The post Nasty C Reveals Why His First Record Deal Didn’t Work In His Favour appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
Nasty C Reveals Why His First Record Deal Didn’t Work In His Favour. South African rap heavyweight Nasty C has spoken candidly about the tough lessons he learned early in his career, revealing that his first two record deals were far from ideal and played a major role in shaping his understanding of self-worth and artistic independence.
In a recent interview shared on Rap Kulture X page, the Durban-born star, whose real name is Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, addressed speculation around a lyric many listeners believed was aimed at his current partnership with Def Jam Recordings and Universal Music Group.
Nasty C quickly shut down that assumption, making it clear that his present situation is a positive one. “I was not talking about this recent deal with Def Jam and Universal. That one was cool. It was really good and very fruitful,” he explained.
Instead, the rapper pointed to earlier moments in his journey. Without naming names, he shared that two of the first contracts he signed left him feeling shortchanged. “It is one of the earliest deals I signed. A couple, actually, two. I am not going to say which one,” he said.
The award-winning artist, who first caught national attention through mixtapes like Price City and later cemented his status with albums such as Bad Hair and Strings and Bling, reflected on what made those early agreements problematic. According to him, the business side simply was not in his favour.
“The percentage split could have been better,” Nasty C admitted. He added that being new to the industry often leads artists to undervalue themselves. “When you are a newbie, you do not really know your worth. Everyone else has been doing this much longer than you.”
He also spoke about how flashy budgets and seasoned industry players can be misleading for emerging talent. “You see these huge budgets, and you think these people know exactly what they are doing and they are going to take you all the way,” he said. “But that is not really how it goes.”
For Nasty C, real success comes down to personal effort and fan connection. “It is about the work you put in as an artist, how you connect with your fans and the demand you create. That part is really in your hands,” he noted.
He added that many young artists make the mistake of handing over too much control early on. “When you are starting out, you put all that responsibility on someone else. You become more willing to give them a bigger cut than you probably should.”
Nasty C’s rise began independently before he signed with Mabala Noise, which was distributed by Universal Music Africa, followed by a direct move to Universal. His career reached a major milestone in 2020 with a joint venture deal with Def Jam Recordings, a moment widely seen as a global breakthrough for African hip hop.
By opening up about his past, Nasty C offers a rare and honest look at the steep learning curve young artists face in the music industry. His reflections stand as both a warning and a source of motivation, encouraging upcoming musicians to protect their value and advocate for themselves from the very beginning.
The post Nasty C Reveals Why His First Record Deal Didn’t Work In His Favour appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
The post Nasty C Reveals Why His First Record Deal Didn’t Work In His Favour appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
Nasty C Reveals Why His First Record Deal Didn’t Work In His Favour. South African rap heavyweight Nasty C has spoken candidly about the tough lessons he learned early in his career, revealing that his first two record deals were far from ideal and played a major role in shaping his understanding of self-worth and …
The post Nasty C Reveals Why His First Record Deal Didn’t Work In His Favour appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag. Read More
