DJ Sobzeen Claims DJ Stokie Owes Him R2.4 Million In Unpaid Royalties

DJ and producer Sobzeen, born Zakhele Mbuyisa, has accused amapiano heavyweight DJ Stokie of failing to pay him an estimated R2.4 million in royalties. Sobzeen claims he is the creative mind behind several of Stokie’s biggest hits — including the double-platinum singles Mali, Masithokoze, and Selimathunzi.

The 28-year-old says these songs were produced about three years ago during frequent visits to Stokie’s studio, after the two were introduced by Sobzeen’s manager.

“I would hang out at the studio and make beats. At the time, I was just trying to show my skills. I never thought the music would be taken without credit,” Sobzeen told Sunday World.

No Contracts, No Credit, and Millions at Stake

According to Sobzeen, most of the hit tracks in question were his productions, yet he received neither official credit nor fair payment. He says Stokie’s team offered him just 15% of the Spotify revenue — about R360,000 before deductions — leaving out earnings from Apple Music, YouTube, and other platforms.

“When I worked on Masithokoze, I did it purely for the love of music, not for money. But 28 million streams on Spotify alone are worth close to R2.4 million,” Sobzeen said.

With no contracts in place when the music was made, Sobzeen says he lacks legal grounds to demand his full share. Beyond the three tracks, he alleges there are four more hit songs he never received payment for.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

The experience, Sobzeen says, taught him to be more protective of his work. “His actions made me realise my career is in my hands. I learned not to invest too much in other people’s success. My name was on some of the songs, which brought a small fan base, but it doesn’t translate to real money.”

Now signed to Solid Sound, Sobzeen has channelled his frustration into his newly released 11-track album iThemba Lam, which dropped on August 8. The project blends gospel and amapiano in what he describes as a deeply spiritual and uplifting journey.

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“This album is me healing from the past. It’s a gospel and amapiano mix, very spiritual and uplifting, pouring out the pain from what I went through,” he said.

Interestingly, the album even features Mang’Dakiwe — a track with DJ Stokie. “I worked with him; I can’t throw those songs away. They’re still my creative right despite everything that happened.”

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