Mabala Noise: Riky isn’t going anywhere

Riky Ricky, who upon receiving the Best Hit Single gong during the ceremony expressed his displeasure about the way the awards were conducted, yesterday took to Twitter and announced that he was leaving the Mabala stable. “After long prayer and conversation with God, I am no longer part of @Mabala_Noise Blessings to everyone there. Thank you for the love,” he wrote.

But Mabala Noise management repudiated the rapper’s claims that he had left the label and signaled a legal battle to come. "Riky is still a part of Mabala Noise. We cannot control what Riky says on social media but he has signed a contract that is valid for the next 3 years."

Riky Ricky's decision to leave Mabala, which is co-owned by ANC Youth League (ANCYL) treasurer Reggie Nkabinde, follows last week’s news that the ‘Sondela’ hitmaker was not named in the line-up for a Mabala Noise event to celebrate the haul at the Metro FM Awards. The majority of winners at this year’s Metro FM Awards are signed to Mabala Noise. They include Nasty C, who bagged four awards, Riky Rick, L’vovo (Best Kwaito Single), Kelly Khumalo (Best Female Album), Du Boiz (Best Music Video) and Musa Sukwene (Best African Pop Album). South African media reported earlier that Mabala had paid 10 million rand ($770 000) to Metro FM so its artists could dominate the awards.

Not to be left out, controversial EFF leader and fierce ANC critic Julius Malema responded to Riky Rick’s Tweet. “I know @rikyrickworld and @MAJORLEAGUEDJZ personally & I had advised them against joining the corrupt @Mabala_Noise even at the beginning.”

Malema and his fellow party members had earlier condemned the Metros, saying that the event was not the right platform to honour renowned musicians.

In a response to Riky Rick’s exit from the label, Mabala owner Nkabinde tweeted: “A dog comes hungry in your yard, feed it but the minute it shines it goes back to the master, that’s how ungrateful bastards behave.”

He went on to say, “Don't be fooled by individuals who claimed 2 be independent b4 Mabala sign them, they had masters who were funding them? Guess who? Don’t do drugs, if u have tried them b4 don’t go back, otherwise u will keep shocking us.”

Real name Rikhado Makhado, Ricky Rick signed to Mabala Noise in June last year, which saw him release the ‘Sidlukotini’ single. Before Mabala, he was with Makhado Makhado Agency.