Harrysong, Five Star music beef is just history repeating itself

“History repeats itself and that’s just how it goes…” J. Cole sang on the song ‘Fire Squad’ off his 2014 Forest Hill Drive” album. Of all the many truisms that the album offered to fans and critics, no line contains deeper truth than that line.

Harrysong and Five Star Music’s fight obeys that truth: Their current squabble over contracts and the finer points of obligations might be new to everyone, but for Harrysong and Kcee, they have been here before, just that the players were slightly different the last time.

Harrysong is breaking his contract with Five Star Music, and seeking newer pastures after spending three years with the record label. In that time he has gained numerous accomplishments by scoring some of the most viral hits, had the most successful Nelson Mandela tribute song, attended the Grammy Awards, and won some awards for himself. Not bad at all.

But he has a history of breaking contracts. The first time Harrysong approached Five Star Music via Kcee to get signed to the record label was in 2008. That request was turned down because he was forcefully trying to break his contract with Question Mark Entertainment, which was owned by music entrepreneur, Kevin Luciano.

Harrysong approached Five Star while still legally bound to a contract with Question Mark. After investigations by Kcee and co, the offer was declined. That was the height of Kevin Luciano’s power, and nobody dare cross the man. At the height of his powers, Kevin had broken through Asa, Siver Sadihh, Street Monks and more. Harrysong’s contract was airtight, and could not be compromised.

Five Star Music declined.

In 2012, Harrysong fulfilled a part of his deal with Kevin Luciano; He released his debut album, “Testify”, on April 18. The album which failed to spark in the market had few singles worthy of note.

But Harrysong was already fluttering his eyelashes at Five Star Music. Five Star and Kcee, accepted Harrysong, and began work with him under the pretext of a collaboration. Harry wrote for Kcee, and injected new creativity into Five Star Music. Due to Harrysong and Kcee’s partnership, the hit songs ‘Limpopo’ and ‘Pull over’ were born.

In 2014, Kevin Luciano sued Harrysong and Five Star Music.

Five Star Music had begun to work with Harrysong before his contract ended. And although they were working on a deal with Kevin Luciano which would have become a partnership between both labels. They had gone ahead to announce Harrysong’s signing without concluding on anything. Technically, Harrysong had left Question Mark without fulfilling all the terms of the contract, and Kevin had valid grounds to sue.

Knowing the vulnerability of Mr. Harry on the impending legal suit, Five Star solicited the help of certain well respected individuals in the Music industry to wade into the matter, one of which was veteran Daddy Showkey. Mr. Luciano agreed to withdraw his suit against Harry and Five Star. but, not without consequential and settlement fees of Five Million Naira.

This was Harrysong seeking to leave his legally binding contract with a record label, and Five Star Music, by working with Harrysong, helped that come to fruition. This time, he is doing similar to them.

History undeniably repeats itself.

No, it will not be exactly the same actions, not every part will be the same. History will not literally repeat itself. However the earth will continue to rotate around the sun and people will cause conflicts that are either worldwide or between two human beings. History repeating itself is unavoidable. The nature of mankind has always been the same and always will be, the only differences in it are the timeline and technology, which change the way we display this nature.

For Five Star Music, it’s the same game they played to get him in. They are being played this time around by Harrysong.

Déjà vu baby.