Singer Bonface Kariuki, alias Bon’Eye of Kenya’s pop group P-Unit has revealed that the group once turned down a collaboration request from Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz.
In an interview with SPM Buzz, Bon’Eye recounted an encounter with Diamond, during which the artiste expressed his interest in collaborating with P-Unit while they were all staying at a hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
He disclosed that his colleague Gabu pointed out that Diamond, who at the time was not as famous as them had ‘dry lips’.
While the condition of his lips was the first thing they mentioned, Bon’Eye also recognized that not every artiste gets the chance to collaborate.
“Tulinyima Diamond collabo. Kuna time Diamond alitungojea kwa lobby Dar es Salaam for four hours tukiwa kwa hotel, alikuwa anataka tufanye collabo na yeye na tukamnyima,” Bon’Eye revealed.
“Gabu alisema alikuwa ameparara lips, but anyway long story short si kila mtu hupewa collabo,” he added.
The music entrepreneur noted that Diamond sang a part of the song and expressed his desire to work with them to the extent of suggesting that P-Unit feature prominently alongside him.
Bon’Eye revealed that the song was ‘Nitampata Wapi’, a song that has been an all-time classic of Diamond’s work.
Bon’Eye gave Diamond a breakthrough?
The singer said that he decided to tag him along to Lagos for MTV Awards where he had the opportunity to not only sing with them in their song but managed to meet international artistes like American rapper Rick Ross whom he later collaborated with.
“Na hiyo ngoma ni Nitampata wapi kama Yule? Actually alisema anataka ikuwe P-Unit featuring Diamond but hapo hapo bado ndo nilimshika mkono nikamuingiza kwa van ya MTV na hiyo ndo opportunity alipata tukaenda na yeye Lagos akatuimbia Chorus ya Kare. Na hapo bado ndo aliipata opportunity ya kumeet Management ya Rick Ross na hivo ndo alipata collabo na Rick Ross. So si ati opportunity ilipotea juu hakufanya collabo na P-Unit. So alipata opportunity,” Bon’Eye asserted.
Loosely translated as;
“The song was actually ‘Nitampata Wapi Yule’. He said he wanted it to be P-Unit featuring Diamond, but right then, that’s when I took his hand and led him into the MTV van, and that’s the opportunity he got. We went to Lagos together, and he sang the chorus for ‘Kare’. Right then, he got the opportunity to meet Rick Ross’ management, which led to the collaboration with Rick Ross. So, it’s not like the opportunity was lost because he didn’t collaborate with P-Unit. He got the opportunity”
