Asa......The Naija Soul

Africa, like a bubbling melting pot at the heart of today’s most exciting musical movements… Africa, like a cry of rebellion ringing in your ears… Africa, like an enduring mark on all the television screens of the world…
Africa, like…

Asa was born in Paris. Her early life in the City of Light left the little girl with only the vaguest of (happy) memories, since she was no more than two years old when her family returned to live in Nigeria. Paris was just one stage in the life of her courageous and hard-working parents. But her fate was tied up with the city : it was to Paris that Asa returned twenty years later and where her life as an artist took wing.

Asa grew up in Lagos, a city teeming with people and buzzing with energy but also home to a deep-rooted spirituality. Islam thrives shoulder to shoulder with Christianity in an atmosphere of tolerance, the young imitate America, and the turbulent city moves endlessly in an infernal and yet harmonious ballet of love and hate, laughter and violence, poverty and wealth.

“Lagos is the New York of Nigeria. If you want to get anywhere in music, that’s where you’ll find the best opportunities, as well as the worst pitfalls.”

Asa was the only girl in the family and had to share her parents, not often present, with three brothers. At a tender age she began to look after the house during her father and mother’s frequent absences. That is when Asa started to sing. The desire to sing came to her and didn’t go away, carving out a permanent place in her soul. So Asa sang her heart out. She preferred singing to talking, improvising endlessly — until her mother made her stop ! Over the years her father had built up a fine collection of records featuring soul classics and Nigerian music.

The little girl grew up to the sounds of artists including Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and Lagbaja and went on to draw inspiration from them. Asa was a lonely child. The family, her brothers, Africa….and yet : she didn’t fit into the usual clichés and was often sad, feeling out of place in childhood, even more so in the world of adolescence. She was different, and music became an escape route as well as a daydream. Asa would sometimes go to the park with her bothers to sing and dance, but more often took refuge in an imaginary universe that was her’s alone. Decked out in a wig borrowed from the maternal treasure chest, a tube of cream serving as her mike, revelling in the freedom of no one watching her, she sang Michael Jackson and Bob Marley hits and greeted an imaginary crowd…

Sauce Kid Attacks Jesse Jagz and Terry G, Calling Them ‘Swagger Jackers’

Sauce Kid

Sauce Kid was on the recent episode of online TV show hosted by Liz Yemoja where he attacked Jesse Jags and Terry G calling Terry G a “Swagga Jacker!”
Referring to Jesse Jagz’s track titled “Jagga Swagga”, Sauce Kid says
“What is Jagga Swagga? Alot of dudes don’t have swag. You can’t tell
me you have swag if I’ve never seen you pull up in a S-500 Benz”

Responding swiftly to the preview of the interview that was uploaded on youtube, Storm CEO  Obi Asika has asked for the video to be taken down stating any feud between Sauce Kid and any artiste is not sanctioned by the label but Liz Yemoja informs of not relenting with making it available for view.
 I would keep you posted on any futher developments as regards this new diss as i am certain that Mr. Terry G will not keep quiet about it.

M.I.........The J-town lyricist

Jude Abaga is a Nigerian rapper. He is currently signed with Chocolate City Music. Jude Abaga also known as M.I(popularly called Mister Incredible) is a Nigerian born musician.His highly acclaimed album, Talk About It was released on the 11th of December 2008 under the Chocolate City Label and made history by selling a record 30,000 copies in less than 30 minutes!.
His influences are Lauryn Hill,Robert Nesta Marley,Sarah Mchlaclan, Pablo Neruda, Jay Z and DMX. M.I was born to Pastor and Mrs Abaga, both active members of the local Church choir in Jos, Plateau, Nigeria . His mother taught the basic music notations and later bought him 7-key mini piano ,which launched him early into the world of music.
M.I’s encounter with Hip-Hop started with sampling the works of DMX and Lauryn Hill in 1998 . He later delved into writing poetry. In 1999, MI left for Calvin College, Michigan, USA to pursue a degree in business and economics. There he interacted with the budding Michigan hip-hop community. He performed at all the major hip-hop and R&B shows and concerts in school and later came third in the Calvin College “Hip hopera” 2003.
M.I returned to Plateau, Nigeria in 2005 to find the local music industry on the verge of a revolution and was set to take African Hip-Hop to new heights. A proficient producer, lyricist, songwriter and instrumentalist, M.I has been described by DIV as the future of African Hip-Hop.
He has produced and featured on the works of artists like Jeremiah Gyang, Djinee, Shifi (Style Plus), Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince,Ruby, Lindsy , Leone,Banky W,Tuface Idibia.

Crowd Mentality – the first single off his album “Pyeri Boy” has topped every major chart in and around Nigeria and was number one on the Creative economy website www.creativeconomy.org.uk Soundtrack, beating music from Nine other countries around the world! Talk About It was one of 2008’s most anticipated album’s and it came on the heels of Asa’s self titled album, 9ice’s Gongo Aso , P Square’s Game Over, D’banj’s The Entertainer, Mo’hits All Stars’ Curriculum Vitae and Naeto C’s You Know My P.

Since its release M.I has won 7 awards including Best Rap Album and Hip Hop Revelation of the Year (Hip Hop World Awards (2009), Best New Artist and Nest Rapper(N.E.A Awards 2009), Musician of the Year (Modemen Awards 2008),Best Hip Hop Artist( City People Awards 2009) and won two awards at the MTV MAMA Awards 2009 - Best New Act and Best Hip Hop.
He is signed on the award winning Chocolate City Music label.

A quick pick into M.I.'s Autobiography:

Born in the city of Jos, music immediately surrounded M.I's life. M.I was able to see first hand musicians such as Panam Percy Paul, the Winners Band and the Footsteps band. M.I's father at the time was the pastor allowing M.I to grow up around constant singing. At an early age M.I's mother taught him the sulfa notation and how it applied to a simple chorus. It was after this that M.I began to learn how to play the keyboards; on a small 7 key toy keyboard. By the age of 10, M.I could play the drums and keyboards to an extent. M.I also compared notes with Jeremiah Gyang who was a very close childhood friend. M.I discovered rap music when he began secondary schoo. It was here that M.I fell in love with this art form. Around 1998 M.I got his hands on DMX's debut album and Lauryn Hill's Mis-education album and began to write his own music and poems. While in college M.I put aside hip hop music for an acappella group but continued his writing in hopes of one day picking up where he left off. Towards M.I's senior year in college he started writing long poems with a very rhythmic tones. M.I was able to record a few of his songs which were placed on a college album.On returning to Nigeria in 2003, M.I returned to Jos, which was brimming with young rappers and hip hop producers. Through the influence of Jeremiah and another talented Jos producer "E Kelly," M.I quit his job and started to work at Inner Hub Studios and to work on producing and recording his own music.M.I was signed to Chocolate City in 2006 and came out with the hit single "Crowd Mentality" which had topped charts all over Nigeria. M.I today has continued to grow into stardom in Nigeria. He has participated in a variety of shows, worked with other Nigerian artists such as Modenine, Jeremiah Gyang, Styl Plus and more. M.I has been a part of various projects such as Bring the Noise traveling to other African Countries as well as the UK collaboarting with other artists and performing. M.I is set to drop his album this year and proves to be one of the greatest new Nigerian Hip Hop artists. His words will move you with their deep messages as well as get you up off your feet. His journey is only beginning!

“We are separating” – 9ice confirms marital split from wife Toni Payne

Sad news filtered through the entertainment community today. Just as speculation was mounting, an official press release from 9ice’s PR representatives confirmed the news. Nigerian musician 9ice and his wife of one and half years, beauty entrepreneur Toni Payne have broken up. According to the press release, “The couple have agreed to separate for a while, even though they continue to remain good friends and business partners…And it is their wish that we all respect their privacy at this period”.
The couple who wed in July 2008 began dating before the musician attained widespread acclaim and success.
Many credit the combination of 9ice’s talent and Toni’s managerial and publicity skills as the formula for the singer’s success. The couple is blessed with a son – Zion. According to the press release, Toni Payne will retain primary custody of their child. This is truly an unfortunate development. As we all know, marriage is a tough journey and only the two people within that relationship can paint the full picture of the situation. We wish both 9ice and Toni Payne the best in this difficult time.

Dagrin_the new voice of naija hiphop

Da grin is the new artist that is hitting naija air waves like its nobody's business. With singles such as Ghetto Dreams, Kondo, Idi Nla, just to mention a few have been receiving massive air play and the Chief Executive Omoita is gradually becoming a household name.