Inside the contract termination negotiations between Diamond and Rayvanny
In the tranquil ambiance of Rayvanny’s lavish home in the upscale suburbs of Mbezi Beach, Dar es Salaam, a casual day of banter with his former mentor, Diamond Platnumz, took an unexpected turn.
The revelation, as recounted by Rayvanny, marked the moment he chose to part ways with WCB, unleashing a ripple effect that resonates one year later.
“Knowing him as I do, I knew that was the right mood to hint to him that I wanted out. He is someone who is proud of me, but such an announcement, of course, did surprise him,” Rayvanny shared, describing the pivotal conversation that changed the trajectory of his career.
In an unconventional move, Rayvanny opted for an informal revelation instead of the customary official letter to express his desire to leave the record label.
“Because of our cordial relationship, I felt it would be cool to inform him informally. He later understood my explanation, and I think that’s why there wasn’t so much demand before I could leave,” he explained.
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Acknowledging the challenges, Rayvanny revealed that Diamond Platnumz faced reluctance before letting him go.
“There was a lot of tussle before he could set me free, but I understand because it all boils down to money. Getting to an agreement wasn’t really that smooth, but at the end of it all, we amicably arrived at a decision, and that’s why we were able to maintain our cordial relationship,” Rayvanny added.
The decision required Rayvanny to buy out the remainder of his contract, which reportedly spanned ten years, with the artist leaving on the sixth. While he chose not to disclose the exact amount, Rayvanny hinted at the substantial financial commitment, stating, “I don’t think it’s right to disclose how much I paid (buyout) to leave. All I can say is I paid twice as much as Harmonize did and a few more on top.”
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Harmonize, who left WCB in 2019, paid Ksh25 million as a buyout. In contrast, Rayvanny revealed last year that his buyout amounted to Ksh68 million.
As Rayvanny commemorates exactly one year since his departure from WCB to focus on his Next Level Music (NLM), he describes the decision as a natural progression for self-growth.
“It was a decision about growth, the natural progression of moving from one stage to another. I felt I had reached a stage where I could take the next step, be my boss, and use my experience to support other artists. It’s been a year since I left my family Wasafi to do things my way, and I am grateful to God. Things have been running smoothly,” Rayvanny affirmed, reflecting on a year of independence and artistic evolution.