At the peak of the Gengetone and Arbantone wave, along came Black Market Records that began to make everyone’s dreams come true by signing anyone and everyone to the label. Many artists began working with the label and were signed.
Earlier this year, artist Fathermoh, producer Vic West, and artist Harry Kraze were all seen at Statehouse, Nairobi, meeting with President William Ruto to seek his assistance after Black Market Records claimed ownership of their brands and music they had released while under contract with the label.
In the most interesting twist, the dispute is not happening in Kenya but in California, where Black Market Records is suing the artists. This is because the founder of Black Market Records is not Kenyan but a US Citizen who saw an opportunity and invested in Kenyan music.
Prior to the 2026 meeting, no one was aware of issues with Black Market Records, despite several Kenyan artists still signed to the label. It will, however, be interesting to see what happens to the legal cases that have been filed in California and who ultimately wins in the cases in which Black Market Records claims ownership of the music made by the artists it had signed, having invested in them and paid for the works to be produced and distributed.
@arnoldmalcom ♬ original sound – MALCOM (Machaji na Manyonyois) – MALCOM (Machaji na Manyonyois)
Something is definitely a miss at Black Market Records. Hopefully, more comes to light about what is really going on, and this scenario becomes a cautionary tale for other Kenyan artists about the dangers of signing with a label and what they are giving up by doing so.
