CONTROVERSY TRAILS KORA AWARDS

Recent news have revealed that KORA awards which was scheduled to hold in Nigeria last year but couldn’t hold due to the controversies surrounding it and its executive producer- Ernest Adjovi has been moved to Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso. The award is now scheduled to hold on April 4th, 2010.
Having consistently held in South-Africa for so many years, the organizers decided to move the awards ceremony to West- African and the country that readily came to their mind was Nigeria. They were received by the Cross-River State government to stage the award in Calabar as parts of the plans to further promote the state as a tourist center.
Nigeria’s South-African based Jazz artiste- Kunle Ayo and Nigeria’s pride and gospel act- Sammie Okposo in the midst of select music journalists including yours sincerely presented the KORA statuette to the executive governor of Cross- River State- His Exellency, Liyel Imoke.
Few weeks after the presentation including the grand launch in Abuja which was headlined by American rapper- Curtis Jackson, a.k.a 50 Cent, Ernest Adjovi had a change in plan to hold the award in Lagos after making the former governor of Lagos State- Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the Patron of the award. The decision didn’t go down well with Cross- River State government and they sued Mr. Adjovi for breach of contract and the case is yet to be decided.
Rhythm & Sounds spoke to ZMC management, the company handling the marketing and public relations for KORA in Nigeria and they revealed that they were also surprised by the development because the case is still in court. They however revealed that they are working on a press release meant to be out this weekend to shed more light on the issue.
Another development also revealed that some African countries have made known their intention to boycott the ceremony in Ouagadougou. Nigerian artistes like P-Sqaure, D’Banj, X-Project, 9ice and Sammie Okposo earlier nominated for the award have been removed from the nominees list.
The new nominees from Nigeria are Asa, 2Face Idibia, Niki Laoye, Jahdiel, Ruggedman, and Blackky. They were nominated alongside other African acts in different categories such as Best Hip Hop Artiste/Group, Best Spiritual Artiste/Group, Best Reggae Artiste/Group, Best Raga Artiste/Group, Best Arrangement, Best Artiste/Group of the Caribbea, Most Promising Artiste/Group, Best African Video Clip, Best Artiste/Group of Africa America and Best Traditional Artiste/Group. The regional categories are Best Artiste/Group from West, East, Central and Southern African. The likes of Dzany Mpiana, Akon, Lil Wayne and Rihanna were nominated in African American Category.
The most surprising thing about the whole organization of the award is that the website- koraawards.org still has Nigeria as the host the country in its history.

FREESTYLE DISGRACED AT NYSC CAMP

Talented rapper and former Trybe’s Men act, Freestyle is currently at the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State in preparation to serve his nation in the next one year but he recently got more that what he bargained for.
It is widely speculated that he has some level of arrogance and that he displays it willfully. This unpleasant act which different of his colleagues might have had a fair share of got him into trouble with his Platoon Instructors at the NYSC camp. He simply refused to abide by some of the rules.
What actually got him into trouble was the belt he purchased instead of making use of the belt that came with the youth corps uniform. Immediately some of the instructors sighted the belt, they ordered him to start frog jumps. The scene which attracted lots of attention made it dawned on many who the guy really was. Immediately they realized it was Freestyle, they waited for him to finish his frog jumps and started snapping pictures with him. This further infuriated the instructors and they asked him to go on another round of frog jumps. Out of the three weeks meant for him to spend in camp, he just completed one.

RUGGEDMAN, P-SQUARE BEND LOW

Foremost Nigerian rapper- Michael Stephens popularly known as Ruggedman recently dragged the most popular group artiste in Africa- P-Square to the studio to record a duet that might soon dominate the music charts for sometime.
The management revealed to Rhythm & Sounds few days back about the great collaboration between the artistes. “We are working very hard. We just recorded a song with P-Square and we know that you would definitely love it by the time you listen to it”.
The song which is temporarily titled Low is produced by Paul Okoye, one of the P-Square twins. The song has three verses with a chorus. Ruggedman rapped two verses while P-Square sang the chorus and one of the three verses.
Before this development, Ruggedman has released two singles titled. Even though the songs are yet make the music charts, they are getting airplay on different radio stations.
Contrary to the former plan of shooting a video for the one of the two singles he initially released, the new song has been favoured to be the first to have a musical video which they revealed would be a high budget one.
For the next three weeks, Ruggedman would be busy in the Fame Land anchoring the 2010 edition of Star Quest.

WEIRD MC BREAKS SILENCE

Reppertainer as she is fondly called- Sola Idowu, a.ka Weird MC is finally ready to break the long silence and take her career to the next level many months after the resounding success of her last album
According to her management company- FK Management headed by Funke Kuti, she said Weird MC’s album is finally ready to hit shelves. “The album is finally ready for release and it will be out in the last week of March”, she revealed.
The new musical work which is titled Broken Silence has the production imprints of the likes of Dr. Frabs, Zeez, Cobhams and JJC. The album will contain ten tracks plus two bonus songs. A track titled Beautiful Life on the album featured Yinka Davies and Switch while Yomedies and Shola Smiles featured on Step Up. Other songs on the album are Riranwo Remix by Zeez, Happy Day, Gele Gogoro, among others.
Those who have stumbled on the album have tagged it ‘a parade of infectious melody’.

Wale Adenuga Embraces Film Production

One of Nigeria’s brightest producers, Mr. Wale Adenuga, is set to
trigger a positive revolution in the production of quality celluloid
films in the country with the acquisition of modern production
equipment.
Adenuga who has continued to dazzle television viewers across the
country and beyond with such drama series like Papa Ajasco and
Company, Superstory, ThisLife and Binta, My Daughter said the days of
wishy-washy film productions are over.
“There have been so many criticisms about most productions being churned
out by some producers. We cannot continue to fold our arms and watch.
That is why some of us have to step in to correct this”, he said.
Among the modern equipment currently acquired by Adenuga include the
latest Panasonic high definition P2 camera with 35mm Redrock adapter,
location monitors, Kino lights, Arri ballast lights, audio mixer,
Tiffen filters, mobile cranes, among others.
They are currently on location shooting a new film which title is still under wrap.

NCA Plans Comedy Workshop

Ahead of this year’s Nigeria Comedy Awards, the organizers having extend the entries for the awards ceremony will be staging the first ever comedy workshop in Nigeria in few weeks time as part of the programmes marking the maiden edition of the award.

The interactive workshop which is being packaged by the award’s organizers is meant to create a forum where established comedians can interact and impact in the young and upcoming comedians.

The workshop which is billed for Thursday April 1^st, 2010 at White House Hotel and Conference Centre, Toyin Street, Lagos. It will have various speakers giving lectures. Among the facilitators expected to participate at the workshop are: Dada Ajai-Ikhile, Opa Williams, Alibaba, Fela Durotoye, Amaka Igwe, Wale Adenuga, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and Cecil Hammond.

Topics of discussion will range from, Brands and Packaging, The Business of Comedy, Composure and Image, Speech Therapy, Organizing Comedy Shows, among others.

The theme for the workshop is, Comedy: It’s Not A Laffn Matta.

MO’HITS JOINS SOFORTE

The tsunami like revolution in the music industry is currently sweeping across the entire music industry and practioners are raising their hands to be counted. The recent news is that Mo’Hits Records has pitch its tent with Soforte- Nigeria’s first Automated Distribution company for the release of their next albums. Even though the details are still very sketchy, a reliable source revealed to Rhythm & Sounds few days back that the contract has been signed but it may not involve all the acts on the label for now. However, Soforte will distribute the last year edition of Koko Concert held in London. There will be a premiere in the cinemas before the DVD hits the shelves. Soforte started distribution business in Nigeria with Lara George’s sophomore album and 9ice’s third offering- Tradition. The company is the first automated entertainment distribution company registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So far, they have created the largest distribution network comprising of both locations and supply chain distribution with outlets in over 60 key locations nationwide and well over 800 Wholesalers and Retailers spread across several business districts all across the country.

BETWEEN KLEVER J AND JESSE JAG

Two promising acts, Jesse Jags and Klever J are steaming hot with their new albums. While Jesse Jag will be releasing his debut album, Klever J recently released his sophomore. Klever J’s 12-tracker album comprises tracks like Omosexy, Igboro Ti Daru remix ft. Dagrin, Eyiwunmi, To Marry, Love in Tokyo, Ose o, Shake Your Bom Bom ft. Terry G among other metrical songs. The album was officially released on Monday, March 8, 2010 and it’s being distributed by Uba Pacific. As for Jesse Jagz, the preview of his album shall hold on the 13th of March 2010 at Tribeca, Victoria Island, Lagos. The management revealed that it shall feature never seen before live performances by Jesse Jagz & friends. The VIP section will be hosted exclusively by Hennessy, a very popular cognac. The same preview is planned for Abuja on the 27th March 2010 and Port Harcourt on the 4th of April 2010 .

NICO GRAVITY ATTACKED

Few months after Nico Gravity lyrically attacked Timaya in the lead single of his recent album- I Wan Finish Timaya, the same act has come under great lyrical attack of another fast rising act with so much great venom and heavy punch lines.
The name of the act is Mercury and he has taken Nico to the cleaners while appraising the talents of the self acclaimed Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa- Timaya.
In this same style of music Nico dissed Timaya, the new act described Nico Gravity as a frustrated fellow looking for cheap hype and promo. He however advised him to sing better music that thriving on controversy.
The man at the center of the whole controversy- Nico however described the act as a small boy from Ajegunle who is trying to make a name for himself. “I don’t even know the guy. I heard some people are promoting the song but is nothing to me. I’m in the studio as I speak to you to show how busy I’m”, he said.

FELA LIVES AGAIN

Late afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti ia alive again in the hearts of his numerous fans across the world. Few weeks back, lovers of the legendary act once again had access to his songs.
The first nine albums from the late singer were re-issued in the month of February. They've been re-mastered and sound better than ever. There is also an extended cut from Kuti's stunning 1972 album -Shakara.
Also re-issued is a new album from the late Malian guitarist- Ali Farka Toure, Kora player -Toumani Diabate, Shearwater’s The Golden Archipelago; a new collaboration between Portland, Laura Gibson and Ethan Rose including some incredible new guitar-rock from The Archie Bronson Outfit.
It will be recalled that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is one of the greatest music export from this part of the world. Regardless of his style of music, his fans are found everywhere in the world.
The musical style performed by Fela Kuti is called Afrobeat, which is a fusion of jazz, funk, psychedelic rock, and traditional West African chants and rhythms

GOSPEL ACTS UNITE FOR SAMMIE OKPOSO

Plans are already in the pipeline by Sammie Okposo, one of the head honchos of Zamar Entertainment to make this year’s Easter celebration a very memorable one. The Easter gig will commence this year’s Out of Africa series concert.
The company is partnering with Genesis Deluxe Cinemas to make the Easter celebration a resounding success. Having successfully staged these kinds of events in the past, people can’t but look forward to an exhilarating event that last long in their memories.
According to the company’s publicist- MME (Media & Marketing Experts), the show which is tagged Sammie Okposo and Friends will feature other acts like Buchi, Lara George, Mike Aremu, KSB, Kefee, Niki Laoye, Onos Brisibi, Efe Nathan, Tim Godfrey, DJ Gosperella, among others. The comperes are Stella Damascus, Yaw and MC Abbey.
The event is slated April 3rd which happens to be Easter Saturday at The Palms in Lekki, Lagos.

DANNY YOUNG GETS BUSY

One of Nigeria’s budding acts, Danny Young is not relenting on his oars. The talented act is currently doing everything possible to be at the top of his game.
In two weeks from now, the act revealed to Rhythm & Sounds that he will be shooting two videos from his recent album which will serve as a follow up to the recent success of Oju Tiwon. “We are shooting videos for Aderupokor and My Girl featuring Paul Play and Kel. The Aderupokor is going to be a great video because it has a fantastic story line which we intend to follow carefully. We are shooting it like a movie and it is going to be very hilarious because we will be featuring some movie stars. My Girl Video will be simple but international”, he said.
He also revealed that he will proceed to the UK before the end of the year to shoot two more videos from his new album. “We are working on shooting two videos in the UK- Story and Won Binu Ori for summer and after that, we would sell the video compilation”, he assured.

EMERGING HITS FROM THE STREET

The year 2010 is just starting but we are beginning to lose count of the number of singles that have been released. Different artistes across the country are doing everything possible to be at the top of their games. Due to the fact that we are always abreast of the developments in the industry, we can reveal to you for free that some new singles are contesting for the number one spot on the music chart.
Different fans of these artistes have been finding it very difficult to actually determine which of the songs will be their favourite at the moment albeit enjoying the rhythm and the lyrics of the songs. Even though some of these songs are getting airplay on different radio stations, the street acceptability has been massive.
The songs currently contesting for the number one spot are Plantain Boy, Enemies and Implication. Plantain Boy was performed by Timaya, Enemies by Durella and Implication by 2Face Idibia. These songs have dominated the play lists of many hang outs and it is currently the songs ruling the streets. Other songs that are also struggling for great reckoning are Wondale by Blacktribe featuring 2Face Idibia and E No Easy by P-Square featuring J-Martins. Mo’Hits Records acts, D’Prince and Dr Sid are doing not badly too. Their singles Omoba and Something About You is gaining popularity by the day amidst condemnation from some severe music critics.