Entertainment

Burna Boy’s Album Twice As Tall Nominated For The 2021 Grammy Awards

Nigerian Afro Pop Superstar Burna Boy has been nominated for the 2021 Grammys. This is his second Grammy nomination, on the back of his 2020 nomination for his album African Giant which he lost to Anqelique Kidjo’s reimagination of Celia Cruz’s music on the eponymous, Celia.

The singer was nominated under the World Music Album alongside Antibalas, Bebel Gilberto, Anoushka Shankar and Tianariwen.

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards is slated to hold on January 31, 2021 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It will recognize the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2020.

Here’s is a few of the categories

WORLD MUSIC ALBUM:

FU Chronicles — Antibalas
Twice As Tall — Burna Boy
Agora — Bebel Gilberto
Love Letters — Anoushka Shankar
Amadjar — Tinariwen

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

Chilombo — Jhené Aiko
Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) — Black Pumas
Everyday Life — Coldplay
Djesse Vol. 3 — Jacob Collier
Women In Music Pt. III — Haim
Future Nostalgia — Dua Lipa
Hollywood’s Bleeding — Post Malone
Folklore — Taylor Swift

RECORD OF THE YEAR:

“Black Parade” — Beyoncé
“Colors” — Black Pumas
“Rockstar” — DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch
“Say So” — Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa
“Circles” — Post Malone
“Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

SONG OF THE YEAR:

“Black Parade” — Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“The Box” — Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Cardigan” — Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“Circles” — Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)
“Don’t Start Now” — Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“I Can’t Breathe” — Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“If The World Was Ending” — Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels)

Also Read: A Better Time: Davido’s Album Sets New Record For Streams

NEW ARTIST:

Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion

POP SOLO PERFORMANCE:

“Yummy“ — Justin Bieber
“Say So“ — Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted“ — Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now“ — Dua Lipa
“Watermelon Sugar“ — Harry Styles
“Cardigan“ — Taylor Swift

POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE:

“Un Dia (One Day)” — J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy
“Intentions” — Justin Bieber Featuring Quavo
“Dynamite” — BTS
“Rain On Me” — Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande
“Exile” — Taylor Swift Featuring Bon Iver

POP VOCAL ALBUM:

Changes — Justin Bieber
Chromatica — Lady Gaga
Future Nostalgia — Dua Lipa
Fine Line — Harry Styles
Folklore — Taylor Swift

ROCK ALBUM:

A Hero’s Death — Fontaines D.C.
Kiwanuka — Michael Kiwanuka
Daylight — Grace Potters
Sound & Fury — Sturgill Simpson
The New Abnormal — The Stroke

ROCK SONG:

“Kyoto” — Phoebe Bridgers, Morgan Nagler & Marshall Vore, Songwriters (Phoebe Bridgers)
“Lost In Yesterday” — Kevin Parker, Songwriter (Tame Impala)
“Not” — Adrianne Lenker, Songwriter (Big Thief)
“Shameika” — Fiona Apple, Songwriter (Fiona Apple)
“Stay High” — Brittany Howard, Songwriter (Brittany Howard)

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM:

Fetch The Bolt Cutters — Fiona Apple
Hyperspace — Beck
Punisher — Phoebe Bridgers
Jaime — Brittany Howard
The Slow Rush — Tame Impala

R&B ALBUM:

Happy 2 Be Here — Ant Clemons
Take Time — Giveon
To Feel Loved — Luke James
Bigger Love — John Legend
All Rise — Gregory Porter

PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM:

Chilombo — Jhené Aiko
Ungodly Hour — Chloe X Halle
Free Nationals — Free Nationals
F*** Yo Feelings — Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is — Thundercat

TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE:

“Sit On Down” — The Baylor Project Featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
“Wonder What She Thinks Of Me” — Chloe X Halle
”Let Me Go” — Mykal Kilgore
“Anything For You” — Ledisi
“Distance” — Yebba

R&B PERFORMANCE:

“Lightning & Thunder“ — Jhené Aiko Featuring John Legend
“Black Parade“ — Beyoncé
“All I Need“ — Jacob Collier Featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
“Goat Head“ — Brittany Howard
“See Me“ — Emily King

R&B SONG:

“Better Than I Imagine” — Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, Songwriters (Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)
“Black Parade” — Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, Songwriters (Beyoncé)
“Collide” — Sam Barsh, Stacey Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi, Songwriters (Tiana Major9 & Earthgang)
“Do It” — Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch & Vincent Van Den Ende, Songwriters (Chloe X Halle)
“Slow Down” — Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Skip Marley & H.E.R.)

TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE:

“Sit On Down” — The Baylor Project Featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
“Wonder What She Thinks Of Me” — Chloe X Halle
”Let Me Go” — Mykal Kilgore
“Anything For You” — Ledisi
“Distance” — Yebba

RAP ALBUM:

Black Habits — D Smoke
Alfredo — Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
A Written Testimony — Jay Electronica
King’s Disease — Nas
The Allegory — Royce Da 5’9

RAP SONG:

“The Bigger Picture” — Dominique Jones, Noah Pettigrew & Rai’shaun Williams, songwriters (Lil Baby)
“The Box” — Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” — Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ron LaTour & Ryan Martinez, songwriters (Drake Featuring Lil Durk)
“Rockstar” — Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro IV & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch)
“Savage” — Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White, songwriters (Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé)

GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG:

“Wonderful Is Your Name” — Melvin Crispell III
“Release (LIVE)” — Ricky Dillard Featuring Tiff Joy; David Frazier, Songwriter
“Come Together” — Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins Presents: The Good News; Lashawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Lecrae Moore & Jazz Nixon, Songwriters
“Won’t Let Go” — Travis Greene; Travis Greene, Songwriter
“Movin’ On” — Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music; Darryl L. Howell, Jonathan Caleb Mcreynolds, Kortney Jamaal Pollard & Terrell Demetrius Wilson, Songwriters

GOSPEL ALBUM:

2econd Wind: Ready — Anthony Brown & Group Therapy
My Tribute — Myron Butler
Choirmaster — Ricky Dillard
Gospel According To Pj — Pj Morton
Kierra — Kierra Sheard

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG:

“The Blessing (LIVE)” — Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes & Elevation Worship; Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe Carnes & Steven Furtick, Songwriters
“Sunday Morning” — Lecrae Featuring Kirk Franklin; Denisia Andrews, Jones Terrence Antonio, Saint Bodhi, Brittany Coney, Kirk Franklin, Lasanna Harris, Shama Joseph, Stuart Lowery, Lecrae Moore & Nathanael Saint-Fleur, Songwriters
“Holy Water We The Kingdom” — Andrew Bergthold, Ed Cash, Franni Cash, Martin Cash & Scott Cash, Songwriters
“Famous For (I Believe)” — Tauren Wells Featuring Jenn Johnson; Chuck Butler, Krissy Nordhoff, Jordan Sapp, Alexis Slifer & Tauren Wells, Songwriters
“There Was Jesus” — Zach Williams & Dolly Parton; Casey Beathard, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams, Songwriters

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM:

Run to the Father — Cody Carnes
All of My Best Friends — Hillsong Young & Free
Holy Water — We The Kingdom
Citizen of Heaven — Tauren Wells
Jesus Is King — Kanye West

Trane’s Delight — Poncho Sanchez

MUSIC VIDEO:

“Brown Skin Girl,” Beyoncé — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Jenn Nkiru, Video Directors; Lauren Baker, Astrid Edwards, Nathan Scherrer & Erinn Williams, Video Producers
“Life Is Good Future,” featuring Drake — Julien Christian Lutz, Video Director; Harv Glazer, Video Producer
“Lockdown,” Anderson .Paak — Dave Meyers, Video Director; Nathan Scherrer, Video Producer
“Adore You,” Harry Styles — Dave Meyers, Video Director; Nathan Scherrer, Video Producer
“Goliath” — Woodkid Yoann Lemoine, Video Director

Entertainment

OAP Dotun Decries Drop In Quality Of Nigerian Music

On-air personality, Dotun, has echoed the feelings of most Nigerian music listeners about the longevity of Afrobeats songs in recent years. He argued that music listeners are overwhelmed with choices as numerous tracks are released simultaneously, often driven by trends.

He suggested that many of these songs are created primarily to cater to attention-seeking audiences, with a strong focus on streaming numbers.

Taking to his X, he wrote:

Most of the songs made now in the last five years have no longevity. You might not remember them not because they not good enough but the market is over-saturated with so many songs made in haste. It’s a race to be heard, a number game over anything else.

The music industry in Nigeria is pressured. Some songs these artists make lately is to satisfy an attention-seeking audience; and compete with themselves over satisfying their conscience. if we let them be selfish with their creativity sometimes, u will get the best out of them when you dictate what you want always over encouraging their freedom of creativity, you can’t get the best out of them.

Apparently; you don’t!

One could agree with Dotun that the quality of music has declined in recent years, particularly with the rise of the ‘Afrobeats to the World’ mantra.

Nigerian artists often cater to the international market, driven by commercial pressures stemming from the record deals many of them sign.

Dotun said in another tweet, ‘Gbedu Dey drop but Gbedu no Dey last’.

Compared to the previous generation, new school artistes hardly ever give enough time for their projects to saturate before releasing new ones, all in a bid for bragging rights among fanbases; outdoing the charts on DSPs amongst others.

Entertainment

Nathaniel Bassey To Minister At Trump’s Inaugural Prayer Breakfast

Social media has been set ablaze with reactions following Nigerian gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey’s announcement that he will minister at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast for US President-elect Donald Trump. On January 5, 2024, the renowned gospel artiste announced the good news on his social media pages, expressing his excitement for this year’s event which is scheduled to take place on January 20, 2025.

He wrote, “Let’s raise a sound in America. And let the King of Glory come in. See you. 20th January, 2025. The Presidential Prayer Breakfast is a non-official and non-governmental event. It is a faith-based platform where intercessory prayers and worship are offered to God on behalf of the president’s office and the nation’s government.”

Bassey’s announcement sparked intense discussions across social media and drew criticism equal to the commendations he received.

Here are a few of the comments

Nathaniel Bassey ministering at Trump’s inauguration is revolting and a disgusting betrayal of everything Christianity claims to stand for. and you Christians applauding and celebrating it like some divine victory are even worse, shameless, lacking common sense and morality.

Kingdom Stewardship——Global Recognition. God is not a user of men, He is indeed a rewarder of men who diligently serve HIM.

Why did Nathaniel Bassey turn off the comments section in this post? we all know what we’re doing.

The thing is, every time people who are famous for their Christianity mingle with the powers that be, there’s almost always no change thereafter. And the Church is no longer the conscience of the world. So I understand your misgivings. However, I think of Daniel in this.

Nigerian Christians are the type to demonize secular music and artists, but fraternize with unscrupulous politicians. Everybody with their acceptable level of hypocrisy

As long as the Politician is a convicted rapist that calls the name of Jesus. Or An Election rigger that gives testimony CT will look the other way. Just mention tithe or Night Vigil you’ll see soldiers of the cross Arrive immediately.

One minute una go dey shout Trump is an ex convict, he’s a ‘women abu$er, he’s a deviI incarnate etc”, all of a sudden, Una pastor don dey stand before kings and rulers. I was expecting to see things like “dining on the same tables with an abu$er etc”. Our people only identify with things when the success benefits them or when it glorifies their religious indoctrination. They fail to understand politics 😂

Celebs

Tribute To Nigerian Celebrities Who Passed On In 2024

2024 brought profound losses to the Nigerian entertainment industry as it bid farewell to several iconic figures who left an indelible mark on us. From veteran actors whose artistry shaped the industry to beloved singers and stars who captured the hearts of audiences, these individuals are remembered for their talent, passion, and lasting legacies.

John Okafor (Mr. Ibu)

Beloved Nollywood comic actor, John Okafor, also known as Mr. Ibu, passed away at 62 on March 2, 2024. Known for his comedic brilliance, his death followed a series of health challenges, including hospitalization and the amputation of a leg.

Junior Pope

One of the most shocking celebrity deaths this year was that of actor Junior Pope who sadly passed away after drowning in a boat accident in April. The accident happened mere hours after he posted the video of himself on a boat without a lifejacket in Asaba, on the way to a movie set. The news came as a huge shock to Nigerians and confusion followed until the news was sadly confirmed. His wife and three children survive him.

Onyeka Onwenu

Another celebrity who died in 2024 was veteran singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu. She reportedly slumped following a performance at Stella Okoli’s birthday party on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, and was then rushed to Reddington Hospital in Lagos, unfortunately, she didn’t make it. She was 72 years old.

Charles Olumo (Agbako)

Nollywood veteran Charles Olumo died at age 101 in October 2024 and the news was announced by the president of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusan, via his Instagram account on October 31, 2024.

Deji Aderemi (Olofa Ina)

Veteran Yoruba actor, Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina, passed away on January 4, 2024, at the age of 73. He was a revered figure in the industry, known for his impactful roles in Yoruba films. Aderemi succumbed to cancer after battling the illnessEthel EkpeThe veteran actress best known for her role in the classic NTA sitcom Basi and Company died on February 7, 2024, in Lagos. Ekpe had been battling cancer for a long time and was celebrated for her iconic performances.

Sisi Quadri
Yoruba Nollywood actor Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, famously called Sisi Quadri, passed away on March 1, 2024, at just 44 years old. Known for his comedic talent, his death came as a shock to fans and colleagues

Amaechi Muonagor
A veteran known for his roles in films such as Aki and Paw Paw, Amaechi Muonagor passed away on March 24, 2024. He battled kidney disease for a long time and sought financial assistance shortly before his passing.

Adejumoke Aderounmu
Popular for her role as Esther in Jenifa’s Diary, Adejumoke Oreoluwa Aderounmu died on March 7, 2024. Her passing shocked fans, as she was celebrated for her vibrant contributions to Nollywood

Zulu Adigwu
Veteran actor Zulu Adigwu died on April 23, 2024. Known for his versatility and dedication to Nollywood, his death marked a significant loss to the film industry

Dayo Adewunmi (Sule Suebebe)
Veteran actor and director Dayo Adewunmi, famously known as Sule Suebebe, passed away on June 12, 2024. A notable figure in the Yoruba film industry, his comedic talent and unique style made him beloved among fans

Stella Ikwuegbu
Actress Stella Ikwuegbu died on June 16, 2024, after battling leg cancer. She was known for her impactful roles and her dedication to Nollywood.

Ganiyu Oyeyemi (Ogunjimi)
Veteran Yoruba actor Ganiyu Oyeyemi, popularly called Ogunjimi, passed away on April 26, 2024. To this day, his contributions to Yoruba films and theater are celebrated by his peers and fans alike

Jimi Solanke
Nollywood veteran Jimi Solanke also passed away this year at age 81 after a brief battle with an illness. He was said to have passed away on February 5, 2024, while being transported from his rural home in Ipara Remo, Remo North Local Government Area, Ogun State, to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan. Reports also stated that Solanke had been in and out of the hospital between December 2023 to February 2024 before passing away.