Distribution Deals & Drama: Is Lekompo Losing Its Soul?

 

Let’s talk about the elephant in the studio: Lekompo artists and their love-hate relationship with distribution deals. Now before you throw your mic at us, hear me out.

It’s 2025 and Lekompo is booming. Balcony mixes are heating the streets. Shandesh is killing it. Kaychelow, Kharishma, Dj Janisto, Clement Moasa, Percy 5, King Monada, Sgiva Record, Zoli Whitesmoke and Shebe are out here serving vocals like it's their last day on earth. But behind all this noise, something shady is happening in the background: deals are being signed like kotas and drinks at a taxi rank, and no one's reading the fine print.

Sgiva Record

Shandesh

Just Sign Here, Ntwana

Many Lekompo artists are signing distribution deals, that might be without a legal eye, a real one, not your cousin who passed Business Studies in Grade 10. These deals look juicy on paper: promises of playlists, billboards, fancy flights to Dubai, as Kharishma said. But what they don’t see is how these contracts clip their wings. Some of them are unknowingly signing away rights, royalties, and creative freedom.

Let’s be honest: how many of these artists have lawyers? Or even understand what an “exclusivity clause” means? Most are just excited to “drop the tape”, “make content in suits”, “sipping champagne”, and “singing their freedom away.” Don’t realise they're now married to a company more controlling than an insecure boyfriend of someone we won’t mention. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nike and Lekompo? Not Yet...

Then there’s the strange case of big brands like Nike not touching Lekompo artists with a ten-foot pole. Wild, right? These artists are rocking the brand head to toe in every music video and Lekompo Chillers Mix, shouting “Just Do It” while doing their Skomota Dance, but Nike’s not even liking the posts, never mind sponsorships.

Why? One word: BEHAVIOUR. Lekompo’s image is still untamed. The genre is beautiful, but some artists? Yoh. Late-night rants, public beefs, “I was hacked” apologies, brands don’t want to babysit artists who turn Twitter, Facebook and TikTok into WWE. Until there’s more structure and consistency, brands will stick to safer PR bets.

Brighter Side?

Let’s not pretend it’s all bad. The fact that companies are throwing money at Lekompo is a win! It means the genre is being noticed. Deals bring exposure, fancy visuals, marketing budgets, and if you're independent but dropping hits? You still benefit. The whole genre rises when it becomes commercially attractive. So shoutout to those signing smart, not just fast.

The Dark Side of the Deal

But here’s where it gets slippery. Signing with a company often means:

•   You can’t drop music whenever you want.
•  You can’t collab with who you want.
•   You get slapped with barcodes and codes, and release schedules.
•   Worst of all? Unnecessary beefs.

Yes, you heard that right. Some of these beefs? Manufactured. Fake drama for more clicks and more streams. These companies are using conflict to grow the Lekompo pie, but at what cost? Friendships are strained, fans are divided, and artists forget they’re all in this together.

So, What’s the Plug?

Artists need to get lawyers, even if it’s that bored uncle who watches "Suits" religiously. They must understand their value, protect their music, and avoid being used like content machines. Yes, deals can help, but not at the cost of your talent.

Shebeshxt

Lekompo is culture. It’s fire. It’s ours. Let’s not let contracts turn it into just another product on a playlist.

Stay woke, stay independent... or at least, stay informed.

Kharishma Vocalist

Zoli WhiteSmoke