Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze and Maria Chiguvari
IN recent weeks, questions have swirled around Poptain’s social media drama.
Is he genuinely struggling and in need of structured professional support or is controversy becoming a calculated branding tool?
The chanter has been dominating online conversations of late, with fans questioning his mental health. Creative netizens have even turned some of his antics into memes.
Speaking in an interview with The Sunday Mail Entertainment, the musician attributed his recent behaviour to what he calls an “unkind music industry”.
He, however, gave assurances that he was still of sound mind.
“I am doing well. I am actually trying to gain back my audience after a rough experience with the Zim (music) industry,” said Poptain.
“Unprofessionalism” and “capitalism” within the music industry, he added, were causing frustrations for many artistes, himself included.
“The exploitation is open. Only the music industry is treated like a black market. Ghetto youths are not protected,” he said, without elaborating further.
The singer also dismissed accusations of drug and substance abuse.
“Why would I do drugs? I am at school. The issue is I am actually the first one to speak out against injustices. You know the elephant in the room will always make noise with its trunk, but I am proving to be the ant in the nostrils. I planned to lift the carpet up ever since, but the ‘Fadza Mutengi’ phase got so overwhelming.”
Poptain, born Ameen Abduljaleel, rose to fame with his hit song “Fadza Mutengi”.
However, his road to stardom has been bumpy and rough.
Troubled past
Poptain began his professional music career in 2013. Coming from a Muslim background, where secular music is often frowned upon, he was rejected by his family and chased away from home.
He lived on the streets for two years before moving in with friends but never stopped pursuing music. In one interview, he revealed a traumatic experience following his mother’s funeral, when a man took advantage of him — an ordeal he kept secret for years.
“Things like colours trigger me to remember certain events. I recall one night during my mother’s funeral when a man forced me to please him sexually. I never told anyone. The silence was heavy. But those memories lingered in my mind, sometimes returning in visions and smells — vivid and unsettling,” he said in an interview then.
Despite these revelations, netizens argue that whenever he seems to be on a healing journey, he returns with explosive accusations that leave fans confused — unsure whether he is crying for help or courting controversy.
Controversies and conflicts
In 2024, Poptain lashed out at fellow musician Young Gemini.
He later admitted in an interview with one of our sister papers that depression had taken its toll on him. “I am currently going through depression and have been seeing a therapist. My mental health has really been tested this year to the point I felt like quitting music.”
He apologised to fans for using foul language, attributing it to “Satan at work”.
Earlier, in 2022, he had a public fallout with Anita Jackson after backtracking on claims they were dating — a publicity stunt that damaged their professional relationship.
Most recently, Poptain reignited controversy by accusing fellow creatives of sabotaging his career.
He singled out dancehall star Winky D, claiming his management refused to collaborate “out of fear of being eclipsed”.
He also dragged businessman Tinashe Mutarisi and fellow artiste Nutty O into the mix, even disowning his collaboration “Kokai” with Nutty O and demanding his voice be removed from the song.
He further distanced himself from “Fadza Mutengi”, which featured Allanah, deleting it from his YouTube channel and surrendering rights to Mutarisi.
These remarks sparked mixed reactions.
Some sympathised with him, while others dismissed his actions as publicity stunts — comparing his approach to Holy Ten, who is accused of using controversy to stay relevant.
Marketing gimmick or mental health struggle?
The release of his new song “Money! Power! Respect!” has fuelled speculation that his outbursts are timed to promote his music. Yet critics argue his chant “Tino Dhanda Panapa”, expressed during his recent online spat with Buffalo Souljah, is trending more than the track itself.
But critics argue that dismissing possible mental health struggles simply because he is famous can be dangerous.
They opine depression, anxiety, burnout and emotional exhaustion affect celebrities just as much as ordinary people — sometimes more, given their lack of privacy.
The fear of being labelled “dramatic” or “attention-seeking” often prevents public figures from seeking help.
For many men, especially in the spotlight, vulnerability is misinterpreted as weakness.
As one music promoter put it: “When an artiste repeatedly speaks about mental health, it should not be taken lightly. Public meltdowns can be a sign of unresolved issues that require professional intervention, not online validation.”
Tinaye Agere