‘Van Damme’ star swaps record labels
Fakude unhappy with Mabala’s lack of interest
Maskandi star Mroza Fakude has dumped Mabala Noise.
The news comes a week after the controversial stable’s owner Reggie Nkabinde booted out a few executives and some artists, and also stating they would henceforth focus on hiphip music production.
Fakude shot to prominence in January after his fairly unknown song Van Damme caused major upset and won the coveted SABC Summer Song of the Year.
The maskandi star from Mkhuze, northern KZN, said he left Mabala because he wasn’t happy as they were not taking his career seriously.
Fakude confirmed he had joined Maz Entertainment, but referred all other questions to his new company.
Musa Zulu, of Maz, confirmed he has signed a fiveyear contract with Fakude.
Zulu sounded excited to have caught one of the biggest fish in the maskandi music scene.
“I was approached by Mroza because he wanted me to help him,” Zulu said.
“He was complaining that Mabala was not focusing on him and his talent, and was worried that people will quickly forget about him.
“We are excited to sign him and we plan to take his career to another level, and even take his talent overseas.”
Zulu said signing Fakude was the biggest achievement for his Durban-based company. He said since Fakude was well-known and made history this year.
The maskandi singer is set go into the studio in September to record his upcoming album.
Mabala Noise’s newly appointed label manager Sikhulile Nzuza said as far as he knew, Mroza was still an artist signed to Mabala Noise with a 360 contract.
“I actually spoke to him this morning on another matter regarding studio time and his next project,” Nzuza said.
The 360 contract means that an artist is managed, released and published by the label, and the label shares in artist’s income from all streams.
“We didn’t even discuss, the matter you are referring to as it wasn’t even on cards.”