Rashid Kay Discloses The First Music Record Label To Exploit Artists in South Africa

Rashid Kay Discloses The First Music Record Label To Exploit Artists in South Africa. Contracts should keep the music industry from erupting, but we’ve recently seen many artists suffer as a result of “inequality” in their collaborative efforts. SA rappers have been amongst the victims who have been dragged on contractual disputes with record labels, with the likes of Emtee, Nasty C, Riky Rick to mention but a few who have endured massive blows.

During one of his Masterclass Podcast episodes, Rashid Kay weighed in on contacts and spilt sheets in the music space and how artists are being robbed of their dues. The rapper further explained that the current record labels have adopted the blueprint that was used by the first record labels that came to invest in South African music many years back. He alluded that those blueprints were made to benefit the record label owners, not the artists.

“From the beginning of this music industry, the first labels that exploited South Africa were EMI and Dalom that’s way back,” he said. Rashid Kay further went on to say that these record labels did not come to invest in music to make Africans rich rather exploit African artists. “When these foreigners came into the country, they were not here to make Africans rich, EMI means English Music Industry, they don’t give a f*** about Africans,” explained Rashid Kay.

The acclaimed Radio DJ revealed that the current contractual problems in the SA music space are still there because record labels are still using the same methods which were used by foreign record label owners. “The biggest problem we have is that all the record labels that we have today are still using the same blueprint from Dalom and EMI like the ancient blueprint back in the days that was here to exploit.” Rashid Kay said.

The Guns Bars hitmakers concluded by mentioning that it’s not surprising why most artists nowadays are complaining about record label contracts. He revealed that most South African artists have died broke because of the unfair terms that come with contracts. “That’s why Mahlathini died broke, that’s why a lot of South African legendary musicians died broke, it was because of those contracts, and these new record labels are still using the same blueprint that’s why artists are still complaining,” he said.