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‘Afropop’ Articles at WorldBeat Radio http://worldbeatradio.com #1 in African music Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:14:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 http://worldbeatradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/cropped-WorldBeat-Radio-Logo-2022-32x32.png ‘Afropop’ Articles at WorldBeat Radio http://worldbeatradio.com 32 32 Profile: Jesse Jagz http://worldbeatradio.com/2019/07/profile-jesse-jagz/ Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:14:05 +0000 http://worldbeatradio.com/?p=4288 Jesse Jagz (Jesse Abaga) has been described as Nigeria’s Kanye West because of his flirtatious experimentation with different genres of music from R&B to roots reggae to Pop all built on a predominantly Hip Hop foundation. Though a native of Pyeri in Taraba State, Jesse grew up in Jos, Plateau state in a music-filled environment with both parents (clergy) gave him access to the church choir and drums set by age 7.

He recorded his first album with a group named Gospel Insanity unfortunately; the album never got released due to fallout of some of the members. Jesse thereafter started producing beats professionally and thereafter formed another group ‘Eleven Thirty’ which quickly became a huge success in Jos.

In 2004, he hooked up with Jude Abaga a.k.a MI together they started Inner Hub Studios. By 2006, Jesse started a solo career with a debut-hit “Africa” that remained at #1 on the cool fm chart for months.

Between 2006 and 2007 Jesse Jagz had 3 songs simultaneously dominating the top ten charts on Cool FM, RayPower FM as well as Rhythm FM! becoming street anthems in and around the north of Nigeria.

Jesse Jagz hit songs include Bend down low, Sugar Cane Baby, The Greatest while his hit song My Brother was selected as part of the International Music Entrepreneur of the Year (IYMEY) 2008 compilation.

In February 2009, the Award nominated producer and hip hop artist was selected to represent Nigeria at the 2009 edition of Sauti Za Busara Music Festival- a yearly international festival celebrating East African music and features top-quality musical performances by more than 400 established and upcoming artists (40 groups in total) and over the years has established itself as one of Africa’s leading music festivals which held in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

His newest singles Wetin Dey and Pump it up are currently topping charts across the country.

His production credits include M.I, Modenine, Silver Saddih, Banky W, Majek Fashek, Ruby, Ice Prince, Faze, Djinee, Kel, Shank, Tosin Martins, Sasha, Djah Djah (def jam poetry), Kahli, Pherowshuz among a host of others.

His video Pump It Up was released in November 2009 and has been getting rave reviews.

He released his debut album, “Jag of all Tradez ” in 2010 to critical acclaim. He was notably absent from the music scene in 2011 and 2012,returning in 2013 with a ragga/Patois infused style of rap . He released the singles “Murder Dem” and “Redemption” in the 1st half of 2013 after parting ways with Chocolate City Music. The singles were released under his new imprint, Jagz Nation. In June 2013, Jesse Jagz left Chocolate City and released his second album (his first as an Independent artist) “Jagz Nation Vol 1; Thy Nation Come “. With him rapping, Singing and handling most of the production on his first album, Jesse Jagz chose to seek the help of other producers such as Samklef, Shady and Kid Konnect on his second album instead. The album features the likes of Brymo and Wizkid on it with the latter helpoing to creating one of the best hits of 2013/2014.

On the 8th of April 2015, Jesse Jagz returned to CHOCOLATE CITY and renewed his contract.

Production Credits include:

I(Short Black Boy, Illegal Music)
Mode 9(Nine)
Silver Saddih(Konko Jabele)
Banky W
Majek Fashek
Eve(Crazy)
Iceprince(Rewind, Extraordinary)
Lindsey(Drift Away, Pictures)
Faze
Djinee(Overkillin’)
Kel(Sittin On Top,Jeun Soke,Untouchable)
Shank
Tosin Martins
Ajuju(Testing the Microphone)
Dekunle Fuji(Jesu Funmi)
Sasha
Sammy Sage
Wudyema
2 Shotz(Money In My Pocket)
Proverb
Djah Djah (Def Jam Poetry)
Kahli
Pherowshuz among a host of others

AWARDS

Best Producer of the Year-Splurge Magazine Best Rap Single 2008

Producer of the Year-The Future Awards 2010.

Best New Act – Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2010

Lyricist on The Roll – The Headies 2014 Awards

NOMINATIONS

Most Top Ten Hits on Cool Fm 2007.
Best Dance Single-Bend Down Low 2008
Producer of the Year (Hip Hop World Awards 2009)
Producer of the Year(The Future Awards 2009 and 2010)
Best New Act – Nigerian Entertainment Awards, NY 2010
Best Rap Act – Nigerian Entertainment Awards, NY 2010
Hip Hop Revolution – Hip Hop World Awards 2010

PERFORMANCES AND APPEARANCES

Names on Platinum(Independence show)- October 1st, 2008
This Day international Music and Fashion Festival June, 2009 Abuja
This Day international Music and Fashion Festival, Abuja –August 2008 Opened for Jay Z, Rihanna, Usher, Beenie Siegal e.t.c
London Calling 2008– Headliner of 4 Nigerian acts, London UK
Sauti Za Busara Music Festival, 12th – 17th of February 2009.
Crack Your Ribs( Abuja) –August 2008
Crack Your Ribs( Abuja) – July 2009
Rhythm Unplugged 2008 &Rhythm Unplugged Abuja 2009
Big Brother Eviction Party Abuja (the Dome)2006
Host WAPI (words and pictures)- British Council Abuja (2008)
MTV Base Advance Warning party- July 2008
Nokia Xpress Music Rave
Host Chocolate City “The Jam Sessions ” 2007 & 2008
Face of Selara 2009
0808,Abuja- Headline Act-August 2009
Gordons Show- Abuja 2009 Names on Platinum (Independence Show) October 1st, 2008
Co Host-Club MTV Base Party -2008,Jos
Port Harcourt Stand Up-July 2009.
Visafone Promo Tours-Abuja
0808-Fashion, Poetry and Song-August 2009.
Hennessy Artistry, Lagos–September 2009.
Star Mega Jam with Busta Rhymes and Ludacris-December 2009.
Professionals Rock, Abuja-February 2010.
100% Basketmouth in Concert, Indig02: Lord of the Ribs, London-February 2010.
Rebirth Reading, UK – April 2010
Crack Ya Ribs Abuja (Julius Agwu) – August 2010
AY LIVE Abuja – August 2010
Charlie Boy Album Release – August 2010
Nigerian Entertainment Awards New York – September 2010

He is signed to the Chocolate City Music Label and management.

]]> Profile: Runtown http://worldbeatradio.com/2019/07/profile-runtown-2/ Wed, 10 Jul 2019 19:57:02 +0000 http://worldbeatradio.com/?p=4285 Bio
Douglas Jack Agu (born 19 August 1989), better known by his stage name RUNTOWN, IS A NIGERIAN SINGER, songwriter and producer with a diverse musical style mix of hip-hop, R&B, reggae and rap. After moving toLagos from Enugu State with Phyno in 2007, he started doing underground collaborations with artists like J-Martins and Timaya. In 2008, he partnered with Phyno to form a record label called Penthauz during which he released his first two singles “Party Like It’s 1980” and “Activity Pikin”.He collaborated with Davido on his song “Gallardo” which brought him more attention. Few months later, he signed a multi-million Naira contract with Eric-Manny Entertainment owned by Prince Okwudili Umenyiora, the C.E.O of Dilly Motors.

Runtown was born in Enugu but grew up partly in Abuja and Lagos, where he finished his primary education. After the death of his father, he moved to Abuja with his mother who was working in the Ministry of Health. While growing up, he had the aim of being a professional basketball player. In 2005, he relocated to Enugu after his mother developed interest in politics; he went on to finish his secondary school education in Enugu State.

Runtown is currently studying Fashion Management at a fashion school in New York.

Runtown released his first single titled “Runtown” which was produced by Soge in 2007. His 2010 single titled “Forever” had a video directed by IvanEdd films.

In 2012, Jamaican/American singer Laza Morgan featured Runtown on a song titled “High on You” which did big on the Caribbean charts. J. Martins featured Runtown on a song off his Elevation album titled “Tonight”; he also worked with Phyno on a song titled “Anam-Achi Vers-Achi” which was produced by WizzyPro. In an interview with NotJustOk.com, he said he acquired his musical inspirations from Sean Kingston, Bob Marley and Kanye West.

On 29 January 2014, Runtown collaborated with Davido to release a song produced by T-Spize titled “Gallardo” which won the Best Collaboration of The Year award at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. He later released the video which got over 418,000 views on YouTube in its first 2 months. The video features cameos from Patoranking, Skales and Phyno; it was shot in Nigeria and directed by Clarence Peters.

Runtown’s career took a huge step after he signed a recording contract with Eric-Manny Entertainment through his friend, releasing “Successful” and “Domot” which received frequent airplay.

Runtown was featured on WizzyPro’s “Emergency” song which also featured Skales and Patoranking. The song was produced by WizzyPro and released on 2 November 2014. The music video for “Emergency” which was directed by Patrick Elis was released on 19 January 2014.

He released his first studio album on November 23, 2015 under the Eric Many Entertainment imprint.

Birth Name: Douglas Jack Agu

Born: August 19, 1989

Genre: Afropop

]]> Profile: MzVee http://worldbeatradio.com/2018/05/profile-mzvee/ Wed, 16 May 2018 04:19:28 +0000 http://worldbeatradio.com/?p=3956 Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda (born June 23, 1992) better known by her stage name MzVee, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall, and R&B artist. Her award-nominated debut solo album features several hit singles including Borkor Borkor, Natural Girl, and Dancehall Queen. MzVee is signed to the award-winning record label Lynx Entertainment and was the winner of the New Artist of the Year award at the 2015 Ghana Music Awards.

Early life

MzVee was born in Accra to Ernest Hamenoo-Kpeda, a businessman, and Florence Hamenoo-Kpeda, a caterer. She has 2 older sisters and a brother and attended St Martin de Porres School in Accra in her early years. She moved on to St Mary’s Senior High School and is now studying Business Administration at Ghana Telecom University.

Music career

2012 – 2013: Early beginnings

MzVee first burst onto the Ghanaian music scene in the summer of 2012 as the lead singer of Lynx Entertainment’s girl band D3. The band released hit singles such as ‘Good Girls Gone Bad’ and ‘Gyani Gyani’ before splitting at the end of 2013 due to educational commitments of the young group members.[7]

2014 – present: Breakthrough

MzVee launched her solo career with debut single ‘Borkor Borkor’ released in January 2014. She followed this with hit single ‘Natural Girl’ and went on to win the ‘Unsung Artiste Award’ at the 2014 Ghana Music Awards. Her debut album was released in November 2014 and features collaborations with several award-winning artists such as Stonebwoy, VIP, Shatta Wale, Richie Mensah, Manifest and Didier Awadi.

Musical Style

MzVee’s music contains elements of Afropop, R&B and dancehall and her strong vocal abilities earned her a nomination for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2015 Ghana Music Awards and the award for ‘Most Promising Act’ at the 2015 Ghana Music Honors. She is regarded as one of the stars of Ghana’s dancehall scene and received the award for ‘Best Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2015 Ghanaian dancehall awards, BASS awards. Her trademark natural African hair and hit single ‘Natural Girl’ has made her an inspiration to young girls across Africa who want to celebrate their natural look.

MzVee’s impressive rise to the top continues with a nomination in June 2015 in the ‘Best International New Artist’ category at the BET Awards 2015. This brand new fan-voted category celebrates rising stars from across the channel’s international footprint.

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