DJ Kaywise also explained that such exploitation necessitated his decision not to sign with any record label.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian record producer and mixing engineer Osabuohien Osaretin, better known as Sarz, has claimed that some music stars exploit their producers and disc jockeys (DJs).
He levelled the allegation recently while appearing as a guest on the latest episode of the Afropolitan podcast.
Speaking during the candid interview, Sarz noted that many popular artists he worked with in the past exploited him by failing to pay for his services.
He said, “So many popular artists took advantage of me; they would make music with me and not pay me. There is one big artist I made two songs with, but he only paid for one. That day, I said anyone who doesn’t have what I’m charging, I’m not working with them. Then I started becoming a notorious person.”
Reacting to a viral clip of the interview on X, his colleague Ozedikus backed up the claims, adding that he once had a similar experience with an unnamed musician.
According to him, the singer not only refused to pay him for the work but also denied him credit for the song he produced.
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Ozedikus wrote, “After watching Sarz talk about artists taking advantage of him, I remembered 2016/17 when I produced 30+ songs in two months for someone. Got paid for none. They dropped one track and I was begging just to be tagged on IG for ‘exposure.’ Still didn’t happen, lol.”
Also sharing his own experience while reacting to Ozedikus’ post, DJ Kaywise revealed a similar ordeal and named the rapper ELDee the Don.
He claimed the singer promised to sign him to his record label in 2012 but reneged on the promise after he had produced numerous mixtapes for him and his artists.
“After seeing your tweets, I remembered in 2012 @eLDeeTheDon promising to sign me to his label… after I made over 1,000 mixtapes for him and his artists in my Alaba days. Baba said @NOTJUSTOK would announce it after he signed @EvaAlordiah to the label. That was the first major industry lamba [lie/deceit] I ever got, and that’s why I haven’t signed with any label since.” he claimed.
DJ Kaywise went on to say he is proud of his decision to remain independent following the incident, adding that the choice is now beginning to pay off.
Meanwhile, ELDee the Don is yet to address DJ Kaywise’s allegations at the time of filing this story.
