Nomuzi breaks silence on Cashtime departure

Bruce Ndlovu
A month since her shock departure from heavyweight hip-hop label, Cashtime, South African rapper and television personality Nomuzi Mabena says that she exited the label after they came to a crossroads regarding the direction of her career.A� A�

Cashtime, a record label owned by rapper K.O, had held Nomuzi (ABOVE) as one of its crown jewels. Her reputation as one of the continenta��s best TV presenters, fashion icons and promising female rappers made her a potential power player on the South African music scene.

Mabena, who under the moniker of Skhanda Queen has been horning her rap skills under notable rap lyricists like K.O, Kid X and Ma-E announced last month that she and the label were parting ways.

Speaking in Bulawayo last week on the eve of the Second Homecoming show, Mabena said that she had decided to leave the label as she was no longer the same artiste she was three years ago when she joined the powerful collective.

a�?Why did I leave Cashtime? I think the reason why the label ultimately decided to let me go was because of irreconcilable differences as they say when a marriage comes to an end.

a�?Looking at the place where I am in my career and the place where they are as a movement, ita��s better for us to go our separate ways,a�? she said.

Mabena said that although she had left the label, there were no sour grapes over her departure.

a�?The relationship is still good and I think ita��s all love. Before long you kind of want to challenge yourself and the people around you and it was the same for me as it was for them. This is all part of that growth and there is no beef,a�? she said.

The TV presenter, who also left MTV for a presenting gig on youth focused station Vuzu last month, added that she owed much to the label for her accomplishments in the last few years.

a�?As things got busy and crazier, with ventures on the fashion, TV and music side of things growing bigger I needed space to do all these things under one roof. Big shout out to Cashtime because they were the people that recognised where I was strong and where I fell short,a�? she said.