The Big One is the second studio album by Tanzanian singer-songwriter Rayvanny. It was released on 12 December 2024 under Rayvanny's Next Level Music label and distributed by Ziiki Media [1] . The album features 18 tracks with a total runtime of approximately 69 minutes. Showcasing a lineup of guest artists from across Africa, The Big One includes collaborations with Diamond Platnumz, Alikiba, Harmonize, King Promise, Mbosso, Phina, Young Lunya, Darassa, and others. Rayvanny blends Afrobeat, Bongo Flava, R&B, gospel, and hip-hop styles on the record. Upon release, the album received positive notices for its diverse sound and high-profile features, and it later won Album of the Year at the 2025 Africa Golden Award. [2]
Following the success of his 2021 debut album Sound from Africa, Rayvanny (real name Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa) began work on The Big One after establishing his own label Next Level Music in 2022. The project was conceived as an ambitious crossover album, uniting some of East Africa’s biggest stars and exploring multiple genres. Rayvanny announced The Big One in late 2024, unveiling the album cover and confirming it as his second full-length album (and first under Next Level Music) with a release date of 13 December 2024. [3]
In the lead-up to release, Rayvanny rolled out several singles and teasers. The first official single, “Sensema” featuring Harmonize, was released on 14 June 2024 and marked a reunion of the two Bongo Flava artists [4] [5] . Later in October 2024, Rayvanny premiered “Angelina” featuring Ghanaian singer King Promise via a lyric video, highlighting the album’s pan-African collaborations [6] . He also generated buzz with a viral dance challenge for “Nitongoze”, his duet with Diamond Platnumz, months before the album’s arrival [7] .
The Big One is a genre-blending album that fuses Afro-pop and traditional Bongo Flava with elements of Afrobeat, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel. Critics noted that Rayvanny uses this album to demonstrate his artistic growth and versatility, traversing different musical styles across the 18 tracks. Lyrically and thematically, the songs touch on love, inspiration, personal growth, and enjoyment, delivered mostly in Swahili with some English and other languages mixed in. [8]
Each collaboration on the album brings a unique flavor to the project. The opening track “Ni Mungu” (featuring Mwamposa) is a gospel-inspired song with uplifting spiritual message. “Nesa Nesa” (featuring Diamond Platnumz & Khalil Harrison) blends Bongo Flava with amapiano influences, expanding Rayvanny’s global appeal. [9] “Naoa” (with Alikiba) is a romantic Afro-pop tune noted for its poetic lyricism and heartfelt emotion. On “Sensema”, Rayvanny and Harmonize reunite with a rhythmic, camaraderie-filled track over an Amapiano-influenced beat [10] . “Mon Amour” (with Mbosso) is a melodic love song rich in storytelling, while “Slow” (featuring Jay Melody) centers on infectious hooks and romantic vibe [11] .
The album was recorded during 2023–2024 in Tanzania and other locations as needed for the collaborators. Rayvanny served as an executive producer, curating a team of producers and engineers to achieve the album’s expansive sound. Production duties were primarily handled by S2Kizzy and Beat Killer, among others. S2Kizzy – a prominent Tanzanian producer known for previous hits like “Tetema” – produced several key tracks on The Big One, including “Nesa Nesa”, “Naoa”, “Illuminati”, and “Angelina”. The majority of the remaining tracks were produced or co-produced by Beat Killer, an in-house producer at Next Level Music. For example, Beat Killer is credited as the producer on songs such as “Ni Mungu,” “No Stress,” “Haikatai,” “Usingizi,” “Mon Amor,” “Slow,” “Mbele Kwa Mbele,” and others'
In addition to production, Lizer Classic (Wasafi Records’ renowned producer/engineer) was brought in to mix and master parts of the album, ensuring a polished sound. The involvement of Lizer helped maintain high audio quality and continuity, especially on tracks featuring WCB Wasafi artists (Diamond Platnumz, Mbosso) with whom he had worked previously. According to the album credits, Rayvanny wrote or co-wrote all songs (often under his real name Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa), with featured artists contributing to writing their verses. Recording sessions saw Rayvanny adapting to each collaborator’s style – for instance, incorporating King Promise’s highlife influences on “Angelina” and recording “Mi Amor” with Gerilson Insrael and Matias Damásio to include some Portuguese lyrics and kizomba-style guitars. The final track “Angelina (Acoustic)” was arranged with live instrumentation; Kille Kussin, Lenny, and Owen (credited as featured performers) provided acoustic guitar and backing vocals to create an organic rendition.
The Big One received a generally positive critical reception in East Africa and among Afropop music reviewers. Tanzanian music outlets and blogs praised the album’s expansive collaborations and Rayvanny’s musical growth. The album’s blend of Afrobeat, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, Amapiano and Bongo Flava, as well as its themes of love and inspiration, were highlighted as strength.
Several tracks drew individual praise. “Nesa Nesa” was often cited as a standout for its catchy hook and the chemistry between Rayvanny and Diamond Platnumz. “Angelina” was noted by Ghanaian outlets for its cross-cultural appeal, and “Illuminati” (feat. Darassa) was appreciated for its thoughtful lyrics. Critics also pointed out that Rayvanny managed to bring together artists who were once considered competitors (notably Diamond Platnumz and Alikiba) on one album, which was seen as a bold and unifying move in the Bongo Flava industry. This aspect earned Rayvanny respect for fostering unity through music.
In terms of accolades, The Big One earned Rayvanny major recognition. Most significantly, it won Album of the Year at the Africa Golden Awards 2025, a continental awards event. The award panel praised the album’s production quality and Pan-African collaborations. The project was also nominated in several categories at local awards shows; for example, it helped Rayvanny win “Best Male Artist – East Africa” and “Songwriter of the Year” at the 2025 Tanzania Music Awards (with songs from the album cited in the jury’s considerations). Commercially and critically, The Big One solidified Rayvanny’s status as one of Africa’s leading young music stars. While some reviewers felt the album’s 18-track length led to a few filler songs, most agreed that its highlights and hits outweighed any lulls, delivering “something for every listener” from club anthems to heartfelt ballads.
Commercially, The Big One performed strongly on streaming platforms and in East African markets. Without a formal album sales chart in Tanzania, success was measured by streams, views, and media buzz. The album accumulated millions of streams within weeks of release. On Audiomack – a popular streaming service in Africa – The Big One surpassed 14 million plays by late 2025, reflecting sustained interest. It also notched high streaming numbers on Boomplay and Spotify; Rayvanny’s overall Boomplay streams crossed 100 million in 2025, bolstered in part by tracks from The Big One
Several songs from the album became hits on their own. “Nesa Nesa” and “Nitongoze” both trended on YouTube, with their music videos garnering over 8 million and 10+ million views respectively within months. “Sensema” was a top ten track on various East African radio charts in mid-2024, capitalizing on the Rayvanny–Harmonize collaboration. On digital stores, The Big One reached the top of the Apple Music album charts in Tanzania and Uganda during its release week (anecdotal reports also placed it in the top 5 in Kenya). The album’s pan-African appeal contributed to its streaming numbers: for instance, “Angelina” received significant plays in Ghana and Nigeria thanks to King Promise’s presence, and “Mi Amor” attracted Lusophone African listeners
By 2025, Rayvanny embarked on a promotional tour in support of The Big One, including concerts in Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda. Many of these shows sold out, indicating the album’s popularity with fans. Rayvanny also leveraged music videos as a driver of commercial success. Notably, the visual for “Nitongoze” was released as a short film-style video which trended at #1 on YouTube Tanzania.
Overall, while exact sales figures are not publicly available, The Big One is considered a commercial success in the East African context. It extended Rayvanny’s hitmaking streak and demonstrated that an album blending multiple African styles could achieve both critical acclaim and popular appeal. The project’s success was further cemented by end-of-year lists and awards, making The Big One one of the most notable Tanzanian albums of 2024. [12]
All tracks are written by Raymond Shaban Mwakyusa (Rayvanny) in collaboration with the featured artists. Production credits are listed alongside each track.
Note: Track 14 is titled "Illuminati" (sometimes stylized as “Illuminate” in certain listings). Track 18 "Angelina (Acoustic)" is a bonus acoustic version of track 15, featuring live instrumentation and guest musicians.