He has made hits for award-winning artists such as Makhadzi, Mr Brown, Nomcebo Zikode, and Zanda Zakuza and even crossed shores to the international music scene in the US, producing for Akon. Producer and DJ Thabo Mahundla, fondly known as AirBurn Sounds, is making international strides as he has sealed a deal with international label Cr8ive Tribe based in the USA and Jamaica. However, his former label boss, Phillip Makhate is said to not be happy with his success.

STUDIES

In 2022, AirBurn Sounds left Open Mic Productions to join Makhates Productions as a producer for the artists at the label. "He was working at the label and living at the label house,' a source revealed. "He was making hits for the artist. He produced Mphowabadimo's song Bonga and many other songs, most of which have not been released. But felt there was no growth for him, he was still not making money; he was not getting bookings and just living in the studio, until he decided to leave.' The insider reveals the DJ and producer left the label at the beginning of 2024. "He was not even at the label for a year when he left and moved into his own studio in the Midrand area. He secured a deal in the US and was planning to move to Los Angeles at the end of 2024, to release his full project.'

NOT HAPPY

However, the label owner, Phillip Makhate who is said to still feel that AirBurn Sounds needs to live up to his contractual obligations has since physically attacked the artist. "Phillip has not done much for AirBurn Sounds. Instead, he has produced more history than anything. He hasn't been getting paid for gigs but has been working non-stop, and Phillip claims to own him. How do you own another man?' the source asks.

ROBBERY

The source reveals that last week, Phillip ransacked the producer's Midrand home, taking some of his studio equipment forcefully. "He came into his home with six men in the evening, assaulted him and took his studio equipment,' the source said. "Mind you, he had borrowed him speakers to use, willingly, and given him his blessing to continue working with the label overseas. They had agreed that he would leave peacefully, and they would part ways.' Phillip has since set dates to release music which is in AirBurn's hard drive. "He took the hard drive and got his new producer to work on the music and has been releasing it through Africori and other streaming platforms. This is illegal. He has also not credited AirBurn in any of the songs that he plans to release. It is theft. He stole the hard drive and is stealing the music.' AiBurn Sounds said he is in the process of opening a case of theft, breaking entering, and assault before referring ZiMoja to his legal team, who said he is not contracted to Makhates Productions. "The contract does not apply. It has no witnesses and to avoid going into detail, the contract does not exist as an official legal document.' Phillip said AirBurn has a five-year contract with his label and anything he produces in those five years belongs to him. "That is the short version of it all.'