I’m the Don

Manuel Ntoyai

A lot of people say you pose an untouchable attitude despite your flamboyancy. How true is this?

People think I’m that ‘out of reach’ kind of a person. They have stereotyped me to fit in that ‘uptown lifestyle’.

But the truth is, I am not like that. I care and understand what people in other places go through.

The thing is, there are limited places where I get to interact with other people and since I have a manager, it has always been easy for me to connect with people from any social setting and levels. So, this ‘unreachable’ tag is just a stereotype.

How do you juggle between running your company, your career as an artiste and other businesses?

The good thing about working in the music and entertainment industry is that work schedules are flexible.

There is usually a schedule I follow that allows me to do all that I am needed to. I am not always recording or performing and that is when I do other things.

The artiste side of KRG is doing well; I have new management and as a studio owner, I don’t always have to be there.

I have a professional team that make sure things run smoothly. I also have a management unit for all my other businesses.

Amidst all these, I also try as much as possible to spend quality time with my family. 

Grapevine has it that you are involved in the illegal ‘wash wash’ dealings?

Ha-ha-ha. Just ignore the rumours. I have invested heavily in real estate, travels and tour through Taraji Safaris, construction through Killions Group, motor vehicle and farming.

And these are all sources of income. I hustle for my money. So, anything else you hear out there trying to put labels on me is just malicious gossip.

As an investor in the music industry, how does it compare to investing in other sectors?

You’d be doing music for the wrong reasons if you do it just for the money. You need to take time to invest in it for a while before you start reaping the benefits.

Once you’ve built the channels for making money such as streaming, royalties and endorsements, among others, the rest will come automatically. 

How did you establish your music label and how much was the investment worth?

I would not exactly quote a figure because this business is not something I just woke up one day and set up.

It took time, blood and sweat, and a lot of money of course; to make it the brand it is today.

It was a long process and if I was to quantify the money I have put in the business, it wouldn’t be less than Sh100 million. But it is also not just about money, but what it offers.

When I started Fast Cash Music, it was about working with the less privileged talents, to empower them through music, and not just music, but good quality music.

The move has since given birth to the ‘new wave’ of music we are enjoying in Kenya today.

How has it been working with the ‘new wave’ artists such as Alvindo and Boondocks Gang?

The ‘new wave’ music is about change and when there is a change, one has to embrace it.

The rule of nature is, adapt or die. And that is what KRG did as a brand, and since I also love and support Kenyan vibes, I had and have to be part of it no matter what.

My manager DJ Lyta hooked me up with Boondocks Gang and after the interaction, I liked what they do and the product is our new collabo jam, Mathogothanio. 

People complain about the vulgar and explicit content that has come with the ‘new wave’ artists. How do you relate to it?

I think people need to relax their mind and let those who enjoy themselves through such music be.

It is a generational thing and the ‘new wave’ is the in-thing with the target generation. Culture is dynamic and we cannot force to drop their preferred form of cultures for others.