5 July 2008
Lagos — For the third year running, THISDAY Newspapers, one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria has brought Nigeria close to the world through its annual music festival, which is today, adjudged the best in the African Continent. And between July 11 and October 14, Nigerians and the entire world would watch international artistes, and cultural icons performing alongside their Nigerian counterparts in a musical carnival billed to take place in Lagos, Abuja, Washington DC with grand finale in London. This year's festival is designed to revolutionise global perspectives on African issues, shifting focus from the problems to the opportunities and from treating the "symptoms" to curing the "diseases" and projecting positive images of Africa by showcasing the renaissance of Africa's music, fashion and the arts. FUNKE OLAODE profiles some of these renowned artistes and coutoriers who are expected to put up a superlative performances at the events.
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Raymond IV, the son of Jonetta Patton and Usher Terry Raymond 111 was born in Dallas, Texas in October 14, 1978. Simply known as by his first name Usher, is an American R&B and pop singer and actor who rose to fame in the mid-late 1990s. To date, he has sold approximately 30 million albums worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards. He spent the majority of his young life in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a child, he joined his local church choir where he discovered his ability to sing. As early as junior high school, Usher successfully entered local talent shows. Usher's family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in the belief that the city would provide greater opportunities for showcasing his talent. While in Atlanta, Usher attended the North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences. At age thirteen, Raymond competed on Star Search, where he was spotted by an A&R representative from LaFace Records, who arranged an audition for him with L.A. Reid. A contract with the company soon followed. Usher was introduced on "Call Me A Mack," a song he recorded for the soundtrack album to the John Singleton film, Poetic Justice. On August 30, 1994, LaFace released Usher's self-titled debut album. Sean "P Diddy" Combs produced several of the tracks and co-executive produced the album. Usher peaked at number twenty-five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was accompanied by three singles: "Can U Get Wit It," "Think Of You," and "The Many Ways." After graduating from high school, Usher continued to hone his skills as a stage performer and laid the groundwork for his second album. In the closing months of 1997, Usher embarked on a series of tour engagements including a spot on Puffy's No Way Out tour, dates with Mary J. Blige, and the opening spot on Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope tour. My Way was certified 6x platinum in the United States. Usher received his first Grammy Award nomination as Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "You Make Me Wanna," which was also nominated for a Soul Train Music Award as 'Best Male R&B/Soul Single.' Since his foray into music, he has won many awards and equally featured with many international artistes. Usher is married to Tameka Foster and they are blessed with a son named Usher Raymond V.
Chris Brown (singer)
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, dancer, music video director. At thirteen, Brown was discovered by a local production team who visited his father's gas station searching for new talent. Since then, he began his recording career and moved to New York, staying there for two years. Brown's local production team organized an audition before Def Jam Vice President Tina Davis, who currently works as his manager. At the age of 15, Brown was then sent to perform for L.A. Reid and was subsequently signed in 2004 to Jive Records. By early 2005, Brown began work for his debut album, working with the likes of Scott Storch, The Underdogs, Dre & Vidal, Bryan Michael Cox, Bow Wow, and Jermaine Dupri. Brown left school in late 2004 to begin working on his self-titled debut album which was released on November 29, 2005. In late 2005, he released his first studio album, Chris Brown, which spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number-one debut single, "Run It!" which was produced by Scott Storch and featured Juelz Santana. The album also produced two other top ten singles: "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Say, Goodbye." Brown's second studio album, Exclusive was released worldwide in November 2007. It has spawned his second US number one hit, "Kiss Kiss" which was produced by T-Pain, who was also featured in the song . The third single, "With You", has reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and has entered into the top ten in several countries across the world, becoming one of his most successful worldwide releases to date. Brown re-released Exclusive on June 3, 2008 as a deluxe edition, renamed Exclusive: The Forever Edition, seven months after the release of the original version. The re-release version features four brand new tracks, including "Forever", which becoming Brown's ninth top ten single, as it has reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 2008, and a remix of "Picture Perfect" featuring will.i.am, Bow Wow, and Hurricane Chris. In support of the album, Brown embarked on his The Exclusive Holiday concert tour, visiting over thirty venues in USA. He started the tour in Cincinnati, OH on December 6, 2007 and concluded it on February 9, 2008 in Honolulu.
Mary J. Blige
Thanks to her illustrious career filled with hit albums such as My Life and Share My World, Mary J Blige has come to be known as the Queen of Hip Hop Soul at the age of five. She began singing in her church choir at the age of seven and reflects upon those church days with a smile. She grew up in the Yonkers's Slowbam projects, which were nicknamed "Slow Bomb" by the tenants for its rough reputation. Blige sought refuge in her music during these tumultuous times, and favored hip-hop sounds as well as her mother's musical influence, which included artists such as Otis Redding, Gladys Knight, Al Green, and Donny Hathaway. Her singing improved through her teens as she performed solo in several church and school talent shows. Prodded by her friends, she cut her first demo tape at seventeen in a local shopping mall. The demo was given out by her stepfather and eventually got into the hands of Uptown Records C.E.O. Andre Harrell. Harrell showed interest in Blige, but Sean "Puffy" Combs beat him to the punch.
Combs helped Blige fine tune her voice and created her image. In 1992, her debut album what's The 411? saw its first release go straight to No. 1. The album was so popular that it catapulted her to the top of female R&B. Next for Blige was a remix album, which aside from several guest appearances by some big hip-hop names, was uneventful.
Blige credits her upbringing to her unique musical style. "I grew up on old R&B and soul, then as I got older I got into the block parties. That's why my voice when I sing is almost like a rapper, on the beat." Her tough upbringing did not reside well with fans and media, and Blige quickly earned a reputation for being moody, frequently late and extremely demanding. Blige went on to tour, taking a break from the recording studio. She was able to record a track for the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, which featured several big names, including Whitney Houston, TLC, Brandy, and Toni Braxton. Her song from that soundtrack, "Not Gon' Cry", rose all the way to No. 2. Blige became her own executive producer and had the power to bring in big names such as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Babyface, R. Kelly, and Malik Pendleton for Share My World. Nas made an appearance in the single "Love is All We Need," and the album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard charts. Despite the criticism of Share My World, she remains a favorite among R&B fans and remains the Queen of Hip Hop Soul.
Oswald Boateng
Ozwald Boateng a British Menswear designer who is well known in London was born in 1968 to a modern day bespoke tailor born in Ghana and brought up in the streets of London. Son of Kweshi (a school teacher) and mother Mary Boateng. Ozwald began tailoring at the age of 16 selling his mothers designs. Being a tailor and star fashion designer wasn't always in Boateng's life plan he went to college for computer science where he later was inspired by his girlfriend who asked him to make clothes for a fashion show at London Technical College. When he honestly replied I don't know how to make clothes, but she taught him. Sewing clothing became secondhand to Ozwald and from there he began to create custom clothing for himself that many of his colleagues took a liking too. He switched his major to Fashion Design when he attended Southgate College. His career began as a tailor and he later began to show his collection in runway shows in the late 1990's. By the time he was 18, Boateng's clothes were selling at stores in the King's Road section of Chelsea, and in 1993 he opened a store on Portobello Road a very trendy street in London. His true calling was creating custom/bespoke suits for men. In 1995 he opened a store just off of famed street Saville Row on Vigo Street for a more retail venture and later his ready to wear counterpart was selling in high fashion stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney's New York in the United States.
Naomi Campbell
British born Naomi Campbell has conquered the fashion industry and achieved iconic status around the world with her incomparable physique and electrifying presence. Since stepping into the limelight over 15 years ago, Naomi Campbell has set runways and magazine covers ablaze with a sophisticated, sultry style and singular no-nonsense attitude that together have made her an international celebrity and fashion authority. Discovered on the streets of LondonÅfs Covent Garden when Naomi Campbell was just fifteen years old, Naomi Campbell soon had the entire fashion world clamouring to capture her inimitable look. Her first cover shoot was for British Elle. Naomi Campbell was the first black model to appear on the covers of TIME Magazine, and French and British VOGUE, She has worked with the greatest photographers in the world including Patrick DeMarchelier, Steven Meisel, Richard Avedon, Herb Ritts, Ellen von Unwerth, Mario Testino and Peter Lindbergh.
Naomi Campbell has walked for the greatest designers and has fronted campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Versace, Jazz, Francois Nars, Dolce & Gabbana and Dsquared. Because of her iconic status, Naomi Campbell was recently chosen to headline the campaign of hip-hop brand Rocawear. Naomi Campbell is also fronting the current lingerie campaign for H&M, and will be fronting the Louis Vuitton campaign alongside Kate Moss and Amber Valetta for Spring/Summer 2004. She has proved that her talents reach far beyond the realm of being a supermodel. She has channelled her interests and talents into a wide range of creative ventures including singing, writing and acting. Naomi Campbell has brought her charisma to the world of television and film acting alongside international stars, including appearances in films by Michelangelo Antonioni, Steve DiMarco and Spike Lee. As a writer, Naomi Campbell co-authored a best selling novel, Swan, published by Heinemann/Mandarin in 1997, followed by a photo book entitled Naomi, with introductions from friends and admirers Iman and Quincy Jones. As a sucessful enterpreneur, her business achievements, along with her ongoing modelling engagements and charity work, ensure that Naomi Campbell continues to surprise and impress.
Rihanna
Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados in February 1988 to Ronald Fenty of Barbados and biracial ancestry and Monica Fenty, who is of Afro-Guyanese descent. She has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty. Rihanna went to Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then on to the Combermere School, where she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates. In 2004, she won the Miss Combermere Beauty Pageant and performed in the Colours of Combermere School Show. In 2003, at the age of 15, Rihanna received her big break when one of her friends introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. Rogers, along with his partner, Carl Sturken, helped Rihanna record material in the U.S. which was sent to various recording companies. One copy of Rihanna's work was sent to Jay-Z, who eventually signed her to Def Jam Recordings. Rihanna cites Brandy, Beyoncé Knowles, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Bob Marley, and her Caribbean background as major musical influences. Rihanna also stated in an interview that her friend and former Island Def Jam record label artist Fefe Dobson was someone whom she admired and looked up to, having a fellow artist writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves.
Youssou n'Dour
Yousson n'Dour was born in Dakar, Senegal in 1959 and began singing as a child performer at neighborhood gatherings in the tough Medina section of Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. He took formally to the stage at age 12 and by his mid-teens was singing regularly with the Star Band, the most successful group in Senegal at that time. In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Etoile de Dakar, which, by 1981, had evolved into The Super Etoile. The most famous band in Africa, The Super Etoile, guided by Youssou N'Dour has crafted and invented a thoroughly modern African pop style, one which has gone on to influence artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon. It was Gabriel, in fact, who introduced N'Dour to American and British artists via his So album (in 1986) and took N'Dour and The Super Etoile on the road with him in a subsequent world tour. In 1988, Youssou N'Dour was a co-headliner on the Amnesty International "Human Rights Now!" tour alongside Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, and Tracy Chapman. It was during the "Human Rights Now!" tour that N'Dour first heard Chimes of Freedom and became friends with Branford Marsalis, who appears on The Guide. N'Dour's first international album releases on Virgin, The Lion (1989), produced by George Acogny and containing the N'Dour-Gabriel composed single "Shaking The Tree"; and Set (1990), produced by Brian Eno-compadre Michael Brook, prompted Brian Cullman to write in Rolling Stone: "If any third world performer has a real shot at the sort of universal popularity last enjoyed by Bob Marley, it's Youssou, a singer with a voice so extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it." In the summer of 1991, Youssou N'Dour signed to Spike Lee's 40 Acres & A Mule Musicworks label, distributed by Columbia. N'Dour was impressed by Lee's stated commitment to "enlarging the legacy of great African-American music" in a wide range of styles and Lee's belief that N'Dour's music constituted a part of that legacy. The result of that union was 1992's Eyes Open; self-produced by N'Dour at his own state-of-the-art Xippi Studio in Dakar and featuring The Super Etoile, Eyes Open went on to win a Grammy Award nomination.
D'Banj
Dapo Daniel oyebanjo popularly known as D' Banji is a singer-songwriter and harmonica player. He is billed to perform his first ever performance in the United States today in Maryland, at Potters's Place. Since his stormed the Nigerian music industry, he has won many awards including the Best African Act (MTV Europe Music Awards 2007), Most promising Male Artiste (KORA all African Awards 2005) Hip Hop world Revelation (Hip Hop World Awards 2006) and Artiste of the Year (Nigerian music Awards 2006).
MI
MI pronounced as "em eye" was born in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. His encounter with Hip-Hop started with sampling the works of DMX and Lauryn Hill in 1998. He later delved into writing poetry. He has produced and featured on the works of artistes such as Jeremiah Gyang, Djinee, Rhymzo, Don Jazzy, shifi (Style Plus), Jesse Jags, Ice prince, Ruby, Lindsy, Leone, amongst others.
His performance includes opening for Grammy winners Black Ladysmith, Mambazo, and Keb Mo in Michigan, USA. His hit single "Crowd Mentality" is currently representing Nigeria at www.creativeconomy.org.uk website music competition.
ASA
Asa whose real name is Bukola Elemide born in Paris was a singer and songwriter has been making waves home and abroad since the release of her self-styled debut album. She is also signed to the same label as Katie Melua. Her music is already seen her album climb charts in France.
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