Flex Rabanyan 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.
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.
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 the 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.
https://twitter.com/FlexRabanyan/status/1072451662273540097
https://twitter.com/FlexRabanyan/status/1072741587363487746
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
— Sizwe Alakine World (@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
That doesn't matter, Flex. We don't care about that. The question is, WHY are you paying people to playlist your music?
— Mr Way ✌ Way-V (@iiamtheway) December 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/FlexRabanyan/status/1072742111953457153
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?
— Mr Way ✌ Way-V (@iiamtheway) December 12, 2018
Investment 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.
Source: ZAlebs
