Amapiano producer DJ Maphorisa unconsciously admitted that music sensation, Samthing Soweto, owned the master rights to Isiphithiphithi album amid their feud.
A series of X posts authored by Samthing Soweto, real name Samkelo Mdolomba, on Tuesday, narrated how Maphorisa said the musician has no rights over the album.
However, Samthing Soweto maintained he paid for his masters. “DJ Maphorisa should not lie the way he does, it is gonna get him into trouble one day. I paid Phori for my masters. I paid an amount that he asked for at that time,” he said.
Shortly after the candid posts, the DJ defended himself in a video saying he called Samthing Soweto to invoice him for Amantombazane, Emcimbini and Akulaleki hit singles.
Maphorisa, who has been continuously accused of exploiting local artists, among them Sir Trill, accused Samthing Soweto for wanting full ownership of the mentioned songs.
“Samthing Soweto please don’t make us kids. I asked you on the phone three years ago to send me an invoice. Let us pay you the way you paid us for Isiphithiphithi. Send us the invoice, and let us be square. Why do you want to win everything? Why do you want to own all the masters? Does it make sense? Are we working for you?
“Send us an invoice and we pay you for the Amantombazane and Emcimbini songs, and be fair. You cannot own all the masters. What the f*ck is going on? We can give you your money back, so we own the masters,” said Maphorisa.
In a live video on Instagram last Tuesday, Maphorisa initially told netizens that Samthing Soweto was given the Isiphithiphithi masters for free, while claiming he was difficult to work with.
Maphorisa said the album was recorded in his house, with DJs, Mas Musiq and Lawd Weezy. The DJ’s defensive video comes after Soweto was not credited for the ‘Amalanga Awafani’ single.
“We gave you (Samthing Soweto) the master (to Isiphithiphithi). The album was recorded in my house; we f*cken gave him the master. We could not record the album because of your sh*tty attitude,” said Maphorisa.
The DJ insisted he paid Samthing Soweto amid exploitation allegations for all parties involved to have an equal percentage of Amantombazane and Emcimbini singles.
Maphorisa further slammed the musician for being a hypocrite.
“You think you are clever, don’t think we are stupid. I asked how much you want for Amantombazane. You are not innocent in this matter. If we own the masters and pay you back your money, you are going to lose. So, don’t think you are smart please. I am tired of this back and forth as if we are children.
“You did not want the song to be out because you wanted to sabotage us. Now you are feeling the heat, people are seeing your real character. Don’t explain anything, but send the invoice, we will pay you your money. Or we give your money back, and we own 50% of the song,” said Maphorisa.
Responding to Maphorisa’s video, Samthing Soweto said: “Ladies and gentlemen, here it is, DJ Maphorisa confirms that I paid to own my work/masters, which was the agreement we had versus what he said in his initial video, where he stated that he gave me my masters. There is nothing wrong with me wanting to own my work.”
The Star
hope.mafu@inl.co.za