Music duo Blaq Diamond – made up of Ndumiso “Ndu Browns” Mdletshe and Sphelele “Danya Devs” Dunywa – have set the record straight on their former artist Sbahle Cele’s claims.
The songstress – who is known for her hit song Emhlanjeni – took to social media on Friday, 5 May, to accuse the artists of not sticking to their end of the deal when they brought her to Johannesburg to help her pursue her music career through their record label, Umuthi Records.
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SBAHLE VS BLAQ DIAMOND
Blaq Diamond had signed Sbahle under their record label before she joined Ambitiouz Entertainment – the same record label the Summer YoMuthi hitmakers were signed with before leaving in 2021.
According to Sbahle, the duo promised to catipult her career. In addition, they promised to take care of her financial needs. However, Sbahle says they are bullying her and have taken down her music.
“People come to my Grandparents home, ask for permission to move me to a different province and promise to take care of me, my career and support me all the way. Only for them to abandon me, not knowing what I eat, where I sleep, how I live. Now they are bullying me out of my music and taking it down,” the musician wrote.
ALSO READ: Singer Sbahle accuses Blaq Diamond of exploitation and bullying
NDU BROWNS RESPONDS
In response Sbahle’s claims, Ndu Browns said that Sbahle is no longer their artist therefore they have no say in what happens with her music.
The one half of Blaq Diamond claimed that Ambitiouz Entertainment was using Sbahle to fight their battles with them.
“The label she is signed to is using her to fight their own battles with us. As you all know we left the same label 2021.
He further addressed claims by the singer who said he had said she is nothing: “The other story about me saying she is nothing. are nothing but just lies to try and tarnish my name (they must at least provide some evidence to these accusations…) other than that you will understand that this is just their old tactic of creating scandals for most of the artists that left that label.”
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Fans also alleged that the claims were nothing but a smear campaign by Ambitiouz Entertainment against Blaq Diamond.
BLAQ DIAMOND VS AMBITIOUZ ENTERTAINMENT
Having music removed from digital platforms is nothing knew for Blaq Diamond. In October last year, the musicians applied for an interdict against Ambitiouz Entertainment following the removal of their hit song Qoma (featuring Big Zulu) from YouTube.
At the time, SowetanLIVE reported that the duo wanted the court to prevent “any person or entity acting in concern’’ from removing and/or deleting their YouTube channel and song.
ALSO READ: Blaq Diamond takes Ambitiouz to court over hit song removal
In addition, the interdict was to prevent any further copyright or ownership battle for their songs IIanga and Fireworks with any other digital streaming platform such as Spotify, iTunes and Deezer.
According to Sunday World, the popular record label said that the duo “unlawfully” terminated its contracts and continued to get paid for gigs behind its back.
ALSO READ: ‘They owe us four albums!’: Blaq Diamond fails to honour contract
Their first contract with Ambitiouz was signed in 2017 and renewed in 2020 before Blaq Diamond left the company the following year without concluding their contract.
