After signing a record deal with UM (Universal Music) in 2017, Platnumz released his third studio album. In 2021, Diamond created his record imprints Wasafi Classic Boy in collaboration with Warner Music Group.
Presently, the Tanzanian sweetheart has secured amazing talents from his countryside into the label imprints, with acts doing wonders as much as increasing the influence and relevance of Tanzanian culture through music creation. The likes of Mbosso and Zuchu are grand benefactors who also flexed their creative muscles on his most recent project, First Of All. Other creators from West and South African regions also powered the life of the project. This includes the likes of Focalistic, Costa Titch, Pabi Couper, Jaywillz and Adekunle Gold.
For several reasons, Diamond Platnumz could be regarded as one of the most influential creators from East Africa, first for garnering a total of 1billion YouTube views at the time. And secondly, the courage with he makes music notwithstanding where he comes. This combined with his unflinching spirit to collaborate with other African stars. This has seen him build a decent following on the West African scene. He has records with the likes of Davido, Patoranking, Tiwa Savage and Sarkodie. His contribution on Masterkraft’s 2021 EP Masta Groove is also noteworthy.
Diamond Platnumz’s “First Of All” EP is a cut from the vision of archiving cultural moments, doubled with the progress and impact in mind through the 10-tracks. Platnumz transits through sparse instruments containing pop fusion in conjunction with Afrobeats, Amapiano, Zouk, and Soukous, blending it nicely with the local Tanzanian Bongo Flava meant for listeners to rock on the rooftop. Meanwhile, the project was delivered brilliantly giving it much-needed replay value.
Also, while the first half collaboration on the 10-track EP is pensive and intentional as every track perfectly switches from Jaywillz’s effort on the love story “Melody”, alongside Zuchu’s influence on “Mtasubiri” which became another cultural cut having to display both the Tanzanian native dialect doubled with the sounds, it could do more for Tanzanians, however, other listeners can cherish it for the sake of its grooves as a party pack for revelers. Meanwhile Adekunle Gold’s effort on “Sona”, is still appealing and carries his very popstar nature as much as Platnumz’s shine was bright enough, their chemistry deserves another chance to be felt in ways.
“Somebody” and “Fine” the second and third track has all it takes to become fan favorites. Meanwhile, before “Fine” could attain its full potential it might need a remix version with Kizz Daniel’s laid-back vocals to take rounds next to Diamond’s original input. While “Loyal” sounds cool to end the project, though it was plowed from Tanzanian’s culture and also unfolds Platnumz intent promising his woman to be loyal, the track takes after its theme excellently.
“Wonder” reminds this writer of the first five tracks of the project, it should’ve been introduced immediately after “Sona”, not the other way around before Loyal came forth, well, it is because it’s supportive of the grooves that come with the first half of the EP. “Nawaza”, alongside should’ve taken after Wonder as well as Mbosso’s effort on Congolese makossa esque “Oka”, doubled with the amapiano driven “Fresh” which had input from Focalistic, Costa Titch alongside Pabi Cooper. This record reminds me of Focalistic’s “Ke Star” remix which means that it might deserve a Davido remix to complement the trio’s effort with Diamond Platnumz. While Loyal, sounds good enough to close the project, however, Fresh wasn’t a bad idea either.
I also suggest that a better sequencing for this project could be this way to retain every bit of each track’s replay value from start to finish.