The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Blackface

  • Blackface reignites feud with 2Baba in a diss track ‘War’

    Nigerian dance hall singer, Ahmedu Obiabo a.k.a ‘Blackface, has reignited his feud with Nigerian Afro-pop legend, Innocent Idibia a.k.a ‘2Baba’ in his newly released single, `War’.

    The lyric of the song released by Blackface is filled with direct shots at his former friend and band member 2baba.

    Since the breakup of Nigeria’s most prominent boy group ‘Plantashun Boiz’, Blackface and 2baba have been engaged in one of the longest running feuds that the industry has ever witnessed.

    From claims of copyright theft to allegations of blocking his music’ Africa Queen’, Blackface has been quite vocal with how he feels about 2Baba.

    READ ALSO: 2Face N50m libel suit against Blackface for ADR

    With several lawsuits filed by both parties and on his latest release, he has finally decided that it is the right time to put it on wax including subliminal at 2Baba’s manager, Efe Omorogbe.

    In the song `War’ produced by Eden, Blackface talked about 2baba stealing his song, blocking all his (Blackface’s) shows together with 2baba’s manager.

    Blackface also exposed some alleged dirty dealings in the song.

    “Why you steal my song you no let me know, na you and your manager wey dey block my show from every carnival; Your mama say you’re Innocent, but I know say you cannibal.”

    NAN

  • RUGGEDMAN TO BLACKFACE: You’re now a veteran upcoming artist

    RUGGEDMAN TO BLACKFACE: You’re now a veteran upcoming artist

    RUGGEDMAN

    FOR including him in his rants in an interview online, foremost rapper, Michael Stevens has called out his colleague in the industry, Blackface.

    In a Facebook rebuttal, Ruggedman said that he feels sad having to respond to Blackface but artistes to whom he has always tried to set a good example would understand.

    “I am and will always be a fan of your one and only album ‘Ghetto Child’ that had some conscious tracks in it,” he wrote.

    “By the way, I am sure you are not blind and can see that Nigeria is still not as great as we want. So why aren’t you singing everyday about it like you said you expected me to keep doing about artists copying?

    “Every time I read about you on social media you are complaining and ranting. If your people around you won’t tell you the truth I will. You are beginning to look like a sad, jealous, washed up artist who can’t keep up with his fellow artists. Like you can’t make music anymore.”

    Tackling Blackface’s claims that he wrote certain songs which his former bandmate, Tubaba allegedly stole, Ruggedman said that a grown man would hit the studio and record more of such songs like 2baba, Sound Sultan, the great Daddy Showkey, African China and Oritse Femi have been doing and prove to the world he wrote them.

    “But you turn town crier at any opportunity you get in front of a camera. I don’t want to believe that complaining on interviews and calling artists names is your only hold on relevance.

    “My brother you are too talented and too old for all this. You are now a veteran upcoming artist bro. Putting my name in your interview was a wrong move,” he added.

  • Ruggedman tackles Blackface

    Ruggedman tackles Blackface

    In a post titled ‘Let’s educate the illiterate as he leads the protest’, Blackface chided his former bandmate; 2Baba over the latter’s proposed protest against the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari-led government saying that 2Baba needs to be educated over some facts concerning the present administration before leading the protest.

    He however caught the ire of another singer, Ruggedman, who feels that 2Baba, instead of being criticized, should he encouraged to bring some of the nation’s issues to the table of President Buhari.

    He said: “Blackface you be my guy and 2baba na my guy, but I will tell you that this your move right here is very disappointing. You sang hard life and all when things were even a bit bearable, but now that things are really messed up you have kept quiet. But here you are mouthing off over a 2Face move? Guy you fall my hand.

    “Talking about educating people; it is not a protest being led by 2face. He said he saw the post and thought to lend his voice to it. Something a few other artists and people have done.  So you knew about all the governors embezzling funds and yet you said nothing. But you are quick to shout now because 2face name has come out on something. But you make it too obvious you have something against 2face and you should have let all this go by now.”

    Ruggedman thinks Blackface may not have gotten over the split of the Plantashun Boys which they both belonged alongside another partner, Faze.

    He urged Blackface to understand that the proposed protest of February 5 is not a personal matter. “Nigerians are suffering and you are just monitoring 2face. At least he has chosen to lend his voice to something all Nigerians believe is needed. What have you done? You have details that should be out there for all to see but you only decided to speak because 2face is involved. Guy change your ways; I know you as a crusader and not a 2face hater. The people need voices that can be heard, I know you are one of them. Do the right thing brother. Life in Naija now is harder than it ever was and Buhari’s people should let Nigerians know what they are doing right and also let Nigerians know who and who is doing wrong,” he said.

  • AFTER SIX YEARS, BLACKFACE DROPS NEW ALBUM

    AFTER SIX YEARS, BLACKFACE DROPS NEW ALBUM

    AFTER a six-year hiatus, former member of Plantashun Boiz, Blackface, on Friday dropped a new album, titled Defender. The long-awaited album which was due to have dropped in 2013, has 20 tracks and features Marvelous Beni, Azadus, Yung6ix, Skinnny Rose and others.

    The artiste, whose real name is Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo, also disclosed that a 22 tracker album is dropping soon afterwards.

    Since leaving the Plantashun Boiz, Blackface released his debut solo album, Ghetto Child (2007). He followed this with Evergreen (2007),Jungle Fever (2008), Me, Musiq and I (2008), and Dancehall Business (2010).

    The artiste who is in dispute with form group mate, 2Baba, over being side-lined, after co-writing the song, African Queen, which gave 2Baba international acclaim, has however, not dropped an album since his last album, in 2010.

    “I have been working [hard on them] for five years,” he said recently of the albums and reason for his absence.

    Blackface founded Plantashun Boiz with Innocent Idibia (2Baba) and Chibuzor Oji (Faze) in 1996 while they were students at the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu. The group released three albums – Body and Soul (2000) and Sold Out (2003) before breaking up in 2004, only to reunite in 2007 to record Plan B (2007) before the trio pursued solo careers.

     

  • 2Baba replies Blackface on theft allegation

    2Baba replies Blackface on theft allegation

    THEY both belonged to the team Plantashun Boiz back in the days, but went solo afterwards. The group was made up of 2face Idibia, now called 2Baba, Blackface and Faze, but evidently, 2Baba became the most successful, in their solo careers.

    In the same manner that Dammy Krane has accused the more successful Wizkid of stealing his song, Blackface held a grudge against 2Baba, claiming the latter also stole from him.

    However, after few days of silence, 2Baba’s manager, Efe Omoregbe soon deemed it fit to clear the air on the allegation, linking Blackface’s claim to some of the songs they jointly wrote as members of plantashun Boiz.

    Omoregbe said he initially wanted to ignore the allegation when Blackface tweeted about the subject, but that he was forced to speak based on Blackface’s persistent press interviews on the matter.

    According to him, 2Baba and Blackface do have a bunch of songs they co-wrote in their days as Plantashun Boiz and that both artistes have collectively and individually recorded and commercially released materials from this collection.

    “2Baba has always given Blackface (Austin Ahmedu) co-writing credit every time he recorded any song that has Blackface’s input – No matter how minimal.

    “Blackface has neither given 2Baba (Innocent Idibia) co-writing credit nor sought “permission” to record any of the materials they jointly authored. Blackface has earned royalties off his shared publishing rights for about a decade.

    “A huge chunk of income he has made derives from royalties earned by the commercial exploitation of the successful materials performed/recorded by 2Baba.

    “2Baba did not and couldn’t have stolen “Let Somebody Love You” from Blackface. The song was released about 2 years ago. Blackface complained about his name being misspelt on the CD sleeve and we personally apologised to him.

    “Yes. Blackface contributed to the writing of the first verse of the song. The second verse was entirely 2Baba. Bridget Kelly wrote her verse and Efe Omorogbe wrote the outro verse.

    “Efe Omorogbe is not 2Baba’s manager on “Let Somebody Love You” but a co-writer; The outro verse was lifted from the song “How?” written in 1997 and recorded in 1999 at Dolphin studios, Surulere. Blackface didn’t write that bit. Couldn’t have written that bit. Blackface cannot in 2016, touch Efe Omorogbe’s writing from 1997.

    “Blackface should be honoured to have shared co-writing credit with 2Baba. I am. For each and every song we have collaborated on.

    “Blackface should be grateful 2Baba recorded their co-authored materials to ensure a lifetime of royalty income for him ; Blackface should record and release his own version of “Let Somebody Love You” and keep 100% publishing on that version. Oops! 2Baba will still be entitled to a share.

    “Blackface is not in 2Baba’s league as a songwriter. Their post-Plantashun Boiz’ catalogs speak for themselves. Blackface should go to court to seek redress if he indeed believes he has a case. Blackface should know that nobody ever secured a court judgement via a twitter rant or media tour.

    “Blackface must have realised by now that the unfortunate tirade has not made “Killa” a hit. At least, no”, he said.

  • Plantashun Boiz in ‘surprise’ performance

    Plantashun Boiz in ‘surprise’ performance

    •…excites fans at Festac

    For many stakeholders in the nation’s entertainment industry, Saturday, February 1, will go down as most memorable, as Nigerian Breweries Plc. brought back memories of the defunct singing group, Plantashun Boiz, comprising Tuface Idibia, Faze and Black Faze.

    The well-attended event held at Festac Town, Lagos.

    While the trio of Tuface, Blackface and Faze performed, the venue literally rose and tumbled in joy and the audience was in a feeling of intense delight.

    Plantashun Boiz was one of the celebrated Nigerian music acts in the early ’90s until their disintegration, a development that caused a stir in the music industry.

    Since the trio decided to pursue their solo career, a lot has happened in their individual life. Today, Tuface Idibia is arguably the luckiest, while the others, particularly Blackface, are still struggling to make impressionable impacts in the nation’s music industry.