King of Juju:
Okay…………this is one of the moments that i miss Naija so much. One moment, that never repeats itself in history. The “Mother of all Concerts” will roll out tomorrow the 31st of December in celebration of King Sunny Ade’s 60th Birthday. The show which will take place at the OceanView Restaurant in Lagos is organised by King Sunny Ade Organisation in Conjuction with Cross Culture Company, and it will feature the likes of Onyeka Owenu, Muma Gee, DBanj, Weird MC, General Kollington Ayinla, SaridonP, RuggedMan, Pasuma Wonder and a Host of others.
Since i will not be going for this show, i trust couple of people who will be there will take some pictures. I will surely post them on here as soon as i lay my hands on them……..
Year of Resoutions:
Every year, we all have high hopes, New plans, great expectations. As for me, i have had to weigh all my achievements and failures, and go back to the drawing board to address the issues that are left behind in the year 2006.Concerning this year, i have decided to ensure more realtime muusical blogging and enhance interactivity as well as entertainment on this site. I also Hope to include some bit of ecommerce as well. All other plans are personal, and i possibly won’t feel comfortable talking about it online. Today has been hectic, and right now as i type this lines, I am relaxing with a musical track by Krazy Culture titled “Jupa”. Since they dropped this track, i have hardly heard about them again……does anyone have a clue why they have’nt come up with a new track?………
With the landmark success of the Nigeria music industry this year, producing more than 20 upcoming artiste within 12 months and more than 30 music singles, i feel a bit compelled to try and give my own personal awards for musical excellence. While i have not been to many live performances, due to work/time constraints, i have been a bit priviledge to read, blog, watch and review some Nigerian Music. Each award given are based on my sentimental views as well as my sense of appeal to each song While the awards are not voted for, i simply give my reasons for each awards as detailed below:
Artiste of the year:
I had a bit of problem deciding this, as there are so many better artiste in Nigeria this year than in year 2005, but from my deductions and other cnsiderations, i decided to give it out to Tuface Idibia. the African Queen crooner.
Music Video of the Year:
There is no doubt about this with his music video titled “Forever”. While other music videos like lagbaja’s “Never Faraway” & Mode9’s “cry” are a solid competitor, i just could’nt give it to anyone else, except R n B Diva- Paul Play Dairo. The song which is rumoured to cost more than a million naira to produce has a huge conceptual quality that rides on top.
Reggae Artiste of the year:
African China is the Da bomb. I am positive that he is ten times better than Marvellous benjy, especially with his track titled “Mr president” which went locally plantinum( a feat that rarely occurs with ragga dancehall in Nigeria).
Best Group of the year:
The Motto “Positive Cutural international”, has increased stl-plus fame in Nigeria in 2006. With hit singles “Olufunmi”, “call my name”, they hit top of the charts on most radio stations in Nigeria in the year 2005. They further claimed that they are a force to reckon with, by dropping a new album titled “Expressions” which has hit track “imagine that” and “Always on my mind”. No one better deserved this award like they do. Best R & B artiste:
Once again, on my mind, Paul play bags this award. “Angel of my life” definitely proves that, with his infalliability in rowing R n B to shores of greatness in the Nigerian Music Industry.
Album of the year:
Styl-plus is the only group that had more than three hit singles in their album titled “Expessions”. Like i sad earlier, “Imagine that”, “Always on my mind”, “mase” and “Iya Basira” are all hit tracks on their own. Which other album could possibly win it this big?. So the album of the year definitely goes to Styl-plus.
NaijaBrains Hot sensation:
Soul E happens to be No1 on my A-list for NaijaBrains Hot sensation. With his debut single “Baba dey Here” and “Naija is blessed” went straight up among the best ten musical videos on the MTV base Chart for weeks.
Gospel artiste of the year:
It really goes to Sammy Okposo Unopposed. I am not really a great fan though.
Fuji Artiste of the year:
Who does it this well with fuji music like Pasuma Wonder. With collaborations with different Nigerian artiste (especially, the one with daddy showkey) he has delve into the HipHop Music scene much more than other fuji artiste does.
Music Promoter of the year:
Blacknights Entertainment is definitely on my list as the winner. ( No be KennisMusic alone dey music industry, trust me, those guys(blacknights) are good).
Rap/HipHop artiste of the year:
Mode9 is HipHop, HipHop is mode9. Three time award winner Mode9 is definitely the rap King, while he is closely cornered by ruggedman, he still appealed more to me with his unusual unique way of lyricising…lol
Best Music Entertainer/ character:
Dbanj seems to be one of the best stage performer. With a frenzy type songs like “soko”, “Tongolo”, “TongoloRemix”, “Why me” and “Mobolowowon”, he specifically rock this year with more impressie effort than i have expected
Best Musical Concept:
No one does it better than Lagbaja, with his “Africaino Series 1 and 2″
Best Producer:
Don Jazzy of Mo’Hits Record flanked by OJB Jezrel…………………Ok…….Definitely Donjazzyyyyyyyyyy………………..of Mo Hits Records!
NaijaBrains Hall of fame:
King sunny Ade ( for his popularity contribution to Nigerian music), Nico Mbaga(For his evergreen track “Sweet Mother”) and the great Orlando Owoh ( for his revolution of traditional HighLife)
Best Juju Artiste:
Please don’t complain that i did not give this award to Yinka Ayefele, since he lacks originality in most of his songs. The award definitely goes to King of Juju Music himself……………..King sunny Ade.
Ok, thats all i can put up for now. While i understand that this is not the best awards, i still claim that they are based on my own sentiments and sense of appeal. if you think i have left any section out, please simply put them up in your comments and the reason why you nominate them.
Whaoooo Whaoooo…………….its christmas. I woke up late this morning after consuming both part 1 and 2 of a nollywood movie titled “Burning Desire”, in the middle of the night till the wake of this Morning. I guess you’all are having a nice time and eating all the “awoof” rice and chicken. I came online just to wish you all a merry christmas and a happy new year in advance. While you enjoy the festivities and all those fun, please do spare a thought for the needy. Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus, and since the Bible said in the book of John 3 vs 16, that: For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten son”, With much emphasis, i’ll say Love is all about giving (according to the fact that God loves us and gave us his Son), so please do spare a thought and show some love to the needy by giving out something to them.
From my Computer desk with love, i am giving you this Dare arts Alade’s track Titled Escalade. Its from ME 2 U….on Christmas Day.
Have a Wonderful festive period.
Hey’all…guess you are enjoying your weekend, and the run down to christmas?. I know you lots would have stocked the whole house with loads of foodstuffs and other partying things. As for me, i did a little bit of shopping, as well as won a whole box of stella artois beer at work. Since i don’t drink, i guess my friends will have to share it all……
However, since i won’t be able to send a personal present to everyone this christmas, i have decided to storm you through with phaze 1 and 2 of psquare partying videos.
While most of us are more familiar with their hit track “Bizzy body”, little is it known that that was not their first single. “Last nite”, their first hit single was a lyrical piece done on a marvin gaye’s “sexual healing” instrumental sound track. I sincerely fell in love with that track the year it came out.
I’ll say big ups to Naijavixen who posted a downloadable link on her webpage where you can download and listen to the song. She is just another Naijababe doing her own thing right from the little city of coventry.Big ups sister!!!.
Despite a not too professional video, Psquare still hit the town on a second track titled “igbedu”. The frenzy, the hits, the breakdancing all made the song a better success than “last nite”.
However, they still impress their name further by dropping “bizzybody” and “omoge mi” on yet another album which proved a massive hit, turning Psquare into a household name.
While fame has shined on them, they simply didn’t hesitate to rock the town with “tempted to watch” which is their newest album, coming back with a “bizzybody remix”, and yet another remix again with the Weird one(weird MC). “temptation” was also another great track with superb production and video quality. it is without doubt that psquare have surely rocked the whole Nigerian music industry that i recommend them as christmas party tracks….., therefore enjoy it to the fullest.
On Tony Tetuila: In as much as i am fan of tony tetuila, will someone please tell him that his hairstyle irritates me and many of his fans. I simply can’t stop myself changing TV channels each time that video of his is been played. I guess i prefer listening to it on Audio.
Free CD Giveaway:
As an act of goodwill, and also due to popular demand, i have decided to give 5 free CDs to the first five people who will request for a free CD giveaway. It will contain mixtapes of popular naijahits, and trust me to mix up hit singles. If you want to make a request, simply send me an email at gbenga@naijabrains.com . This is all for NaijaHipHop…….nothing more. I am proudly Nigerian.
Sales: Should i call this advertising or what?….i aint sure, but at least, i’ll say it. I have single original copies of lagbaja’s “Africaino, series2″, Psquares “Tempted to watch” da videos containing, bizzbody remix and “temptation” as well as King sunny Ades “Goldenbeats”.This three CD’s are all for sale at the cost of £2.99 each and postage is free if you are resident in the UK.You can forward your request to buy the CDs via email to gbenga@naijabrains.com or text(no calls please) 07957671785.
News: Watch out for Naijabrains awards on this site before the end of this year. It will showcase awards for artiste who have made an impressive personality for the Nigerian music industry.
DJ Abass@Ntyce
A non stop all nite dance session on the 24th December with music provided by London’s premier DJs. Free Intro Mix CDs giveaway by DJ Abass for the first 500 guests.
Venue will be at Club ntyce in London. For you partying people living in and around London, its a sure place to be. Visit www.djabass.com for more info.
Merry Xmas and new year in advance to you’all……………….
So its another Monday today. I guess there are some of you lots, who are
too tired to want to go out to work/school today(Oopss….i forgot most student are on Holiday…LOL). While i find this difficult, i can’t but ponder on the optimistic/pessimistic thinking of couple of Nigerian artiste on their perception of the development of Nigeria.
while some of them see the cup as half empty, others see it as half full and have a believe that there is light at the end of the tunnell.while there have been a lot of musical encouragement and chastisement about the Nigerian status by earlier artiste, with instances from Fela’s “suffering and smiling”, Ebenezer obey’s “Nigeria si ma dun” to KSA’s “Way forward”, other young contemporary artiste have followed suite.
I am going to start with “Tetuila’s “e go better” where he dropped a lyrical performance, encouraging all tired citizens that Nigeria will be better.With a blend of his “my car” beat style, he could’nt have done better, as the track itself was a massive hit thereby giving him more fame.
“Jaga jaga” caused controversy all over the country in its hey days. it got popular even to the ears of the president of Nigeria, who hit back at Eedreez Abdulkareem. According to sources, he was quoted as saying that “Eedreez father is jaga jaga”. i simply don’t blame him for saying that, since eedreez lyrical methodology depicts the frustrated state of mind of the average Nigerian.
I consider soulE’s “Naija is blessed” a better hit track than “baba deyhere”. Infact, its tipped to win “Anthem of the year” during theupcoming post on my purported NaijaBrains music awards( watch out for that post). “Naija is blessed” seems to be the better of all the tracks as it definitely hit the nail on the head that we are a blessed Nation, except that we look at our weakness rather than our strengths. with a flawless lyrical performance, and a back-up vocal strength by wonderous, beatbrothers and production by collosal entertainment, i couldn’t help
but vote it as no 1 on the list of tracks earnestly promoting the Nigerian image.
FLASHBACK:
I just thought you guys should watch this video. Its a collab by 2face and Tony Tetuila. isnt it wonderful what showbiz can do to artiste?…….can you see how impoverished they both look in that video shot years back,before tuface hit stardom to become an “African King”.
So, tuface have finally released another album?……..Maybe the fact that i am shut on the isles of Britain, or the fact that i was too busy to watch TV shut the story away from my ears that i didn’t realise it on time.
On so many occasion have i argued that “African Queen” was more of a luck for him as he has’nt really impressed too much with his “for instance” single and it shows clearly from the low acceptability as people expect much more from the former plantation Boiz singer.
However, it doesn’t matter now, as he has “Grass to grace”, his new album out on the 9th of December.
And this will be kicked off with a showcasing of tuface live concert at the transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. Without much assumption, “grass to grace” clearly depicts tuface idibia’s rose to stardom and how he attained greater heights despite all odds.WIth a big heart, he has launched his Tuface idibia foundation which clearly hasn’t got a particular area of humanitarian aid at the moment.
While i am a very big fan of tuface, i look forward to laying my hands on a copy of “grass to grace” and critically analyse it from my musical point of view. I hope the hit single “For instance” will in the long run appeal to all tuface fans in the latter times, following suit in the style of “african queen” which no one initially took serious as a smashing hit single.
