Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz has recently made headlines with his frequent use of samples from renowned Nigerian artistes.
It all unfolded on July 14, 2023, Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz took to Twitter to promote his latest work, “Enjoy“, which sees him as a featured act on fellow Tanzanian singer Jux’s song. However, fans couldn’t help but notice striking similarities between this track and Nigerian newcomer Spyro’s viral hit, “Who Is Your Guy?.”
#Enjoy
— SIMBA..!🦁 (@diamondplatnumz) July 14, 2023
JUX feat 🦁
OUT NOW ON YOUTUBE #EnjoyKriChallenge
👇🏼https://t.co/XVJrPR4wUX pic.twitter.com/XlHlAyoqiz
What followed was the Twitterverse erupting into a storm, with music fans accusing Diamond of possibly repackaging Nigerian hits for his Swahili audience.
Nigeria’s vibrant music scene has undoubtedly left a significant impact on Diamond Platnumz’s musical journey. It’s evident in his work, whether through direct collaborations or independent creativity. He continues to bridge cultures and spotlight the unity and richness of African music, creating an extraordinary blend of sounds.
In our pursuit to highlight cross-cultural collaborations across the continent, we at Unorthodox Reviews delved deeper into Diamond Platnumz’s catalog. We uncovered instances where the Tanzanian star was clearly inspired by Nigerian music, presenting our analysis in a now-viral Twitter thread.
In this article we’ll take you on an intriguing exploration, uncovering how Diamond Platnumz has been inspired by Nigerian music over the years, creating a fascinating blend of sounds and cultures on his musical journey.
1. Jux ft. Diamond Platnumz – Enjoy
Kicking off the conversation is Diamond Platnumz’s latest collaboration with Jux titled “Enjoy“. The song bears striking similarities to Spyro’s “Who Is Your Guy?,” almost resembling a remake with language and messaging being the main distinguishing elements.
2. Mbosso ft. Diamond Platnumz – Yataniua
Next on the list, Diamond Platnumz again makes a cameo as a featured act on Mbosso’s “Yataniua“. The flow and cadence in Diamond’s verses, along with the song’s instrumental, take us back to YBNL star Asake’s “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)” track. It’s evident that Diamond Platnumz drew inspiration from Asake’s captivating style.
3. Diamond Platnumz – Jeje
Another track that caught our attention is “Jeje” by Diamond Platnumz, which shares similarities with Wizkid’s hit song, “Joro.” Both songs boast similar melodies and beat patterns, and even the concept for the music video which revolves around the chemistry between Diamond and a gyrating vixen, draws inspiration from Wizkid’s artistic direction.
4. Diamond Platnumz – Gidi
On “Gidi,” Diamond Platnumz infuses multiple Naija influences into one sonic cocktail. The introductory chant in the track is reminiscent of Burna Boy’s “Gbona,” and later on, Diamond interpolates the famous lyrics, “Are you gonna dance if I show you the money,” from Wizkid’s classic “Show You the Money.“
5. Diamond Platnumz – Loyal
Drawing inspiration from the magic created by Wizkid and Tems in their hit song “Essence,” Diamond Platnumz crafts his own version titled “Loyal.” The track carries very similar beats and melodies, making it evident that one song inspired the other.
6. Diamond Platnumz – Baba Lao
Lastly, Diamond Platnumz’s “Baba Lao” and Naira Marley’s controversial hit, “Soapy,” share a lot of similarities. While they may be in different languages, the two tracks exhibit almost the same beat patterns, rhymes and even have similar music videos. The mention of “Baba lao” in Diamond’s track is an obvious reference to Naira Marley’s statement in “Soapy,” “Yahoo ni Babalawo.”
Diamond Platnumz – Baba Lao
In response to the copycat accusations, the Tanzanian superstar has spoken out. Addressing the specific allegations involving artistes like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Spyro, and Asake, the musician firmly brushed them off as mere distractions from his remarkable career trajectory. Diamond confidently dismissed the claims as baseless, attributing them to envy over his phenomenal success in the music industry. It appears Diamond Platnumz remains focused on his own unique musical journey, undeterred by the noise surrounding the matter.
What do you think? Is Diamond Platnumz a true musical genius, or is he merely a cunning copycat?
