He won an award for Best Kwaito Gqom at this year's Metro FM Awards held in Mbombela on Saturday. Not only does DJ Kotin real name Siyabonga Mfuduzi Zikode believed he deserved it for his creativity, but he also tells ZiMoja that he worked hard for it. "I deserve it, there's nobody better than me in my genre currently," he says.

WORKING WITH SITHELO

He said he did not need to be humble or modest about it anymore. He was up against big artists, Sykes and internationally acclaimed DJ Lag. "When I make music, I always make music that is radio friendly, and I am intentional in the way I make productions. I always want to make music that lasts longer," the DJ said. He is the Masked Singer presenter DJ Sithelo Shezi's former manager, and he is pursuing his individual career. "We have to always grow. I have worked with Sithelo for six years as her manager, and we both decided that we both need to grow, she is venturing into television and I am expanding my brand as an artist and a DJ, so we felt we needed to go our individual ways," he added.

BIG PLANS

With their different visions, Kotin feels their visions have changed. "We felt the industry is congested and doesn't get what it needs. He says she achieved a lot in the six years he worked with her. "Sithelo has retired as a DJ, she feels there are too many female DJs coming up. It's congested. Don't if the female DJs are not even talented. She's venturing into an exclusive brand. I no longer work with her. I was managing her DJ career. We sat down and spoke about the direction she wanted to go. She will always be my baby even though we don't work together. But she continues to help me." DJ Kotin says he has signed an international desk. "That will be revealed very soon. I don't want to talk much about it, but I'm now focusing on myself and my music, planning to take it abroad and be international,".