Entertainment
How Beefs Demystified Naija Artistes In 2016
We have had fun this
year. The singers, the rappers, the producers, the fans, the neutral, and many more. We have all had dope fun this year from all the beefing 2016 has to go down in history as the most interesting year for Nigerian music in a long time, with all the off-the-mic drama, emotions, beefs and curse. The sings looked good from the first day of the year when Don Jazzy and Olamide tore the veil that kept real feelings out of the public eye, and exposed a dislike for the Mavin Boss. That was settled in 48 hours but that was prime time entertainment from the fans. It had engagement, had the neutrals talking, people fighting, arguing and holding court for the two giants. Too bad it had to end early.
Others came through quickly. Vector was challenged by Ycee, who denied it quickly, and averted what could have been another TV-worthy encounter David and B-Red clash over the steroidal success of new boy Mayorkun was brief and settled. Psquare found a way to implode for the umpteenth time in as many years, with Peter Okoye splitting the group, and creating Solo careers for everyone associated with the business. That beef has been put to rest, but it gave Nigerians some high points to enjoy and ruminate. There were also tears from fans, as emotional songs made the waves.
Wizkid also took time out to physically injure Dammy Krane, after the ‘Amin’ singer called him out for intellectual property theft. Other beefs involving a musician and another popular non-music figure also contributed . Examples involved Wizkid vs Linda Ikeji, and Davido vs Dele Momodu. Beef in itself is good for the art.
Although in the Western cultures, it tends to spill blood and result in loss of life, in Africa, our artistes and all their representatives lack that amount of conviction mixed with hatred to pull off a killing because of beef. No one has that guts, we are too conscious of our states to compromise our careers on it.
For the neutral observer, this has given the industry another layer of depth that had not fully been active and appreciated. Musicians have become more than fly stars who make good music and appear as super humans in videos and on concert stages. Right now, they have been demystified and made to expose more human and mundane facets to their personality. They fight, they bicker, they express emotions and they make up. That’s what we all do, and for them to be like us, normal humors, then it’s a plus. We can connect more. We are our artistes.
As the year slowly reaches its end, there’s been a drastic reduction on the number of beefs that we have had to experience and enjoy. But we have had a series of it this year. Entertainment in the music industry for fans became personal, creating a holistic experience that was almost publicly non existent prior to the start of the year.
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”