Flex Rabanyan tries to expose payola at Metro FM

Flex Rabanyan, the winner of season two of Vuzu’s The Hustle, looked to ruffle feathers in the music industry on Wednesday morning when he threatened to expose payola shenanigans at Metro FM. 

It hasn’t been an easy start to Flex Rabanyan’s career since winning the hip hop reality show. While his album, The Born Frees, was described as one of 2018’s “Projects you must Hear” by Slikour on Life, the rest of his career has been relatively modest. 

Whether or not he was looking to stir up the pot, the rapper became a talking topic on Wednesday when he decided to tackle one of the most contentious issues in South African music right now: payola. 

Payola is illegal, and involves paying money to have your material played on radio. While many artists have too much integrity for their art to ever pay to have it played, others (if you believe the many rumours) don’t mind cutting the corners if it means that their singles will blow up. 

The rapper took to Twitter where he threatened to call out an individual at Metro FM who allegedly facilitates payola.

Would I be wrong if I post about the guy who works at Metro FM who took R9,800 from me to playlist my song ? 🤔

😂 i mean the song never played, so I cant be wrong …

— Bass Reeves (@FlexRabanyan) December 11, 2018

If I mention this person’s name, a HOST OFartists will stop being played at Metrola FM when this person loses their job.

Naturally all these other artists will jump up and protect him/her.

If I mention, he gets investigated, he is found guilty then he flies!

— Bass Reeves (@FlexRabanyan) December 12, 2018

Whatever reaction he was looking for with these tweets, it backfired. Firstly, some of his peers in the game did not respect his conditional admission that he was willing to engage in payola.

So… in other words… we wouldnt know about this if your song was playlisted.

This is like telling the cops about the robbery YOU GUYS did because your friend didnt give you your cut.

Im really worried about you flex… https://t.co/AtBTHMcqdm

— #Azania 🇿🇦 (@ReasonHD) December 11, 2018

While others were trying to point out that payola is a corrupt form of business, although Flex saw it as an “investment”.

That doesn’t matter, Flex. We don’t care about that. The question is, WHY are you paying people to playlist your music?

— Zer016Gawd 👑 (@Pistoljnr) December 11, 2018

Unfortunately in SA people would rather tweet “What happened to Flex Rabanyan” then simply search and buy his album.

So why wouldnt I invest money I made from music to further my reach? https://t.co/KT3QtGdava

— Bass Reeves (@FlexRabanyan) December 12, 2018

Invest? Payola is an investment? I can’t believe you just said that. It’s corruption. Grootman, people would only ask that if your music isn’t spreading. You’re an independent artist. Why didn’t you take the Vth Season deal in order to avoid people asking such AND payola?

— Zer016Gawd 👑 (@Pistoljnr) December 12, 2018

If anyone takes the L for this week, it’s FLex Rabanyan. Hade, bro. While we’re here, let’s help the brother by supporting his music.