As embattled American rapper and music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces serious legal charges, Babu Tale – Tanzanian politician and manager of music superstar Diamond Platnumz, has once again revisited their controversial 2020 visit to Diddy’s house.
Speaking during a phone interview with Rick Media, Babu Tale, who doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Morogoro South East, addressed growing curiosity about the visit, now seen in a different light following Diddy’s recent legal troubles.
Diddy, 54, is currently in police custody, awaiting trial on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Tale reassured listeners that nothing inappropriate happened during their time at Diddy’s house, stressing that they left the event unscathed.
“Sisi tumeenda kama tulivyosema na tumetoka salama hatujapakwa mafuta wala kumwagiwa maji,” Tale said, in a metaphorical statement that nothing unusual occurred.
However, Tale revealed a striking detail – Swizz Beatz, the American record producer who invited them to Diddy’s party, shielded them from potential harm without their knowledge.
Tale explained that Diddy had invited them to join him in the bedroom to watch a movie, a proposal that Swizz Beatz firmly opposed.
“Lakini unajua jana ndo nimerealize kwamba Swizz Beatz he was protecting us kinoma noma, kwa sababu kwanza tulipofika tulikaa nje pale nini nini Diddy akatangulia chumbani juu anaangalia movie,” said Tale.
He added, “Watoto wake waja kutuchukua ‘uncle chakula’ tukawa mimi, Diamond, meneja wa Kanye West tukakaa chini tunakula. Diddy akatumana wafanyakazi wake tuende chumbani tukaangalie movie. Swizi [Swizz Beatz] akawa mkali na tukaondoka bila kuaga.”
Swizz Beatz’s reluctance
Babu Tale emphasized that at the time, they believed Swizz Beatz’s reluctance to let them join Diddy was due to him looking down on them.
“Kwa hio sisi hatukua tunajua tumeona tu ahh hatuna hela, tukaondoka bila kuaga,” Tale remarked, adding that they had misinterpreted the situation.
“Sisi hatukua tunajua mwenyeji wetu alikua anatuprotect.”
Tale further disclosed that Diddy invited them to another party, while they were attending a gig at Swizz Beatz’s house.
“Kesho yake sisi tuliitwa na Swizz kwenda nyumbani kwake tulikua tunafanya party yake. Wakati tunafanya party yake nakumbuka Diddy alituambia jueni kesho kuna party yangu,” Tale recalled.
Yet again, Swizz Beatz intervened.
Tale recounted how Swizz ensured they didn’t get close to Diddy during the second party.
“Sasa, wakati tuko pale mara tunamuona Drake mara nani kule kwa Diddy. Mimi sijawai kumuona Drake face to face nataka nikamuone pale kwenye party, Swizi hataki kuskia na hataki kutupeleka.”
“Yani tulipomaliza party yake akamuita dereva akampa biti kabisa ‘hakikisha hawa unawafikisha hotelini kwao, usiwapeleke popote’. Sasa sisi tukamchukua tu kama anatubania wala hatujajua chochote maskini ya Mungu, kumbe kuna mambo ya Johnson,” Tale said, referring to the dangerous activities surrounding Diddy that have come to light.
It’s not the first time Babu Tale has talked publicly about their visit to Diddy’s house.
In a June 2023 interview with Millard Ayo, Tale expressed joy over their visit, which was long before the current legal scandal engulfed the legendary rapper.
Tale claimed that he forgot to take photos while they were partying at Diddy’s house because they were so full of joy.
Diamond’s side of the story
Diamond Platnumz himself has also spoken about attending the party at Diddy’s house, recounting it during an August 2021 interview on Wasafi Radio.
The Wasafi boss admitted they had attended one of Diddy’s infamous parties just before the July 4 holiday – America’s Independence Day celebrations.
“Kweli tulienda kwa Diddy, nafikiri siku moja kabla ya uhuru wa Marekani. Tulikua kwa Diddy siku tulienda…” Diamond recalled.
However, the Tanzanian superstar hinted that certain things happened at Diddy’s party that he couldn’t publicly discuss.
“Yeah tukakaa kuna vitu tukafanya, kuna mambo tulikua tunafanya alafu… Tuseme yaliofanyika sio ya kupost sababu yana future inayoendelea mbele. Sio yeye tu, tulifanya vitu mingi na watu mbali mbali sana.”
Diamond added that Diddy had followed him on social media even before he travelled to the US, indicating a mutual respect for Tanzanian music.
“Kwanza unajua Diddy alinifollow kabla ata sijaenda Marekani, so ina maana ni mtu ambaye anatambua mziki wangu, anatambua shuguli zangu na kwa namna moja nyingine amependezewa na mziki wa Kitanzania,” he said.
Diamond also said that Swizz Beats was the one who drove them to Diddy’s house party.
“Ilikua positive kwenye kila kitu ndo maana mbaka tukaenda kwake na tukaenda unajua na Swizz Beats na kutoka kwake LA mbaka kwake ni kuendesha masaa mawili alafu Swizz Beats ndo alikua anaendesha ndo ujue yani mapenzi makubwa, unajua kama mtu anaendesha masaa mawili kufika kwa Diddy.”
Diddy’s legal trouble
Diddy, 54, was arrested on September 16, 2024, in a New York hotel on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.
Federal prosecutors accuse him of creating a criminal enterprise in which he abused, threatened, and coerced women to fulfil his desires and protect his reputation.
The investigation followed a November 2023 lawsuit by Diddy’s former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who claimed the rapper had subjected her to a decade of abuse and violence.
Although the case was settled, it prompted at least 10 other accusers, including one man, to come forward with their own allegations against the rapper.
For Babu Tale and Diamond Platnumz, their once-celebrated encounter with Diddy now carries darker undertones, as the American rapper’s world of parties and prestige becomes linked with a criminal undercurrent that is only now being fully revealed.
