With an illustrious career spanning years, DJ Maphorisa has quickly become one of the most sought-after stars in South Africa. He has undoubtedly won big in recent years and has headlined several global shows.

GATEKEEPING WOES

The award-winning producer has also worked with some of the biggest acts in the music industry, including Canadian rapper Drake and Wizkid. Back home, he was credited for popularising the amapiano genre alongside Kabza De Small. The two have also been credited for thrusting several artists into the limelight.

However, against their big wins, DJ Maphorisa has had his fair share of drama. The muso has been accused of gatekeeping over the years. Several artists often take a swipe at DJ Maphorisa with cryptic posts, while others, including MacG, have openly accused him of gatekeeping.

In recent months, Sir Trill’s woes have often thrust DJ Maphorisa into top trends. The bubbly amapiano vocalist has made it known that a certain grootman from the industry was making it hard for him to release new music.

The allegations came barely a year after Sir Trill revealed he hadn’t received a cent from his music catalogue, which is worth millions of rands. Speaking to the media, the amapiano sensation said, “It’s tiring and mentally damaging. So many hits, and I’ve never seen a cent. I’m tired.”

Sir Trill added, “Never been an artist that talks much or exposes much. This will be a joke to some of you, which I understand. But it’s mentally damaging and exhausting. What are we working so much for?”

DJ MAPHORISA REVEALS PAYMENTS MADE TO SIR TRILL AMID EXPLOITATION ALLEGATIONS

However, against his recent cryptic statements, DJ Maphorisa made it known a few weeks ago that he was the ‘Father of Amapiano’ since he cared for most genre stars and helped them put food on the table. Fans were undoubtedly more than convinced it was a subtle jab at Sir Trill.

DJ Maphorisa reveals payments made to Sir Trill. Images: X @DjMaphorisa
Sir Trill has been calling DJ Maphorisa out for months. Earlier this week, DJ Maphorisa rubbished claims that he exploited Sir Trill and that the muso didn’t receive his money for his hits. Against Sir Trill’s L-Tido interview, DJ Maphorisa took to X to share proof of payments made to Sir Trill.

He captioned the now-viral photos, “Maybe he’s talking about other Grootman, but this young man needs help. I remember him not going to the Music Video, ya De Mthuda John Wick. I knew we would have a problem here: self-sabotage and karma from all the promoters. You f*** not pitching those gigs [sic].”

The photos have gained thousands of comments and reactions since they dropped online.

‘Maybe he’s talking about other Grootmans. This young man needs help,’ DJ Maphorisa claps back at exploitation allegations with receipts.