What's Up, Naija?

MI2: The Movie: My review

2010-12-01T10:45:00.001Z

There's no way M.I would drop an album and I wouldn't buy it the first chance I got. Picking 'MI2:The Movie' off the CD Vendor's shelf was an easy buying decision for me as I couldn't wait to find out if the 'sophomore jinx' had plagued Mr. Incredible.

On first listen, M.I's second effort didn't meet my expectations and I was quite disappointed as I was expecting a few tracks off the 'ONE' album, that still hasn't seen daylight, to make this album. I felt the Nigerian public and true M.I fans will be blessed with songs like 'Pulling Me Back', 'Let's Get Together' and 'Pyeriboy' which will, no doubt, take it back to the essence that was 'Talk About It'. But I guess Chocolate City has moved on and they expect us to move along too like "If you want the old M.I, buy the old M.I album."

However, after a few spins of the disc, I'm beginning to make a volte-face on my earlier assessment of the 16-tracker.

A lengthy intro: "Prelude" opens the album and is followed by 'Action Film' featuring the lastest C-City sign-on: Brymo. I'm still skipping this track for now. Next is 'Slow Down' which is currently on repeat in my car and on my laptop at the office. Featured artiste: Julius Ceaser delivers a lovely chorus with romantically intense lyrics "...She looks like she's a Super Model/Cover of a fashion magazine...she reminds me of nights in Paris/She knows she's the finest girl I've seen/She looks like a queen and she knows...". the song is delivered over a danceable beat and M.I's verses are on point.

'Number One' reminds me of D'banj's 'Igwe' as it appears to be targeted at M.I's eastern fans. High-life artiste: Flavour nails the chorus with an excellent igbo-laced delivery. This song probably has the best instrumentals on the album and is sure to demonstrate its power as an alcohol-assisted party banger on any dance floor.

When compared to his work on 'Talk About It', M.I loses lyrical depth on the majority of tracks on this album and this is what I've termed the 'new M.I' who has chosen to dumb down his message for the masses and for the glory of commercial appeal. Can't blame him though.

'Nobody' featuring Tuface is a great collaboration and both artistes render superb performances on a subject that touches their personal lives.It focuses on the various types of 'beef' that accompany fame and fortune for those in the spotlight. M.I raps ''Ask Timaya, ask Wande/follow you bumper to bumper on Sunday/but do you yumu yumu on a Monday...if your fine boy too much they say you turn gay/if you make too much cash they say it's '19, or its drugs or it's fraud..."

'One Naira' featuring Waje is another standout track that's also on repeat for me. 'Wild Wild West' is the expected social commentary on the frequent violence and loss of lives in Jos, the city that groomed the majority of the Choc Boys. This is where Jesse and Ice Prince should have featured instead of the forced sounding 'Represent' anthem (just my opinion, anyway).

'Undisputed' is fit for the single that it is so I'll leave it at that.

Other guests on the album include newcomers: Ruby, Bola and Kauna.

Overall, I believe MI 2 will grow on me and in a month or so I'll give it a rating, meanwhile go get yours and upload your comments. Peace.

Jay-Z brings 40/40 clubs to select US Airports

2010-12-01T09:44:00.000Z

Now this guy just keeps getting bigger and bigger...see the story below.

Hip-Hop star Jay-Z is expanding his business empire with a new deal that will bring his popular 40/40 Club to select airports across the United States.

The rap mogul and his partners Juan and Desiree Perez have struck a deal with Delaware North Companies, one of the world's leading and hospitality service providers.
Additionally, Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the U.S., with annual revenues exceeding $2 billion dollars.

"The 40/40 Club is all about creating first-class experiences for guests who want to relax and watch their favorite games," said Desiree Perez. "We want to see our club grow, and to bring those experiences to travelers. A partnership with Delaware North will do just that."

The new deal could bring Jay-Z's 40/40 Club into up 20 major U.S. airports, where Delaware North Companies operate dozens of national and regional brand restaurants.

"We are thrilled to partner with the 40/40 Club, to bring a stylish sports bar and lounge to airports across the country," said Robert Stanton, vice president of business development. "From the personalized, one-of-a-kind jerseys on the wall, to every sports game you can think of on the television screens, the club will bring a new experience that we are sure travelers will welcome."

(Source: Allhiphop.com)

Didn't know blogging was this hard

2010-08-12T21:12:00.000+01:00

True to God! (Haven't said that in like 2 decades) Blogging is hard work. 'Nuff respect to regular Bloggers out there. I havent done this in months and I can blame it on everything from my 9 to 5 or lack of internet access. truth is, i dont want to put up just crap here and creativity has been scarce too (in addition to the above excuses)
But guess what? just got meeself a Starcomms datacard! But the real deal is the service is so crappy couldnt even watch Eminem's nu video 'Love The Way You Lie' on Youtube until I went to their office in Wuse 2 Abuja. Damn! They say I should expect an improvement from next week so lets hope they keep to their word.

Now I gotta go...Will blog regularly from now on (if Starcomms lets me). Peace.

Songs I'm feeling now - March 2010

2010-03-09T17:10:00.000Z

1. Kauna Allah ft. Skales – Jeremiah Gyang

2. Know ft. M.I – Lami

3. Kosorombe ft. Da Grin – Dipp

4. Omoba – D’Prince

5. In Love With You – Jeremiah Gyang

Alice in Wonderland sets Box Office record

2010-03-09T17:00:00.000Z

This year's "Alice in Wonderland" movie grossed an estimated $116.3 million over the weekend making it the biggest ever March opening and made almost $30 million more than James Cameron's "Avatar" did in its opening weekend.

"Alice in Wonderland" has become the movie with the sixth biggest opening weekend in the history of the Box office.

The movie, which is directed by Tim Burton was made in 3D, same as "Avatar" and stars Johnny Depp.

Lil' Wayne goes to jail

2010-03-09T16:47:00.001Z

Yeah, finally Lil'Wayne heads off to do his time after getting his sentencing postponed twice. Firt to enable him get dental work (I guess Baby didn't want him taking all that bling in his grill to the pen') then due to a courthouse fire incident.

The rapper known as Weezy is expected to spend at least 8 months in prison out of a one year sentence for being in possession of a firearm on his tour bus.

Lil'Wayne is going in at a time when Rappers: T.I and Shyne just got out.

Keep your head up Weezy, while we expect to the Drake and the rest of the Young Money Crew rock 'Free Lil' Wayne' T-shirts at every other show.

Ragga Sensation: Bornstar's single is first off DJ Chascolee's New Mixtape

2010-03-01T19:02:00.000Z

Famous Nigerian Award winning DJ 'Chascolee' is putting finishing touches to his mixtape.The mixtape titled DJ CHASCOLEE COMMERCIAL MIXTAPE' promises to be a breather from the norm currently pervading the Nigerian space and it has already recorded star appearances from Wande cole,Terry g,d prince,da grin,the supremes,Tu-face idibia,durella,Bornstar, etc.DJ Chascolee is no stranger on the Nigerian Club Scene. .His Laurels include Award winning D.J of the year 2006 in Lagos Nigeria. Best Club D.J of the Year Feb 13 at the Muson Centre Lagos Nigeria 2007. Club D.J/etc. He has played in Various Clubs In Nigeria. Like Xtreem, Do it All, White House, Options, Page, Insomnia Chilout, Mingles, Da New Groto, Sigma, Genesis, Tribeca, moods, Picolomondo etc. He featured in 50 cent's show, jarule/kevin lil's show, seun paul's, wyclef's, benieman's, Idols final party and big brother's final eviction party, etc.

On the first single Chascolee makes it clear that he carefully selected the artiste that performs the song.He said and i quote 'that in this very competitive Nigerian music scene i have grown to be very impressed with BORNSTAR's work hence my decision to use his song as the first official single from the forthcoming Mixtape. The song is titled TRUE gangsterz and im sure everyone will agree with me that its a masterpiece. .The video will be shot by Clarence peters and it is coming soon.'

The Mixtape is released on the Question mark label imprint.First single titled True gangsterz performed by ragga sensation BORNSTAR ft M.Speech

Durella's 2 Gbaski Sneakers

2010-02-24T14:41:00.000Z

While we still await the Koko Phone, I guess we could do with some footwear fro someone who shares similar styles with the Koko Master himself.

Introducing the '2 Gbaski' Sneakers from the King of the Zanga, Durella!

I hear they are recommended for a retail price of N25,000. I guess this is where TC Records invested all that money Durella won from Zain's Advance Warning!

Rare Superman Comic Sells for $1 Million!

2010-02-24T11:01:00.000Z

A rare 1938 Action Comics #1 in which the character Superman made his first appearance was actioned for $1 million on Monday 22nd February, 2010 in New York. The sale occurred between two unnamed collectors within a minute of being listed for sale.

Described as the single most important event in comic book history, the issue is one of only 100 copies believed to be in existence and one of only 2 in good condition. A similar copy which was in a not-so-good condition sold for over $300,000 about 3 years ago.

In recent months, investors have turned to art as investment options to ride through the recession.

In 1938, this issues of Action Comics #1 would have sold for about 10 cents, 15 years ago it sold for about $150,000 and this year it went for a whooping $1 million!

Soldier of Love - New Sade Album

2010-02-22T11:33:00.000Z

Coming 10 years after her last effort (the highly successful 'Lovers Rock), Sade returned this month to both critical and commercial acclaim for her new album: 'Soldier of Love'. The soul songstress sold over 500,000 copies of her latest work within a week of its release in the US, thus earning a Gold status certification.

The album has received wide press covering from all sections of the media. The track listing is below:

1. The Moon and The Sky

2. Soldier of Love

3. Morning Bird

4. Baby Father

5. Long Hard Road

6. Be That Easy

7. Bring Me Home

8. In Another Time

9. Skin

10. The Safest Place

Jag of all Trades...Jesse Jags debut album

2010-02-22T10:32:00.000Z

All is now set for the launch of one of the most anticipated Rap albums of 2010.

Rap artist/Producer: Jesse Abaga better known in the industry as "That other short boy: Jesse Jags" is set to release his first album: 'Jag of All Trades' on the 13th of March 2010. A launch event has been planned by his record label: Chocolate City and is billed to hold at the prestigious Tribeca, on Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Victoria Island between 7pm and 10pm on the aforementioned date.

The Future Awards 2010 Winners List

2010-02-09T15:42:00.000Z

The Future Awards 2010 held on Sunday at the Muson Centre, Lagos, find below the list of winners....

Actor of the Year

Kemi Lala Akindoju

Best Use of Advocacy

Tolu Sangosanya (Dustbin Children Foundation)

Best Use of Science

Ify Aniebo

Best Use of Technology

‘Bade Adesemowo (Bincom Solutions)

Business Owner of the Year

‘Debola Lewis (Yvent Kouture)

Creative Artist of the Year

Adekunle Samuel Owolabi

Excellence in Public Service

Fatima Zara Modibbo (Human Institute of Virology)

Journalist of the Year

Rounah Agbroko (NEXT)

Magazine of the Year

Soundcity Blast

Model of the Year

Warebi Martha

Musician of the Year

MI Abaga

Music Producer of the Year

Jesse Jagz

On-Air Personality of the Year (Radio)

Maste Uwatse (Wazobia FM)

On-Air Personality of the Year (TV)

Andre Blaze (Nigezie)

Professional of the Year

Ifunanya Maduka (Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls)

Screen Producer of the Year

Kenneth Gyang ("Finding Aisha")

Sportsperson of the Year

Janet Dung (Athletics)

Style Entrepreneur of the Year

Linda Ikeji (Blackdove)

Team of the Year

Africa Youth Unite for Change (Afyuch)

Young Person of the Year

Ify Aniebo

What’s Up, Naija’s Best Albums of 2009

2010-02-09T15:38:00.000Z

What’s Up, Naija’s Best Albums of 2009

By late 2008, a flurry of singles hit the airwaves from artistes like Wande Coal, M.I and Darey. This caused Nigerian music aficionados to believe 2009 would be the year of the Nigerian musician and in some ways it was. Some great albums came and conquered, some good albums came and were slept on but some terrible albums also came and the market rejected them.

Here’s our list of 2009 albums and what we think about them

Whats Up, Naija?’s Best 5 Albums of 2009

1. Mushin to Mo’Hits – Wande Coal

2. king Kong – Shank

3. Big Boy - eLDee

4. D’jinee – D’jinee

5. Life & Times of Killz Vol. 1 - Ikechukwu

Whats Up, Naija?’s Worst 5 Albums of 2009

1. Tradition – 9ice

2. Danger – P-Square

3. With all due respect press play – Olu Maintain

4. I.D entity – I.D Cabasa

5. Who Am I – Jim Iyke

Whats Up, Naija?’s Top 5 Artistes of 2009

1. M.I – For taking great music from the rocky hills of Jos to the airwaves of Lagos and the entire nation

2. Bracket – For giving us the best wedding song of the year ‘Yori Yori’

3. Darey – For those sparkling videos

4. Wande Coal – For showing the others what an album should be like

5. D’banj – For showing us the essence of building a brand

Whats Up, Naija Worst 5 Artistes of 2009

1. Terry G – For all the nonsense lyrics and repetitive beats

2. Pls feel free to add in names of your choice

The Return of Jeremiah

2010-02-04T19:22:00.000Z

Jeremiah Gyang: Love Angel

It’s been over five years since his phenomenal debut opus: ‘Na Ba Ka’ and now 2010 welcomes back soulful crooner: Jeremiah Gyang, the man who first put ‘J-town’ on the musical map of Nigeria and made Hausa music acceptable to the iPod generation .

In the space of time since he’s been gone and largely off the grid, Jeremiah has travelled the world, buried his mother, introduced us to M.I and still found time to make his signature great music.

While building the tempo and necessary buzz to prepare us for his sophomore LP, Jeremiah has sung a duet with Asa - ‘Comforters Song’, crafted songs for L’ami and other upcoming artistes and performed at the recent December 2009 Rhythm Unplugged Concert in Lagos.

In the spirit of the Valentine season, Jeremiah has put out a free promo CD ‘The Return of Jeremiah’ which includes the new singles ‘In Love with You’, ‘Kaunar Allah (Ft. Skales) and ‘The Only One’.

The tone of these songs, which evoke feelings of love, not towards the artiste but towards a lover, spouse or partner, showcases a deeper and more mature sound from the artiste/producer.

The as yet untitled sophomore LP is already being touted as Jeremiah’s absolute tour de force!

82nd Annual Academy Awards

2010-02-04T19:02:00.000Z

Below is the list of nominees for the 82rd annual Academy Awards. The Oscar ceremony will take place on March 7.

Best picture

"Avatar"

"The Hurt Locker"

"Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

"Up in the Air"

"Inglourious Basterds"

"Up"

"The Blind Side"

"District 9"

"An Education"

"A Serious Man"

Actor

George Clooney, "Up in the Air"

Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"

Colin Firth, "A Single Man"

Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"

Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

Actress

Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"

Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"

Carey Mulligan, "An Education"

Supporting actor

Matt Damon, "Invictus"

Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"

Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"

Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"

Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Supporting actress

Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"

Mo'Nique, "Precious"

Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"

Penelope Cruz, "Nine"

Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"

Director

Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"

Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"

James Cameron, "Avatar"

Lee Daniels, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"

Animated feature

"Up"

"Coraline"

"Fantastic Mr. Fox"

"The Princess and the Frog"

"The Secret of Kells"

Original screenplay

"The Hurt Locker"

"Inglourious Basterds"

"The Messenger"

"A Serious Man"

"Up"

Adapted screenplay

"District 9"

"An Education"

"In the Loop"

"Precious"

"Up in the Air"

Best foreign-language film

"Ajami"

"El Secreto de Sus Ojos"

"The Milk of Sorrow"

"Un Prophete"

"The White Ribbon"

Best film editing

"Avatar"

"District 9"

"The Hurt Locker"

"Inglourious Basterds"

"Precious"

Best documentary feature

"Burma VJ"

"The Cove"

"Food, Inc."

"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers"

"Which Way Home"

Art direction

"Avatar"

"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"

"Nine"

"Sherlock Holmes"

"The Young Victoria

Cinematography

"Avatar"

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

"The Hurt Locker"

"Inglourious Basterds"

"The White Ribbon"

ITS A NEW YEAR!!!!!!

2010-02-04T18:03:00.000Z

I know it's the first week of February 2010 and not January 2010 like I would want you to believe.
I'm really sorry I've been off the greid for so long...maintaining a blog is so much work! I say a big congrats to regular and steady bloggers like Linda Ikeji (http://www.lindaikeji.blogspot.com/).

How ever, D Letter C is back...Bigger and Better!!!!!

BEEF! General Pype Versus Bornstar

2009-12-08T16:22:00.000Z

Bornstar

The Duo clashed at an event at Oniru beach recently and two songs are already out , one from each camp...I'll keep you posted.

The Future Awards 2010 Nominees List

2009-12-08T16:17:00.000Z

Without much ado, here are the nominees....
It’s the definitive list of the brightest and best young Nigerians in the past year!

Actor of the Year

Omoni Oboli

Gideon Okeke

Mercy Johnson

Kemi Lala Akindoju

Tonto Dikeh

Ali Nuhu

Mercy Aigbe

Nonso Diobi

Best Use of Advocacy

Tunde David (YGC Africa)

Stephen Oguntoyinbo (Talk Village International)

Onodi Daniel Chinedu (Nigerian Youth Association, Benin Republic)

Ndubude Matthew Ekene (Nigeria Youth Fight Against Malaria)

Emmanuel Odiase (Smokefree Foundation)

Chuks Etuka (Will to Survive)

Isoke Aikpitanyi (Casa de Isoke)

Light Up Nigeria

Best Use of Science

Oteri Ogoghorie (0.1 Seconds Automatic Changeover)

Akintunde Babatunde (Novel tidal-flow constructed wetland system for wastewater treatment)

Ify Aniebo (Research in malaria)

Bade Adesemowo (Power Back Alarm)

Tosin Ogunrinde (Invention in robotics)

Okelola Mayokun (Research in climate change)

Godspower Oboide (Magnetic safety bumpers)

Kamal Olaleye (Power inverter innovation)

Best Use of Technology

Bode Pedro (Veda Technologies)

Ike Orizu (mytruspot.com)

Olufemi Akande (iWorks)

Temi Kolawole (Antigravity)

Uche Eze (bellanaija.com)

Saheed Adejuwon (DigiWorks)

GobbleAbba Studios

Jay Aloysius-Chukwuemeka (Bluelabs LLC)

Businesss Owner of the Year

Oghenekaro Agono (Tremor Perfect)

Erefe Fynecountry (Deheney Services)

Debola Lewis (Yvent Couture)

Ayo Arigbagbu (Dada Books)

Hassan Rilwan (Focal Point Publishing)

Henry Oraika (Motomedia)

Uyi Omokaro (DM2)

Sylvester Olusola Adade (Pearl Creations)

Creative Artist of the Year

Olanrewaju Oluwafemi

Onyeka Nwelue

Andrew Esiebo

Jumoke Verissimo

Babadeji Ogunnubi

Adekunle Samuel Owolabi

Yakaa Celestine

Richardson Oviebo

Excellence in Public Service

Dr. Iofarfa Tor-ayin (Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi)

Emmanuel Etim (UNFPA)

Jerry Uchechukwu Eze (UNFPA)

Dr. Idoko Abraham Braimah (General Hospital, Lagos)

Fatima Zara Modibbo (Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria)

Dr. Adedayo Osholowu (Lagos University Teaching University)

Ngozi Iheukwumere (University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin)

Oluwatoyin Jegede (Engineering Department, University of Lagos)

Journalist of the Year

Toyosi Ogunseye (The Punch)

Ruona Agbroko (NEXT)

Rachel Ogbu (Newswatch)

Chinedu Iroche (NEXT)

Segun Adeoye (TELL)

Amina Alhassan (Daily Trust)

Afolabi Adekoya (Citypeople)

Funke Adetutu (BusinessDay)

Magazine of the Year

Ace

Soundcity Blast

The Applause

Revealed

Genexx

Acada

Dynamix

Tripz

Model of the Year

Aminat Ayinde

Ibukun Jegede

Olubunmi Ademokoya

Tayo Ishola

Warebi Martha

Isi Atagamen

Bisi Sowemimo

Owobowale Ogunlaja

Musician of the Year

Dare Art-Alade

Wande Coal

Banky W

MI

Omawunmi

Rooftop MCs

Kel

Psquare

Music Producer of the Year

Jesse Jagz

DJ Clem

JMartins

K Solo

Tee Y Mix

Dokta Frabz

Terry G

Dekunzy

On-Air Personality of the Year (Radio)

Tosyn Bucknor (Top Radio)

Matse Uwatse (Wazobia FM)

Toolz (Beat FM)

Amake and Charles (Hot FM)

Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi (Beat FM)

Gbemileke Oyinsan (Inspiration FM)

Bernie Ark (Cool FM Abuja)

Chuks Roberts (Cosmo FM Enugu)

On-Air Personality of the Year (TV)

Yvonne Ekwere (Silverbird TV)

Cynthia Okpala (MTV Base)

Adaure Achumba (Silverbird TV)

Denrele Edun (Soundcity)

Gloria Ebong (Channels TV)

Veronica Onuchi (HiSoccer)

Deji Falope (Street Dance)

Andre Blaze (Nigezie)

Professional of the Year

Franklin Ozekhome (Insight Communications)

Abdularahman Aliyu (Abuja Investments Company Limited)

Simi Dosekun (Kachifo Limited)

Ifeanyi Ajuluchukwu (Access Bank)

Dipo Okuribido (Banwo & Ighodalo)

Fopefoluwa Adebayo (Goldman Sachs)

Aneto Okonkwo (Management Consultant)

Ifunnaya Maduka (Dean of Students, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls)

Screen Producer of the Year

Dragon Fly Productions

Clarence Peters (Capital Productions)

Tola Odunsi (Storm Productions)

Imoh Umoren (Ultima Studios)

Chuka Ejorh (NeverMachine South Africa)

Yinka Obebe (Nigezie)

Gbenga Salu (Renders & Illusion)

Kenneth Gyang (“Finding Aisha”)

Sportsperson of the Year

Osaze Odemwingie (Football)

Vivian Chukwuemeka (Shotput)

Mikel Obi (Football)

Ikechukwu Uche (Football)

Fatima Abinu (Lawn Tennis)

Obafemi Martins (Football)

Janet Dung (Athletics)

Aruna Quadri (Table Tennis)

Style Entrepreneur of the Year

Muyiwa Osindero (Clothesense)

Uche Nnaji (Ouch!)

Tobi Vincent (Alvince)

Linda Ikeji (Blackdove Communications)

Ugonna Umeruo (House of Nwaocha)

Adetola Olateju (Xquizit)

Biobelemoye Omoniyegha (Labelle’s Touch)

Funke Ogunde (Phunk Afrique)

Team of the Year

Africa Youth for Change

Knighthouse Productions

Light Up Nigeria

Yellow Dog Productions

Salsa Federation in Nigeria

The Umusu Wives

Gbagyichild Entertainment

Glitz Youths

Young Person of the Year

Ik Osakioduwa (On Air Personality)

Toyosi Akerele (Youth Advocate)

Tolu Ogunlesi (Journalist)

Asa (Bukola Elemide) (Singer/Performer)

Ify Aniebo (Scientist)

Qudus Onikeku (Dance professional)

Stephanie Okereke (Actor/Movie Producer)

Cobhams Asuquo (Music Producer)

• All nominees are Nigerian citizens aged 18-31.

• For the next two weeks, any complaint about any of the nominees can be sent to nominations@thefuturenigeria.com. After that, no other complaints will be entertained.

• The two-month judging process begins immediately.

• Voting, which is 50% of the first stage of the judging process, begins immediately. You can get all the details on www.thefuturenigeria.com. Voting ends December 31 2009.

• More information on the nominees and the judging process (including the Central Working Committee report) is on www.thefuturenigeria.com.

Morgan Freeman plays Mandela in New Movie

2009-12-08T15:57:00.001Z

There's quite some resemblance between those two...

Morgan Freeman plays the part of Nelson Mandela in the movie 'Invictus', directed by Clint Eastwood and set for a December 11 2009 release date.

The movie focuses on Mandela's life after release from prison and how he attempts to use the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite South Africa after the fall of apartheid.

The movie also stars Matt Damon as the South African Rugby team captain.

(Wondering who they'll get to play Obasanjo some day!)

Beyonce: Up for 10 Grammy nominations

2009-12-03T22:45:00.000Z

The former Destiny's Child lead singer and current wife of Hip-Hop impresario: Jay-Z is up for a total 10 nominations at the 52nd annual Grammy awards sheduled to hold January 31st, 2010. She garnered the nominations for songs off her last album "I am...Sasha Fierce".

Country singer Taylor Swift followed next with 8 nominations while Kanye West is up for 6 grammy nominations. Check out some of the categories on the list below:

Record Of The Year

(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.)

Halo
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles & Ryan Tedder, producers; Jim Caruana, Mark "Spike" Stent & Ryan Tedder, engineers/mixers
Track from: I Am... Sasha Fierce
[Music World Music / Columbia]

I Gotta Feeling
The Black Eyed Peas
David Guetta & Frederick Riesterer, producers; will.i.am, Dylan "3-D" Dresdow & Padraic "Padlock" Kerin, engineers/mixers
[Interscope]

Use Somebody
Kings Of Leon
Jacquire King & Angelo Petraglia, producers; Jacquire King, engineer/mixer
[RCA Records]

Poker Face
Lady Gaga
RedOne, producer; Robert Orton, RedOne & Dave Russell, engineers/mixers
Track from: The Fame
[Streamline/Interscope/Konlive/Cherrytree]

You Belong With Me
Taylor Swift
Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift, producers; Chad Carlson & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers
Big Machine Records

Album Of The Year

(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)

I Am... Sasha Fierce
Beyoncé
Shondrae "Mr. Bangledesh" Crawford, Ian Dench, D-Town, Toby Gad, Sean "The Pen" Garrett, Amanda Ghost, Jim Jonsin, Beyoncé Knowles, Rico Love, Dave McCracken, Terius "The Dream" Nash, Radio Killa, Stargate, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Ryan Tedder & Wayne Wilkins, producers; Jim Caruana, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Toby Gad, Kuk Harrell, Jim Jonsin, Jaycen Joshua, Dave Pensado, Radio Killa, Mark "Spike" Stent, Ryan Tedder, Brian "B-LUV" Thomas, Marcos Tovar, Miles Walker & Wayne Wilkins, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[Music World Music / Columbia]

The E.N.D.
The Black Eyed Peas
Apl.de.ap, Jean Baptiste, Printz Board, DJ Replay, Funkagenda, David Guetta, Keith Harris, Mark Knight, Poet Name Life, Frederick Riesterer & will.i.am, producers; Dylan "3D" Dresdow, Padraic "Padlock" Kerin & will.i.am, engineers/mixers; Chris Bellman, mastering engineer
[Interscope Records]

The Fame
Lady Gaga
Flo Rida, Colby O'Donis & Space Cowboy, featured artists; Brian & Josh, Rob Fusari, Martin Kierszenbaum, RedOne & Space Cowboy, producers; 4Mil, Robert Orton, RedOne, Dave Russell & Tony Ugval, engineers/mixers; Gene Grimaldi, mastering engineer
Streamline/Interscope/Konlive/Cherrytree]

Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King
Dave Matthews Band
Rob Cavallo, producer; Chris Lord-Alge & Doug McKean, engineers/mixers; Ted Jensen, mastering engineer
[RCA Records / Bama Rags Recordings, LLC.]

Fearless
Taylor Swift
Colbie Caillat, featured artist; Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift, producers; Chad Carlson, Nathan Chapman & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers; Hank Williams, mastering engineer
[Big Machine Records]

Song Of The Year
(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Poker Face
Lady Gaga & RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
Track from: The Fame
[Streamline/Interscope/Konlive/Cherrytree; Publishers: Stefani Germanotta p/k/a Lady Gaga, Sony/ATV Songs/House of Gaga Publishing/GloJoe Music, Sony/ATV Songs/RedOne Productions.]

Pretty Wings
David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
Track from: Blacksummers' Night
[Columbia; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tunes/Muszewell, EMI April Music, Ben Ami Music.]

Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
Track from: I Am... Sasha Fierce
[Music World Music / Columbia; Publishers: Songs of Peer/March 9th Publishing, 2082 Music/WB Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Tunes, Suga Wuga Music, B-Day Publishing/EMI April Music.]

Use Somebody
Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
[RCA Records; Publishers: Martha Street Music/Songs of Combustion Music/Music of Windswept, Followill Music/Songs of Combustion Music/Music of Windswept, McFearless Music/Bug Music, Coffee, Tea or Me Publishing/Bug Music.]

You Belong With Me
Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
Track from: Fearless
[Big Machine Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music/Potting Shed Music, Barbara Orbison World Publishing.]

Best New Artist
For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)

Zac Brown Band

Keri Hilson

MGMT

Silversun Pickups

The Ting Tings

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Hometown Glory: Adele

Halo: Beyoncé

Hot N Cold: Katy Perry

Sober: Pink

You Belong With Me: Taylor Swift

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

This Time: John Legend

Love You: Maxwell

Make It Mine: Jason Mraz

If You Don't Know Me By Now: Seal

All About The Love Again: Stevie Wonder

Best R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

The Point Of It All
Anthony Hamilton
[So So Def]

Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
India.Arie
[Soulbird/Universal Republic]

Turn Me Loose
Ledisi
[Verve Forecast]

Blacksummers' Night
Maxwell
[Columbia]

Uncle Charlie
Charlie Wilson
[Jive Records]

Best Rap Solo Performance

(For a solo Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Best I Ever Had
Drake
[Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown]

Beautiful
Eminem
Track from: Relapse
[Aftermath/Interscope Records]

D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)
Jay-Z
[Roc Nation]

Day 'N' Nite
Kid Cudi
[Universal Motown/Good/Fool's Gold]

Casa Bey
Mos Def
Track from: The Ecstatic
[Downtown Records]

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

(For duo, group or collaborative performances of Rap only. Singles or Tracks only.)

Too Many Rappers
Beastie Boys & Nas
[Capitol]

Crack A Bottle
Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent
Track from: Relapse
[Aftermath/Interscope]

Money Goes, Honey Stay
Fabolous & Jay-Z
Track from: Loso's Way
[Def Jam]

Make Her Say
Kid Cudi, Kanye West & Common
[Universal Motown/GOOD Music]

Amazing
Kanye West & Young Jeezy
Track from: 808s & Heartbreak
[Roc-A-Fella]
Best Rap Song

(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Best I Ever Had
Aubrey Drake Graham, D. Hamilton & M. Samuels, songwriters (Drake)
[Aspire/Young Money/Cash Money; Publisher: Sony/ATV Tunes.]

Day 'N' Nite
S. Mescudi & O. Omishore, songwriters (Kid Cudi)
[Universal Motown/Good/Fool's Gold; Publishers: Elsie's Baby Boy, Owo Olorun, Universal Music Publishing.]

Dead And Gone
C. Harris, R. Tadross & J. Timberlake, songwriters (T.I. & Justin Timberlake)
Track from: Paper Trail
[Grand Hustle/Atlantic; Publishers: Crown Club Publishing/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing/Tenman Tunes/Universal Z Tunes/Cleopatra's Sons Music/EMI April Music.]

D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)
Shawn Carter & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer, Paul Leka, Janko Nilovic & Dave Sucky, songwriters) (Jay-Z)
[Atlantic; Publishers: EMI April Music, Carter Boys Music/Chrysalis Songs/No ID Music, Unichappell Music, APM Music.]

Run This Town
Shawn Carter, R. Fenty, M. Riddick, Kanye West & E. Wilson, songwriters (Athanasios Alatas, songwriter) (Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West)
[Roc Nation; Publishers: EMI April Music, Carter Boys Music/Please Gimme My Publishing/EMI Blackwood/Chrysalis Songs/No ID Music/All The Above Publishing/Sony ATV/Annauhi Music/Athanasios Alatas Publishing.]

Best Rap Album

(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

Universal Mind Control
Common
[Geffen]

Relapse
Eminem
[Aftermath/Interscope]

R.O.O.T.S.
Flo Rida
[Poe Boy/Atlantic]

The Ecstatic
Mos Def
[Downtown Records]

The Renaissance
Q-Tip
[Universal Motown]

2 Pac Shakur makes the Vatican list of favourite songs

2009-12-03T21:51:00.000Z

The Vatican has just released a list of its top ten favourite songs which, according to Father Giulio Neroni, artistic director for St. Paul’s Multimedia, “share the aim to reach the heart of good minded people,”

The 2 Pac song 'Changes' is off the Hip Hop artiste's 1998 Greatest Hits album.

The entire list is below:

1. Advocata Nostra – Music From The Vatican. From the album Alma Mater featuring the voice of Pope Benedict XVI.

2. Uprising – Muse. Single from the album, The Resistance.

3. Causa Nostrae Laetitiae – Music From The Vatican. From the album Alma Mater.

4. Il Mare Mi Salva – Rossomalpelo. Song from the band led by contemporary Italian singer songwriter Serge Gaggiotti

5. After The Rain – Dame Shirley Bassey. From the album The Performance.

6. Coexist – Nour Eddine. Song from Moroccan Musician, based in Italy.

7. Don Giovanni – Mozart.

8. Rafaele Merry Del Val – Lorenzo Perosi Inni Mottetti e Canzoni, Pablo Colino & Coro Academica Filarmonica Romana.

9. He Doesn't Know Why – Fleet Foxes.

10. Changes – Tupac Shakur.

11. Regina Coeli – Music From The Vatican. From the album Alma Mater.

12. Mi sarete Testimoni – Santo Subito! (DVD). Music DVD embodying the voice and image of The Pope.

While I was away...

2009-12-03T21:35:00.001Z

While I was away...nothing happened on this blog...but then, what did I expect? I wanna say a big SORRY to all those who've been to the blog over the past 4 weeks only to get disappointed by the absence of new content...I'll try to make it up to y'all this month...here we go!

Book Review: Swallow by Sefi Atta

2009-11-15T18:16:00.000Z

The Novel explores the Nigeria and Lagos in particular, of the early ‘80’s touching familiar range of subjects like family, friendship, poverty, corruption and drug trafficking.

Sefi Atta brings everyday characters to life in a way in which the reader connects to them, reminding you of a sibling, friend, neighbour or even yourself. From the central character: Tolani to her flatmate, Rose or Sanwo, the boyfriend, the Writer delves sufficiently into the characters’ backgrounds to paint a surrounding environment and shed light on the choices made by each individual. Primarily about Tolani, ‘Swallow’, explores the journey through life, struggles over declining morality and belief in God, disdain for corrupt Bosses and attempts to survive the hardships of Lagos life by any means necessary.

Though, not half as good as her first Novel: Everything Good Will Come, Sefi Atta retains her style which sees ‘Swallow’ crescendo till the end to leave the reader with more questions than answers.

THE CEO MIND: Audu Maikori (CEO, Chocolate City Entertainment)

2009-11-03T19:46:00.000Z

Audu strikes you as confident, arrogant and offensively bold, but with good reason. Before hitting age 30, Audu had accomplished what many 45 year olds still dream of achieving. He was the youngest executive on the board of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) in the FCT, where he served as Company secretary after brief stints with renowned law firm: Afe Babalola & Co and Leasing Company of Nigeria where he was the Legal Advisor.

In 2007, for his work in Chocolate City where he presides as CEO, Audu won the British Council organized International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) award both locally and internationally beating other local IYMEY winners from Albania, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland and Tanzania.

Before signing rave of the moment: M.I, to his Chocolate City imprint, Audu managed the careers of artistes such as Djinee and Jeremiah Gyang. He is an Entertainment lawyer, a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and International Bar Association.

In his spare time, Audu paints, writes poetry and plays tennis.

FEATURE: Naija's Top Entertainment Moguls

2009-11-03T19:36:00.000Z

Through the dint of foresight, innovativeness, persistence and hard work, these trailblazers have conquered the Entertainment industry to emerge as giants, revolutionizing music, radio & TV, cinema and showbiz. They began when others didn’t believe, at a time when the industry knew no glamour, when such professions were laughed at and discouraged. Here we celebrate the best of them and acknowledge their achievements.

Name: Ben Murray Bruce

Position: President, Silverbird Group

Best known for: His exploits in concerts promotion and Beauty pageant franchises including the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MGBN) pageant which provides Nigerian representatives for the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants internationally. Through his Cinemas in Lagos and Abuja, he revived the cinema culture in Nigeria. Other cash cows in his empire include the Rhythm 93.7 & 94.7 FM radio stations in Lagos, Abuja and Rivers state; and a TV station: Silverbird Television.

Ben has been in the entertainment business for over three decades and has recently expanded the Silverbird brand with upcoming TV and radio stations in other states in Nigeria including his home state of Bayelsa. Silverbird Cinemas is ranked number 3 in Africa with outlets in Kenya and Ghana.

Name: Tajudeen Adepetu

Position: CEO, Consolidated Media Associates (CMA) Ltd.

Best known for: Bringing innovation and excitement to local Nigerian TV programming over the last five years with a string of successful programs under his belt including: Everyday People, Family Circle, Domino and Front Row. His cable TV channels include: Televista, Business TV and Soundcity Music Channel.

Other entities under the CMA umbrella include; Soundcity Blast International magazine, Soundcity Music Video Awards, AlphaVision Multimedia and various Campus Blast music concerts under the Globacom and MTN brands.

Name: Toyin Subair

Position: CEO, Entertainment Highway Ltd.

Best known for: Snatching the exclusive rights to broadcast 80% of English Premiership League live matches in Nigeria from Multichoice Nigeria and DSTV for use in his start-up cable and satellite TV platform: HITV.

He is also a prominent Entertainment & Intellectual Property lawyer with his firm Abraham & Co. representing Blue chip clients like Microsoft Nigeria.

Toyin pioneered anti-piracy campaigns against copyright infringement on software products in Nigeria; acted as Counsel to the first Nigerian Entertainer to win the MTV Base musical awards and represented one of the biggest Recording Companies in the UK in the negotiation of recording contracts with Nigerian artistes.

Names: Kenny ‘Keke’ Ogungbe & Dayo ‘D-One’ Adeneye:

Position: Partners, Kennis Music Group

Best known for: Revolutionizing music programming in Nigeria with their music programs on RayPower 100.5 FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT). The partners are also responsible for the rebirth of Record labels in Nigeria with their outfit Kennis Music, now one of the biggest Record labels in the country today. The partners, under Kennis Music, have released over 70 albums in the last decade which have sold millions of records for artistes such as Tuface Idibia, Eedris Abdulkareem and Tony Tetuila.

Their TV program Primetime Entertainment Africa generates millions of Naira in advertising revenue with clients like NB Plc, Guinness Nigeria, Nigerian Bottling Co. and MTN. The Kennis Music franchise has recently been extended to include a cable TV channel on the Daarsat platform.

Name: Femi ‘Kwame’ Aderibigbe

Position: CEO, Nigezie & Strictly Next Level Entertainment

Best known for: His time as a radio presenter, which he left to produce his own Music TV program: Global Sounds. He established his Record label, Strictly Next Level Records, signing female Gospel Rapper, Bouqui.

Kwame took the industry by storm when he set up Nigeria’s first 24-hr cable Music channel: Nigezie on the HITV platform.

Name: Obi Asika

Position: Chairman, Storm Media Group

Best known for: Storm Records and Big Brother Nigeria. He began in the early eighties with programs on Clapperboard TV, concerts and artiste promotion with the likes of Junior and Pretty. Obi left for the US for a while but returned with a bang! Re-launching the Storm imprint with the Record label: Storm Records, responsible for artistes like Sasha, Ikechukwu, Naeto C, Jazzman Olofin and Dare Art-Alade.

Storm Vision has produced a string of hit reality TV shows like Big Brother Nigeria, The Apprentice Africa, Dragons Den and Amstel Malta Box office. Other entities in the Storm group include IBST, Storm Interactive and Storm production.

INTERVIEW: Tee-Y MIX (Project Fame Judge & 'Kini Big Deal' Producer

2009-11-03T05:57:00.001Z

What’s up with TY, what’s he been up to since Project Fame?

Before project Fame, TY had a life and he still has a life which is producing really. So I’m still in the studio producing, I’m still in the studio working, I’m working with people. I’ve been involved in a lot of projects lately, working in the studio basically. Even though now I’m a bit more picky in terms of who I work with because I’ve come to realise, from years of experience, that you need to work with the right team: the right people and because of the industry we are in, people think that Music is a cheap way out. Everybody wants to do music, even if you are not talented, because you think music is easy. I’ve gotten to that point where before I actually go into the studio to record or do anything with you, I have to be sure of the kind of stuff you have before I put my own input into it. Well, that automatically means doing less work.

But they say you’ve always been picky?

Yes, I’ve always been picky, to be honest with you. There was a bigger bracket before, now it’s a smaller bracket and I think for people like us who God has been able to favour in the sense that we have some form of experience in the industry, we should be able to set good examples for other people to follow to be able to let them know that if you want to do music its serious business, if you want to do music, it takes 100%, you can’t give 90% and expect to get the best from it. Most especially because, In Nigeria, our industry is still forming, there is no structure so you have to do everything yourself. You have to work extra hard to make sure you become successful. So I think it’s just me trying to set an example to let people know that if you have to do music, you must be really talented. You can fool everybody, but don’t fool yourself.

Why were you picked to be a Project Fame judge?

Honestly, I don’t know. First and foremost it’s god’s favour, to be honest with you. Then secondly, I think they also looked at jobs I’ve done and other things. I really don’t know.

So you weren’t told?

I was told. I had a conversation through my friend with some of the organisers. It was just a conversation and I didn’t think it was going to be anything. And in life, someone will always recommend you. Darey recommended me. He was like”Ha, try my producer; he’s a young guy, quite good, experienced music player” and all of that. And by the time we had the conversation, it went well even though it was just a conversation, I didn’t think…it was several after the conversation that they actually called me. And when they called me, I was just the judge for the Abuja auditions. That was just for two days; a Saturday and a Sunday. We did that, they now called me back and said…and that was the most interesting part for me, they called me back and said they viewed the tapes of the auditions that we did in Abuja and, they reviewed the tapes and they like the way I judged. They liked the things I said. In fact it was like a panel. Most people didn’t know me facially, ypu know the name more than you know the face. Some of the people who were part of the panel just said “Who is that guy? Who is that guy? I like that guy?” and so it was because of that they said “come do Lagos”. After I did Lagos, they called me again and said “come and be the final Judge”. So I’m grateful to God, it’s not about hardwork alone. I’m grateful for God’s blessings.

We first heard you on Sheun’s ‘Imagine’…

There’s been a journey even before ‘Imagine’ but I won’t go into all of that. Between then and now, its been an experience for me in the sense that I learn everyday, as a producer, I learn how to work with people, being a Producer; you have to learn. I t goes beyond knowing how to produce, you also have to learn how to manage people because you work with all sorts of people. You have to be able to manage them, you have to be able to read moods because as a Producer, my work is to bring out the best in you. That’s one of my priorities, and make sure that you deliver what I think is good enough. So for you to be able to do that, I have to put you in the right mood. I have to make sure that you’re comfortable enough with me. You know so many artistes are shy, some of them are scared, some of them are unsure of what will happen. For some of them, it’s their first experience. So as a Producer, I have to be able to read all of those moods and make you as comfortable as I can make you for you to be able to deliver. It’s been a learning process for me. There are times when I want to produce and I just sit at the console and I’m blank. Do you get? Something just inspires. Something just comes up. It might just be the voice of the singer, It might just be something he sings or something. Something just triggers the whole inspiration and everything just comes up like that. So it’s still a journey and I’m still in the journey. I’m stll learning everyday. I’m still in that phase where I’m trying to add value to whatever I do to make sure it comes out better.

At what point in you life did you realise you were good at Production?

Even till now, I don’t think I’m good. I just think I pa y a lot of attention to details when it comes to production. I think I put in my best, that, I can assure you. Any job I decide to do, I put in my best. I try to do it until I get it right. I think for me, it’s the jobs I do that will speak for me. I’m not such that will blow my trumpet. I don’t know how to do it. It’s as bad as when people come to the studio and they are like “what are some of the songs you’ve done? I now start asking some of my guys in the studio like Gospel, whay do you wanna play? Once thay ask me that question, I just go blank like ‘okay, what do I play?’Am I even sure this person will like this song or all of that. And I think another thing that has kept me on is because music is a way of expression for me, I just play around. I’ve heard comments from artistes that I’ve worked with and they say “but they’ve worked with other Producers, but the way I work is different” you know, I don’t work like serious work, I play a lot, I just play around. I work with ease, especially when I’m being inspired, you know, I just work with ease and that’s how it has been for me.

What’s your relationship with Naeto c like?

Naeto is my friend. Even before me being his Producer, there’s been that relationship of us being friends.

What about Cerious Music?

Cerious Music is supposed to be production between Naeto and I, where Naeto can do the writing, I do the production but its not been very effective because Naeto has gone back to school and I’m doing my own thing too. Even before the whole Cerious Music thing, I had my own production thing that I do. We’ve not been able to solidify arrangements even legally, even in terms of contracts and all of that but I’m open to all of that. I’ve done jobs with other people that it’s not me that gets the job directly but it comes and we do it together. I have a wider knowledge about production. Production is not just making beats. I tell people”I’m not a beat maker”. If you want to produce, come to me. If you want to just make beats, then well, people will always come to you like “beat? Beat? Beat? “No, I’m a producer. Producers pay attention to every detail: Your vocal delivery, your vocal dexterity, your tone, are you singing on a perfect pitch? Your pronounciation, your diction, expressions and emotions. All of that is put together in production. Writing and all sorts and one person can’t do all of this. Well, one person can but sometimes it’s always good to get ideas from other people, so I’ve always been one to work with people.

How did you and Naeto c come up with the concept for ‘Kini big deal?’

‘Kini big deal?’ is just one of those tracks…in fact we recorded ‘Kini big deal?’ when his album was almost ready. Naeto has over 30 recorded songs, and what was he doing? He was just preparing for an album and his album has less than 20 tracks, but he has lots of songs. On my own, I’ve produced close to 20 songs for Naeto. Naeto is a very hardworking guy. He always wants to improve on whatever he’s done before. So ‘Kini big deal?’ was just one of those tracks that we decided let’s just do something, lets do something. I came up with the beat first. ‘Kini big deal?’ was funny because for the first time, I was in the studio for like 4 hours and there was no inspiration for ‘Kini big deal?’, there was no inspiration at al. I had several things done, several things I was just doing, I’d delete, l’d do, I’d delete. It just wasn’t sounding right. I felt bad because it had never happened to me before. I now told naeto, I said “let’s go out”. We went out. Darey was having a birthday party in his house, like a barbeque party, so we just went, ate some roasted meat and came back. By the time we came back, in less than 30 minutes, ‘Kini big deal?’, the first 8 bars was ready and when I heard the first 8 bars, I was like “Yes, this is ready”. After the beat, we now wrote the song on it, I took the chorus, he did the rap, took part of the chorus as well and it just came out nice. I think, for ‘Kini big deal?’, it’s just a song that came at the right time. It was new, it was fresh, the sound was new, it was different from every other thing we’ve had in the market and in the industry. It was new and people accepted it. That’s what makes a hit song really. If you look, listen to Soulja boy…that song, I just don’t understand. I just feel that song came at the right time and people accepted it. So I think ‘Kini big deal?’ is one of those songs that came at the right time and people just accepted it because it was new and fresh.

Are there any essential ingredients to a TY-Mix beat?

I love melodies a lot, I love playing around with melodies, I just want it to sound sweet. I’m not one of those producers who would make a scanty beat, I like my beats full, I like melodies. I like full music. It depends on the concept of the song. Some songs, you can leave them scanty but something else will make up for it. Either the vocals will make up for it or something or some sound effect. I think my productions don’t sound alike because I’ve heard people say it. My productions don’t sound alike at all, but the thing is, there’s just one thing you’ll know for a TY-Mix production: Melody. I just like it to sound sweet.

Do we get to see you sing?

Not any time soon. I sing, but I sing in the background. I sing in the studio. I don’t see myself coming out with an album anytime soon, the best I can do now is probably bringing artistes together and have like a mixtape or an album where you just have different artistes on them. That I will do at some point but I’m not too sure about going to sing right now.

What’s the most rewarding thing about being a Producer?

Listening to your song or when other people listen to your song and like it. When they listen to your idea and like it because producing a song all starts with an idea. When someone brings a song to you, you just listen to the song and everything sounds bare and blank. When you now start, you start with the high hats or you start with the kicks, you start very scantily but by the time you are done it sounds like proper music. So when you see people listen to those ideas and like it. It feels good. When they say “Ha, I like that sound” and you remember what happened when you played that sound, you remember what brought about that sound. It feels good when people appreciate what you’ve created. I think that’s the highest point.

Tell us how you became a Producer

Play play! (laughs). It was from play play. It was out of boredom really. I love music. Production for me was just one of those things you know how to do. For instance, I know how to play the drums. I started by playing the drums. I know how to play the piano. It’s just one of those things I wanted to know how to do and I just started learning how to produce. It was later on I got encouraged to just pay more attention to it, which I did and began to now decide “funny enough, you can have it as a career”

Did you understudy anybody?

Yes now! I was under the tutelage and mentorship of Daniel Jones, then in Trinity Music studios. I was there for a while. He was the one who taught me the tricks of production. Because I read in a book a long time ago that if you want to have a mentor, it’s better and more effective when you have a mentor you can relate with, you can speak to, you can talk to, you can see. So for my own side, I didn’t have this idea of having mentors abroad. Timberland is my mentor, Neptunes is my mentor or Darkchild or something. I just liked what they did like their productions. I’d just be like “men! This is another Darkchild production, this is really nice, what he’s done with Brandy is really nice, I like it, but I didn’t look at him as that figure to be like. Meanwhile Daniel Jones was just it for me because I could talk to him every time. He could correct me at every point in time. When I record, when I mix a song, I’ll go and play it for him like “oya o! Guy listen to this, what do you think? He’ll tell me “No, the vocals is too loud, reduce the vocals. By the way, he’s the one that gave me the name TY-Mix, he’s the one that started calling me TY-Mix. He’ll say “The vocals is too loud, the kick is lost in the mix, this one that one, the highs, can you cut down on the highs? The equalization is just too flat”. From the onset, he was my mentor and that really helped our relationship. Discussing as young people, he really helped me to be focused because he’s a very focused guy.

What do you think about the Vocoder?

One thing I tell people is this: Music is dynamic; you have to follow the trends and the times. Even if you look at fashion. It’s like it moves in a circle. During the days of my Dad, what they were wearing was Bell bottom pants, after a while you started having straight pants, straight jeans, the leggings and all ofthat, straight cut jeans. Later on bell bottoms started coming back. Let me give you an example, earlier in those days what they had were slim ties: that’s what they used to wear, before you knew it, the big fat ties started coming out and now we’re back to the slim ties. Its fashion, it moves. The same thing with music, the sounds we hear now are not the sounds we used to hear 5, 6 years ago. Even in terms of tones, I’m not talking about vocal effects, I’m talking about tones: sounds that you hear. So my take on this Vocoder thing is – Its what’s in vogue right now. There’s nothing wrong with it. It doesn’t mean that everyone who uses the Vocoder effect can’t sing. Like I tell people, I have a very strong feeling in my heart that T-pain can sing. I think that guy can sing because there’s something about the vocoder effect. What it does is that it messes around with your frequencies and adds a bit of harmonics to those frequencies and adds some extra frequencies to those frequencies and it’s like garbage in, garbage out. If what you have been able to record is not nice enough for that Vocoder effect to work on, it won’t sound nice. At the same time, because of the fact that everybody uses it, it makes our production sound the same because it’s difficult for you to select – This is a T-pain voice, this is an Akon voice. Everybody sounds alike now.

Is the Vocoder effect something you would use?

I use it, not for all of my production but where necessary. It now depends on how much of it you use. To be honest, because we don’t have institutions here to train people how to sing. Each time you go to a studio to record, you are supposed to put your voice back in tune because, you see, our voice we use it for different things, we use it to talk, we use it to laugh, we use it to cry, shout and scream and we lose certain clarity and precision when we use our voice for other things other than singing. Abroad they do it: If an artiste like Beyonce wants to go into the studio to record, before that time, maybe a month before, she goes into vocal lessons to get her voice back in tune for singing. She goes through some exercise, avoids some eating. You know when they go on tour they talk less. Someone like Cece Winans, she doesn’t talk when they go on tour. Because they are keeping that voice for singing, once they finish they don’t talk anyhow, it’s just somewhere quiet they are taking their coach, their vocal class lessons and they make sure their voice is back in tune. So it now depends on how much of it you use. From experience, I’ve found out that you can use the Vocoder and people won’t even know that you used it. I’m talking about good singers.

How did you make the transition from being an Abuja Producer to being a National producer?

I don’t know. I think the work just speaks for itself.

Was there a particular song you made that caused that?

I would have said ‘Adara’ but the truth is that before people started associating me with ‘Adara’ it was like one year after ‘Adara’ became a hit. So when people ask me and start talking about ‘Adara’ in 2009, ‘Adara’ was recorded in 2005 or 2006. So it’s now that people know about ‘Adara’. I would have said ‘Adara’, but when ‘Adara’ was hot, I wasn’t. Really, I can’t pinpoint but I know little drops of effort have been able to push me to that level and people too. People who believe in me, people who think I can do it, who spread the word. I have good people around me. Friends, loved ones, business partners, people who just believe in what I do.

Tell us about ET-Quake Multimedia

ET-Quake is a studio owned by my friend and I. Emeka is a Sound Engineer. He is one of the best hands we have in town. Emeka handled the ‘Jam Festival (Abuja ’09) and you can agree that the sound was good. Emeka is top notch. While me I’m in the studio. I do the studio thing. ET, we do production, jingles, audio recordings, radio programs. We also sell equipment. We build studios for people like acoustics configuration. We’re into live sound, trainings, installations, purchases. Basically, that’s what we do. We also consult for churches, organizations etc. You have problem with your sound, you don’t know what to do, we just consult and let you know how to do it. We’ve been on officially for about five years.

Are there any songs out there that are so good that you wish you made them?

There are songs out there that are good but I don’t think I’ve got to that point where I’ve heard a song I wish I made it. I don’t think so. I would just listen to a song and say “wow, this is good. What was this guy thinking” that’s what comes to my mind. Like “ha! What was this guy thinking? He must have taken the right pills”. One of the guys I respect in Nigeria that has some sort of dynamics in his production is Don jazzy. He’s very dynamic and the guy I respect is Cobhams. That guy is too sound, there’s nothing to say than say he’s sound. So when I hear production from them, I’m like “ah ah! These guys na wa o! how do they think? How do they reason?” Do you understand?

People probably say the same thing about you

Well, I’ve heard that before, someone called me and asked me that do I smoke? I said “No”, he said so how was I thinking when I made ‘Kini big deal?’ I’m like “It’s just a medium of expression”. So when I listen to a song that I like, that usually comes to my mind and I’m like “That’s deep”.

You probably hear beats different from the average listener, so what are the things you look out for in great beats or great production?

First, it must sound very musical and it must obey the music rules. That’s one thing, then how well or how effective. I just look at it from a creative point of view, I’ll look at it like “What was this guy thinking when he did that? That’s a nice chord, there’s nothing nicer that would have been in that space. Then I’ll listen to all the small small little details like the count, the measure, then arrangement. Then maybe there’s a sound that comes after every twelve bars. You know, I’ll be like the next twelve bars, I’ll be waiting for that sound then if the sound comes I’ll be like “ok, I expected that”. It’s like a game in my mind. When I listen to a song, there are so many voices talking in my mind. This one is saying “listen to the Thumbs”, this one is saying “listen to the high-hats, oh it will soon come back again” So I just listen to the song generally. Most times I listen to the song, not to criticize, but to appreciate the Producer and the Singer.

How much of sampling do you do?

I don’t know how to sample. Everything I do, I play. I don’t know how to sample.

What genre of music brings out your creativity best?

That’s funny, I don’t know. Music is a form of expression like I said. It depends on how well the tones are able to interprete whatever the artiste is saying and how well the artiste is able to convey that emotion in his song. I was watching a TV program and someone was saying that as musicians we are emotions conveyors. All we do is carry emotions. You listen to a song, you don’t know the person’s face but from the song you can tell that this person was in pain when he was singing the song. This person wasn’t too excited: You can understand the message of the song. Asa does that a lot, you listen to her voice and the way she sings, you can tell what’s on her mind. It’s like a narrator. It’s like someone who’s doing poetry. Like a Poet. When you hear a Poet read out those lines, he reads it out with some emotions. That’s the way music is as well. We have to be able to carry emotions. I’ve done all sorts, when I was learning to produce; I didn’t learn just a genre. There are certain Producers who are best at just Hip Hop. Right now, most of the songs bringing me out may be rap songs but I’m not a Hip Hop Producer. I produce all sorts of music. I’ve done African, I’ve done Rnb, I’ve done Soul, I’ve done Rock, I’ve done Jazz. I just express myself.

Do you have any plans to handle scores of movies anytime soon?

Yes o! I’m waiting for the opportunity. When the opportunity comes because it’s an area I’ve not explored and it’s because in Nigeria, how many people score their movies? So I want to do it the way it is done. I want to do it properly, probably work with some people abroad and see how they do it and probably be in the same process or be part of the process. It is an interesting part; It’s very very interesting and very demanding. I will love to face that challenge. I will like to go through that experience. I will really like it.

You took some time off work, a couple of years ago, to attend Music school.

I always do that, there’s no year I’m not reading something or doing a course or something. I just always do it. It helps you to improve yourself in life generally. How much you know determines what you become in life. How much of what you know and you’re able to apply what you know determines what you’ll be in life. So I feel Education is a lifetime thing, everyday life is an experience of learning. So I always do something even if it’s not music wise. I always just find something to do.

Can you remember the first song you ever produced?

No. (laughs) No, I can’t remember.

In the US, big singles or hit songs are usually followed by remixes, but that doesn’t seem to happen here, what do you think is responsible for that?

Just like I said earlier on, we don’t have an industry yet that has a structure. How many A& R’s do we have? And these are ideas that people just sit down and cook up to sell that song and give it longevity. There are a few scanty, sparsely done remixes but it’s not the in-thing. Here in Nigeria everybody is trying to make a name for himself not to ride on another person’s shine. Even for those who do this. They say “look at this one, he wants to rhyme, why can’t he go and record his own song?” People will say that. Everybody is just struggling, trying to make a name for him or herself, but I think we’ll get to that point. Even abroad they didn’t start immediately. They didn’t start the way they are now. A few years from now we’ll get to that point where the industry moves on, you’ll have lots of collabos. We can have like six different versions of a particular song even with the same beat. We can just have different people express themselves on the same song. So we’re going to get to that point.

Outside of TY-Mix, who is Tayo Ibitoye?

Tayo Ibitoye is just a normal guy, even TY-Mix is a normal guy, hardworking. I grew up in Abuja, I was born in Ibadan, from Ibadan we moved to Kaduna, then Abuja. I’ve been in Abuja for about 16 years. I’m just an average guy trying to survive.

What effect has TY-Mix had on Tayo?

There is more pressure on Tayo from fame. I’ve been able to separate TY-Mix from Tayo. Tayo is very reserved, a homely kind of person. I stay at home, do my thing. I like my space but TY-Mix has to do certain things because of the business. I’m able to manage both.

How do you tell when you’re who, TY-Mix or Tayo?

The truth of the matter is that I’m just me. As TY-Mix and Tayo, I’m just me. I don’t have a problem managing myself. Just accept me the way I am. I’m just me. It’s just that people know me as TY-mix and as Tayo. The only difference is that Tayo is not a Producer, TY-Mix is a producer. I’m not one of multiple personalities.

What would you do if you had 24 hours to live?

I’ll make up with god and make sure that that heaven, we don’t miss it. Then I wanted to say be nice to people but the truth of the matter is even if you have 200 years to live and you’re not nice to people it doesn’t make sense. People are very important. There’s this old Sunny Ade song where he says “Eniyan ni aso iyin mi ti mo fi n bora” what it means is that “people are my cloth of glory that I use to cover myself”. People are very important and it doesn’t cost you anything to be nice to them. So if I have 24 hours, I don’t think I would do anything differently from what I’m doing now, honestly.

You won’t make one last beat?

I won’t be under any pressure to do anything, 24 hours? Trust me, I won’t. Infact, I might not even go out. I won’t be under any pressure.

How much work did you do on Dare’s album?

I think I recorded, maybe, 60 to 70 percent of the album.

What are your favourite work tools?

I use Nuendo, Reason, I like reason because of the interface. It’s very friendly and flexible. I like a lot of fresh sounds: Synths, VSTs, hypersonics, the global sounds. Sometimes I add some live instruments like Guitars, Percussions. Sometimes I make certain sounds with my mouth and just record it. I just do anything that comes. Sometimes I might just record the vocals. Record a certain vocal and maybe add some delay to it or reverse it or change the polarity or just do something. Add a flange effect to it, make it sound different and you’ll be looking for the sound, “where did you get it from?” and I really don’t know.

How important do you think it is for a producer to play live instruments?

It’s very important; personally that’s what I think. Even though some people are unable to manipulate their way around and find their way around without knowing how to play any live instrument. At least you should know how to play, you might not know how to play all that but at least have an idea of an instrument, probably a guitar or the piano or something. It helps you, it helps your expression more because something you’re not even thinking, you just play something and it sounds right and you just record it.

Are there any Abuja artistes you’ve worked with recently that you think will be big?

5 mics is going to be big, you guys should watch out for him. Uchie-African Rockstar is going to be big. He is working on his second album. There’s some guy called-I know him as Angel-but he’s got another name, yeah! Magneto. He’ll blow up.

Do you coach upcoming Producers?

Sure, in my studio, I have 3 people already; Gospel, Mans and Ife. We work together.

Do you think the kind of music we make today is as timeless as was made in the 70’s?

No, not at all. Infact, those that are going to be timeless are going to be, on a scale of 1 to 10, maybe 4 or 3.

What do you think is responsible?

Because we do more of dance songs, once the beat is danceable. Nigerians don’t listen to music. They don’t listen to a song like okay, you just want to listen to a song. You just want to be encouraged by a song. You want to be in a particular mood because of that song. Nigerians don’t do that and because of that once the beat is fast and you can say any kind of junk that people can sing to when they’re high on alcohol. These kind of things, they come and go, they are like summer hits. They come and go. We have less career artistes, even the career artistes are being frustrated because there is no money because there is no system to encourage career artistes.

Is there any reason you wouldn’t work with an artiste, maybe obscene content, superficial lyrics? Something other than poor vocals?

Yes, I’m particular about content because as a young person I think we’re going to be future leaders and whatever we do will affect the next generation because with time, our father’s generation will die off and our children will rely on us, our examples. So there are certain things I wouldn’t do, certain artistes I wouldn’t work with if I think your content is not encouraging, if I feel that your content doesn’t make sense, those kind of jobs I will turn down. Your music has to be relevant. I tell people, for your song to even fit into the system now it has to be relevant. Your message has to be relevant. I don’t have any problem with doing love songs because love is what we all go through everyday. It’s an emotion that we all experience. Let’s talk about life. Let’s talk about what you and I face as young people, as ‘omo boy’.

What projects are you working on presently?

I’m working on Inyanya’s album, then trying to conclude Dare’s album as well. Then, some other independent artistes as well.

What have been your biggest challenges so far as a Producer and as a person?

Well, I think one of the things is when artistes come to you as a Producer and they think you’re a magic maker. Some people who come and you know they are not talented at all and they will beg you and eventually you look like you are wicked or being mean.

How do you tell them that you can’t work with them?

I just try to tell them the truth. I’ll just say “Guy, we can’t do this because of this”, okay what I always tell them is that you’re not ready, you’re not prepared. I’ll either tell them that they need to go for vocal lessons or for some form of training that you need to find out how this is being done. I find a way to be diplomatic.

Any last words for your fans?

I don’t have fans, just ‘Thank you guys for being there’ without you there’s no TY-Mix. You guys are the ones who make things happen. It’s like a King without a Kingdom. It’s just a name, what makes you a King is your authority, your Kingdom.

Awards: NMVA '09

2009-11-02T18:35:00.000Z

The Nigerian Video Music Awards held yesterday at the Eko Hotel & Suites, V.I - Lagos. I had earlier given y'all the list of nominees before the event and also made some predictions, well lets see how well I did with my predictions, here's the winners list:

BEST AFRO HIP HOP VIDEO

• Mo hits – Ten Ten.

BEST MAINSTREAM HIP HOP VIDEO

• M.I – Safe.

BEST AFRO POP VIDEO

• D’banj – Mo Gbono Feli Feli.

BEST REGGAE DANCEHALL VIDEO

• Frank D Nero – Cure My Craze.

BEST GOSPEL VIDEO

• Keffi – Kokoroko.

BEST R n B VIDEO

• Darey – Not The Girl.

BEST HIGHLIFE MUSIC VIDEO

• Mc Loph – Osondi Owendi.

BEST CONTEMPORARY AFRO MUSIC VIDEO

• Bracket – Yori Yori.

BEST USE OF ANIMATION IN A MUSIC VIDEO

• Holy Mallam – Devil Tinyaka.

BEST FUJI MUSIC VIDEO

• Ayuba – Omo Yoruba. (Special Recognition)

BEST AFROBEAT MUSIC VIDEO

• Seun Kuti – Many Many Things.

BEST USE OF COSTUME

• Darey – More.

BEST USE OF CHOREOGRAPHY

• Freewindz – Tolotolo.

BEST PRODUCER OF A MUSIC VIDEO

• Soul Muzik.

BEST DIRECTOR

• Wudi Awa (Kokoroko – Keffi)

BEST USE OF SPECIAL EFFECTS IN A MUSIC VIDEO

• M.I – Safe.

BEST INDIGENOUS CONCEPT

• Benita – We Ose.

MOST PROMISING DIRECTOR

• Gbenga Salu

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

• Darey – More.

BEST NEW VIDEO

• Jaywon – Filebe.

MOST POPULAR NIGERIAN MUSIC VIDEO IN EUROPE

• May7even – Take off my clothes.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO EDITOR

Mex [M.I. - Safe]

SOLE INDUCTEE INTO THE HALL OF FAME

Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi. (Chairman DAAR Group)

(I rightly predicted 6 winners, so I guess the organisers weren't too far off from the right thing, lol!)

Sports: FIFA U-17, Enugu Stadium and the rain that fell

2009-10-30T18:24:00.000Z

When President Y'Adua told us he didn't want to host this U-17 World, we should have listened to him....see this pics

We used buckets to scoop the water off the pitch so the match could go on

I think even the Players scooped too....

...but the fans stayed loyal

...and when it was time to leave, the fans couldn't

Beanie Sigel releases Jay-Z diss track

2009-10-30T18:15:00.000Z

Former Roc-A-Fella artiste, Beanie Sigel just released a ‘diss’ track directed at his former boss and mentor on a track called ‘Average Cat’ which is a response to the first song off the blueprint 3: ’What We Talking About’. On the song Jay-Z says “Grown men wanna sit on my lap/but I ain’t got a beard and Santa Claus ain’t Black” to which Sigel replies “I’m a grown ass man, I don’t sit on nigga’s laps and I aint looking for no gifts outta Santa Claus’ laps Santa Claus ain’t real, let alone is he black”

Beanie Siegel accuses Jay-Z of calling the cops on him during jay-Z’s September 11 concert recently, spittin’ “The rapper Shawn called the police on me/cause I was front row at the Blueprint 3,” Siegel raps. “S**t, I just wanted to see him MC, and reminisce on when we was the R.O.C./But he called all the C.O.Ps, not only that, he brought out the F.E.Ds/So that’s telling me ‘F You Sieg,’/so F you too and F Bleek three.”

Beanie Sigel also went on an interview on radio day after DJ Kay Slay premiered the song, he said that he felt slighted for not being included on the Blueprint 3.

Beanie said “Jay in another place and I understand that. He did what he did as far as signing people to Roc-A-Fella Records, you did that,” Sigel told Charlamagne Tha God. “But as far as the push that people coulda got that really could have did things, you didn’t do that. If you look at 50 Cent - no disrespect to the G-Unit, cause I love the way 50 Cent did with his dogs - but if you look at it, them dudes got more money and more bread than anybody in State Property. Because 50 made sure of that. 50 took his people on tour and paid them, not tell them it was a good look for them to be on tour.”

Truly, I never thought I’d hear a track like this from BEANIE SIGEL of all Rappers! Beans goes hard on this one, going emotional, deep and factual.

AND SOME MORE FAIL PICS

2009-10-30T06:44:00.000Z

AGE FAIL

COW RIDE FAIL

NEW DAD FAIL

PROPHECY FAIL

BUS BOAT FAIL

(Fail pics courtesy of Failblog.org)

THIS IS IT!

2009-10-30T06:38:00.000Z

Michael Jackson continues to break records even in death! The documentary of his ill-fated last concert 'This is it' premiered on Tuesday 27th October grossing about $2.2 million dollars - the highest ever for a movie released on a tuesday in October. 'This is it' cost Sony $60 million dollars to purchase the rights from AEG Live, the promoters of the botched 'This is it' concerts which were to hold in London in July.
The movie is showing at Silverbird and Genesis Deluxe cinemas. Please go see it...for Michael and the Legend in all of us!

STUFF I CAN'T WAIT 4: Music - The African Rockshow

2009-10-28T19:11:00.000Z

Uchie the African Rockstar, critically acclaimed purveyor of a unique blend of Ragga, HipHop and R’n’B music is currently working on his sophomore album, tentatively titled ‘The African Rock Show’. Over the past one year, he has been in and out of the studio perfecting songs like ‘Leave Us Alone’, ‘Take Me Away’ and ‘Foolish Love’. So far he has worked with ace producer and MTN Project Fame West Africa judge: TY-Mix on a number of songs while the duo of Sazzy & DJ Atte also produced a significant number of songs on the album which is expected to drop early in 2010.

EVENTS: BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2008

2009-10-28T18:56:00.000Z

The BET HIP HOP AWARDS held recently, Jay-Z picked up the most awards, followed by incarcerated rapper T.I and then inyourface producer/rapper;Kanye West.
Here's a full list of the winners...

1. Verizon Peoples Champ Award - Fabolous (Throw it in the bag)
2. Best Hip Hop Collabo - T.I featuring Rihanna (Live your life)
3. Best Live Performer - Jay-Z
4. Lyricist of the Year - Jay-Z
5. Video Director - Hype Williams
6. Producer of the Year - Kanye West
7. Track of the Year - Young Money (Every Girl)
8. CD of the Year - T.I (Paper Trail)
9. Rookie of the Year - Drake
10. Best Hip Hop Video - T.I featuring Rihanna (Live your life)
11. MVP of the Year - Jay-Z
12. DJ of the Year - DJ AM (Posthumous Award)
13. Hustler of the Year - Jay - Z
14. Made-You-Look Award - Kanye West
15. Best Hip Hop Blog Site - Allhiphop.com

NEXT 2 BLOW: Bornstar

2009-10-27T18:26:00.000Z

From the stables of Kilari-Bola Entertainment (which has amongst its Board of Directors Omowunmi Akinnifesi (MBGN 2005) and Environmental Ambassador LASG) comes Bornstar, a fast rising artiste who is set to challenge erstwhile reigning king of Dancehall music in Nigeria; Timaya for the rights to the throne, Hip Hop World Awards plaques and Alaba marketers’ cheques.

Originally known by the moniker: Slutta, Bornstar first emerged on the Naija music scene on Gino’s 2005 album ‘No Be God?’ where his raw talent was spotted by M.Speech who took him under his wings for further development and refinement, a process which is expected to have the same effect as what Eminem did for 50 Cent before the release of ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

Many have compared Bornstar’s sound to Shaggy, TOK and other notable international Ragga acts but Bornstar intends to sound only like himself and not like an imitation.

So far, Bornstar has performed a few shows in Jamaica alongside Dj Stunna and has been fortunate to meet a lot of Jamaican music greats in person.

Guided by prolific Producer and CEO: M.Speech, Bornstar’s upcoming debut album is poised to redefine the standard of album making in the industry.

The album will include songs like ‘e don happen’, ‘Which day?’,’See me see wahala’, ‘Birthday girl’ and ‘Wildfire’ and features guest appearances from industry heavyweights; Gino, Konga, Teeto Ceemos, Sossick and Jamaican stars; Jah Weise and E-Silk.

Bornstar has just released a new video and is available for viewing online @ http://www.timmynaija.com/blog/category/music-video/ :::::OnLY oN tiMmYNaiJa::::: . . .Terrestial and foreign TV stations are streaming also. The album is dedicated to the memory of Bolanle Akinnifesi.

Jay-Z makes Fortune's Top 40 under 40 list

2009-10-27T18:23:00.000Z

Rapper and Entertainment Mogul made the list of most successful people in Business under the age of forty.
Jay-Z and business partner Steve Stoute jointly ranked 16th on the list under the aegis of Translation Advertising, a company they both own. Other high-flyers on the list include Google founders;Sergey Brin and Larry Page; Facebook founder: Mark Zuckerberg and Tiger Woods who ranked 6th.

Roc Nation, Translation Advertising

Ages: Both are 39

Marital status: Jay-Z is married, Stoute is single

Jay-Z is co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records and the Roca-wear clothing brand (sold for $204 million in 2007) and the former president of Def Jam. His latest album is his 11th to hit No. 1, the most by any solo artist ever.

Stoute, former EVP of Interscope Records, founded marketing firm Translation Consultation & Brand Imaging, which paired Justin Timberlake with McDonald's for "I'm Lovin' It" before he sold it to Interpublic.

The pals now run a division that helps giants like State Farm and Johnson & Johnson reach the urban market. (Culled from Fortune.com)

GADGETS: Kindle versus Nook

2009-10-22T20:02:00.001+01:00

I’m thinking of getting myself an e-book reader early next year (they’re relatively expensive! So requires some time to save) and so I was going through some product reviews and im at a point where I’m undecided between two brands/products. The Kindle from Amazon or the Nook from foremost book retailer; Barnes & Noble. They’ve got some similarities and use the same display technology – Electronic Ink Display which makes the screen look like paper.

Anyway I put out some features of both devices and want you guys to check them out and make recommendations.

The Kindle from Amazon

The Nook

Kindle                                        Nook
Screen size
6”                                              6”

Technology
Electronic Ink Display              Electronic Ink Display

Supported file formats
PDF, Kindle, Doc, Audible    PDF, e Pub, Fictionwise

Battery life
14 days                                    10 days

Memory capacity
2 GB                                         2 GB (expandable to 16 GB)

Weight (ounces)
10.2                                          11.2

Price ($)
260                                         260

The Kindle's other special features include; Read to Me (text to speech conversion), EVDO, Built-in dictionary, MP3, wireless access to Wikipedia etc.

while the Nook's extra features include; Colour touchscreen, virtual keyboard, LendMe (file sharing), text highlighting and annotation, WIFI radio, Virtual bookmark, Pictures and MP3

So which do you think I should get?

Music: Albums we may end the year with include:

2009-10-21T19:46:00.000+01:00

1. Super C Season – Naeto C

2. Sasha Speaks – Sasha

3. The W Experience – Banky W

4. Tradition – 9ice

5. Street Scriptures vol.1 – Knighthouse

6. Untitled – Timaya

7. Untitled – Jesse Jags

New Music: Plantain Boy – Mr. Timaya

2009-10-21T19:41:00.000+01:00

The Naija music industry’s enfant terrible is back with a new song: ‘Plantain Boy’. Timaya simply refuses to approach any other topic but his rise from Grass to Grace. ‘Plantain Boy’ is still on the self idolatry theme, but with more vivid description this time.

He talks about his rise to music stardom from selling his mother’s plantains on the streets a few years ago, hear him “I’m still that plantain boy/na me be the pikin wey dey give im mama joy/many people see me as a useless boy/ but thank God, today I’m a very big boy/not just a big boy but a very rich boy…”. I actually like the song and find it somewhat inspirational in the ‘We Can Achieve Anything’ sense.

The song is produced by longtime cohort: K-Solo.

New Music: Russian Roulette – Rihanna

2009-10-21T19:23:00.000+01:00

“Rated R” – That’s the title of Rihanna’s forthcoming album, scheduled for a November 23rd release and the first single off it is ‘Russian Roulette’ which was written and produced by Ne-Yo. What d’you think of the cover photo?

Awards: NMVA 2009 and My Predictions

2009-10-19T19:26:00.001+01:00

Its been a while since Cally Ikpe released the shortlist of nominees for this year's annual Nigerian Music Video Awards but I just got to study the list today and im gonna predict who the winners'll be and by November 1st when the event is held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, V.I, you all will hail me the great Seer and Divine Prophet for my predictive abilities. here's the list:

NMVA 2009 NOMINEES

BEST AFRO HIP HOP VIDEO

• Tuface Idibia – Go Down There.

• Djinee – Lade.

• Mo hits – Ten Ten.

• Nigga Raw - Ko Gbadun.

• Weird Mc – Step Up.

Whatever this category means I dont know but Tuface has the best video here.

BEST MAINSTREAM HIP HOP VIDEO

• Dj Jimmy Jatt – Too Much

• Alabai – Voice of God

• Kel – Too Fine.

• M.I - Safe.

• Knight House- Finest.

The Knighthouse Crew should take this one!

BEST AFRO POP VIDEO
• D’banj – Mo Gbono Feli Feli.

• Eldee – Bo Si Gbangba.

• Darey - More.

• Sound Sultan – Oko Won Lode.

• Anogiri – Oyinbo.

Probably Eldee, even though I didnt know he did 'Afro Pop'

BEST REGGAE DANCEHALL VIDEO

• Nneka – Africa.

• Frank D Nero – Cure My Craze.

• H-man- scared of love.

• Black Solo – Club on Fire.

• Porsh Kayiana – Scream

Would have rooted for Frank D'Nero but the video was nothing special
BEST GOSPEL VIDEO
• Keffi – Kokoroko.

• Lara George - Run With Me.

• Benita – Se Owe.

• Elsie – Jigidem.

• Rooftop Mcs – For My Life.

Rooftop Mcs could take this one...

BEST R n B VIDEO
• Darey – Not The Girl.

• Faze – Am In Love.

• Inyanya – Love Truly.

• Drea – Omoge.

• G-Xploits – Your Man.

If Darey doesnt win this then the judges should be investigated

BEST HIGHLIFE MUSIC VIDEO

• Bracket – Yori Yori.

• Mc Loph – Osondi Owendi.

• Sunny Nneji – Ojoro.

• J-Martins – Cool Temper.

• Mumma Gee – African Juice.

Definitely Bracket

BEST CONTEMPORARY AFRO MUSIC VIDEO
• Mumma Gee – African Juice.

• Bracket – Yori Yori.

• Amaikah – Moonlights Tales.

• Freewindz – Tolotolo.

Please give Bracket again

BEST USE OF ANIMATION IN A MUSIC VIDEO

• Lara George – Run With Me.

• Daddy U - Who Be This Man.

• Holy Mallam – Devil Tinyaka.

• Holy Mallam – Somebody Say.

Havent seen any of these videos, sorry!

BEST FUJI MUSIC VIDEO

• Ayuba - Omo Yoruba. (Special Recognition)

I see theres no competition here...

BEST AFROBEAT MUSIC VIDEO
• Tunji Shotimerin – Story Story.

• Seun Kuti - Many Many Things.

• Kola Ogunkoya – Emayo.

Not my forte, cant say here either...

BEST USE OF COSTUME
• Darey – More.

• Keffi – Kokoroko

• Amaikah – Moonlight Tale.

• Benita – We Ose.

• Mumma Gee –African Juice.

Wondering why Darey won't win this one...

BEST USE OF CHOREOGRAPHY
• Weird Mc – Step Up.

• Freewindz – Tolotolo.

• Darey – More

• Omawunmi – In The Music.

• Porsh Kayiana – Scream

Even though Darey cant dance, he should get this one too cos the others didnt do shit too

BEST PRODUCER OF A MUSIC VIDEO
• Soul Muzik.

• Lone Records

• Yes Records.

• Mo Hits.

• East Syde Records.

There should be no contest here Darey's Soul Muzik is miles ahead of the others

BEST DIRECTOR

• Wudi Awa (Kokoroko – Keffi)

• Gbenga Salu ( Ten Ten – Mo Hits)

• Clarence Peters ( Oko Won Lode – Sound Sultan)

• Dj Tee ( Step Up – Weird Mc)

• Mex ( Safe – M.I)

This should be between Mex and Gbenga Salu

BEST USE OF SPECIAL EFFECTS IN A MUSIC VIDEO
• M.I – Safe.

• Mo Hits – Ten Ten.

• Lara George – Run With Me.

• Elsie – Jigidem.

Still a straight fight between M.I and Mo'Hits

BEST INDIGENOUS CONCEPT
• Mumma Gee- African Juice.

• Benita – We Ose.

• Keffi – Kokoroko.

• Amaikah- Moonlight Tales.

• Ayuba – Omo Yoruba.

A'int got no idea for this one

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Kokoroko - Keffi (Wudi Awa)

• Aimakah – Moonlight Tales. ( Brisoul)

• Sound Sultan – Oko Won Lode. ( Clarence Peters)

• Mo Gbono Feli Feli – D’banj ( Sesan)

no idea here too

MOST PROMISING DIRECTOR
• Gbenga Salu

• Boby High

• A-Whizzle

• Ak One

• Brisoul

Definitely Gbenga Salu, Ten Ten was dope!

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• M.I – Safe

• Mo Hits – Ten Ten.

• Keffi – Kokoroko.

• Darey – More.

• Mo Hits – Mo Gbono Feli Feli.

Maybe M.I should take this one too

BEST NEW VIDEO
Bean Pole – So Pe Tie.

• Jaywon – Filebe.

• Waje – Kolo.

dunno...

MOST POPULAR NIGERIAN MUSIC VIDEO IN EUROPE
• King David – One Love.

• May7even – Take off my clothes.

• Tillman Ft Dolla –Puyanga.

• Tee Loye – Karmal Fire.

• Cashino – No future.

dunno, I live in Naija

SOLE INDUCTEE INTO THE HALL OF FAME

Chief Raymond Alegho Dokpesi. (Chairman Daar Group)

Hilarious Fail Pics

2009-10-19T18:45:00.001+01:00

So when I get bored and I've got an internet connection there are a couple of sites i log on to to keep me busy, for laughter I go to Fail Blog, lots of hilarious 'fail' pictures and videos. Check these out!

Facebook fail

Coronation Throne Fail

Racism Fail

Okada fail!

Album Review: The Rebirth - Obiora Obiwon

2009-10-19T18:38:00.000+01:00

I waited for over one year for Obiora Obiwon’s sophomore album ‘The Rebirth’ and when it finally came out this month, I grabbed a copy as soon as I could locate a CD retailer who stocked the album. However, after a couple of spins, I daresay I was disappointed. My disappointed was because I was totally ‘lost’ on the album.

I have followed Obiwon as an artiste since his days as a member of a loose ensemble of artistes in Enugu who went by the name ‘Coal City’s Finest’ to his stint with the self professed Hip-Hop purists, ‘Thoroughbreds’ and onto his emergence as a solo artiste or worthy note. His debut LP ‘Overture’ was excellent and spawned the hit song ‘Onyinye’. I also loved the collection of singles he put together as forerunners to ‘The Rebirth’ in the CD ‘Overture Plus’ which had beautiful songs like ‘Joli’, ‘Nigerian Girl’ and ‘Believe Me’. Then Obiwon ‘disappeared’ for a while and it is in this brief period of hiatus that I guess the change began.

At about the period he dropped ‘Overture Plus’, the artiste formerly known as Obiwon changed his name to Obiora Obiwon signaling a new phase of more originality in his music and brand. Up till this album, I sincerely regarded Obiora Obiwon as an R’n’B artiste considering his previous works but ‘The Rebirth’ marks a shift in genres for the artiste. Out of ten songs on the album, 6 are clearly gospel music, 2 are everyday feel good songs (‘bless you lady’ and ‘birthday’) while ‘obi mu o’ and it’s remix are the only R’n’B tracks on the LP.

‘obi mu o’ featuring Guchi Young is a duet with strong vocal performance and an everlasting message ‘Everlasting Love’. ‘obi mu o the remix’ shows why the original is such as good song from the ease with which the rappers featured on it delivered stellar verses, Blaise sets it off with “Let me get a little deeper/boy you’re a keeper/I need to assure you/how you dey give me fever”, passing the Rap baton to M.I who delivers on of his best verses of the year spitting “Girl, let me write you a story/you and I are going from the guts to glory/getting married on top a 40 storey…you took the simple dude and made him clear/it’s like you changed a skateboard to a Beamer..”. Ibo Boy Ill Bliss takes it a notch higher putting his recent real life experience in prose “I found a wife, found a friend, found a sister all in one…thank God I found you/got another man all trying to wife you/Yes I go build my life around you…I’m a man of my words/took a little time but I’m back for you…”.

On ‘F.A.T.H.E.R’ Obiwon combines his own rich vocals with a mini-choir background of voices to support in delivering a danceable gospel tune. This is one of the album’s best songs. The lyrics, arrangement and instrumentals all play out creatively.

Phat E & Obiora Obiwon are credited with the bulk of production with Jay Martins providing one track.

While ‘The Rebirth’ is definitely a ‘rebirth’ for the former R’n’B artiste, I’m not so sure this is the comeback album the market was expecting.

MOVIE SYNOPSIS: A Day In The Life; Sticky Fingaz (2009); Lionsgate Films

2009-10-14T23:15:00.000+01:00

If you know ONYX, the rap group from the early 90's which included big names; Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz, then you'd also know that Fredro Star and Sticky both released solo albums after the disintegration of the group.
Stick went on to make a classic album; 'The Autobiography of Kirk Jones' in which he used a unique format where the entire album played out on your audio decks like a movie, with most songs in master story-telling fashion and tracks following each other in sequence like scenes in a movie, he even begn the LP with the 20th Century Fox signature tune and sound effects.

This time around Sticky does the opposite; he writes, directs and produces this movie which plays out like a Rap album with EVERY conversation 'rapped' instead of plain speaking. The movie's creativity covers up for the poor acting and generic thug-life story.

The movies covers the everyday life of a gangbanger/streethustler/drug dealer who wants to leave the game after he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant, but before he can do this, he has to eliminate a rival gang leader who stole his stash and killed his peeps. At the end we find out who stays standing.
The movie features many known black faces including Mekhi Pfeiffer, Omar Epps, Omar from The Wire, Fredro Star, Mickey Rourke (Agent Don Self from the final season of Prison Break), Ray J and Sticky Fingaz himself.
Anyone who loves true Rap as exemplified by albums like 'Stillmatic', 'The Blueprint', 'The Autobiography of Kirk Jones' and 'Its Dark and Hell is Hot' will definitely love this movie.

BOOK REVIEW: Swallow by Sefi Atta

2009-10-14T22:54:00.000+01:00

The Novel explores the Nigeria and Lagos in particular, of the early ‘80’s touching familiar range of subjects like family, friendship, poverty, corruption and drug trafficking.

Sefi Atta brings everyday characters to life in a way in which the reader connects to them, reminding you of a sibling, friend, neighbour or even yourself. From the central character: Tolani to her flatmate, Rose or Sanwo, the boyfriend, the Writer delves sufficiently into the characters’ backgrounds to paint a surrounding environment and shed light on the choices made by each individual. Primarily about Tolani, ‘Swallow’, explores the journey through life, struggles over declining morality and belief in God, disdain for corrupt Bosses and attempts to survive the hardships of Lagos life by any means necessary.

Though, not half as good as her first Novel: Everything Good Will Come, Sefi Atta retains her style which sees ‘Swallow’ crescendo till the end to leave the reader with more questions than answers.

Events: STYLE NIGHT 5

2009-10-13T23:56:00.000+01:00

The annual fashion show 'Style Night' is here again. It's a night of fashion, modeling, music, comedy and dance.

Style Night 5:
Featuring - Top designers, models, music, dance and comedy stars.
Date - Saturday October 24th 2009
Venue - Jade Palace, Adeola Odeku Str., Victoria Island, Lagos
Time - 5pm (Red Carpet by Spice TV and Soundcity)
After Party - Volar Bar - Adeola Odeku Str., VI (Sponsored by Hennessy)
Gate Fee - N3, 000 only.

Lots of gift items to take away (All sponsors are bringing goodie bags)
+ cocktail and drinks.
Style Night 5 is sponsored by
*Prestige Cosmetics (Makers of Active Man and Woman moisturizing cream)
*Multisheen Cosmetics
*Cybele Cosmetics
* Lacasera Drinks

Album Review: Djinee

2009-10-12T18:40:00.000+01:00

It’s been a long time coming for Djinee, ever since his superlative vocal performance on 2005’s hit single ‘Ego’, fans have patiently waited for his debut album. In a rare feat, the artiste born Nosa Osayamwem held the title of veteran in the Nigerian music industry even though he had no album to his credit. From his video jockey days with Sound City to his new status as TV game show host, Djinee has remained in the public eye, displaying rare tenacity to survive in an industry that has consumed so many talents. After years of battling record label troubles, the storm is finally over.

Coming a good four years after the market demanded for it, Djinee’s self titled debut LP still ends up striking the right chords. Feeding off the buzz created by the singles ‘I No Dey Shame’ and ‘Lade’, the 17-track album is an eclectic blend of music featuring Soul, R’n’B, Rock and Gospel genres.

Receiving heavy rotation on radio is the third single ‘Overkillin’’, produced by Jesse Jagz; Djinee takes it to the streets on this one with the same style that that made M.I’s ‘Safe’ a hit song. Despite the seeming violent title, the song’s theme is Peace. Djinee reaches out to the youths with lyrics like ‘choose to finger Guitar than to finger my trigger/want to live rich to see my sons and my daughter…the lion fit dey sleep/but no think say you fit wake am”.

‘Come Sun, Come Rain’; a duet with Ego Ogbaro is one of the album’s finest tracks. Reminiscent of powerful duets like ‘Baby Come to Me’ by James Ingram & Anita Baker or R.Kelly & Celine Dion’s ‘I’m Your Angel’. Both artistes synchronize seamlessly and deliver superb vocal performances but Ego comes out a couple of miles ahead.

‘My Pillow’ comes across as a mellow heartfelt rendition from a doting lover, Djinee is at his soulful best crooning “should I run you a bath?/anyway you want it/should I make you laugh?/should I oil your back?...Let me be your warrior tonight, I’ll save your heart tonight/right here on my pillow…”

‘Forever’, ‘Forever remix’ and ‘Na My Wife’ are clear cut wedding songs, ‘Thank You’ and ‘My Love’ continue the love message while ’Give It To Me’ is a feel good/subtle party song. To complete the album is ‘Uruese’, where D’jinee does the near compulsory native language and Gospel track.

Production credit on the album includes; Cobhams Asuquo, Rymzo, Jesse Jags and M.I, with artiste guest appearances from other outstanding talents including; Nikki Laoye, Lindsey and Ice Prince. This album will appeal to true lovers of Nigerian R’n’b and Soul.

MTV Base MAMA’09: M.I emerges biggest winner.

2009-10-12T18:36:00.000+01:00

On Saturday, 10th October 2009, in faraway Kenya, East Africa, Chocolate City’s breadwinner and Nigeria own M.I carted away two awards at the MTVbase annual MAMA awards ’09. M.I picked up the awards for ‘Best Hip Hop’ and ‘Best New Act’ beating stiff competition from other notable African artistes.

Other Nigerians who won trophies include; D’banj(Artiste of the year), Tuface(Best RnB) and PSquare(Best Group).

The award ceremony was hosted by international artistes: Wyclef Jean and Akon.

2010 World Cup: Nigeria manages 1-0 win over Mozambique

2009-10-12T18:31:00.001+01:00

A late 93rd minute goal by Obinna Nsofor of the Super Eagles was sufficient to keep our South Africa 2010 world cup finals hopes alive. Nigeria now has to win her next match and hope that the Tunisians lose or draw their final match to enable us make it to the finals.

FOOTBALL: U-20 World Cup: Nigeria Crashes Out

2009-10-07T20:55:00.000+01:00

The Nigerian Under 20 squad is expected to return home tomorrow from Egypt after losing 3-2 to the Germans. A second goal from Kopplin 3 minutes into extra time was the last shot on goal that felled the Nigerian side. Goals from Uchechi and Ibrahim were unable to see the Nigerian side through

New Naija Albums Out Now!

2009-10-07T20:29:00.000+01:00

I decided to go out and get more Nigerian music over the weekend and I ended up buying about 15 CDS. Here's a list of some of what i got:
1. P-Square - Danger
2. Olu Maintain - With All Due Respect Please Press Play (True, thats the title)
3. Jim Iyke - Who Am I
4. African China -The Return of The Legend
5. Jah Bless - Rebirth
6. Bracket - Yori Yori (finally decided to get it!)
7. Terry G - Season 1 of 'something'
I was looking out for Obiwon's 'Rebirth' and I.G.H.O's '9JA Boy' but didnt find them. I hope to be able to pick at least 1 good song from each of them for my current playlist!

Kelly Hansome takes shots at the Mo'Hits Crew

2009-10-07T19:57:00.000+01:00

US based Kennis Music Singer, Kelly Hansome recently leaked a track off his forthcoming album dissing Wande Coal and the Mo'Hits crew.
Titled 'Igwe', Kelly takes off with the lines "you're still a small pikin...Yes, Me I be Arsenal, you, you be Man U/No wonder you're look like a 'Malu'...I go wipe you, one by one, you and your crew/'cos if you try we Gunners, we go gun you down...."
He also takes further shots at Terry G on the song's third verse. The lyrics are catchy, he pokes fun at Wande's 'Bumper 2 bumper' and 'Taboo' songs over a party friendly instrumental.
We look forward to a response from Mo'Hits.

BOOK REVIEW - Toni Kan: Nights of the creaking bed

2009-10-06T20:13:00.000+01:00

With this collection of short stories, Toni Kan recounts the everyday experiences we choose to ignore as well as the feelings we refuse to acknowledge. These are tales of crude love, incestuous lust, infidelity, poverty, lost dreams and bizarre happenings. From the boy who is obsessed with the beautiful one who birthed him to the young one who’s desire to see the Promised Land leads to his untimely death. ‘the devil’s overtime’ tells the story of Daniel who is abandoned in a market by his mother and his transformation into an ‘Area Boy’. ‘Onions’ is a Christmas story set in poverty land and ‘Buzz’ is your classic detective story set in the rough Lagos neighborhoods. Other stories include; ‘the Phone call goodnight’, ‘the echo of silence’ and ‘age of iron’. Definitely a a good read.

INTERVIEW - M.I: Saving The Rapgame

2009-10-06T20:09:00.000+01:00

Who do you call when your ipod seems to dish out weak, unintelligent and downright mediocre songs? Who do you turn to when Rap has been bastardized to the point where an artist could just yawn on a hot beat and put that on a CD? To whom do we cry for help when we buy a 14 track CD but can only listen to 1 song?

Mode 9 made the track ‘A Hero Comes Home’, but it’s not him we look up to in these treacherous times and perilious periods. Today, we look to the North, from whence our help will come in the mould of a short black boy.

Known to family, close friends and associates as Jude Abaga, but to the rest of the country as the long awaited Rap Messiah; the impeccable lyricist; the wack-rapper slayer; the beat maker; the performer; the MC. He is Mr. Incredible.

The short black boy who is the next big thing was originally known by the moniker: Amigo but over time the artiste evolved and so did the name. Now known as M.I, an acronym for many things like Mic Innovator, Most Innovative, Mankind Illustrator, Most Immaculate and off course; Mr. Incredible.

He crept into our consciousness with songs like ‘Crowd Mentality’, ‘Kauna Allah remix’ and ‘Time’, from a quiet MC on the rise in the J-town and ABJ circuits to becoming a prominent feature on the national stage, rocking shows from Gombe to Gabon; Lagos to London. M.I the multi-talented is a Rapper, Producer and Performer.

M.I as an individual personifies humility, honesty and hardwork. He takes his craft seriously and his stage presence is awe inspiring with an ability to connect with the crowd no matter how large or small.

Whats Up, Naija? caught up with M.I in Lagos, a few months ago, to pick his brain on a range of topics, enjoy.

So, whats up with M.I these days? You just dropped the Album – ‘Talk About It’, it’s been well received, you’ve been well received as well, did you know success would this soon?

Success is a shifting concept, I don’t know if I can say I’m completely successful because I have not accomplished everything I set out to do, however I do thank God for the level of success that I have attained and the fact that this music that I’ve made, which is a little bit outside the grain of what you would term as contemporary Nigerian pop music, is being received as such, it’s selling very well, we’re doing lots of shows, we’re touching new markets that we’ve never been to before, I really appreciate it thank God for that and the team that’s behind me; Bobby Taylor Consulting; My management: Godwin Tom; My Record label: Chocolate City – they also handle management as well: Mo’, Samson and, off course, Audu. Everybody’s working really hard, it’s a joint effort and a lot of people in the industry love me too, so that helps.

The label is Chocolate City, how did you meet Audu and how did you get signed?

Audu was actually looking to sign Jeremiah Gyang and at that point, I was sort of doing unofficial management for Jeremiah Gyang and so I didn’t meet Audu actually before they got signed, but after a while Jeremiah kept saying “you need to meet Audu, he’s a fantastic guy”. So he came down to Jos one time, we met, we spoke, I could see he was not impressed at all, I played him some of my music and he was just like “whatever”, I made more music, I played for him and he was like “yeah, yeah, whatever” but then by the time I played ‘Crowd Mentality’ for him, he was like “yeah, I have a record contract for you right here, so it was a fantastic opportunity for me, it’s been a long time though, since we signed, 3 years, it’s taken a long time for us to be where we are right now, but you know, it’s Cest la vie, such is life and we just starting, we’re just climbing.

You won the award for Best rap single at the HHWA’08. This year, we guess you’re gunning for best Rap album, who do you expect your contenders to be?

Obviously you would have people like Rooftop MCs: who I think had a clasic album last year, I think it’s a hip hop classic. Off course, the heavyweight: Mode 9, anytime he drops an album, it’s always gonna be in contention. Also I think one of the most fantastic albums as far as pop music is concerned in naija, cross over album is Naeto C’s album – ‘You Know My P’. Those are the albums that I think are in contention for this year, I might be missing out somebody but I think those are the albums that are really hot on the tail. I think ‘Talk About It’ is the goodish, so please vote for ‘Talk About It’ if you have to vote for one.

What’s the difference between being behind the mixing desk as a producer and holding the Mic as a Rapper?

Behind the mixing desk, I’m funny, I’m silly, I’m stupid, I’m just trying to get the music however it comes out, but on stage as a performer, I come on stage, I try to have my swag, my cool. So it’s a totally different approach, behind the console you want to be effective, on stage you wanna be iconic and it’s just two different approaches.

Do you intend to take production seriously to the level where an M.I beat is a guarantee for success the way a Neptunes or Timbaland beat could be?

I don’t wanna be a commercial producer, I don’t want people to determine the hotness of my music the same way they do a Neptunes or Timbaland beat. I just wanna make good music, I wanna be like, sort of like, Basket Mouth or Raphael Sadiq, just putting in work whether you’re hearing of him or not: he’ll come and go, he’ll come and go. It’s not about hot beats, it’s not about who has the hottest single, it’s about good music. So I’m not open to anyone just coming out to make a beat, M.I making a beat for them. I work with who I wanna work with, and so far I’ve done Rooftop MCs, I’ve done Ashionye, I’ve done Ibiyemi, a lot of other people, working with Suzy very soon, Kaffy, a lot of people that I’m interested in working with so it’s gonna be good.

Tell us about Loopy Records

Loopy Records is a record label, sort of, it’s actually just a label name, sort of a group or family of 6 artistes that began together in Jos, and we didn’t begin as the original, we’re not the original 6, people have come and gone but we’ve sort of stayed together. Its 3 Rappers: Myself, Jesse Jags and Ice Prince and 3 Singers: Eve, Lindsey and Ruby. We’ve consistently made music over the years, we know eachother very well, we know what we can all bring to the table and when we enter the studio and we’re here for world domination. Believe you me, you haven’t heard the best music. Ice prince and Jesse Jags are far more talented and the girls are just out of this world. Look forward to fantastic music from Loopy Records.

Talk about your new Mixtape album: Illegal Music

‘Illegal Music’ is an idea to sort of allude to the mixtape culture in America, along the way I sort of missed that, because, Mixtapes – you just bite other people’s beats and rap on them but along the way, what I did was just make my own music and I don’t know how people are gonna receive it because a lot of the songs are not pop songs, it’s just my music, it’s weird, it’s different, you know what I mean. I’m gonna try and shoot videos for every song on ‘Illegal Music’ and put on Youtube, maybe not the most fantastic videos, but just something that people can watch. It’s about me trying to be cool on some songs and me just loving some samples so much that I made other songs out of them.

Your Dad’s a Preacher, so we’re guessing you grew up with strong xtian values, how does that affect the kind of Music you make?

I do have strong Christian values, I don’t know if my Dad has heard ‘Teaser’ and I don’t know how they’ll receive it, if they do but my parents know that everything I say is centred around a central theme, although I might stray a little bit just to try and bring people, you know, walk away from the building, as it were, to go and bring people back to the building, my values are the same: talking about struggle, talking about change, about hope, about beauty, about life, about love, about being good, being pure, being right, you know. Not to be pretentious, I do have the occassional Johnny Walker, Jack Daniels, you know what I mean, I’m not gonna tell people I don’t. I, however, don’t smoke; I have had relationships and have had physical relationships with girls. I’m not gonna lie about that just to try to be cool, I’m just honest with my music; I try not to be just meaningless in my music.

You’ve been proclaimed the Future of Naija Rap, what do you feel about that?

I think that’s a bit of an oxymoron. The future’s what’s next. The future’s always what’s coming soon. So if I’m the future that means I’m not right now, when I do arrive it means somebody else is gonna be the future. It’s nice; I understand where people are coming from when they say that. I hope to be the future, the present, the past. In the future, I hope to be the past, the present and the future also. I hope to continue doing music. I do think that a lot of people that have listened to M.I are gonna come out and make far more fantastic music, are gonna open new doors, new avenues and it’s important to realize you’re just a link in the chain. eLDee paid his dues so that some other people could do it, so that Mode 9 and Ruggedman could, Mode 9 and Ruggedman came, they made their music so that other people could come. That’s how it is; even tracing fans back to Junior & Pretty. It’s just a chain, so when you’re here don’t let it get to your head too much, don’t think you’re the ish too much, it’s just your moment, it’s just you’re time, do what you must, raise the bar, raise the industry standard and bow out when your time is over.

What were the first Hip Hop albums you bought and how did you encounter Rap?

DMX – ‘Its Dark And Hell is Hot’; Mase – ‘Harlem World’; Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; Talib Kweli – ‘Quality’. Those were the first Hip Hop albums I really got into. I had heard a lot of Hip Hop music, infact I think my first encounters with Hip Hop were probably with Heavy D – ‘Let It Rain’ and off course: Snoop Dogg, when Snoop Dogg first came out, it was really big, all over the world and I really loved it.

What inspires your Music content, lyrics and beats?

For music, I just listen to other people’s music and try and create new ideas or try and steal something I’ve heard, I mean, it’s an ever continuing process with making music, you have to keep on working at it. The songs, though, are inspired by the ideas, the content is inspired by things I see, so I try to open myself up to experiences around me as much as possible when I’m working on projects. Then, lyrically, you just go in there and work and work.

Eminem is known to give his life to the public through his Music and that’s one of the reasons he’s been so successful, how much of your personal experiences do you put in your Music?

I try to give as much of my personal experiences and I think on my second record people will hear a lot more about M.I than I think they even want to, but I think it’s important to put yourself in there because people can hear honesty, they can hear truth they can relate to. Every rapper is trying to say “I’m the flyest Rapper; I have 2 Bentleys and stuff”. Right now, as we talk to you, I don’t have a car yet, I’m still staying with my friend, some people may laugh about it, they might tease that but it’s my story. I know where I’m going to, it doesn’t bother me. I know where I’m coming from. We’re not gonna tell people “Here I am and this is what we’re doing and blah blah blah”. You know, it’s important to tell them “I’ve hustled to get where I am, and from here I’m moving somewhere else”. So let’s bend down, put our hands in the dirt and work and get where we’re going.

Other than your brother Jesse Jags, which Nigerian Rappers keep you on your toes?

Ice Prince, Vector, Pherowshuwz, 5 Mics, Naeto C, Gino, Ill Bliss, Blaise, Kel, Loose kaynon, Whizkid, Gomez from Knighthouse, Tha Suspect. There are just so many people, the list is endless and this is not to mention people that are outside the country like proto, people like Temi Pepe who I just listened to last night, just amazing, amazing crop of young talent that are coming out. You have to keep working.

You sing almost as well as you Rap, ever considered making an album like kanye’s 808’s & Heartbreak?

I’m not gonna sing on a whole album in the nearest future. I think singing should be left to professional singers. It’s cool when we do one thing or half a thing on a song, however, singing should be left to the professionals, also, though, is the fact that Kanye West’s 808’s is not even just about him singing, it’s about his content and I do have an album in the works which will be the second international project, which is called ‘Love Songs About Rap’. I’m like 4 or 5 songs deep into that, it’s gonna be a fantastic project, it’s about love music, love songs, and its all rap songs, it’s interesting.

We’ve got the album: Talk about it, we’ve got the Mixtape, when are we expecting the international album?

I actually don’t know. I wanted to release it January 1st, it hasn’t worked out. So many things go into making a record and pushing it out there. As soon as possible, I will say that, it will not be mass released though; it will be released as minimally as I can just so that it’s people that are really interested in the music that can buy it. So look out for ‘One’, buy it if it comes out and if not enjoy the Mixtape.

You left Nigeria as a student to school in the US, came back to practice as a Rapper, how did your parent’s take that?

My parents were cool, my Dad calls me M.I. Every time I call, he’s like “M.I”, I’m like “Daddy, I’m not M.I” but he’s like “You’re becoming M.I and M.I has more money than Jude, so I want M.I to be my son”. They are cool, they had some reservations and Jesse Jags is always talking about how our parents were like”no, no, don’t do music”. In all fairness to them, they supported us, they would have liked it if we had another job, but they supported us. They really tried. Shout out to my parents: the Abagas.

How has M.I changed between when he first dropped ‘Crowd Mentality’ and now?

I’ve gained weight. I’ve not grown a lot taller. I’m a lot more busy now. I’m not able to be in touch with as much people as I’d like to. I’m a lot more focused. I’m a lot more aware of what the industry requires and a lot more hungry to achieve.

What influence has M.I had on the life of Jude Abaga?

Jude is a nice playful guy. M.I has swag. M.I is cool. M.I doesn’t make too much noise. M.I likes True Religion jeans. M.I doesn’t take bus. He has had some influence but it’s important to remember that it’s just a job. It will come and go. What’s important is doing your music to the best of your ability and when it’s time to quit, walk away from it, don’t let the hype kill you.

What’s coming next from M.I after music; Business ventures, fashion, Books, Movies?

A lot of business ventures. I do wanna dabble into fashion, I’m not gonna put myself as the face or the brand. I just like Jeans so much I wanna have my own jean linedown the road. I think I have a lot of insight into what TV and movies can be. I’m not gonna act professionally, I don’t think I will be an actor, I will stay within the zone of what I’m good at, which is music and production. However, we will spread out, but I think it’s important to conquer and solidify where we’re at.

You used to maintain a blog on your Myspace page, but not anymore, what changed that?

We’re going back to that, I’m gonna have my blogspot and I’ll put up a new blog. Actually what happened was that a fantastic lady called Mickey had me writing for her newspaper, like a blog on her newspaper, so I used to put it up on my blog too. When that sort of died off because I was too busy, the blog sort of died, but I’ll do more of that soon. I really wanna keep in touch as much as I can.

The average ‘Abuja based’ artiste is unable to take his music to the National level, you were able to achieve that and more in the space of 2 years, how did you do it?

I think that for the ‘Abuja based’ artiste, it is important to come to Lagos, you might be lucky to have such a fantastic song that everybody round the country is feeling you. But incase you’re a human being like myself; you need to come to Lagos and work at pushing your music, push your brand. The rest of the industry is in Lagos.

You called her the first lady of Hip Hop, does the Boy date Kel?

Kel said I shouldn’t tell anybody if we are or not. I will say this, we’re good friends and yes, I got a girl, but no, you don’t know her or at least I’m working on it.

Thank you for your time, M.I.

Thank you, it’s been fantastic doing this interview. Big ups. Peace.

(Note: This interview was conducted sometime very early in the year)

My first post

2009-10-06T19:34:00.000+01:00

Okay...hmmn...i just want to have a blog like everyone else...yes copy! copy! like everyone else...but its still something i want to do, so guess what...I did it!

Some blogs are boring, some aren't. This should be interesting...I'll be revealing alot about my self, my friends (ha ha ha ha) and people i hardly know but observe all the same, so this will be fun.

I'm also regarded as an encyclopedia when it comes to the Nigerian Entertainment industry (excluding Nollywood) so I'll be providing a lot of content on that too...sounding like fun yet? or boring?

Okay...I'll start off with giving out a lot of material i created while trying to start up a magazine (more on that later) so without much ado...enjoy.