TheNewsGuru

Tag: Music

  • Burna Boy delves into football, launches academy

    Burna Boy delves into football, launches academy

    Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, has launched the “Burna Boy Football Academy,” with training centers in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The academy aims to create an environment where the next generation of African players can learn football fundamentals alongside education, discipline, and technique, preparing them for success beyond the sport.

    The academy’s website states that the program is open to players aged 4-15 and 16-21, with training sessions held three times a week for two hours each session. The academy has partnered with several top-tier football clubs, including Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, and Brighton from the English Premier League, as well as Watford from the Championship and Scottish clubs Hearts and Hamilton.

    “We strive to engage parents in sports education, emphasizing its importance alongside academic pursuits,” the academy said on its website.

  • Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi delves into music, releases debut single

    Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi delves into music, releases debut single

    Fulham star Alex Iwobi has explained the inspiration behind his debut single, “Don’t Shoot.” The Nigerian international recently released the song with Ajax’s Chuba Akpom and Ramsgate’s Medy Elito.

     

    The former Arsenal midfielder said the track’s lyrics are meant to discourage youth violence in London and inspire young people to pursue positive goals.

     

    “Growing up in London, there is a lot of criminal activity, things that you don’t want to see or hear. With our powers, we are trying to say, don’t do that, channel it into something else,” Iwobi told the Evening Standard.

     

    “Whether it is football or music, anything that keeps you on the straight path is what we are trying to show everyone. I have always loved music; I am not going to lie, but in terms of releasing a song, I never thought [that would happen]. It was just something where my friends said: ‘The music is actually decent; why don’t you release it?’ So, we thought, let’s release it at the right time and not get distracted, because the main focus will always be football.

     

    “But at the same time, I am more than just a footballer. I am human, like everyone else,” he added.

    The Nigerian is expected lead the Fulham’s midfield next season in the English Premier League.

  • Davido reveals when he’d quit music

    Davido reveals when he’d quit music

    Popular Nigerian afrobeats singer,  David Adeleke, known on stage as  Davido, has hinted when he would be  quitting music.

    According to him, he would quit music after his next album.

    The ‘Unavailable’ crooner disclosed this on Thursday night while reacting to the recent pictures and videos doctored against him by some blogs.

    He claimed that some persons desperately want him out of the music industry.

    “Yall niggas really want me out the game that bad ?? Oya after next album I no do again . So una fit get peace,” he wrote on his X handle.

    It would be  recalled that Davido recently stated that since he came into the industry, most of his colleagues haven’t experienced peace of mind.

    Moreso, the artiste is currently having a running battle with fellow artiste, Wizkid on social media.

  • Portable is copying my style – Terry G laments

    Portable is copying my style – Terry G laments

    Popular Nigerian singer, Gabriel Oche Amanyi,  known on stage  as Terry G, has posited  that his colleague, Habeeb Okikiola aka Portable is copying  his “character.”

    But Terry G added that the ‘Zazu’ crooner failed to copy the musical part of him.

    Terry G spoke in the latest episode of ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast which premiered on Monday night.

    “Portable picked the acting part of me. He didn’t pick the musical part of me. Music is about the instruments. Is it only about your voice? He didn’t create time to learn any instrument,” he said.

    The ‘Akpako Master’ also spoke on his fight with his colleague, AY. Com.

    “I beat AY.Com, I produced ‘Pass Me Ur Luv’, sang the hook and also had a verse on the song so nobody has the right to tell me not to perform that song at my shows. Moreover, he didn’t pay me for the production,” he said.

  • 6 ways AI can boost music creativity – Google

    6 ways AI can boost music creativity – Google

    Google on Wednesday highlighted six ways Gemini could boost Africa music creativity, leveraging  Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, Gemini.

    Gemini,  formerly Bard is one of Google’s best artificial intelligence tool.

    The Communications  and Public Affairs manager, Google  West Africa, Taiwo Kola- Ogunlade  said in a statement  that becoming a global music star demanded talent, grit, and willingness to learn along the way.

    Kola-Ogunlade said that Gemini would not guarantee fame but could provide knowledge to  fuel creativity, and help one tap into the resources needed to propel  career forward.

    He said that in vibrant music communities like the ones in Lagos, Johannesburg and Nairobi, it was not just about who you know but how you connect, Gemini helped one go beyond networking.

    According  to him, it is also about  igniting  creative spark, Gemini can reignite inspiration, suggest lyrical rhymes for a song with an empowering theme.

    ‘’Gemini is your brainstorming partner, ready to push your artistic boundaries.

    ‘’Gemini can help you find your voice,  help to craft an artist’s biography that captures one’s  passion for social change through music.

    ‘’The music industry can feel like a maze – contracts, copyright laws, and navigating key players often requires insider knowledge, instead of feeling overwhelmed, ask Gemini to break it down,’’ he said.

    According  to him, Gemini  explains  answers to straight  questions in a very simple way.

    Kola-Ogunlade  said that  in the world of music, one’s style spoke volumes, Gemini helped one to  explore,  like Burna boy and Sho Majodzi,  were famed for their unique fashion sense, and helped find bold, colourful outfits inspired by their style.

    He said that beyond the music videos, in the digital age, visuals amplified one’s message, as  Gemini could spark one’s video concepts.

    According to him, the next time you are researching artist contracts, building your fan base  or brainstorming on your next music video, open your browser and type gemini.google.com, and Gemini will be your guide and partner in the thrilling musical adventure.

  • I will never return to the music industry – Britney Spears

    I will never return to the music industry – Britney Spears

    American singer and Princess of Pop, Britney Spears has said she will never return to the music industry.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Britney Spears made this known on Wednesday via an Instagram post, following rumours of a new album.

    There have been several reports that the Princess of Pop had approached Charli XCX and Julia Michaels to present songs for a new album.

    However, Spears denied the reports, saying she only writes for fun or for other artists.

    “Just so we’re clear, most of the news is trash!!! They keep saying I’m turning to random people to do a new album… I will never return to the music industry!!!

    “When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people!!! For those of you who have read my book, there’s loads that you don’t know about me.

    “I’ve written over 20 songs for other people the past two years!!! I’m a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way,” Spears stated.

    TNG reports Spears has 9 studio albums, eight compilation albums, nine box sets and three extended plays (EPs) to her name.

    She also has 50 singles, including two as a featured artist; 11 promotional singles, two charity singles, and has made three guest appearances.

    The singer’s last album was 2016’s Glory, though she also teamed up with Elton John for 2021’s “Hold Me Closer.”

    Since then, no songs written by Spears have seen release, leading to the possibility that the 42-year-old uses a pseudonym to write for others.

    In her recent memoir, The Woman in Me, Spears wrote: “pushing forward in my music career is not my focus at the moment.

    “It’s time for me not to be someone who other people want; it’s time to actually find myself”.

  • Wizkid recounts horrible events in 2023

    Wizkid recounts horrible events in 2023

    Popular Nigerian Afrobeats musician, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, famously  known as Wizkid, has lamented how tough the year 2023 was for him.

    WIZKID made this known in a post on his Instagram story on Sunday evening.

    He further stated that he is looking forward to a better 2024.

    “23 show me shege! 24 be good to me!.”

    Wizkid’s revelation may not be unconnected to his mother’s death.

    Recall that Wizkid lost his mother in August 2023, during a tour for his album, ‘More Love Less Ego’ in Europe.

    The singer described the incident as his deepest pain in life.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that WIZKID is planning on going for a music break to focus on other things.

  • Ghanaian singer, Shatta Wale praises Nigerian artistes, laments dwindling state of Ghanaian music

    Ghanaian singer, Shatta Wale praises Nigerian artistes, laments dwindling state of Ghanaian music

    Ghanaian dancehall singer, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has cried out over the declining state of his country’s music industry.

    The Ghanaian artiste lamented Nigerian music was progressing while Ghana’s was dwindling.

     

    The controversial artiste said Ghanaian musicians can no longer compete with their Nigerian counterparts, while acknowledging the huge gap between the two music industries in terms of growth in recent years.

    On his X handle, Shatta Wale wrote: “Naija music going up
    Going up
    Going up
    Naija music going up.

    “You can’t fight them.

    “Ghana music falling down
    Falling down
    Falling down
    Ghana music falling down.”

  • Sheyman introduced me to those who scammed me – Eldee reveals

    Sheyman introduced me to those who scammed me – Eldee reveals

    Veteran Nigerian hip-hop musician, Eldee The Don has revealed how he was scammed by a firm introduced to him by fellow singer, Sheyman.

    Eldee made the revelation on the latest episode of the King of Talks podcast, hosted by comedian, Teju Babyface.

    The former member of the now disbanded Trybesmen explained this was the reason he why quit music and relocated abroad.

    He further disclosed that he left Nigeria because he needed to “clear” his head after he got “scammed” by an advisory firm that collected money from some investors and lied to them that they were investing the money in his music.

    He said, “What happened was that, Sheyman introduced me to a gentleman called Tonye Akindele, who at a time had a capital advisory firm. What they do is to look for business to invest in. They have people who fund those portfolios.

    “So they approached me for a partnership. And I accepted. But unbeknown to me, what was happening was him [Tonye Akindele] and his partner had the people who were funding the record label but the label was not getting money. I was still funding my music.”

    Eldee said it took him almost a year before he realised that he was being scammed after incurring huge debts.

    He also  said some of his team members left their families abroad to come to Nigeria to be part of that project but ended up with nothing.

  • Why I went to university – TY Bello

    Why I went to university – TY Bello

    Nigerian singer and photographer, Toyin Sokefun-Bello, aka TY Bello, has said she had a university education just to please her mum.

    The minstrel said her plan was to become a “big hairstylist” after graduation, adding that she has always been creative as far back as she can remember.

    She said she started writing songs at the age of 8.

    The ‘Land is Green crooner stated this while featuring as a guest on the latest episode of I Said What I Said podcast, co-hosted by FK and Jola.

    She said she started photography and music almost at the same time.

    TY Bello said, “I have been writing songs since I was 8, 9, 10. I started music and photography [professionally] right at the same time.

    “After university, when everyone in my class knew where they wanted to work. And I had no such dream. I was very confused.

    “University was that period where I thought, ‘okay, let me go to school to make my mum happy. Then I was going to graduate to be a big hairstylist.’ I thought that was my future.

    “When it came to NYSC and everybody asked where to be posted to, I asked to be posted to the south. I was like, what do I do? And I think that was the major turning point where I realised that I had to be posted to phototech because I just started photography.

    “It wasn’t like I wanted to be a photographer all my life, but that one move made me who I am today.”