DJ Maphorisa discussed one of the most significant collaborations in South African music, revealing astonishing details. During a noteworthy session on Podcast and Chill held on 17 September 2026, he explained how he stepped in to liberate Kabza De Small from a limiting agreement and what it ultimately resulted in for the major label involved.
Maphorisa was candid in his assessment of Kabza’s previous predicament. The amapiano titan indicated that his partner was ensnared in a binding deal that offered minimal financial gain and further restricted his artistic expression.
DJ Maphorisa’s intervention
Utilizing his established ties with Sony Music, Maphorisa capitalized on his standing within the industry to negotiate a favorable exit for Kabza. “I had to save him from that lame deal,” he reiterated during the podcast, emphasizing that loyalty was a primary motivator in his actions.
The outcome exceeded both artists’ expectations. Sony Music offered a R44 million advance, structured in a way that allocated R22 million to each artist. The funds were divided deliberately, with Maphorisa’s share directed towards his Blaqboy Music label, also termed New Money Gang, while Kabza’s funds were funneled into his PianoHub collective. This arrangement was crafted to afford each artist control over his own artistic and business endeavors.
Maphorisa recognized that large advances from record labels come with considerable expectations for consistent output, yet he expressed satisfaction in having transformed possibilities for South African talent in the international music landscape.
A bond forged before the riches
The financial narrative intertwines with their personal story. Briefly News previously highlighted how the two initially met in 2019, an encounter Kabza has recounted as transformative.
“I have always been a big fan of DJ Maphorisa and his work, and so when I first got his call when I was at home in Mpumalanga from him, I felt a lot of emotions, I won’t lie, because that phone call was the start of a great career that I didn’t expect. Maphorisa changed my life, and that opportunity doesn’t come easy or always, so when it presented itself, I grabbed it with both hands.”
Maphorisa’s explanations emerged just days ahead of their upcoming appearance at the Scorpion Kings Live concert scheduled for 19 September 2026, further solidifying their position as prominent figures in the amapiano genre, both on stage and within the industry.
Watch DJ Maphorisa’s interview below.
