SARKODIE TOPS 4SYTE MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS NOMINATIONS

The Silver Star Tower in Accra was last Friday crowded with musicians, actors and presenters as 4syte TV launched the 5th edition of its Music Video Awards scheduled for November 16, 2013 at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

The 4Syte Music Video Awards which started in 2008 aims at encouraging musicians to come out with good music videos.


Last Friday launch also saw the release of the nominations list with Sarkodie topping the list with eight nominations, Okyeame Kwame followed with six nominations.  4X4 and Jupitar had four nominations each.
Artistes nominated for the Overall Best Video/ Most Influential Artiste which is the topmost award are Edem, VIP, Okyeame Kwame, 4×4, EL, Sarkodie and R2bees.
Celebrities who graced the launch were Eazzy, J.Town, E.L., Efya, KOD., Zapp Mallet, Raquel, DJ Mensa, Sala, Juliet Ibrahim, Prince David Osei, Frank Artus, Selly, Praye, Criss Waddle, Dr. Cryme, Gemini among others.
Just after Jeremie and Jay Foley, hosts for the night announced the nominations list, musicians Gemini, Criss Waddle, Gasmila and Dr. Cryme performed to the delight of patrons.
According to the organisers, nominees can be voted for on all networks by texting ‘Mia & Artiste’ to  short code 1747.
Below is the  Nomination List …
BEST GROUP VIDEO

• Ruff n Smooth – Dance For Me
• 4×4 – Anadwo Ye De
• VIP – Follow Me
• R2bees – Slow Down
• Praye – GMT/Night Still Young

BEST MALE VIDEO

• Tinny – OMG
• ASEM – Wasted
• Chemphe – Can I Be
• Jupitar – Money Box
• Edem – Over (remix)
• Sarkodie – Illuminati

BEST FEMALE VIDEO

• Raquel – Lovi Dovi
• Efya – Get Away
• Becca – Time For Me
• Itz Tifanny – Dance
• Yaa Yaa – Kae
• Kaakie – Too Much
• Stephahie Benson – Good Feeling

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY VIDEO

• Ruff n Smooth – Dance For Me
• Eazzy – Scream
• Noella Wiyaala – Rock My Body
• Itz Tiffany – Dance
• VIP – Want It

BEST DIRECTED VIDEO

• EL – Hallelujah
• Okyeame Kwame ft. Raquel – Woara
• Sarkodie – Illuminati
• R2bees ft. Wizkid – Slow Down
• 4×4 – Anadwo Ye De
• Kwabena Kwabena ft. Joojo – Engya Me Ho

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEO

• Efya – Get Away
• Sarkodie – Illuminati
• ASEM – Wasted
• EL – Hallelujah
• 4×4 – Anadwo Ye De
• Kwabena Kwabena ft. Joojo – Engya Me Ho

BEST GOSPEL VIDEO

• OJ – Ma Ye se Mo Pen
• Gena West – No Power
• Nii Okai – You Are Jesus
• Heidi – Ye Ni So (We Are Grateful)
• Akesse Brempong – Crazy Love
• Diana Hamilton – Papa Reign

BEST REGGAE VIDEO

• Kaakie – Too Much
• Samini – Too Bad
• Jupitar – Money Box
• KNii Lante – House Of Pain
• Jay Town – Bad Girl
• Stonebwoy – Onumade

BEST STORYLINE

• Chemphe – Left Over
• Jupitar – Money Box
• Okyeame Kwame ft. Raquel – Woara
• Raquel – Lovi Dovi
• Bisa Kdei – Metanfo
• Jayso ft. Sarkodie and Efya – I’m In Love With Your Boyfriend
• Kwabena Kwabena – Engya Me Ho

BEST EDITED VIDEO

• Okyeame Kwame ft. Raquel – Woara
• Tinny – OMG
• Chemphe – Can I Be
• EL ft. M.anifest – Hallelujah
• Sarkodie – Illuminati
• Tic Tac ft. Edem – Pum Pum

BEST SPECIAL EFFECT VIDEO

• M.anifest – Charley What Dey Happen
• Edem – Heyba
• Eazzy – Scream
• VIP – Follow Me

BEST AFRICAN ACT VIDEO

• Ice Prince – Aboki
• Wizkid – Azonto
• Davido – Gobe
• D’Banj – Don’t Tell Me Nonsense
• Tiwa Savage – Without My Heart
• Mafikizolo ft. Uhuru – Khona

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO

• C-Real – Opeimu
• Dee Money – Money Talks
• Kwaw Kese – Kalabuley
• XO Senavoe – Taxi
• Sarkodie – Illuminati

BEST HILIFE VIDEO

• Kwabena Kwabena ft. Joojo –Engya Me Ho
• Okyeame Kwame ft. Raquel – Woara
• EL – Auntie Martha
• Bisa Kdei – Metanfo

BEST COLLABORATION VIDEO

• Sarkodie ft. Viviane Chidid – Hallelujah
• Fuse ODG ft. Wyclef – Antenna
• Dee Money ft. Fuse ODG – Marilyn Monroe
• C-Real ft. M.anifest – Hallelujah
• Okyeame Kwame ft. Raquel – Woara

BEST DISCOGRAPHY VIDEO

• YaaYaa – Kae
• Criss Waddle – Ayi
• Joey B – Strawberry Ginger
• Kaakie – Too Much
• Jupitar – Money Box
• Noella Wiyaala –Make Me Dance
• Bisa Kdei – Over
• Sister Deborah – Uncle Obama

BEST HIPLIFE VIDEO

• Bradez – Wose Sen
• Kwabena Kwabena ft. Joojo – Engya Me Ho
• Bisa Kdei – Over
• Asem – Wasted
• Atumpan – Bomeka
• Tic Tac ft. Edem – Pum Pum
• D-Black ft. EL – Change Your Life
• Joey B – Strawberry Ginger
• 4×4 – Anadwo Ye De

MOST POPULAR VIDEO

• Fuse ODG – Antenna
• Edem – Over Again
• Deborah Vanessa – Uncle Obama
• Criss Waddle – Ayi
• R2bees ft. Wizkid – Slow Down
• Sarkodie – Illuminati

OVERALL BEST VIDEO/ MOST INFLUENTIAL VIDEO

• Edem – Over Again
• VIP – Follow Me
• Okyeame Kwame ft. Raquel – Woara
• 4×4 – Anadwo Ye De
• EL – Hallelujah
• Sarkodie – Illuminati
• R2bees ft. Wizkid – Slow Down

GHANAIAN MOVIE MAKERS SEIZE OVER 3,000 PIRATED MOVIES

Last year, the Film Distributors Association of Ghana, in collaboration with Film Regulatory Board of Ghana, issued a directive to start clamping down on operators of video rental shops and people who pirate Ghanaian movies.

According to them the association’s ongoing antipiracy war is to reduce the rate at which some unscrupulous persons are taking the law into their hands to pirate movies.
After their successful campaign last year, they jailed one victim named wisdom Banini.

This year, though the various associations have been silent on the Anti-Piracy campaign, the President of film distributors and marketers Association Mustapha Adams has revealed that in Ghana that, they have been silent in the media but were still working hard to reduce the rate of piracy in the system.

According to him, they now have a map of the major cities and places where the pirated movies activities took place and would be storming those areas at the right times.

He revealed that they have formed some surreptitious anti-piracy amalgamation which helps them to detect where most of the films produced are pirated before they (the movies) enter the market.
He added that, last week (Friday) they stormed Kasoa, where all the pirates absconded but they managed to ‘intercept’ about 3000 pirated movies.

“We have been monitoring Kasoa for long, one of the major cities where most of the pirated movies come from and this weekend we stormed the place together with the assistance of Kasoa Police but unfortunately the owners of the movies run away, while we managed to seize about 3000 pirated movies,” he said.

He lamented that one of the guys they trapped, attacked one of their task force officials and ran away. “Though we didn’t get hold of any of the guys, we are still going to search for them and prosecute them in court,” he assured.

Mr. Mustapha Adams advised all pirates to eschew pirating intellectual properties in any form or kind. “In Ghana, piracy is a crime! All we want to tell the pirates is that they are killing our business and we don’t want that to happen because the movie industry is creating employment for lots of people and if the industry doesn’t take care those pirating our movies, it will take us out of business” Mr. Mustapha Adams concluded.

‘AKAYIDA’ SONG NOT TERRORISM – GURU

Ghanaian rapper Guru has for the first time opened up about his famous ‘Akayida’ track stating that his song does not incite violence or terrorism in any way as critics have sought to portray it.

Speaking on Peace FM’s Entertainment Review the ‘Boys Abr3’ crooner said the lyrics for the song were inspired by the hardship most Ghanaians go through.

“My song talks about the hard work and tiredness that the youth go through every day,” Guru stated. According to the ‘Lapaz Toyota’ hit maker, “The song does not talk about terrorism in any way so I get marveled when people equate the dance and song to terrorism. It is just a song with a dance so to me I don’t see anything negative about it. Even the pronunciation is different. Mine is Akayida and not Al Qaeda,” said Guru.

Guru said as a musician one of the roles he can play in society is to put the things going on around him into his music.

“As a musician, I make songs based on people and what they have gone through and what is going around us. Initially because there was no video to my song people started getting the whole idea twisted even in terms of the spelling and all that but now the official video is out so the whole judgment of the song and the dance, it is well explained in the video.”

Indeed there is a unique ‘Akayida’ dance that goes with the song. Though the dance originated from the streets early this year, Ghanaian musicians like Guru and Shatta Wale gave it more exposure. Unlike ‘Azonto’, ‘Akayida’ has rather very relaxed moves which Guru says depicts a person who is tired.

“WE ARE ENJOYING OUR SINGLENESS” – GENEVIEVE NNAJI, RITA DOMINIC

The actresses and Imo state sisters, Rita Dominic and Genevieve Nnaji are still single, and the very interesting part of it is that they are cool with it.

Aside gracing parties, events and enjoying themselves to the full, the actresses have been discussing the topic of being single and dating through their Instagram and Twitter handles for the past two days.

Pretty Rita Dominic first made the revelation a few days ago by posting the first card above which reads “Dating in the 21st century is by far the most ridiculous process ever. People are so complicated, you have to play games, you must lie and act like you don’t care even if you do…”

Sexy Genevieve Nnaji, who couldn’t refute the topic, re-posted the card above few hours ago, adding that “”I’ve been single for a while now and I have to say it’s going very well. Like it’s working out, I think I am the one.”

PHOTOS: FEMALE FAN GOES CRAZY AT COKOBAR CONCERT, EXPOSES HER GOODIES ON STAGE

The Coko Bar Music Festival took place last Sunday 6th October 2013 at London’s o2 Indigo and one of the most memorable incident of the night was when a fan (pictured above) was picked from the crowd to come on stage to flex her dancing skills to Flavour’s music.

The lady got on stage and started out pretty okay, she bounced and shook her búm búm to a delighted crowd…the cheering must have gotten to her because she then went totally crazy, and gave concert goers a peek of her ‘selling point’ lol.

VAN VICKER TO UNITE KUMAWOOD & GHALLYWOOD ACTORS

Contrary to the notion that there is a yawning gulf between Ghanaian English language actors and their local language counterparts, Van Vicker, a stalwart in the English movie circles is in Kumasi shooting a new movie with actor Kojo Nkansah Lilwin.

Speaking to Flex newspaper, actor Van Vicker who is the CEO of Sky Orange Production disclosed that it wasn't the first time he had been involved with local language actors.

“Don't forget I shot my 4th film with Agya Koo who's also a Kumasi movie actor and that time, I made that decision because I wanted to tell that movie story in a best way and I had no other person in mind than Agya Koo. I finally picked Agya Koo for that role in my movie ‘Johnny Walker’ because I was trying to break the notion that the English speaking actors don't want to shoot in Kumasi nor with the local language speaking actors,” he said.

He explained that the movie he's shooting with Lilwin now in Kumasi, is not his but rather he was employed just as an actor to go and shoot with him and personally he sees nothing wrong with playing a lead role with Lilwin.

He said that he just directed a local production job in Ghana and then went to Tanzania for a shoot. After the Kumasi shoot with Lilwin, he will start directing his 8th movie titled 'The Fort' which will be the 6th movie he has produced and directed.

According to Van Vicker, his involvement with actors in Kumasi has nothing to do with the perception that local language movie industry is now more lucrative than the English and that he is just going there to rake in some revenue. He says his motive is to bring about unity between these two groups of actors.

SHATTA WALE TO ROCK KWABENA KWABENA’S ‘SAVE A LIFE’ CONCERT

Rumors has it that the reigning dancehall king Shatta Wale is the latest musician to be added on Kwabena Kwabena’s ‘Save A Life’ Concert scheduled to take place in October 19.

According to a reliable source, Shatta Wale whose song ‘Enter The Net’ and ‘Dancehall King’ has been accepted by Ghanaians has been rehearsing for the concert next work.

The Dancehall King hitmaker has promised a good show on the night and invites every Ghanaian to support Kwabena Kwabena for this laudable idea.

Other artistes billed to perform are Sarkodie, Efya, Samini, Becca, O.J, Stella Ducan, Funny Face, Okyeame Kwame, Afriyie, Joojo and others.

The show is aimed at raising funds for the National Cardiothoracic Centre to save life of patients who are financially weak to go under the heart surgery.

Kwabena Kwabena, who burst into the limelight with his ‘Asor’ album in 2005, said he was motivated to give back to society. “When I take stock, I realise that for the past eight years Ghanaians have been supportive as far as my career is concerned.

They have been to my concerts and everywhere I’ve been to people have purchased my CDs. “I felt it so heavy in my heart that there is something I have to give back to my country and society.

I am into music, which has a lot to do with the heart. I do love songs. You need a healthy heart to be able to soak these love songs and so I took it upon myself to ensure that every Ghanaian has a healthy heart.

“I’m so motivated because I have the opportunity to give something back to my society. It is all about saving a heart,” he said.

SARKODIE WAS NEVER SIGNED TO KONVICT MUSIC - AKON

Senegalese-born international music star Akon has disclosed that his record label, Konvict Music never signed Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie known in real life as Michael Owusu Addo.

News went viral in 2009 that Akon had signed the Ghanaian fastest rapper but four years after the said announcement, the Senegalese, born Aliaune Damala Akon Thiam, said there was no such deal.

The 'Lonely' hit singer, who is currently in Ghana, speaking in an exclusive interview with Airtel Entertainment News on Joy FM Tuesday, said there were attempts to sign Sarkodie but it never materialized.

"That was one of our main goals. Sarkodie was supposed to be the artiste that we actually brought out of Ghana and we take him to the next level but unfortunately we couldn't get the deal together so the deal never closed," he said.

Akon added that the deal with the 'You Go Kill Me' hit singer "Never closed, it never started... we were walking on it I was trying my best to make it happen but unfortunately" it never materialized.

The Konvict Music boss, who said he was in Ghana to shoot a music video with Nigerian acts Wizkid and Banky W in Accra and also take care of some business, said he hopes to sign a Ghanaian artiste soon.

According to him, "My eyes are wide-open because you know we have Konvict Music Africa right now so we've been open to all major artistes that's here. We started in Nigeria now we are branching to Ghana.

"...I want to make sure that everything is signed, we got the right stuff, we will be launching soon."

Akon confirmed reports that he is set to stage a mega concert in Accra but stated that he will confirm the date and venue as soon as the deal is sealed.