Skuki out with B.A.N.G.E.R

They debuted on the scene in 2008 with the single entitled Fire and ever since the duo of Atewo and Tumininu popularly known as ‘Skuki’ are smarting from the release of their debut album entitled B.A.N.G.E.R.
Released on the stable of Daphella Entertainment, the song Banger which was released last year is construed to mean different things to different people, the pair have told interested fans and critics alike that B.A.N.G.E.R is an acronym for Building Africa’s New Generation (through) Entertainment (and) Recreation.
The 12 tracker features contributions from DJ Zeez, June Slayton, LKT, DX Snipes and Mocheddah. A video for the hit single Banger featuring DJ Zeez was shot in South Africa on November 7, 2009. The video was directed by Brandon Oelosfse and produced by DJ Zeez. Banger has earned the duo a nomination at this year’s Hip Hop World awards 2010 next rated category.
“To me, B.A.N.G.E.R is like a dream come true. I know how many times we have been to places, and people have looked down on us, but now, we have our first album, an album we can call our own” Atewo, the younger of the duo popularly known as ‘Peeshaun’ discloses.
According to Howie T, CEO of Kiss, the company that manages Skuki, “The album is long overdue, it is about that time, these guys started their career. Everything is coming into shape for them, what else are we waiting for? We have to release the album and give the fans what they are longing for,” he said.
Over the years, the group have strived to make an impact in the Nigerian industry, but only made head way in 2008, and in just two years, they have received both critical and commercial acclaim, and have established themselves as acts to watch out for.
“We are not here to play; we want to revolutionalize the Nigerian Music Scene. When you hear Skuki, we want to be known for something, we want to be able to make something out of nothing, and that is the path we are treading” Tumininu, the older of the duo says.
The new album records production credits from ID Cabasa, DJ Zeez, Meca E, Nay Palm and DX Snipes. B.A.N.G.E.R will be marketed by CN Media

Stella Damasus’ TV show set to hit air waves

With the editing of its first edition almost done, SDA Productions, an outfit owned by popular actress, Stella Damasus-Nzeribe is about to begin airing on TV stations across the Nigeria in about a couple of weeks.

The actress explains that the programme is aimed at showcasing our rich culture to the outside world. ‘‘The show is geared towards showcasing the rich culture of Nigeria to the viewing audience in and outside Africa. It will also serve as a platform where celebrities from all walks of life can relate with their teeming fans.’’ She enthused.

Speaking further, Stella sheds more light about her production outfit: ‘‘The SDA Productions, which stands for Stella Damasus Archives Production is a company that deals in all forms of media, TV, Radio and even Magazines. It has thought up many concepts and ideas for itself and even for other production companies and has been steadily gaining grounds in the industry. SDA Productions is into building content for TV and radio, coverage of events, media consultancy, and press publication in form of magazines, training, events planning, and so on.’’ She said.

Amongst the various concepts of the SDA Productions is The Stella Damasus Show. The show has been in the making for close to Eight years now and it has gone through series of re-branding, revamping, groundwork, and countless hours and of production meetings as the actress hopes to open a new vista in TV presentation.

I want to do a movie about my life- Kevin Chuwang Pam (BBA Winner)

His unassuming mien and knack for creativity made him emerge as the eventual winner of the Big Brother Africa Revolution. Multi-talented Chuwang Pam Kevin became the delight of many as he wrote his name in history books as the first Nigerian to emerge winner of the reality TV show.
His efforts were even commended by the Plateau State governor and other well meaning Nigerians. In this interview with AHMED BOULOR, Kevin talked about the crisis in Jos, his love life and his plans for a career in music.

How do you feel being the first Nigerian to win Big Brother Africa?
It is the start of something good and I feel I should be in the Guinness Book of Records. I still feel like Obama just like I did when I won. It’s a great feeling; one that will remain with me for a long time.

While in the house of Big Brother, did it ever cross your mind that you would eventually emerge as the winner of the show?
Yes! When I was applying for the show, it did cross my mind that I would become the first Nigerian to win. I looked at the prize money on offer and coupled with the fact that last years show was the Revolution edition, I told myself that I would win. But when I got into the house and saw other housemates, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task.

While in Ghana as a Project Manager of the Next Movie Star reality TV in 2007; Uti Nwachukwu predicted that you will win something big in time soon to come. When you eventually emerged as the winner of Big Brother Africa, did you remember his words?
When I won, there were a lot of flashbacks. I remembered when I took part in the auditions of Big Brother and did not qualify, that was a year before I was eventually selected. I also remembered all other auditions that I was involved in before Big Brother came by and all of that makes me feel that I have somehow been favored if not for anything but the zeal to go on.

Some months back, the crisis in Jos took another dimension with blood letting and what have you. As an indigene of the city, were you affected in any way?
Yes I have! I have been affected in many ways; an injury to one is injury to all. I feel the pains of everyone that was affected in one way or the other. It has gone beyond being a Moslem or Christian, we are all Nigerians and it is sad when we allow religion or tribe to becloud our judgment. Jos is known to be the home of peace and tourism and it is sad for us to have allowed things to degenerate to this level. If we want to have peace, then there must be nonviolent co-existence. Two wrongs cannot make a right; I pray for the spirit of forgiveness and the will to carry on. There are people that have wounds that will take time to heal. I am hurt and my heart is heavy. I was in Jos when the first crisis took place and that bloodbath was far worse than this. Some people that lost their dear ones in 2001 also lost property and lives this year too. I just hope the effect of the crisis does not affect the psyche of the young ones that have been victims of such senseless killings.

How were you received in Jos after you emerged the winner of Big Brother Africa?
I got a heroes welcome. There were so many people waiting for me on my arrival. Even those who didn’t have TV sets in their homes came out to welcome me. The crowd was massive and people lined up to catch a glimpse of their son that made the country proud. It was more like a mob because everyone wanted to touch me. But now when I go back and see the level of destruction that we have succeeded in causing ourselves, I weep.

You have taken part in series of Talent Hunts in Nigeria such as The MTN/MTV VJ Search, The Next Movie Star and Big Brother Africa. How well have you been shaped by such experiences?
I have learnt a lot; I learnt perseverance, long suffering, patience and how to be humble. The Next Movie Star did a whole lot for me by actually launching me on the scene here in Nigeria. After that, I went to the NYSC camp and I was off the scene for a while. While I was doing other reality TV shows, I was still applying for Big Brother. At the end of the day, I got chosen to be part of Big Brother Africa and all the experience that I garnered became useful for me while I was still competing in the house of Big Brother. The Next Movie Star is all about acting and while in the house of Big Brother, I was given one of the toughest acting tasks. I was asked to act like an Italian and we had little time to study our scripts. It really built me a lot and most of the star attraction that is sometimes accorded to me is nothing new because I have been there and done that.

There is news going around that you have been signed on to Chocolate City and you will be releasing your debut music album soon?
It is not true that I have been signed onto Chocolate City. Audu Maikori, CEO OF the label is my very good friend but I have my own thing coming up soon. I have my own group and we are gearing up for our own stuff pretty soon. I believe signing onto a label will limit plans for myself and the rest of the group. I started the group in Jos way back and it was almost at the same time with Chocolate City. We started out as dancers and later evolved into rappers; they are even better off than myself and now that I emerged the winner of Big Brother, they seriously look up to me to lead the group. We’ve done a couple of songs and very soon they will hit the airwaves. It was also rumored that I had been signed onto Mo’ Hits Records but that’s all not true.

How soon should we expect the album to drop?
We hopefully expect it to be released before the last quarter of this year.

What about your other talents in acting and presenting? Are you also seeking ways to develop them?
Yes I am! I want to anchor more events because some people in some quarters also see me as a comedian. I have done some stuff for the Comedy Club; I am more of an anchor because I can play the roles of an MC and comedian. I am also going to give my acting career a boost by doing something major pretty soon. I also want to do a movie about my life and if I ever do that, it’s going to be comedy because my life I all about comedy. We are working on the script and you’ll be the first to know when it is released. I just want things to be done well, and that’s the reason why I am taking my time.

You were not in a relationship before you participated in Big Brother. Having won the contest and with the entire buzz around you, are you in a relationship yet?
‘‘That one na WAEC question oh!’’ When I went into the house, I wasn’t into any serious relationship and it is even very hard now to get into one because I have to be sure about the intentions of whoever I eventually settle for. Right now, my mind is seriously on things that I have to do because the expectations are really high and I don’t want to let my teeming fans down. The target now is to win something bigger than Big Brother.

Aside ‘Street Champs’ and JOSTIFIED are there other project that you are working on?
There is ‘Celebrities for Christ’ which is on facebook; I am a Christian and I am creating a community of celebrities on that social networking site. There is also Naija Pikin which is an NGO and it seeks to bring back the pride of Nigerian children. It is a youth based initiative which seeks to fight social vices and it will be launched soon. For every one Mutallab, there are a million great Nigerian youngsters that are peaceful and worth celebrating. I will be inviting other housemates of Big Brother Africa Revolution to be part of it too.

Terry G: The 'HIT' maker!

Press Release

Lagos, Nigeria.

28th April, 2010.

Terry G: The ‘HIT’ maker!

He has produced banging hits for many Nigerian artistes such as Blackface, Charly Boy, AY.COM, AYZEE, Kemistry, Drama, Illbliss, GOP, 2 Shots, Jaywon and many more.

Born Gabriel Oche Amanyi, Terry G like most artistes started honing his music skills in church. His love for music initially saw him leave home to perfect his stock in trade.

The hip hop act, R&B singer, songwriter and producer later became a studio cat, offering backup vocal services to whoever wanted it. It didn’t take long before he was introduces by a friend to Faze who later developed an interest in signing him on to his Independent Label, but Terry G had to learn the ropes as Faze’s back up singer.

His first major production was in 2006 when he featured and produced Shake Dat for former Rhythm 93.7’s presenter, Kemistry and ever since he has not looked back.

But the carpet was pulled off the feet of Independent Records as Terry later got signed on to Bluemoon Entertainment and he now has two albums to his credit. His fan base increases by the day and his vocals are deemed to sound like a fusion of Akon and 2face in some quarters.

Terry G is the only act in the industry that has been able to effectively manage being an artiste and a producer all together.

Discography (Collaborations)

Kemistry FT Terry G Shake PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
Stromyzino FT Terry G Scope PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
Kioma FT Terry G Masemilese PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
2 Shots FT Terry G If u no mind PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
2 Shots FT Timaya In case u never know PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
2 Shots FT Terry G Kpef de go PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
Charly Boy FT Terry G Bad Belle PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
AY.COM FT Terry G Pass me your love PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
Blackface FT Terry G The way you move PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
G.O.P FT Terry G G.O.P PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
DRAMA FT Terry G One more chance PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
AYZEE FT Terry G Ko ma lo be PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
ILLBLISS FT Terry G Enuf space PRODUCTION BY TERRY G
Jaywon FT Terry G Gbon Gbon Gbon

Personal hits
Luv u sexy
Free Madness
Free Madness Pt. 2
Troway
Sangalow

House of Ginjah Unveiled

House of Ginjah unveiled

From the stable of Terry G’s Production (TGP) comes the much anticipated and talked about House of Ginjah crew which consist of four diverse and talented acts whose individual strength cut across different music genres such as R&B, Dancehall, Rap and Pop. The ensemble is made up of young and talented acts such as: D Money, Rakwell, I.Q and Prince Banton.

The group is about to drop its debut album entitled 8th Mainland Bridge and the management of TGP Entertainment is about to seal a deal with a marketer for the yet-to-be released 12 track collection.

D Money

He is Terry G’s sibling and he says his most embarrassing moment was the day he was turned down by a girl in front of his friends. Daniel Oche Amanyi a.k.a. D Money is a 23 year old dude who likes hanging out with friends and he is an R&B crooner that does a little bit of hip hop.

He is also gearing up for a successful career in music on the stable of TGP. When asked, he said: ‘‘I have a phobia for heights and I like being around happy people. Not just happy people but happy people with a good sense of humor. My favorite meal is Pounded Yam and Egusi soup with Goat meat. If there is anybody I would love to meet, that person should be Jesus Christ. I hope to be really famous in the near future and I am going to do everything necessary to become a success in my career.

‘‘If I had my way, things would be done differently in this part of the world. People are not living well and there is so much suffering around us. Things must change and our government should provide necessary amenities for the masses.’’ He said.

D Money’s is a fan of American actor, Samuel L Jackson and an ardent Chelsea fan.


Rakwell

His greatest wish is for people to love one another and his happiest moment was the day he was handed the sum of $1000. Ugochukwu Ikpeama a.k.a Rakwell is a budding 24 year old rapper who is studiously pruning his rap skills and he believes that with hard work and consistency he would go places.

‘‘If I work hard enough, I hope to buy myself a Cadillac. I love that car brand with a passion. It defines my style and don’t be surprised to see me in one very soon. My greatest wish is to have a duet with Li’ll Wayne; I like his style of rap and he inspires me a lot. I love all kinds of music and I am designer freak. I love Gucci, Fendi, Prada and Armani designers. I also intend to be the C.E.O of a record label in the future,’’ he said.

Rakwell is a staunch Chelsea fan and he has a phobia for flying. ‘‘I have a phobia for flying; I don’t usually feel comfortable each time I fly. I started noticing that I couldn’t stand it when I was younger and I think it is something that I have to work on because the opportunity for me to fly will always arise as an artiste.’’ The Imo born rapper said.

I.Q

His lyrics are usually encapsulated with strong Hausa idioms and the 26 year old Aliu Shoaga a.k.a. IQ (finally, finally) would have been a footballer were it not for music. ‘‘I love football with a passion and if not for music, I would have been a professional footballer. I guess that is why the happiest moment in my life that I can recall was in 1996, when the Nigerian Under- 23 team won the Olympic Gold medal in Atlanta.

‘‘I was once a member of the Pepsi Football Academy and I also love singing, watching movies, traveling and meeting new people. 2pac Amaru Shakur really inspired me, and I used to mime his songs while I was in High School but I later switched to delivering my songs in Hausa. I love doing what makes me happy and I think my saddest moment to date was the day our fellow colleague and friend, Dagrin lost his life.’’ He added.

I.Q is also a staunch Chelsea fan but he admires the mercurial skills of Lionel Messi. His favorite movies are: Forest Gump, Titanic and Boys in the Hood. The Ogun state born artiste also likes Hollywood actors such as Jim Carey and Halle Berry.

Prince Banton

Dancehall chanter, Prince Banton a.k.a. ‘Ever ready’ is one artiste that intends to keep the fire of reggae music burning as long as he breathes. His was christened Dare Egerega when he was born and he does not like hanging out with untruthful people. ‘‘Dancehall music is ‘a feel good music’ and I was inspired by the likes of Buju Banton, Shaba Ranks and Super Cat. My wildest imagination is to become the President of Jamaica and I am a die hard fan of Arsenal Football Club. Cesc Fabregas, the captain of Arsenal, is one person I like a lot; I like his humility and skill. He is my kind of leader.

‘‘I believe Nigeria would become a better place if there is less corruption; I love this country a great deal and I believe things will become better if only we do things right.’’ He said.

25 year old Prince Banton would love to visit Ethiopia and Jamaica; he loves Eba and Vegetable soup and plays Basketball. Dancing, reading, swimming and listening to music are his favorite past times. ‘‘Whenever I am not in the studio, I find time to play a little bit of basketball. My favorite actors are; Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nicolas Cage and John Travolta.’’ He said with a word of finality.