Could ZimHipHop rapper RayKaz be leaving the game for good?

TAWANDA CHARI & TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA 

First it was Tehn Diamond, Jnr Brown, then Empress Shelly, Tru North, Soko Matemai, recently Malcom Mufunde and perhaps 2025 is the last we see of RayKaz as well. Our understanding is that some of our favourite musicians get to prioritize ‘other important things in life’ like jobs and family rather than keep making music. And we are empathetic in our understanding, much as it is a bit disappointing to see your favourite walk away from the game. 

RayKaz performing at Shoko Festival last year. 

Music, particularly genres like hip-hop and rap, rarely offers a stable income, especially in Southern Africa. Many rappers start young, driven by sheer passion, but as responsibilities pile up—like rent, bills, and supporting a family—their priorities shift. If the music doesn’t pay, they have to find something that will. Pursuing rap full-time often becomes an unaffordable luxury.

Being born in Zimbabwe, whether rich or poor, comes with inherent pitfalls that seem almost inescapable. Pitfalls in which artists are faced with the prospect of having to make difficult decisions. Musicians, for instance, often find themselves battling hurdles that stifle their creativity and growth. Even those with talent and ambition face barriers like piracy, inadequate streaming revenue, and restricted access to global platforms.

Artists often have to finance their own productions, promotions, and tours, while balancing other jobs to sustain themselves. For the fortunate few who achieve success, the burden doesn’t ease entirely—financial instability, industry politics, and the constant pressure to remain relevant continue to weigh heavily on their shoulders. Simply being a Zimbabwean artist means navigating a complex landscape that demands resilience far beyond their artistry.

Adding to this strain are ungrateful fans who demand perfection but often fail to support the very artists they critique. Some of the critique is absurd it's actually malice. Many are quick to criticize and slow to celebrate, overlooking the immense effort it takes to create music in such an unforgiving environment. The applause is fleeting, and loyalty even more so, leaving many artists feeling underappreciated despite their sacrifices. This probably where RayKaz is right now and understandably so.

But this struggle isn’t unique to musicians alone. Ordinary Zimbabweans across all walks of life encounter similar roadblocks, from economic instability and unemployment to political uncertainty and limited access to quality education and healthcare. 

Even those from privileged backgrounds aren’t immune; they face their own set of challenges, from high taxation to the complexities of managing businesses in a volatile economic environment. The majority, however, grapple daily with survival, making ends meet in a nation where opportunities are scarce. Regardless of social class, being born in Zimbabwe often means carrying an invisible weight.

Perhaps RayKaz's misfortune is rapping in an environment that is hungry for simplistic stuff. 

RayKaz has made it public that this is the last year we might get music from him. We have laid a solid enough basis to understand the phenomenon of artists ultimately deciding to walk away from that which they love the most; that which they bare their souls for. There are certain strands of hip-hop music in Zimbabwe that are always susceptible to never getting the widespread acclaim they may deserve – and this is regardless the fact that hip-hop in Zimbabwe has been enjoying some commendable success. It is at such point one feels for RayKaz: that despite all his talent, the trajectory of his music endeavours has not been in a way he favours. And that it might be time to focus on ‘other important things in life’ such as a full-time 9-5 corporate job. 

In the event RayKaz finally decides to leave the game for good, and to never come back, we will be left without any other option except appreciating what he has made already. And that's where the point is—what has been made already is brilliant in its artistry such that it deserved more ears. But that has not been the case. The reality has been far from totally impressive. It happens.

RayKaz did promise us that we are getting Those Around Me Tape this year, in what could be his final full-length offering. One could say that's some reprieve for his fans. Even if he decides to leave for good, those who have documented his history will attest to the fact that he is one of the best lyricists to ever do it.