Willy Paul recounted his unsuccessful attempt to collaborate with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz in a recent candid interview on Radio Citizen.
The saga unfolded when Willy Paul flew to Tanzania and visited Wasafi studio, where he met with Diamond and his management team.
“We flew to Tanzania, went to the Wasafi studio, and had a meeting with Diamond and his managers. We agreed we would come up with two songs, then he would choose one,” Willy Paul explained.
However, despite the promising discussions, the collaboration never materialized. “It never went through until now. I don’t know what happened because during the meeting, he was okay and cool,” he added.
Willy Paul also highlighted his previous collaborations with other Wasafi artists, Harmonize and Rayvanny, before they left the label.
He noted a curious lack of promotion from Diamond for these projects. “Diamond never posted about these collaborations. However, when other Kenyan artists featured Wasafi artists, Diamond would post about it,” he observed.
Expressing his long-time admiration for Diamond, Willy Paul said, “For me, he was an idol. I grew up looking up to him. I used to perform with his beats at Gospel events. I don’t know what happened.” This sentiment underscores the depth of Willy Paul’s disappointment.
Further, Willy Paul recounted an incident where he was slated for an interview by Wasafi, with Diamond present, which also fell through despite prior agreement. This added to the string of unfulfilled engagements with the Wasafi team.
Adding another layer to the story, Willy Paul’s close friend Weezdom revealed that Diamond had sent Willy Paul a notably long message, which he had kept private.
“I have never seen Diamond send such a long message, and Willy Paul did not want anyone to see it. Now that he has brought it up, maybe he can explain if it was an argument or something else. Diamond told him we are brothers, and in this life, we will need each other,” Weezdom shared.
Reflecting on the message from Diamond, Willy Paul said it seemed to convey disappointment, although he was unclear about its exact target.
“Message Diamond alinitumia, sikuunderstand… Ni kama alikuwa disappointed or something: Sijui kama ni kwake ama kwa Wasafi… Kuna mtu tu alienda akaweka moto. Hiyo time bado nilikuwa kijana kadogo ka Gospel,” Willy Paul explained.
The interview sheds light on the challenges and unspoken tensions that can arise in the music industry, even among admired and respected artists.
Despite the setbacks, Willy Paul’s openness about his experiences provides a rare glimpse into the complexities of artist collaborations and the impact of unfulfilled aspirations.
