On January 8, news circulated that one of the best producers in Rwanda, Element known by his tag ‘ELEEH’, had parted ways with Country Records studio which made him a star in the local music scene. According to Noopja, founder of the renowned studio and record label, Element’s departure from Country Records was his choice but he left unprofessionally, putting his music career at stake. The youngster who rose to eminence in 2020 had joined the music house in the same year, after producing dozens of hits until he landed a better deal with 1:55am’s management early this year. Different reports indicate that his choice to leave Country Records was triggered by an offer he got from Coach Gael, one of the brains behind 11:55am, of earning 50 per cent of the production cost of each track or album produced in the studio. Element was getting 30 per cent at the former management line. It is also said that the 23-year-old producer was given 15 million Rwandan francs to leave Country Records and replace Madebeats who had been producing for 1:55am before relocating to the UK in 2022. “Element received 16 million Rwandan francs ($15000) from the new management. That’s the main thing that influenced his decision of leaving Noopja,” a trusted source told The New Times. This, and everything else being said about the saga, can cause one of the biggest feuds in the local music scene or lead to the fall of one of the best music producers in Rwanda. Where is the problem? In his recent interview with The New Times, Noopja unveiled that the name Element and his tag ‘ELEEH’ is Country Record’s brand that the young producer should drop as soon as possible. “Both ‘Ideni’ and Bruce Melodie’s recently released song were Country Records projects but he released them under 1:55am. He is really making big mistakes,” Noopja said. If what his former manager says is right and documented in a contract, Element might be sued for copyright violation or risk losing a brand he worked for years. The Element we know in ‘Samoya,’ ‘Henzapu,’ ‘Nibido,’ ‘Nazubaye,’ ‘Micro,’ ‘Eva’ and ‘Bado’ everything he produced, will be no more in Rwanda’s music industry. The youngster will only stay with his real name Robinson Mugisha that many Rwandans or musicians are not familiar with. “Most music producers move from one studio to another once they get a good deal, but the problem relies on the experience one has to be able to work for his own or promote another brand from scratch. Element is currently a big name in Rwanda, losing it might take that kid back somehow,” said Bertin Gatete, a follower of Rwandan music. Another thing, Gatete believes, is that once good producers start circulating in studios, they risk losing quality or touch of their sound production. For Miguel Manzi, a music analyst, Element’s move from country records to 1:55am might be either a win or a loss for him. This, he said, depends on agreements he has with the new management but he is more likely to fall if his brand stays at Country Records. “If he landed on a good deal, it might boost his music career. Most artistes, producers tend to grow after moving but it’s never the case in Rwanda,” he added. Meanwhile, Rwanda has dozens of producers from Kozze who replaced Element at Country Records, to X on The Beat, Santana, Zed Pro and many others. With all talents rising, there are possibilities that Element’s career might be falling the same way Holy Beat fell.
