TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigerian singer

  • Why I quit digital marketing to pursue music – Tems

    Why I quit digital marketing to pursue music – Tems

    Nigerian singer, Tems, has explained why she quit her job as a digital marketer to focus on her music career.

    The ‘Love Me Jeje’ hitmaker explained that it wasn’t an easy decision, but she was confident in divine direction, especially as she felt digital marketing wasn’t her destined career.

    In a recent conversation with Billboard, Tems said she had to wait for six months after quitting her job before she released her first single, ‘Mr Rebel,’ which gained some traction.

    She said, “I quit my digital marketing job because it got to a point where I couldn’t take anymore. It was really dawning on me like, it’s now or never. I was just putting it off until I developed faith that God would see me through wherever I go.

    “I quit my job in January 2018, I released ‘Mr Rabel’ six or seven months after I quit my job. Spiritually, I was aware that digital marketing wasn’t my path; I need to leave this place right now. It felt really like life or death. It was like this can make or break your destiny, and you need to make a decision right now. I chose to quit, and it worked out.”

  • I am hated because my dad is wealthy – Davido spills

    I am hated because my dad is wealthy – Davido spills

    Nigerian singer, David Adeleke better known as Davido has said he is the most criticised celebrity in Nigeria simply for being from a wealthy background.

    The singer who is the son of billionaire Adedeji Adeleke, made the claim in a recent episode of the Culture Knock Out podcast, where he explained that  the “rich kid” stigma could have affected his career if he hadn’t hidden his background in the beginning.

    He said, “I’m the biggest criticised artist in Nigeria. I mean, I’m on fire and I’ve been on fire for a while. In the beginning, they didn’t know that my dad was rich. So the stigma of a rich kid doing music didn’t end up as crazy as it should have been for me.

    “People didn’t know my father was rich. It was too late, I already did three hit songs before they found out that my dad had money…

    “But I just wanted to do music. I didn’t care if I had to become homeless. At that point, that was all I wanted to do. Nothing would stop me.

    “Over time, people started hating me because my dad is rich. But I keep on dropping good music, and it keeps working out.

    “It happens to everyone, once you become the biggest in anything, you will get criticised. You are running for an election, people love you, and they vote for you. But when you become president, they hate you.”

  • Wizkid cancels multiple U.S. shows on ‘Morayo’ Tour

    Wizkid cancels multiple U.S. shows on ‘Morayo’ Tour

    Nigerian music star, Wizkid, has cancelled several U.S. stops on his much-anticipated ‘Morayo’ tour, leaving fans disappointed across major cities.

    The Grammy winner had been slated to make a grand return to the international stage with the Morayo tour. However, concert organisers have now reportedly confirmed that several U.S. dates have been called off.

    Checks shows that the official ticketing platform revealed that most US and Canadian dates were marked as “cancelled by the event organisers”.

    The company also informed fans who purchased tickets that they will receive automatic refunds within 14 to 21 days.

    “Unfortunately, the Event Organizer has had to cancel your event,” the post reads.

    “You don’t need to do a thing. We’ll issue a refund to the original method of payment used at time of purchase, as soon as funds are received from the Event Organizer. It should appear on your account within 14-21 days.

    “Please Note: If the tickets were transferred to you, the refund will go to the fan who originally purchased the tickets from Ticketmaster.”

    This marks yet another postponement in Wizkid’s touring schedule, which had already faced delays following the tragic loss of his mother in 2023.

    Though no official reason has been publicly given for the cancellations, sources close to the artist suggest logistical challenges and rescheduling issues may be contributing factors.

  • How early fame deprived me of life experiences – Lil Kesh

    How early fame deprived me of life experiences – Lil Kesh

    Nigerian rapper and singer, Lil Kesh, has opened up about the emotional and psychological toll that early fame had on him, comparing his experience to that of global pop sensation Justin Bieber.

    Speaking in a recent interview on the Esther Show, the former YBNL star highlighted the challenges of rising to stardom at a young age.

    According to him, he said, although fame brought success and recognition, it also came at the cost of a normal youth.

    “I blew at a very tender age. I was 19 when I got signed. I just turned 20 when I had ‘Shoki’. So, battling the limelight,” he said.

    “I feel like that is not really talked about too much. But shout out to people like Justin Bieber that was vulnerable and was able to tell his story.

    “My own too is similar to that. It is just coming to limelight at an early age. I was also deprived of a lot of things. A lot of life experiences I could have learnt before I was put into the position.

    “A lot of fun I could have had. It was overwhelming blowing up at that time. And also trying to maintain the brand over the years.”

    Reflecting on his journey, Lil Kesh acknowledged the weight of expectation and the steep learning curve that came with fame. “I wished I had learnt so much before I was given what I had. Growth and intelligence overall,” he added.

  • Seun Kuti escapes death in America

    Seun Kuti escapes death in America

    Nigerian Grammy-nominated singer, Seun Kuti, has taken to social media to narrate his experience after  escaping a stray bullet in the United States.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Kuti in a video shared on his verified Instagram page captured the terrifying moment on Sunday evening, May 5, 2025.

    The singer explained that the bullet unexpectedly pierced through the window of his hotel room.

    He said, “I read somewhere that these are the civilized people.

    “Tell me you are in America without telling me you are in America. I am in my hotel room just chilling and boom this happened”.

  • This is disrespectful – Rema attacked for performing with statues of Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy

    This is disrespectful – Rema attacked for performing with statues of Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy

    Nigerian music superstar, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has come under criticism for disrespecting Afrobeat giants Davido, Burna Boy and Wizkid during a recent concert.

    The ‘Heis’  crooner while performing at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City made a bold declaration, as he brought statues of Afrobeats giants Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid on stage towering symbols of the genre’s current powerhouses. 

    The 23-year-old singer also included himself alongside these legends, hereby implying that he was a powerhouse just like his senior colleagues.

    Not stopping there, the singer also declared that there were no more big three, but big four, which his  crowd roared in approval.

    The singer’s action has sparked an outrage amongst fans who found it disrespectful to the African giants.

    Taking to Twitter, now known as X, Daniel Regha berated Rema for subtly disrespecting them. According to the popular critic, Rema can never be in the same league with the legends.

    He wrote, “Rema will never be in the same league as Davido, Wizkid, or Burna. What he did, performing “Hehehe” next to their mannequins, isn’t entertainment but an act of subtle disrespect. His management should have known better, there’s a thin line between admiration and mockery. When it comes to the conversation about the Big 3, or even the Top 10, he’s not making such a list unless it’s a list of new artists from his time/era. No offence”.

    Another user who agreed with Regha wrote, “I support Regha on this because why he dey claim big 4 when Olamide dey. But I’m sure he would have gotten their consent before doing this as well sha.”

    One user disagreed saying, “Rema didn’t disrespect anyone. He showed respect by including the Big 3 in his moment. It was his way of saying, “I see those who came before me, and I’m here too”. That’s not disrespect, it’s growth

    Another user remarked, “But Daniel is right. He should find his own top 3, not add to an already made top 3 list and make it 4.”

  • It is scary – Davido speaks on resemblance between son, late Ifeanyi

    It is scary – Davido speaks on resemblance between son, late Ifeanyi

    Nigerian recording artiste, David Adeleke, who is better known as Davido has disclosed that his son shares an eerie resemblance with his late son, Ifeanyi Adeleke.

    The singer during a recent chat with Ebro Darden in a deeply emotional revelation described the similarity as “scary,” noting how the loss of Ifeanyi in 2022 was one of the darkest moments of his life.

    It would recalled that Ifeanyi passed away in November 2022. Davido and his wife, Chioma went through a quiet period, secretly tying the knot. Nearly a year later, they welcomed a set of twins in October 2023.

    Sharing details on the physical features of his son, Davido stated that his family believes that he is a reincarnation of their late Ifeanyi.

    Davido said, “That type of loss made you just be like, ‘I’m out’. I’m just going to chill, take care of my wife and take care of the family and get my head right.

    “And the boy looks just like my son that passed. It is scary. It’s like literally him. We’re like, ‘No, it’s him. He came back.”

    Now a father again, he reflected on how the pain shaped him: “To come back from that and be blessed with twins out the gate… it just shows God is real.”

  • Nigerian men are not romantic – Tiwa Savage

    Nigerian men are not romantic – Tiwa Savage

    Nigerian singer a Tiwa Savage, has stated that her countrymen are not romantic.

    The mother of one made this known in a recent conversation with GRam Daily’s ‘Thoughts in a Culli,’ where she noted that Nigerian men are “swaggalicious but not romantic.”

    She stated that Nigerian men could also be generous, but she is looking for more.

    “Nigerian men do have swag but they are not really romantic when it comes down to it.

    “They know how to swag and splash cash, but I’m not looking for that,” she said.

  • Singer Portable sentenced to three months imprisonment

    Singer Portable sentenced to three months imprisonment

    An Ogun State Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Ifo Local Government Area, has sentenced controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, to three months in prison with an option of a ₦30,000 fine.

    The judgment, delivered by Chief Magistrate Babajide Ilo, found Portable guilty of Counts 1 and 2. He sentenced the defendant to one month’s imprisonment with an option of a ₦10,000 fine for Count 1 and two months’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦20,000 fine for Count 2.

    It would be recalled that the musician was arrested in March 2023 following an altercation with a police inspector. According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Olumide Awoleke, Portable physically attacked the police officer and obstructed officers who were attempting to serve him with an arrest warrant.

    The charge sheet revealed that on November 18, 2022, at approximately 11:00 am in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District, Portable, along with others now at large, conspired to commit felony, including assault and theft.

    The charge sheet reads, “That you, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, and others now at large, on the 18th day of November 2022 at 11:00 hrs, in Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit: assault, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State 2006.

    “That you, Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned district, did unlawfully assault one Osimosu Emmanuel Oluwafemi (male) by beating him all over his body, thereby committing an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria 2006.

    “That you, Badmus Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, on various occasions in the year 2022, at Okeosa, Ilogbo, within the Ifo Magisterial District, did steal some musical equipment, including a Yamaha H55 studio monitor, a complete Studio 2 interface connection cable, and an AKG P420 condenser, thereby committing an offense contrary to Sections 384 and 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2006.”

  • I don’t get enough credit for my impact in music industry – Davido

    I don’t get enough credit for my impact in music industry – Davido

    Popular Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, who is better known as Davido, has mentioned that he doesn’t get enough credit for his impact in the music industry.

    He explained that despite being consistent in the music industry for 15 years, people don’t give him his due credit.

    Speaking in a recent interview with content creator Egungun of Lagos, Davido said, “I have been conquering the music industry for 15 years, but the crazy thing is that people don’t give me my flowers [ that I deserve.”

    Egungun inferred, “Do you believe that you have haters?”

    Davido replied, “There are haters, but when I go everywhere, they love me, so I’m like, where are the haters?”

    Despite his claims of not getting enough credit, Davido is one of the most-awarded artists, not only in Nigeria but in Africa.