Business executive Sallam SK Mendez, has opened up on viral reports claiming he has ditched Diamond Platnumz’ Wasafi Record Label (WCB) for Harmonize KondeGang Worldwide Record Label.
In his words, “that will never happen”.
For close to four months now, Diamond and his trusted manager haven’t been spotted together as it's always been the norm.
Described as the nuts and bolts to the successes of Diamond’s music career and business empire, self-titled El Jefe (The Boss) Mendez hasn’t been seen in public with Diamond on his key functions and events that the ‘Jeje’ hit-maker has been involved in in those four months, leading to reports that the two had a fall out.
“Diamond and I are very cool, we all know we don’t have to hang out together every other time. He is a business guy and so am I. As such we are always busy. Public not seeing us together doesn’t mean we don’t communicate, we do that all the time, that is why we have phones.”
According to the reports, the fall out was occasioned by Sallam’s move to expand his media enterprise by launching a radio station Mjini FM radio station.
The reports claimed Diamond wasn’t happy because he saw this as a direct competition to his Wasafi FM station, claims which Sallam dismisses.
“The idea of Diamond to launch his Wasafi TV and Wasafi FM originated from my initial venture when I started Dizzim Online (media platform), so I don’t think that should be an issue.” Sallam explains.
Sallam says the reason he hasn’t been seen by Diamond side in those few months is because he was busy setting up Mjini FM which is about two months old now.
“As you know such an investment requires so much attention and time, and as such I asked Babu Tale whom together we manage Diamond to take charge and should there be any travels he will be the one to go.”
With the fall out rumors widespread and even made more viral with a video of him and Harmonize embracing in Zanzibar, another report emerged.
The public was quick to believe the rumour because Mendez and Harmonize hadn’t been in speaking terms since he forced his way out of WCB in 2019.
Two years ago, during the burial of Tale’s wife, Mendez refused to shake hands with Harmonize and the news went viral.
But Mendez justifies his action saying he did so because the singer was trying to put a show on camera. They had had encounters on several occasions behind the scenes and Harmonize declined shaking his hand all those times .
“The viral video clip of Harmonize and I embracing was a second one. We had spoken earlier. I was in Zanzibar and Harmonize learnt of my presence there. He reached out through a friend and asked if we could meet and mend fences to which I agreed.”
Mendez says people read too much of the video insisting his pay grade is beyond managing Konde Gang Record Label.
“Me ditching Wasafi for KondeGang will be very disrespectful to myself. At this level of my management, joining KondeGang would be taking a step back. If I am to ditch Wasafi then, the next move should be joining the likes of Universal, Warner Music labels and not stooping that low. The only option to work with Harmonize, is if he rejoins Wasafi or I open a record label and he comes and signs with it.
Mendez met Diamond back in 2009. At the time Diamond was seeking collaboration with Nigerian Afro Beat star Davido who was topping the charts then.
It’s through Sallam’s connection that Diamond secured the collabo of Number One, a hit jam featuring Davido.
“It was business and he paid me my money for linking him up with Davido. We parted ways but kept in touch until 2013 when we officially started working together when he requested me to join his management team.”
