D-Black Guns For 5 Wins At Ghana Music Awards

D-Black da Ghana Bwouy a.k.a Yes Boss!, who is arguably Ghana’s biggest hip-hop artist continentally hit his 20th Award nomination ever since he hit the music scene 2 years ago after receiving 5 nominations at the upcoming Ghana Music Awards Festival. A great feat indeed for an Anglophone hip-hop artist who burst onto the scene in late 2008 with his group effort with Kwaku-T which saw them release their ‘TARGET PRACTICE’ Album with songs like ‘Move’ and ‘Breathe’. Following the success of that Album, D-Black & Kwaku-t decided to try their hands at solo albums which resulted in D-Black setting up a proper business structure for his own label “Black Avenue Muzik”, securing a distribution deal with Sony Music via Rockstar 4000, recording over 35 songs with an incredible line up of producers and features from 2 Face Idibia, Wyclef Jean, Samini, Sarkodie to Kwabena Kwabena and more, picking his 20 best songs out of the lot and releasing his highly acclaimed debut solo album “Music, Love & Life” on the 25th of September 2010. This album launch was dubbed the biggest one Ghana had ever experienced that year. The “Music, Love and Life” Album by D-Black, 5 months after its release just received 5 nominations at the upcoming 2011 Ghana Music Awards for “Album of the Year”, “Hip-hop / Hiplife Artist of the Year”, Collaboration of the Year, Hip-hop Song of the year and Song writer of the year for his songs “Somebody” featuring Kwabena Kwabena and Get on da Dance floor featuring Dr. Cryme. D-Black whose story is a grass to grace one, from financial difficulties his family faced growing up with a single mother following the 1996 split of his parents, being expelled from secondary school, kicked of a label and surviving on his own in a bid to follow his musical dreams today now carries the torch for Ghanaian hip-hop all over the world. He’s performed at the 2010 Bet Hip-Hop Awards Cypher, The 2010 Channel O Awards, shared stages with Jay Z, Memphis Bleek, Busta Rhymes, Lloyd, Fat Joe, Omarion, Stevie Wonder, Ja Rule, Rick Ross and collaborated with many African musicians including Nigeria’s 2 Face, P Square, Ice Prince of Oleku fame, Kel, Sauce Kid and Banky W, Zimbabwe’s Buffalo Souljah, Rachel K from Uganda, Segal from Gabon, STL and Wyre from Kenya, HHP, Kwela Thebza, Tear Gas and Loyiso from South Africa As well as with Wyclef Jean, Jim Jones and Memphis Bleek from the U.S.A. He was also voted by MNET as Africa’s 2nd Best Anglophone Rapper for the year 2010. D-Black tagged as Ghana’s hardest working musician by the media and many industry stakeholders has been nominated a total of 20 times since he began his musical journey at various music award ceremonies from the 2010 Ghana Music Awards, 2010 Sound city Music Awards in Nigeria, 2009 Channel O Awards,2010 Channel O Awards in South Africa, 2010 4Syte Music Video Awards, African Music Awards in the U.K, Museke African Music Awards and most recently the 2011 Ghana Music Awards. May God continue to guide and bless him to lift higher the name of Ghana. The Music Video for the third single off D-Black’s Album following the first and second singles Somebody featuring Kwabena Kwabena and Get on Da Dancefloor ft. Dr. Cryme respectively is set to be released on the11h of April 2011 and is titled Asabone (Dirty Dancin’) featuring the godfather of Hiplife Reggie Rockstone. D-Black , whose Breathe Directed by GYO of Phamous Philms Video won video of the year last year at the Ghana Music Awards , has his eyes set on winning Big at the 2011 Ghana Music Awards on 9th April and urges all loyal D-Black and GH Rap Fans to vote for him in all categories by texting “D1” “M1” & “F1” TO 1767.

Source: Ghana Music.com

On May 24, Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group will release Self Made Volume 1, the label's first compilation. Now distributed by Warner Music, Maybach Music has expanded its roster this year to include Philadelphia, Pennsylvania emcee Meek Mill, Atlanta Georgia's Pill and Washington DC rapper Wale. While Maybach also includes Triple C's and R&B singer Teedra Moses, the aforementioned trio is who is believed to be joining Ross on the album art, pictured to the right.
Ross' first group, Triple C's (f/k/a Carol City Cartel) released the label's first non-Rick Ross project in 2009's Custom Cars & Cycles through Def Jam Records. There is no word at present if the group of Torch, Gunplay and Young Breed is featured on Self Made.
Source: Hiphopdx.com

IRS Files $5.6 million Tax Lien Against Lil Wayne

As Lil Wayne's Young Money empire grows, the IRS issues a $5.6 million lean on his old money from 2008.

On March 2, the Miami-Dade County Clerk filed a $5.6 million tax lien against rapper Lil Wayne.

According to documents obtained by the Detroit News, Wayne owes the back taxes from the years of 2008 and 2009. The second set of tax penalties, in the amount of $2,258,956, was assessed 20 days after the rapper was released from a nine-month stint in prison on weapon possession charges, while the first set was assessed a month earlier while Wayne was still incarcerated.

According to the lien, Wayne can refile the taxes anytime before November 24, 2020.

The lien was addressed to Wayne’s Miami Beach-area mansion, which he recently listed for sale for $12.9 million. Lil Wayne is currently on his “I Am Still Music” tour, which is grossing an average attendance of 10,000 people per venue. Tickets range in price from $60 to $110.

At the time the lien was filed, Lil Wayne’s publicist was not available for comment.

Source:Hiphopdx.com

Ex-President Kufuor laughs along with the Comedy Show at Citizen Kofi

The Comedy Show at Citizen Kofi continues to excite patrons and joining the ever-growing list of satisfied guests is former president, John Agyekum Kufuor.

Since its maiden edition on November 4, 2010, the Comedy Show at Citizen Kofi has served as the launch platform for a number of Ghanaian comedy artistes.

Prior to the launch of the bi-weekly event last year, event partners Citizen Kofi and SQUAD were clear about their objective for creating the show: to discover and nurture local talent in the area of stand-up comedy.

The Comedy Show at Citizen Kofi has become the ultimate after-work destination for office-weary business professionals, musicians, movie stars and politicians (yes, they have a sense of humuor too).

As a measure of the status the comedy show has attained, in recent times there have been surprise visits; notably the former President of Ghana, Mr. John Agyekum Kufour. On the first day Mr. Kufour attended the Comedy Show at Citizen Kofi, patrons were excited by his presence and willingness to mix freely with the crowd.

The MC almost succeeded in getting a few words of humour out of the Gentle Giant. Mr John Kufuor was evidently pleased in the talent in display from Poets to Musicians to comedians, as one after the other the likes of Abdul and DKB took turns to wow the audience.

The show has also unearthed great poets in the forms of Abdul, Mutombo, Nana Asaase and many more. The music talents of Bra Kevin and Kyekyeku have been showcased to the comedy show audience. So though patrons walk in expecting a comedy show, they receive a package of poetry and music in addition.

Through the show, names such as DKB the Messenger, Obrempong Percy, Foster, James Brown, Phyllis, Khemical, The Gentlemen, etc. are fast becoming household names on the local scene. In fact, the latter name – The Gentlemen – is the first stand-up comedy duo act in Ghana. The manner in which humour flows from one partner to the other has always been a thing of awe to patrons. What is even more remarkable is that the show has also unearthed Poetic talents in the forms of Abdul, Nana Asaase, Rhyme Sonny and Mutombo.

Each show so far, has been watched by a cosmopolitan audience of Ghanaians, Europeans, American and Asians. The performers each night have succeeded in cutting across cultural barriers to inject laughter into their international audience.

From evidence so far, the Comedy Show at Citizen Kofi promises to complete its mission of unearthing indigenous Ghanaian talent in comedy. Patronage has been very strong, with people always asking for dates of the next show. The plush Hollywood Lounge at Citizen Kofi, which hosts the event, has a relaxing ambience to help you unwind after a hard day’s work.

According to the producers of the show, they are committed to ensuring that the show never loses its purpose of unearthing new talents for Mother Ghana. It is therefore little wonder that the comedy show will soon make its TV debut for Ghanaians and the world at large to experience the laughter revolution which began at Citizen Kofi some 6 months ago.




SOURCE: The Buzz

I was hopeful – Ama K Abebrese, 2011 AMAA Best Actress

2011 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Best Actress in a Leading Role, Ama K Abebrese says she was hopeful that she would win the award which was recently held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Although Ama couldn’t attend the ceremony because she is currently filming in Ho, Volta Region, she monitored events in Bayelsa and when she received a call from the Ghanaian delegation confirming that she had won the nod, she was overwhelmed with joy.

According to Ama, she was honoured to be nominated along with some of the best actresses in Africa; and even more excited that her first lead role earned her one of the most coveted prizes in African cinema. She also commented that the win only signifies more hard work and that she wouldn’t let her new status as the ‘best actress in Africa’ get into her head.

Ama finally had the opportunity to hold and kiss her trophy when it was presented to her at a press conference in Ho, for the new movie, ‘Ties that Bind’, which she is again shooting with filmmaker, Leila Djansi. Ama was adjudged the ‘Best Actress’ for her role as an abused wife in Leila Djansi’s psychological drama, ‘Sinking Sands’. She picked up the award ahead of Nollywood’s Genevieve Nnaji (Tango with Me), Omoni Oboli (Anchor Baby), Idiat Shobande (Aramotu), DR Congo’s Manie Malone (Viva Riva) and South Africa’s Denise Newman (Shirley Adams)

Source: ghanaweb

Groovy baby! Beyonce embraces Seventies look for photoshoot as she prepares to make musical comeback

Little details have been given away about Beyonce's hotly-anticipated new album after three years since her last release.

But perhaps fans of the singer can be expecting a Seventies-influence after the superstar was spotted embracing the decade's fashion at photoshoot over the weekend.
Wearing a shaggy Afghan fur red jacket, blue flared jumpsuit and platform shoes, the 29-year-old posed on a wrought iron balcony of faded hotel in New Jersey.

Although she went for a Seventies-influenced make-up of dark lipstick and blue eye shadow, it's safe to say it wasn't her best look.

Fans will be pleased to see she has returned to her honey-coloured blonde after a brief flirtation with a brighter platinum colour earlier this year.

Beyonce is gearing up to release her fourth solo album in June after playing a selection of tracks to record executives last week.

Sony Music Australia executive Denis Handlin enthused: 'It was just amazing. She came in and played us six tracks from the album.

'She wants to do a big tour off the back of this record... These songs, the best description I can give is groundbreaking; she’s gone to another level.'

The timing of her album release comes the same month she will headline the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset.

It's been three years since her latest release I Am... Sasha Fierce, which received mixed reviews from critics, but went on to sell over 15million copies worldwide.

The album included hit singles If I Were A Boy and Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).
Since wrapping up her I Am... World Tour in February 2010, Beyonce has been taking a much-needed break.

Also this year, Beyonce is expected to film her role as Esther Hoffman in a remake of A Star Is Born, with Clint Eastwood directing.

Beyonce's new career developments come after she confirmed last week her father Mathew Knowles would no longer be managing her.


Mathew mastermind her career since her Destiny's Child days and was the driving force between her global domination.

She said in a statement last week: 'I am grateful for everything he has taught me.
'I grew up watching both he and my mother manage and own their own businesses. They were hard-working entrepreneurs and I will continue to follow in their footsteps.'

Hollywood, Nollywood and Ghallywood In Leila Djansi's New Movie

Stars from three great movie industries in the world, are currently in Ghana working on a new movie produced and directed by creative Ghanaian film maker Leila Djansi.

Hollywood actress, Kimberly Elise, Nollywood screen goddess Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Ghallywood actress, Ama K. Abebrese are currently shooting a new movie titled: ‘Ties That Bind’ at Ho the Volta Regional capital of Ghana with Ghanaian actor John Dumelo, Nigerian/American actress Ebbe Bassey among others.  

Hollywood actress, Kimberly Elise, born April 17, 1967 is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her role in the films “Set It Off”, “John Q”, and “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”. Elise is a four-time NAACP Image Award winner. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is a Nollywood actress. She is married to Capt. Matthew Ekeinde and has 4 children. Apart from being one of the most successful Nollywood actresses with over 300 home videos to her credit, she is also a singer and is involved in extensive charity work in her home country of Nigeria. Ghallywood star, Ama K. Abebrese is a British television presenter, producer and actress of Ghanaian origin. She gradually is gaining grounds in the movie industry in Ghana. She is reigning best in Africa. She won the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Leading Role in Nigeria last week with her first movie “Sinking Sands”.

Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

American Idol's Naima Adedapo: Being with My Family Again Is 'Beautiful'

After a mostly impressive evening of Elton John covers, 55 million votes were cast this week on American Idol. But inevitably, after Casey Abrams received the only save of the season last week, two singers were sent packing. Naima Adedapo, who converted "I'm Still Standing" into a reggae tune and got lukewarm reviews, and Thia Megia were called out by Ryan Seacrest as the contestants with the lowest number of votes. Adedapo spoke to PEOPLE about reuniting with her family, her best friend on the show, Jacob Lusk, and what she'll miss most – shopping! Steven Tyler had quite a soft spot for you. How did it feel to have him in your corner? That was really amazing and touching for me. I just respect how much he is who he is. He doesn't care and that's what I love about him. He's real. It's touching to have someone of that magnitude really believe in you and really route for you. Have you been reunited with your family yet? I have. I actually reunited with them after the show last night, which was beautiful. I just hugged my children and laughed with them and kissed them. It felt so good. I missed them a lot. It was really good to see my motivation. They are that for me.

Read Full Story .... People.com >>> :

Source: People.com

Cheryl Cole lands X-Factor job?

Cheryl Cole is reportedly 'double chuffed' after landing a job on the US X-Factor.
According to The People newspaper, the show’s boss Simon Cowell has finally won his battle to have her as a judge on the show, despite her lack of fame in the US.

TV execs were said to have been worried that no one would know who she is, but according to the newspaper, those worries were silenced when fans started flocking to the auditions.

A source said: “Doubts over Cheryl’s profile seem to have been dismissed by the reaction to her from people turning up. Fox TV bigwigs dropped many of their objections to her having a judging slot. If she can win over fans so early in her American adventure, she can become a household name when the series starts.”

It is thought she will be offered a £1.1 million contract later this month, and a source close to Cowell said: “Even though she is still relatively unknown, Simon told Fox TV executives that Cheryl will prove an instant success with viewers when the series begins.

He believes Cheryl has that rare ability to connect with viewers that few others have.”

Source: M&C

New stars rise at US country music awards

American country music crowned a pair of new queens late Sunday, barraging Miranda Lambert with four major honors for her hit "The House That Built Me" while the public voted superstar Taylor Swift as the Entertainer of the Year.

Swift's triumph at the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards was somewhat expected given her enormous popularity and lengthy list of prior honors, but it nonetheless left the 21-year-old in evident shock.
"This is the first time I've ever won this, and I'm just losing my mind," said an emotional Swift at the climax of the three-hour ceremony at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"The fact that this is from the fans makes it so beautiful. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. Ever. Thank you so much."

While Swift grabbed the evening's top prize, 27-year-old Lambert pulled in her second straight Female Vocalist of the Year honor as well as collecting the song, video and single of the year trophies for "The House That Built Me."

The melancholic tune about a nostalgic visit to one's childhood home was penned by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas.

Lambert had been up for Entertainer of the Year, too, along with Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban.

Paisley won his fifth consecutive Top Male Vocalist Award.
The show was co-hosted by Reba McEntire and Lambert's fiance, Blake Shelton.
In the other fan-voted honor, the sibling trio The Band Perry grabbed the New Artist Award.

The new group, emerging last year out of the US state of Mississippi, also won Top New Vocal Duo or Group as well as single of the year for "If I Die Young."

"Thank you so much for lending us your ears and your hard-earned dollars," said singer Kimberly Perry as she accepted the first honor alongside her brothers, Neil and Reid.

"We believe that country music is the people's music and it's our greatest desire to be their band."
Lady Antebellum, the Nashville band whose megahit "Need You Now" was last year's song and single of the year, won the Top Vocal Group honor for the second consecutive year as well as Album of the Year for their "Need You Now" record.
Source: AFP