SARKODIE TO STOP “BRAGGING” IN 2014

Concerns about Ghana’s fastest rapper and award winning hip hop artiste, Sarkodie, being a braggart when it comes to his lyrics in recent times has been heeded to by the artiste who expresses guilt in response.

The rap smitten Sarkodie, accepted he was overly indicative of his successes through his lyrics with mentions of riches, cars, travels and women which he accused the nature of the work he does.

The BET Best International Act for Africa revealed on the KSM's TGIF Show that his work hovers around subjects which make up the lyrical content of songs he produces.

He said the period his fans complained about him bragging was when he actually took up the topic of riches while putting himself in the story.

“This is done everywhere and doesn’t mean I am better than others”, he told KSM assuring his fans to expect a different topic in his lyrics this year which would be mainly about his life as Sarkodie.

When asked about his desire for international fame, he said he has been studying the international hip hop terrain and hopes to fuse their beats to the domestic one so as to appeal to the market out there.

He added that he could attend international music events and take pictures with top stars but instead wants to concentrate on making his music better so that he would be looked out for wherever he is to be part of their events.

MUSIC PRODUCER ARRESTED FOR PIRACY

The Police on Tuesday afternoon arrested a seasoned music producer and former General Secretary of the Ghana Association of Phonograph Industry (GAPI), Francis Mensah Twum, suspected to be a member of a syndicate that sells musical works of Ghanaian musicians on the internet without approval from the right owners.

Francis Mensah Twum, who is also the project coordinator of GAPI, an association made up of music producers, was arrested by the police at the office of the association located at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.

The arrest was made following complaints from a number of Ghanaian musicians and some stakeholders to the Music Council of Ghana that their musical works were being pirated and sold on the internet without their approval.

According to the President of the council, Ekow Micah, who is also a victim, after the council’s own investigation, he led a team of police personnel to arrest Twum.

He told BEATWAVES Mensah Twum had collaborated with a website to upload over 5,000 Ghanaians songs online for sale and is generating $10,000 every month.

According to Ekow Micah, thousands of musical works belonging to Ghanaian musicians are being sold online without the approval of the right owners, hence, the arrest of Mensah Twum.

EFYA & FUSE ODG SHORTLISTED FOR WORLD MUSIC AWARDS

The nomination process for the 2014 World Music Awards have started with several artists across the globe shortlisted for nominations in various categories.

Ghana is represented well by Efya in the World’s Best Female Artist (Africa) category and Fuse ODG in the World’s Best Male Artist (Africa) category.

They both face stiff competition from the likes of Dbanj, 2face, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Lira, Iyanya and Banky W.

The World Music Awards honours the best-selling recording artists from every continent. The World Music Awards are presented on sales merit and voted by the public on the Internet.

There is no jury involved and the Awards truly reflect the most popular artists as they are determined by the actual fans that vote and buy the records.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) provides the organization with the names of the best-selling artists from all major territories.

The world’s best-selling recording-artists in each category are determined by a thorough enquiry conducted by the organization, which includes sales figures and record certifications in 2013.

Awards for World’s Best Male Artist, Best Female, Best Group, Best Electronic Dance Music Artist, Best Entertainer of the Year, Best Live Act, Best Song, Best Album and Best Video are voted online by the general public.

I WILL BE VERY DISAPPOINTED IF I DON'T WIN AN AWARD - BISA KDEI

One of Ghana’s biggest music discoveries of 2013, Bisa Kdei has indicated he would be much disappointed should he not pick up any award at the 14th edition of the Ghana Music Awards which comes up soon.

The Give it to Baba hit maker who enjoyed massive rotation with his songs on several platforms across the country in an interview with Luv FM’s Reuben Afriyie disclosed he picked up nomination forms in anticipation of being nominated and winning at least five awards at the event.

Bisa Kdei who sounded very optimistic disclosed he believed none deserved highlife song of the year, popular song of the year, artist of the year and album of the year album awards than himself and would be surprised not win any award on the night.

Although he sounded very optimistic at one point during the interview, Bisa Kdei was quick to state that he would not really fret over not winning an award should it happen as the awards was tagged “Vodafone Ghana Music Awards” and not “Ghana Music Awards”.

He explained the association of a brand could determine who wins the award and would wish it would be solely Ghana Music Awards to fully represent the choice of the Ghanaian music lovers.

Could Bisa Kdei know something we are not aware of?

I WILL BEAT MY ARTISTE IF HE/SHE LOOKS DOWN ON ME - BULLDOG

Artiste manager and CEO of Bull Haus Entertainment, Lawrence Nana Asiama Hanson (Bulldog) has warned that he wouldn't hesitate to beat up any artiste he manages should the artiste look down on him.

According to Bulldog, as an artiste manager, he will accord him or her the needed respect in all matters and expects same from the artiste.


Speaking on Rhythmz A-Z on Joy FM Saturday, hosted by Nii Ayi Tagoe, the Bull House CEO stressed that he will physically attack the artiste should the artiste disrespect him.

"It is not a smooth journey and I've always been open with the artistes. I face my problems but I don't have any artiste looking down on me, when you do that [I will beat you] and I will walk away after punching you," he said.

When Okraku Mantey, who was also a guess on the show, interjected that "so those of us who don't have body" what should they do?, Bulldog quickly advised that, "Then, this is not your field... go to the hospital."

"You are not cut out for this [then] you should be doing gospel music," he added.
Bulldog noted that it takes a lot guts to manage an artiste and if one is not prepared mentally and physically, they shouldn't venture.

Over the years, the Bull House CEO has managed several musicians including VIP, 5Five, Iwan, and Shatta Wale (Bandana), with some of the management contracts ending controversially.

Other panelists - Francis Doku, Nana Turkson, Ken Addy - on the show shared a common view that people should not rush into artiste management without having the needed understanding of the job.
They also urged that there should be a proper agreement between the two parties - the artiste and the manager - before the relationship starts.

CHARTERHOUSE LAUNCHES GHANA ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS ON FEBRUARY 22

It is officially confirmed now that, Charterhouse, organizers of the prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards and event giant in Ghana, is hitting Ghana again with another uniquely prestigious awards Scheme dubbed: Ghana Entertainment Awards.

The long awaited official launch is scheduled to happen at the plush, Villa Monticello on Saturday Night, February 22, 2014 at 7pm prompt.

The scheme seeks to award all sectors of Ghana’s Arts and Entertainment Industry. This is perceived by professionals in the industry as a step in the right direction considering its diverse scope.

The Ghana Entertainment Awards is an award scheme designed to award people in all the different sectors of the creative arts industry and shall reward excellence in music, movies, radio, TV, fashion, Arts writing, events, sports and many more.

As the umbrella event for the entire entertainment industry in Ghana, It is highly anticipated that Ghanaian celebrities will show up in grand style to support and endorse the event.

The Ghana Entertainment Awards is a Charterhouse event organized in partnership with Ghana’s leading Entertainment Newspaper – Graphic Showbiz and Ghana’s Leading Entertainment specialist TV station, GH-One.

ASKING ME WHAT I’M WEARING ON RED CARPET ANNOYS ME – KWAISEY PEE

Television station, Viasat 1, on Sunday 17th Feb, 2014, took introspection into celebrities in Ghana and the whole red carpet orientation.

In the said bulletin, highlife musician Kwaisey Pee was asked if he’s ever been embarrassed on a red carpet before. “I respect the red carpet but asking me what I’m wearing annoys me. Why should you ask me what I’m wearing? What is the motive? I don’t like being asked that question at all,” Kwaisey Pee intimated.

Kwaisey Pee was not the only celebrity who was interviewed. John Dumelo gave his worst embarrassment as being a day his boxers overlapped onto his trousers whilst being interviewed. “I deliberately made some Alkayida move just to cover things up,” John said.

Usually, one hackneyed question hosts or presenters who host celebrities in Ghana on the red carpet ask is “who are you wearing?” As equivocal as the question is, some celebrities are able to understand and answer, whilst others end up being embarrassed – “what do you mean?” the perplexed ones ask.

Though the orientation of red carpet actually started from Africa, the west who adapted it has rules regarding what should be done or shouldn't be done on the red carpet. Unfortunately, all Ghanaian celebrities flout such rules.

Editor of GhanaCelebrities.Com, Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, once posted it on this site some time ago what most of our Ghanaian Celebrities get wrong on the Red carpet.

To me, the whole orientation of red carpet in Ghana is a waste of time, based on two reasons. First, it drags events unnecessarily, making organizers start events late and secondly, the red carpet adds no relevance to the events. If it must be continued, it must be done well.