Producer Black Tears Slams Music Royalty System After Emtee Lost R700K. In the aftermath of a deeply emotional moment for South African hip-hop, Emtee’s longtime producer Black Tears has broken his silence with a scathing critique of the industry.
His words shine a harsh light on practices that many artists have murmured about for years, but few have dared to name publicly. “Most artists are truly going through it all,” Black Tears wrote. “The royalties system is abusing artists and composers without anyone being held accountable.”
His statement came just days after Emtee, the “Roll Up” hitmaker and one of South Africa’s most resilient trap voices, broke down in tears during an Instagram Live session. The rapper revealed that he had been denied more than R700,000 in royalties from his 2021 album Logan, which produced fan favourites such as “Johustleburg” and “iThemba.”
According to Emtee, the digital distributor Platoon processed the payouts, but the money never reached him. What was meant to provide relief instead became another painful reminder of the precariousness of an artist’s income in an industry that often treats creators as disposable.
Black Tears has worked closely with Emtee for years. He produced the soul-stirring beat for the million-stream hit “All My Life” featuring Ayanda Daweti, and has shared countless late-night studio sessions with the rapper. Their connection goes beyond music; it is a brotherhood built on shared ambition and creative struggle. When Black Tears speaks, the South African music community listens.
The timing of his statement highlights a broader problem. Emtee’s livestream did not just reveal his personal loss; it exposed a structural wound affecting the whole industry. Artists across genres, from amapiano stars to hip-hop veterans, have quietly raised concerns about opaque streaming reports, delayed payments, and distributors who seem untouchable.
Contracts are signed in excitement, only for hidden clauses to turn into financial traps. Composers, the invisible force behind hooks that dominate radio and TikTok, often suffer the most. They watch their creations generate millions while their own earnings remain minimal.
Black Tears’ words cut straight to the heart of the issue. This is not misfortune. It is abuse, enabled by a system that protects middlemen and leaves creators powerless. There are no arrests, no public investigations, and no meaningful reform. Meanwhile, artists continue to struggle as the streams roll on.
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