In many creative quarters, that can be seen as asking a man to sell his soul to the devil, exchanging art and a peace of mind for a shot at famous mediocrity and fickle economics.

On Saturday, June 4, 2016, a certain Milli, who once bore two banners of this embattled house, had his personal epistle to his fans filter through social media and into the news pages. That letter contained a revelation of tears, heartbreak, deliberate limitations and abuse. All of these came from the ‘Head Of The Family’ M.I Abaga.

Milli had been with M.I Abaga for two years, working on a number of projects for the house, but scarcely seeing the joy of his music rolling off the conveyor belt of the label. According to him, M.I had been his limiter, working hard to keep him in chains. Those chains fell off this year, after five grueling months of tactful negotiations and artistic silence from Milli and his camp.

This was a shock to everyone who knew M.I. He is the king of the big game, who seemed to care about ‘the art’ and ‘pushing the culture’, talking his way, and motivating everyone. But Milli’s story showed another side to him, the vindictive, controlling, and manipulative leader who withheld a Wizkid feature from his protégé because he could. A man who ignored the greater good and allowed his artiste choose between Wizkid and an altered version of ‘Unlooking’.

M.I has not caught a break since he assumed the mantle of leadership at the record label. Formerly seen as an artiste first, before the head of the defunct Loopy Music, the rapper escaped the prying eyes of the press when he was at Loopy. But Chocolate City which is a blessing, has come with its curses. M.I has been criticized for inactivity, vilified for taking the ‘wrong’ decision. During times when Chocolate City appeared to be stagnant, he took the heat, when their songs were not widely accepted, M.I was fingered for allowing that song come out.

Ice Prince, his deputy, who was bestowed the glowing distinction of Vice President, has not been that much of a support. Whenever his name had come up in the same breath as Chocolate City, it had come with negativity. A fight, an exit, or more music with Choc City Logo. Recently, he was made the leader of an imprint, Super Cool Cats, alongside Jesse Jagz, who had his claimed by the label.

The rapper has behaved admirably at most times though, mostly receiving his stick with aplomb and dignity, and at other times, engaging his detractors on social media. This year he has already released the third and  last of his Illegal Mixtape series, which contained a song directed at the renegade Milli.

Perhaps it was destined for Milli to not find himself with M.I. Maybe, they would have had a better relationship if the toga of leadership draped around M.I was absent. Afterall, they are both cerebral rappers with distinct flows, a knack for the game, and bonded by Hip-hop.

But it didn’t work out. Milli is having a reemergence, and M.I is gnashing his teeth.