Banky W bartending.

The trend is to make a campaign song for a politician and claim you never got paid – so did D’banj and Onyeka Onwenu who wrote campaign songs from President Goodluck Jonathan claim. Banky W has backed out for making campaign songs for any politician as he says he won’t be making any campaign song  even after ” I was approached by a few politicians but I decided not to accept it because what is good for me might not necessarily be good for others”.

Talking about other collagues who have recorded campaign songs, he said: “… whether they were given money to campaign or not, it’s not my business. I have not been pushed to the point where I have no option, Without this, you’ll not see me campaigning for any politician”. “What is important to me is somebody that will bring about change in our country, Nigeria”

The singer informs that he might be acting in some movies soon.

Julius Agwu’s Festival of Love event took place in Abuja on February 13th – it featured MI, Darey, Waje, Iyanya, AY and Onyeka Onwenu. Read report by our writer that attended the event.

Julius Agwu and Iyanya

Julius again.

Julius Agwu and guest.

...

Is the world really enough? No, seriously is there ever going to be a time when researchers would call it ‘a wrap !’ because nothing more than what already is known can be established? The whole evaluation just seems unending, so much so that when I look at the impressiveness of a gadget, a building, a pair of shoes or even a piece of clothing, I think that has got to be the peak of it all. Well, it only takes a little while before I realize just how wrong I thought.

What baffles me the most is definitely not the change and improvement of material things, but the length at which people go to get them. Yes, everyone wants to live comfortably with satisfaction, but I think it gets a little more than comfort, and after satisfaction is met, it turns to greed and that’s the beginning of the whole predicament. Everyone wants to ‘feel among’, and ‘belong’ to whatever the newest trend is in vogue, okay so you seem to be the only one among your friends without a blackberry torch, not like you don’t already own a blackberry, and this is something you know you cannot afford, so you begin to stab classes looking for money from any and everywhere, and the loans start piling up without even the slightest idea of how you are going to pay back. To me, that is just the height of stupidity and plain weakness.

Trust me, I have been there and I understand what it feels like to be left using an old version for a long time, while others advance onto better ones, but the truth is I cannot and I refuse to kill myself over something that would soon become nothing. Don’t get me wrong, I love go getters because I am one, it inspires me to see young guys, especially girls of my age fraction hustle to get what they want, but not in the wrong way. I believe that if you want something so bad, you should sweat honestly for it. I know that there is so much pressure all around, especially on the youth from friends, in school, and even sometimes from our family, but that should not push us to do things we are not proud of to just to satisfy our unending needs. There is no rush in life, after all with time the price of a blackberry torch will diminish, and even better models will be made.

The world is ours to conquer, and as youths we have not even seen half of it yet, we should focus more on our inner transformation to become better people, and not only on the outside. So why waste time rushing into something, or getting involved in activities we would only spend the rest of our lives regretting. Even the holy book asks’ of what use is a man if he loses his soul and gains the world?’ that is enough to say that nothing in this world is to worth loosing ones soul over, or even going to the extreme. If it was, then please tell me will the world really be enough?.

Steph Attahiru – steph@questionmarkmag.com

H. Okah

South African police have raided the prison cell of Henry Okah, the mastermind of the October 1st bombing in Abuja. The raid became necessary after Nigerian authorities said he had threatened new attacks.

The Police seized items such as eight cell phones, chargers, a map and papers with phone numbers from the cell of Henry Okah, who is facing trial on terrorism charges for allegedly masterminding the Independence Day bombings in Abuja that killed 12 people, last October.

Sometime last week, Nigerian authorities alerted the South African government that Henry Okah, who is prohibited from making unauthorized phone calls, had been calling top government officials in Nigeria from his prison cell and making threats about new attacks being planned by MEND.

In the words of Huhuonline sources, Henry Okah made several threatening phone calls to top government officials, particularly President Goodluck Jonathan.

This assertion was corroborated by a source within South African Police authorities, who raided Okah`s cell, Tuesday evening.

Hear him:

“In these phone calls, which we believe he made from the pre-paid cell phones we seized, he is alleged to have verbally abused several senior Nigerian government officials, including the president.

“He is also believed to have told them about further terror attacks MEND is believed to have been planning on carrying out.”

[VIA]

Olamide

Coded Tunes rap artiste Olamide would be releasing his debut album Rap-so-di in March. According to his management, it would be on March 21.”Rap-So-di simple tells you this album not conventional yet it’s quite poetic. ”

QMarkMag gathers that the album have 15 tracks as well as a bonus track dedicated to a friend and colleague of his – the late Dagrin. Album would talk about his life,  God, love and more. ,

Surprisely too, Olamide who is managed by Toni Payne would feature her ex husband, 9ice on the track titled ‘Legendary Hustlers’ which is an inspirational song and talks about getting to the top. Other tracks are Lift him high which is a praise song to the Almighty, Gapa is a fun love song.

Rap-So-Di will be marketed by music distributor Uba Pacific and digital copies would be avilable for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers. Olamide is currently managed by Toni Payne concepts and signed to Coded Tunes Records.

Ari.

Ari caught attention with his single – Chacha Naija. The record got him in talks with Empire Music Entertainment (EME) led by Segun Demuren and Banky W for a record deal but it didn’t follow through as he had educational pursuit and other reasons which the singer would tell in future.

The charming and sonorous vocalist singer later signed to Thumbs Up record the label that shot the video for ‘Cha cha naija’.

Born Adeleye Adepoju Olufemi many years back in LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (LUTH) idiaraba is the newest singing sensation in Nigeria has followed up ‘chacha naija’ with new single – Champion’s anthem which is as inspiration as his debut ‘Chacha naija’.

His break out tune – Cha cha naija was made in 2006. The singer had approached a friend and pastor in Daystar Christian centre, Emmanuel Utomi. Pastor Emmanuel then introduced him to Lolu Mogaji, who informed him of the new Nigeria concept, for which the ‘Cha cha naija’ song was made. ‘Cha Cha naija’ got him audience with some of Nigeria’s top consultants; Fela Durotoye (VIP Consulting), Niyi Adesanya (Fifth Gear Consulting), Deolu Akinyemi(Generis Solutions), SJ George, amongst others.

‘Cha cha naija’ enjoyed rave reviews and airplay and shortly after recorded the song with SAMKLEF, who he met through Lolu Mogaji. He performed the song on and off campus; TAKE THE LEAD leadership seminar AGO IWOYE Ogun state, ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE EMPOWERMENT SPEAKERS seminar and meetings Lagos, HOPE ALIVE HIV awareness concert – OOUTH Sagamu, Starcomms benefit concert – Vault night club Lagos.

In 2008 Ari signed a contract with THUMBS UP RECORDS, It started with performances at some notable events; SAMMY NEEDLE’S post humus album launch, Omo win an rule semi finals, Hennessey artistry DJ competition, Today on STV first year anniversary, CEPAN first ever afro costume party.

Check on the new single below – Champion’s anthem:

A-Q

A-Q interrupts his #blackfriday freestyle to release his third single off his official debut ‘Past, Present and The Future’ album released on the 4th of December. The single produced by Ray X is titled ‘Sold Out’ and features singer Xtrim . In this single, “A-Q Clears Himself to all The Ladies out there.” A truly exception track. A-Q is signed to Hustle Inc where his offcial debut album – THE PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE was released in 2010.

A-Q is one of the new faces making a mark in the Hip-Hop circuit in Nigeria. His first single (w)Rap Nigeria showed a rapper with wit, word play, and rhyme skills. This follow-up single ‘Things that we do’ received heavy rotation on radio stations nationwide. His debut compilation CD ‘Listen and Overstand’ was also sold in music stores and on-line stores like iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby. He afterwards re-emerged with the first and controversial single ‘Names’ off his ‘Past, Present and The Future’ album

Download A-Q – Sold out

Ice P - oops - Ice Prince and Basketmouth.

Left to  Ice Prince, album would not be dropping anytime soon as taking from what he said in a Newspaper interview recently. He released his massive successful single ‘oleku’  last year and it rose to be an anthem like 9ice’s Gongo Aso and Da Grin’s pon pon pon. “The fact that I won Hennessy artistry does not mean I am ready. It is just a part of my journey. Also I can’t really do stuff the way I’d like to because we have a calendar at the record label so the album might be out in june or July and we have to get it right.” He said.

He also shares in the credit of the chorus to the hit song performed by Brymo: “I was writing a nice melody in my head too but there were no words so I called Brymo and we work it together”. Also, his would be ‘musical’ on the album and doesn’t particularly like being called a rapper, he said. ” I rap but don’t like being called a rapper, I write songs and know how to compose music”.

The rapper also confesses that he can’t tell the number of tracks that would be on the album as a board by the label would pick the best songs from the collection he would make available to them.

The controversial Photo.

Beyonce darkens her skin for the March 9th Anniversary issue of L’Officiel in an African-themed spread. The French fashion magazine featured the singer wearing a tribal African inspired dress and jewelry by Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, Rodarte, and Fendi.

Beyonce’s mom, Tina Knowles, created one of the African-inspired pieces for the photoshoot. Beyonce agreed to have her face painted darker and decorated with tribal make-up as a tribute to Nigerian musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti.

L’Officiel had released a statement about the controversial shoot, writing, “Far from the glamorous Sasha Fierce, the beauty posed for the magazine with amazing fashion designers clothes, but also in a dress created by her mother. A return to her African roots, as you can see on the picture, on which her face was voluntarily darkened. All the pictures will be available in the collector edition, on sell at the end of this month.”

People not too long ago were shocked to see Beyonce with her skin lightened in L’Oreal ads. Many brown women are shown lighter than real life in many cosmetic and fashion ads, such as Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kimora Simmons, and many others.

The Atlanta Post said that Beyonce’s black face isn’t consider art, writing, “With the frequent use of this image on both the catwalk and in fashion editorial, it makes one wonder if this is a form of art or racism? […] The current tone of blackface may seem to be less malevolent today; still, the fashion industry has shown their insensitivity because this imagery is still considered in the Black community to be just as insidious and hurtful as it was in the past. Blackface is not fashion forward or edgy and in my opinion, it is just flat out offensive. Black folks must have a zero tolerance policy for any manifestation of blackface, period.”

This is not Beyonce’s first time being in hot water. The commercial for her fragrance Heat was recently banned in the UK for being to racy.

[VIA]

Buju Banton

Yoraps reports that Buju Banton (real name: Mark Myrie) has been found guilty of three of the four federal drug trafficking and gun charges brought against him following a 2009 government drug sting operation in Florida.

The verdict followed a four-day trial where Banton testified that he was entrapped by Alexander Johnson, a federal informant, and never wanted to purchase any drugs. But a video that the prosecution showed jurors of the Reggae star tasting cocaine inside of a warehouse seemed too persuade them of his guilt.

“This is not about Buju Banton, the Reggae singer. This is about Mark Myrie, the drug defendant,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney James Preston in his closing argument.

After hearing the guilty verdicts, the singer’s attorney David Markus, remarked, “Obviously, we are all upset and disappointed and emotional. The only person who seems to be okay is Buju. He told us he was happy he fought, knowing he was innocent.”

This was the second time that Banton was tried on the drug charges; the first-time ended with a mistrial as the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

A sentencing hearing hasn’t been set but the star is facing up to 20 years in prison.

In other news, Banton recently won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for his LP Before The Dawn.