Friday, April 27, 2012

NEW MUSIC: NAS - DAUGHTER (PROD. NO I.D)



Back in February, Nas' 17-year-old daughter Destiny Jones tweeted a picture showing off some condoms by her bed. 
Nas isn't afraid to tackle this subject and much more on "Daughters," the newest single off his upcoming Life is Good album. Over a smooth and soulful beat produced by Kanye West's right-hand man No I.D., the rapper goes in, addressing all the struggles a single father can have raising a daughter. 




NEW VIDEO: NICKI MINAJ-STARSHIPS



Despite watching the single skyrocket to top 10 charts everywhere over the past weeks, Nicki Minaj‘s ‘Starships’ video is yet to make the same impact, hoever the video seemed to be o a cruise, and that's fulfilling the dream of the Harajuku Barbie. The clip has been rated too raunchy for TV
This might be just another trick by the Barbie to get ratings...bnut surely Strship might just be cruising to #1


usually can't stand most of Nicki's songs, but for Starships, I'll make an exception. It's extremely catchy and has a great beat. Who cares if the lyrics don't make sense? When a song works, it works. And this shit goes hard! :D  Probably would’ve helped ‘Roman Reloaded’ much more if this dropped..umm..two weeks ago.

NEW VIDEO: MAY7EVN-TEN TEN (VIDEO) WORLD OFFICIAL RELEASE

MAY7VEN TEN TEN


Hailed as the First Lady of Afrobeats, UK-based Nigerian singer, songwriter and dancer May7ven is only the second Afrobeats artist after D'banj to be A-Listed on UK mainstream radio with her ladies anthem "Ten Ten" - a mean feat even for some urban UK records, talk less of an Afrobeats record.

Her 2008 and 2009 independent releases also meant serious business, carving out a fruitful career path for the talented singer, songwriter and dancer who is heavily influenced by Fela Kuti and Michael Jackson. Securing multiple awards, endorsements and national tours under her belt, May7ven has hit massive milestones with her music, including performing for the president of Nigeria in 2010. Going forward, May7ven is now destined for greater stardom.

May7ven is a major part of the new wave of Afrobeats music that is about to hit UK and the global music market. There is nothing conventional about May7ven who is is poised to set the global music landscape on fire. Complete with her trend setting looks, brilliant white hair, style, energy, dance skills and most importantly killer vocals, London’s The Evening Standardrecently described her as the “African Beyonce”.

 
The massive single "TEN TEN" which was first played on London’s Choice FM by DJ Abrantee - is a clever dance mix infused with Afrobeats drums, heavy synths, Fela harmonies and a very commercial vocal sound - has been making waves in clubs and dance floors up and down the country and is now poised to challenge for a UK chart position when it is released on May 7.





NEW MUSIC: TIWA SAVAGE-WITHOUT MY HEART FT DON JAZZY (DJ FINAL MASH UP))




DJ FINAL is a household name when it comes to mashups… He gained a great feat with his FINAL MIX VOL 1 where he created monster hits off already known hits..


DJ FINAL has started compilation of materials for his new mixes titled THE MIX.  Here is the 2nd in the series, titled WITHOUT MY HEART. He mashed TIWA SAVAGE’s duet with DON JAZZY on an Hip Hop Beat to produce
another monster hit.


DOWNLOAD





NEW MUSIC: TYMBA- E FILE FT REMINISCE



Adeya tolulope a.k.a TYMBA started doing music in 2002 with Hip-hop group West-tribe. After going solo, he has worked with with few artistes such as Reminisce,9ice and producers like Fliptyce,Rhythm and more.Here is his first single titled E FILE featuring the rapper Reminisce produced by Rhythm.


DOWNLOAD



Thursday, April 26, 2012

NEW MUSIC: DYNASTY-“SHI LE KUN” FEATURING TIZZLE

SINGLE COVER ART


Introducing fast-rising Lagos-based producer/artist DYNASTY of Drizzle Crew with his massive debut single titled “Shi Le Kun” which features 17-year old future star vocalist Tizzle. Produced by Dynasty himself, “Shi Le Kun” is a dance floor filler in every sense of the word and a massive one at that. Laced with a heavy bassline, thumping drum patterns and lush synths, “Shi Le Kun” showcases Dynasty’s excellent production skills while the infectious and catchy chorus and verses go a long way to highlight Dynasty’s musicianship and chemistry with young rising start Tizzle. Let's enjoy...

 

I am sorry for posting my N10million twitter – Davido



Davido posted a 10 million cheque online via his twittter account ”Great meeting, made a little change.”
The posting  generated criticisms from most of his fans who descended on him saying such act was childish of him. On realizing the damage caused, the teenager  apologized for the picture, and removed it from his twitter handle after a few hours.
He apologised with this tweet, ”I’m sorry to those that were offended by the picture [I posted earlier]. I never knew God would take me this far and I got a little carried away. Una own sef go come (yours will also come).
Earlier this year, was a victim of pictures on bed with a groupie. Days later, pictures of Davido with a girl went viral online.

2face Idibia's Buckwyld and Breathless Concert




LAGOS...ARE YOU READY? BUCKWILD AND BREATHLESS holds on Monday April 30th at Eko Hotel & Suites, VI. Tuesday May 1st is public holiday (May Day), it's a public holiday, so let's unwind. Regular ticket: N5, 000. Premium regular: N10, 000. VIP N400, 000 (Table for 8). I don't know what fans should look at for in this concert...but TuBaba has refused to disappoint...

NEW MUSIC: P-SQUARE'S May D Ft Ghetto P – One Night Stand

And coming from the stable of Square Record is this hot single from May D


I haven't really listened to May D's song before bar his feature on the remix of "Chop My Money" by P-Square...Listening to this song, May D brings on a freshness not seen in Nigerian Pop since the emergence of Wizkid. Let's listen to this rap driven, easy listening joint from Mr May D. On the low-side though, the auto-tune could have been less intense.





Wednesday, April 25, 2012

KANYE WEST STEPS OUT WITH KIM KARDASHIAN



Her sister Khloe insists that Kim Kardashian's relationship with Kanye West is not serious just yet.
But the 34-year-old rapper's outing with girlfriend Kim and the entire Kardashian clan this evening certainly says otherwise.
And fittingly Kanye, who recently started dating the 31-year-old reality star, accompanied the whole family to the opening of Kourtney's boyfriend Scott Disick's restaurant where their every affectionate moment could be captured by the cameras.

We are together: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were seen arriving at Scott Disick's new restaurant holding hands
We are together: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were seen arriving at Scott Disick's new restaurant holding hands


The couple arrived together holding hands, their first public declaration that they are in a relationship together.
The action was to say the least a rather large sign that the singer is moving ahead with his relationship with the curvy star quickly.
And it was no wonder he wanted to rush to his ladylove's side.  
Kim stepped out for the event looking elegant in a black tight-fitting pencil skirt and matching halterneck top with frill detailing at the bib.


Head down: Kim bowed her head as she entered the restaurant while Kanye held his head high
Head down: Kim bowed her head as she entered the restaurant while Kanye held his head high
Kanye West steps out with the Kardashian clan... as Khloe says 'it's not serious' between the rapper and her sister Kim
TV personalities Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, and Kris Jenner arrive at the opening RYU restaurant in Meatpacking District in New York City
Back to black:  Kim and the entire Kardashian clan turned out to the opening of Scott Disick's restaurant in New York this evening
Moving on: Kim has clearly laid the ghost of her failed marriage to rest as she smiled and held on tightly to Kanye at the launch of Scott's restaurant
Moving on: Kim has clearly laid the ghost of her failed marriage to rest as she smiled and held on tightly to Kanye at the launch of Scott's restaurant
She paired the look with some black satin and perspex pointy stilettos, a black weave clutch and two gold cuffs on each of wrists.
Her boyfriend of a matter of two weeks appeared to be matching his outfit to his girlfriend's.
The Touch The Sky rapper looked dashing in a black tuxedo-style suit with a simple grey T-shirt worn underneath. 
The whole clan: The Kardashian/Jenner ladies, including from left to right, Kourtney, Kylie, Kendall, mother Kris and Kim all posed for a snap together
The whole clan: The Kardashian/Jenner ladies, including from left to right, Kourtney, Kylie, Kendall, mother Kris and Kim all posed for a snap together

However it was pregnant Kourtney who stole the show in the fashion stakes.
The eldest Kardashian sister, 33, kept her baby bump underwraps in a black and white maxi dress to celebrate her boyfriend new business coup.
Disick has teamed up with nightlife impresario Chris Reda to introduce the Meatpacking District's new restaurant, RYU. 




BEYONCE NAMED WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

beyonce-named-worlds-most-beautiful-woman.jpg
BEYONCE ON THE COVER OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE

People magazine has named Beyonce as this year's most beautiful woman - and she's sharing the spotlight with her infant daughter, Blue Ivy.
"I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," the 16-time Grammy winner and new mom told the magazine.
The superstar singer and her husband Jay-Z welcomed their daughter in January, and Beyonce said she's "never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth... She's just the cutest thing.”
The 30-year-old also revealed that she sings unique lullabies to little Blue, and claimed to actually “love" changing diapers.
And as for which parent Blue most resembles, Bey would only say that "she looks like Blue. She's her own person."
"The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy," she continued about her bundle of joy. "The word 'love' means something completely different now."

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

MUSIC MEETS RUNWAY IN PICS; THE 0809JA WAY

And when Etisalat finally decided to roll out the master brand campaign for 2012, they did it in a big way, one of the hippest show I have seen this year...check out some snapshots from the event held at Zinia Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites earlier this month.


THE NEW ETISALAT PAYOFF LOGO

EKU EDEWOR OF MNET STUDIO 53 ON GLAM CAM

EKU EDEWOR ON THE BLACK CARPET

ETISALAT CEO STEVE EVANS AND THE BEAU

UTI NWACHUKWU ON THE RUNWAY

TIWA SAVAGE DOING HER THING

AND WANDE COAL TOO

MODEL ON THE RUNWAY

UTI AND LYNXXX

W4 HAD THE CONTROL KEY

OHH MUST BE CHUDDY K


MODE 9 AND EKU EDEWOR

ETISALAT MODEL


MODEL ON THE RUNWAY


PRAIZ DOING THE THEME SONG WITH IDOLS

THAT LOOKS LIKE 6 PACK!

AND ANOTHER ONE!

VIDEO GIRL, 

EKU EDEWOR ON THE RUNWAY



AND ANOTHER MODEL




LYNXXX

FORMER MR NIGERIA, BRIAN OKWARA

AND DAMILOLA ADEGBITE FROM TINSEL TOWN


DAVIDO FLAUNTS 10 MILLION NAIRA CHECK ON TWITTER



Davido is really flossing all levels. A few minutes ago the pop singer posted the picture of a 10 Million Naira cheque he had just received. "Great meeting, made a lil change" tweeted Davido when he posted the picture of the cheque on the micro-blogging site.

If the niggaz hate then let 'em hate then watch the money pile up

Monday, April 23, 2012

DON JAZZY BETRAYED ME – D’BANJ INTERVIEW

20120423-145519.jpg
‘There’s an important person in that building, right?’ the cab driver asked. ‘Important musician?’
I nodded, too tired to let any curious driver drag me into a conversation.
He got the message and left me alone the entire drive from Canary Wharf to the London Marriot Hotel, in Grosvenor Square.
Then, as I got down to get my suitcase from the trunk, he gave me a knowing look, smiled, and said ‘are you the musician?’
‘Of course not’, I said to him, smiling this time. ‘The musician is in Canary Wharf, his name is D’banj’.
Silence. Confused look.
‘D’banj?’
Yes, D’banj. He’s big in Africa. You know ‘Oliver Twist?’
Silence again, then as his final ‘no’ came, I said ‘Google him.’
It was 4am on Saturday, April 21. I arrived in London eight hours earlier, and had spent almost all of that time chatting with D’banj, in his first interview with a Nigerian newspaper in a long time, and his first interview on the Mo’Hits brouhaha.
London is D’banj’s town. He’s performed there over and over, his single ‘Oliver Twist’ is on the A-list at Choice FM, and enjoys heavy rotation on other stations. A day before I came, he spent hours doing interviews at the Universal offices in Kensington. Some might hail D’banj as the man championing the gospel of ‘Afrobeats’ across the world. But, just like the cab driver, London does not yet know D’banj.
As we walk into the Choice FM building in the afternoon on Saturday, there are no heads turning or fans gazing. In fact, his lawyer, Elias, who wore a pair of loud snakeskin boots, attracted more attention than D’banj.
Who leaves a zone where they’re comfortable and celebrated; where they’re established and successful, for a place where no one seems to give the slightest care?
D’banj, that’s who.
The 31 year-old entertainer has spent nearly two years building structures he hopes will help take his music to new markets in Europe, and especially America. This move, he believes, cost him his friendship and business relationship with his long time partner Don Jazzy.
‘I’m a risk taker’, he says. ‘Life is all about risks. But you must never endanger yourself. I don’t endanger myself, which is why, even though I’m here, I’m still in Nigeria all the time, performing’.
With incredible energy, and the kind of passion that endeared everyone to him when he first moved back to Nigeria in 2005, D’banj says his deal with Kanye West is a case of ‘preparation meets opportunity’.
‘I pulled up with my entourage at the Emirates first class lounge in Dubai. We were returning from Scott Tommey’s birthday. I came down with Bankuli, my P.A. Chuchu, and my business manager Chidi. My entourage was large and I was looking fly. One of the hostesses ran to me with a Kanye West placard. I said I’m not Kanye o – then I told my guys ‘Kanye is around so no dulling.’ Chuchu and Bankuli spotted Kanye walking in to check in. They went to him and he said we could come over’.
‘As they came, I had my iPad with me, and my headphones. First thing Kanye said was ‘I like your T-shirt’. I wore a Zara T-shirt and a D&G ring. He liked my appearance and said he’d give me 5 minutes. I told him ‘I played with you in Nigeria during NB PLC Star Megajam. I’ve done a song with Snoop and we’re going to shoot the video now. I’d like to play you my songs.’ I played Oliver, Scapegoat, and Fall in love. He was dancing. He removed the headphones and said ‘I don’t mean to sound rude, but if anyone has to bring you out in the states, it has to be me, not Snoop. He asked when I was going to be in the US, and I told him I was going there that day. Then he asked who my producer was, and I said Don Jazzy. He said ‘come with him.’
Three months later, D’banj, Don Jazzy and their crew were in New York, where, according to D’banj, it took almost forever before they could establish contact with Kanye. ‘It was only an email address he gave us at the airport. So when we got to NY, we sent several emails but got no response. Not a single one.’
‘Then we met someone that knew someone that knew another someone and we got another email address. We sent several messages again, no response. Then Bankuli sent a final one saying, ‘we have been in New York for some time and sent several emails. We have waited long enough and are now on our way to do the Snoop Dogg video’
And then the reply came. ‘Sorry to have overlooked your earlier emails. Mr. Kanye would like to meet with you tomorrow.’
‘We didn’t believe it. Don Jazzy, who had been reluctant all along, still did not believe it. Even when we got there (Wyclef’s studio) the next day, he stood outside. When Kanye came I went to call him ‘Oya come now, come play am the music now’. It was difficult to believe it was real and it was happening. Then when Kanye came in, with the GOOD music acts, I was like, ‘wow’.
From there everything happened fast. Next they were meeting Jay Z, making a presentation to LA Reid (At Electric studios), and discussing contracts. But while the label offered him a traditional recording contract, D’banj opted for a joint venture agreement structured to guarantee three things: retaining full control of his materials in Africa, signing Don Jazzy on board (on behalf on Mohits USA), and, he says, bringing the Universal/Def Jam imprint to Africa.
‘I’ve always thought of how I can be a useful vessel to the industry. A friend and colleague always says to me: ‘D’banj, you’re the Jesus Christ of the industry.’ So having ran Mohits for nine years, I already had plans of how we could blow Mohits up. I had plans of expanding, and most especially, bringing hope to that 11 year-old kid somewhere in Africa who may never have had the opportunity to get signed to major labels’.
‘So it was not really just about me. There’s a big market in Africa. I said to them, ‘I’ve sold millions of records in Africa, we’ve done millions of hits with CRBT, and I’ve run the most successful label on the continent. You take care of the US, but let me take you to Africa.‘ And I’m happy to tell you that we’re doing that. D’banj’s album will be the first under Universal/Def Jam Africa, and we’re already putting all the structures in place’.
‘I’m a businessman.’ I learnt from my mom, who’s a very successful businesswoman. So having run and funded Mohits for nine years, I knew we had to move to the next level. And everything we wanted was happening. Finally we could take African music to the world.’
Just like the lyrics of the song, D’banj was an Oliver Twist. Here’s a guy who had conquered a continent; was sitting on the top three list, and making more money than anyone else in his category. D’banj was a big player in Nigeria, where there are over 150 million people; a big player in Africa, with over 850 million people. But he wanted to play big globally, with 7 billion people to grab from.
And that’s where the problem started. ‘Don Jazzy was no longer comfortable. You know, we were like fishes out of water, in this new system, starting all over again, like when we returned home in 2004. I got him a place in the US, set up a studio there, just so he’d be comfortable and be able to work without going to hang around the studios. In one year Jazzy did not make a song. I said, maybe you want to go back to Lagos, you’ll get inspiration there?’ I was all about the work, I wanted us to make this happen, so we can bridge that gap and create a path for Africa. But Jazzy wanted us to go back home. And I understand. He’s my friend, my brother’.
‘But I never expected him to do what he did.’ He said to me in July last year ‘Let’s scatter Mohits. He told me there are two captains – two captains cannot be in a ship. I was like ‘that’s not possible, this is a marriage’. He said ‘then this marriage is no longer working’. I said then let’s go for counseling; I asked, so what happens to our children?’
Don Jazzy wanted Mohits, D’banj says. And that happened on April 16, 2012 – after months of a bitter feud, characterized by accusations and counter accusations, widespread speculation, leaked emails and failed reconciliation attempts.
‘You can see he has signed already’, he said, showing the agreement with Don Jazzy’s signature. ‘I have full rights to my catalogue and full ownership of my Koko Holdings, while he has full ownership of Mo’Hits, including the artistes and liabilities.’
Already judged guilty in the court of public opinion, and publicly disowned by his own boys Wande Coal and Dr SID, D’banj says he’s sad, but not bitter. Does he feel kind of lonely, alone in the cold? ‘Asking me if I’m lonely because Wande or Jazzy has left me is like asking my first sister if she’s lonely now – she has two kids now, lives in Canada. Don Jazzy is still my brother – we just had to move on. We’ll still work together in future, same with my boys. In fact, just this week, he sent me the remix to Oliver Twist that we’re releasing in the UK on May 14. All the interviews I’ve had here, I kept hyping him. It’s already in my system – you know me, I’m a one-way soldier. Jazzy is a very quiet person. Loyalty is key. My loyalty still lies in the friendship I had with him. He was cheated by JJC, and I was present. I swore never to cheat him. But I’d like to think our visions became different.
‘It was clear when we met that Jazzy wanted to be the biggest producer, I wanted to be the biggest African entertainer, not the biggest singer. I had my mind on money. In order to say I’m the biggest, I had to be the richest. So for a very long time, he was on the back end. He respected my act, I respected his music judgment. Every meeting that brought us money I went for. I’d say I need to confirm from Don Jazzy because that was the agreement, even though I knew it was my decision. First Glo deal was $500,000. That Landcruiser jeep was because of my demands. It was because of the skill and exposure that I used to bargain. I’m a businessman’
‘People say I’m less talented, I was known as a jester in the JJC squad. I’d make everyone happy and play the mouth organ, but I knew what I wanted. I decided to give Don Jazzy power in 2007 when we realized that after four years, they did not recognize us as a record label. We had signed artistes and done all this work. So we restructured, and restrategized. So I told him to chill, so he can be more respected and be the don. I’m older than him by one year, yet I respected him like a don. I remember when he came out at Ali Baba show, I knelt down for him, so people would say he’s the baba. All the talking in my ears and all, it was an arrangement. All the Soundcity advert and all, he did not tell me anything. It was all an arrangement.’
With his UK publicist Vanessa Amadi taking notes nearby, his manager Bankulli interjecting every now and then, and several legal documents surrounding us, D’banj spoke passionately of his former partner in the same way a man might go on about a cherished and respected, but estranged, lover. He’s on his sixth cigarette, and thinks the room is stuffy, even though no one complains. So he opens the sliding glass for ventilation. ‘Jazzy did his part’, he says, sitting down again and looking me in the face. ‘He made the music for nine years. But nothing stops him from making for twenty more years. We could have changed the formula. Why didn’t he want to change the formula? It was time to expand the business, Mohits was Motown reloaded. We always knew we would expand, he always said I had more swagger than anyone else he knows, And I know he’s one of the best producers in the world; we wanted to make Mohits the biggest in Africa. Other labels were springing up. So if we could conquer America, London when no one had done it before. Most of our people stop in Germany, or Paris. But this is America, this is the big league; it makes us the strongest, the biggest. We had already made the money. And who best to introduce me to the rest of the world? Kanye did not want to change anything about my music, my style of dressing, or my brand. It is God’s favour. But Jazzy was and is very scared. Something had worked for eight years, so he wanted to maintain the status quo. People are afraid to try new things.’
‘But’, he tells me, still maintaining eye contact while lighting another cigarette, ‘I’m not afraid. I’m a vessel that God is trying to use to help the industry. I’m a bridge. Once in a few years, one artiste comes from the UK to run the world, none has come from Africa. Fela was the closest. It’s been my own dream; I made my name from Nigeria, unlike Seal, Wale, and Tinie Tempah. And I want to bring Universal, Def Jam and all to Nigeria. So if I can build that bridge, then we’re good, because it will give hope to the boys in Asaba, in Oshogbo that this thing is possible.’
The day after our Canary Wharf interview, we meet up at Highbury Islington, where he’s shooting a documentary and the promo for the Oliver Twist competition for the UK. D’banj’s new crew: Semtex (a white A&R rep from the label), Bankuli and Vanessa, are on the ground, working with the production team. ‘This is why we’re here o. This is the work’, he says as he invites me into the dressing room.
‘And when people say why am I not talking, this is why. I’m focused on making this happen. It’s more important for me to make sure I don’t disappoint all those who have invested in me; all those who believe in me and are supporting the movement, than to be fighting over who’s right or wrong. Even now that I’m talking to you, I don’t even know if I should be doing this interview.’
It’s very unexpected that D’banj – the super aggresive D’banj – is speaking in this manner. He has fought many battles, cut off many former friend-associates, ignored the Nigerian media, and reportedly humiliated several Mo’hits members, including Ikechukwu and Dr SID. Temperamental, often impatient, and vocal, those who know him will tell you the D’banj they know, is not the one that’s speaking.
So I ask:
The perception is that you’ve become arrogant, unreachable, proud. You’re not the D’banj we used to know; not the D’banj I used to know – and most people in the media will say this is true
Obviously people will say stuff – but this is me. I can’t keep up with everyone, no matter how much I try. But I understand where I’m coming from. I cant forget my roots – all the interviews I had yesterday, I was ‘bigging up’ DJ Abass, he gave me my first show in London. You saw me giving Jazzy props in my interview earlier. That’s me. If I was arrogant I wouldn’t have been the one even chasing Jazzy around since he told me last July that he wanted to scatter Mohits. Last time I saw him was on February 19 at Irving Plaza. He didn’t support the show, and he only came on stage when SID and Wande were performing. I wanted peace.
And even my mom, who had supported us from beginning, who gave us the house we stayed in (in Michael Otedola estate, Lagos), the Previa bus we used and paid for Tongolo video, spoke to his parents last December; ‘this is what your son said o’. I remember my mom saying to me, ‘if you guys have been together all these years, and no wahala, then if you need to part, I hope there’ll be no wahala.’ She was very particular about that. I had enough proof to have come out and speak; this thing has been on for a long time, and we’re in April now. But I don’t want to cause any wahala. I don’t want to spoil anything. I don’t want trouble. Right now, I just want to be able to move on and do my business.’
That’s surprising, because when the leaked emails emerged, revealing private email conversations between the estranged partners, all fingers pointed at D’banj. Don Jazzy, a likeable celeb and social media addict, didn’t have anything to prove. D’banj was the one who looked bad, and, understandably, would want to make a move that could earn him public sympathy.
‘The signing (away of my shares in Mohits) was already being discussed before April 16. If I kept quiet from January till now, what would it benefit me to leak anything? Remember all the stuff about my password and all? We know where that was from, I really wouldn’t want to think it was from him, my brother, but it could be from anywhere, but I don’t want to call anyone’s name’
But were the emails forged?
Everything in those emails were facts. And I don’t even think the mails favoured me in any way. It’s not the exact mails that were sent and signed, but there were elements of truth in the mails that were published.’
Why did you tell Ebony you own Mohits?
My mom advised me not to speak. And the interviewer took it out of context. I co-owned Mohits. We registered the business in 2004, and we owned it 50:50. So I spoke about that, but the interviewer took it wrong and the fans put pressure on them and they corrected it.
How about Sahara Reporters?
I never wanted to have any interview. It was on the eve of my US show. I was told I should do the interview, because they’re very troublesome. I had to do the interview for the sake of my show the next day. I was guaranteed that there’d be no politics questions. I had not been in the country. And I had been under pressure. Sadly, when that happened and I was being attacked in the media, none of my guys came out to support me.
Looking at all this, what are your regrets?
The truth is that if nothing went wrong, you’d have still heard all this good news and Mohits would take the glory, I didn’t come out in eight years to say anything. Everyone made their contributions. There were no issues, as long as it worked. My mistake was thinking that we were one. People don’t question their brothers and sisters.
How do you feel about Wande Coal and Dr. SID taking sides with Jazzy?
I won’t be too quick to judge Wande Coal. I hear it was Jazzy that tweeted those Wande tweets. I don’t know how true that is, but I know he had our social media accounts. As at a month ago, I couldn’t access any of my accounts. My password was changed on Twitter and Facebook. Then Universal intervened. I’m about to be verified on Twitter now. I’m not really a social media person, so it was Don Jazzy and some of our other guys that were running it. Wande himself knows the truth. He cannot talk to me like that. The whole Mohits knew who ran the label businesswise. They knew who to come to when they needed to get money out, after we recorded the album. Who knows the factory where Dansa was made? But you will know the marketing manager. The car he’s driving, I bought him a brand new Prado from Phyllis and Moss after he crashed the car he won from Hiphop World awards. I bought six Range Rovers last year. I bought D’Prince an LR 3 last year, he crashed it, then I bought him a Range, and it’s true that I bought two Bentleys. Because of Jazzy. But after July last year, after the issue with Jazzy, I bought myself the Aston Martin.
You bought that? I thought that was a gift?
I bought it.
How were you able to fund all that?
In the last nine years, there are a few people and corporate bodies that God has helped me build relationships with, either individuals or banks, or even corporates that are involved in the growth of the industry. I’ve enjoyed their support, and even now that we’re going global, we’re pooling the funds together from all these places.
Could you possibly be Nigeria’s richest pop star? A billionaire?
Vanity upon vanity. Money is material. In terms of what we’re doing, you’ll call me a Trillionaire, because this vision is too big for only me. With the help of the industry, the government, people like you Ayeni, we will not only be billionaires, but trillionaires, and not just me, but every little kid that has same talent like Beyonce, or Nicki Minaj. And with the standard of the UMG worldwide, we can pass people out from our own Universal Music Group Africa, Universal Def Jam Africa, and everyone should jump on this ship with us. It’s not the Titanic.
There’s been a lot of confusion – what label exactly are you signed on?
My album comes out under my label/GOOD Music/Island Def Jam. I’m funding the D’banj album, in America, through GOOD Music/Island Def Jam. GOOD Music is Kanye West who is co-executive producing with me. The deal comprises of Island Def Jam, in US. But in UK, it is under Mercury. My first single will be released in Europe on May 14. My work will be released in Africa through Universal/Def Jam. We don’t have these structures in Africa, and they’ve seen how much money they’ve lost. They’ve seen what I’ve done with Mohits. I made my pitch to them; I’ve made them realize how much they were losing in the African region. Over 150m Nigerians, over 800m Africans. 2% of that is 8.5m. They were not making anything except from S.A, which has been the US of Africa. So we will be launching this label in Ghana, in partnership with Vodafone, launching in Nigeria in partnership with MTN. Def Jam Africa will be up soon; Kenya, SA, and North Africa will follow.
Why are you risking all this? What if you burn your fingers and lose everything you’ve worked for?
Lose out? Well, I am happy I even have something to risk. To whom much is given, much is expected. Look at Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Jay Z, Kanye West, these people take it to the max, take it to where they believe that they can push it to. In the first instance, coming back to Nigeria with Jazzy was because I was a risk taker. And I wouldn’t say I’m throwing everything away. I would say I’m putting everything back in, in order to rip into the future. I get a broadcast from Tonye Cole everyday. He says when you tell people this your vision, know that it’s not for you alone – it’s for everyone. It’s like what Fela did. If what I’m doing doesn’t work, but sows that seed that will germinate in three, five years, it means my name will be written in gold.
Some people have tried this before you, unsuccessfully. Do you have doubts and fears sometimes?
My last album was in July 2008 – no album in four years and I know what I still command in those four years. The momentum for me to be able to do this is because I see how much it took me, I saw the benefit, it’s God, and the favour of the relationships we’ve built. Plus, I don’t take no for an answer, I don’t take negativity. It will work in Jesus’ name. If not, I wouldn’t have landed in the UK and hear Oliver Twist on the radio. Nor would I be in the mainstream media with them saying I’m pioneering afrobeats. I said to them ‘Oh hell no, that’s Fela’s music. Fela is the legend.’ So I pray to God – I beg my fans, it‘ll be good to do half a million downloads. It’s possible, it’s a different market. Platinum in UK is 300,000. I believe with the support of my people in Redding, Coventry, Dusting, Hackney, Thamesmead, Abbeywood, we can do it.’
And so, as I say my goodbyes and flag down the cab that’ll take me to Heathrow Airport, I can’t help thinking out loud: should one man sacrifice the wishes of the collective on the altar of ambition and material wealth? But then, what should be expected of the man whose dreams and ambition grow beyond those of other – possibly myopic- members of the collective: should an individual sacrifice his personal desires; derail his destiny, so to speak, in the interest of the collective?
In all of this, faithfulness and loyalty have been brutally murdered. And the jury is still out on who pulled the trigger.
In all of this, faithfulness and loyalty have been brutally murdered. And the jury is still out on who pulled the trigger.
Culled from The Net Ng written by Ayeni Adekunle