Amapiano DJ and producer Kmat, real name Koketso Mathabathe, is opening up about the challenges of navigating the music industry—especially the lack of genuine support among artists. In a candid interview with Freshmen Magazine, the 26-year-old talent from Soshanguve reflected on how envy and competition are holding back artists from truly flourishing.
Kmat, who has made her mark in the Amapiano scene with electrifying sets and infectious energy, shared how one of her recent social media posts sparked unexpected backlash. “I was watching the Piano Pulse podcast and wrote something on my story, and somehow it got to their podcast,” she explained. “They said the reason I was feeling that way was because I’m not at the top anymore.”
Her original post, however, had nothing to do with a fall from grace. It was a heartfelt call for unity and mutual support among artists. “I was talking about us artists supporting each other,” she said. “If Durban Gogo’s song is the hottest right now, the least you can do is support her—because your moment is coming.”
Kmat emphasized that everyone has their season, and success shouldn’t come at the expense of tearing others down. “The only person that’s blocking your blessing is you and how you react to people’s wins,” she continued. “You need to support people and give each other love.”
She also addressed how the music industry often feels more like a competition than a community, saying, “The last thing you need is beef or people not supporting you because of their own agendas.”
Despite the influx of new talent, especially in Amapiano where a new “D3” seems to pop up every week, Kmat believes there’s more than enough space for everyone. “The pie is big enough,” she said. “We need to uplift and give new talent a platform to be seen, perform, and be heard.”
Kmat’s message is clear: real blessings come from lifting others up, not tearing them down. As the genre continues to grow globally, her words serve as a powerful reminder that collaboration, not competition, is the key to long-term success.
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