M.I Debuts On Billboard ‘Next Big Sound’ Charts

M.I Abaga at the 2011 Headies...

Rave-making rapper and hit maker, Jude Abaga, better known as M.I, has given his numerous fans cause to celebrate as their efforts at supporting and promoting his music on online social media platforms has led to his debut on the ninth position of the Billboard’s Next Big Sound 25.
This feat by the ‘short black boy’ of Nigerian rap is worth mentioning bearing in mind that ‘the chart is for fastest accelerating artistes during the past week across all major social music sites, statistically predicted to achieve future success as measured by Next Big sound’.
Rapper and acclaimed producer as well as younger brother to M.I, Jesse Jagz, has also made the list in the past. Others include Asa, Naeto C, D’banj and R&B singer Darey.
M.I who recently tweeted the official tracklist off his forthcoming mixtape ‘Illegal Music II‘ says he will be releasing the material before the year runs out.

Glitz And Glamour From The American Music Awards Red Carpet

Taylor Swift

US sing Jennifer Lopez might have stolen the show with her raunchy performance at the 2011 edition of the American Music Awards and country singer might have turned out the biggest winner of the night but prior to the dazzling performances that took place on the stage, celebs took time to show off their fabulous evening wears on the red carpet.
Want to guess who rocked it right? Look through the tons of glamourous pictures below…

2face Rescues Injured Policeman

2face Idibia is in the news again but this time around he isn’t receiving any awards or featuring on international talk shows or headlining any event.
The singer who is credited to singing one of the biggest songs to come out of Africa ‘African Queen’ recently played the role of a ‘Good Samaritan’ as he reportedly saved the life of a Police Officer who had been shot.
The story goes that 2face and a close friend, event manager Matthew Ohio at about 3AM left the Nu-Grotto located at 217 Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island and were heading to the Southern Sun Hotel in Ikoyi, driving in the singer’s Ranger Rover Sport through Muri Okunola Street when they came across a man lying down by the roadside.
Ohio who was driving says the pair decided to stop and find out what was wrong with the man. Upon getting closer, they discovered it was a police man and that he had been shot three times by – once in the hand, in the stomach and in the leg. ‘He kept saying we should help him, he looked like he was in a lot of pain’, Ohio who is executive producer of Industry Nite, the weekly event held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos told Nigerian Entertainment Today in a telephone conversation.
It is believed that the policeman who identified himself as Corporal Ganiu had been shot just five minutes before Idibia and Ohio drove by. Ohio tells us that they had been alerted by security guards at Nu-Grotto but they ignored the warnings.

Psquare, Duncan Mighty, Wizkid, Others To Rock Top 10 Mics Concert

Psquare

After weeks of organizers leaving the public in suspense and the full list of Nigerian artistes billed to perform at the much talked about Top 10 Mics Concert has been revealed.
Afro beat saxophonist Femi Kuti, ‘Port Harcourt 1st son’ Duncan Mighty,  pop sensations Wizkid and Mo’Cheddah and the pop singing duo of Psquare were recently announced as the final five acts that will be performing at the concert. They will be joined by previously announced acts 2face, M.I, Sir Shina Peters, Obesere and eLDee.
‘We are doing Top 10 MICS for many reasons, long before now, some of us who are old enough still have memories of Lekki Sun Splash and other concerts at open venues where people enjoyed themselves. We are trying to recreate the memory of good old days with the infusion of contemporary offerings. We are tired of events where only hip-hop audience would be catered for. We want an event where fans of different genres of music could mix and experience the thrill of live performances of leading lights in different genres’, Anu Awoseyi an official of Koga Entertainment said.
The concert is billed to take place just two days to Christmas on Friday, December 23, 2011 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

President Jonathan Celebrates 54th Birthday With Family

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, yesterday Sunday, November 20, 2011 celebrated his 54th birthday at the State House Chapel, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
‘I thank God for keeping me alive to discharge the responsibilities of my office. When I decided to contest for the position of Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, I prepared my mind for any eventuality, and God has been faithful to me’, Jonathan said just after cutting his birthday cake.
Check out a few photos from the ceremony…

Breaking News: HITV Office Sealed

HiTV staff restricted from gaining access into the office premises

Entertainment Highway’s multi-channel digital satellite TV service, HiTV had its offices locked up by officers of the Nigerian Police Force today, Monday November 21.
Sources say the order to lock up the office which is located at 24a, Isaac John Street was issued by the management of Guaranty Trust Bank allegedly due to unpaid debt.
When Nigerian Entertainment Today visited the company this afternoon, some of the company’s staff were seen standing nearby, while others stood directly in front of the gate.
‘They owe GT Bank money, that’s why we have locked the place up’, one of the policemen told our reporters.
None of the HiTV staff granted our reporters audience when they were asked questions pertaining to the matter.
All HiTV servers have been shut down, subsequently affecting the channels hosted on it, including Hi Sports, Hi Nolly and Hi Nolly Yoruba. Third party channels such as 1 Music, Biscon, Hip TV and 4Real TV have also been ‘temporarily’ shut down. However, the other channels with independent uplink servers such as Sky News and E! are still running.
Inside sources have also told NET that staff have not been paid for about four months.
E-mails sent to the PR/Communications Manager at HiTV, Justin Akpovi-Esade were not replied at the time of this report.
HiTV, the first television platform in Africa to deploy Hypercable, a terrestrial pay per view TV decoder system was launched in 2007.

AGN Face-Off: Emeka Ike Dares Segun Arinze, ‘Conduct Elections And Go To Jail!’

Emeka Ike

Trouble seems to be brewing in the divided body of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) as one of its factional leaders and notable ‘Nollywood’ actor, Emeka Ike, has declared the activities of the Segun Arinze led faction of the body as illegal.
The actor in a statement made available when he recently addressed a world press conference in Gbagada, Lagos, stated that ‘it is most important to note that any signature Segun Arinze has ever appended on behalf of the guild (AGN) is an illegality and does not represent the didactic opinion of the real and constitutional executives of the Guild hence bringing every agreement, terms of grant facilities of funds acquisition into total illegality and consequently a nullity’.
The actor also decried the activities of certain ‘middle men’ who claim to represent the interests of film makers in the country by parading themselves to government officials and bringing the industry to disrepute with their illegal activities.
The meeting was attended by representatives of The National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Association of Ibo film Makers and a few independent film producers.
However, in an earlier call by Nigerian Entertainment Today reporters to AGN ‘President’ Segun Arinze, it was revealed that nothing was going to come in the way of the elections, as the actor vowed to go ahead with the controversial elections. He also claimed not to be cowed by any move by anyone to deter him from handing over at the appointed time.
‘Nothing will stop me from handing over, the elections must go on’, Arinze told NET.
The controversial elections are due to be held later this November.

Curvy Christina Aguilera hits another bum fashion note as she spills out of her bandage dress

It's supposed to hold you in - but it seems Christina Aguilera's bandage dress was somewhat challenged as she appeared onstage last night.
Miss Aguilera continued with her recent streak of fashion disasters at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles.
The Voice star bulged out of her bandage-style silver dress while performing the smash hit single Moves Like Jagger with Maroon 5.

A cry for help?: Singer Christina Aguilera seemed to be squeezed to the point of discomfort in her tight bandage-style dress as she performed tonight

The figure hugging mini-dress was a little on the small, short and tight side for her curvier figure, but she didn't seem to mind as she flaunted it in all it's glory.
As she was raised onto the stage mid-song on a glittery silver podium, Christina looked significantly heavier than the size four she has claimed to be.