AKA’s former manager reflects on humbling journey behind ‘Caiphus Song’

On Friday, 24 April, Raphael Benza, the previous supervisor of AKA, recounted the humbling story of how the Caiphus Music received a pattern clearance from the legendary Caiphus Semenya.

Caiphus Music was brilliantly sampled from Matswale, a music by Caiphus Semenya from his 1996 album Girl Acquired a Proper to Be.

The album’s distinctive rollout plan yielded nice success, validating AKA’s efforts as an impartial artist beneath his now-defunct administration firm, Beam Group.

Jika, Star Indicators, Absolutely In, The World is Yours, and Caiphus Music are among the many standout tracks from AKA’s third studio album, Contact My Blood, which dropped in 2018.

X consumer @AfcLicks wrote, “The entire music is simply legendary the best way he poured his coronary heart out, and we didn’t need to second guess who he was speaking about. To not point out the strictly SAn [South African] bars, an immediate traditional, what a second,” he wrote.

HOW THE ‘CAIPHUS SONG’ GOT A SAMPLE CLEARANCE

Rapheal wrote that they initially encountered a small bump with the publishing agent. Nevertheless, after a gathering with Caiphus Semenya, who completely liked the music, he negotiated a decrease payment than the unique quantity.

“That point we needed to get actual humbled so we are able to [sic] get the pattern clearance from Tata Caiphus … The publishing agent had despatched us a $25,000 payment and 100% compositions or an instantaneous take down,” he started.

“I arrange a meet-up to play the music to Bra Caiphus. He actually liked the music, particularly the identify of the music, Caiphus Music. I “managed” to get us to shut with no payment and a brilliant diminished % to Caiphus,” he continued.

“After that, Kiernan and Mr. Caiphus grew to become buddies. And I received to fulfill a musical idol of mine and gained his respect. So many good occasions and so many tales,” he added.

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF AKA AND RAPHAEL’S RELATIONSHIP

The dynamics between the late AKA and Raphael are well-known within the business. 

Throughout his time as an impartial artist, AKA’s enterprise companion, Prince Nyembe, threw xenophobic slurs at Raphael relating to cash disputes between AKA and Vth season.

Nevertheless, their skilled relationship took a constructive spin after Rapheal re-signed AKA to his label, Vth season in 2018.

They labored properly collectively till AKA’s tragic passing in 2023, alongside together with his former supervisor, Tebello Tibz Motsoane.