Dancehall producer cries foul

Reckson Mandizvidza Harare Bureau
TALENTED and sought-after producer Platinum the Killer (PTK) is crying foul over what he believes is a raw deal which local producers are getting from their efforts in the music sector.The 22-year-old, whose real name is Michael Murumbi, is one of the most successful stories, if the instrumentations he has produced to date are anything to go by. He has produced for almost every big name as far as Zim-Dancehall is concerned including Shinsoman, Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz.

The producer, who can also sing well, said while they toil to come up with the best beats, they rarely get much from it.

To date he has produced some of the best riddims to ever grace the local dancehall scenes but with nothing to show for all his hard work.

The riddims include Final Battle which was used by Soul Jah Love on the hit Ndini Uya Uya, Kick Yard which had hit Minana, and the riddim which Killer T used for his hit track Zvakaitika kuMbare.

“We are the ones who work day and night to produce beats that can actually be world standard, but all we get is more or less a bit of recognition.

“Producers make it all happen behind the scenes but at the end of the day we go home with very little. Things are still tough and a meaningful breakthrough is just yet to come by for us to really enjoy the proceeds from our efforts,” he said.

The youthful producer said the only time they make a few dollars is when artistes they produce songs for launch the songs.

“It is something good to see your work being appreciated, but it would be even better if the recognition would translate into financial terms as well because we also have to put food on our tables.

“We do broker contracts with artistes to get a percentage from what they earn on their album launches, but still it is not really much to talk about.

PTK said though they had started charging artistes’ studio fees, they still were not getting much.

“We have also started attaching studio fees, but this again is just a token. There is still a long way for us to gain something meaningful, but as a person who loves music, I will always do what I love best regardless of the financial gains,” he said.

PTK, who is currently riding high with his new riddim Body Slam, blasted dancehall artistes for being hostile to each other.

“There is a tendency by dancehall musicians in Zimbabwe to create unnecessary hostility among themselves, calling each other names and at times even being involved in bust ups for very trivial issues.

“We are simply propagating the message that there is need for discipline and working together if we are to see our music getting to the levels we want,” said PTK.

The artiste, who attributes his creativity to Beat Bakery Studio boss Ngoni Zindoga, said he was always into music but the mentorship of Zindoga had brought the best out of him.

“After finishing my ordinary levels in 2008, I was roped in by Ngoni Zindoga who taught me everything that I know today. I will forever be grateful for his mentorship,” he said.

Having started his career in Mbare alongside other youths, PTK is now the main producer at the Highfield-based studio Bodyslam Records where he is working to bring in as many youngsters as possible under the stable and help in the development and growth of Zim-Dancehall in the country.