‘Phori found piano, he didn’t create it’ — Sol Phenduka

Sol Phenduka has weighed in on DJ Maphorisa's rant about his contribution to the music industry. 

Last week, Samthing Soweto shot up trends lists for not being credited on the hit song Amalanga Awafani, featuring Mas Musiq & Lawd Weezy and DJ Maphorisa, on its release, which saw Maphorisa go live on social media in an attempt to clear his name. 

The debacle has raised questions about the rights of musicians and how easily they are exploited. 

During a recent episode on Podcast & Chill, Sol said though DJ Maphorisa might be a pioneer in his own right, it did not make him the founder of the amapiano genre as artists would benefit from its success – with or without him. 

"Phori found piano, he didn't create it, and the fact must be told. Whether piano was going to grow on its own and whatever, Kabza was making piano before Phori found him. He heard Kabza somewhere and his mind was blown, and then he worked and collaborated with him, so it’s bigger than him,” he said. 

"No one is bigger than the music. Phori probably has the biggest influence on piano, and kudos, we give him props for that.”

DJ Maphorisa has often been called a gatekeeper and exploiter in the music industry. 

Podcast and Chill host MacG has made claims about the DJ and producer being a gatekeeper, adding he was not scared of him. “Let me tell you a story about gatekeeping. There’s someone who told me Maphorisa is going to be mad that I am dropping an EP, and I did not ask for his approval. I must ask Maphorisa before I drop an EP? They said Maphorisa is going to be mad because I did not ask for his approval because he’s a gatekeeper,” MacG said 

Responding to the claim, DJ Maphorisa said no one can lay claim to owning the genre. “I see you don’t get it. No one owns amapiano. Anyone can do it and win. Good example, look at Uncle Waffles, one trending Adiwele video, the rest was history. She did it alone. Look at Costa Titch. He’s doing it alone and winning. Stop saying I am keeper.”