TheNewsGuru

Tag: NIGERIAN MUSIC

  • Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ grasps about 300 million views on YouTube

    Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ grasps about 300 million views on YouTube

    Nigerian singer, Divine Ikubor, professionally known by his stage name Rema, is on the lips of everyone on social media, after his most recent feat with his song, Calm Down.

    Rema, who released the song, “Calm down” about 10 months ago scored another impressive feat after the song garnered almost 300 million views on youtube.

    The song, “Calm Down” is off Rema’s debut studio album, Rave and Rose, which was released earlier in the year 2022.

    The Mavin record singer also released a remix with American singer, Selena Gomez, which is already the most streamed Afro-beat song in the year 2022.

    This is only one of Rema’s many achievements so far in the year 2022.

    Recall that Rema rose to stardom with the release of the song “Dumebi”. In 2019, he later signed a record deal with Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Rema started his music career in churches. In 2018, he posted a viral freestyle on Instagram to D’Prince’s track “Gucci Gang”. The post caught the attention of D’Prince who flew him to Lagos to offer a record deal to the young talent.

    Rema signed a record deal with D’Prince’s Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by record producer Don Jazzy, in 2019. He went on to release his self-titled debut EP “Rema” in 2019, which peaked at number 1 on Apple Music Nigeria.
    Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ grasps about 300 million views on YouTube
    On 21 May 2019, Jonzing World, and Mavins released the music video of “Dumebi”, a major breakout song from his self-titled EP, featuring a cameo appearance from Diana Eneje. The video was directed by Ademola Falomo and currently has 60 million views on YouTube.

    Later that summer, In 2019, one of his other most popular songs from the EP gained more popularity when it was placed on the former president of the United States of America, Barack Obama’s summer playlist.

    In May 2021, Rema announced he will be calling his sound “Afrorave”, a subgenre of Afrobeats with influences of Arabian and Indian music which has led to him having one of the strongest fanbases in the country known as Ravers.

    In September 2021, Rema was unveiled as a brand ambassador for the popular soft drink Pepsi alongside his label mate Ayra Starr.

    On 7 November 2022, Rema received on stage an award during his London concert as his songs achieved 1 billion streams worldwide.

  • “Wizkid is the father of the Nigerian music industry, just as I am Uncle To Davido”- Burna Boy

    “Wizkid is the father of the Nigerian music industry, just as I am Uncle To Davido”- Burna Boy

    Grammy award-winning singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, has concurred with Wizkid’s claim of being the father of the Nigerian music industry, saying “I am the Uncle To Davido in this music industry”.

    Burna Boy threw shade at Davido as he replied Wizkid.

    Recall that earlier Wizkid had sent a message to his colleagues in the industry that they need to call him daddy or sir.

    In his reaction, Burna Boy stated that he was the uncle to Davido in the industry.

    He said: “Lmao, normally Wizkid na every Naija artistes popsy for sure. But I be Uncle to Davido for the Music thing!!! Yes I said it!!!”.

    See the post below:
    "Wizkid is the father of the Nigerian music industry, just as I am Uncle To Davido"- Burna Boy

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Wizkid had further stated that “even if I retire, you can’t match my wealth.”

    This came after the Wizkid shared a rare family photo of himself with his baby mama, Jada Pollock, and his son, Zion.

    Taking to his Snapchat page, he revealed that even if he retires from his career today, his wealth will remain unmatched.

    Speaking on having respect added to his name, Wizzy wrote: “I can stop touching the mic today and y’all lil niggas still can’t touch the wealth! Even if u ask ur dad and mom for help #moreloveLessEgo # Eve ryBody’s Daddy.

    “Also soon. I’ll open a class for u niggas to come learn how to get all you deserve with less work and smart business choices. Moving forward! Y’all address me as Sir or daddy before u mention my name ! Ok babies!”

  • Again, Orits Williki emerges chairman of MCSN Board

    Again, Orits Williki emerges chairman of MCSN Board

    Nigerian reggae musician, Orits Williki, has been unanimously re-elected as the chairman of the General Council (Board) of the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/ Gte (MCSN) by the Board members.

     

    And shortly after his re-election on Wednesday, Williki in a press conference to outline the road map for his three-year tenure, called on all users of musical works and sound recording to respect their copyright obligations to the MCSN and disregard any demand from an imposter organisation masquerading as a collecting society.

     

    He used the opportunity to address complaints brought before the Society by users of music especially broadcasters seeking clarification on the claim by “Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON)” that a Federal High Court has given it a judgment to stop a radio station, City FM, from broadcasting musical works in its programmes without its (COSON) licence.

     

    Orits Williki used the event to thank all members of the Society and fellow Board members for reposing confidence in him to re-elect him for another three years of service.

     

    The CEO of MCSN, Mr. Mayo Ayilaran explained that the Chairman was re-elected after having served when the Society was in the trenches.

     

    “It is a fact that Orits was the Chairman when we were in the trenches but now we are out of it. What remains is the stability of the operations of the Society. So the members of the Board felt he should be re-elected to ensure the stability of the Society going forward. As they say, you do not change a winning team,”  he explained.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that he gained recognition upon the success of his 1989 record, Tribulation produced in part by Lemmy Jackson.

     

    The record was followed by Conqueror, released in 1990, and in 1991, he released a less successful LP Wha Dis Wha Dat.

     

    The album included the single, Heart of Stone which included an Islamic chant, an addition by Wiliki, a Christian to promote religious tolerance.

     

    The influence of religion was eminent in some of his songs so also was disenchantment with the Nigerian society.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria is a rival association to the Copyright Society of Nigeria.

     

    Founded in 1984, MSCN is an incorporated collective association of authors, composers, arrangers and music publishers.

  • Femi Kuti @ 60, his music and lifestyle

    Femi, the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and a grandchild of women’s rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, turned 60 on Saturday.

     

    Unarguably, Femi is not just a multi-instrumentalist, he is also a singer and songwriter. His earliest introduction to songwriting was by his father, Fela.

     

    Just like his father, Femi knows when to slow down the pace of the song and when to quicken it. He knows when to change the tune, when to dance, when to sit, when to dramatise, when to relax and when to be serious.

     

    For Femi, bearing his father’s legacy with respect has been a worthwhile journey. Like his father, Femi has remained committed to social justice, human rights and music has remained a critical component of his activism and a channel through which he tells the stories of Nigerian people.

     

    Femi took charge of the Afrika Shrine after his father’s death in 1997. He renovated the shrine and rechristened it the New Afrika Shrine.

     

    Ever since, his irresistible music – and his often scathing lyrics, sung in Nigerian pidgin and Yoruba – has endeared him to many.

     

    He took up the saxophone at age 16 and within a couple of years was playing in Fela’s band, which featured an entourage of well over 20 musicians and dancers. During a Nigerian army raid on Fela’s home, Kuti’s mother died after falling from a window—a tragedy he has laid at the feet of Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.

     

    Femi rose to the position of assistant band leader before he decided to set out on his own. In 1986, he started his band, Positive Force, and began establishing himself as an artiste, independent of his father’s massive structure and legacy.

     

    His international career began in 1988 when the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christian Mousset invited him to perform at the Festival d’Angoulême (France). He also performed at the New Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany. He went on to tour Europe and then entered America. All the while, back home in Nigeria, many remained sceptical about his music and critical of his style.

     

    He released his debut album, ‘No Cause For Alarm’, in 1989 and came out of his father’s shadow. He followed with ‘Mind Your Own Business (M.Y.O.B.)’ in 1991. In 1994, Motown, home to Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and more, signed Femi Kuti. He released a self-named album ‘Femi Kuti’ in 1995, which featured the global hit ‘Wonder Wonder.’

     

    A highly successful tour of the United States followed. Femi Kuti enjoyed mass success by releasing more albums. ‘Fight To Win’ (2001) included several U.S. musicians, including Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright. He has nominations for several awards, including World Best Live Act and World’s Best Entertainer at the World Music Awards. In 2000, he won World’s Best Selling African Artiste at the World Music Award.

  • Nigeria music revenue to hit $86m in 2021 – Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria music revenue to hit $86m in 2021 – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says Nigeria music revenue is projected to hit 86 million dollar (about N3.096 billion) in 2021, making it the biggest in Africa.

    The minister gave the projection on Thursday in Madrid, Spain at the 11th edition of the Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa (Investour) organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and CASA Africa.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the forum is on the sideline of the ongoing 2020 International Tourism Trade Fair (Fitur), one of the biggest tourism fairs worldwide that holds annually in Madrid.

    Mohammed who was among the panelists at the forum said the nation’s music revenue grew from about 36 million dollar in 2014 (about N1.596 billion) to 53 million dollar (about N1.908 billion) in 2018.

    He said a chunk of the figure came from digital music consumption, an area of the market which significantly boosted the industry in Nigeria and paved the way for local Artists.

    He said that Nigeria has a very vibrant and popular music industry which not only reflects her cultural richness but has over the years translated into international recognition and acceptance.

    The minister also disclosed that fashion and design earnings were put at slightly over N4 trillion of Nigeria’s re-based GDP in 2018.

    He noted that tourism is a multifaceted sector consisting of both informal and formal enterprises, with numerous subcategories which include the arts and crafts.

    “The activities of the arts and craft industry represent a special category of tourism (SMMEs).

    “Although the art and craft sector largely consists of an unskilled workforce and individuals from remote and poor rural areas, it contributes to addressing some of the challenges that local communities face.

    “It is also viewed as a cultural activity which represents the essence of the people’s way of life and serves as an integral part of the travel and tourism industry,” he said.

    The minister noted that with the impressive figures, the Creative Industry has been viewed as a sector that could help the government reach its goal of diversifying the nation’s economy away from oil.

  • American Singer, Ashanti declares love for Nigerian music

    …shoots music video with Willie XO

    Nigerian Afrobeats star is currently living the dream as he has featured American super singer, Ashanti in his track which is due to hit the airwaves.
    The beautiful 37-year-old American musician dropped the hint recently that she was going to work with Willie XO on a video in the Asian nation of Thailand.
    Ashanti who recently recorded a song with the likes of Chris Brown, French Montana and Lil Wayne did not hide the excitement of the chance to work with the Nigerian act.
    “I am so, so excited because there are two projects coming up. I am releasing an EP later this year. I am working with Metro Boomin Me and my big brother will be working together, and we have some cool ideas and we are super-excited with who we will be working with and why.
    “I like a lot of Nigerian music. Actually I am going to shoot a video in Thailand with a Nigerian artiste named Willie XO. I really like Tekno too,” said Ashanti who is born Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas.
    For Willie XO, this is indeed a dream come true. From watching Ashanti a few years back to seeing her dance to his first single ‘Kraze’ last year, he has moved higher to working on a video with her. Surely there are no better times for the Nigerian musician.
    “I grew up watching Ashanti perform and win multiple awards. Now I’m watching her dance to my song and the feeling is incredible,” he said about Ashanti dancing to his song last year.
     

  • Burna Boy blasts Nigerian pop stars, says “Only Fela does Afrobeat”

    Despite Nigeria’s pop stars experimenting with Afrobeats, Burna Boy has said the genre of music associated with the legendary Fela Kuti can only be done excellently by Fela.

    Over the years, the likes of Wizkid, Tekno, D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Olamide have experimented with Afrobeats, paying tributes to Fela.

    Speaking in a recent interview with Radar Radio, the artiste corrected the show’s host who referred to him as the “King of this Afrobeat scene”.

    In his response, Burna said: “First of all, let me correct you, it’s not afro-beat for me, it’s Afro-fusion.

    As far as I’m concerned only Fela Kuti does Afrobeat”.

     

    Though foreign music critics often classify contemporary Nigerian pop music as Afrobeats, Nigerian music pundits are always quick to say Nigerian pop music isn’t made up of Afrobeats in its entirety.

     

    Immortalise Fela’s ideas to achieve a corrupt free society – Lumumba tells African leaders

     

  • How Nigerian music is taking over- DJ Diplo

    American DJ, DJ Diplo who was in Nigeria for Gidi Fest has revealed how Nigerian music is taking over the world stage. The entertainer whose performance in Nigeria was marred by heavy rain said:”Nigeria has this huge diaspora, like Jamaica. Nigerians live everywhere: England, L.A., New York. Nigerians have had a huge impact on music in the last ten years.The music scene is amazing because they have pop stations—you’re gonna hear Bieber and Katy Perry.

    “Then they have all the hip-hop and R&B—“Bad and Boujee” was a hit in Lagos before America. Then they have all the Nigerian stuff—the Afro-pop like Davido, Wizkid, Mr Eazi. And then they also have legacy stuff, like Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti, palm-wine music, and highlife.”

     

    Diplo also described his experience performing in Nigeria. He said: “I said to [Major Lazer MC] Walshy Fire, Man, Nigeria is where you either live or die as a DJ. This is like the DJ Olympics.”

    Diplo is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter and record executive based in Los Angeles, California. He is the co-creator and lead member of the dancehall music project Major Lazer, and along with producer and DJ Skrillex, formed the electronic duo Jack Ü. He founded and manages record company Mad Decent, as well as co-founding the non-profit organization Heaps Decent.

     

  • Why Nigerian artistes are resorting to dance tracks- Emma Nyra

    The subject matter of quality songwriting in contemporary Nigerian music has always been an issue that consistently comes up during music parleys. Artistes like Timaya have said on countless times that dance tracks are the songs the Nigerian target love to listen to.

    In the same vein, Nigerian songstress, Emma Nyra upholds the same opinion. According to her,Nigerian audience loves to dance and that is why most artistes prefer dance tracks to RnB

     

    She said:”Our target market likes to dance and that is why you see that most Nigerian artistes release dance tracks because that is where the money is.

     

    “If you want artistes to sing songs with good content then our target market, the consumers need to appreciate us when we sing RnB songs. If you celebrate musicians with content, then the content of their music will change. Now we have a trend of dance music and If that doesn’t change, dance music will continue to be the trending music”.