Dubbed 'Bae Wama 2000' singer and vocalist Masterpiece YVK, real name Thabang Kgotso Kganakgawas is one of the leading vocalists in the Amapiano music space and one of the 11 artists signed at Kabza De Small's label PianoHub. After three years at the label, his contract is coming to an end in May and whether he will be staying or leaving, Masterpiece YVK believes the past three years have been nothing but an eye-opening learning curve for his career.

THE DEAL

He met Kabza a few years ago, they lost touch, and they reunited after he made a few songs with DJ Maphorisa. Kabza then took him under his wing and signed him at his label, Piano Hub. "Kabza offered to drop my first album Beyond 2000. They asked me what I wanted, and we were taking one project at a time,' he tells ZiMoja. He eventually signed with him, a three-year contract and has released three projects with them. "We are still in talks whether to renew or not.' When he was first signed, he had no goals and was just winging it. "I was happy with the contract which took me a month to go through with my brother who is a lawyer. It was dope,' he says.

GROWTH

Masterpiece YVK spent three years trying to find himself, hence he feels he is not as far as he can potentially be. "It's only now that I am being comfortable with my style and sound,' he says. He says the three years were some of the best times in his life and he wouldn't mind renewing his contract. "Maphorisa and Kabza are like the university of music,' he says. "Morning with him is motivating. He has a very high work ethic, and it rubs off everyone around him. Kabza is one of the most disciplined people I know. He does not sleep, he is constantly working, making music, and has an incredible ear.'

A ROLE MODEL

Masterpiece YVK says he also built a bond with Kabza. "He is strict, mara ngiyamkhona. He is like a father to us, that's why we call him Papta,' he says. "He can call you out on personal issues when they are not going well. He pushes me to even be a great dada to my 2-year-old kid.' Masterpiece YVK says every artist at Pianohub is encouraged to have their studio at home for when they are inspired to work, they do so. "Then later they come back to the big studio.

FINDING HIS VIBE

Masterpiece YVK says his current project Back To The Streets is doing wonders on the charts. "I've found my groove and my voice. With other projects, I have been working on finding myself. It's crazy that it's happening now at the end of the contract.' He has never worked with big names before. "Kabza and Maphorisa were the first. I was nervous and intimidated, but excited at the same time,' he says. "Then they introduced me to even bigger names.' He started as a hype man at nightclubs and gigs. "I was the guy who makes noise on the mic in the clubs and events. I met DJ, and Artist, Leehleza and he asked me to attend one of his events. He encouraged me to take it further and record the gimmicks in music. He scheduled a session for me, and he introduced me to Kabza, back in the day when he was still living in a shack," the rest is history.