EXCLUSIVE: ‘I won on merit’ – MBGN 2012 winner, Isabella Ayuk

25-year-old Isabella Agbor Ayuk is a graduate of Business Administration from the University of Calabar. With a huge experience on the pageant scene, the new Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria says she’s ready to face any controversy that comes with the crown…

Tell us about your background

I come from a large peaceful family, we are 25 children and I have three lovely mothers. I’m the 20th child of the family. My childhood memories were very exciting because I grew up with 24 other people and there was never a dull moment in the house.

When you were announced as the winner, how did you feel?

I just couldn’t believe it, because I had been here three times and I said to myself; ‘Is this for real? Was that Cross Rivers they just mentioned?’ I started crying because I had been here in 2009, 2010 and in 2012, so it was hard for me to believe it.

How do you feel meeting with the press first time after your crowning?

I felt so great. I felt like a super star in that moment.

The question that won you the crown was that of your pet project on typhoid. Do you intend to continue with it?

Yes, as a matter of fact, it was the project that brought me to MBGN again. I needed a platform that could help me realize a dream and to spread the news across Nigeria that typhoid is a dreaded disease that we shouldn’t take with levity. In 2006 my sister was sick and we didn’t find out on time that she had typhoid. By the time we did, it was too late, and she died. So, I intend to continue, even after MBGN.

D’banj releases ‘Oliver’ UK version – produced by Don Jazzy

As announced earlier, D’banj is releasing in the UK his first ever international single ‘Oliver twist‘ on May 13, 2012. The entertainer has spent the last few weeks building the hype.
D’banj has now announced that the single can be pre-ordered from iTunes.
The UK version is a remix of the original version, and it’s produced by Don Jazzy. This is yet another powerful single that we think will go viral just like the original single. Don Jazzy creatively infuses a bit of techno into the verses and alters the chorus. Club-hit cerftified.

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Audio credit: NotjustOk

Assaulted Beat FM staff sacked for stealing Jollof rice

Adewunmi

Last September, the name Adewunmi Oyekanmi became quite popular in the news after the infamous assault incident with BEAT FM exec Olisa Adibua.  Eight months later, Adewumni has been fired from the company.

Sources say the management was prompted to sack Adewunmi after he had another misunderstanding with a Naija FM staff  - this time over an item which was missing in the office. Adewunmi was accused of stealing another staff’s meal – a pack of Jollof rice.

Sources say, Adewunmi denied the accusation but a  CCTV camera which recorded the whole incident proved him wrong.

Insiders at the Beat insist Oyekanmi was not victimised, but only unfortunate to have been the one caught. ‘Management had been trying to stop the issue of stealing. That’s part of the reason they installed CCTV everywhere, and encouraged all staff to report cases of missing items, so these can be tracked using the CCTV recordings. It’s just unfortunate that he’s the one that was caught. If it had been anyone else, the same fate would have befallen that person’

We could not immediately reach Oyekanmi.

NET placed a phone call to the General Manger at BEAT FM Deji Awokoya who told us he would get in touch even before we could ask him any questions on the matter. ‘I’m in a meeting, I’ll call you later please, thanks’, Awokoya said over the phone.

On Thursday, September 8, 2011, Olisa who is the Director of Programmes at Naija FM, Beat FM and Classic FM had assaulted and severely injured Adewunmi, a member of staff at the Lagos radio station

The incident went public and caused a media frenzy, with people calling for Adibua’s head. This was followed by Adewunmi’s statement claiming that Olisa had settled with him. Shortly after BEAT FM released an official statement, confirming and condemning the altercation which was finally followed by Olisa’s official statement saying he was ‘sorry’. Olisa however served an indefinite suspension before resuming back at work weeks later.

NETPod: ‘Fine lady’ – Lynxxx feat Wizkid

After a debut album ‘This is Lynxxx‘ which produced the hit song ‘Change ur parade‘ and quite a number of impressive singles, Lynxxx is back with a fresh single.

This isn’t the first time the smooth-talking rapper will work with pop singer Wizkid. After their impressive combination on the rapper’s ‘Good loving’ single, Mr Utunu and Wizzy have another go at it..

‘Fine lady‘ sees Lynxxx taking a sharp turn from his previous rap style as he pulls a ‘Dr SID’ on us. Leaving the raps out, Lynxxx obviously tries to sing his way through the verses. Not impressive. Wizkid however balances up with an energetic chorus.

Modenine and Muna in war of words

Modenine says Muna is just a little girl…

Reverred rapper Modenine and beauty-queen-turned-rapper Munachi Abii were locked in a war of words during a rap competition which took place some weeks ago.

Muna, who was the host of the just concluded ‘Nokia Don’t Break the Beat’ rap competition which took place at the GET Arena on Saturday, April 28 was involved in a brief exchange with Modenine who was a head judge after the rapper decided along with the other judges (renowned disc jockey DJ Jimmy JATT and Knighthouse record label boss Rogba Arimoro) that ‘T.K.O’ had won the final rap bout, with the first runner  up being Black Jeez.

Muna sought a different opinion and made it known as she contended the judges’ decision by saying she did not agree with the decision, claiming she had a say in the judgement.

‘I don’t agree with you but, my opinion matters too, you know’, Muna told Modenine.

A clearly pissed off Modenine tried to clear Muna as to what her role as a host should be and how vastly experienced he was a Hip-Hop veteran. ‘I’ve been listening to hip-hop for a long time, trust me, you have to respect my opinion’, the rap veteran told Muna right in front of the crowd.

‘I’ve also been listening to Hip-Hop for a long time, I respect your decision but my opinion matters, please pass the mic men’, Muna rudely replied Modenine right in front of the mammoth crowd.

Speaking with Nigezie right after the show, Modenine said ‘she was very disrespectful but I had to put her in check immediately. I was called here to judge because of my level of experience….It was very wrong for her to just cut me off’.

VIDEO: ‘Shuga’ – Banky W, Wizkid, L-Tido, Bonnie

Banky W, Wizkid at the MTV shuga premiere

If you heard the song and liked it then you’ll probably love the video too.

Put Nigerian R&B singer Banky W, pop star Wizkid, South African rapper L-Tido and Kenyan Bonnie in one mix and expect nothing but a colourful display of fun, youthful energy and of course more fun.

All thanks to very good directing from Nigeria’s finest Clarence Peters, the video to Shuga (which was shot in Kenya) gets more

than a  passmark!

Enjoy below…

Honours and donations trail Rashidi Yekini’s death

Less than a week after the death of former Super Eagles player, Rashidi Yekini, more accolades and  donations continue to trail the death of the soccer hero. The most recent is Oyo state government’s establishment of a N5 million endownment fund for the children of the late star player.

According to the Sports Commissioner of the state, Dapo Lam Adeshina, the endowment fund which will be strictly for the children of the late player, would be managed in conjunction with the family of the deceased.

Prior to this, Kwara State commissioner for Sports, Kayode Towoju had given out the sum of N1.5 million to the family of the deceased on the day of his burial. Lam Adeshina had also donated N1million on behalf of the Oyo State government during the burial. Osun and Oyo states also made similar donations.

How Don Jazzy signed Tiwa Savage

MAVIN: Tiwa Savage was the piece to the puzzle...

The Mo’hits era is over and all parties involved are finally moving on.

We’ve seen D’banj remove himself from all things Mo’Hits, relocating overseas and signing a fresh recording deal with Mecury Records/G.O.O.D Music.

For several weeks now, questions have been asked about Don Jazzy’s future plans and if he will still hoist and fly the Mo’Hits flag with his loyal label mates .

Michael Collins, the revered sprung up a surprise last midnight, announcing a new record label and signing on the hottest female R&B act in the country!

Just this morning, Don Jazzy announced the signing of R&B-Pop singer Tiwa Savage to his new record label Mavin Records, scooping her from her former deal with events-media boss Cecil Hammond who has in the last few years overseen the singer’s career under his Flytime Promotions umbrella.

The pop act who is working to release her debut album will now feature with the former Mo’Hits clan in a new album ‘Solar Plexus’ set to be released tomorrow May 8, 2012.

Contrary to what is being speculated, about Tiwa dumping Flytime from Mavin, Cecil Hammond tells us there are no issues, insisting he  ’won’t say anything on the phone. Let’s schedule a meeting’.

However speaking with Mavin Records publicist Terfa Tilley-Gyado, he confirms that Tiwa has indeed been released by Cecil Hammond’s Flytime Promotions before signing unto MAVIN.

Mavin says Tiwa was signed two weeks ago after ending her contract with Flytime.

She had been in talks with Don Jazzy for several months, according to our investigations..

‘Yes she has been released from all contracts with Cecil’s Flytime and is now a full signee under MAVIN’, Tilley-Gyado told NET over the phone.

The status of Tiwa’s current manager Tunji ‘T Billz’ Balogun still remains uncertain as Mavin has hired a new management and PR company. Tilley-Gyado however says he cannot ascertain if Balogun will continue working with Tiwa.

‘I can’t say about that but she should retain her PR and Management team’.

All efforts to reach Tunji Balogun proved abortive as he did not pick his calls neither did he reply text messages sent to his phone.

Tiwa now joins the likes of Dr SID, D’Prince and Wande Coal who have steadily stuck behind the hit producer through the Mo’Hits saga and eventual split.

A comment on Twitter about the new development reads; This movie is gonna take a long time to play out. Don Jazzy does his own marketing. DBanj is gonna have to rely on the record company… Hmm’.