Watch Video: Rayvanny Finally Breaks Silence on Macvoice Fallout: “I Had Plans for Him

Rayvanny signed Macvoice on September 24, 2021, to his record label, Next Level Music — a moment that felt like the beginning of something big. In 2021, Rayvanny founded Next Level Music and signed his first artist, Mac Voice. In July 2022, he left WCB Wasafi to focus entirely on the label.

But behind the fanfare of that signing, Macvoice now says the reality was far grimmer. According to the singer, he had no stable place to stay and was effectively living out of the Next Level Music studio. He would wait until all recording sessions came to an end before sleeping in the studio. On some occasions, he disclosed that he would sleep at a friend’s house when his girlfriend was not around.

The financial side of things, he says, was just as bleak. When Macvoice eventually approached Rayvanny seeking payment for his work, he claims the response left him stunned. When he sought Rayvanny’s help, he was dumbfounded with the affirmation that his projects had yet to generate any money — a development that shocked him beyond words, since his videos have considerable numbers on digital streaming platforms.

Macvoice did not mince his words when sharing his frustrations publicly, saying the core of their conflict came down to money. He stated that he never received a single cent from Rayvanny despite his contributions to the label.

The situation worsened when personal hardship struck. During their feud, Macvoice’s mother was also ailing, and he resorted to performing from village to village — popularly known as “Chaka 2 Chaka” — in order to raise funds for her medication. He also denied claims that had previously circulated online suggesting he had purchased a car and built a house from music earnings.

Fired by Voice Note

The breaking point came when Macvoice, out of financial desperation, went around the label’s structure to source work on his own. The development angered Rayvanny, who sent him a voice note dismissing him from Next Level Music. It is now two years since his dismissal.

Being let go via an audio message rather than a formal conversation only deepened the sense of humiliation for Macvoice, who felt the manner of his exit reflected the broader disregard he had experienced throughout his time at the label.

Rayvanny Responds: “I Love Macvoice, But He Went Rogue”

Rayvanny has since broken his silence on the matter, pushing back against the narrative that he abandoned or exploited the young artist. The Next Level Music CEO maintained that his affection for Macvoice was genuine and that he had concrete plans for his career at the label.

However, Rayvanny pointed to what he described as insubordination as the root cause of the breakdown. According to Rayvanny, the trouble began when Macvoice started making moves and taking on projects without informing or involving the label’s management — a breach of trust that, in his view, made the working relationship untenable.

Rayvanny’s position is that an artist operating independently of their label’s management structure undermines the very foundation of a label deal, and that his decision to end the partnership, however it was communicated, was justified.

Government Steps In

The public nature of the dispute has attracted scrutiny beyond the entertainment world. Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma — better known as Mwana FA — met with Macvoice to hear his grievances. Mwana FA stated that the government had begun taking steps to investigate the matter in order to establish the truth from both sides, pledging that the issue would be resolved quickly and fairly. He also emphasised that the government has a responsibility to ensure the rights and interests of artists are protected, stressing the importance of transparent contracts that safeguard all parties in the arts sector.

A Cautionary Tale for Bongo Flava’s New Era

The Rayvanny-Macvoice saga has reignited a long-standing conversation in Tanzania’s music industry about the power dynamics between established artists who become label owners and the up-and-coming talent they sign. Questions about transparent royalty structures, artist welfare, and the enforceability of music contracts are now front and centre.

For Macvoice, the public testimony appears to be both a cry for justice and a bid to reclaim his narrative. For Rayvanny — a BET Award winner and Grammy-nominated act who built his reputation on hard work and loyalty — the controversy is an unwanted cloud over a legacy he has spent years constructing.

Both men insist they are telling the truth. For now, it is the court of public opinion — and potentially a government inquiry — that will decide whose version holds.

This story is developing. Follow us for updates as more details emerge.