By: Natasha Archary
Making headlines over the past few months, Makwa lays it all bare on The Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30 with DJ Keyez. The popular music producer who’s known for churning out hit tracks for AKA, Bucie Nkomo, DJ Fistas, Touchline, JR, and Kwesta to name a few hit back at artists for withholding his payment.
Despite the success of their tracks, Makwa claimed he wasn’t paid a cent by the artists for songs he worked on.
Born and raised in Katlehong, East of Johannesburg, the producer made a name for himself at RapLyf Records. The label that’s owned by Kwesta and Kid X.
Makwa met Kwesta in 2013 after Kwesta heard his song Intwe Right featuring TLT. After Kwesta tracked him down, he requested the producer’s help with his track Noma Yini.
Kwesta’s successful album Dakar II was produced by Makwa, DJ Maphorisa, and others.
In May, Makwa took to Instagram live to share how Kwesta, DJ Maphorisa, MFR Souls and Ms Cosmo hadn’t paid him a cent.
The father of 2 is tired of being treated like a doormat in an industry he helped build.
His story is one that is all too familiar in the South African music industry.
Unpaid drama aside, Makwa has a new album out, 16S91 which dropped in September.
This is his first project under his record label Mzonkonko Records.
The lonely road to his musical success
As much as he started producing music while he was in high school, he didn’t have the support of his family. His mother kicked him out of their home because she didn’t want him studying music.
He studied Software Development at CTU Training Solution but dropped out after a year to pursue his passion.
Earlier this year, he shared how his love for music died because he was never given the support to do what he wanted.
“You know sometimes I just wish I had a Dad to help me out just by talking to him. I have two kids now but all ready I feel like I’m failing them. I hate my life cause I can’t be free whenever I because people what me to be who they want me to be. All my life I’ve been living to please people. WHAT ABOUT ME AM I WORTH LIVING“.
Fans will be pleased that the hardships Makwa faced along the way didn’t take him away from music.


