REASON SO MANY NIGERIAN ARTISTS ARE NOT GOING GLOBAL FAST ENOUGH OR MAY NEVER! SHOULD THERE BE AN MTV NIGERIA? NIGERIA HAS NO MUSIC INDUSTRY>>FACT!

I love this station and it's programming.

On the MTV front, some of you know that I am media partners with CTV's MuchMusic and MTV Canada when I lived 5 years in Toronto as well as the VH1 brand. The MTV brand has been focused on the viewership needs of COUNTRIES, not cities and towns or even continents! COUNTRIES! So there is MTV Germany, MTV Canada, MTV USA, MTV India, MTV Brasil etc.

Canadian Music stars

American Music Stars

So why do we have MTV Africa?????? OK, Really MTV Base Africa as it's called. I am a GLOBAL MUSIC BLOGGER and certified Journalist and Publicist that has worked extensively in radio plus reported music since I was a teen. I am 48. I just started living in Nigeria 7 weeks ago after 38 years and know Nigerian artists score big in those MTV Europe, Channel O, MTV Africa awards and even the BET awards. However, many artists are not well developed here.

Artist development is seriously needed in the Nigerian music business. There is no "Nigerian Music Industry!!" It's nothing but a make believe world of buying video airtime, awards, sponsorship fraud and so much other Bullshyt I have researched. All I see is a "music business" and not an industry. There is a DIFFERENCE! I don't LIKE what I see! You will not hear this anywhere. I am outspoken about anything. 

2010 Industry Magazine photoshoot

When Lisa Persaud made me one of the MOST POWERFUL women in the Toronto Entertainment Industry in the Aug 2010 issue of Industry magazine in a city I lived for 5 years, I asked her why? She told me that I knew this biz and I spoke facts about it. Look at how slow the Canadian rappers are moving with the Europeans rappers speeding past and the UMA's not even having a category for Canada!

Tuface, WeirdMC, Darey, DBanj and I at the 2006 ThisDay Music Festival

There are way too many Nigerian music artists in the same genres. I cannot recognize any of them in a supermarket except D'Banj, Weird MC, Darey, Seun and Femi Kuti or TuFace. It shouldn't be that way. 

Seun Anikulapo-Kuti and I at the 2006 ThisDay Music Fest

Take a look at Seun Kuti who is a HOUSEHOLD name in Toronto, Canada where I lived for 5 years before I was booted out by the gun loving government. Fela's kid and his bro Femi are known, not only because of their father's legacy but because they have developed themselves into those artists that you see carrying the legacy without LOSING their own identities or riding on the coat tails of the legend. You cannot say that about all the Jacksons. I will introduce u to a young lady changing that. Tito's daughter, Tanae who I interviewed this past Summer. My father is a very powerful politician in Nigeria and I don't like media here referring to me as the "daughter of the former governor" all day. I am "the Activist and Music Journalist." One has to be independent in everything they do.

Even some of those artists may have walked the BET, Channel O, MTV Europe and Africa awards, but have they walked the red carpets of the most famous ones. The VMA's, MuchMusic, Grammy awards? Has their work being nominated? Nigerian artists should strive for more, and they can. It doesn't and shouldn't have to take Yeezy to get D'Banj walking some important red carpets globally because he has some G.O.O.D music contract. He should be able to attain his own status on that higher level. I wanna see D'Banj everywhere without always having the "Yeezy" effect. (Kanye's nickname effect for those of u in Nigeria) Yeezy knows what I mean and he's my old pal btw. Kanye West is the most intelligent rapper alive!

In July 2012, a Toronto promoter asked me to help get Nigeria popstar WizKid and his pal Skales a news conference with local Canadian media. I did so and even booked him as our guest on MTV Canada to go on MTV LIVE and be interviewed by Paul Lemieux. It was a no show as organization on the artist's end was last minute and even the artist's road mgr was not aware of it he told me. Communication was extremely poor. The importance of communications is seriously ignored in the Nigerian music biz!!!

Where is the stardom power? There is a difference between RICH and FAMOUS! I can tell u artists that are famous but not rich and rich but not famous. Artist development and PR is the part of the music industry that sets one artist apart from the other and many don't have that development.

How does an artist go international? Some artists just want to conquer "certain" markets instead of the world. U didn't see Lady Gaga tell her management that she only wanted to perform and conquer the US market? The rest of the world noticed her style and music and wanted her too on their stage.

Some artists have caught my eye, sadly two of them were in that Aluu murder case. The Big L and Tipsy dudes that rapped that "Heart of the City" song were so talented! Also some that have it together and can potentially blow up BIGGER are Ruggedman, Burna boy and female rappers Tesh Carter and Chidinma.

NIGERIAN MUSICIANS: The music business is changing!! We'll soon get tired or already tired of the illuminatti, cartels and the autotune vocoder. This Shyt is getting OLD! Get a real music industry working here, complete with a "Music Week" like CMW  which I participate in yearly and more award shows that recognizes multiple genres. 

I am looking to change the lives of 4 Nigerian music artists putting them in the global super spotlight by signing them into my PR/Artist Dev roster. Just ask Ciara, Young Jeezy, Sean Kingston, Nicki Minaj, Classified, Knaan and others who had contact with me very early in their career.

This is the reason I offer complete artist development and Public Relations at a reasonable cost on how an artist gets noticed, developed, the crave of every collaboration begging artist and of course become LEGITIMATELY rich and famous. To find out more, the cost and what you get, e-mail me at HipHossip@yahoo.ca--MsKemi =KIZZLE and follow me @HipHossip for my news feeds.

THE 2010 MTV AFRICA AWARDS ARE LIVE FROM NIGERIA.

2Face is #1. Best Male and Artist of the Year

Officer Ricky in the motherland

BET's Nneka is from Nigeria too

Banky rocked that Ne-Yo look on the red carpet

We love you Eve for coming to Africa to host our show!

As a second time venue, Nigeria is once again hosting the MTV Africa awards. Philadelphia Rapper Eve is hosting with international stars like Rick Ross, T-Pain and even Chuck D all in Africa. The African artist are dynamic with the old timers TuFace, D'Banj and the newcomers Sasha, Jozi, Barbara Kanam, Fally Ipupa, banky, Daddy Owen and more. Seems like the Nigerian artists are dominating year after year. I am a Nigerian and I know the strenght of our artists if they are not censored by the evil government. A press conference was held yesterday followed by rehearsals and then the show tonight.

As one artist rushed the stage wrapped in Nigeria's green-and-white flag, Africa's most populous nation ran away with the awards Saturday night during the MTV Africa Music Awards.Nigerian singer 2 Face, known for his catchy, fast-paced pop song "Implication," claimed both the artist of the year and best male performer awards during the ceremony held in Nigeria's commercial capital of Lagos. He also dominated during a live performance, throwing himself into the crowd and running away from two scantily clad dancers dressed as police officers."One love to Nigeria," the artist said as he held the golden MTV award, to the applause of the audience.

His singing often includes words in the Yoruba language, heard throughout southwestern Nigeria.National pride ran high as rapper Banky W took to the stage carrying the country's green-and-white flag, later tossing it over his shoulder during his performance.

The country's musicians fared well during the ceremony—Nigerian act P Square won for Best Group, Nigerian singer Sasha won as best female performer and Nigerian rapper Mo Cheddah won for best new artist. Among other winners were Fally Ipupa, a singer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who received the best video award for his song "Sexy Dance." U.S. rapper Eminem won best international artist, but did not attend the event.

Africa has long featured a vibrant music scene, but artists have had difficulties breaking nto overseas markets. Famous African artists include Senegal's Youssou N'dour, Nigerian Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and South African impresario Miriam Makeba, who died in November 2008.Both Makeba and Kuti's names were mentioned during the ceremony, as MTV gave an award in the South African singer's memory.

Rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy recognized the tradition of music being used as a weapon against injustice, drawing a cheer when mentioning Kuti. He earlier led others in a rendition of "Fight the Power," the song ending with the artists raising closed fists into the air. "You have everything you need right here," Chuck D said. "Recognize your legends; recognize your history."

Yet as Nigeria approaches a critical presidential election next year and corruption still pervades life, no one mentioned it in the air-conditioned comfort of the hotel ballroom where the ceremony took place. MTV's regional music channel MTV Base reaches 48.5 million viewers across sub-Saharan Africa via satellite and local television stations. A big congratulations to Slim Shady!! This is Eminem's what 8th Best hip-hop artist award now? He's got 10 Grammy nominations and I am interviewing his Engineer next week.

With files from Jon Gambrell AP and Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo Keminications Media


MAMA 2010 WINNERS IN FULL

• Best Anglophone – Daddy Owen (Kenya)
• Best Francophone – Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• Best Lusophone – Cabo Snoop (Angola)
• Artist of the Year- 2Face (Nigeria)
• Best Female – Sasha (Nigeria)
• Best Male – 2Face (Nigeria)
• Best Video – Fally Ipupa (DRC): “Sexy Dance”
• Best Group – P-Square (Nigeria)
• Brand New Act – Mo’Cheddah (Nigeria)
• Best Performance – Big Nuz (South Africa)
• Song of the Year – Liquideep (South Africa): “Fairytale”
• MAMA Legend – Miriam Makeba (South Africa)
• Best International – Eminem (USA)

TODAY IS THE MTV AFRICA AWARDS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Today, we bring you all the highlights and coverage of the MTV Africa Awards from Lagos, Nigeria. Rapper Eve is hosting with performances with T-Pain, Rick Ross, Parlatones, Teargas, D’Banj, Banky W, Daddy Owen, Fally Ipupa, 2FACE, DJ Arafat, Cabo Snoop, Jozi, Wande Coal, P-Unit, Sasha and a lot more African artists!

MIRIAM MAKEBA PRONOUNCED “MAMA LEGEND” AT 2010 MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS WITH AIRTEL.

Recording artist and civil rights campaigner Miriam Makeba has been honoured by MTV at the third annual MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel. The life and work of the South African singer and civil rights activist, who died in November 2008, will be celebrated at the MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel in Lagos on Saturday 11 December 2010. Makeba, whose stellar career spanned more than 50 years, was honoured by MTV for her musical talent and for her role in bringing African music and rhythms into the global spotlight. In her long and glittering career, Makeba performed for John F. Kennedy, dueted with Harry Belafonte and Paul Simon, brought African political issues into the mainstream consciousness and won comparisons with Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. A victim of oppression herself, Makeba fought tirelessly to ensure that others would be free from oppression, and was appointed a UN Goodwill ambassador in 1999.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, “Miriam Makeba is a true legend and rightly celebrated throughout the world for her beautiful voice, fighting spirit and pioneering interpretation of African music.” Miriam Makeba follows in the footsteps of previous MAMA Legend award winners Fela Anikulapo Kuti (2008) and Lucky Dube (2009). The MTV Africa Music Awards 2010 is sponsored by Airtel in association with MasterCard. Other partners supporting the MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel include Arik Air and the Lagos State Government.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE 2009 MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS IN KENYA TONITE SAT OCTOBER 10TH.

Wyclef performs

Wyclef arrives in style with co-host of MAMA.

Kenya's Amani won for Best Female Artist

Akon arives at the MAMA awards fully clothed

Akon does the red carpet for the media

Akon begins to perform at the MAMA awards

The stripping begins. Jacket's gone

Akon's dick-gate and Wyclef's assets being bared!

First we were shocked as much as you were when we saw Akon and Wyclef literally stripping on stage. Akon suddenly pulled his penis and showed the girls! Now you know that his antics have gotten him into trouble on stage in the USA with the throwing of the boy and the grinding of the girl but this....takes the cake. It could never happen in the States. They will quickly charge him with indecency! The female crowd went WILD! Now we know why Akon has 4 baby mamas and 20 kids. Even Wyclef's expression shows jealousy. LOL! Wonder how the First Lady of Kenya thought. She gets angry easily and slaps reporters. Bet she was thrilled.

Best Male
2 Face (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Nameless (Kenya) – Winner
Da L.E.S. (South Africa)

Best New Act
M.I. (Nigeria) – Winner
Shaa (Tanzania)
STL (Kenya)
Bigiano (Nigeria)
Rhythmic Elements (South Africa)

Best R&B
2 Face (Nigeria) – Winner
Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Beyoncé (USA)
Akon (USA)

Best Hip Hop
M.I. (Nigeria) – Winner
A.Y. (Tanzania)
Zulu Boy (South Africa)
Jay-Z (USA)
Kanye West (USA)

Best Female
Kel (Nigeria)
Amani (Kenya) – Winner
Lira (South Africa)
Zamajobe (South Africa)
Lizha James (Mozambique)

Best Performer
P-Square (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Samini (Ghana) – Winner
Nameless (Kenya)
Blu*3 (Uganda)

Best Group
P-Square (Nigeria) – Winner
Blu*3 (Uganda)
Gang of Instrumentals (South Africa)
Mo Hits Allstars (Nigeria)
Gal Level (Namibia)

Artist of The Year
2 Face (Nigeria)
D’banj (Nigeria) – Winner
Lira (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)
Nameless (Kenya)

Best Alternative
Green Day (USA)
Coldplay (UK)
Cassette (South Africa)
Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa) – Winner
Aking (South Africa)

Best Video
2Face – Enter The Place (Nigeria)
XOD – I Want You Back (Uganda)
HHP – Mpitse (South Africa) – Winner
Da L.E.S. – We on Fire (South Africa)
Wahu ft Bobi Wine – Little Things You Do (Kenya).

Once again we NIGERIANS SWEPT the awards!!! Congrats to everyone!

DOUBLE TROUBLE: MTV AFRICA IS ALSO TONITE AND WE ARE COVERING THAT TOO.

ZAIN, MTV CONFIRM 2FACE, AMANI, BRICKZ, D’BANJ & THE MO’ HITS ALLSTARS, HHP, NAMELESS, PYPE, STL & ZEBRA & GIRAFFE FOR 10 OCTOBER SHOWDOWN

Nairobi, Kenya: MTV and Zain have finalised the thrilling performer line-up for the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) with Zain. The latest artists to join the glittering performer roster include 2Face (Nigeria), Amani (Kenya), Brickz (South Africa), D’Banj & the Mo’ Hits Allstars, (Nigeria), HHP (South Africa), Nameless (Kenya), Pype (Nigeria), STL (Kenya) and Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa).

2FACE, Amani, Brickz, D’Banj, HHP, Mo’ Hits Allstars, Nameless, Pype, STL and Zebra & Giraffe will join previously announced performers Akon, Wyclef Jean, M.I., A.Y., Lizha James, Fally Ipupa, Blu3, Da LES, Lira, Nameless, Samini and Wahu on the stage at the Awards on 10 October 2009. The Awards, the ‘Oscars’ of the African contemporary music scene, will be filmed and broadcast for the first time in high definition, disseminating the scale and ambition of the African music scene to the rest of the world.

Nigerian superstar and 4-time MAMA nominee 2Face is nominated in the Artist of the Year, Best R&B, Best Male and Best Video categories. His fellow Nigerian and triple 2008 MAMA winner D’Banj will be making his second MAMA appearance after his electrifying duet with Kelly Rowland in Abuja last year. Performing with D’Banj will be his regular backing group the Mo’ His Allstars who are also nominated in their own right in the Best Group category.

Going head-to-head with 2 Face for the Best Male crown, D’Banj is also nominated for Best Performer and Artist of the Year in the 2009 Awards, and shortlisted in the Listener’s Choice category. The hottest new dancehall act from Nigeria, Pype, will also grace the MAMA stage in a sizzling collaboration with fellow countryman, M.I.

Africa’s exciting alternative scene will be centre stage in the shape of Zebra & Giraffe, the electro-rock brainchild of South African instrumentalist and composer, Greg Carlin, who is in the running for the Best Alternative award. South African urban hip hop will be well represented by kwaito star Brickz, shortlisted in the Listeners Choice category for his collaboration with Shugasmakx on their track ‘Imisebenzi Yakho‘, and HHP, nominated for Best Male, Artist of the Year and Best Video.

Kenyan Best Act nominee STL and Best Female/Listener’s Choice contender Amani join Kenyan songbird Wahu representing East African girl power at the Awards and adding some serious glamour to the MAMA main stage.

Also representing Kenya will be triple nominee Nameless, who will be aiming to emulate his wife’s (Wahu)’s success in the 2008 MAMA awards, where she won Best Female.

The MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain will air on DStv and MTV partner networks AIT, STV, CTV, WBS, TBC1, TV3, ZNBC and RTGA from 17 October 2009; it will also air on MTVNHD, MTV Network International’s high definition TV service which launched in September 2008, and which is currently available in 21 countries worldwide (Argentina, Belgium, Caribbean Islands, Chile, Columbia, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela, Uruguay, UK & Ireland).

For further information on the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain please go to www.mtvbase.com or mtvmama.mobi, join the MTV base Facebook fanpage at MTV-BASE@Facebook or follow our tweets at Twitter on twitter.com/mtvbaseafrica.

All coverage begins at 6pm... Check out my coverage last year of the very FIRST MTV Africa awards.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE FIRST MTV AFRICA AWARDS IN NIGERIA NOVEMBER 22ND 2008.

Always happy Nigeria's Seun KutiIs The Game scared of the red carpet pressroom?

Artist of the Year Nigeria's D'banj and DJ Jarren C

Kelly Rowland looking her sweet chocolate self

Nigeria's 9ice won Best male hip-hop
S. Africa's Jozi is our "T.I" Best Live Act (in red at podium)

Nigeria's 9ice is the Best Hip-Hop Act

Kelly Rowland picks up Alicia Keys' Best R&B Award. Fans were pissed she did not show! Trust me, she will soon. You need to see your African fans!

Nigeria's D'Banj is the Artist of the Year!

USA's FloRida about to announce Wahu's (Best Female) award

Nigeria's Naeto-C won Best new Artist

Two Nigerian singers won top awards Saturday as MTV held its first-ever music award program for Africa, with acts from across the world's poorest continent being nominated for prizes.

Nigerian singer D'banj won the artist of the year award, while his compatriot, Naeto C, took the laurels for the best new African act, it was announced at the ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. Yes! But other Nigerian acts swept the awards as well. 9ice, a Nigerian act even beat out L'il Wayne and The Game proving nobody is tougher than Nigerian hair or music! LOL!

Best Female: Wahu (Kenya)

Best live Performer: Jozi (South Africa)

Best Group: P-Square (Nigeria)

Best Hip-Hop: 9ice (Nigeria)

Best new act: Naeto-C (Nigeria)

Best R&B: Alicia Keys (USA)

Best Video: Ikechukwu: Wind am well (Nigeria)

Best Female: Wahu (Kenya)

Artist of the Year: D'Banj (Nigeria)


So for all you who responded and feuded on Facebook complaining about American nominees inserted with the African ones, well, Africa talked and they voted for the artists of their choice. I always say I was the first Reporter to interview Ciara and Young Jeezy and I know talent when I see it.

I interviewed Ikechukwu (above) and D'Banj (with me) in Nigeria back in 2006 and that Banji boy is so talented and has every major endorsement in Africa. Now being MTV Artist of the Year, he just STRUCK GOLD! Congrats to all the winners! See you there next year!

SOME OF THE WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES AT THE MTV AFRICA AWARDS.

Kelly Rowland performs with D'Banj

The Game rapping so hard that fans stormed the stage below and security came in FAST! LOL!

(LIVE) ONLY ON HIPHOSSIP: THE FIRST EVER MTV AFRICAN AWARDS 2008 IN NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA.

MTVAfrica logo behind US artist The Game at yesterday's press conference

MTV launches its first-ever music award program for Africa on Saturday, with acts from across the world's poorest continent nominated for prizes in the Nigerian capital.

Winners were being selected by fans sending text messages, said Alison Reid, a spokeswoman for MTV Networks Africa.

Africa has long featured a vibrant music scene, but artists have had difficulties breaking into overseas markets. Famous African artists include Senegal's Youssou N'dour, Nigerian legend Fela Kuti and South African impresario Miriam Makeba, who died this month.

MTV hopes the awards can offer the artists more exposure and celebrate the continent's artistry.

Nigerian R&B duo P-Square is competing in five categories including best group, best R&B act and the evening's top award, artist of the year. Performers from South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Gabon and others are also nominated.

African music is highly varied, reflecting myriad tastes in the vast continent. Included across the many genres are call-and-response chanting and heavy drumming, drawing on pre-colonial modes of communication among villages.

Since independence movements swept the continent in the 1960s, African music has also increasingly been open to outside influence, incorporating salsa rhythms, rock beats and, increasingly, hip hop and R&B styles.

Many of the new Nigerian acts nominated Saturday feature heavy beats pioneered by American rappers and hip-hop artists. The lyrics often reflect the desire of many Nigerians to escape poverty and corrupt governance.

MTV's regional music channel MTV Base now reaches almost 50 million African viewers in 48 countries through a network of pay-per-view services and partnerships with domestic channels.

(MAMA) MTV AFRICA WEBSITE

Source: Associated Press

All coverage of press conference, rehearsals and tonite's ongoing show coming ONLY ON HIPHOSSIP in my country of Nigeria, West Africa.

THE RED CARPET WAS DYNAMIC.

The great Samini! Batman Samini is an award winning Ghanaian artist.

Rapper HHC on the red carpet.

Now this is my boy Ikechukwu! This is a Nigerian with a rags to riches story!!

Ikechukwu certainly has arrived! Look at my boy on the RED CARPET!

America representing in the motherland! FloRida.

Peter and Paul Okoye, Nigeria's fraternal twin sensation P-Square

Paul Okoye greeting fans

"Our time has come" These guys all deserve this historical event!

FloRida and the Nigerian media

OUR COUNTRY IS BEAUTIFUL!: YESTERDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE AND REHEARSALS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA ---NOVEMBER 21ST 2008

MTV's in AFRICA!!! AND Tougher than Nigerian hair!

The stage and Abuja's hill view

The fantastic stage!
Ma boy FloRida waiting to rehearse.
Britain's Trevor Nelson was the host of the show.
Another one of my boys Seun Kuti, son of Africa's legendary musician Fela Kuti. I interviewed him in Ng in 2006 at the This Day Music Fest, 2007 and 2008 in Toronto, Canada.

South Africa's Jozi, Africa's "T.I" You have to hear his raps

Asa is Nigeria's R&B sensation
America's FloRidaHHP is Hip-Hop Pantsula
Peter Okoye is one half of Nigeria's twin duo P-Square

Jozi performing during rehearsals yesterday. Looks like T.I too on stage
Jacyeon "The Game" Taylor looks hell tired in that press conference

Trevor Nelson at the press conference
Paul Okoye, the other half of Nigeria's P-Square

Can I say we have come a log way as Africa's most populous country? Thank you MTV! After we had to cancel our Miss World pageant and lose all the revenue in tourism, something good came out of this. We have always been the musical hub in Africa. Nigeria is just so F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C RITE NOW!

I hope you truly appreciate African hip-hop. Below are videos of music from these artists. Enjoy! D'Banj is like our Diddy! Please go to their respective YouTube sites or just search them on YouTube and listen to something different.