Rapper Kiernan Forbes (AKA) released a statement to announce his withdrawal from the awards, claiming he was only told about the event three days ago.

“There has been no communication prior to this from the SA Hip-Hop Awards, which we feel is unfair, as it has not given us a chance to fully promote and actively engage my fan base to participate in a fair voting process,” he wrote.

Forbes received eight nominations for the awards and complained that he “should have been asked to perform at something which is specifically to promote the genre I represent mostly”.

“Due to these reasons, I have withdrawn myself from these awards and do not wish to participate in a process in which we have no information,” he said.

The response to the awards on social networks has been lukewarm.

MetroFM DJ Ismail Abrahams wrote: “In other News! Can we have news and some hype about SA hip hop awards, where the swag hip hop always speaks about? Where’s the video vixens?”

Graffiti artist Falko tweeted: “I (sic) afraid the SA Hip Hop awards should just be called the ‘Jozi pat on the back awards’.”

Forbes, who is currently in Jamaica for the Tropika Island of Treasure, added this morning on Twitter: “The crazy thing about this whole saga is that 90% of u would never have known there was a SA Hip Hop awards if I didn’t pull out.”

But owner of the awards, Osmic Menoe, hit back, saying Forbes was contacted via Twitter and through his manager on his nominations well before the event.

“Everyone was called about the event around the same time, why go on Twitter and make noise when he has my number and I can call him and we speak?”

“It’s fine if we are unprofessional, clearly he (AKA) is professional so why not pitch in and give us a hand, we would appreciate it,” said Menoe.