Rapper and GQ Musician of the Year award winner Nasty C may soon have to give up his stage name – a name he has used since he was in high school and just starting out as a rapper.
According to a recent report by Sunday World, the rapper’s former management company’s lawyers served him with a cease and desist letter to stop using his stage name Nasty C citing the reason that he did not own the naming rights.
This forms part of a larger lawsuit against Nasty C and the now-defunct Mabala Noise filed by Freeworld Music for breach of contract and unpaid services.
The deals were entered into by Mabala Noise (which is owned by ANC Youth League (ANCYL) treasurer Reggie Nkabinde) and this entitled Freeworld Music to 25% of all the revenue generated by the rapper’s performances and deals while he would only get a 50% share.
Although Mabala lost the case, the formalities of the judgment are yet to be finalised as Freeworld is reportedly unable to physically serve Mabala with legal papers because they cannot locate them.
Mabala Noise spokesperson Tumelo Moatshe told the publication that the record label was not aware of the judgment.
Nasty C’s new management, Universal Music, is, however, aware of the judgment.
They have distanced themselves from the dispute as they have no stake in the matter, but Sunday World has cited a response from the record label’s legal representation, Rosin Wright Rosengarten Attorneys, which states “our client will defend any legal proceedings that your client may elect to launch against it”.
After reading about the legal drama, fans were left with questions about what the rapper would call himself now if he was unable to continue using ‘Nasty C’ as a stage name:
Media personality Bonang Matheba was also moved to weigh in on the matter.
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(Compiled by Kaunda Selisho)
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