KRG the Don, a Kenyan dancehall artist, has explained why he stopped cosigning artists under his music label, saying the rapid success of some musicians changed their working relationships and ultimately influenced his decision to step away from artist management.
Addressing Witchcraft Allegations and Past Management Challenges
Speaking on the Mic Cheque Podcast, KRG addressed the issue after Chaxxy asked him whether claims that he had allegedly bewitched
“Takataka” hitmaker Alvindo were true, saying he had received the information from Arrow Bwoy.
Instead of dwelling on the allegation, KRG spoke about his experience running a music label and why he eventually stopped signing artists.
According to KRG, many of the artists he supported were not prepared for the level of success they achieved.
“Wasee hawakua wanaexpect kukua famous so fast, juu wote walikam wakaturn against me and I was like, huyu kijana mwenye nilikua nasort hivi leo amekua kichwa ngumu, nikimwita ananiambia ati tutaonana siku fulani.”
He said the quick rise to fame led some artists to believe they no longer needed the people who had helped them establish their careers.
“Success ilikam so fast na kila mtu akaona yeye ndio kusema na anaeza do without the other.”
The Impact of Sudden Fame on Business Relationships
To explain his point, KRG used the Mic Cheque Podcast team as an example, saying a member could decide to leave and start a separate show after making money.
“Ni kama nyinyi venye mmepiga hii kitu for so long, siku moja Mwas akuje tu aseme, ‘We unaniambia kitu gani?’ alafu just because ako na doo aende abuy equipment afungue show yake ingine na huko.”
He added that, over time, several artists realized they could continue their careers independently.
“Kulikua na a lot of things happening and people had started discovering that they don’t need help.”
KRG maintained that his approach as a label owner was to create opportunities that benefited everyone involved.
“As a label owner, me nilikua napanga vitu in a way that favours everyone, as in kila mtu akiwin me nawin tu bado.”
Podcast host Mwas responded by saying:
“Money doesn’t change anyone, it just brings out their true self.”
Re-evaluating the Label and Future Plans
KRG then explained that he had invested in providing artists with everything they required to build their careers.
“Nilikua na provide kila kitu, studio, equipment, kila kitu tunahitaji.”
However, he said that once some artists became more popular than him, they started viewing him differently because he was not as publicly known for his music.
“Ikahappen wasee wengine wakakua famous kunishinda mimi mwenye studio so wakaanza kuona the only thing huyu msee ako nayo ni doo juu hana jina na mziki yake haiko out there.”
He said the experience made him question his role as a label owner, noting that he had already achieved many of the things artists were working towards.
“Nikaona at the end of the day, what am I doing here, juu kitu wanatafta me niko nayo already, juu kila mtu anatafta tu maisha akue na gari fiti na nyumba poa.”
As the discussion came to a close, KRG said Arrow Bwoy was the only artist he found reasonable and easy to work with during his time managing musicians under the label.
KRG the Don founded Fast Cash Music (also known as Fast Cash Music Group) as the label through which he released much of his own music while also nurturing upcoming talent. Over the years, artists who have been associated with the label include Arrow Bwoy, who spent part of his early career under the outfit before establishing himself as a solo star; Alvindo, best known for the hit Takataka; Lil Maina, who was linked to the label during his rise in the Gengetone scene, and Mbogi Genje, who collaborated with KRG under the Fast Cash Music banner.
