JUST GETTING STARTED

Welcome to your first jolly ride
It’s been quite a struggle putting things together but thank God, we are finally good to go.
The website is under construction and will HIT you soon. For now, let us blog our way into your hearts with piping hot, in-your-face reviews and opinions.

No doubt, the Nigerian music scene is fast evolving, especially in the area of music video production and ‘DARKCHILD’ painstakingly reminds you of the dark era of Music Videos in Nigeria. 'OOCHIE’ on the other hand takes you on a journey of relatively new Nigerian Music Videos; she shares her opinions and rates them on a base of 10.

We also take a look at reality shows. Some blow us away, while some literally blow us away. BADPIKIN kicks off this week's REALITY SHOW WATCH with a review of the KOKO MANSION.

The HITLIST is a segment that I take care of. Whenever any of our beloved celebrities miss the way, I humbly put them back on track. YOU ARE SO J.I is our feature article for this week. Want to know what that means?…..read on…..

All in all, we are just getting started. We look forward to your comments, criticism and encouragements.
Don't forget to vote in our poll for the week.....and so you don't get left out on the excitement, endeavour to become a FOLLOWER today

Once again, I welcome you to your first jolly ride….
God bless

NEWS AND FEATURES

THE REFUGEE AND MAMA 2009

It’s official!!!!
International superstar, rapper, producer and humanitarian, Wyclef Jean will be your host for the night when the ZAIN sponsored MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS ‘MAMA’ takes centre stage on 10 Oct, 2009, at the indoor arena of the Moi International complex in Kenya.

The Haitian who has hosted several international MTV award shows will follow in the footsteps of BBC’s Trevor Nelson, who had the honour of anchoring the maiden edition of the awards in Abuja, Nigeria in 2008.

The show promises to be exciting as the former fugees star will not only be running us through the program of activities but will also get to show us the side of him that we know to well. In speaking with the press, the Refugee said “The Prodigal Son is returning home, Anything can happen.”

Other acts to spark up the night include Nigeria’s own, M.I, Samini from Ghana, Kenya’s home girl Wahu and South African sensation, Lira.
E411 promises to keep you updated as more events concerning the MAMA unfold.

OUR OPINION
Though the inclusion of foreign artistes as nominees in some of last year’s award categories did not sit too well with us, the decision to choose Wyclef Jean as the pilot for this year’s award ceremony is very well commended as ‘the ECLEFTIC one’ is known for his humour and showmanship.

We also hope that in subsequent years, our beloved African Celebrities would be honoured with hosting the ceremony.

HUNGER STRIKE BEGINS

The proposed hunger strike by Nigerian musicians and stakeholders, aimed at drawing the world’s attention to the devastating state of piracy in the music industry commences today.
To kick start the indefinite strike will be a rally of all stakeholders in the music industry at the National Theatre, Iganmu at 10am. The rally is to create an opportunity for artistes and investors alike to network and also device strategies to assault the piracy scourge in the Industry.

In addition to the strike, the stakeholders have declared September 1st ‘NO MUSIC DAY’ and have appealed to all broadcasting organizations to support the coalition. The broadcast stations are to desist from transmitting any music between the hours of 6am and 6pm of the supposed day.

Also on this day (September 1st), a powerful delegation of stakeholders will march on to the National Assembly in Abuja to express their frustrations at the unenthusiastic and ineffective stance of the government towards confronting the virus called PIRACY.

E411 would like to state categorically that we support the cause and would do ‘whatever’ we are requested of to support the fight against piracy.

So people, if you find any Nigerian music artiste or stakeholder taking in any substance (liquids or solids), feel free to take a picture and send to us in return for a little something.


MAD SKILLZ RAP COMPETITION – REGISTRATION IN PROGRESS

Have you got MAD rap SKILLZ?
Have you got what it takes to survive fierce rap battles?
Do you possess the ability to play with words?
Then come show what you got.

MAD SKILLZ is a rap talents hunt competition that seeks to draw out the best rap talents from all over the country. The competition will be hosted by M.I and Alabai while the winner will earn him/herself (yes, it’s open to all sexes) N500,000 cash price and an N8,000,000 production deal with Nigeria’s biggest distribution company.

Registration is now in progress and audition forms are being sold for N5000 till 27 August, 2009. Those that do not make the August 27 deadline and still wish to register for the competition can do so by purchasing their forms at an extra cost of N2000.

Audition forms are available at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island.

NIGERIAN MUSIC VIDEOS: TheN & NoW...

You simply CANNOT forget it; the memory is too scary to forget that easily! I am too sure you all remember when the average Nigerian video shamefully consisted of a rather morose and rigid artiste standing in front of a big screen which served as the background and scene of the entire video.

If you are lucky, you might see a change of clothes or two and even more still, the changing screen which goes from a picture of the sky, forest or worse still, aquatic life of fishes which has absolutely NOTHING to do with the song! How mind-numbing that was! There was this lack of effort or energy, the directors were so apathetic towards the quality of the video they produced. It was more of a drab necessity than an aim to actually entertain, let alone the chance to rake in profits through the market strategy that is synonymous with music videos. Imaginative skills were perhaps locked away somewhere or maybe the constant brain drain the country experiences was to blame. For whatever reason, then Nigerian videos were a big zero!

But today? Mehn...na die o! Everybody must be on MTV Base!
Never mind the fact that you are listening to gibberish as long as that video is tight, nothing do you. I think for the artistes the rationale is that if you concentrate hard enough on the content of a video, your audience would not notice the whack lines you are dropping! (Banky W, in Capable Remix, what the hell were you going on about when you thought of a weak stuff like: “I wanna be your boy like Charley” ??!! No. You just cannot expect people to ignore that).

Okay. Maybe that was too harsh. Thus, I must give kudos to the positive evolution of most Nigerian videos. This change has heralded a pattern in music videos. It sends a message that all hope is not lost. If you ask me, it kinda makes up for most of our Nollywood disasters! At least as long as the likes of Jim Iyke, Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Desmond Elliot take serious steps to restrict their mediocrity to the movie industry and try to control the urge to burst into music just to validate their existence (though they’re here already). We do not need their “skills” overflowing and diluting the progress of our newly spruced-up naija videos.

Therefore, E411 would like to give two thumbs up to a few videos:
• Baraje – Ruggedman (now don’t act like he didn’t start the trend)
• The Finest – Knighthouse ft Saucekid, Teeto and Mo’cheddah
• Shayo – Bigiano
• You are not the girl – Darey Art Alade
• M.I – Safe (he played it safe)

Now, we just don’t rate videos without critically appraising them so the videos listed above have earned our positive acknowledgement. Well done! However, you must watch your back and buckle up ‘cuz if you mess up...you WILL also feature on our list of music video meltdowns!
Till the hottest gist comes up (which is very soon), i’m out!

Darkchild for E411

MUMA GEE - AFRICAN JUICE

After 2 years in exile from the music scene, Rivers state indigene, “Gift Uwame”, a.k.a “Muma Gee” has staged a huge comeback. With the release of her new video, “AFRICAN JUICE”, it can be said that Muma Gee is not just back, but she has brought *sexy* back with her. Considering the fact that she’s been off the music radar for quite a while, it was certainly jaw-dropping to see her tear up our screen the way she did, making a clear statement that she is the ‘REAL DIVA’(newbies take note).

The video was definitely refreshing and we can not help but imagine that the video shoot was one big party. The highlight had to be the fashion and diverse cultures that were represented in the video.

In three short words; ‘Muma Gee ROCKED It’ (well, 3 couldn’t do the trick) and in our honest opinion, it was well worth the wait.

Muma Gee, for the song, the video, the energy and the fashion consciousness, please bear this 8 with us… (a 10 might get you off track).

Seen the Video? Then feel free to let us in on your views.

ROOFTOP MCS FT SUSPECT - BLOWING THE ROOF OFF

They might not immediately strike you as Gospel musicians, but the duo of Adekunle Adeyoola (Soul Snatcher) and Olaitan Hughes (Sokleva) have managed to remain unsoiled in an industry known too well for its profanity.
Despite churning out street banging hits, the ROOFTOP MCs have stuck to the niche of creating clean music for Christ and so they have done again.
Off the forthcoming “Drunken Master” album, comes this refreshing track ‘FOR MY LIFE’. The exceptional track, crammed with positive messages and smooth delivery was produced by ‘Tha Suspect’ who also featured on the track.
I must confess that this track is a personal favourite, so forgive me if I sound too biased in my review of the video (though I’ll try not to).
The fashion?
Well, Soul snatcher has always struck me as a weird one so I kinda understand his fashion sense and for Sokleva, he kept it cool. Altogether, it was a perfect blend.
The performance?
Excellent!

In our honest opinion, the video is absolutely CRACKING and as simple as it is, it translated the lyrics of the song so well.
For the hard work, consistency and smiles you bring to all our faces, here is an 8.
I simply can’t wait to hear the rest of the album and I intend to listen to it until my roof is blown off.

“MO GBONA FELI FELI” - HOT OR ICE COLD

Whenever there is a report of a new music video from MTV Award winner, DAPO OYEBANJO (also known as D’BANJ) expectations reach the maximum (..don’t ask me why). So the case was no different when the video for the Kokomaster’s Hot single ‘MO GBONA FELI FELI’ was said to have landed (sincerely, I almost lost my breath).

The video was directed by Sesan and was shot abroad. The concept was to paint a ‘Naija James Bond’ scenario (which would have been a good concept, except ......) It starts out with D’banj on a treadmill, just before he is told by Don Jazzy, on an unrealistic, ‘futuristic’ screen (when we ALL know he was just poking the air) to go rescue a kidnapped kokolet...

....off he goes, in a car wit customized plates (as James Bond would do....RYT!!)...he sumhow locates the ‘target’ (the kidnapped kokolet) and rescues her quite easily (being as the kokolet seemed to have been waiting to be rescued).

In our honest opinion (as always), there was no connection between the video and the lyrics of the song and the 'HIGHLIGHT' of the video had to be "D’banj’s spontaneous combustion at the end” (LWKMD).

But because we love D’banj and most definitely, the song, we give him a 5.

We might be wrong, so have your say.......

BRACKET – “NO TIME”

‘Bracket’, Kennis Music’s latest singing sensation are right back in our faces. These Enugu raised duo that got us clapping to ‘Happy Day’ and addicted to their ‘Yori-Yori’ tune, are now planning to drive us crazy with the release of their African flavoured anthem ‘No Time’ (but shouldn’t they have called it ‘Kolo’ ?).

The J-Martins’ produced song featured the talented duo of “P-square” and is presently enjoying massive airplay on radio, television and the “alaba boys” compilation CDs...

The video was directed by Clarence Peters (Naija’s Finest), and even though it just consisted of duplications of the Bracket and P-square duo against different graphical backgrounds....... I guess it was good (now I am no graphics expert).

In our honest opinion, these ‘Yori-Yori’ crooners recognise their strengths and weaknesses, and with this song and video, they have once again shown that they know how to work their turf well. So, keep it up guys.

From us to you, it’s a 7.....

Now it’s time to find out what the people say.

IYANYA - LOVE TRULY

Iyanya Mbuk, winner of the first season of the talent hunt singing competition, Project Fame (West Africa), is said to be rounding up work on his soon to be released debut album. In the meantime, a video for his hot single ‘Love Truly’ has been released and is gaining serious airplay all around the nation.

‘Love Truly’, the song that captured many Nigerian hearts and eventually left him as the last man standing in the Project Fame Academy, was produced by the prolific ‘TY Mix’ and the video was directed by fast rising director, ‘A-wizzle’ of M-squad Production.

In our honest opinion (and it’s not a cliché), the video was just okay and there isn’t much to say about it, asides that it seemed to have been rushed so as to give the second season of the competition some credibility (maybe there’s much to say).

The song would have easily gotten a 7 from us but the video sucked up a few points.

So Iyanya, we give you a 5.

Do the people agree?....

ICEBERG SLIM VS M.I - WHO'S BAD?

For once in our history (now that is not an exaggeration), Nigeria can finally boast of a few rappers that can proudly rep the NAIJA flag.
But NO!!!!!!!!!!, bad belle people must not see us live in unity.
Before you begin to wonder what my point is, let me tie the loose ends.
It is no more news that there is some bad blood between two of Nigeria's top lyricist, our home based, Mr. Incredible (M.I) and our offshore son, Iceberg Slim.
The beef that began with these 'almost famous' lines from Iceberg Slim "Am I, better than MI, I don't know, Am I? Matter of fact you should ask MI" has now spanned past the Loopy bosses' 'Somebody wants to DIE' (DIE being the key word here) and is presently at ICEBERG's 'ASSASSINATION' border.
Now we are left to ponder what might come next,
'THE GRAVEYARD ANTHEM' or 'NOW MAMA CRIES' ?

We don't love the beef but we'd definitely love to see both of you lace 1 track (and maybe a one-off battle sha).

Below is an interview of Iceberg Slim. Watch it and answer this question.

WAS THIS DUDE REALLY AIMING FOR WAR?

KOKO MANSION - THE REVIEW

It’s FINALLY over… (did I hear someone heave a huge sigh of relief?). The search for the worthy kokolette (now say that with an IGBO tongue) came to an end on Sunday, 9th August 2009. Surprisingly, Bolanle Okhiria emerged the winner of the reality show that saw different girls ‘do battle’ (more like sit it out) for the title of the perfect kokolette.

Bolanle Okhiria, a 21 year old student of the Lagos State University who hails from Edo State, beat out…*saying it like I mean it* ...the other 3 finalists; Shona Merenu, Chidinma Mbalaso and Rita Igbinedion, to become the last kokolette standing. The reward for her ‘staying power’ include a Chris Aire diamond ring (WHAT!!!), a brand new luxury car, 5 million naira plus and other ‘kokocious’ prizes (whatever THAT means).

Through out the duration of the show, viewers were ‘regaled’ with the (boring) antics of the housemates as they went about their daily routines and occasional tasks, displaying their talent (or the apparent lack of it) at different intervals, in order to woo voters to keep them in the mansion.

Rita Isoken Igbinedion, one of the four finalists and most ‘popular’ kokolette, was at the forefront of the talent display, exhibiting her flair for committing grammatical blunders as she outshone the other housemates, holding the viewers spellbound with her earth-shattering, cataclysmic diction that would have had our darling Jenifa (Funke Akindele) scampering for the trenches. All in all, her ‘charisma and charm’ may have brought about an increase in HITv viewers but doubtfully an increase in subscribers.

The show at certain times was uninteresting and monotonous as most of the viewers were unsure if the kokolettes were actually playing down their characters or they were really ‘blessed’ with such insipid personalities. Frankly, yours truly would have had more fun watching a goldfish swim around in its bowl.

The high and low points of the show had to be the surprising visits by the notable and not so notable personalities, some of whom educated the girls while others seemed clueless as to the purpose of their visit to the house.

A not so memorable example of the latter had to be the unfortunate inclusion of Isi Munirat (a travel agent ALL THE WAY from the Netherlands), whom the producers hoped will spice up the lacklustre atmosphere of the house. But no!!!! Isi (who was supposed to create an endearing atmosphere for the contestants) went in ‘guns blazing’ and only succeeded in shooting herself in the foot.

On the whole, the show was well thought out but POORLY executed, leading up to lots of boring moments.
We STRONGLY suggest that adequate alterations and improvements are made before even THINKING of producing another season of….*drum roll please*…KOKO MANSION.

HITLIST - YOU ARE SO J.I.

Remember when David Beckham stepped up to take that very famous penalty kick that coulda sent England straight into the quarter-finals of the world cup or that incredulous one against turkey; where he thought the ball was a spaceship and he had been bestowed the honour of launching it into space. Well, it became a cliché that whenever a footballer sliced a spot kick over the crossbar, he was said to have “BECKHAMED” the ball.

Fellow Nigerians, it pleases me to inform you that one of our own has accorded himself that same feat. It is none other than Nollywood’s Mr. Macho, JIM IYKE or J.I. as he now calls himself. Apparently, the income from playing “the bad guy” in movies is not sufficient enough for our dear J.I. so he plunged (head first) into Music.

Now when you hear the phrase, “YOU ARE SO J.I”, it simply means “you are the whackest nigga that walks the face of earth”. I mean, WHAT WAS HE FINKING?...What was he thinking when he walked into a music studio (and I’m really curious)? What was the producer thinking when he actually PRODUCED the song (without d requisite advise) and we can probably understand the position of the video director.

But 2face, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING NA….? You are good not GOD!!! You can’t save EVERYONE. You tried your best, yes! But nah!!!!.....no try am again. He might be your friend but then, haven't you heard of never mixing business with pleasure.....pleeeaaaasssseeeeeeee.

J.I (my mayne!!), your gal might tell you she loves “ur new found talent” (like she’s got a choice), but Jim, when next u see a music studio, just think of sumfin else(ANYFIN dat doesn’t involve u singin....or TRYING to sing) and do DAT instead...kip all ur gangstarious(is dat even a word??) acts in the home vids(since we have the choice to buy or not to buy) and don’t force your way into our living rooms.

For those of you that wanna know what gangstarious means....watch this space closely and you might just get lucky.

UP AHEAD

Hello Naija,
Here is a list of events coming up soon. Make sure you mark them down in your calendars.
 Stand up Nigeria Comedy Show – Another Bunmi Davies Production, this show comes up on the last Saturday of every month and this coming Saturday (August 29) just happens to be one of them.
Want to unwind and crack a few ribs? Then make sure you grab yourself a ticket.
VENUE – CITY MALL, ONIKAN, LAGOS
TICKET – N2,500
TIME - 7pm
 Notting hill Carnival London - The Notting Hill Carnival has been taking place in London, on the last weekend in August, every year since 1964. This year’s edition of the main carnival parade will take place on Monday 31st August on the streets of Notting Hill, while the Children's Day parade will take place a day before on Sunday 30th August 2009.
Make sure you make it a date as the Nigerian Corner promises to be very exciting. Here are a few safety tips to adhere to before going for the carnival:
• Have a set meeting place in case you loose family or friends – try not to rely on your mobile phone.
• Keep aware, pickpockets will be attracted to the large crowds.
• Check arrangements for your return journey before leaving for the Carnival – if you move around the area you may find your return journey easier from another station or bus stop.
• Go with the flow of the crowd – don’t try and walk against it.
• Don’t bring your valuables or wear expensive jewellery.
• Keep your belongings with you at all times.
• Don’t carry too much cash or your credit cards.
• If you are travelling only a short distance it may be quicker to walk.
• Arrange to meet friends and family before entering the Carnival area. To avoid congestion, arrive early leave early.
More event updates coming your way soon.

Ciao.

WELCOME NIGERIA

Coming at y’all straight outta your eclectic metropolis, LAS-GIDI…..fellow Nigerians ….its new, its refreshing, it’s d E411…giving you d latest low-down on d buzz in 9ja’s entertainment industry !
Got entertainment gossip cravings? Fashion issues? A hunger for piping hot, in-your-face reviews and interviews?
Then people, you need not cringe in shame! U want it, we supply it!
It’s no holds barred for us as we’d be making no exceptions. We capture the celebs moments of fame and shame so here’s a bit of a WARNING (for the artistes): If you feel d heat, then you’ve earned it and if u can’t stand it, haul yourself outta d kitchen cuz we are going to be smokin’!!!
As long as we’ve got you n you hang on to us, you’re in for a jaw-dropping experience!!
Some may see us as critics (well…at least those on our hitlist), some may see us as real n concise (yeah…our family n friends), while some may see us as attention seekers (if they do, then we MUST be doing sumfin right).
But whichever way you tint your shades, we’ll continue being your funky fly, sizzling fresh entertainment portal; E411.
WATCH THIS SPACE!!! CLOSELY.
E411...