A casual decision made early on can shape a music career for years. That is the message MacG took from the long-running question of why Nota Baloyi is said to hold the masters and royalty income tied to Kwesta’s early music. Speaking on Podcast and Chill, MacG stressed that he was repeating what he had heard, not stating verified facts, and invited correction.
The alleged origin story
In MacG’s telling, Kwesta, Leroy and Nota were young and still learning the industry when they decided to launch a record label together. The practical problem was that Nota was reportedly the only one with a registered company. So the group allegedly agreed to operate through his business, intending to set up a new entity later.
Where it allegedly went wrong
According to MacG, that second step never happened, and the original company structure stayed in place. He suggested this could explain why Nota still controls the masters and collects royalties from music made in that period. He framed it as his understanding of events, not a confirmed account of the contracts between the parties.
The lesson for artists
MacG used the story to warn musicians, producers and entrepreneurs about starting ventures with friends on a handshake. A shortcut meant to get a project moving can harden into permanent ownership if nobody documents who owns what. His advice was to get it right from the start, because you never know what a project will become.
Closing:
Trust and a shared vision matter, but they are no substitute for written agreements on ownership, obligations and money. Neither Nota nor Kwesta has been quoted here, and the claims remain unverified.
