DJ Krowbar On How Ksh7 Million Deal Threatened His Career

"When the deal is too good, think twice", is a common saying used when you're approached with a sweet deal without knowing that it could do damage to your values and reputation as a person and brand.

However, for renowned gospel DJ Karumba Ngatia popularly known as DJ Krowbar, he made a change of heart which saw him uphold his integrity and values, beating the traps financial gain usually brings about to tempt individuals to compromise themselves.

Speaking during a recent Point Of View (POV) podcast interview hosted by Cate Rira, DJ Krowbar recounted how he shunned a lucrative Ksh7 million business deal after noticing that a certain request the company contracting him had made was in danger of ruining his integrity.

DJ Krowbar speaking with Cate Rira on the Point Of View (POV) podcast on June 29, 2023. /POINT OF VIEW PODCAST

It began when the company tried to poach him to be a brand ambassador and after talks, the parties settled on a deal lasting up to three years worth Ksh4 million.

However, the DJ was surprised to learn of the deal taking a twist by urging him to enhance the deal by increasing the Ksh4 million but on the condition that he gives them a share of the amount, what is referred to as a kickback.

"I walked away from Ksh4 million. I was called to be a brand ambassador for this big company, I go into a room filled with about seven to 10 people, and we sat and talked and they liked my brand It was a two to three-year deal and after our valuation, we agreed on Ksh4 million.

"Then a few weeks later two of the guys from the meeting called me for lunch to clear legal stuff but now they wanted me to up the rate to Ksh7 million so that when the money was released I would give them Ksh3 million," Krowbar disclosed.

DJ Krowbar however stuck to his values and swiftly turned down the offer on the basis of refusing to participate in a deal which would see him accused of attempting to steal from the firm in one way or another.

"I thanked them for honouring me with the opportunity but I told them I was not going to steal from a company. If you work for a company, you get remunerated for working in that institution," he stated.

As the warm-up DJ, Krowbar would begin pumping up the crowds before other established deejays took to the turntables, but after a while, he felt he had more talent than he was permitted to show.

Following his departure from Homeboyz, Krowbar joined the Nairobi Light House Church while looking for a new home, where he became a Christian DJ and disposed of his secular music collection.

Krowbar kicked off his career in the gospel industry by joining the K-krew gospel deejays, and it was during this time that he was invited to join a nationwide deejay talent search.

Many Kenyan deejays participated in the nationwide hunt with the goal of winning the top prize, which included a customized minivan outfitted with deejaying equipment and speakers worth millions of dollars, as well as a radio deejaying contract that would launch their careers.

Krowbar became victorious after gruelling rounds of furious deejaying, narrowly defeating Nakuru's Dj Tibz. Following this, he established himself in the Kenyan entertainment scene as the best gospel DJ.

A photo of DJ Krowbar. /STANDARD DIGITAL