Akos GH, Winner Mentor 7 Returns with a Banger

Winner of TV3 Mentor 7 fame, Akos has made her return to mainstream music in Ghana through Promo House Music and Incredible Entertainment.

This singer features Kumi Guitar on her single titled "Twe Sen".
Speaking to Akos GH on the latest single, Akos GH believes this song is going to pave way for her come back and will let the world know of her vocal prowess.

Akos GH was last seen on stage with Akosua Adjepong during her 25th Anniversary in music and she was the toast of the night.

Listen to her new single below:
 https://soundcloud.com/smith-george/twe-san-ft-kumi-guitar?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

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Ghanaian artists deserve proper representation and management to compete on Global stage – Benny “Blanco”Ashun

Benny Ashun, Country Director of Africa 1 Media, has called for the creative industry in Ghana to take a broader view of the need for good talent management in order to position local talents as players on the global stage.

“The Ghanaian creative sector is in need of a representation revolution if artists are to come into their full potential”, he said. “Many artists, whether musicians, fine artists, poets, cartoonists, sculptors etc. fall short of their long term goals because of a lack of decisive management that really complements talent and leads to longevity in their chosen crafts.”

Ashun who is well-recognized as a broadcaster and consummate media professional, now takes on the role of overseeing the operations of Africa 1 Media, a professional services firm known for empowering fresh talent in Africa’s creative and sporting sector through business strategy and legal counsel, in Ghana. With many years’ experience of engaging with Ghana’s creative and media space, he lends his wealth of expertise towards developing up and coming creative talent in Ghana.

Ashun’s comments come at a time when many Ghanaian artists and sporting talents bemoan the apparent glass ceiling within their respective industries due to a lack of management and real strategic guidance. Talent management is a human resource necessity which prompted a research report on talent strategy from Bersin by Deloitte. The report states that, at least half of organisations at the highest level of effectiveness at business outcomes have an established talent strategy. By contrast, of those organisations rated least effective at business outcomes, between 70% and 80% lack a talent strategy.[1]

Ashun affirms this by stating that, people often fail to think of the arts as credible business ventures. “Talents in the creative space deserve the same level of strategic and professional guidance being delivered to their peers in the corporate world towards productivity and profitability”, he said.

As the Country Director for Africa 1 Media, Benny Ashun leads a dynamic team that is empowering artists and sports professionals through world class management services. Ashun expressed hope that more artists would seek out proper management that is linked to business strategy in order to compete on the world stage.

Africa 1 Media (A1M) represents artists such as Sarkodie, Edem, Bisa Kdei, and Akwaboah amongst others. As part of its initiatives towards empowering the creative sector in Ghana are a series of upcoming thought leadership seminars to support artists in developing themselves into successful brands.

About Africa 1 Media

Africa 1 Media is a multi-functioning professional services firm with a unique focus on providing business and legal counsel that empowers creative individuals and businesses in the entertainment, media, artistic and sports arenas. Africa 1 Media supports creatives in their efforts to advance their talent whilst paying close attention to national and international legal frameworks and protocols which guard and regulate their industries and sectors. With over a decade of hands-on experience and an arsenal of seasoned professionals in the legal, business, public relations, entertainment and television sectors, Africa 1 Media has an established reputation for guiding creatives to build viable commercial enterprises and long-lasting, impactful careers.  

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Obour’s mum passes on

President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffour, known in showbiz as Obour has lost his mother.
The 69-year old Christiana Addo, according to the musician, died on Sunday July 24, 2016 in London.

Obour who broke the news to his friends and fans on Facebook said they did “best but God had his own plans for my mum.”

“Friends, colleagues and loved ones. Thank you so much for your prayers. God bless you all for standing with me and showing solidarity in my difficult time. We did our best but I believe God had his own plans for my mum”.

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Abraham Attah presented with a key to Massachusetts by Mayor

On the 23rd of July, Ghanaian young actor Abraham Attah who is currently on location shooting in Atlanta, Georgia was honored for his excellence in art at the African Youth Excellence Awards.
The event which took place in Worcester (Massachusetts) saw Abraham Attah picking up the honorary award for his achievements and was presented with a key to the city of Massachusetts by the Mayor Joseph M. Petty.
In a citation,the Mayor congratulated Abraham Attah on his achievements as a young actor. He stated in the citation
“Your award winning performance captivated world audiences; those profound strides serve as inspiration for young actors like you”. The African Youth Excellence Awards is an annual event which highlights the accomplishments of pursuers in the areas of art,education, information technology, entrepreneurship, innovation and humanitarianism. It’s objectives are to recognize and shine the light on young Africans pursuing excellence and also create and environment for networking.
Among the many honorees were Anas Aremyaw Anas, an investigative Journalist from Ghana. Abraham Attah is expected in Ghana in August after the final shoot of the Spiderman: Homecoming movie for his peace campaign dubbed the Abraham Attah Ghana Summit seeks to educate and create awareness on the need for peace before, during and after the December elections.

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MISS MALAIKA 2016 AUDITIONS ON JULY 30th

It’s the thirteenth year of Miss Malaika Ghana and it returns with a new twist as
ladies all across Ghana gear up to be part of the Auditions scheduled for
Saturday 30 th July 2016 at the NAFTI studios in Accra.

For Over 13 years, the Miss Malaika Beauty pageant has had many beautiful and
intelligent young Ghanaian ladies experience amazing turn around in their lives.

The Beautiful and articulate young ladies have changed their lives with Miss
Malaika Ghana and won KIA salon cars, over 500, 000.00 GHC cash prizes and
International trips to Dubai, South Africa, Egypt and Namibia.


The Search is on for the next Miss Malaika Ghana Beauty queen starting off with
the grand Audition is slated for Saturday July 30 th 2016 at The NAFTI Studios in
Accra.
 Ladies who wish to be auditions are expected to be seated by 7:30am in all
readiness for the entire audition process as they meet the astute judges. The 13 th
edition of Miss Malaika Ghana is produced by Charterhouse with support from CHP live.

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Nigerians always support their own but we spend time destroying each other - Stonebwoy

BET award winner and Afro-dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy has expressed worry about what he describes as a craze on the part of Ghanaian media to destroy hardworking Ghanaians instead of supporting them to see them go higher.

His comment come on the back of a publication that went viral on social media that he (Stonebwoy) was sacked from stage by Nigerian act, Wizkid at the One Africa Music Fest, New York, last Friday.
According to the publication, Stonebwoy was sacked to pave way for Wizkid to perform.
But the publication seems not to have gone down well with the founder and CEO of Bhim nation who has come swiftly to deny the publication.

Speaking on Entertainment Review on Hitz FM, he described the publication as unfounded.
According to him, some Ghanaians are fond of always writing defaming stories about their fellow Ghanaians who are working relentlessly to make it big in life.
He explained that Wizkid is a friend of theirs and there is no way he could sack him as was claimed in the story.
He continued that he was the one who posted the video on the social media so he is shocked that someone could twist the facts and do a malicious story about him.

“Nigerians always support their own but we spend time destroying each other,” he said bitterly.
The ‘Bafira’ hit maker continued that he would not allow such bad publications to hurt him but rather he will concentrate on the good works he is doing.

Stonebwoy who is currently in USA says he will be coming home soon to celebrate the one year anniversary of his mother’s demise and afterwards embark on a three city tour in Australia before he returns for a big music concert in Tamale at the end of August.

Source: ghana-news.adomonline.com

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GLITZ AFRICA ANNOUNCES THE GLITZ STYLE AWARDS | OPENS NOMINATION

Ghana’s premier lifestyle brand, Glitz Africa returns with a second-serving of its successful flagship
event, “Glitz Style Awards”, which celebrates individuals setting trends and defying the odds with their
Fashion.
The awards, slated for 10th September 2016, also seek to strengthen the growing fashion industry
through development, promotion and setting international industry standard. The event is an
opportunity for the fashion industry to celebrate and promote the extraordinary creative talents in
Ghana and Africa as a whole.
The first edition last year was a gathering of the nation’s biggest stars clad in glamorous dresses,
bespoke tuxedos, and traditional pieces. The spectacular night had several high-profile individuals
picking up awards in different categories for their outstanding fashion sense.

The 2016 Glitz Style Awards has 16 categories which include; Designer of the year, Model of the year,
Stylist of the Year, Fashion Photographer of the year, Most Stylish Music, Radio and TV Personalities
among others.
To select the winners, the organizers approach over 200 members of the fashion industry to vote for the
front-runners of this year’s accolades. The voting guests mostly include industry insiders, journalists,
fashion bloggers, stylists, buyers, influencers and fashion icons. The general public this year again will
not be left behind, as they will have the chance for their voices to be heard by voting for their favorites
via social media.
Nominations starts on Monday, 25 th July 25, 2016 and ends on Monday, 15 th August, 2016.
For more information kindly contact:
styleawards@glitzafrica.com
info@glitzafrica.com
+233 302 798 513

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Boxing Legend Mohammed Ali is dead

Muhammad Ali, the silver-tongued boxer and civil rights champion who famously proclaimed himself "The Greatest" and then spent a lifetime living up to the billing, is dead.

Ali died Friday at a Phoenix-area hospital, where he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications, a family spokesman confirmed to NBC News. He was 74.

 Muhammad Ali Dies at Age 74 2:12

"After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell, a family spokesman, told NBC News.

Ali had suffered for three decades from Parkinson's, a progressive neurological condition that slowly robbed him of both his legendary verbal grace and his physical dexterity. A funeral service is planned in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

Even as his health declined, Ali did not shy from politics or controversy, releasing a statement in December criticizing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States. "We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda," he said.

The remark bookended the life of a man who burst into the national consciousness in the early 1960s, when as a young heavyweight champion he converted to Islam and refused to serve in the Vietnam War, and became an emblem of strength, eloquence, conscience and courage. Ali was an anti-establishment showman who transcended borders and barriers, race and religion. His fights against other men became spectacles, but he embodied much greater battles.

 Fighter and Thinker: the Two Sides of Muhammad Ali 1:16

Born Cassius Marcellus Clay on Jan. 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, to middle-class parents, Ali started boxing when he was 12, winning Golden Gloves titles before heading to the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where he won a gold medal as a light heavyweight.

He turned professional shortly afterward, supported at first by Louisville business owners who guaranteed him an unprecedented 50-50 split in earnings. His knack for talking up his own talents — often in verse — earned him the dismissive nickname "the Louisville Lip," but he backed up his talk with action, relocating to Miami to train with the legendary trainer Angelo Dundee and build a case for getting a shot at the heavyweight title.

Muhammad Ali, right, attacks Alex Mitoff in the sixth round in which Ali clobbered the Argentinean to the canvas, on Oct. 7, 1961 in Louisville, Ky. H.B. Littell / AP, file

As his profile rose, Ali acted out against American racism. After he was refused services at a soda fountain counter, he said, he threw his Olympic gold medal into a river.

Recoiling from the sport's tightly knit community of agents and promoters, Ali found guidance instead from the Nation of Islam, an American Muslim sect that advocated racial separation and rejected the pacifism of most civil rights activism. Inspired by Malcolm X, one of the group's leaders, he converted in 1963. But he kept his new faith a secret until the crown was safely in hand.

That came the following year, when heavyweight champion Sonny Liston agreed to fight Ali. The challenger geared up for the bout with a litany of insults and rhymes, including the line, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." He beat the fearsome Liston in a sixth-round technical knockout before a stunned Miami Beach crowd. In the ring, Ali proclaimed, "I am the greatest! I am the greatest! I'm the king of the world."

 Muhammad Ali Celebrated at Compelling, Affectionate New Exhibition 1:06

A Controversial Champion

The new champion soon renounced Cassius Clay as his "slave name" and said he would be known from then on as Muhammad Ali — bestowed by Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad. He was 22 years old.

The move split sports fans and the broader American public: an American sports champion rejecting his birth name and adopting one that sounded subversive.

Speaking at a press conference in Chicago on Sept. 25, 1970, deposed world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali "Cassius Clay" said he might fight Jerry Quarry in New York if Georgia Gov. Lester Maddox succeeds in halting the scheduled Atlanta bout. Charles Kolenovsky / AP, file

Ali successfully defended his title six times, including a rematch with Liston. Then, in 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War, Ali was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army.

He'd said previously that the war did not comport with his faith, and that he had "no quarrel" with America's enemy, the Vietcong. He refused to serve.

"My conscience won't let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, some poor, hungry people in the mud, for big powerful America, and shoot them for what?" Ali said in an interview. "They never called me nigger. They never lynched me. They didn't put no dogs on me."

His stand culminated with an April appearance at an Army recruiting station, where he refused to step forward when his name was called. The reaction was swift and harsh. He was stripped of his boxing title, convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison.

Released on appeal but unable to fight or leave the country, Ali turned to the lecture circuit, speaking on college campuses, where he engaged in heated debates, pointing out the hypocrisy of denying rights to blacks even as they were ordered to fight the country's battles abroad.

"My enemy is the white people, not Vietcongs or Chinese or Japanese," Ali told one white student who challenged his draft avoidance. "You my opposer when I want freedom. You my opposer when I want justice. You my opposer when I want equality. You won't even stand up for me in America for my religious beliefs and you want me to go somewhere and fight but you won't even stand up for me here at home."

Muhammad Ali is held back by referee Joe Walcott, left, after Ali knocked out challenger Sonny Liston in the first round of their title fight in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965. AP, file

Ali's fiery commentary was praised by antiwar activists and black nationalists and vilified by conservatives, including many other athletes and sportswriters.

His appeal took four years to reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which in June 1971 reversed the conviction in a unanimous decision that found the Department of Justice had improperly told the draft board that Ali's stance wasn't motivated by religious belief.

Return to the Ring

Toward the end of his legal saga, Georgia agreed to issue Ali a boxing license, which allowed him to fight Jerry Quarry, whom he beat. Six months later, at a sold-out Madison Square Garden, he lost to Joe Frazier in a 15-round duel touted as "the fight of the century." It was Ali's first defeat as a pro.

That fight began one of boxing's and sport's greatest rivalries. Ali and Frazier fought again in 1974, after Frazier had lost his crown. This time, Ali won in a unanimous decision, making him the lead challenger for the heavyweight title.

He took it from George Foreman later that year in a fight in Zaire dubbed "The Rumble in the Jungle," a spectacularly hyped bout for which Ali moved to Africa for the summer, followed by crowds of chanting locals wherever he went. A three-day music festival featuring James Brown and B.B. King preceded the fight. Finally, Ali delivered a historic performance in the ring, employing a new strategy dubbed the "rope-a-dope," goading the favored Foreman into attacking him, then leaning back into the ropes in a defensive stance and waiting for Foreman to tire. Ali then went on the attack, knocking out Foreman in the eighth round. The maneuver has been copied by many other champions since.

The third fight in the Ali-Frazier trilogy followed in 1975, the "Thrilla in Manila" that is now regarded as one of the best boxing matches of all time. Ali won in a technical knockout in the 15th round.

Ali successfully defended his title until 1978, when he was beaten by a young Leon Spinks, and then quickly took it back. He retired in 1979, when he was 37, but, seeking to replenish his dwindling personal fortune, returned in 1980 for a title match against Larry Holmes, which he lost. Ali lost again, to Trevor Berbick, the following year. Finally, Ali retired for good.

Muhammad Ali, right, takes a punch from Trevor Berbick, of Canada, during the first round of their 10-round bout in Nassau, Bahamas, in this Dec. 11, 1981 file photo. AP, file

'He's Human, Like Us'

The following year, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

"I'm in no pain," he told The New York Times. "A slight slurring of my speech, a little tremor. Nothing critical. If I was in perfect health — if I had won my last two fights — if I had no problem, people would be afraid of me. Now they feel sorry for me. They thought I was Superman. Now they can go, 'He's human, like us. He has problems.' ''

Even as his health gradually declined, Ali — who switched to more mainstream branches of Islam — threw himself into humanitarian causes, traveling to Lebanon in 1985 and Iraq in 1990 to seek the release of American hostages. In 1996, he lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta, lifting the torch with shaking arms. With each public appearance he seemed more feeble, a stark contrast to his outsized aura. He continued to be one of the most recognizable people in the world.

Muhammad Ali attends the Sports For Peace Fundraising Ball at The V&A on July 25, 2012 in London. Ian Gavan / Getty Images, file

He traveled incessantly for many years, crisscrossing the globe in appearances in which he made money but also pushed philanthropic causes. He met with presidents, royalty, heads of state, the Pope. He told "People" magazine that his largest regret was not playing a more intimate role in the raising of his children. But he said he did not regret boxing. "If I wasn't a boxer, I wouldn't be famous," he said. "If I wasn't famous, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now."

In 2005, President George W. Bush honored Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and his hometown of Louisville opened the Muhammad Ali Center, chronicling his life but also as a forum for promoting tolerance and respect.

Divorced three times and the father of nine children — one of whom, Laila, become a boxer — Ali married his last wife, Yolanda "Lonnie" Williams, in 1986; they lived for a long time in Berrien Springs, Michigan, then moved to Arizona. Credit: nbcnews

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Adele named songwriter of the year at Ivor Novello Awards

Adele has been named songwriter of the year at the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards, which recognise achievement in songwriting.

The star was honoured for her multi-million selling album, 25, which emerged last year after a long struggle with writer's block.
She was unable to accept the award in person, having played in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday night.
But in a video message, she said he was "very grateful."
"I won it on my last album as well... but I was secretly pregnant, so I didn't enjoy the night too well," she added.
"To win it this time is truly, truly humbling."
Damon Albarn won the lifetime achievement award, in recognition of an eclectic body of work that spans rock, pop, rap, world music and opera.
Presenting the award his Blur bandmate, Graham Coxon, said Albarn had already "fitted in two lifetimes of work... so far".

The star then delivered one of the most well-received speeches of the day.

"What is songwriting? What is it all about?" he said. "True songwriters are people who are able to release themselves from something that's really affected them by writing a song about it.
"Some of us see it as going to church, some of us see it as going to work, but at the end of the day, if you're not connected to the spirit you're not making true music.

"Thank you for this extraordinary, life-affirming honour."
'Been amazing'

Other awards went to Portishead, Bryan Adams and Irish indie-folk band The Villagers, whose album Darling Arithmetic won album of the year.
Frontman Conor O'Brien, said the album was particularly important to him, as "a month after it came out, I finally got to experience what it feels like to be an equal citizen in my country when the Irish people voted yes to marriage equality".
"The songs took on a whole new life to me from that moment on. Touring these songs has been a really cathartic experience for me. So many people have told me their stories. It's been amazing."
The award for best song musically and lyrically went to Wasn't Expecting That by Jamie Lawson.
The newcomer from Plymouth beat Wolf Alice and Ed Sheeran, who signed Lawson to his record label. In his speech, Lawson said he would be "forever grateful" to the "ginger kitten" for giving him a career.

The classical award went to Oliver Knussen, who wrote and conducted his first symphony at the age of 15 and has been a champion of new music ever since.
The composer's outstanding body of work includes Two Organa, Ophelia Dances, Flourish with Fireworks, an opera based on the children's book Where The Wild Things Are and the deeply personal Requiem: Songs for Sue, written for his wife, who died in 2003.
Accepting the award, Knussen warned the government to keep its "hands off the BBC" - but he also warned the corporation not to sideline difficult or challenging new works.
"Don't relegate all of us to a two-hour slot that you seem to regard as a place to put pond life," he said.
"Some of it is a bit prickly. But some very nice things are prickly... or so I'm told."

British hitmaker Wayne Hector won the international achievement award in recognition of two decades of chart success.
The British writer achieved his first number one in 1996, with Peter Andre's Flava. Since then, he has penned singles for the likes of Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, One Direction, Sigma, Westlife and Pussycat Dolls.
"I'm fiercely proud to be British," he said. "We have the most amazing musical heritage in the world."
Simple Minds won outstanding song vollection, while Madchester band Happy Mondays took home the inspiration prize. "After 30 years, to finally be recognised for writing a song - it feels great," frontman Shaun Ryder told the BBC.
The Ivor Novello awards are voted for by songwriters, with judges this year including Alison Moyet, Sharleen Spiteri, Wretch 32, Cathy Dennis, Joan Armatrading, Guy Chambers and Charlotte Church.
Now in its 61st year, it has honoured the work of more than 750 songwriters and composers, including the Beatles, Kate Bush and Sir Elton John.

Full list of nominees and winners

Best song musically and lyrically

• Wasn't Expecting That - Jamie Lawson
• Bloodstream - Ed Sheeran
• Bros - Wolf Alice

Best contemporary song

• All My Friends - Snakehips ft Tinashe & Chance The Rapper
• Cargo - Roots Manuva
• Shutdown - Skepta

Most performed work

• Hold Back The River - James Bay
• Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne
• King - Years & Years

Best album

• Darling Arithmetic - Villagers
• In Colour - Jamie xx
• Matador - Gaz Coombes

Best film score

• Ex Machina
• Pan
• The Duke of Burgundy

Best television soundtrack

• London Spy
• And Then There Were None
• From Darkness

Lifetime achievement: Damon Albarn
Outstanding song collection: Simple Minds
PRS for Music outstanding contribution to British music: Portishead
PRS for Music special international award: Bryan Adams
Songwriter of the year: Adele
The Ivors classical music award: Oliver Knussen
The Ivors inspiration award: Happy Mondays

source: BBC

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Abraham Attah's Beast Of No Nation and MzVee nominated for BET 2016

Ghanaian songstress MzVee and Ghanaian Hollywood actor Abraham Attah's movie Beasts of No Nation have gained nominations in the 2016 BET Awards.

MzVee made it to the Best international Act: Africa category whiles Beasts Of No Nation made it into the Best MOVIE Category.
This is the second nominations gained by MzVee on a BET Platform though in a different category.

Drake leads the list of entertainers with an impressive nine nominations including ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ and ‘Best Collaboration’ for his hit “Where Ya At” with fellow hip hop artist Future. Beyoncé and Rihanna follow with five nods each. Beyoncé is nominated for top nods of the night including ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ and ‘Best Collaboration’ for “Feeling Myself” with Nicki Minaj. Rihanna is in the running for awards including ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ and ‘Best Collaboration,’ for “Work” featuring Drake. Other nominees include newcomer Bryson Tiller who is up for four awards including ‘Best Male R&B/Pop Artist.’ Chris Brown is nominated for the same number including ‘Best Male R&B/Pop Artist’ and ‘Video Director of the Year.’ Future could also walk away with four awards including ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist’ and the ‘Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award.’

For the first time ever, BET has enlisted renowned choreographer Will “WilldaBeast” Adams to create an exclusive, high energy video exclusively announcing three of the categories. Alongside his choreography partner Janelle Ginestra, a special compilation has been produced with clips of songs honoring artists nominated for ‘Best Collaboration,’ ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist,’ and ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist.’ Dancers and friends from WilldaBeast’s ImmaBEAST dance company are featured in the video which can be viewed here. The video has over sixteen pieces of choreography including special appearances by some of the biggest names in dance including China Taylor, Taylor Hatala, and even a cameo from “Black-ish” star Miles Brown. 

“These nominees represent depth and diversity in achievement over the past year and we look forward to recognizing them next month,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Programming. “This show will be innovative and special; in addition to celebrating the best in entertainment, we’ll also spend time throughout the show remembering Prince as only BET can. You can count on memorable performances and moments in honor of a true legend.” 

The complete list of nominees for the 2016 "BET Awards" are: 

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist ADELE ANDRA DAY BEYONCÉ K. MICHELLE RIHANNA   Best Male R&B/Pop Artist BRYSON TILLER CHRIS BROWN JEREMIH THE WEEKND TYRESE   Best Group 2 CHAINZ & LIL WAYNE DRAKE & FUTURE PUFF DADDY & THE FAMILY RAE SREMMURD THE INTERNET   Best Collaboration BIG SEAN FT. CHRIS BROWN & TY DOLLA $IGN - PLAY NO GAMES BIG SEAN FT. KANYE WEST & JOHN LEGEND - ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD FUTURE FT. DRAKE - WHERE YA AT NICKI MINAJ FT. BEYONCÉ - FEELING MYSELF RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK   Best Male Hip Hop Artist DRAKE FETTY WAP FUTURE J. COLE KANYE WEST KENDRICK LAMAR   Best Female Hip Hop Artist DEJ LOAF LIL KIM MISSY ELLIOTT NICKI MINAJ REMY MA   Video of the Year BEYONCÉ - FORMATION BRYSON TILLER - DON'T DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING KENDRICK LAMAR - ALRIGHT RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK   Video Director of the Year BENNY BOOM CHRIS BROWN COLIN TILLEY & THE LITTLE HOMIES DIRECTOR X HYPE WILLIAMS
Best New Artist ALESSIA CARA ANDRA DAY BRYSON TILLER KEHLANI TORY LANEZ   Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY ERICA CAMPBELL KIRK FRANKLIN LECRAE TAMELA MANN TASHA COBBS   Best Actress GABRIELLE UNION KERRY WASHINGTON TARAJI P. HENSON TRACEE ELLIS ROSS VIOLA DAVIS   Best Actor ANTHONY ANDERSON COURTNEY B. VANCE IDRIS ELBA MICHAEL B. JORDAN O'SHEA JACKSON JR.   YoungStars Award AMANDLA STENBERG QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS SILENTÓ WILLOW SMITH YARA SHAHIDI   Best Movie BEASTS OF NO NATION CONCUSSION CREED DOPE STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON   Sportswoman of the Year CHEYENNE WOODS GABRIELLE DOUGLAS SERENA WILLIAMS SKYLAR DIGGINS VENUS WILLIAMS   Sportsman of the Year CAM NEWTON KOBE BRYANT LEBRON JAMES ODELL BECKHAM JR. STEPHEN CURRY   Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award BEYONCÉ – FORMATION BRYSON TILLER – DON’T CHRIS BROWN – BACK TO SLEEP DRAKE – HOTLINE BLING FUTURE FT. DRAKE – WHERE YA AT RIHANNA FT. DRAKE – WORK   Centric Award ANDRA DAY - RISE UP BEYONCÉ – FORMATION K. MICHELLE – NOT A LITTLE BIT RIHANNA - BBHMM THE INTERNET - UNDER CONTROL   Best International Act Africa AKA (SOUTH AFRICA) BLACK COFFEE (SOUTH AFRICA) CASSPER NYOVEST (SOUTH AFRICA) DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA) MZVEE (Ghana) SERGE BEYNAUD (COTE D’IVOIRE) WIZKID (NIGERIA) YEMI ALADE (NIGERIA)   Best International Act UK KANO KREPT & KONAN LIANNE LA HAVAS SKEPTA STORMZY TINIE TEMPAH

The 2016 “BET Awards” will premiere around the world on BET’s international network. It will air in the UK on Tuesday, June 28^th at 9:00pm BST, in Africa on Tuesday, June 28^th at 7:00pm CAT, and in France on Wednesday, June 29^th at 9:00pm CEST.

Stephen G. Hill, BET’s President of Programming, Connie Orlando, BET’s Senior Vice President of Music and Specials, Lynne Harris Taylor, BET’s Vice President of Specials, will serve as Executive Producers for the “BET Awards” along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment. 

cut from: BET & Yahoo

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PENTASI ‘B’ WORLD POETRY FESTIVAL OPENS IN ACCRA

A stellar gathering of top-brass poets and literary artistes is happening in Ghana, from the 17th – 22nd May, 2016, to celebrate the long-awaited Pentasi ‘B’ Festival of visual poetry, culture and creative arts.

The world-acclaimed friendship poetry festival features 25 award-winning, top caliber international poets, who will be joined by Special Guests of Honour; Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie (Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts), Hon. Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Minister of State at the Presidency), hundreds of home-grown poets and lovers of the art genre.
 
In Ghana as of Tuesday May 17 are: father of Visual poetry Dr. Penpen Bugtong Takipsilim (Phillipines), George Onsy (Egypt), Ibrahim Honjo (Russia), Luz Maria Lopez (Puerto Rico), Armeli Quezon (USA), Prof. Rajendra Padhi (India), Dr. Santosh Bakaya (India), Monsif Beroual (Morocco), Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom (Nigeria), Timileyin Gabriel (Nigeria), and  Prof. Mohammed Shanazar (Pakistan) respectively.

The 2013 Ghanaian Pentasian and Principal Host of the event, Benjamin Tetteh Oku said “this global celebration is the first of its kind on the soil of Africa and will impact the need for peace before, during and after election 2016, and will balance the poetry equation in Ghana”. The week-long event is themed: Sustenance of our Peace; The Role of The Arts’. Activities earmarked for the week-long celebration include: courtesy calls on the Sector Ministry, selected Palaces and Media houses, story-telling sessions at Osekan Beach in Accra, poetry engagements with students and visits to tourist sites.

The main event will however, be held on Saturday 21st May, with a unique celebration featuring splendid poetry performances laced with different genres of music and dance, a colourful exhibition of Ghanaian products, and a special dinner and awards ceremony to crown it all on Sunday May 22nd at the Dubois Center near the American Embassy in Accra.

Gifted and renowned Ghanaian poets billed to perform at the festival are Radio and TV personality Johnnie Hughes, Nana Asaase, Kwaku Sonny, Nii Ayi Solomon, Oswald Okaikoi Okaitei, Nene Tetteh Adusu, Koo Kumi Dubois, Efo Sela Kodjo Adjei and Don Aero and many others.
 
The last event was held in Manila, Philippines and the next event will be in Hollywood. Pentasi B Poetry Festival is open to the general and is free.

Source: Desk Report

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EXCLUSIVE SHOCKING INTERVIEW: Psquare’s Peter Okoye Reveals the Cause of the BREAK-UP

THENETNG spent some time with him in his Lekki-home on Thursday, March 17, having been invited by his new manager, Olatunde Michaels of Play Centre.

When we arrive, he’s sitting in the living room, with a young assistant keeping him company. He’s dressed casually, in a patterned T-shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans.

‘How now’?
‘I’m okay man. Long long time.’
We hugged briefly as I sat next to him.

We spent Thursday afternoon chatting with Peter Okoye about the on-going beef with his twin brother Paul, and their elder brother Jude. It’s his first interview since the Psquare brouhaha became public.

The last time I spent time with Peter Okoye, or indeed P-Square was 8 years ago, before my ‘Spoilt Superstars’ article which truncated the friendly relationship we had.

When I last visited the Okoyes, they had just moved into their Omole home in Lagos. We had breakfast and talked about everything – from PSquare to PMAN and properties. Peter took me round the massive building, showing off a well-equipped studio, gym facilities and the impressive interior decor. They would later leave this house for an even bigger mansion, nicknamed Square Ville, also in Omole, Lagos.

The Okoye’s Square Ville, in Omole-Lagos.

The Okoye brothers rose rapidly, from squatting with Howie T, a music promoter, in his Ilupeju family home, to living in a modest bungalow also in Ilupeju, before joining the big league and the millionaires club.



When we met on Thursday, it was in a Lekki court, where Peter and Paul, now married with children, live in separate buildings with their families. Peter tells me they’re moving very soon, possibly to Parkview estate in Ikoyi, where they’ve been building their most exorbitant homes yet.

From getting rejected by record labels, to having Howie T set up Timbuktu records because no one would sign them, to the days of Get Squared and Busy Body and Do Me, Psquare has demonstrated how it’s possible to grow from nothing to something. Leaving Jos as Michael Jackson wannabe dancers to Lagos, where they found favour in a Benson & Hedges competition, life has been very good to them. 15 years later, their light doesn’t look like it’s about to dim. Fans are still in love with the music; corporate Nigeria still wants the brand.


But something is wrong.


Peter and Paul, who live just a building apart, rarely set eyes on one another. They’re no longer the inseparable duo everyone loves to love. They haven’t performed together since December 28, 2015. In fact, they’ve only seen each other a couple of times since then, in rather hostile circumstances, Peter tells Nigerian Entertainment Today. After years of dealing with family issues and trying to solve their differences, they’re now dishing out dirty details on social media, using their very own hands to drag a brand they’ve built over nearly two decades through the mud.


This is not the first time bands will disintegrate. There’s been Sir Shina Adewale. There’s been, in recent times, The Remedies, Plantashun Boiz, STYL Plus, and, if one is to consider them a band, Mo’Hits. The world remains in shock, about what has become of the union of D’Banj and Don Jazzy, the Mo’Hits leaders who, before our very eyes, tore down everything that held them together.
 
If D’banj and Don Jazzy’s break up was understandable, since they were merely close friends and business partners, the fall of Psquare, following the apparently irreconcilable spat between Peter on one side, and Jude and Paul on the other, is harder to believe or understand.



But it’s real. Fighting back tears, Peter, who’s the first to go public with what’s been a private issue for years, tells us Psquare fans must understand that this is the end of the band as they know it.
‘The truth is’, he says, as his daughter Aliona comes in, needing help to fix her toy, ‘the fans should be happy that we were able to drop the ‘Double Trouble’ album in 2014. What’s happening now should have happened then.

Peter Okoye’s daughter Aliona turned three in January. Photo: Instagram

‘The issue was the fact that I was in Psquare and it felt like I was in fear. If I don’t do this, Psquare will break-up, if I don’t do that, Psquare will scatter.’

Peter and Jude Okoye at their site at Park View Estate, Ikoyi

‘Four years ago, I told Jude he needs to step down as our manager, because I didn’t want to disrespect him as a brother, but this is business, [and] we have to structure it. And Jude said to me that there’s a way I [should] talk to him, and [threatened to] slap me. So I kept quiet.’
‘So, a few hours after, Paul came to me and said if I want Jude to step down it wasn’t a problem, but it meant that he (Paul) would go solo. The first time word got out about Psquare breaking up, a lot of people called us; senators, governors, and people like that. In fact, three of us were once in a private jet to go and see someone who wanted to resolve our issues, and we didn’t speak to each other throughout the flight. At the end of the day, I swallowed my pride for peace to reign and allowed Jude to remain as our manager.’
Aliona is back again with her toy. Peter checks and sees it’s in need of a battery, so he sends her to a domestic staff. He’s careful to not lose his train of thought. He’s struggling to fight back tears. 

‘I and Paul stay together in this estate and the last time I saw him was about a week ago.’

But you live in the same premises. Why is this so?



‘Truth is, I’ve not been in talking terms with Paul since December 2015 and that was why I travelled in January because I had a lot on my mind.

Something happened at Mavin Studios last year that broke my heart.

Now listen to this, Psquare featured on songs with J-Martins, Bracket, LKT, 9ice and these 4 songs were done by Paul alone, but guess what, did I appear in the videos, YES’.
‘Now hear this, we have other collabos with Kaha, Darey, Ruggedman. I did these songs alone. How come they don’t have videos? Paul refused to appear in the videos.’
‘So I told Paul that when next he does a collabo alone, he should be in the video alone, because it got to a point where artistes began to feel if they did a collabo with Paul it [would] get a video, but if it was me, it [wouldn’t] get a video.

The last collabo we did was with Flavour and I refused to do another one. Even Flavour had to speak all the Igbo he knows to convince me before I agreed to do it. Only for my brother to come and tell me that ‘shey I thought you said you won’t appear in any video that I did the collabo alone? Why did you appear on this one?’. I was sad but I knew another one will come’.

‘So Tiwa Savage called me; apparently Paul had done a song with her – not the campaign song they are promoting now, another Psquare collabo entirely. So she [said] she’s been trying to reach Paul to get the CD of the song from him [because] he’s already done his part, so I went to Paul’s house to help ask for it and tell him I want to go to the studio to do my verse and he said he doesn’t know where the CD is.’


‘I went to the Mavin studio to meet Tiwa. When I got there, she asked for the CD and I told her Paul didn’t give me any CD, so I called him again and gave the phone to Tiwa and [he] told her on phone that the CD is at Omole, so I got into the studio, recorded my verse and when I finished, everybody was clapping. I was surprised to realize that Paul had [told] them that I don’t sing or write songs.’

‘I felt really bad and betrayed, but I covered up for him. I jokingly asked Teebillz if they gave him Red Label and he said yes, so I was like you guys caused it, and we laughed over it. So when my assistant went to pick up the CD, Paul and Jude started shouting at him to ‘ask Peter what is he doing at the Mavin studio? He knows how we work.’

The next day, I went to Paul and told him how I felt when I heard what he said. Only for Jude to say that he made Paul the lead singer of Psquare 8 years ago! A leader leads, he doesn’t destroy.’


Those close to the Okoyes say their elder brother Jude is central to their problems. Howie T, their first manager admitted as much in an exclusive interview with THENETNG’s Dayo Showemimo early this week.
But industry watchers insist Jude was the reason the group became profitable in the first place. Psquare are known to bill more than anyone else.
When other A-listers were comfortable with N3-5m, they were charging N6.5m. When artistes were happy to go overseas for peanuts and the promise of promos, they insisted on up to $120K.

They turned down major shows if the price was wrong. It soon became an industry standard – if you wanted Psquare, you had to put big bucks on the table. When Globacom, a Nigerian telecommunication company, signed an endorsement deal with them six years ago, their total fees went up to N240m. No Nigerian artiste has in recent times, matched Psquare in billing.

Psquare were the only brand ambassadors presented with brand new Range Rover and a Mercedes Benz G-Wagon courtesy of GLO

And very few, if any at all, can hold a candle to them when it comes to live performances.

But Peter says in spite of all this, Psquare had zero structure.

‘When it came to decision-making, it was always a Triangle formation, and the highest vote wins. I never used to complain because we were all okay, but what has changed now is the fact that we’ve grown. You can make a certain decision based on how we used to do it and it may affect everyone as an individual, but it gets to a point when the decisions taken are never my own and I began to wonder if anything was wrong.’
‘Most of Psquare ideas came from me, like [the] materials we needed to put out for people to see, video, stage performances and all. But when I came up with them, nobody wanted to accept it. I didn’t complain because people still love what we do, but then again, there wasn’t much competition in the industry back then.’



‘As time goes, we should get better; it shouldn’t be same triangle deciding, because if we continue that same way, we’ll lose it. All I want is a proper structure in the sense that, we need to have proper management, business managers and all.’

‘As I speak to you right now, we don’t have an office, [we have] no structure. When this issue started about five years ago, our lawyer told us the way we run our business is wrong.’

‘I’ll give you an instance’.



‘We had to go perform somewhere once, and because I had a slight argument with Paul, he said he wasn’t going. It was the wedding of the President’s daughter. When I got to the airport my brother wasn’t there, and I [didn’t know] how I was going to explain to the President that we [couldn’t] perform. I made up my mind to go with the band, perform like that and lie that my brother was sick. So we left for Abuja, and when we got to the hotel, my assistant manager called [to say] he was on the way to the airport with Paul, so we had to wait for them to land in Abuja and that was why we couldn’t make it on time to the reception.’

Psquare at President Buhari’s inauguration ceremony in Abuja.

 ‘The president was mad. In fact, Mama Peace (Patience Jonathan) was really mad. But we eventually made up for it with a performance at the Gala night. Only for Jude to [tell me that] Paul said he wasn’t going for a show and I still went [without him]. Imagine if Jude had a proper structure and we had contracts? That wouldn’t happen. And it was more because the show came through me. If the show came through Jude, it wouldn’t have happened. I don’t have a problem with doing things as a family, but structure and proper organization is important too. The name Psquare is very big outside but inside we have no structure. I see people like Audu of Chocolate City, Mavin Records, even Ubi Franklin, and I wanted us to have a structure like that. Psquare is just up there because of the grace of God.’

You’ve said a lot about Jude being the problem, and how you’re the minority. But, really, as Peter, what do you bring to the table?



‘It’s really sad that people have labeled me ‘Dancer’ and they don’t really know what I do for Psquare. Kudos to Paul, I’m not a good songwriter; in fact, I’ll rate myself 30%, so when it comes to song writing, I give it to Paul 100%.

‘However, not writing songs does not disqualify you from being a musician. I can tell you for free that a Nigerian wrote two of the songs on Rihanna’s new album. I’ve travelled a lot and most times people ask, ‘which one are you, the singer or the dancer’? And it’s really sad.’

‘In Psquare, I am the creative person, I can sit-down and tell you what people want to hear, what they want to see and what they want to learn from Psquare. But it’s not something to brag about.’

‘Jude directs all our videos.’

‘This whole thing began when Paul went online and started posting lyrics of most of our songs on Instagram [and saying]that he wrote them all, just because Peter brought in something to the table. I had been trying to bring more business for Psquare. I didn’t know it was going to cause problems. I sent my manager to a meeting in Senegal to meet with Universal music about getting us deals, and when he came back, the way they responded to him wasn’t encouraging.’

Peter Okoye with his new manager, Olatunde Micheals.

‘So I had to send Diouf (the footballer) to help get the documents and convince my brothers before we could pull through with the deal. After some months, we started making money. Meanwhile, while filling the forms, Jude filled everything as Psquare. So the first payment came and we shared it. The second payment was bigger, and we shared it too. That was when Paul said we had to re-fill the form and give proper credit to the songwriter (Himself) and said if the form wasn’t brought back, he would expose me and tell the world that he writes all the songs. The next day he went online to post those lyrics. So my question is, when he was doing that what did Jude do about it? Absolutely nothing!’

PAUL IS WEAK


‘I remember I once told Paul something when Jude became our manager; he was using the term ‘Our Money,’ that was when we made our first 1 million [naira]. I called Paul and told him that our former manager used to make about 15%, and now that Jude is our manager, let’s think of a percentage that we’ll be giving him and put it on paper. Paul said it’s not necessary. He probably went to tell Jude about it. I’m sorry to say this, but I think Paul is weak.’



‘You know they say change is constant, you can’t stay in one spot. As the industry moves, you move. So I won’t say the problem we have is money. I think everybody is just dragging power unnecessarily. Imagine Jude telling me that he’s in charge of Psquare and there’s nothing Peter and Paul can do about it, and I look at Paul and he’s quiet about it. I’ve never seen where a manager talks to his artistes anyhow. If there’s an issue you should call us aside quietly to talk about it.’

WHY I CALLED OUT JUDE ON SOCIAL MEDIA



‘On December 14, 2015, we sat down to have a meeting hoping to set a proper structure in place, but Paul noticed that it wasn’t working the way he wanted, so he said he’s starting a new group. I thought he meant he wanted to start a record label, and he was like no, he’s starting a new group that he belongs to. And Jude simply said, ‘anybody stop you?’ He picked up his phones and walked out of the meeting. I felt it had already been discussed behind me. I later found out that Paul was already recruiting for the group and Jude is their manager. At the moment I hear they are called ‘The MVPs’ I don’t know what it means yet.’

‘So how do you expect me to be managed by the same person we’ve been having issues with, who is now the manager of the other group? There’ll surely be conflict of interest.’

‘[Recently] Jude called me, after I had said he was fired. He called me on a Thursday to say ‘Hope you know we are going to the embassy tomorrow for that show in Holland.’ I know about the show, [because] it was already booked before the issues started, so I told him, ‘Bro you are not my manager, talk to my manager.’ He said, ‘Noted.’ The next day, they went to the embassy with the new group members, which means they had already set up their interviews at the embassy because it’s not possible to get an appointment in less than 24 hours. I traced the organisers and told them Jude represents only Paul. I told them this is what it takes to get Peter and Paul, Peter alone or Paul alone.’

‘So I went on social media to protect our careers, because if I didn’t do that, Psquare will not release any material anytime soon, they’ll be busy promoting their artistes.’

‘And I remember going to talk to Paul about it before I went on social media. I went to his house, and he was in his room with his friend, [whom I asked to excuse us, but] Paul said, no, his friend should stay, [and that] anything I want to say should be said in front of him. So I said, no, you know we are brothers and he was like, ‘oh, na now you know say we be brothers.’ I told him I came to talk to him about what’s been happening, but it was turning into an argument so I left and I travelled out. I was away for over a month, knowing that we didn’t have any shows at that time. I went to Turkey and London to rest my mind, my friend Samuel Eto’o invited me to come.’



HOW I FIRED JUDE

‘The day I fired Jude was at a concert. The day I came back, we had a show, so I went straight to the venue in Lagos and told Jude I want to talk to him, and he said I should say anything I want to say in front of everyone, [which] was the same attitude Paul gave me before I travelled. So Jude said if I like, I should get out, and I said ‘guy don’t embarrass me.’ He said who are you, because you think you are Psquare? So I told him openly that if he cannot resolve me and Paul’s issue, he doesn’t deserve to be our manager, and he said I should get out. There and then I told him ‘You are fired’! He looked at me and said, ‘You fit fire me?’ That was when I entered my car and started tweeting. How else can you take him out?’

‘[In fact,] long before I made up my mind, Paul had already said there’s no more Psquare, [and that] if Jude leaves, he goes with him.’
 
‘Before I announced my management, I wanted my mind to be clear, so I went back to Paul, this time we were alone and we [discussed things]; I told him I had no issues with him, but he needs to stop letting Jude use him as a shield. Both of us started shedding tears, and when we finished he still said he hopes I’m not here to tell him that I still want Psquare, and I told him I want to move on, because he already has a manager (Jude) and I don’t, so I had to structure myself too. And I didn’t want to allow the Psquare name to fade before moving on. Look at Don Jazzy and Dbanj, when they broke up, they waited for like 6 months and had to start again. Now, that Psquare just broke up, let me use the name to move on quickly, because there’s no time.’

IF OUR MUM WAS STILL ALIVE


‘To be honest with you, I feel if our mum was still alive, we would have pushed her to her grave with this whole thing. It’s really sad that even with everything going on, I still stand with Paul.’

SIGNING SOLO DEALS


‘It still boils down to the fact that Psquare was not structured. Music is like football, Messi has his manager, Neymar has his manager, Suarez has his manager, but when they get to the pitch, they play as a team’.

‘Before I did the Olympic deal, I’d brought some deals for Psquare. The people endorsing Psquare only see Peter and Paul, but behind [the scenes] its Peter, Paul and Jude so the price goes so high that it never works.’



‘But when a deal comes to my table, it’s not like they called Jude and I went behind to talk to them, the deal came directly to me from Jude’s friend. He called me and told me about it, and before then I had already established my own beverage factory and the deal coming was from PZ, which means I could do more business with them, so should I lose that deal because they didn’t call Jude?’

‘I asked them why me and not Psquare, and they said they couldn’t afford Psquare, and the brand was tailored to fit one person. So I went back to tell Paul and Jude and they didn’t say anything. They didn’t ask me not to do it. Don’t get it wrong, we’ve been doing different private businesses, the only difference was that the Olympic deal came out in public. I’ve been doing mass housing projects on my own, Paul has been doing real estate, Jude has been doing his own thing, he even [set up the] Northside record label, so it’s not like it’s the first thing I’m doing alone. It’s just the first one that went public.’

‘So even when I decide to open my beverage factory, people will still ask why I am doing it alone without my brother.’

IT’S NOT A PUBLICITY STUNT


‘I hear lot of people think it’s all a stunt, and that’s what I really want to put an end to. It’s not a stunt at all. It has been going on for a while’.

‘When Jude didn’t come to my wedding, people started saying we broke up and then others said it’s a stunt. When Paul posted those lyrics on Instagram people thought it was a stunt too, but the truth is that this is not and has never been a publicity stunt. I am telling you the truth. I am moving on because people are already getting tired of this Psquare brouhaha. Now I have my manager, Olatunde Michaels, and I expect everybody to respect that. I am a family man, a musician, singer and dancer. If I don’t move on, Psquare will collapse and there’ll be nothing left’.
‘Already Paul has done two songs without me but no one is saying anything, he did a song with his artiste ‘Muno’ with his name as Rudeboy did they feature me? He did a song with Tiwa Savage, did they feature me?’

‘Last week Yemi Alade sent me her album track list to help her share on Instagram, guess what I saw, she had a song with Psquare that I didn’t even know about. Only Paul did it.’


THE NEXT LEVEL


‘Because I announced new management, people feel I’m the one going solo, but Paul has already gone solo. He’s moved on and didn’t need to announce any new management because he still works with Jude, so I had to announce mine and believe it or not, people are booking me for gigs already.’
‘And guess what, I’ll still perform Psquare songs, nobody can stop me, nobody can stop Paul too, we didn’t have a contract with Jude, so I have the right to perform Psquare songs especially the ones I took part in’.

‘I’ll also consider releasing solo songs and even albums. Truth is – in the last album Paul did some songs alone, I did some songs alone. ‘Bring It On’ was Paul alone, ‘Eje Ajo’, ‘Shekini’ was done by me alone’.

‘Remember the 4 songs ‘Free For Fans’ that we released, those songs were removed from the last album and I leaked them’.

‘I have some songwriters already, V-Tek writes for me, and I’m still bringing up more’.

Social media posts today March 19, by Peter and Paul might suggest they’re trying to resolve their issues. In fact, Psquare is being advertised for an upcoming performance. But, as Peter told NET on Thursday, it’s now beyond music and management. They’re not likely to live together on the Parkview property, which is nearing completion; and they’ve since shared their other properties (We saw a copy of the contract, showing Festus Keyamo as their lawyer).
Peter Explains.

‘Because of what was happening, it was like two against one, so I said let’s share our properties. When I said that, Paul said if we want to share our properties, Jude must get the same share with us otherwise Psquare will split and I was like ‘SPLIT-AGAIN?’

‘Our lawyer came and told Paul that it’s wrong to share it equally with Jude, but he insisted, so we divided every property we owned in Lagos, Jos, America, Abuja. In-fact the right and left wing of the Square Ville mansion belongs to Paul and Jude now.
So that was how we shared all our properties equally among the three of us about two or three years ago.’

‘After sharing everything, I called Paul again and spoke to him about a proper structure. We’ve been with people like Akon and co and we see how it’s done. Right now, Psquare has millions of dollars in royalties hanging in the air.’


‘All our endorsement and shows are shared equally between the three of us as well.’

‘After what it took to share our properties, I was embarking on a project, so I needed more money and I wanted to sell my house in America and buy something smaller, because I spend close to $30,000 to maintain that condo every year.’

‘So I called my caretaker to begin the process and she told Jude and Paul to send their data page and passport photographs, but they refused because they know I wanted to the sell the house. And see the value of dollars now. The house was valued at 100M then, but if I sell it now, I could make extra 250M.’

‘And we already signed paper works and document of the house that it belongs to me but Jude ignored it, so I called our lawyer, Festus Keyamo to inform him about the development. He called them and they both refused to pick his call, so he sent them a text and requested that we should have a meeting, but Jude replied him and said no need for a meeting that the America house will be sold.’

‘Paul said we agreed and signed on how to share but we haven’t really shared it yet, after all Jude is still holding on to the documents.’

‘Three of us have properties close to each other in Parkview and that’s why I want to sell my own and move to Banana Island.’

‘I can’t really understand why they don’t want a structure, to me I think it’s ignorance, and if I decide to do it, it’ll seem like I’m looking for trouble.’

Jude, who dissociated himself from Psquare in a social media post on Thursday, hours after our interview with Peter, declined commenting for this story. He told our correspondent ‘I’m sorry I can’t talk about it.’

MY WIFE AND MY MUM

Peter Okoye and his wife, Lola Omotayo

‘People think we changed when we started having wives. Before my mum died, she was at St Nicholas hospital on the island, and my sisters were living in this house (in Lekki), and every morning before my wife goes to work, she’ll leave home at 5am in the morning to go and stay with my mum even before we get there ourselves. And when she closes from work, she’s back with her again.’

‘So I just laugh when I hear people say my mum didn’t like my wife. It’s my wife and sister that prepare my mum’s meals in the kitchen.’

‘Now let me shock you: our wives, the three of them are the closest set of people you can imagine. Even with all that’s going on. It’s really surprising. Somehow, they respect themselves and stayed out of the whole drama and I respect them a lot. And that’s somehow what has kept us together for this long, otherwise Psquare would have ended like two or three years back.’

WHY CYNTHIA MORGAN WON’T GET A PSQUARE COLLABO


‘When I set up P-Classic records because people were saying Psquare haven’t helped anyone, I saw the success of Tiwa Savage and I was close to signing Cynthia Morgan and Simi. Ask them they’ll tell you.’

‘I remember Paul came to the studio and said he heard I’m signing Simi and Cynthia, I said ‘Yes’, and he was like ‘What will people see Jude as’, and I gave him example of Drake and Young Money, Cash money.’

‘Oscar (Producer of ‘Collabo’ ft. Don Jazzy) called to tell me that they can’t sign the deal, because he heard it’s causing problem in Psquare. Meanwhile Cynthia and Simi were both going through the contracts I gave them only for them to return it two days later that they can’t do it.’

‘Two weeks after, I was shocked to hear that Jude had signed Cynthia Morgan, and she knows deep down that she’s never going to get a Psquare collabo.’

CONCLUSION


‘The truth is I feel happy it has come, because I’ve been staying in Psquare out of fear for the last four years. The situation now is, if you want Psquare to perform, you’ll have to get in touch with two managers. I don’t care if you pay Paul’s management more than you pay me – once we are able to agree, Psquare is still there. I just don’t want to have a manager that feels he’s in control because he’s my elder brother. And because of the legacy that I want Psquare to be remembered for, that was why I went to talk to Paul the last time. I don’t want us to start doing beef songs, or we see at the clubs and we don’t greet each other, or ignore our kids and stuff like that. And even if Psquare breaks up, I still want us to have our relationship as brothers. If I’ve regretted anything in my life so far, I swear to God this is not one of them, I’m happy because I’ve been in pain for a long time.’

‘It’s good if we go and do stuff separately so that even IF we come back we’ll have respect for each other. I wish Paul the best and I wish Jude the best as well.’

Source:  THENETNG

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