It should come as no surprise that one of Mzansi’s most vocal rappers, AKA, has again expressed his displeasure towards the ill treatment that local artists continuously receive from promoters whenever an international artist comes to town. And just when we thought Kendrick’s concert would be an opportunity for all parties to make amends, AKA proves us wrong. Earlier this morning Sowetan Live reported that AKA was infuriated at how concert promoters still have no regard for local acts, even after Miller Boomtown this weekend.
According to Sowetan Live, AKA tweeted that local artists were warned to not walk on Kendrick’s ramp during their set and if they did certain repercussions would be met. Yikes! It seems as if Kendrick’s people were already bringing their Compton-gangster ways to the mother-land!
AKA is clearly fed up with the gulf in difference between local and international prestige. He went so far as to hint that he may actually decline the opportunity to be an opening act for any other international artists in the future.
A couple of months ago AKA launched another Twitter tirade about South Africa’s lack of patriotism after he received a backlash for wanting to have a tattoo of the late Nelson Mandela. People accused him of trying to copy L.A rapper, The Game, who also inked himself up with a portrait of Madiba.
As mentioned above AKA has since deleted the tweets but ended off with this rather fitting message:
“Only in S.A can you get backlash for standing up for S.A”
Artists such as the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai backed him up by stating that it is also up to the artists themselves to charge higher fees and demand the respect that they deserve as artists regardless if they’re local or international.
