Musiholiq Accused Over ‘Phatha Phatha’ Hit Song As Weirdo2265 Claims He Was Cut Out Of Deal
South African music circles have been rocked by allegations of a bitter fallout over one of the country’s biggest recent releases, with singer and producer Bongumenzi Hlatshwayo, popularly known as Weirdo2265, claiming he was sidelined after contributing to the hit song ‘Phatha Phatha’.
Weirdo2265 alleges that he was misled by singer and producer Musiholiq, who manages Okwanda, after an agreement surrounding the track reportedly changed without his consent. The artist claims he was promised a collaboration with rising star Naledi Aphiwe, only to discover later that Sir Trill had been brought onto the song instead.
According to Weirdo2265, the change was revealed only after he arrived in Johannesburg for the recording process. Despite concerns over the altered arrangement, he says they continued because the song had already gained public attention and momentum.
The dispute, however, escalated after the completion of the track, with Weirdo2265 claiming that contractual disagreements left him without any financial benefit despite the song’s success.
Weirdo2265 Claims He Has Not Received Payment Despite Millions Of Streams
The producer alleges that ‘Phatha Phatha’ has accumulated around four million streams, yet he has not received any royalties or payments from the release.
He claims the agreement stated that payments would be made every three months, but more than six months have passed without receiving any money.
The artist says the situation raised concerns about the handling of the song’s commercial rights and left him questioning whether he had been treated fairly.
In a statement shared about the matter, Weirdo2265 explained that his initial intention was to create a proper partnership that would allow the artists involved to benefit from the song’s success.
He said he had encouraged the team to connect them with Virgin Music Group before signing publishing agreements, believing this would allow them to secure a distribution partnership and release the song through a structured deal.
However, he claims those plans changed after the promised Naledi Aphiwe collaboration did not happen.
Artist Claims He Was Removed From Song Artwork Without His Knowledge
The most serious allegation centres around the song’s branding and ownership.
Weirdo2265 claims that he and Bongumenzi were removed from the original artwork of the song before its official release, without being informed.
He says he requested a meeting with management after noticing the changes and was allegedly told that the song had been reassigned to Okwanda and Sir Trill, with himself and Bongumenzi reduced to featured artists.
According to his account, the release would also be handled under another label despite his belief that the song was meant to form part of Bongumenzi’s EP project.
“Imagine having to fight just to appear on your own song,” he wrote.
The producer said the development made him fear that he would never receive any financial return from the track.
Weirdo2265 Says Dispute Is About Fair Treatment, Not Personal Attacks
Despite his allegations, Weirdo2265 stressed that his concerns were not directed at the artists involved or the brands connected to the song.
He said his issue was with the management decisions surrounding the release and called for those involved to honour the agreements that were made.
“I have nothing against the artist or the brand. I just want the management to do better and honour the promises they made in our agreement,” he said.
He also urged people not to take sides but instead allow everyone to make decisions based on what they believe is right.
The allegations have placed renewed attention on the challenges faced by emerging artists in the music industry, particularly around contracts, royalties, ownership rights and the importance of understanding agreements before signing.
Musiholiq Yet To Respond To Allegations
Attempts to obtain comment from Musiholiq were unsuccessful at the time of publication. His phone reportedly rang unanswered.
The claims made by Weirdo2265 remain allegations, and Musiholiq has not publicly responded to the accusations.
As the dispute unfolds, questions remain about the contractual arrangements behind ‘Phatha Phatha’, including ownership, royalty payments and the treatment of the artists involved in the song’s creation.
