Hip-hop artists 'sick and tired'

2005-07-05 07:17

Siyabulela August

Cape Town - Cape Town's hip-hop artists say they are "sick and tired" of being ripped off by greedy promoters and concert organisers.

Popular bands say they sometimes only get paid R200 for a gig, or R33 each, by event organisers who are often contracted by the Presidential Urban Renewal Programme.

"We have been ripped off," said Isaac Mutant from the band Plain Madnizz.

"The hip-hop artists are hired for a minimum rate," adds veteran hip-hop MC Ashley Titus, aka 'Mr Fat', from Brasse Vannie Kaap.

Mr Fat said the promoters saw hip-hop music as something that was just a passing craze and could be abused.

He said he had also often been paid cheques that bounced when he tried to cash them.

He said he had been performing hip-hop music for over 18 years and he had learnt the best thing an artist could do was educate themselves about the business so that organisers couldn't just take advantage of their talent.

"Artists are either not paid for an agreed gig or, when they do get paid, they are not paid on time."

Kim Roberts, manager of hip-hop band Koloured Ass Krooks (KAK), said she felt "sick" about the way some organisers demotivated local talent. "Artists are either not paid for an agreed gig or, when they do get paid, they are not paid on time," said Roberts.

She said it often took about two to three weeks before artists even got paid.

Director of the Presidential Urban Renewal Programme in the Western Cape, George Penxa, said he was unaware that some artists were being exploited.

Penxa said there was an annual funding budget allocated for events during the year and that event organisers were hired to make the arrangements.

"There should be a signed agreement between the artists and organisers before the event," stressed Penxa.

He said he would personally investigate the artists' complaints.

Event manager Linda Mbeyiya said in most cases it was not a matter of exploitation but that a lot of money went into marketing the events.

Mbeyiya said there were very little profits left over after a gig was properly promoted and on most occasions well-known hip- hop artists would be invited to a gig to create a platform for local unknown talent.

- African Eye