Gospel artiste Papa Dennis has recalled some of the trying moment he has had to overcome over the years in his rise to stardom.

The singer, who now boasts of multi-million music videos, used to earn a measly Sh4000 when he ventured into music.

“When I was starting music, all was not rosy. I used to stay in Umoja and worked at a local candle factory, where I earned Sh4,000. The amount was very little and could not sustain me. I could walk from Umoja to town or even Rongai just to record a song,” Papa Dennis told the Star.

He further recalled a gang attack incident that almost made him quit music. Papa Dennis had just recorded a song with the then established Jimmy Gait and was making papers when he was ambushed by a gang of 20 in Eastlands.

“The first time I appeared in the papers after recording the Makekes audio with Jimmy Gait, I was attacked with a gang of 20 in Eastlands. They demanded cash from me. I was beaten and left for dead. I was supposed to go shoot the Makekes video in South Africa the following week and it’s at this point that I felt like giving up. I went into prayer and God fought for me,” he recalled.

Papa Dennis also rebuffed claims that he has strayed after releasing songs with secular artistes like Tanzanian songstress Ray C.

“I’m still a gospel singer. Ignore the rumours that I’ve switched to secular. A love song is neither secular nor gospel, it’s just about love. ”

Asked if he is planning to work with Diamond Platnumz or Davido, Papa Dennis said: “Kazi ikikuja tutafanya. Msanii ni kama footballer, ukiitwa uende mahali kucheza mpira utaenda. So haijalishi ni nani mnacheza na yeye. Mtu yeyote akija nipo tayari kufanya kazi,” he said.

On his dating status, he said: “I’m still single. I’m not in a rush. God’s time is the best.”