Qing Madi’s New EP Faces Setback As Former Label Dispute Takes Another Twist

Just days after releasing her highly anticipated Barely Legal EP, Qing Madi found herself facing an unexpected setback as several songs from the project were removed from streaming platforms following legal takedown notices. Tracks including Pepper Me featuring Zinoleesky and Come Slide reportedly disappeared from platforms such as Spotify, leaving fans confused and raising fresh questions about the singer’s ongoing dispute with her former management company, JTON Music.

What should have been a celebratory moment for one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising stars has instead become the latest chapter in a highly publicized battle over contracts, creative freedom, and control of an artist’s career. The controversy has quickly become one of the most talked-about stories in the Nigerian music industry, with both sides offering sharply different accounts of what led to the fallout.

The dispute stems from Qing Madi’s decision to leave JTON Music, the company that helped guide her early career after signing her at just 16 years old. According to the singer, disagreements over her professional direction and creative independence eventually made the relationship untenable. She later publicly accused the company of financial misconduct and unauthorized actions involving her business affairs, allegations that intensified an already strained relationship.

The split soon moved to the courtroom, with JTON Music filing a lawsuit against the singer for alleged breach of contract and seeking substantial damages. While Qing Madi has maintained that the label’s claims were unsuccessful, the legal tensions have continued long after the initial court proceedings.

Determined to move forward independently, the 19-year-old partnered with MAD Solutions and released Barely Legal on May 29, 2026. The seven-track EP featured collaborations with some of the biggest names in Nigerian music, including Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, BNXN, Victony, and Zinoleesky. The project was widely seen as a statement of growth and independence, marking a new chapter in the singer’s rapidly rising career.

However, the celebrations were short-lived. JTON Music reportedly issued legal takedown notices against some of the songs, citing an injunction and arguing that the contractual dispute remains unresolved. The company maintains that the substantive case has not yet gone to full trial and that Qing Madi remains in breach of existing agreements.

Qing Madi has strongly rejected those claims, describing the takedowns as an attempt to disrupt her career momentum and prevent her from fully enjoying the success of her new project. The singer and her team are reportedly working with legal representatives and distributors to challenge the removals and restore the affected songs.