Renowned South African disc jockey DJ Speedsta has fired back at accusations that he refuses to support up-and-coming artists in his sets, labeling the criticism as a manufactured narrative.
The debate sparked on X (formerly Twitter) when a user alleged that established DJs, including Speedsta, are failing to help new, independent artists break into the mainstream, favoring nostalgic classics instead.
Defending the Deck
Speedsta didn’t hold back in his response, asserting that the backlash is coming from people who have likely never attended one of his performances.
“98% of the people that say ‘I’m old, play old music etc’ have never even heard me play!” Speedsta tweeted. “Stop making excuses about everything to entertain a narrative. You’ve probably never heard me DJ in your life. Stop the Cap!”
The Role of DJs in Culture
This exchange highlights the intense scrutiny DJs face within the South African music scene regarding their responsibility to balance nostalgia with the duty of breaking new talent.
While the accusations drew mixed reactions—with some fans agreeing they want to hear more new music and others defending Speedsta’s curation—the DJ made it clear he will not be dictated to by baseless social media narratives.
