Celebrities over the world are well respected, because they bring happiness to the faces of the crestfallen. A lot of celebrities have always set up charity foundation to support the less privileged and needy in the society.
It has always been refreshing news when one read in the newspapers or watches on TV about philanthropists or stars donating to the less privilege or needy in our society, one can only get satisfied with such reportage.Recently, Parade Magazine published a list of Most Generous Celebrities, ranked by the amount of funds donated to charity.
Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey ($52 million), Barbra Streisand ($11 million), Paul Newman (donating $10 million), Mel Gibson ($9.9million), Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ($8.4 million), Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan and hockey star Eric Lindros - each donating $5 million.The donations were channeled to provide education, health care, advocacy for women's issues and children, environmental causes, civil rights, AIDS research, refugee aid and cross-cultural understanding.
Not only do they donate frequently to charities but most of them have either set up their own foundations or adopted some and supporting them.Over here, Ghanaian celebrities do not earn anything close to the above, what they earn is insufficient, but it’s not good reason enough not to donate to charities. I read a story captioned “Tinny Fetes 300 Orphans” in 2007 and now in 2009 reading about Ayigbe Edem’s donations, I feel it’s been really a long time, since something of that sort was done, from hip life artistes (I stand to be corrected), nevertheless it has finally happened again and hope it’s not going to be a nine day wonder.Funnily, I have a lot of Ewe friends but don’t understand one Ewe word; I think that doesn’t stop me from saying ‘Thumps Up’ to Ayigbe Edem.
This guy has indeed won many hearts, considering the fact the hip life is touted as the lowest in terms of sales. Sometime last weekend hip life (I don’t care if he says he does hip hop) artiste Ayigbe Edem under the sponsorship of Volta Regime Foundation and with support from the Last 2 Music Group donated some items worth GHC 3,200 to the Mamobi Polyclinic in Accra.In his interview to Graphic Showbiz, he said he would donate something to charity every month for the next one year. It’s really welcoming news.
I think this is just phenomenon and unprecedented coming from a Hip Lifer artiste.“It is a humbling experience coming this far in such a short time,” Edem said. “I feel I must share the little I have with some less fortunate folks so I decided to give to children, I grew up without my parents being around and I know how good it feels as a young person to have someone care about and inspire hope in you.”For someone like him, who grew up without his biological parents being around, donating to the needy perhaps might not be big news enough but for me it is really and that differentiates him from his colleagues, people like him needs to be acknowledged and honoured for not using his hard-earned cash on trivial stuff.
I have always had negative thoughts about Hip Life artistes, my problem has to do with them using their monies on less important (for me) stuff, like purchasing the most expensive clothes, cars, smoking weed, chancing of girls and etc. but the “You Dey Craze” and “Bra Fre me” star has given me reasons to suspect myself and change my mind about how I see them.I think his donation should be a wakeup call to other stars to give back to society, what the society has offered them, to emulate his kind gestures especially to Yvonne Nelson and John Dumelo who were set to have splashed whooping 4,100 Euros on clothes. Instead we can organize and contribute to the needy. They should stand up to be counted. It's nice to see that some celebrities do care about others and give back.Who would you like to see donating more??
By: Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Friday, 11 September 2009
Kwaw Kese Slaps Obour
I am not a fun of Kwaw Kese’s constant attacks on his fellow hip life artistes and bickering in the music industry, but I believe without it, there won’t be any news for the entertainment journalists to write (based on hunch).
Rapper and self acclaimed king of the streets Kwaw Kese is at it again, this time around, he has slapped Obour and co for thinking hip life is dead and consequently resurrecting it.
Presenting a dog to the host of TV3’s Spot Light Muntala Muntari as his present for the show’s second anniversary. He said “When I heard you people are celebrating two years of the show, I thought of presenting this dog to you”.
“If you have managed to get the show running for two years means you can keep this dog for a long time”, he concluded funnily.
He then moved on to jab Obour and co for the so called resurrection of hip life. Last Sunday Obour organized a hip life concert dubbed “Resurrection”, where number hip life artistes made appearances to give meaning to the phrase RESURRECTION.
The problem here is that it wasn’t too clear what Obour was talking about, is he talking about the fact that he is sinking as hip life artiste and was resurrecting from hibernation or resurrecting the genre ‘HIP LIFE’? Obour’s so called resurrection track “GAME” featuring Okyeame Quame is on chrunk beat.
Confusion galore. To resurrect hip life, you need to have the major players of the hip life game on board but getting only a handful surely doesn’t work out. One interesting thing was that the guys from Lynx Entertainment who really stole the show are known to have come out publicly to say “we don’t do hip life, we do chrunk”.
In one word, methinks Obour LOST it. Whether Obour likes or yes, hip life has stolen it to chrunk, he even ENDORSED it by singing his campaign anthem (THE GAME) on chrunk beat.
Abodam said hip life has never been sick not to talk of being dead as some people have perceived it to be. “Some people said hip life was dead and they are resurrecting it but they couldn’t do anything, they couldn’t do a thing, to say hip life is dead, what about Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour and co.
“Aboa bi be ka woa, efri wo to ma mu” he said. The controversial rapper went on to punch some people he thought are seeking his downfall. He said these were people closer to him and that he is not a hungry looking man and not a cheap commodity.
“At end of the day, mankind needs to survive” He cautions the public, when asked about his future as a model now that his boss Ibrahim Sima (EXOPA), has been nabbed for allegedly trying to take coke out of the country.
About his involvement with Konfi, the rapper said “Konfi have been with me for 5 years, they have been my disciplines and am glad I brought them up, a lot of things has been said which am aware of but I thank Mad Time for bringing people like them up, I hope they get to where I have gotten to now”.
His case at the court is still pending, and will therefore make an appearance on 14th October 2009. He consequently believes so far as he is concerned, he has won in advance.
By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.
Rapper and self acclaimed king of the streets Kwaw Kese is at it again, this time around, he has slapped Obour and co for thinking hip life is dead and consequently resurrecting it.
Presenting a dog to the host of TV3’s Spot Light Muntala Muntari as his present for the show’s second anniversary. He said “When I heard you people are celebrating two years of the show, I thought of presenting this dog to you”.
“If you have managed to get the show running for two years means you can keep this dog for a long time”, he concluded funnily.
He then moved on to jab Obour and co for the so called resurrection of hip life. Last Sunday Obour organized a hip life concert dubbed “Resurrection”, where number hip life artistes made appearances to give meaning to the phrase RESURRECTION.
The problem here is that it wasn’t too clear what Obour was talking about, is he talking about the fact that he is sinking as hip life artiste and was resurrecting from hibernation or resurrecting the genre ‘HIP LIFE’? Obour’s so called resurrection track “GAME” featuring Okyeame Quame is on chrunk beat.
Confusion galore. To resurrect hip life, you need to have the major players of the hip life game on board but getting only a handful surely doesn’t work out. One interesting thing was that the guys from Lynx Entertainment who really stole the show are known to have come out publicly to say “we don’t do hip life, we do chrunk”.
In one word, methinks Obour LOST it. Whether Obour likes or yes, hip life has stolen it to chrunk, he even ENDORSED it by singing his campaign anthem (THE GAME) on chrunk beat.
Abodam said hip life has never been sick not to talk of being dead as some people have perceived it to be. “Some people said hip life was dead and they are resurrecting it but they couldn’t do anything, they couldn’t do a thing, to say hip life is dead, what about Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour and co.
“Aboa bi be ka woa, efri wo to ma mu” he said. The controversial rapper went on to punch some people he thought are seeking his downfall. He said these were people closer to him and that he is not a hungry looking man and not a cheap commodity.
“At end of the day, mankind needs to survive” He cautions the public, when asked about his future as a model now that his boss Ibrahim Sima (EXOPA), has been nabbed for allegedly trying to take coke out of the country.
About his involvement with Konfi, the rapper said “Konfi have been with me for 5 years, they have been my disciplines and am glad I brought them up, a lot of things has been said which am aware of but I thank Mad Time for bringing people like them up, I hope they get to where I have gotten to now”.
His case at the court is still pending, and will therefore make an appearance on 14th October 2009. He consequently believes so far as he is concerned, he has won in advance.
By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Is 4X4’s World Trade Centre Song A Mockery Of 9/11?
Tommorrow is September 11, and it marks 8 years of the coordinated suicide attacks by Al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others working in the buildings.
Both buildings collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. There were no survivors from any of the flights.
In total 2,993 people, including the hijackers, died in the attacks. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 countries.
A friend approached me with this “Do you think it was right for 4X4 to call their song World Trade Centre? Considering the fact that over 6,000 people died in those towers. A serious world catastrophe and they use those two towers in comparison to a ‘mere’ woman's behind (ass/buttocks)? How would they like it if I used something of the Manhyia Palace and compared to a guy's dick, pardon my Greek”.
“My family and I were discussing it. I liked the song when I first heard it but when I heard the title I was appalled. I am thinking "let's show some respect please". He ended. I do personally understand his frustrations. When I heard 4X4 has a new song named WORLD TRADE CENTRE, following the heels of Black Eyed Peas and other musicians, ‘wow’ I said to myself, knowing very well that 4X4 is going to pay their respect to the victims of the 9/11, that unfortunate incident that trembled the whole world.I was indeed very wrong. I was taken aback when I finally listened to the song and saw the video over and over again; I thought I was going to see firefighters covered in debris but all I see in the video was totally different and an eyesore.
I do not seems to identify with what the "World Trade Centre” mean in the song, 'they are referring to the ‘mere’ buttocks of the woman, comparing it to the huge twin towers, thus the World Trade Centre, since ladies buttocks are also twins”. It still doesn’t look clear or make sense to me why they decided to name it 'World Trade Centre'.It beats me how my compatriots can behave sometimes; it takes me back down memory lane to 2001 when this unfortunate event occurred and it was a very sad incidence indeed.
A lot of musicians have proceeded by composing songs and music producers have done movies to create awareness about the 9/11 and how the incidence has affected the human race.The sad events of September 11, 2001 indeed without any doubt inspired many songwriters to write songs.With my friend’s question still hanging on my neck and knowing very well that my own personal opinion does not really matter, I set out to find the reason(s) if it was right for 4X4 to call their song World Trade Centre?
I talked to politicians, journalists, businessmen, movers and shakers of the entertainment industry mostly DJs, presenters, producers, promoters, sound engineer and some members of the general public as well as musicians themselves.The politicians I spoke to seems to have not noticed the song yet.
Jargo of Konfi of Like-Father-Like-Son eminence feels, “It describes a woman’s body according to the lyrics of the song. Secondly, since the World Trade Centre couldn’t stand same way a woman’s booty can satisfy a man forever, the latter is my own interpretation, a woman’s body being a World Trade Centre can’t survive a man forever”.“As I said it an expression of how booty a woman is and also the booty woman is not forever since World Trade Centre collapsed so will her booty get collapsed so its vanity to believe in a woman’s booty, nice track to wind with and forget about the atrocities that came with World Trade Centre” he jabbed.
DJ Black, Ghana’s number one, on his part does not also see any problem at all and he’s in support of it, “People say and do worse things, if that fit the expression, so be it. What about the Ku Klux Clan? He asked. “What about the many guns sold by the west to rebels in Sudan, Nigeria, etc. people compare stuff to what they think is comparable. If they think the woman's behind is synonymous to a World Trade Centre and it gets their attention, well. But I understand if people think it’s not cool, but it’s nothing to be angry about”. he charged.
Teddy Abrokwa of Hot Digital Radio, London assumes it's out of time as the World Trade Centre does not even exist anymore. He doesn’t seem to have any problem with it also; his only problem has to do with 4x4’s constant ‘nigerialising’ of their music.“It’s a good sound regardless and about time 4x4 claimed their rightful position in Ghana Music. They've been hugely underrated in the past and were under the shadows of Buk Bak for far too long. They are a very talented duo and now that they have added a third member will only make them stronger. My only issue is the 'Nigerianising' of the music at the moment. We need to create an identity for our music and do well to sound Ghanaian” he emphasized. “It’s a very emotional reference point judging from the history behind the World Trade Centre. It would have been in serious distaste if the song was glorifying what happened on 9/11, He intoned”.
“Clearly they are referring to a ladies backside being big like the World Trade Centre. For me it’s not on point lyrically as the World Trade Centre doesn't exist now. We should not read too much into the title. I bet the guys did not mean to cause any offence or outrage “
“If they are doing their music in their accent or twang and we embracing it in Ghana, why not do ours in our Ghanaian twang for them to embrace. Nigerians in the UK are riding high on tracks like 'Kiss ur bride' by Bollie, VIP's 'Ahomka wo mu' which are clearly Ghanaian twang. You accepting defeat as soon as you take on someone’s identity”.
”Let’s not play too much into the choice of title for 4x4's track but rather see more of the great tracks they putting out” said the Hot Digital Radio gem.
Dela of TV3’s Mentor II also added her voice and this is what she has to say “I think that the Ghanaian music industry has grown immensely to the point that the Ghanaian listener is discerning. Now, since some people just ignore hip life and other Ghanaian genres of music solely because it's not their thing. The musician also has to structure means of drawing attention to his/her music, hence the use of a "Catch Phrase".
She continued “I deeply sympathize with those who lost relations due to the 9/11 World Trade Centre disaster and they have my condolences but Americans and the world have put it behind them and have moved on. I guess we should also do the same and let music live on. It could have been any other caption. All the same we would have enjoyed it. You will agree with me that although you are against the title "World Trade Centre", you can't help but tap your feet anytime you hear the song play”.
“The World Trade Centre was a tall, strong building that depicted power that’s why I think they compared it to a woman’s ass. It’s got power over men you know. I don’t think they meant any harm or anything negative by calling their song World Trade Centre. Catchy song too. Don’t think it had noting to do with the tragedy and deaths that happened in the World Trade Centre. That’s ma honest opinion”. D - Black.
Mframa Terry of Feeli Gadoochi fame said he doesn’t think it is a bad thing to do because every musician looks out for words or phrases that can help make hits. “So they thought World Trade Centre is a hit, it has so many controversies surrounding it so linking it to some part of the human body, I think they have even been smart. Let’s appreciate good work and stop politicizing it”.
A member of the Nescafe African Revelations winner Echo Elijah in his response also shared this views “Well I think that to be very objective if we are looking at it from the tragedy perspective then I think that yes it might bring back memories more especially if the song makes an impact in the country where that incident occurred.Well on the other half of the bake it was very smart for them to have used that considering the fact that the twin towers was very popular back in the days so yes bad when memories of the families of those victimized are concerned and all full of bliss when promo is concerned”.
“The way they presented the song didn’t make it seem too vulgar so we can pardon them. Let’s hope that the buttocks they talk about don’t lead them to catastrophic ends like the original World Trade Centre”. Journalist Ameyaw Debrah said with laughter.
Sound engineer Panji Anoff, shared the same views “Yes, in the absence of the old one, I do not find the song offensive at all. One of my favourite 4x4 tracks of all time” New kid on the block,
Sarkodie opted to remain mute and not say anything about the controversy “they are entitle to their own opinion. I can’t say anything about it, thanks” Below are some of the views expressed by individuals ghanacelebrities.com spoke to, they are picked randomly:
*
“What 4x4 did is metaphorical, it sounds myopic if someone should lambaste them for it It’s just an analogy to depict the gigantic nature of the ass they were talking about, it is accepted and it's just coincidental that people died from there but they haven’t done any wrong in using it” one journalist said.
*
I think it goes to you guys in Ghana. World Trade Centre is bad news because of the disaster courtesy Osama, so is fat ass and boobs a disaster to you men. BEWARE SO DAT YE SHALL NOT COLLAPSE IN OR ON IT.
*
You know most hip lifers hardly think before selecting themes for songs. I am sure they were looking at sizes and for them the woman's backsize is as big as the World Trade Centre.
*
I kind of saw them as not taking the situation serious lest making them an "unserious" people. I see their music as a mockery to the catastrophe which befell America and the world as a whole. I like them but I think they should rephrase the song” from another die hard fan of the duo.
*
I don't think it was right, and I don’t see how the World Trade Centre relates to the song, and I don’t see how two straight buildings that look like a pillar, with no round edge can be use to refer to a woman's booty in music.
*
Personally I don't like the song. Come to think of it, they should have found something else to compare to a woman’s buttocks than the World Trade Centre which was attacked by terrorist and precious lives were lost. So no I don't think they should have used World Trade Centre.
*
Its just creative mind or art. It can be explained in so many ways but as u said it was a serious event and must not be used to associate to a woman’s behind or ass. My honest opinion is just that it’s a creative art thing. My other opinion is that it doesn’t speak well of women because World Trade Centre means everyone can enter which makes the woman cheap in some way.
*
In my opinion no, it doesn't mean anything. And again it was an American Tragedy, not world. As sad as it was, life does go on. And, "mere" woman's behind? Don't underestimate the power of a woman's behind, it causes traffic and accidents, I personally like that song, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.
*
World Trade Centre was not a catastrophically area before the incidence. World Trade Centre is a commercial place where trade goes on. To decide whether it was okay for 4x4 to use it, I think we must get the internal meaning of what they where trying to imply. Simple World trade Centre is big and his Girl’s booty is big. It is simple and on the other side it can be wrong when view with the moral eyes but still morality is relative.
*
Maybe they tried to explain how a big ass could destruct so many minds just like the World Trade Centre did.
*
I think it’s entirely wrong to have it called that because as you initially said; many people died there. With an influx of people traveling abroad, it’s highly understood that a vast amount of people do remember September 11th, 2001 when so many innocent people died. And a lot of us live here n the US and have family here and we are actually paying for what happened.
*
There's nothing wrong with using world trade centre, besides, a lot of people don’t know the day it happened and I believe they want to mention it so no stress about that.
*
I believe every individual is entitled to his or her own opinion and what you might think does not matter.
The debate continues…
Both buildings collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. There were no survivors from any of the flights.
In total 2,993 people, including the hijackers, died in the attacks. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 countries.
A friend approached me with this “Do you think it was right for 4X4 to call their song World Trade Centre? Considering the fact that over 6,000 people died in those towers. A serious world catastrophe and they use those two towers in comparison to a ‘mere’ woman's behind (ass/buttocks)? How would they like it if I used something of the Manhyia Palace and compared to a guy's dick, pardon my Greek”.
“My family and I were discussing it. I liked the song when I first heard it but when I heard the title I was appalled. I am thinking "let's show some respect please". He ended. I do personally understand his frustrations. When I heard 4X4 has a new song named WORLD TRADE CENTRE, following the heels of Black Eyed Peas and other musicians, ‘wow’ I said to myself, knowing very well that 4X4 is going to pay their respect to the victims of the 9/11, that unfortunate incident that trembled the whole world.I was indeed very wrong. I was taken aback when I finally listened to the song and saw the video over and over again; I thought I was going to see firefighters covered in debris but all I see in the video was totally different and an eyesore.
I do not seems to identify with what the "World Trade Centre” mean in the song, 'they are referring to the ‘mere’ buttocks of the woman, comparing it to the huge twin towers, thus the World Trade Centre, since ladies buttocks are also twins”. It still doesn’t look clear or make sense to me why they decided to name it 'World Trade Centre'.It beats me how my compatriots can behave sometimes; it takes me back down memory lane to 2001 when this unfortunate event occurred and it was a very sad incidence indeed.
A lot of musicians have proceeded by composing songs and music producers have done movies to create awareness about the 9/11 and how the incidence has affected the human race.The sad events of September 11, 2001 indeed without any doubt inspired many songwriters to write songs.With my friend’s question still hanging on my neck and knowing very well that my own personal opinion does not really matter, I set out to find the reason(s) if it was right for 4X4 to call their song World Trade Centre?
I talked to politicians, journalists, businessmen, movers and shakers of the entertainment industry mostly DJs, presenters, producers, promoters, sound engineer and some members of the general public as well as musicians themselves.The politicians I spoke to seems to have not noticed the song yet.
Jargo of Konfi of Like-Father-Like-Son eminence feels, “It describes a woman’s body according to the lyrics of the song. Secondly, since the World Trade Centre couldn’t stand same way a woman’s booty can satisfy a man forever, the latter is my own interpretation, a woman’s body being a World Trade Centre can’t survive a man forever”.“As I said it an expression of how booty a woman is and also the booty woman is not forever since World Trade Centre collapsed so will her booty get collapsed so its vanity to believe in a woman’s booty, nice track to wind with and forget about the atrocities that came with World Trade Centre” he jabbed.
DJ Black, Ghana’s number one, on his part does not also see any problem at all and he’s in support of it, “People say and do worse things, if that fit the expression, so be it. What about the Ku Klux Clan? He asked. “What about the many guns sold by the west to rebels in Sudan, Nigeria, etc. people compare stuff to what they think is comparable. If they think the woman's behind is synonymous to a World Trade Centre and it gets their attention, well. But I understand if people think it’s not cool, but it’s nothing to be angry about”. he charged.
Teddy Abrokwa of Hot Digital Radio, London assumes it's out of time as the World Trade Centre does not even exist anymore. He doesn’t seem to have any problem with it also; his only problem has to do with 4x4’s constant ‘nigerialising’ of their music.“It’s a good sound regardless and about time 4x4 claimed their rightful position in Ghana Music. They've been hugely underrated in the past and were under the shadows of Buk Bak for far too long. They are a very talented duo and now that they have added a third member will only make them stronger. My only issue is the 'Nigerianising' of the music at the moment. We need to create an identity for our music and do well to sound Ghanaian” he emphasized. “It’s a very emotional reference point judging from the history behind the World Trade Centre. It would have been in serious distaste if the song was glorifying what happened on 9/11, He intoned”.
“Clearly they are referring to a ladies backside being big like the World Trade Centre. For me it’s not on point lyrically as the World Trade Centre doesn't exist now. We should not read too much into the title. I bet the guys did not mean to cause any offence or outrage “
“If they are doing their music in their accent or twang and we embracing it in Ghana, why not do ours in our Ghanaian twang for them to embrace. Nigerians in the UK are riding high on tracks like 'Kiss ur bride' by Bollie, VIP's 'Ahomka wo mu' which are clearly Ghanaian twang. You accepting defeat as soon as you take on someone’s identity”.
”Let’s not play too much into the choice of title for 4x4's track but rather see more of the great tracks they putting out” said the Hot Digital Radio gem.
Dela of TV3’s Mentor II also added her voice and this is what she has to say “I think that the Ghanaian music industry has grown immensely to the point that the Ghanaian listener is discerning. Now, since some people just ignore hip life and other Ghanaian genres of music solely because it's not their thing. The musician also has to structure means of drawing attention to his/her music, hence the use of a "Catch Phrase".
She continued “I deeply sympathize with those who lost relations due to the 9/11 World Trade Centre disaster and they have my condolences but Americans and the world have put it behind them and have moved on. I guess we should also do the same and let music live on. It could have been any other caption. All the same we would have enjoyed it. You will agree with me that although you are against the title "World Trade Centre", you can't help but tap your feet anytime you hear the song play”.
“The World Trade Centre was a tall, strong building that depicted power that’s why I think they compared it to a woman’s ass. It’s got power over men you know. I don’t think they meant any harm or anything negative by calling their song World Trade Centre. Catchy song too. Don’t think it had noting to do with the tragedy and deaths that happened in the World Trade Centre. That’s ma honest opinion”. D - Black.
Mframa Terry of Feeli Gadoochi fame said he doesn’t think it is a bad thing to do because every musician looks out for words or phrases that can help make hits. “So they thought World Trade Centre is a hit, it has so many controversies surrounding it so linking it to some part of the human body, I think they have even been smart. Let’s appreciate good work and stop politicizing it”.
A member of the Nescafe African Revelations winner Echo Elijah in his response also shared this views “Well I think that to be very objective if we are looking at it from the tragedy perspective then I think that yes it might bring back memories more especially if the song makes an impact in the country where that incident occurred.Well on the other half of the bake it was very smart for them to have used that considering the fact that the twin towers was very popular back in the days so yes bad when memories of the families of those victimized are concerned and all full of bliss when promo is concerned”.
“The way they presented the song didn’t make it seem too vulgar so we can pardon them. Let’s hope that the buttocks they talk about don’t lead them to catastrophic ends like the original World Trade Centre”. Journalist Ameyaw Debrah said with laughter.
Sound engineer Panji Anoff, shared the same views “Yes, in the absence of the old one, I do not find the song offensive at all. One of my favourite 4x4 tracks of all time” New kid on the block,
Sarkodie opted to remain mute and not say anything about the controversy “they are entitle to their own opinion. I can’t say anything about it, thanks” Below are some of the views expressed by individuals ghanacelebrities.com spoke to, they are picked randomly:
*
“What 4x4 did is metaphorical, it sounds myopic if someone should lambaste them for it It’s just an analogy to depict the gigantic nature of the ass they were talking about, it is accepted and it's just coincidental that people died from there but they haven’t done any wrong in using it” one journalist said.
*
I think it goes to you guys in Ghana. World Trade Centre is bad news because of the disaster courtesy Osama, so is fat ass and boobs a disaster to you men. BEWARE SO DAT YE SHALL NOT COLLAPSE IN OR ON IT.
*
You know most hip lifers hardly think before selecting themes for songs. I am sure they were looking at sizes and for them the woman's backsize is as big as the World Trade Centre.
*
I kind of saw them as not taking the situation serious lest making them an "unserious" people. I see their music as a mockery to the catastrophe which befell America and the world as a whole. I like them but I think they should rephrase the song” from another die hard fan of the duo.
*
I don't think it was right, and I don’t see how the World Trade Centre relates to the song, and I don’t see how two straight buildings that look like a pillar, with no round edge can be use to refer to a woman's booty in music.
*
Personally I don't like the song. Come to think of it, they should have found something else to compare to a woman’s buttocks than the World Trade Centre which was attacked by terrorist and precious lives were lost. So no I don't think they should have used World Trade Centre.
*
Its just creative mind or art. It can be explained in so many ways but as u said it was a serious event and must not be used to associate to a woman’s behind or ass. My honest opinion is just that it’s a creative art thing. My other opinion is that it doesn’t speak well of women because World Trade Centre means everyone can enter which makes the woman cheap in some way.
*
In my opinion no, it doesn't mean anything. And again it was an American Tragedy, not world. As sad as it was, life does go on. And, "mere" woman's behind? Don't underestimate the power of a woman's behind, it causes traffic and accidents, I personally like that song, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.
*
World Trade Centre was not a catastrophically area before the incidence. World Trade Centre is a commercial place where trade goes on. To decide whether it was okay for 4x4 to use it, I think we must get the internal meaning of what they where trying to imply. Simple World trade Centre is big and his Girl’s booty is big. It is simple and on the other side it can be wrong when view with the moral eyes but still morality is relative.
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Maybe they tried to explain how a big ass could destruct so many minds just like the World Trade Centre did.
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I think it’s entirely wrong to have it called that because as you initially said; many people died there. With an influx of people traveling abroad, it’s highly understood that a vast amount of people do remember September 11th, 2001 when so many innocent people died. And a lot of us live here n the US and have family here and we are actually paying for what happened.
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There's nothing wrong with using world trade centre, besides, a lot of people don’t know the day it happened and I believe they want to mention it so no stress about that.
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I believe every individual is entitled to his or her own opinion and what you might think does not matter.
The debate continues…
Friday, 28 August 2009
Bradez to launch ‘SIMPLE’
“It's a hit man! Make I dey feel it! You know the name right? Bradez! (1 mic entertainment)” Babe you dey be me too much, Smile make I see your dimple, Pretty girl I'm loving your touch, Bad girls me I no dey mingle, I'll never ever say u bye bye, Never ever leave you single, Anytime I dey by your side, You make me feel so simple”
Yes the above will be on the lips of music lovers who will be expected at the plush Monte Carlo Grand Cafe, Labone where the rap duo Bradez is set to launch their latest album “SIMPLE”.
Bradez is a rap duo made up of Stone Da Flowking and Kunta Kinte. They have churned out hits upon hits like tracks ‘One Gallon (419)’ and ‘Flash’, and are set to launch their newest track ‘SIMPLE’ which is already enjoying massive airplay through out the country.
The duo, rode on the success story of Okyeame Kwame aka rap doctor who happens to be their big brother and has featured in virtually all their hit tracks.
In an exclusive interview with the Predy X, the event manager for the launching who is also member of the Greenland Promotions team. He told Ghanacelebrities.com that “Aside Bradez who will steal the show come 19th September, 2009 Ghana Music Awards multiple winner Okyeame Kwame is set to make an appearance including other hip life artistes like Tinny, Lynx Entertainment guys like ASEM and Richie will pass through to grace the launching”.
The launch is not only about the hip lifers, its surely going to assembly Ghana’s best DJs, including Ashanti’s finest DJ Andy Dosty who is set to be on the spin. If you know what the time is, then Monte Carlo Grand Café is the place to be come 19th September.
The launching is powered by Greenland Promotions and One Mic Entertainment.
Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.
Nigeria to send Ghana to the cleaners
If the signal we are picking now is the right one then Ghanaian producers must sit up, watch out and get their arsenals ready for a showdown as their Nigerian counterparts are in a secret meeting to get them (Ghanaian producers) out of the movie market.
The primary aim of this secret meeting is to hatch a plan to flood the market with only Nigeria movies hence getting the Ghanaian producers out of job, Venus Films Production producer Abdul Salam Mumuni, whose first film was God Loves Prostitutes, which brought Nollywood superstar Genevieve Nnaji to Ghana and responsible for the discovery of the Van Vickers, Jackie Aygemangs, Nadia Buaris, Eddie Narteys and still discovering more talents is their prime target.
Speaking under anonymity, the Nigerian producer based in Ghana said they (Nigerian producers in Ghana) have a lot of problems with the system now, he mentioned how GAG (Ghana Actors’ Guild) is making things exceedingly difficult for them, “Can you imagine the GAG does not want us to charge money for registration at auditioning, my brother, as if to say we don’t pay for hiring the place for the audition, aside that we also take care of the panelist” he told ghanacelebrities.com
So where does Venus come in the picture? “Salaam doesn’t use Nigerians anymore in his productions, he thinks he’s Ghana’s number one producer, so just doing what he likes, my brother, about 4 to 5 most powerful Nigerian producers are in to get him out of the market, already we have shot about 12 movies which are yet to be released and as I am talking to you now, we are still on location shooting more movies”.
Who gave him the title, Ghana’s number one producer? “My brother, you know what am talking about, he’s the only Ghanaian producer producing good movies now”
“We have flown in the third biggest person from Liberia and she’s on location shooting in Ghana. We are planning be shoot in Uganda, Liberia and we are targeting 40 movies in a year”, he said boastfully.
At this stage, he was completely in dreamland as I fought back “But he has worked and still working with Nigerian directors, talk of Ofeanyi Onyeabor (Mr. Hollywood), Frank Rajah (The Return of Beyonce (2006), Crime to Christ (2007), Princess Tyra (2007), Wedlock of the Gods (2007), Beyonce 2: The President's Daughter (2006), Tchidi Chikere (Girls’ Connection) and a host of others”.
For a minute, he was stammering and prevaricated for a while “My brother, yes I know of Frank Rajah but am not too sure of Ofeanyi Onyeabor and Tchiki Chikere but all that I am saying is that Venus does not use the Nigerian stars in his movies and we will get him out of the market”.
Actor Kofi Adjorlolo was not left out as Yvonne Nelson’s buttocks was smacked, “I don’t know what is happening now but when you pair Kofi Adjorlolo with someone who is non Ghanaian, then he charges more, forgetting that he was brought up in Nigeria, for the latter, she always create ‘awareness’ on set/location, which I think is unnecessary”.
Where from this xenophobic tendencies now?
Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.
Friday, 21 August 2009
From Sass Squad to TH4 Kwages and now to Atsu Koliko!
Really life is indeed cruel, very erratic and can be witty at times. Musicians have always endorsed politicians, so why should a musician who sang for political party complain? Especially when that catapulted the party to win power? Perhaps he made the wrong move as the musicians who sang for the ‘suppose’ losing party are rather enjoying. That’s what I mean; life can be iniquitous at times.
It is with this unfair nature of life and weighty expressions as Atsu Koliko tried so hard to find the right words characterized with intermittent breaks to explain his journey from Sass Squad to TH4 Kwages and now to Atsu Koliko and how life is treating him as a solo artiste now. He is the sole survivor from Sass Squad and TH4 Kwages.
“After Reggie Rockstone released the first hip life album, I, Scooby, Olasty Bingo, Sane Dog and Shorty thought we can also do similar thing, we came out as Sass Squad”.
“Because we were based in the West, Takoradi, nobody was supporting us, no producer, we have to do things on our own, and all the attention and action were centered on Accra, the capital”.
“Later, we formed TH4 Kwages from Sass Squad. TH4 Kwages was a break away group from Sass Squad, it was actually a group within Sass Squad, we featured some of the guys from Sass Squad on our TH4 Kwages album”.
One single life lost can really change the direction of something “We couldn’t pick up the pieces after Olasty Bingo’s untimely death, it was tough, Scooby Selah give up the group to do Reggae so I jumped on the hip life train since I have a lot of talent that the whole world needs to know”.
Nokia 3310 is a track from Atsu Koliko’s album ‘Urself’.
How many of you still use Nokia 3310, that key-soap-look-alike phone? Well I still use it if you don’t. Nokia 3310 comes with a lot of uniqueness, if you dare leave it somewhere, possibly in a trotro; my friend you will be a dreamer to think somebody will steal it. You will come back and meet your phone where you left it.
Asked what is the concept or the idea of Nokia 3310? He said ‘I just want to tell people to live their normal life; I want them to cut their coat according to their size, don’t live above your means if you can’t afford it”.
Asked why he didn’t try bringing back the other members of the group together. Stephen Tsatsu alias Atsu Koliko thought it was not obligatory to resurrect the group TH4 Kwages as he then have to make a trip from Azim to Zebilla (tour the entire country) to get everyone on board. He said embarking on such trips, means he has to find people who can stand ‘firm’ like him. It doesn’t look clear what he meant by ‘firm’ but he didn’t care though, he re-echoed that point well again with his Fanti jabs.
“Accra, here I come” he ended. Conceivably announcing his presence to the producers that he has now packed bag and baggage to Accra.
By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
TV3, what is Boogie Down all about?
“First In News”, “Best In Entertainment” is their slogan but I will dwell on the latter, in their quest to give factual meaning to their slogan “Best In Entertainment”, TV3 Network has always come up with entertainment programmes such as Music Music, Hitz Video, Spot Light, Bands Alive, Dance Fever, TV3 Carnival, The Battle and the just ended Ghana’s Most Beautiful on its network.
They have secured success with those programmes. It is with this same slogan ‘Best In Entertainment” that has given birth to a new entertainment program Boogie Down. What is Boogie Down all about? I asked after watching the maiden edition.
I happened to watch Spot Light on the same network a fortnight ago, which was hosted by Muntala Muntari. That day wasn’t bad at all as there wasn’t any controversial story but seeing the director of “Music Music” Paa Kwesi Ackom, I was more fired up and listened attentively. I was thrilled seeing him, because the success story of TV3 “Best In Entertainment” slogan will not be written without him.
Perhaps, I like him more because he made me understood the rudiments of acting after auditioning me for a role in a movie way back, I was really drained, because his kind-of-audition is not what I have seen at various auditions I have been to, this guy is a tough guy for the records.
He has the penchant for good productions, when you talk of Music Music, one thing that comes to mind immediately is Paa Kwesi Ackom, and he has brought diversity to the show.
‘Boogie Down’ is a fresh concept that will feature dance battles from the best in the business as well as discover new talents and looking at him speak on Spot Light about it, one is sure Boogie Down is perhaps an improvement on Dance Fever (Dance Fever was a competition for dance groups).
He made viewers to know that Boogie Down is a contest for individuals, unlike Dance Fever which was a competition for dance groups, and that the contest shall be broken into monthly face-offs and the winners from each month would faceoff at a finale later in the year, where the ultimate winner would be selected.
At least knowing Boogie Down is for individuals, the idea of being part crossed my mind, but I will come to why that idea has vanished like thin air now.
Fridays are special days - for me as a Wednesday born, I decided to watch the show knowing very well that Boogie Down will be purely Old Skuul Hip Hop, because I don’t like take-me-to-the-candy-show kind of hip hop (no disrespect to 50 Cent, I just love my Old Skuul, am purely Old Skuul person.
I was fired up to watch the maiden edition of Boogie Down, It was an eyesore the whole duration of the show was a complete waste of time (perhaps for me), it bit my imagination why a whole TV3 can waste one or so hours on that show as there is a major competition as to which network gets the most viewer ship, for once I thought I was watching some old drunkards dancing to Screw Face’s waist twisting track Gbalagaza.
Watching the show, I got the impression that, the whole idea was singled out from the movie “You Got Served”, unless am proved wrong. Most annoying aspect of it all was that I skipped TGIF, yes I mean KSM’s Thank God It’s Friday (who would want to miss KSM shows).
After watching the maiden edition, I kept my silence hoping to see something different in the second edition but it was the same story. Wondering what is happening on TV3, I stumbled on Paa Kwesi Ackom at the TV3 premises.
Speaking to Paa Kwesi Ackom, he said they have not replaced Dance Fever with Boogie Down; the only thing is that, it is an entirely different thing; Boogie Down is a TV3 production just like the Music Music and the rest but Dance Fever is a reality show which takes 3 months, and a lot of sponsors have showed interest in being part of it.
‘Vodafone, the major sponsor of Dance Fever have showed interest to be part again, so we don’t have to rush and give it to another sponsors, we need to be loyal, besides Vodafone sponsored Gang Starz and the just ended Ghana Most Beautiful”. He said after asking him why they’ve replaced Dancer Fever with Boogie Down.
So what is the idea of two presenters? He said the idea is simple, one presenter for the audience and the other one for the show itself. With Boogie Down, there is jamming/dancing in the studio when we go for a commercial break that explains why the audience stands instead of sitting.
“Similar thing happened in the Dance Fever but because with that the stage was much higher than we have so you couldn’t see the audience”, he ended.
If tv3 can revisit their slogan “Best in Entertainment” then Boogie Down should be taken off air or something really needs to be done about it, I know the concept is just brilliant but the execution is just wrong, it needs more planning.
Paa Kwesi Ackom, we are still waiting for Dance Fever.
By: Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.
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