Entertainment
Timaya Goes Rebranding
Over the past three
years, Timaya has undergone, little and often subtle changes. First, he tweaked his appearance; He no longer spots the dreadlocks, but has a stylish-parting that runs suavely. His attire is completely of a higher fashion now, a tremendous leap forward for a singer who was very well vested in stereotypical pop culture attires and blings. Quietly, Timaya cleaned up his image.
A look through Timaya’s social media pages will not bring up any old version of the singer from Port Harcourt. He’s a new man, far different from the one who was involved in the brash altercation with Empress Njama, but a successful musician who is focused on his work, and also his new sense of style and self. This change has been evident since 2013. After the previous album “Upgrade”, which did show traces of the man Timaya will become, but still held on to his previous thuggish persona. The singer went on a rebranding process. It slowly became clear that the singer had grown tired of his previous persona and had to evolve, lest he becomes another Terry G, There was a vision to change, the first of which was to lose the tired dreadlocks.
Over the years, very few artistes have thrown in the change to make themselves appeal to a different market. African China cleaned up his image in a bid to appeal to more upscale demography, and left him hanging by a thread that killed his career. Waconzy took off his dreads and so went his plan for the future 2face Idibia, is working on rebranding to 2 baba.
The biggest question, however, is will his music change? All the music timaya has released is unaffected, with a fusion of pop and dancehall still his signature sound, Timaya started off as a story teller and Introspective romantic whose music bordered on protest art, with songs like ‘Dem Mama’ and ‘True Story’ taking the boy beyond Port Harcourt. Subsequent years have seen him try to balance his themes to fit in with the popular narrative, with party tracks leading his work, and an appreciation of God propping it. The songs ‘Sanko’ and ‘Bow down’ both off his ‘Epiphany’ album. His new records ‘ I like the way’, Halleluyah’, and ‘Money’, all straddle his old themes, significantly showing that the change is superficial with no new music direction to be employed.
That aside, if there is a glass ceiling that put Timaya’s career and appeal at risk based on his look, that ceiling has shattered. What’s left is for him to go past the ceiling of his music. Perhaps that will materialize one day.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’