Entertainment
Obama, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg Pay Tribute to Rapper Nipsey Hussle
Former US President Barack Obama, legendary singer, Stevie Wonder and rapper, Snoop Dogg eulogised slain rapper, Nipsey Hussle in a very emotional memorial in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Obama wrote a letter to the family, which was read by Karen Civil, Hussle’s friend and business partner, where he praised Hussle’s attempts to revitalise the gang-plagued neighbourhood where he was raised, and where he was gunned down in March.
“While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighbourhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets and despair, Nipsey saw potential. He saw hope,” Obama’s letter said, referencing his efforts to build a skills-training centre and a co-working space.
The memorial was held at the 21,000-capacity Staples Center, a sports and pop concert venue, which was packed with fans wearing white and blue for the three-hour memorial.
The ceremony was followed by a 25-mile (40-km) procession through the streets of south Los Angeles.
Fellow California rapper, Snoop Dogg, recalled Hussle’s former connections with the notorious Crips gang that the musician later parlayed into efforts to combat gang violence.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave us a good Crip, the late great neighbourhood Nip. Rest in peace,” Snoop Dogg said.
He called the Grammy-nominated singer “a peace advocate” because of his work with all members of the community.
Wonder played his 1980 hit Rocket Love and a version of Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven to pay respects to Hussle.
Also, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan said Hussle has become “to hip hop and rap what Bob Marley was to reggae.”
“He lived the gang life but he didn’t stay there. He lived the life of the ‘hood but he rose above the pull of gravity,” Farrakhan said in a speech.
Hussle’s two-year-old son, dressed in a blue suit, was brought on stage in the arms of the musician’s girlfriend, model Lauren London.
Hussle, 33, was shot on March 31 outside a clothing store he owned in south Los Angeles. Shortly after, a stampede erupted at a local vigil for Hussle after reports of a gunman in the crowd.
A 29-year-old man on April 9 pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Police said Hussle’s shooting was motivated by a personal dispute, although it took place in a surge of gang-related violence in south Los Angeles in March.
Hussle, whose real name was Ermias Asghedom, was Grammy-nominated earlier this year for his debut studio album Victory Lap.
(NAN/Reuters)
Social Media activist, Martins Ortse also known as VeryDarkMan, on Monday alleged that popular crossdresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky has been arrested by security authorities.
VeryDarkMan alleged that Bobrisky was arrested at the Seme border while attempting to escape to Benin Republic to evade the House of Representatives investigative hearing.
In a video on his Instagram page, VDM as he is referred to said: “Bobrisky has been arrested this morning at Seme border while trying to enter BENIN REPUBLIC to escape the current investigation by the house of reps, he is allegedly being held by the Nigeria immigration.”
Recently, VDM released an audio recording of Bobrisky claiming to have allegedly bribed EFCC officials with the sum of N15 million.
During his conversation, Bobrisky also claimed not to have spent his six-month jail term in Kirikiri prison due to the influence of his godfather.
The revelation led to an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives but Bobrisky failed to appear before the committee, claiming to be sick.
Source: The Post
Nigeria’s Afrobeat music star and multiple award-winner, Rema, will be featured this week on African Voices Changemakers, CNN International’s magazine programme, sponsored by telecommunications company, Globacom.
Born Divine Ikubor, the 24-year-old artiste from Edo State, discovered his passion for music as a church chorister and a rapper who entertained his peers in his secondary school, Ighile Group of Schools in Edo State.
Rema came into limelight after posting a viral freestyle on Instagram to D’Prince’s song “Gucci Gang”. Wowed by his rare talent, D’Prince flew him to Lagos and offered him a record deal with Jonzing World, a subsidiary of Mavin Records owned by music executive and producer Don Jazzy. His 2019 hit “Dumebi” was the first fruit of the contract.
His international breakthrough happened in 2022 with his single “Calm Down”, which led to a remix with American singer Selena Gomez. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and first on Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
His talents have earned him several awards including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video and the Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Songs.
He was recognised for achieving 1 billion streams worldwide during his London concert on November 7, 2022 and he also performed at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Theatre du Châtelet in Paris, France on October 30, 2023.
The edition will be broadcast on Saturday at 8.30 a.m., with repeats at noon the same day. More repeats come up on Sunday at 4.30 a.m., 7.00 p.m. and on Monday at 4.00 a.m.
Kellyrae, on Sunday night, was crowned the winner of this year’s Big Brother Naija Season 9, taking home the grand prize of N100million
He pipped the likes of Wanni, who emerged runer-up and Onyeka, who emerged as the runner-up.
The final featured Wanni as the last remaining contestant, with Kellyrae winning the competition with 35.95% of the votes. Onyeka emerged as the second runner-up, receiving 11.46 per cent of the total votes in the final show on Sunday.
Kellyrae now joins the likes of last season’s All-Stars winner Ilebaye Odiniya (Gen Z Baddie), to claim the grand prize.
Regarded as Nigeria’s most anticipated TV show, this season’s theme ”No Loose Guard”, which premiered on July 24, 2024, welcomed 14 pairs of housemates,
However, only one pair and six individual contestants made it to the final.
The other finalists were Victoria, Ozee, Sooj, Nelly, and Anita.
This year’s edition had an unusual twist as the participants were required to apply in pairs.
Among the eight finalists, Kellyrae, Victoria, and Wanni were considered favourites by many viewers to make the top three and earn final podium spots.
Though Wanni placed second, she proved to be talented. After Wanni expressed interest in acting, famous actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele recognised her talent and offered her a possible opportunity to work with her production team.
