@TushMagazineNig ONE NITE LIVE & UNPLUGGED CONTENT 45 PRAIZ 24 GODDESS OF SKILLZ PEARL CANDY 14 29 06. Editorial Focus – The Nigerian Music Industry: A success story 08. UnderG – Dynamyt 10. Exclusive interview session with 960 Music’s Geoffrey & Password 14. Dear Artiste – “Finding Art & Entertainment with Purpose” 17. Interview with DJ Lo 19. Celebrity Hub – Oye Akideinde 21. Music Fizzers – Exclusive Interview with Suka Sounds 23. TPL 31. Inheritance is Accidental – written by Phidelia Imieghia 35. LMK’s Diary – Music: The new occupation 37. Jason Porshe – Fashion & Style 39. Johnnie Walker Black Podium 40. Christiano Ronaldo – Football’s most famous superstar 42. Movie Review – Selma 43. NYSC 47. Spinlet Karaoke 4 | TUSH MAGAZINE | #10 Issue 10 X A note from the Editor... Interestingly, words cannot perfectly express the height of joy I felt when I picked up my pen to write my intro for Tush Magazine’s 10th issue. Looking EDITORIAL back through time at the many successes and improvements we have made straight up from our maiden issue until now, I cannot but give thanks to the TEAM Almighty God for the strength and grace he bestowed upon my team and I. Also, not forgetting the many wonderful personalities who have in one way or the other believed and supported our movement in becoming one of Editor-In-Chief Nigeria’s prime youth platforms. Anslem Jon Sub Editor This issue – our first for the year 2015 – is a continuation of our mission of Leonard Onwubuoya celebrating young Nigerians excelling in the entertainment industry. Due to insights, requests and suggestions from our consultants, the selection Editorial Consultant process for our cover page personalities would no longer be limited to the PEARL CANDY Joyce “LMK” Imiegha name or alphabet factor; We’d be giving opportunities for more people who Senior Editor are worthy of it to grace our cover pages subsequently. Alexander Thandi Ubani Our double cover for this issue focuses on and features one of Nigeria’s Art Director most reputable vocalists and singer Praiz who has overtime developed his Edesiri Ukiri [@edesiriuk] singing capabilities and has further unleashed his talent in a super-packed Proof Read double debut album likewise. Also stocked in this issue as well are exciting Elite Resources CS. and beautiful pages filled with glamorous pictures from events, educating Correspondents articles centered on relationships, sports, the entertainment industry and Rufai Ahutu so many more. Augustine Ogbonna Jeffrey Onomoasor I am also pleased to announce another great improvement on our digital platform, YES! We have developed another means to aligning with the ever Featured Writers fast growing digital world with the aim of serving you better by introducing Phidelia Imiegha the inception of the very first Tush Magazine Mobile App which is presently Winifred Ononikpo available to iOS and Android platforms only. Download to enjoy the best of Additional Graphics what Tush Magazine offers. [See page 44 for details.] Graphixed Nigeria Before I put an end to my intro, I will like to introduce and welcome the Production/Research latest addition to the Tush Magazine family – Alexander Thandi Ubani, who Tush Kingdom Media would be operating in the capacity of a Senior Editor. I’m guaranteed his experience and skills will furthermore bring favorable achievements to Tush Tush Magazine is a quarterly publication of Tush Magazine subsequently. Kingdom Media, a media outfit into magazine publishing, events organizing and event coverage. Tush Kingdom Media possesses rights As usual, I appeal you share this issue with a friend, colleague or family to all published articles, interviews and pictures. member. ENJOY! For comments, suggestions, criticisms or editorial submission, write us via: Sincerely, [email protected] OR [email protected] Anslem Jon Visit our website on: www.tushmagazine.com.ng @TheAJCompany. 5 | TUSH MAGAZINE | #10 THE NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY: A Success Story by Alexander Thandi Ubani Unarguably, the Nigerian Music Industry is Africa’s largest depot of talented, industrious, creative, budding and evolving musicians who have taken Nigerian music to the world stage. Such names as the renowned Fela, Tu Face Idibia, Don Jazzy, Davido, Olamide, Wizkid, Flavour, Dbanj, Psquare, Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Asa, M.I, Ice Prince, Wande coal, Naeto C et al are household names making waves in Africa and far beyond. The quality and style of music being dished out by upcoming and established acts can only be A-classed. This new development is a thing of great joy. Everyone is living up to the challenge to be counted as the competition has resulted in better quality of audio, video and lyrics in demand. Even better, the music sphere is graced with international COLLABOS... collaborations, adding another milestone to the success story being recorded. Well known international acts like Rick Ross and T.I got featured by Psquare; Dbanj also saw music legend Akon feeling it in his “Feeling the N*” and a host of other international collaborations with Nigerian musicians which points to the growing popularity of the industry not just in Africa but the world. Such banging hit songs as Olamide’s Eleda Mi; Davido’s Aye; Flavour’s Ada Ada; Kcee’s Limpopo; Patoranking’s Girlie O; Tiwa Savage’s Eminado; Psquare’s Collabo and a host of many EXPOSURE other banging hits showed the enormous growth the industry has recorded over the years. Interestingly, the increase in the & AWARDS... number of television channels showing Nigerian music is a great plus to the industry. Stations such asMTVAfrica , Channel O Africa, HipTV, Primetime Africa, SoundCity, TraceTv, AfroPop TV and many others play important roles in bringing many of the numerous talented artistes to the global stage. More so, the introduction of awards for best performing artistes and the rewards for hard work has propelled many to work even harder. Such ceremonies of distinction and recognition namely: Channel O Music Video Awards, Headies Awards, Afrimma Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) etc are milestone novelty gestures fertilizing the rapid development of the Nigerian Music Industry. Added to it, are the mouth- watery prizes for winners. It is no wonder then, that the artistes have sworn an oath of high performance to churn out high quality and top-notch audio, video and lyrics for their teeming fans. By this gesture, Nigerian artistes have indicated a high degree of seriousness in setting the pace for others in Africa to follow. 6 | TUSH MAGAZINE | #10 However, the success story is not starved of little hiccups; the profusion of the industry by fame-thirsty individuals has resulted in congestion and somewhat increased number of musicians singing for honors. We are not left out in the controversies, gossips and rancor as it adds spice and fun to BUTS... it all. Some of the celebrities fight it out with abusive words on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. On twitter, these fights become more demeaning as tantrums fly here and there, which adds to the whole fun after all. The Nigerian Music Industry is a bubbling platform offering many of our idle, yet very talented youths an escape route to stardom. It is pertinent that those who have benefited from the industry should emulate the good gestures of their international colleagues by providing enabling platforms to grow others who are of little means but well talented. This way, they would have given back to society and affect positively the lives of others. Today’s reigning acts like Davido, Olamide, Flavour, Patoranking, Phyno, Seyi Shay, Praiz, KCee, Eva et al all have the stage for grabs. It is interesting then to note that, this industry must be supported to grow all the more as it plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s economy. The industry employs a GROWTH... sizeable amount of our numerous idle youths who go on to become responsible members of the society. The issue of royalties, piracy and theft of intellectual properties (songs) must be considered with utmost seriousness as musicians should be given what is theirs and what they have worked for. The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) must ensure that piracy is rooted out of the system and measures taken to punish people found wanting. The Nigerian Music Industry is a wind that will blow without stop. The future of the industry is filled with promises. Many NEXT... more will come. Let us all join hands to make it a success! 7 | TUSH MAGAZINE | #10 UnderG ...set to blow Dynamyt Popularly known as Dynamyt, Damilare Olabimtan was born on the 16th of October in 1989 to Mr. and Mrs. Olabimtan in Yaba, Lagos. Damilare attended Bright Star Nursery and Primary School and St. Gregory’s College, and later went to Yaba College of Technology. He started his early musical career in the church youth choir when he was six years old and went on to be the lead singer of the choir for over ten years. In 2007, he started a defunct gospel band, Divine O3, with a few of his childhood friends from the choir. They performed around churches in Nigeria for three years before the group disbanded. In 2010, he began to diversify into different genres of music like Pop, R&B, Hip-hop and Dance. He records mostly in Yoruba dialect his native tongue, as well as English. He got his stage name “DYNAMYT”, from friend and frequent musical collaborator, Tesan. In early 2014, he released his first solo effort, “Hostel”, which was met with critical acclaims and had a huge underground following. The song earned him “The Most Promising Artist” in 2012 and 2013 in his alumnus, Yaba College of Technology. Quite luckily for him, he gained the attention of new Island-based record label, Wildlife Records, and two months later, he signed a recording contract with them.