Tensions are rising within the Amapiano community as duo Amu Classic & Kappie publicly call out Simnandi Records and its founder DJ Jaivane for outstanding royalties. In a strongly worded joint statement released on 29 July 2025, the former ATK MusiQ members voiced their frustration over unpaid earnings from several hit projects released under the label.
The statement, issued under their current imprint Umzonkonko Music, reads:
“It is with heavy hearts that we, Amu Classic & Kappie, release this statement to publicly address the ongoing issue of unpaid royalties owed to us by Simnandi Records.”
The duo listed several projects including One for the World, The Piano Way, and the collaborative album From Soweto to the World – ATK as some of the major works for which they have not received compensation. Notably, they mention fan-favorite tracks like “Idlozi”, which played a pivotal role in establishing their presence in the genre.
Despite the commercial success of these releases and their contribution to the rapid growth of Amapiano music, the artists claim they have been met with silence from Simnandi Records since 2022. Their efforts to address the matter privately, they say, have been ignored—leaving them with no choice but to speak out publicly.
“Our patience has been met with silence. We did not want it to come to this, but we can no longer remain quiet while the fruits of our labour continue to benefit others without proper compensation or transparency,” the duo added.
Amu Classic & Kappie emphasized that their intention isn’t to stir conflict, but to demand fairness and accountability from the label that once managed them.
This is not the first time Simnandi Records has come under fire for royalty-related disputes. Just days prior, producer Smaki 08 accused the label of removing his name from DJ Jaivane’s upcoming album Onkgopotse, due for release on 31 August 2025.
The controversy now casts a shadow over the highly anticipated album launch, with increasing calls for transparency in music business practices, especially regarding independent artists and producers.
