DJ Audiomarc Reflects On SA Hip-Hop’s Past Booking Fees In Light Of R300K Scorpion Kings Fees. South African DJ and producer Audiomarc took a moment to reflect on the evolution of the South African hip-hop scene, particularly in light of the skyrocketing booking fees for popular acts like the Scorpion Kings.
As the South African music industry continues to thrive, the Scorpion Kings—comprised of DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small—have become some of the most sought-after artists, with their booking fees reaching an impressive R300,000. This figure underscores the enormous impact they’ve had on the genre and the broader music landscape.
Taking to social media, Audiomarc reflected on SA Hip-hop’s past success stating that the current booking fees for Scorpion Kings are what most SA rappers used to charge before the dominance of Amapiano. Audiomarc added that most rappers are now accepting R20K to perform as the genre’s popularity plummets when it comes to crowd-pulling.
“This was Hiphop before piano came 😭, before poppin Hiphop artists settled for peanuts.. it’s hard to continue charging those fees when niggas with hot songs are accepting 20k to perform,” wrote DJ Audiomarc.
Audiomarc expressed his deep respect for rappers who turn down R20K performance offers, considering they previously commanded R150K. “I respect all Hiphop artists that rejected abo 20k, you can’t move from abo 150k to accepting 20k,” he added.
SA Hiphop was once at the forefront of the country’s music scene and has faced significant challenges with the rise of Amapiano. The Yanos characterized by its distinctive blend of deep house, jazz, and amapiano rhythms, has quickly captured the cultural zeitgeist and shifted the musical landscape.
The rise in popularity of Amapiano has often driven some rappers to leave hip-hop behind in favour of the genre, seeking better financial stability and career opportunities.
