UP-AND-COMING artists Mfundo “Tonic Jazz” Shangase and Drama Drizzy have accused DJ Kotini of exploiting them.
They claimed that they approached Kotini, whose real name is Siyabonga Zikode, with the song Thula.
“The song was finished, but we were looking for a platform. We then knocked on every door, including DJ Kotini’s asking for help. He promised to work with us,” said Drama Drizzy.
He said they gave the Durban-based record label owner a complete song.
“I wrote the song and put my vocals on it. Tonic Jazz did the beat and produced the song. However, DJ Kotini asked me to make space for Mpumi, so she could add her vocals and I did.”
Once the song was completed, DJ Kotini allegedly told them it would be owned by his artist, Sinenhlanhla “DJ Sthelo” Shozi.
“This confused us, but we agreed anyway. We became suspicious when he kept quite about the profits of the song.
“As time went by, the song gained popularity, but DJ Kotini would not discuss the issue of royalties and percentages,” said Drama Drizzy.
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Tonic Jazz said they worked with DJ Kotini for more than five months.
“We did several songs for him. Unfortunately, we never signed a contract as everything was done verbally. We even agreed he would promote our work and pay us accordingly,” he said.
After releasing the song, DJ Kotini allegedly distanced himself from them.
“The song became a hit and we asked him about payments for the work we’d done, but he ignored us. We then realised he exploited us. As a result we decided to find a new recording label,” said Tonic Jazz.
When DJ Kotini was approached for comment, he became defensive. “They can f**k off because I’m not going to pay them. I had no binding contract with them. I was still studying their characters, but they became impatient and left my company.”
