On Thursday, TikToker Jemima Locheng got the surprise of her life when music icon Bebe Cool picked her up for a lunch date - for her unsolicited effort to promote his latest album, Break the Chains. Here, Jemima shares how it all went down.
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"First things first, of course i love the Break the Chains album. I have always been a big fan of Baby Cool from time immemorial. So here’s how it all went down.
I did a couple of videos, and you guys liked them. You were like, “Oh wow, you’re making us fall in love with these songs!”
Of course, I am like a lyrics machine I pick up lyrics the same way I used to cram history back in high school.
So that happened. I shared the videos with you, you engaged with them, and kept engaging, until Baby Cool’s manager got to know that there was someone out here promoting the Break the Chains album.
I think I did it for about a week.
One day I was lying in bed when I got a message from Baby Cool I will attach it here so you can see it later.
Then his manager also sent me a message.
At that point, I was like, "Wait, am I dreaming? Is this real?"
I had a mini panic attack, like, “No way!” But it was from a verified account, so that’s when I knew it was legit.
I reached out to the manager via WhatsApp.
He called me directly and said, “Hi Jemimah, thank you so much for the work you are doing for us.”
I replied, “Yeah, I love the album. Thank you for the good music and everything.”
Now, I always used to mispronounce their names, but I have gotten better at it so I was confident I got it right this time.
Anyway, the manager called me after I sent the WhatsApp message and said, “Baby Cool is going to call you today,” though he didn’t mention the time.
Of course, he is a busy artist promoting the album.
The manager had called me around 9am. So I kept waiting for every call that came through.
A random number rang "333" I picked up: “Hello? Hello?” But it wasn’t him.
I waited about six hours.
Then he finally called. At that time, I was resting in bed I had malaria that week. The call came in:
“Hello?”
“Hello, who’s this?”
“Hold up, wait... is this Babe Cool?”
And he laughed and said, “Yes, it’s Babe Cool. How are you doing? What do you do?”
That was his first question.
There was construction noise in the background, but I just listened through it. Sorry for the noise, by the way.
I was super happy. We talked for about two minutes.
Then we continued chatting via WhatsApp. I saved his number it’s the real deal.
He told me he would find a place and let me know when we could meet.
He said Thursday was likely. I said, “Cool just let me know.”
He followed up again on Tuesday, then on Wednesday evening I texted:
“Hi, are we still on for tomorrow?”
He replied, “Yes, we are. I am going to come pick you up. Just tell me where you are.”
I was like, “What do you mean you are coming to pick me up?”
In my head, I am thinking, “Oh my God the humility of a celebrity to pick up a fan from wherever they are. This felt like VIP treatment.
I told my aunt, “Slap me, I can't believe this is happening!”
That day, I had to rush to some offices in Bukoto. I was signing documents left and right. I had only 30 minutes to get home because I thought he’d pick me up from there.
Then I decided he could just pick me from the offices in Bukoto.
They called and said, “We’re at the gate.”
I was with my friend Bridget my good luck charm. Things always go right when I a. with her. I told her, “You have to be there with me, I can’t do this alone.” Even though I’m confident and happy-go-lucky, sometimes it hits you especially when you are about to meet someone that big.
He(Bebe Cool) told me he felt the same way when he first met the President.
Anyway, he arrived, and everything was live. Some of you watched it. I had used the bathroom like four times that morning I was so nervous.
We came in. I saw him. I hugged him. It was all good vibes.