This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
Published on November 9, 2019, Diamond Platnumz's latest song Baba Lao has taken the East African music scene by storm, racking up a million views in just 24 hours. However, beneath the catchy beat and impressive visuals lies a controversy that has left many questioning the Tanzanian star's creativity.
The song, which features Diamond Platnumz delivering his signature deep Swahili flow, has been accused of being an exact copy of Naira Marley's Soapy, a song that was released two months prior. The original beat, which features Naira Marley repeating the phrase 'Baba Lao' a few times, has been cited as the source of Diamond Platnumz's title.
According to sources, Diamond Platnumz has credited his producers S2kizzy and Ayolizer for the song, despite the fact that the beat is not their original work. S2kizzy has since clarified the situation, stating that the two artistes were in agreement on a remix possibility.
Simba, a fellow WCB artiste, has described the song as a slang that means being on top of everything or ahead of everything. The song's release comes ahead of Diamond Platnumz's upcoming event, The Wasafi festival.
This is not the first time Diamond Platnumz has been accused of stealing ideas or beats from international artistes. A video circulating online showcases several songs that have been 'borrowed' from international artistes.
