publishing. The label is associated with the development of Nigerian hip-hop and Afrobeats and has been one of the country’s most visible independent music companies. The business grew out of an earlier creative and nightlife network. The founders began with a nightclub venture in 1997, which developed into a promotions operation serving northern Nigeria. In 2001, Audu Maikori and Paul Okeugo established the Guild of Artistes and Poets, commonly known as the G.A.P., an arts-appreciation and youth-engagement society focused on music, poetry, creativity, and artist support. The organization built communities in Jos, Abuja, and Lagos and helped expose the need for professional representation and legal assistance for Nigerian performers. Maikori’s legal background enabled him to provide representation and eventually formalize Chocolate City as a music business. Chocolate City Music entered the mainstream in 2005. Jeremiah Gyang was among its earliest signings, while the label subsequently helped develop artists including M.I Abaga, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Brymo, Nosa, Victoria Kimani, DJ Caise, DJ Lambo, and others. Its work extended beyond releasing recordings: the company combined artist development, management, promotion, branding, and event activity. It also worked with artists such as Djinee and Aṣa at stages in their careers. The label’s roster and related projects contributed to the international visibility of Nigerian urban music and helped establish a more structured independent-label model in the country. During M.I Abaga’s period of influence, Chocolate City expanded its development structure through initiatives including 100 Crowns, associated with Blaqbonez, and UpNorth Records, associated with ClassiQ and Dijay Cinch. These projects gave the wider group mechanisms for nurturing emerging hip-hop talent while maintaining a recognizable Chocolate City identity. The group also developed related business arms such as Chocolate City Distribution, Chocolate City Events, Chocolate City Media, CCX, Bean Agency, and Replete Publishing, although the composition and branding of those activities have changed over time. In April 2015, Maikori moved from day-to-day leadership of the music label after a decade and became group chief executive of Chocolate City Group. M.I Abaga was appointed chief executive of Chocolate City Music, while Ice Prince became vice president of music. Paul Okeugo became group chief operating officer. This transition reflected the company’s attempt to separate label management from the broader group’s expanding entertainment and services portfolio. Chocolate City has also pursued international partnerships and cultural-industry development. In March 2019, it entered a worldwide distribution agreement with Warner Music Group through Warner’s independent-services division, ADA. The arrangement was intended to place Chocolate City artists within Warner’s wider catalog and provide international distribution and artist services while retaining the label’s independent identity. The company has collaborated with the British Council, Nigerian government institutions, and other international and regional creative organizations on music promotion and capacity-building initiatives. Its current and recent artist associations have included Young Jonn, Blaqbonez, Candy Bleakz, Tar1q, Major AJ, and Noon Dave, while many earlier acts have departed or completed their label relationships. Chocolate City’s positioning combines local artist development with international distribution, management, and creative-industry services. It is best understood not simply as a catalog owner but as a Nigerian entertain…

Chocolate City’s roots predate the formal creation of its record label. The founders first developed a nightclub business in 1997, which became a prominent promotions operation in northern Nigeria. The venture gave Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo, and Yahaya Maikori practical exposure to the country’s entertainment ecosystem and to the challenges facing local performers. In 2001, Maikori and Okeugo founded the Guild of Artistes and Poets, known as the G.A.P. The organization functioned as an arts-appreciation and youth-engagement society, bringing together people interested in music, poetry, creativity, and cultural expression. Its meetings and activities expanded across Jos, Abuja, and Lagos and attracted a substantial community at its peak. The G.A.P. also highlighted the lack of effective legal and business representation for artists. Maikori, a lawyer, responded by offering pro bono assistance and later using his professional earnings to register Chocolate City as a formal music company. Chocolate City Music was launched in 2005. Jeremiah Gyang was an early signing and helped establish the label’s reputation for artist development. The company then became associated with a generation of Nigerian hip-hop and popular-music performers, including M.I Abaga, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Brymo, Nosa, Victoria Kimani, DJ Caise, DJ Lambo, and others. It also supported or managed careers connected with artists such as Djinee and Aṣa. Through recordings, artist management, promotion, and live activity, Chocolate City participated in the professionalization and internationalization of Nigeria’s independent music sector. The company expanded beyond a single label. Its wider group structure included distribution, events, media, live entertainment, experiential marketing, and publishing activities. Under M.I Abaga’s influence, development initiatives such as 100 Crowns and UpNorth Records were used to identify and cultivate additional hip-hop talent. Blaqbonez became associated with 100 Crowns, while ClassiQ and Dijay Cinch were associated with UpNorth Records. These projects broadened Chocolate City’s reach while preserving a focus on Nigerian artists and contemporary African music. Chocolate City’s growing profile brought recognition from cultural and business institutions. In 2007, Audu Maikori won the British Council’s International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year award. The company later worked with the British Council and Nigeria’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism on creative-industry initiatives, including participation in the London Calling 2008 program. Reuters also produced a documentary about the company’s development and its relationship to the economics of music. In 2011, Chocolate City Group was a runner-up in the African Awards for Entrepreneurship. A major management transition took place in April 2015. After approximately ten years guiding the label, Maikori moved to the group level as chief executive of Chocolate City Group. M.I Abaga became chief executive of Chocolate City Music, Ice Prince became vice president of music, and Paul Okeugo became group chief operating officer. The change reflected the group’s move toward a multi-business entertainment structure rather than a label operating in isolation. In March 2019, Chocolate City entered a worldwide distribution agreement with Warner Music Group through ADA, Warner’s independent distribution and artist-services division. The arrangement connected Chocolate City’s artists and catalog to a global distribution and services network while maintaining the company’s identity as a Nigerian music enterprise. The label’s artist associations have continued to evolve. Artists identified with its current or recent roster include Young Jonn, Blaqbonez, Candy Bleakz, Tar1q, Major AJ, and Noon Dave; earlier roster members include M.I Abaga, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Brymo, Victoria Kimani, Nosa, DJ Caise, DJ Lambo, Jeremiah Gyang, Dice Ailes, Ruby Gyang, Koker, and Pryse. Because label rosters and group divisions change over time, current affiliations require ongoing verification.

1. 2019Worldwide Warner Music Group distribution deal

   Chocolate City partnered with Warner Music Group’s ADA division for worldwide distribution and artist services.

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2. 2015Label and group leadership transition

   Audu Maikori moved to group leadership, M.I Abaga took charge of the music label, Ice Prince became vice president of music, and Paul Okeugo became group chief operating officer.

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3. 2011African Awards for Entrepreneurship recognition

   Chocolate City Group won the runner-up position in the African Awards for Entrepreneurship.

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4. 2008London Calling creative-industry delegation

   Chocolate City collaborated with the British Council and Nigeria’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism on a delegation to London Calling 2008.

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5. 2007British Council international entrepreneurship award

   Audu Maikori received the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year award from the British Council.

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6. 2005Chocolate City Music launches

   The formal record-label business entered Nigeria’s mainstream music industry, with Jeremiah Gyang among its earliest signings.

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7. 2001Guild of Artistes and Poets is established

   Audu Maikori and Paul Okeugo created the G.A.P. arts society to support music, poetry, creativity, and youth engagement.

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8. 1997Chocolate City begins as a nightclub venture

   The founders’ entertainment activities began with a nightclub that developed into a major promotions operation in northern Nigeria.

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A Nigerian independent-minded music and entertainment platform focused on discovering, developing, managing, promoting, and distributing African artists, with a strong association with Nigerian hip-hop and Afrobeats.

• Chocolate City Music catalogRecorded music2005

  The label’s core offering is its recorded-music catalog, built through releases by Nigerian and African artists working in hip-hop, Afrobeats, and related popular genres. Chocolate City has combined label ownership or administration with artist development, promotion, and distribution. Its catalog is associated with artists including M.I Abaga, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Brymo, Jeremiah Gyang, Blaqbonez, and other current or former acts.

• Artist development and managementArtist services2005

  Chocolate City has historically provided more than recording contracts, helping discover, develop, manage, and promote artists. Its model has included career planning, public relations, live opportunities, brand development, and coordination with distribution partners. Development initiatives such as 100 Crowns and UpNorth Records extended this function to emerging hip-hop artists.

• Chocolate City DistributionMusic distribution

  Chocolate City Group has operated distribution activities alongside its record label. In 2019, the company added a worldwide relationship with Warner Music Group through ADA, connecting its releases and artists with an international distribution and artist-services network.

• 100 CrownsSub-label and artist-development imprint

  100 Crowns was a Chocolate City-associated development imprint created during M.I Abaga’s period of influence. It was linked with the discovery and signing of Blaqbonez and served as a platform for developing hip-hop talent within the wider Chocolate City ecosystem.

• UpNorth RecordsSub-label and artist-development imprint

  UpNorth Records was another Chocolate City-associated imprint. It signed or developed artists including ClassiQ and Dijay Cinch and reflected the group’s effort to broaden its artist pipeline and represent northern Nigerian creative talent.

• Chocolate City Events and media servicesEvents and media

  The wider Chocolate City Group has included event, live-entertainment, and media activities. These businesses complement the label by creating performance opportunities, promotional channels, and commercial services around artists and creative projects.

• 2008London Calling 2008 creative-industry delegation

  Nigeria · United Kingdom

  Chocolate City worked with the British Council and Nigeria’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism to support a delegation of Nigerian music-industry stakeholders to London Calling 2008, with the aim of expanding international opportunities for Nigerian creative businesses.

  Outcome. The initiative increased international exposure for Nigerian music stakeholders and supported broader creative-industry capacity building.

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• 2001Guild of Artistes and Poets

  Nigeria

  Before the record label was launched, the founders created an arts society centered on music, poetry, creativity, and youth engagement. It became an important community-building and artist-support initiative connected to Chocolate City’s origins.

  Outcome. The G.A.P. helped build a creative network and highlighted the need for professional legal and business representation for Nigerian artists.

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• 2019Enter worldwide ADA distribution partnershipStrategy

  Chocolate City sought broader international access for its artists and catalog while continuing to operate as a Nigerian music company.

  What changed. The label signed a worldwide distribution agreement with Warner Music Group through ADA, Warner’s independent distribution and artist-services division.

  Aftermath. Chocolate City artists gained access to Warner’s international distribution infrastructure and artist services.

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• 2015Separate music-label leadership from group leadershipStrategy

  Chocolate City had expanded from a record label into a broader group with media, events, distribution, live entertainment, marketing, and publishing activities.

  What changed. Audu Maikori became chief executive of Chocolate City Group, M.I Abaga became chief executive of Chocolate City Music, Ice Prince became vice president of music, and Paul Okeugo became group chief operating officer.

  Aftermath. The restructuring created a clearer distinction between operating the record label and managing the wider entertainment group.

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• 2019Chocolate City enters worldwide distribution partnership with Warner Music Group

  Chocolate City signed a worldwide distribution agreement with Warner Music Group through ADA, giving its artists access to Warner’s catalog infrastructure, distribution network, and artist services.

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• 2015Chocolate City changes music-label leadership

  Audu Maikori stepped back from operating the music label after ten years and assumed group-level leadership, while M.I Abaga became chief executive of Chocolate City Music and Ice Prince became vice president of music.

  Leadership change
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• 2011Chocolate City receives African Awards for Entrepreneurship recognition

  Chocolate City Group received the runner-up prize at the African Awards for Entrepreneurship, an achievement described as unusual for an entertainment company.

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• 2007Audu Maikori wins British Council International Young Music Entrepreneur award

  Audu Maikori received the British Council’s International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year award, bringing international recognition to Chocolate City’s role in Nigeria’s creative economy.

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1. Chocolate City (record label)
2. Chocolate City official website