STR8 UP HIP-HOP CELEBRATES FIRST DECADE OF HIP-HOP

Shortly after the conclusion of Ladies First April edition of, Str8 Up Hip-hop, many wondered what the theme of the next edition will be. Some ardent followers of the niche urban monthly event went as far as consistently placing calls to the organizers seeking to get more information about the May edition.
After much deliberation, the producers, Now Muzik Encore in conjunction with Club Rumors have finally decided to host the hip-hop community to a special party celebrating the first decade of Hip-hop.
Themed ‘79-89 the definitive first decade of Hip-hop Party’, the party is set to hold on the 25 the prestigious Club Rumors located at 15A Oduduwa way, G.R.A, Ikeja.
The strictly by invitation party will be the first of its kind in the Nigerian Hip-hop scene and will witness the presence of a good number of Nigerian Hip-hop pioneers, ex Emcees and ex DJs. The experience will surely be totally unforgettable and will afford younger artistes the opportunity to network with the older artistes.

A TIMI DAKOLO PREMIERE : SEND DOWN THE RAIN ( A timeless remake of the Majek Fashek hit)

Coming off the success of the Nigerian national anthem alter ego track ‘Great Nation’ and the 60’s themed ‘Yes, I do’, Africa’s vocal enigma, Timi Dakolo is back with perhaps the greatest single of 2013 off his soon to be released ‘Songs I Love to Sing’ EP.
This time, the premiere Nigerian Idol has teamed up with uber talented producer, Cobhams Asuquo for a timeless remake of Majek Fashek’s mega hit ‘Send down the Rain’.
Timi's version of 'Send down the rain' is delivered over a mix of exciting instrumentals and matched with his trademark vocals which massages its listener into utter sensual relaxation from its beginning and peaks into a colorful medley of beautiful notes.
"Songs I love to Sing is a special project because it affords me an opportunity to record some of the songs that have inspired and continue to inspire me as a song writer and singer," Timi states.
Rhiemen Omorogbe of Now Muzik, Timi's management pairs. "This single is the perfect lead for a project as important as this. The elegance and power of the original which was delivered by one of Africa’s greatest musical talents of all time and the relevance of the message to the current situation in Africa makes it the perfect first step in this extra-ordinary journey. It is intended to continue on a positive note in 2013.
He further explains, "We want everyone to be able to recognize Timi’s talents in full. This song will help fans appreciate Timi better an artiste and re-emphasize what he represents".
Send down the rain is a cry for hope, a conjunction of beautiful memories, a homage to fallen soldiers, a celebration of well-deserved rewards and lastly whatever you want it to be.
Songs I love to Sing; The EP is a collection of classic covers of some of the greatest songs ever recorded. The EP is scheduled to be released in August 2013.

FEMALE HIP-HOP ACTS CELEBRATED AT STR8 UP HIP-HOP AS 2FACE, DJ HUMILITY LEND SUPPORT

Dj Humility, Sasha P and Don T of Now Muzik at the event.

 The just concluded April edition of Str8 Up Hip-hop was not just a gathering of female Hip-hop acts and their fans but also a convergence of their male counterparts who came out to support the hardworking ladies.

The event which was hosted by the amazing Toni Payne was exciting from start to finish as the attendees were treated to a sumptuous and unadulterated hip-hop meal consisting of B-Girl showcase, graffiti, freestyle sessions and battle emcee sessions won by the defending champion, Yung Soss.

Outstanding performances by Butafly, Splash, Thelma and Kiss, captivating spoken word by Dolapo, impressive DJing  by DJ Lambogini and DJ OZ all contributed to the unforgettable Ladies First experience. The large turnout no doubt indicated that females in the Hip-hop scene are truly appreciated and loved by the hip-hop community.

Str8 Up Hip-hop honored veteran rappers, Sasha P and Weird MC for their selfless contributions to the growth of hip-hop in Nigeria. It is safe to say that the veterans earned more respect by their unmatched performances at the event. Sasha P performed some of her classic songs including her timeless hit ‘Adara’ while Weird MC gave an electrifying performance of her smashing hit song remix ‘‘Ijo Ya’ amongst other classic tunes,

In her appreciation speech, Weird MC said, “When I started out, we were very few female artists compared to what we have now.  The effort of upcoming female artistes in Nigeria is commendable and I encourage them to keep pressing forward in their pursuits even with more determination and resilience.”

Also, the first ever Nigerian female DJ, Late DJ Lokshai was honored in recognition of her status as a bonafide hip-hop pioneer and a financial donation was presented to her daughter, Jadesola. A very touching documentary which was put together by Buckwyld Media Production shed more light on the exploits of the late DJ and her unwavering determination to put female DJs in the limelight.

Celebrities who were present to celebrate the Hip-hop ladies included 2face Idibia, Eva Alordiah, Cynthia Morgan, Mr Raw, M-Thrill, DJ Humility among others.

Ladies First was produced by Now Muzik En.Core and supported by Kally and Mowa water brands

Str8 Up Hip-hop edition for May is already being planned. Although the date is yet to be announced, the infectious atmosphere is ever present in the minds of hip-hop heads. 

Head, National Sales of Dansa Foods Ltd, Mr. Gbenga Alo, Weird MC and Activation Manager of Dansa Foods Ltd, Mr. Shakiru Ogunyemi