From shoe line to comic skits:JP widens revenue streams, set to host Mugabe on DNA show
Harare- VERSATILE musician Jah Prayzah (real name Mukudzeyi Mukombe) has widened his revenue streams and is tapping into potpourri of new avenues within the arts industry ,Express Mail Zim can report.
With a music career that hit the ground in 2001 while he was still in high school, the tall and lanky musician has kept on setting his eyes on the ball .
Jah Prayzah started by diversifying into a clothing line called “Mudhara Vachauya” in 2016 – successfully launched it in Bulawayo.
It however suffered a still birth and overtaken by events since the label was named after a hit song that was to fade with time.
He never gave up and a year later he was to launch a shoe gear called “Battlefield” which was inspired by military gear – his signature dress code then with his Third Generation band.
The interesting phenomenon or irony about the shoe line is that at his peak, the late senior superstar Oliver Mtukudzi also launched his own shoe brand that he called ‘Hai Kobo’ inspired by his Katekwe dance routine.
So its a matter of great creative minds thinking alike!
Fast forward six years later, JP has recently ventured into comedy and last week he did a prank on award winning rapper Mudiwa Hood as he did an activation campaign for a local vehicle towing company.
He has also ‘blessed’ a banana vendor with USD150 in one of the several skits that he has produced so far.
His latest non- musical venture within the confines of the arts industry is a guest host on a special Christmas edition of Tinashe Mugabe’s DNA show where the guests are Mugabe and his wife.
The trailer of the show has been flighted on social media and it is a potentially explosive interview with “Mr DNA” guy himself.
JP is also believed to have made several investments in other sectors including haulage and reports from his close associates suggests that he has made a fortune and had a boom in his net worth in the year 2023.
He has however kept his wealth and investments a closely guarded secret.
Comedienne Mai TT has also diversified into handbag making , a skill she got during her short stint in prison.
These moves are good for the development of local showbiz now that artistes are commerialising their brands.
In the United States, rapper Dr Dre who now co-owns a billion dollar headphones business under the Beats By Dre franchise.
Dr Dre met some chap called Jimmy Lovine at a beach and Lovine persuaded him to start that headphones range and ‘boom’ they billionaires.
It is not entirely clear who is JP’s “Lovine’ but our impeccable sources pointed to local businessman Tinashe Mutarisi who himself is a multi-millionaire with his paint company Nash Paints.
However, JP needs to be careful and employ a commercial manager (apart from his loyal and competent manager Keen Mashapaidze) who is knowledgeable on patent and intellectual property law. As a nation, we have struggled with regulating the sale of branded merchandise and creative content rights.
