The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mary J. Blige

  • BET to honour Nipsey Hussle with humanitarian award

    BET Networks has announced Grammy award winning singer, Mary J Blige will be honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award while entertainment powerhouse Tyler Perry is honoured with the Ultimate Icon Award and Nipsey Hussle to also be honoured with the ‘BET Awards’ Humanitarian Award respectively at the 19th annual BET Awards.

    The event holds at the Microsoft Theatre, Los Angeles on June 23 and will be premiering live on BET Africa (DStv channel 129) on Monday, June 24 at 19:00 WAT.

    The awards will also see Chaka Bars,  31-year-old UK based Instagram activist/Pan African developer, honoured with the 2019 BET International Global Good Award. Chaka Bars joins past honorees including musician Akon, model Millen Magese and NBA player Bismack Biyombo.

    Nipsey continues to be a big part of the BET family from past BETX Staples Center concerts, performing on the BET Live Stage, to visiting the set of BET original series, BET Networks will continue to celebrate the life and work of the beloved LA native known lovingly as ‘Neighborhood Nip.’

    Hosted by actress and comedian Regina Hall, the awards will see African talent celebrated from the red carpet to the main show in theBest International Act Award and Best New International Act categories. The Face of BET in Africa, Nomalanga Shozi will also take centre stage on the events’ red carpet as the host, alongside British Congolese comedian Eddy Kadi to share exclusive conversation with event attendees on their most glamorous outfits at the ceremony.

    In the Best International Act Award category South African rapper AKA alongside Nigerian musicians Burna Boy and Mr. Eazi have been nominated with Dave and Giggs from the UK with Aya Nakamura and Dosseh from France. In the fan voted category of Best New International Act, Sho Madjozi from South Africa is nominated together with Teniola Apata from Nigeria, Headie One and Octavianfrom the UK and France’s Jokair and Nesly.

  • MARY J. BLIGE officially divorces Kendu Isaacs

    Grammy winner, Mary J. Blige and her husband, Kendu Isaacs, are officially divorced, ET confirms. According to court documents, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge signed off on the divorce yesterday.

    The news comes three months after the former couple settled their divorce out of court. Blige filed for divorce from Isaacs in July 2016 after 13 years of marriage.

    Last June, a judge ordered Blige to pay Isaacs $30,000 a month in temporary spousal support, in addition to $135,000 retroactively dating back to Sept. 1, 2016. Blige was also to pay $100,000 in attorney’s fees and expert costs, which is less than the $167,000 in fees and costs that Isaacs was requesting.

    It’s been an eventful year for Blige, who was nominated for two Oscars; ‘Best Supporting Actress’ and ‘Best Original Song’ for Mudbound. The singer was even thrown an over-the-top party by JAY-Z and Beyonce.

  • Aramide does cover of Mary J Blige’s ‘I’m going down’

    Aramide does cover of Mary J Blige’s ‘I’m going down’

    Afro-Soul musician Aramide has sang a cover of ‘I’m going down’ by American singer Mary J Blige.

    She did this recently at The Cover Show, an exclusive performance that features top Nigerian music artistes doing covers of their favorite songs.

    “I love the song so much because the song introduced me to soul music,” said Aramide, whose debut 15-track album, ‘Suitcase’ is taking her places.

    “It’s a beautiful song and it speaks to me in lots of ways.”

    Aside the Mary J. Blige cover, Aramide also performed ‘Funmi Lowo’, one of her hit songs off the Suitcase album.

  • Kendrick Lamar retains No. 1 spot on Billboard

    Kendrick Lamar retains No. 1 spot on Billboard

    American rapper and songwriter, Kendrick Lamar’s album ‘DAMN’, retains its number one reign on the weekly U.S. Billboard 200 album chart, and has held onto the top spot for a third consecutive week.

    The album sold another 173,000 units that included 157 million streams in the week ending May 4, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.

    The Billboard 200 album chart tallies units from album sales, song sales (10 songs equal one album) and streaming activity (1,500 streams equal one album).

    DAMN is Lamar’s fourth studio album and was released on April 14, 2017, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.

    The album features production from a variety of record producers, including executive producer from the Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith.

    There are production contributions from Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Mike Will Made It and Ricci Riera, James Blake, Steve Lacy, BadBadNotGood, Greg Kurstin, The Alchemist and 9th Wonder, among others.

    DAMN earned the ‘Straight Outta Compton’ crooner his third consecutive number one album in the United States when it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

    The album was supported by the lead single, “Humble”. On May 4, 2017, DAMN was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Damon Albarn’s virtual animated band ‘Gorillaz’ debut at Number two with its latest album “Humanz” selling over 140,000 units.

    Mary J. Blige’s “Strength of a Woman” opened at Number three with 78,000 units sold while Epic Record’s compilation of hit singles “Epic AF V2” peaks at Number six.

    On the Digital Songs chart, which measures online single sales, hiphop producer DJ Khaled and Justin Bieber’s “I’m the One” debuted at Number one with 171,000 copies sold.

  • I PLAN TO DO ‘COLLABO’ WITH MARY J BLIGE, KSB REVEALS

    GOSPEL act, Kenny Saint Best, better known as KSB, has hinted that she planning to do more of international collaboration this year. Currently, she says, plans are on ground to collaborate with international act and Grammy award winner Mary J Blige.

    “I am already working on it; we need to celebrate our industry. Frank Edwards did collaboration with popular gospel singer Don Moen that is a push for me,” the mother of two said.

    She also commended hiphop star, Wizkid on his collaboration with Drake, which according to reports, is still the number one song on the UK chart.

    On politics, the songstress revealed that one of the reasons she decided to join the race is to be able to use her status as a gospel singer to preach the gospel.

    “Part of my passion for wanting to be in the government is to preach the gospel and also stand for the entertainment industry. Two of my proposals have been accepted, I won’t say more than that,” she added.

    Speaking further, KSB said that she is also planning an award to celebrate women who have worked with the Lagos State Government over the past 50 years in a programme tagged Eko Heroin Award.

    The gospel singer who has a single currently on air, Sugar, Sugar featuring MI, will also be releasing another single titled Heaven Smiles.

  • Florence Otedola’s profile soars

    Florence Otedola’s profile soars

    BILLIONAIRE businessman’s daughter,Florence Otedola, aka DJ Cuppy, has high aspirations for the new year as she continues to make waves both in Europe and in West Africa. Upon turning 21 at the end of 2013, DJ Cuppy has enjoyed transition from an aspiring DJ with over five years’ experience, to headlining at some of the premier clubs in London and Lagos.

    Her growing reputation resulted in her being asked to be the main DJ for Mary J Blige’s recent tour of West Africa, which included dates in Nigeria and Ghana. She has also enjoyed playing at renowned venues in Dubai, New York, Cape Town, among others. This growing exposure culminated in her being featured in the December’s edition of Tatler Magazine where she was listed as one of Nigeria’s youngest entrepreneurs in London.

  • Mary J. Blige’s day on Nigerian stage

    Mary J. Blige’s day on Nigerian stage

    WITH N15, 000 being the minimum gate fee for the show, the crowd moderation intended by the organisers was achieved. But the entire space in the popular Expo Center, Eko Hotel and Suites appeared oversized for the elitist show, featuring American Queen of ‘Hip-hop soul’; Mary J. Blige who stormed Lagos last Friday for the Etisalat’s sponsored ‘Sisters with Soul’ concert.

    The multiple-award winner and multi-platinum selling artiste took the audience back in time, dolling out her most loved songs from the 90s up until her most recent releases.

    The show, which enjoyed the partnership of Kilimanjaro Entertainment, also paraded some of Nigeria’s top female artistes including Seyi Shay, Eva Alordiah, Niyola, Emma Nyra and Ms. Jaie, all performing their hit tracks to the excitement of the audience.

    The craze for Nigerian music notwithstanding, the visiting artiste held the crowd spellbound, and just singing along with her at the prompt of every hit track, was an indication that Nigeria is one of the singer’s fan bases. She could not hold back her excitement, as she kept thanking the crowd for their love and support.

    The 42 year-old singer and songwriter was clad in a mid-riff baring turtle neck top, leather shorts and knee-length gladiator heels, treating lovers of contemporary R&B, hip-hop and soul music to a great moment that Friday, September 27, 2013.

    Etisalat had in December 2012 led the sponsorship of a similar show with Chris Brown tagged ‘Lagos on my Mind’.

    After her two-hour performance, Mary J. Blige went on twitter, thanking her fans: “Good morning Lagos. Thank U so much 4 the warm welcome, love & support. I had a great time with U! Sorry I had to leave so quickly. Love. MJB”.

  • Mary J. Blige’s day on Nigerian stage

    Mary J. Blige’s day on Nigerian stage

    WITH N15, 000 being the minimum gate fee for the show, the crowd moderation intended by the organisers was achieved. But the entire space in the popular Expo Center, Eko Hotel and Suites appeared oversized for the elitist show, featuring American Queen of ‘Hip-hop soul’; Mary J. Blige who stormed Lagos last Friday for the Etisalat’s sponsored ‘Sisters with Soul’ concert.

    The multiple-award winner and multi-platinum selling artiste took the audience back in time, dolling out her most loved songs from the 90s up until her most recent releases.

    The show, which enjoyed the partnership of Kilimanjaro Entertainment, also paraded some of Nigeria’s top female artistes including Seyi Shay, Eva Alordiah, Niyola, Emma Nyra and Ms. Jaie, all performing their hit tracks to the excitement of the audience.

    The craze for Nigerian music notwithstanding, the visiting artiste held the crowd spellbound, and just singing along with her at the prompt of every hit track, was an indication that Nigeria is one of the singer’s fan bases. She could not hold back her excitement, as she kept thanking the crowd for their love and support.

    The 42 year-old singer and songwriter was clad in a mid-riff baring turtle neck top, leather shorts and knee-length gladiator heels, treating lovers of contemporary R&B, hip-hop and soul music to a great moment that Friday, September 27, 2013.

    Etisalat had in December 2012 led the sponsorship of a similar show with Chris Brown tagged ‘Lagos on my Mind’.

    After her two-hour performance, Mary J. Blige went on twitter, thanking her fans: “Good morning Lagos. Thank U so much 4 the warm welcome, love & support. I had a great time with U! Sorry I had to leave so quickly. Love. MJB”.