PAGE 22
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013
Leisure Iyanya rakes in N130million from endorsement deals
P
op singer Iyanya Mbuk has amassed over N130 million in endorsements deals in 2013 alone. Since his highly successful 2012 monster hit single ‘Kukere’, it has been one hit after another, one award after another and one endorsement contract after another for the once impoverished singer. In the last one year and half, Iyanya has proven that he can be a hit maker disappointing the initial doubts that critics had raised about him when his 2009 debut album ‘My Story’ flopped. Certainly, Iyanya took the lesson of that album and transformed himself into one of the most sought after Nigerian artistes today placing him on the pedestal where corporate organisations would jostle to do business with him. Only three weeks ago, the pop singer closed a deal reportedly worth N35 million with mobile phone manufacturing company, SOLO Mobile. According to his publicist, Wildflower PR, the deal was iced with a brand new 2014 Prado SUV. Earlier in May, the 27 year old singer was lucky enough to have been included in MTN’s swoop of some of the major players in the music industry, becoming one of the company’s
iyanya
I
On this track he thanks God for the gift of life. With celebratory horns on the hook, Ice Prince tells the story of two people who lived fast and died young. The weedinspired ‘Gimme That’ featuring Burna Boy, Yung L and Olamide is another high on the album especially with Ice Prince’s newly added verse. Ice Prince also fancies himself a singer. And On ‘Pray’ featuring Sound Sultan he displays this. ‘On top say I pray/bad man people wan trouble my day (oh lord)/me I dey hustle my way/fear nobody with the things I say’ he sings on the track. For the second time Ice Prince and Wizkid hook up on the dance hall cut ‘Komotion’. While not absolutely stunning it is an improvement from ‘Olofofo’ off E.L.I On Fire of Zamani it’s more of heat than flames. That hunger isn’t exactly heard on this album. For large parts of the project, Ice Prince sounds flat and uninspired. ‘Life’ is another ‘Aboki’ (and ‘V.I.P’) but the trick doesn’t work this time. The Don Jazzy produced ‘N Word’ sounds like a ripoff of Maybach Music’s bombastic gangsta songs. On ‘Jambo’ he employs his ‘Aboki flow’, which at this point is boring. Ice Prince goes conscious on ‘No Die Tomorrow’. While it’s a welcomed change of subject the song lacks conviction that he had on ‘Somebody Lied’ off E.L.I. ‘Person Wey Sabi’ is just bland, a generic attempt at creating a highlife hit. Sourced from thenet.com
OJB Jezreel’s transplant successful, discharged from hospital
O
JB Jezreel has been discharged from the Columbia Asian Hospital, India where he had been admitted for a kidney transplant operation. Speaking through a release, the music producer expressed his appreciation for the support and prayers of fans. “I have been reading a lot of news about ME being published on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and different Blogs by my good friends. I thought I
must take out a quick moment and let you know that I am officially discharged today from the hospital, after a successful Kidney Transplantation Surgery, by God’s Grace,” he said and lauded his fans for their prayers. Confirming the news, OJB’s close friend Nomoreloss told NET, the doctors want him to be around a while longer so that they can monitor his progress so far before he can actually return to Nigeria’.
Sourced from Nigerfilms.com
Album Review
Ice Prince’s ‘Fire of Zamani’ isn’t hot enough
ce Prince is not the best of writers. In hip-hop circles he is regarded as a rapper and not a lyricist. His success has depended on dope beats, catchy hooks and simple lines. These three factors led to the success of his debut album Everybody Loves Ice Prince and are still the foundation of his success till date. On his second album Fire of Zamani, it’s the same style but with less aggression. Panshak Zamani is a millionaire now and finding himself in a new tax bracket may have dulled a bit of his bite. Conceptually Fire of Zamani is sketchy to say the least. It is a confusing mix of introspection, celebration and aspiration. The production is a shade or two behind Jesse Jagz’s production on E.L.I. ‘I’ve been through the rain/been through the pain/ been through a lot of sh*t/been through the same/I’ve seen a planet fall and the thunder causing the rain‘ spits Ice on the introductory track ‘Stars and Light’ featuring Ruby Gyang. The song iswww a loose chronicle of Ice’s rise to the top and how he is still striving for more. He gives the song a personal twist when he talks about his sister’s best friend asking him for money. His collaboration with UK grime artiste Chip titled ‘Mercy’ has the necessary bounce to get the party going even though Ice Prince raps ‘I dey feel her through pass even though I am not a Liga fan.’ Gladly slips up like these are not too many on the album. Ice Prince’s best comes on ‘Whiskey’ featuring Sunny Neji.
highest paid brand ambassadors in a N40 million deal. It sure didn’t end there. When Zinox Technologies Limited, manufacturer of Nigeria’s first internationally certified branded computers was looking for a face to represent its brand, guess who quickly came to mind? None other than the rave of the moment, Iyanya. The Leo Stan-Ekeh owned tech-company put pen to paper, inked a deal and made Iyanya N56milion richer, according to those familiar with the details of the deal. These endorsement deals have gone on to show the relevance Iyanya has in today’s music scene. Apart from the occasional engagements, the pop star will begin to appear on billboards and TV commercials preaching the gospel of these brands. From all indications, Iyanya, a Business Management graduate of the University of Calabar and winer of the inaugural MTN Project Fame West Africa, has had quite an awesome 2013. Deals Amount MTN N40million Zinox N56million Solo Mobile N35million
Ice Prince
Georgina Onuoha dumps acting, becomes health worker in US
G
eorgina Onuah, the controversial actress who got married to her medical doctor beau, Dr. Georgina Igwegbe in 2006, has dumped acting for medical. According to Nigerifilms.com Georgina Onuah is now a Health Information Specialist at the North American Healthcare Inc. She is actually a Medical Research Auditor. The mother of two cute daughters, who is said to have finally bid acting farewell, was a Nollywood star actress in the nineties until in 2006. She later relocated to US to join her hubby after birth of their first daughter in 2007. Nothing much has been heard about her until now.
Georgina Onuoha