GIRLS NITE OUT RETURNS

Smooth Promotions, the brains behind Hiphopworld Magazine, Hiphopworld Awards and Hip on TV is at it again.

At a time when everyone thought the organizers will be resting on their Oars after the completion of yet another successful edition of their annual “Hiphopworld Awards”, the Organizers last week made it public that an all girl show “Girl’s Nite out” is the next project on their calender.

Already an all female team has been put in place. “Every single thing will be done by Girls including designing the stage, video and sound production, producing and directing of the show, security, just name anything” A member of the team who pleaded anonymity disclosed last week

Girls Nite out, a forum for discovering female talents as well as celebrating womanhood is targeted at making a statement that “what a man can do, a woman can do better”

“All we are planning to do is to showcase the professional capability of women in fields that have overtime been male dominated. We are out to give female up and coming talents the chance to be discovered as well as treat the brothers to a night of Fun” Joke Jaiyesimi Head honcho of the project says

Girls Nite out made its first appearance ten years ago and two female artistes “Sasha” and “Azeezat” were discovered at the event, before it was suspended in 2002. Through the March 1999- Dec 2002, Girl’s Nite was hosted by Dianne Oputa, Celebrated actress and OAP Funlola Aofiyebi and Broadcaster Tosin Ajayi.
Late DJ loc shy who passed away in January 2008

Other grounded people that were involved in the event include Yeni Kuti, Stella Damasus, Wunmi Obe, Tosin Ajayi, Onyeka Onwenu, Bouqui, Latoya Aduke, Ara and Bimbo Oloyede

And now ten years after, with a new team in place, it looks like the show is ready to take a new shape. “Expect the usual stuffs that used to be there way back, but in a refined way” Jaiyesimi says.

49 MOST INCREDIBLE NIGERIANS

(originally published in Laffmattazz)


1. 2face: The iconic popstar is the bona fide leader of the new school of Nigerian music; holding his colleagues by the wrist and leading them straight into the global terrain. When MTV debuted in Africa in 2005, his video for African Queen was the first clip the channel aired. A best-seller by all standards, he has been decorated generously, by MTV, MOBO, HHWA, World Music Awards, SMVA; and he’s a cherished ambassador for many NGOS


2. JJ Okocha: Augustine Okocha is the footballer other footballers want to be like. The 36 year-old attacking midfielder, blessed with a rare combination of dribble skills and maneuvering techniques, is perhaps the most gifted footballer never to win the prestigious African footballer of the year


3. 9ice : gifted to a fault, Abolore Akande is one of the most remarkable talents of this generation. And he has garnered commendations from the young and old, for making his native language (Yoruba) fashionable among the youths again


4. John fashanu: Businessman, soccer star and entrepreneur, the 47 year-old never wore the National colours, but he inspired a sense of pride in many, each time he wore the British National Jerseys, or got on the field for the many clubs he featured for. Since retired and back home in Nigeria, Fash has been at the forefront on several youth-empowerment initiatives


5. Phillip Emeagwali: from Bill gates to Time Magazine and the New York Times, everyone who matters continues to pay him homage, as the father of the internet. And his lectures on reparation, repatriation, brain-drain-gain etc, have inspired many to rediscover themselves and the values of the often misrepresented African continent


6. D’banj: the multiple award-winning entertainer has built the most rapidly-rising career of the past decade; and it doesn’t look like he’s about slowing down. With multiple endorsements, international awards and amazing demand, the young entrepreneur is strolling gracefully into the billionaires’ club; and inspiring many youths to look deep inside and discover their potentials


7. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The modern Chinua Achebe has won almost all the awards there are to win; telling the story of biafria, and Nigeria, through lips and painting pictures many before her had feared to paint. We were looking for hope, and Adichie came with plenty


8. Dele Olojede: The first African to win the coveted Pulitzer prize, Olojede rose to the top of the ladder of New York’s Newsday Newspaper; before leaving to found Timbuktu Media – the outfit that’s now redefining journalism in Nigeria


9. Nduka Obaigbena: The THISDAY publisher and his team of editors are garnishing global news with African views; using media and entertainment to rebrand the motherland…


10. Alex Amosu: Customized ringtones. World most expensive suit. Limited edition Luxury phones. What do you want to talk about? Mr Alexander Amosu is the maverick entrepreneur the world is celebrating while still trying to understand


11. Genevieve Nnaji : only recently, she was profiled on the Oprah Winfrey show as one of the most famous people in the world. The Nollywood A-lister is as good as they come; and if there are any home-grown acts that’ll make it big in Hollywood, Genevieve will be ahead, leading the pack by the hand…


12. KSA: The first Nigerian to be nominated for the Grammys, the Juju maestro is the godfather of the genre, and a pathfinder for contemporary African music. Accomplished beyond all reasonable doubts, and blessed with an elongated career, the guitarist and band-leader is one of God’s gift to Africa; and the continent cherishes him like gold and silver…


13. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala: : 55 this year, Okonjo-Iweala is a walking demonstration of the power of possibilities. The fist woman to become a Finance minister and foreign minister in Nigeria, she has since leaving government, returned to the World Bank as Managing Director.


14. Lagbaja: from a mission to represent and remind us of the common, faceless man, Lagbaja has built a global brand now copied by performers from all nations. And he has created a genre too – Africano- the drum driven African sound the west is already noticing and seeking to imbibe.


15. Femi Kuti : when you’re born to a father as great as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, are there any chances you’ll be able to step out of his shadow? Yes, if you’re Femi Kuti. The Afrobeat maestro has demonstrated he’s his own man; and he’s taken the genre to a whole new audience, with remarkable experiments and collaborations many would have thought impossible.


16. Kanu Nwankwo: He blessed us with his dexterity with the round leather ball. But he has blessed us more, and touched many homes and hearts, with the Kanu Heart Foundation; a charity he set up after surviving a 1996 operation to remove an aortic valve


17. Segun Odegbami: in a career spanning almost two decades, he won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for the Nigerian national team; and owing to his precision, quickly earned the moniker ‘Mathematical Segun’. Now 57, the Engineer cum businessman continues to be a major sources of inspiration to most of the youngsters eyeing or working within the sports industry today…


18. Keke and D-one: residents of today’s hip hop world, and beneficiaries of the booming pop industry must wake up every morning thanking Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye. From DAAR Communications to Primetime Entertainment, the pair have made Nigerian music fashionable again; establishing themselves as architects of modern music business and paving the way for many wannabes to follow


19. Raymond Dokpesi: The founder of Nigeria’s first Private radio station has gone on to establish a TV network that’s beaming Africa to the world; telling the African story the way it should be told. And with the coming of DAARSAT, he’s taking the game to an even higher level…


20. Oluchi: The first-ever Nokia Face of Africa is one of the forst Nigerian models to go international. And she’s been there and done that: major runways, jaw-dropping fashion shows, amazing cover slots on the world’s biggest magazines, Mrs Orlandi is a model’s model. To think that only years back, she was the liitle poor kid living in a low0income family; barely able to make ends meet…


21. Agbani Darego: Miss Darego was crowned Miss World in 2001; the first Black woman to be so decorated.


22. Babatunde Raji Fashola: The Action Congress Governor of Lagos State is an action man. No he doesn’t say so. But his roads speak it; his policies do; his streetlights shine it; there’s been no dull moment since the soccer enthusiast was sworn in over two years ago

23. Wanle Akinboboye: The successful businessman is a culture and tourism devotee who’s spearheading a revolution that’ll take many years to understand…


24. P-square: The biggest pop acts on the continent have come a long way since winning the Benson & Hedges hunt in 2000. And despite being under constant and heavy criticism for the direction of their music and often poorly-thought-out public actions/utterances, the Okoye brothers have become bona fide superstars across the continent, exporting ‘Nigerian’ music faster and father than anyone in their league…


25. Asa: talented beyond limits, and committed to her art, Asa is one of the bright wonders from Nigeria, taking the world by storm.


26. Wole Soyinka: Writer. Author. Filmmaker. Critic. Activist. Nobel laureate. Non-Conformist. Rebel. Actor. Diplomat. Soyinka is a rallying point for the Nigerian struggle; and the conscience of a nation hijacked by despots and opportunists


27. Chinua Achebe: Things fall Apart is the greatest book to ever come out of Africa. And Achebe is the man that put pen to paper to create the excellent body of work.


28. Ali Baba: If John Chukwu and Mohammed Danjuma were to look back now, they’ll be proud of what Ali Baba has turned their profession to. The godfather of modern Nigerian comedy has influenced, supported or mentored almost every comedian rocking the microphone today. And he has turned a hitherto under-celebrated art, to a national craze…


29. Tunde Kelani: The soul of Mainframe productions is an internationally-acclaimed cinematographer that continues to rewrite the rules of film-making; using African narratives, idioms and lore.


30. Tony Elumelu: radical but thorough and forward-thinking, the banking ‘wizard’ is a maverick many conservatives are in awe of.


31. KWAM 1: The revolutionary fuji giant brought an otherwise street genre to the crème de la crème and introduced the art to instrumentations many would have thought impractical.


32. DJ Jimmy JATT: Africa’s most iconic jockey is a leading light for a profession castigated by many. And his success has turned the fortunes of the profession around. More than qualified for a national honour, Jimmy is the voice of the art and a model for the business conservative society is still trying to come to terms with


33. Toyin Subair: he’s a partner at Law firm Abraham&Co, a facilitator for NGO Link-A-Child and the CEO OF HiTV. Toyin Subair is one of the most inspiring Nigerians alive.


34. Ayo Animashaun: the CEO of Smooth Promotions is building an empire from an idea. 14 years after starting out, he’s now the brain behind Hip hop world magazine, hip TV, hip hop world awards, Girls’ nite out and Street hop. A custodian of sorts, for the hip hop culture in Nigeria, Animashaun is matching ideas with opportunities and hardwork, to produce results business schools are using as case studies…


35. Mike Adenuga Jnr: wherever you turn your eyes, he’s right there looking at you. Telecoms? Banking? Oil and Gas? IT? The business mogul is a billionaires’ billionaire; and one of the most influential Nigerians right now


36. David Oyedepo: the Bishop of Living Faith World Outreach centre is one if the most outstanding evangelists of this generation. With the Faith Tabernacle (a.k.a. CannanLand) reputed to be the largest Church auditorium in the world, and a rapidly-growing private university(Covenant), Oyedepo leads an institution that’s spearheading a global outreach; with a message that Africans too, can prosper…


37. Enoch Adejare Adeboye: the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God sits atop the fastest growing Pentecostal church in the world; planting churches in every nook and cranny; and staying true to the gospel at a time when worshippers are inflicted with get-rich-quick sermons.


38. Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie: The Archbishop of Lagos has been a thorn in the flesh of corrupt government officials long before it became fashionable to do so. He grabbed global headlines when he was proclaimed Cardinal by Pope John Paul 11in October 2003…


39. Aliko Dangote: The ‘Forbes’ billionaire has now embraced manufacturing after years of trading and supplying. Aliko Dangote has built a fortune from a N500, 000 start-up.


40. Ben Murray Bruce: The boss of the Silverbird group understands the power of entertainment. And he’s using it appropriately. Cinemas are springing up everywhere again; shopping malls are taking shape, and his fleet of radio and TV stations is helping shape our lives…


41. Femi Aderibigbe: While his colleagues where scampering abroad and taking up residence, Aderibigbe, a.k.a. Kwame, tightened his loins and set foot on the path of entrepreneurship. Nearly a decade later, he has transformed from an ordinary OAP to a successful entrepreneur; inspiring millions of youths with the Nigezie brand…


42. Donald Duke: He had a dream: to turn Cross Rivers state into Nigeria’s number one tourism destination. Today, The annual Cross Rivers festival, and The Tinapa resort are testimonies of his vision. And that he’s walked away from government, untainted, is still a surprise to those used to seeing gluttons in power…


43. Declan Okpaleke: it’s now 10 years since Okpaleke was named the overall CNN African Journalist of the year. And the former Insider editor continues to get decorated by renowned bodies, making clear once again, that journalism may be literature in a hurry, but some are taking their time to pen words that seek to change the world…


44. Ahmed Bola Tinubu: The businessman and politician has not only blessed Lagosians with a performing governor, he’s also plotting his way to relevance in the national order, and enjoying a reign as today’s unofficial Yoruba elder. Blessed with political savvy and passionate about philanthropy and mentorship, the 57 year-old former Senator and Governor is an old horse that’s not just learning new tricks, but mastering them too…


45. Olusegun Obasanjo: The only man to have ruled the country twice, OBJ is the man Nigerians love to hate. Witty, confident and fast-tempered, the former Head-of-State got a lot of things wrong during his last tenure. But he got some right too- including GSM and the idea of involving technocrats at the centre of government…


46. Charles Chukwuma Soludo: Before he burnt his fingers the botched redenomination project; before he dipped his hands into politics; the former CBN governor had endeared himself to Nigerians, especially with his sound economics rhetoric and the successful banking sector recapitalization.


47. Dora Akunyili: We didn’t hear much of NAFDAC before her. And we haven’t heard much since her departure. Mrs Akunyili may be running into troubled waters with her rebranding project, but Nigerians will continue to remember her for the excellent job she did while at NAFDAC…


48. Leo Stan Ekeh: Nigeria’s premiere indigenous computer manufacturer did the hitherto thought impossible when he birthed with Zinox computers eight years ago.


49. Nuhu Ribadu: No one personifies that war against corruption in Nigeria like former EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu. Controversial and often accused of selective dealings, the dismissed Police officer remains unapologetic and continues to push the button to prosecute allegedly corrupt Nigerians, even from exile.

THE NAIJA MUSIC SCENE THIS PAST WEEK

2009, is gradually coming to an end, and to think that when i started blogging nine months back, it was with an intention to update everyday. well, i guess that is shame on me for not being consistent.

Well, that is not to say that the Nigerian music scene is in a luke warm state. The industry has clearly been booming with activities from all nook and crannies.

First and foremost, the NMVA nomination list was released on Sunday, October 4, 2009. The awards ceremony which is scheduled to hold on November 1, 2009 has heavy weighters like Darey Art Alade, Keffe and MI as major contenders

Also, there are reports that Mr. Capable Banky W is working on the video for 'Lagos party' the 2nd video off his second album 'The W experience'.

its no longer news that Kelly Hansome's new track (Igwe Kom Kom) was directed at Sex Icon Dbanj, Debutant Wande coal and rave of the moment Terry G. The track which became popular amongst the internet audience last week lashes out at the trio. Kelly Hansome spits at the beginning of the track, 'Yes i be Arsenal, you be Man U, no wonder you look like a Malu' confronting Wande Coal with no apologies.

There are also talks of an all girl's night out by Smooth promotions, the publishers of Hiphopworld magazine, organisers of hiphopworld awards and producers of Hip On TV. Sources claim that the team is being headed by Joke Jaiyesinmi- Producer of Hip On TV, but nothing official has been said for now.

Not forgetting that 9ice will release his third album titled 'Tradition in Transition' this month. To be sincere, that is one album i cant wait to have. Already, a teaser from his first single 'Liquor' was released online some weeks back.

I also cant get enough of Bouqui's new album 'Redefinition'. my Favorite tracks remain 'Oluwa' and 'BOUQUI Anthem'.

Iyanya fresh from The New york Fashion show had an album listening section with select audience on Sunday October 4, 2009

Who has heard of this guy? his name is Femi and he is so talented. he has two singles on air now 'Mapami' ft. Ego and 'Never felt a love'.

Im off again fellas, but this time i wont be gone for long, i promise!.

Friday, June 26, 2009

AND THE MAN DIES.....

Yes, im finally updating, and Yes, it took the death of an icon for me to do that.

There is no doubt that i have been online for a while now visiting Entertainment websites, blogs, Facebooking and recently tweeting ( Just so you'd be sure that the sole reason i have not been blogging is not that im not broke) lol.

Ok, in the past 2 weeks that i have been tweeting, i have learnt alot, and i know that a tweet travels faster than you can imagine. In the words of Steven Johnson of Time Magazine 'The speed with which users have extended Twitter's platform points to a large truth about mordern innovation'.

To a large extent, this is more than true- it only took a tweet which read- MJ has been rushed to the hospital, he is in coma. that man had better not die' for my antennas to rise, and then within 5 minutes, the whole word on twitter was on Michael Jackson until he finally gave up at exactly 2.26pm on June 25, 2009.

The pop icon died at the age of 50 which is the reason why i have taken today off tweeter and Black berry messenger to create 50 different things about the world's most famous man on earth.

i hope you guys enjoy it!!!

Lest i forget, it will be a sin if i dont say this- 'I love Twitter'

50 CELEBRITIES COMMENT ON MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEATH.

.1. RIP Michael Jackson, moon walk into God’s arms by HIS Grace… You will be solely missed- Kemi Adetiba

2. I think MJ is the only idol I’ve ever had. I never got the chance to tell him how much he and his music mean to me- Keri Hilson

3. RIP to the greatest artiste/ Entertainer ever Michael Jackson- Banky W

4. Today is so sad- Alicia keys

5. I am shaken though, because one night he was, and now he isn’t. And I so loved him. R.I.P to the true King of Pop. Hope you find rest now- Tosyn Bucknor

6. I'm very sad today ...Michael Jackson is one of the greatest Artistes I looked up to I learnt a lot from watching his videos....his performances...I’m absolutely stunned may his gentle soul rest in peace...."GONE TOO SOON" this is also a lesson to us all life is too short no one is promised tomorrow. Let’s live life to the fullest and put God first- Weird MC

7. When I was 6 I saw this good looking afro wearing boy singing on TV with his brothers, I wanted to be like him. When I first danced in front of a crowd in Igbobi College, it was to 'Don't Stop Till You Get Enough', I wore the white glove, I did the moonwalk, I performed Thriller as a Zombie at the National Theatre, I had tears in my eyes the only time I saw him live at Wembley Stadium... My Michael, Our Michael. - Ayo Shonaiya


8. I’m still in shock. It is so hard to believe that Michael Jackson is gone, I cried for hours as I watched the breaking news on CNN and Sky News at midnight. He's been an icon to me despite all he'd been through, the best performer the world has ever seen. May His Soul rest in peace. - Nikki Laoye

9. I’m overwhelmed by the love shown to MJ in DEATH one, he was denied in the last 10-15years of his life. They called him a pedophile, cosmetic junkie etc. reminds me of Jesus Christ and here on earth Princess Diana- Djinee.

10. “I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on ‘The Wiz’ and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the ’80s. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”- Quincy Jones

11. "This is hard, my brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:26 PM... It is believed he passed away of cardiac arrest.

12. I can’t stop crying over the sad news; I have always admired Michael Jackson. The World has lost one of the greats, but his music will live forever- Madonna

13. I am so sad and confused with every emotion possible, I am heart broken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family- Lisa Marie Presley

14. We lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only pop music, but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him- Justin Timberlake.

15. The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artiste in the history of music. He was magic. For anyone who has ever seen, felt or heard his Art, we are honoured to have been alive in this generation to experience the magic of Michael Jackson- Beyonce Knowles

16. There were serious questions about Jackson’s personal life, myself and my wife joined all Californians in expressing our shock and sadness over his death.

17. Michael showed me you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!!! He made me believe in magic- Diddy

18. RIP MJ. I think we'll mourn his loss as well as the loss of ourselves as children listening to Thriller on the record player...I truly hope he is memorialized as the '83 moon walking, MTV owning, mesmerizing, unstoppable, invincible Michael Jackson- John Mayer:

19. MJ is moon walking in the sky. RIP- Lauren Bosworth

20. I am greatly saddened for the loss of both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Especially for their children!- Demi Moore

21. Rip MJ! Dream as if you'll live 4ever, live as if you'll die 2day. U only live once, but if u do it right that all you need! U did it Big MJ!!- Reverend Run

22.: God rest his soul he will live on forever- Heidi Montag

23. Michael Jackson was my inspiration, love and blessings- Miley Cyrus

24.: Rest In Peace Mike. People can say what they want but you were 100% original. WE will always love, miss & remember your GREATNESS- Ice T

25. If it were not for Michael Jackson I would not be where or who I am today. His Music and Legacy will live on forever. Prayers to the family R.I.P- Ludacris

26. I have no words. I loved Michael Jackson.. RIP...I will be mourning my friend, brother, mentor and inspiration. He gave me and my family hope. I would never have been me without him- MC Hammer

27. I have never felt this before in my life. I could measure my childhood 2 now on an MJ growth chart. If this is true, RIP. The last legend- Pete Wentz

28. We are out of our joy. He is out of his pain. He was constantly challenged in the press and all he really wanted to be was the greatest entertainer and he was that."- Jesse Jackson

29. Some lost Elvis Presley and we lost Michael Jackson- Wyclef Jean.

30. I am heartbroken. My prayers go out to the Jackson family, and my heart goes out to his children. Let us remember him for his unparalleled contribution to the world of music, his generosity of spirit in his quest to heal the world & the joy he brought to his millions of devoted fans throughout the world. I feel blessed to have performed with him several times and to call him my friend. No artist will ever take his place. His star will shine forever. – Mariah Carey

31. Michael Jackson, like James Brown and Prince, are nearly uncoverable. The tunes were about his innate talent and can't really be replicated- John Mayer

32. Rest in peace to the greatest to ever do it. His legacy will live on forever- Nick Cannon

33. Either by learning his dance moves, making music like him, listening to his music, dancing to it, falling in love with it, he will be missed- Colbie Caillat:

34. To a man who made a huge impact on my life. Thank you for blessing the world with your talent and heart. May you rest in peace and be w/the angels MJ- Mya

35. I have never felt this before in my life. I could measure my childhood 2 now on an mj growth chart. RIP. The last legend- Pete Wentz

36. It can happy to anyone, that's why I live everyday like it's my last- Soulja boy
37. Music will never be the same- Kim Kardashian

38. Someone pinch me! RIP Michael. My thoughts and wishes go out to his family. We’ll always love you Michael- Kelly Clarkson

39. He broke barriers, he changed radio formats. With music, he made it possible for people like Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama to impact the mainstream world. His legacy is unparalleled." - Usher

40. My fifth birthday party was M.J. themed, I insisted and my mother found a look alike to come sing happy birthday but I knew he wasn't MY Michael- Solange Knowles

41. I plea to the public to refuse to consume media that does not respect the anonymity of Michaels children- Ashton Kutcher

42. Sending my love and my prayer out to Michael and his family- Lindsay Lohan.

43.: His music is just as relevant now as it was the day they pressed record, I'm sure it will remain so for generations to come. R.I.P. Mr. Jackson- Samantha Ronson

44. "This was the most exciting collaboration of my life with a man who has inspired me like no other. ... This was the world's greatest performer and the world will miss him."- Kenny Ortega (Director of all Michael Jackson Concerts for 25 years)

45. Michael Jackson's accomplished so much that there's not even words to explain what he's done for urban and pop music. Every artist that I personally know has been influenced by him. The world has lost one of the greatest entertainers who shaped many generations and will continue to for years to come." - Akon.

46. From the beginning of my career, he was my idol in show business. ... I had his poster on my wall." -Celine Dion

47. When we worked together on 'Bad,' I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion." - Film director Martin Scorcese.

48. Michael Jackson might be dead, but he lives on- Kel

49. This is a sad day- Joel Madden

50. There are no words; I am sending all of my love and prayers out to the Jackson family- Cassie Ventura.

50 FACTS ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON

1. Jackson’s Billie Jean was the first video by a black artist to air on MTV.
2. Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina State Anthem South Carolina on My Mind, recorded by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge.
3. Jackson's waxwork features in five Madame Tussauds museums across the world. Only Elvis Presley and Madonna have more Tussaud figures - they have six each.
4. Jackson's total lifetime earnings from royalties, solo recordings and music videos, revenue from concerts and endorsements have been estimated at $500 million (#271 million).
5. Jackson has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for radio play, located at 1541 Vine Street, and one for recording at 6927 Hollywood Boulevard.
6. Jackson received a Presidential Humanitarian Award from Ronald Reagan in 1984 for his support of charities helping people overcome alcohol and drug abuse.
7. Michael Jackson is the seventh of nine children.
8. Jackson fought fellow 50 year old Madonna on MTV's Celebrity Death match - he lost.
9. Three of Jackson's albums - Bad, Dangerous and Thriller - are among the bestsellers of all time.
10. Thriller remains the biggest-selling album since records began.
11. Jackson has sold more than 300 million records worldwide.
12. Jackson wears his trademark black armband to remind fans of the suffering of children around the world.
13. Jackson's favorite superhero is Morph from the X-Men.
14.Jackson picked up his iconic moonwalk moves, which he debuted at the Motown 25th Anniversary show in 1983, from street dancers he spotted performing outside a hotel.
15. MC Hammer once challenged Jackson to a dance-off. He was told to Beat It. Jackson reportedly responded, "I've seen your videos and every single dance move you use, you got off of me."
16. Little Richard wanted Jackson to play him in a biopic.
17. Bubbles the chimp and Ben the rat are two of Jackson's most famous pets, but he also befriended a ram called Mr. Tibbs, a python called Crusher and Louie the llama.
18. An obsessed French Jackson super fan committed suicide in 1984 after his mother refused to allow him to undergo surgery to look like the star.
19. In 1984, a U.S. library accused Jackson of owing it over $1 million in overdue book fines. Officials said they would scrap the fines if he returned the books autographed.
20. Jackson dedicated his 1997 Blood on the Dance floor album to Sir Elton John.
21. Jackson is a vegetarian.
22. Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Jackson 5 on May 6, 1997. He was inducted as a solo artist on March 19, 2001.
23. Jackson once dated Brooke Shields and Tatum O'Neal.
24. Jackson has several media nicknames. They include The Gloved One, Wacko Jacko, Jacko, The King of Pop, and MJ. Close friends call him Smelly!
25. Jackson's music video for Thriller was voted the greatest music video of all time in a recent Channel 4 (UK) poll.
26. Jackson won an MTV Movie Award for Best Movie Song in 1994 for his song Will You Be There from the movie Free Willy.
27. The Scream music video Jackson made with sister Janet is the most expensive promo ever made, costing more than $7 million (#3.8 million).
28. Jackson's double album HIStory is the biggest selling double album ever released in the U.S.
29. Jackson's Blood on the Dance Floor is the biggest selling re-mix album of all time.
30. Jackson really is a King in West Africa - he was given a royal title by villagers in Gabon, Ivory Coast in 1992.
31. Jackson's pre-concert ritual includes drinking Ricola candy dissolved in hot water. He claims the beverage helps to keep his throat and his singing voice clear.
32. Jackson owns the patent for a stage shoe device that allows performers to lean forward and appear to defy gravity.
33. Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana in 1958. The town is planning a tribute museum to the pop superstar.
34. Movie star Macauley Culkin is godfather to Jackson's two eldest children, Paris and Prince Michael.
35. Culkin helped Jackson design the amusement park at his Neverland Valley Ranch home in California.
36. Lisa Marie Presley's former brother-in-law and his wife were the witnesses at her Dominican Republic wedding to Jackson in 1994.
37. Jackson shares the record for the most Grammy Awards won in one year with Carlos Santana and Norah Jones - they each won eight.
38. Jackson co-wrote charity anthem We Are the World with Lionel Richie.
39. Jackson is godfather to Nicole Richie, Bee Gees star Barry Gibb's son Michael, and Oliver star Mark Lester's kids.
40. Jackson and Brother Tito were best men at Liza Minnelli and David Gest's wedding.
41. Jackson's performance during the 1993 Super Bowl half-time show drew the largest TV audience in American history.
42. The directors of Jackson's videos have included Martin Scorsese, John Singleton and John Landis.
43. In 1999 Jackson paid $1.5 (#810,000) for the 1939 Best Picture Oscar, which was presented to producer David O. Selznick for Gone with the Wind.
44. Jackson appeared on a postage stamp in the Virgin Islands in the mid-1980s after locals voted him the superstar they'd most like to honour.
45. An extensive 1997 survey declared Jackson was the Most Famous Person in the World.
46. Jackson helped plan neighbor Gregory Peck's funeral.
47. Jackson once described close friend Elizabeth Taylor as "a warm cuddly blanket that I love to snuggle up to and cover myself with.”
48. Jackson provided a voiceover on the Simpsons - but it remained a secret for 12 years. He voiced a character in a mental institution in the Stark Raving Dad episode, which aired in 1991, but, because of a contractual problem, Jackson had to be credited as John Jay Smith. His contribution to the classic cartoon series remained a rumor among fans until The Simpson’s creator Matt Groening confirmed it really was Jackson when the episode was released on DVD in 2003.
49. Jackson shares the same birthday as U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who turns 73 this year. Other celebrities who share Jackson's birthday include moviemakers Sir Richard Attenborough and William Friedkin, and actresses Rebecca DeMornay and Carla Gugino.
50. He died on Thursday June 25, 2009 at exactly 2.26pm

50 MICHAEL JACKSON QUOTES

1. The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.

2. In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”

3. 'Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons. The truth will win this marathon in court.'

4. “If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.”

5. I'm a black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity."

6. "I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin, it's something that I cannot help, OK?"

7. "I have five, no six, cameras. When you're performing – and I don't care what kind of performance you are giving – if you don't capture it properly the people will never see it. It's the most selfish medium in the world."

8. "They did it to try and belittle me, to try and to take away my pride. But I went through the whole system with them. And at the end, I – I wanted the public to know that I was okay, even though I was hurting."

9. "I'm a visionary and a creative person. God blessed me with certain talents. I hate to use an analogy, but Walt Disney was creative but not good with business."

10. "It's a beautiful thing [sharing a bed with a boy]. It's very right, it's very loving. Because what's wrong with sharing a love?"

11. "When I see children, I see the face of God. That's why I love them so much. That's what I see."

12. "They did it to try and belittle me, to try and to take away my pride. But I went through the whole system with them. And at the end, I – I wanted the public to know that I was okay, even though I was hurting."

13. "No, I've never taken hormones to maintain my high voice! No, I've never had my cheekbones altered in any way!"

14. "You try be as original as you can be without thinking about statistics, just you go form the soul and from the heart."

15. "Wacko Jacko... Where'd that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart, and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me; don't do it. I'm not a wacko. It is not nice’

16. "Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They'll believe anything you say, because you're a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, "I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight", people would say, "Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He's cracked up. You can't believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth".

17. “I’m Peter Pan, I will never grow old”

18. I wake up from dreams and go "Wow, put this down on paper." The whole thing is strange. You hear the words, everything is right there in front of your face

19. And my goal in life is to give to the world what I was lucky to receive: the ecstasy of divine union through my music and my dance

20. I was a veteran, before I was a teenager

21. Why can't you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone. It's very charming. It's very sweet. It's what the whole world should do.”

22. “I'm just like anyone. I cut and I bleed and I embarrass easily

23. Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone. This simple goodness shines straight from their hearts and only asks to be lived.”

24. Me and Janet really are two different people

25. I changed. People change.”

26. I am bewildered at the length to which people will go to portray me so negatively

27. I will say again that I have never, and would never, harm a child. It sickens me that people have written untrue things about me

28. People who grew up as child stars have the same thing in common. You're cute, they love you; you go through the awkward stage, they don't accept you any more. Very few make the transition to adult star,”

29. I believe in my heart that the music community will come together as one and rally to the aid of thousands of innocent victims, ... There is a tremendous need for relief dollars right now and through this effort each one of us can play an immediate role in helping comfort so many people.”

30. I have always maintained my innocence, and vehemently denied that these events ever took place. I reluctantly chose to settle the false claims only to end the terrible publicity and to continue with my life and career

31. All of Hollywood has plastic surgery. I don't know why they point me out. The press exaggerated it. It's just my nose, you know. They want it to be everything. Just the nose isn't enough

32. “I trusted Martin Bashir to come into my life and that of my family because I wanted the truth to be told,”

33. Everyone who knows me will know the truth, which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child

34. Let us dream of tomorrow where we can truly love from the soul, and know love as the ultimate truth at the heart of all creation

35. I just wish I could understand my father

36. I rememeber one time we were getting ready to go to South America and everything was packed up and in the car ready to go and I hid and I was crying because I really did not want to go, I wanted to play. I did not want to go.

37. I'm never pleased with anything, I'm a perfectionist, it's part of who I am.

38. I've helped many, many, many children, thousands of children, cancer kids, leukemia kids.

39. Just because it's in print doesn't mean it's the gospel

40. People write negatives things, because they feel that's what sells. Good news to them, doesn't sell

41. My mother's wonderful. To me she's perfection.

42. The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation.

43. There were times when I had great times with my brothers, pillow fights and things, but I was, used to always cry from loneliness

44. Well, you don't get to do things that other children get to do, having friends and slumber parties and buddies. There were none of that for me. I didn't have friends when I was little. My brothers were my friends

45. I had pimples so badly it used to make me so shy. I used not to look at myself. I'd hide my face in the dark, I wouldn't want to look in the mirror and my father teased me and I just hated it and I cried everyday.

46. And I remember going to the record studio and there was a park across the street and I’d see all the children playing and I would cry because it would make me sad that I would have to work instead

47. I was coming out of the shower and I fell and all my body weight - I’m pretty fragile - all my body weight fell against my rib cage. And I bruised my lung very badly

48. I am always writing a potpourri of music. I want to give the world escapism through the wonder of great music and to reach the masses

49. I think that it’s demeaning and disrespectful but I also want to make it clear it’s not just about me but a pattern of disrespect that he has shown to our community. He needs to stop it and he needs to stop it now." - On Eminem`s video for "Just Lose It

50. You ain`t seen nothing yet, and the best is yet to come.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

JIMMY JATT’S BATTLE FIELD SET TO KICK OFF


The auditions for DJ Jimmy Jatt's battlefield kicks off in Lagos on April 15, 2009 at The place, GRA, Ikeja, and it starts with the DJ battle, followed closely by the ‘rap battle’ which will be in May, and then in June, it will be the ‘Dance battle’.

‘We do different competitions every month and a winner emerges to qualify for the grand finale at the end of the year. Anybody that wins in each month gets between N200, 000 and N400, 000. For the grand finale, we have for the winner one million naira, a brand new car and a state-of-the-art DJ equipment’ Jimmy Jatt told me this morning.

LAGBAJA RETURNS

Fans of the masked one can now heave a sigh of relief, as Lagbaja has confirmed that a new album – the first since his 2005 release is ready, and about to hit the streets.

‘‘I’m glad to tell you, brothers and sisters, that our new album is ready’’, Lagbaja said in Lagos this week. ‘‘The world is going through different challenges right now, but the journey continues. We’ll continue to make good music and preach the gospel of Africa to the rest of the world’’.

Lagbaja’s debut album was released in 1993. He followed with Cest Un African Thing in 1996, and in 2000 he did what was hitherto thought impossible when he dropped a three-in-one album titled ME, WE and ABAMI respectively. The simultaneous three-part release further enriched his repertoire of hits and timeless pieces, endeared him to even more critics, and won him a million-and-one converts. His most recent album – Africano… the mother of groove- was released to critical acclaim in 2005.

Once again, Lagbaja is releasing more than one album simultaneously. ‘‘We have two CDs coming out this time. Our fans deserve it, especially having waited for this long’’, He said. A third, the long-anticipated Africano Party (now remixed) will follow later in the year.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

HHWA GOES TO ABUJA

One of the highlights of the Nigerian music calendar is the Hip Hop World Awards.

The awards for hip hop culture and urban music which debuted in 2006 is known for innovative and trailblazing concepts which have revolutionized the perception, execution and reputation of awards in the country.

And for many years, Lagos the centre of excellence has been the place to reward and celebrate stars, in addition to showcasing elaborate glitz and glamour. But this year p
‘So many times, we have been confronted by people that Hip hop world awards only celebrates Lagos based acts, that is part of the reason why we are embarking on this journey outside Lagos,. Moreso, we’ve looked around and found that the only venue that befits what we’re trying to achieve this year; that can accommodate all our ideas and experiments, is the international Conference Centre Abuja’ Animashaun, who founded te awards in 2006 says.

‘It is a dream come true for us to be taking the awards outside Lagos. It is obvious that the event, though a totally homegrown initiative, is already an international brand and every aspect of the process this year will reflect not just the stature of HHWA, but also the stature of the Nigerian music industry’

Scheduled for May 16, 2009, at the International conference centre, Abuja, the 2009 hip hop world awards is dangling ‘a prize to die for’ before fledging and established Nigerian acts.