Emtee Demands Better Sound at Live Events
The rapper called on event organisers and promoters to ensure sound and microphones work properly at performances.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap
Live Poll
Would sound quality problems stop you from buying tickets to a live show?
Rapper Emtee, whose real name is Mthembeni Ndevu, posted on X (formerly Twitter) demanding that event organisers and promoters make sure sound and microphones are on point. A talent management account responded by suggesting he travel with his own dedicated microphone.
Why it matters
Poor sound and unreliable microphones can undermine an artist's live performance and reflect on the quality of the event itself. The complaint highlights ongoing frustrations among South African performers about technical standards at live shows.
The evidence is a public post on X by the artist himself, with no quantitative measures of the sound problems cited. Emtee did not identify the event, organiser or date of the performances that prompted the complaint, and no response from promoters has been recorded.
The players
Emtee
South African rapper and independent artist operating under Emtee Records, known for hits including Roll Up and his breakthrough single Avery.
The details
Emtee used X (formerly Twitter) to complain about poor sound quality and unreliable microphones at live events, writing that organisers or promoters should make sure their sound and mic are on point. The expression "Niyasi hlaza" roughly translates to "you are embarrassing yourselves." A talent management account replied by suggesting he start travelling with his own dedicated microphone.
Timeline
- 9 November 2026: Emtee's post about poor event sound quality was published.
Industry Dynamics
Artists increasingly air production complaints publicly on social media instead of through private negotiation with promoters. Emtee's post fits this pattern, in which performers use their own platforms to pressure organisers over technical standards at live shows.
Concertgoers at live events depend on working sound systems to hear performances clearly, so technical failures can reduce the value of paying for a ticket. Emtee's complaint signals that audiences may encounter uneven sound quality depending on the organiser or venue.
The takeaway
Attendees can check sound and microphone setup before a show and ask organisers about technical readiness when planning to attend live music events. Artists and promoters both benefit when production standards are confirmed before performances begin.
Further reading
For more on the scene behind this complaint, explore Hip-Hop and Rap coverage from South Africa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SA Hip Hop Mag.
Live Poll
Would sound quality problems stop you from buying tickets to a live show?
