Malawi Hip-Hop challenge sparks controversy: Jassamah alleges exploitation by IKK

In the energetic hip-hop scene of Malawi, IKK caused a stir on Monday by declaring Rosetta the winner of his 1 million kwacha "Ndabweranso" verse challenge, which was launched back in April. This announcement upset fellow contender Jassamah, known as Nyasi M'maso, who believed he was the rightful winner.

In a revealing Facebook post, dancehall artist Jassamah recounted IKK's message after his well-received verse:

“It seems you have won the competition,” IKK reportedly said. However, instead of the promised one million kwacha, IKK offered just 100,000, citing financial constraints. This unexpected twist left Jassamah feeling exploited and manipulated.

Frustrated by IKK's actions, Jassamah criticized a planned public presentation of a symbolic one million kwacha cheque, viewing it as a mere publicity stunt. He felt IKK was playing a deceptive game to garner attention.

In the days following their conversation, Jassamah discovered a troubling dummy cheque circulating online, with another artist's name overwriting his. This raised further questions about fairness in the competition and fueled his quest for answers.

Our entertainment desk reached out to IKK, who dismissed Jassamah's allegations, stating that he had failed to adhere to competition rules by only posting on Facebook instead of the required TikTok first. IKK emphasized that, despite Jassamah's popularity, neglecting the protocol meant he forfeited his chance.

“Jassamah has an economically disadvantaged status; he might even not deny getting 100,000 kwacha,” IKK remarked defiantly.

In response, Jassamah also known as freestyle master showcased two dummy cheques in his Facebook post, one bearing his name and the other with Rosetta's.

He pointed out alleging that IKK had removed his name from the dummy cheque, replacing it with "Rosettah," which he interpreted as a sign of the exploitation faced by emerging artists.

In an interview with this publication, he reflected on a conversation with IKK on November 6, during which he expressed the need to consult his parents due to the significant gap in prize amounts.

Eventually, he admitted he hadn’t done so, instead suggesting he should receive half the original amount, 500,000 kwacha.

"I took the photo of the initial dummy cheque at Golden Peacock in Blantyre without his consent because I sensed the tension," Jassamah stated.

He also mentioned that he had contributed to IKK's song "Mbali zakuno," which reflected these issues, hinting that he would address the exploitation further, asserting, "That song was my brainchild."

As this drama unfolds, the Malawian hip-hop community watches closely, eager to see how this rivalry will impact the artists involved and the broader music scene.

With the battle for recognition and fairness heating up, it appears that everyone is vying for their rightful place in the spotlight.