Rising Zambian artist Mordecaii has finally addressed the delays surrounding his latest album, Selfless, and his departure from Kazadi Music. Speaking on the ZMB Talks with Edna, the FIRE hitmaker revealed his frustrations with the label, citing lack of support and a decline in his brand’s growth as key reasons for his decision to part ways.
Mordecaii explained that while Kazadi Music played a crucial role in propelling him to fame, he eventually felt stagnant. “At first, things were moving fast because they had the tools to push my brand. But after some time, I noticed my streaming numbers were dropping from five million YouTube views to just five hundred thousand. That’s when I realized my growth had stalled,” he said.
The singer also revealed that his management situation had become challenging. “I was basically managing myself. David Kazadi was busy with The Icon and wasn’t available when I needed help. In moments where I required label support, no one was there,” he shared.
Feeling abandoned, Mordecaii began handling things independently, from booking studio sessions, to financing his own music production. “I always informed the label about my actions, but it felt like rebellion because I was being neglected. I reached a point where I realized, ‘If I don’t do it, nobody will.’ That’s when I decided to leave,” he explained.
The artist also shed light on the multiple delays of Selfless, attributing them to Kazadi Music’s failure to cover production costs. “Kazadi Music didn’t pay for the mastering, so I had to do it myself,” he revealed. Another delay stemmed from contractual issues, as the label sought to renegotiate royalty terms. Finally, after the passing of legendary artist Dandy Krazy, the album’s release was pushed back from January 3rd to January 17th, 2025, out of respect.
When asked whether he would have achieved success without the label, Mordecaii admitted, “I think I would have blown up, but maybe not as fast. Kazadi Music had the right tools, the radio stations, the platforms, and the access that I was still building from scratch.”
Responding to criticism that Kazadi Music gifted The Icon winner Emmanuel Muleba a car but didn’t do the same for him, Mordecaii clarified, “That was never part of my deal. My agreement was strictly about recording music, and they would handle the marketing.”
Now independent, Mordecaii is focused on building his brand with a new team. He is currently a brand ambassador for MLife Insurance and has officially released his highly anticipated Selfless album, which is now available for streaming on all digital platforms.