The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Flavour

  • Flavour advises critic to ‘Invest in own label’ amidst artist support debate

    Flavour advises critic to ‘Invest in own label’ amidst artist support debate

    Music star Flavour has responded to a critic who accused him of neglecting emerging Igbo artists. 

    The critic, Charles, alleged that Flavour prioritises personal projects over supporting local talent, pointing to his association with comedian Odumeje.

    Charles wrote: “We have wonderfully talented Igbo boys scattered all over the south east trying to survive in their music career with no verse, no signing, no promotion from these so called Igbo super stars. @2niteFlavour never deemed it fit to give any of these guys support of whatever kind, instead he’s wasting money and time on a fake pastor and comedian odumeje. 

    “He knows odumeje is a joke and will never have anything good to offer, so no fear of odumeje overtaking him. He believes signing or promoting young Igbo talents will make these guys greater than him, so he’s afraid of them taking over even when it’s obvious he himself is no longer in charge. Igbo have the most w!cked and selfish artists and God will pvn!sh all of them for allowing young talents be wasted in Igbo land. Many of these young talents become jobless and join the unknown gvn men when their music career fails”.

    In response, Flavour advised the critic in Igbo to “Jee chuba ego Chuta ego” which means “Go make money” so they can establish their own music label to support young artists. 

    He encouraged the critic to take proactive steps in promoting local talent, rather than relying on him.

    “I have given you people one serious advice for the new year. Jee chuba ego o. Chuta ego then start your own label make you help the wonderfully talented Igbo boys scattered all over. Make us proud Odogwu Charles,” he replied.

  • Flavour, Jeriq, Ugoccie attend Life Beer Best of Both Worlds Concert

    Flavour, Jeriq, Ugoccie attend Life Beer Best of Both Worlds Concert

    Last Sunday, Afro-highlife star, Flavour led a list of entertainers to the Life Beer Best of Both Worlds Concert in Enugu.

    The event, which had several Igbo royal fathers in attendance, was held at the Spar Mall in Enugu amidst fanfare. Also in attendance were other music stars including Jeriq, Ugoccie, and Ezeyork.

    Flavour stunned the audience when he gifted a lucky fan N1 million live on stage in recognition of his energy and passion, a moment that perfectly captured the Obiagu spirit of resilience and reward for hard work. Music sensation Ugocee and highlife maestro Ezeyork also took the stage, delivering electrifying performances that kept the audience engaged throughout the night.

    Read Also: “One of Nigeria’s greatest icons“, Yul hails father Pete Edochie at 78

    Speaking at the event, Chima Dim, Senior Brand Manager, Life Lager Beer, Nigerian Breweries (East), stated, “Life Beer has always been deeply connected to the traditions and aspirations of the Igbo people. This relaunch is a tribute to the strength and progress of our consumers. The endorsement of our royal fathers is a powerful validation that Life Beer remains a true symbol of cultural pride, resilience, and progress.”

    Life Lager Beer, a flagship brand from Nigerian Breweries, entered a bold new era with the launch of its refreshed identity and triple-filtered in Enugu.

  • Flavour urges promotion of Africa’s culture, fashion

    Flavour urges promotion of Africa’s culture, fashion

    Highlife musician Flavour has called for a broader promotion of African culture beyond its music, emphasising the need to showcase the continent’s rich heritage to the world.

    Also known as Ijele, Flavour stressed that Africa has much more to offer the global community, including its culture, fashion, and way of life.

    The singer cautioned against limiting Africa’s exports to just Afrobeats, urging a more comprehensive approach to promoting the continent.

    Read Also: Flavour credits cultural upbringing for musical success

    “Africa is popping—the culture, the fashion, everything about Africa is popping. We have to push all of it, and we have to push Africa. If we focus only on Afrobeats, we are limiting ourselves, and time is running out,” Flavour said.

    He warned that failure to embrace Africa’s diverse offerings would result in missed opportunities. “There’s no other way to do it than to accept that we are Africans, and there’s so much more to Africa than just Afrobeats. Afrobeats is just the tip of the iceberg; there are many sounds yet to be discovered, and the world is listening. It’s time for African music, so we need to unite and start pushing African music in general,” he added.

  • Flavour credits cultural upbringing for musical success

    Flavour credits cultural upbringing for musical success

    Chinedu Okoli aka Flavour has said that growing up in the Eastern part of Nigeria helped him experience his culture first hand which is a blessing that has become a success for him in the music industry.

    The 40-year-old music star noted that there is a leverage he enjoys as being born and raised around people who speak the language and live the culture in its original form.

    Flavour explained that it’s quite a different experience for those who were raised in Lagos as they mostly have to learn from their parents.

    “Growing up in the east is a blessing for me, imagine being an Igbo and born in Lagos, there’s a lot I will lose out. I am not discrediting anyone but I’m just saying for what it is,” said Flavour.

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    “You want to know what the culture is about and not just know, you want to see and be part of it, not just what your parents are teaching you. If I was born in Lagos it would be my parents teaching me and then I go out there and it’s a different thing most especially at that young age.

    “I am from Anambra but I was born in Enugu which is like the east central so being born there opened me up generally to what the culture is about. There’s not a lot of entertainment going on in Enugu because the entertainment city in Nigeria is Lagos. There’s no rush in Enugu unlike Lagos so whatever you want to do there you have to take your time, they are not in a rush you cannot deceive them because they are real, if you say you are a musician – they want to hear you sing.”

    Flaour, who once tried his hands on acting before his musical career took flight, recently held a concert at Ovo Arena Wembley in London.

  • Flavour sells out OVO Wembley Arena in landmark concert

    Flavour sells out OVO Wembley Arena in landmark concert

    Music star Flavour reached a significant milestone by selling out the iconic OVO Wembley Arena in London on August 24.

    The concert, which showcased his eclectic blend of African rhythms and contemporary styles, left fans captivated.

    Flavour performed hits from his latest album, “African Royalty,” including “Game Changer” and “Levels,” delivering a truly unforgettable show.

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    The atmosphere was further electrified by special guest appearances from Phyno, Falz, and Iyanya.

    Among the notable attendees were Cubana Chief Priest, Asa Asika, Chike, and Nigerian international footballer Alex Iwobi.

    With a career spanning nearly two decades, Flavour continues to earn numerous accolades and solidify his legacy in the music industry.

  • Afrobeats ‘new cats’ don’t like stress, just vibes – Flavour

    Afrobeats ‘new cats’ don’t like stress, just vibes – Flavour

    Highlife singer, Flavour has weighed in on the controversy sparked by Jamaican reggae icon, Buju Banton’s criticism of Afrobeats music.

    Banton had described Afrobeats as “f*ckery” and lacking substance, sparking a heated debate.

    In a recent interview on the ‘In My Opinion’ podcast, Flavour agreed with Banton’s assessment, stating that Afrobeats lacks depth, attributing this to what he described as the laziness of some artists in the genre.

    Read Also: I’m not an Afrobeats artiste, says Flavour

    He suggested that today’s artists prioritise vibes over meaningful content and that Banton’s comments may be a call to action to elevate the genre.

    “I understand what Buju Banton is trying to say. Kids of today [present crop of afrobeats artists] don’t want stress; they just want to vibe.

    “Maybe Buju Banton is trying to awaken our spirit,” he said.

  • I’m not an Afrobeats artiste, says Flavour

    I’m not an Afrobeats artiste, says Flavour

    Singer Flavour N’abania has stated that he does not consider himself as an Afrobeats artiste.

    He stated this during an interview with Afrobeats podcast on Monday, August 19. 

    He described his music as “African Music” emphasising that his music represents African sounds.  

    He stated that his music would be recognised more because of its focused on African music as a whole, rather than afrobeats. 

    “I do not feel bad when I am not given credit for the global rise of African music because what the media is talking about is Afrobeats. I am not an Afrobeats artiste.

    Read Also: Why I’m not an afrobeat singer, by Flavour

    “What I am doing is African music. There are guys like Fally Ipupa, Diamond Platinumz who are pushing African music globally that are not Afrobeats artistes,” he said.

    He also stated that the media neglects African music focusing on one genre,(Afrobeats). 

    “Most times, the media just talks about Afrobeats. They are not talking about African music. If you talk about African music, of course, you should mention my name,” he added.

  • Why I’m not an afrobeat singer, by Flavour

    Why I’m not an afrobeat singer, by Flavour

    Music sensation, Flavour, whose real name is Chinedu Okoli, has set the record straight on his genre identity.

    The High-life crooner, in a recent interview on the “Afrobeats Podcast” with Shopsydoo explained that he doesn’t consider himself an Afrobeats artist despite being a key player in African music’s global rise.

    Flavour expressed no qualms about not receiving credit for Afrobeats’ international success, attributing the oversight to the media’s narrow focus on the genre.

    “I don’t feel bad when I’m not given credit for the global rise of African music because what the media is talking about is Afrobeats. I’m not an Afrobeats artist,” he said.

    Read Also: I used to charge N5,000 per beat as a producer – Flavour

    The singer emphasised that African music encompasses a broad spectrum of styles, citing Fally Ipupa and Diamond Platinumz as examples of artists pushing African music globally beyond Afrobeats.

    Flavour urged the media to expand their coverage and recognise contributions from various African genres, ensuring due credit for artists like himself.

    “What I’m doing is African music. There are guys like Fally Ipupa, and Diamond Platinumz who are pushing African music globally that are not Afrobeats artists.

    “Most times, the media just talks about Afrobeats. They are not talking about African music. If you talk about African music, of course, you should mention my name”, he said.

  • I used to charge N5,000 per beat as a producer – Flavour

    I used to charge N5,000 per beat as a producer – Flavour

    In a recent interview on the “In My Opinion” Podcast, Flavour shared his journey to fame.

    He recalled his first collaboration with rapper Nigga Raw (now known as Mr. Raw), where he played the piano for him in the studio.

    Flavour revealed how he sought out Nigga Raw’s producer to learn music production, paying a weekly fee of ₦1,000.

    He said that once he acquired the skills, he began charging ₦5,000 per beat for his services.

    “From learning studio production to becoming a producer. From there, I started doing jobs as a producer, and I charged 5,000 per beat,” Flavour narrated.

    He also revealed how he started accompanying Nigga Raw, who at the time, was one of the most famous artists in Eastern Nigeria to shows.

    He said he later recorded the chorus to a Nigga Raw song that blew up in the East and gave his first glimpse of success.

    Read Also: GTI lauds Flavour, Osupa, others for thrilling fans at  NPFL venues

    The singer credited Nigga Raw with opening his eyes to what it means to be an artist.

    “Nigga Raw was the guy that opened my eyes to what being an artist is about,” Flavour explained on the lessons he picked up from being a backup and spending time in the studio with Nigga Raw.

    During the interview, Flavour shared how he contemplated what type of music he wanted to make between RnB and Highlife before deciding that RnB isn’t a profitable route, so he settled for Highlife Fusion.

  • I was once asked to leave the stage for PSquare to perform – Flavour

    I was once asked to leave the stage for PSquare to perform – Flavour

    Singer Flavour N’abania has shared a humbling experience from his early days as a musician.

    The Enugu-born singer recalled being asked to leave the stage for P-Square to perform.

    Flavour, who started as a choir conductor and drummer in the church before transitioning to secular music, said he built a loyal fan base in Enugu where he consistently performed at a popular spot, City Centre.

    According to him, PSquare, who were promoting their hit song “Temptation,” were brought to the same venue and he was asked to stop performing for PSquare to take over the stage.

    Read Also: Why we held Flavour’s father’s funeral in Enugu, by Cubana Chief Priest

    He narrated how the crowd went wild when Paul Okoye started singing “Temptation.”

    “I remember one day with P-square, when they just came out with “Temptation.’ They were promoting a show around and the promoters brought them to the spot at City Centre in Enugu.

    “With that spot, I already built fans; everybody was there every weekend. No matter what was going on in Enugu, my spot was always packed.

    “So the promoters brought Psquare while I was playing, and immediately P-Square came; the manager just said, ‘Hello, off that thing.’

    “I switched off, passed the microphone, and went to sit. Then when Paul of P-square picked up the microphone and just said, ‘This na temptation’ everywhere scattered,” he said.