In a lighthearted yet revealing viral video, Amapiano music producer Kabza De Small playfully mocks his close friend and collaborator, DJ Maphorisa, amidst a gathering with fellow artists. The clip, which has gained significant attention on X (Twitter), features Kabza De Small humorously mimicking DJ Maphorisa’s stance on music royalties and studio ownership, sparking laughter and reactions across social media.
The video shows Kabza De Small, known for his infectious sense of humor, jesting about owning everyone’s music royalties simply because they are enjoying his hospitality. “Men, you see now we are working, we’re in the studio. You are eating my food, right? My electricity, my house, and my masters, all of them,” Kabza quips, causing an eruption of laughter among the gathered artists. The mockery directly references DJ Maphorisa’s reputed gatekeeping behavior in the music industry, which has been a topic of discussion and controversy.
DJ Maphorisa, who is no stranger to allegations of gatekeeping, has faced criticism for his approach to music rights and studio policies. Adding a layer of irony, DJ Maphorisa himself shared the video, acknowledging the humor in Kabza’s playful jab.
The video also mirrors DJ Maphorisa’s own words from a past Instagram live session, where he explained why he demands music rights from artists who use his studio. He firmly stated, “When you record your music on my computer, my studio, with my electricity, that song is mine, it belongs to me. You people do not know anything. I am the one who buys the food, the one who buys water and everything else. So, what do you own? Why must you own things you didn’t come with?”
Maphorisa’s rationale is that the resources he provides—studio space, equipment, electricity, and even food—entitle him to ownership of the music created in his studio. He further elaborated, “Please understand that when you work in someone’s studio, that project now belongs to them, it’s not yours. Buy your own studio and plug-ins, FruityLoops, a microphone, and everything else, then make music and release it. Then you will be the owner of your masters.”
While Kabza De Small’s video is meant in jest, it brings to light serious conversations about ownership, rights, and the dynamics of power within the music industry.
Kabza mocking DJ Maphorisa..😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Zb4jhqgKiJ
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) June 26, 2024
