AKA claims Reebok never paid him for #SNEAKA
Although the rapper took a major L on the deal, he says he has no regrets because he got to see a dream of his come to life.
Rapper AKA has decided to launch his own content hub called AKA TV | Image: Supplied
After hailing his deal with Reebok as a monumental moment for “the game,” rapper AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, has claimed he never earned any proceeds from the sale of the sneakers that bare his name.
The rapper revealed this during a Twitter exchange with a fan who praised the shoes for their ties to a local artist and their apparent comfortability.
“Can you believe they didn’t pay me a single cent for this? … not one cent,” responded AKA.
Can you believe they didn’t pay me a single cent for this? … not one cent. https://t.co/EgW8AKkXBA
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
Puzzled fans quickly flooded the rappers’ mentions in pursuit of answers which prompted him to explain further.
Yes. Really. https://t.co/6LdJox74lS
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
Probably never again. They refused to give me any sort of payment or royalty. https://t.co/WB0L9AzTcF
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
When asked why he would even enter into such a deal, the rapper said it was a sacrifice he was willing to make at the time to realise a dream that he had always had.
I had no choice … it was always a dream of mine to have my own sneaker. I guess that’s why I took a shitty deal in exchange for doing something for the culture. https://t.co/9UUKFEnnGq
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
Well, same thing that happens most of the time … you bring a brand back from the dead and someone in some office in Cape Town can’t stand to pay you more than they make in a year. https://t.co/0vwjLNXeqY
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
There was no contract. Only my contract as an ambassador. A contract regarding the #SNEAKA doesn’t even exist. https://t.co/GG8YMDip7p
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
AKA further stated that he was merely a brand ambassador for the brand for a short period of time and his contract in that regard has since expired.
My deal expired in December last year. I haven’t been with them since. https://t.co/QQLvNMVtU3
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
At the end of last year they told me they wouldn’t be renewing my contract because “the brand” wasn’t about the Reebok “classic” direction anymore … they were now geared towards selling gym clothes to women predominantly.
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
I was then told I would be offered free clothing every month but i would no longer be paid my monthly retainer. Oh well … lesson learnt.
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
Forbes consoles himself with the fact that he at least got to see a dream of his come to fruition.
Yeah that’s the only comfort I take from the whole experience. At least I got to design and release my own sneaker. That’s about it. https://t.co/FzS5mSIMBv
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
No. I don’t regret it. https://t.co/nycZpDtIMA
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
He ended the discussion by telling fans who had already bought a pair of the limited edition shoe to cherish them.
So yeah, that’s the story. Hold onto those pairs … they will definitely be a collectors item one day.
— AKA (@akaworldwide) May 14, 2020
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