'I AM TWENTY'

He is the young charming singer that rocks our screens and airwaves often. Born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun whom we have come to know as Wizkid. The Twenty year old singer took us through his world where he spoke about how he stumbled into music, his oppositions and how he has been able to keep his relationship with the female gender.

Can you let us briefly into your background?

"My name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun. I am a student of Leadcity Univercity, 200 level where I currently study International Relations. I got into music when I was eleven in my church. For me, it was fun but I was doing it better until I met and featured in OJB, the popular song producers single then. We started working together then I realized music is a profession I would like to go into fully. Then on and on it went till this moment."

Did your parents agree to your music career at first, especially when you are growing up?

"My parents agreed. They were proud of me until they discovered that I was taking it to another level. It was at that point my father started going against it. He asked me if I wanted to take it as a profession, to which I said yes, that I wanted to do music. He went against it but at the end of the day he consented. My mother did not go against it at any point."

Do you intend do a Nine to Five job when your through with school?

"Time will tell but am' not sure."

And at what point of your career did you come across Banky W?

"That was about two years ago. There was a party somewhere and he was there too. He saw me performing and he liked my performance. He approched me and after some time I got signed on to Empire Mates Entertainment (EME)."

How did you come about your name Wizkid?

"I came about it through a funny situation and since then it became a teaser. It stuck and I adopted it."

You just released a new video directed by Kemi Adetiba's Dragonfly. Its a good video but it seems you took it to another direction considering your frist video 'Holla at your boy'?


"Yes, it's a different part of me. That's true, but what we intended to achive was to say Wizkid is no more that young boy we all you use to know. The video is like positioning Wizkid as a grown up chap that does what adults do now. The video is not suggestive,this is why it turned out to be a dream at the end of the video. But its just about positioning me as a grown up."

But you are not Twenty one yet?

"Yes I am not. I am Twenty."

It means when you are twenty One, that is what we should look out for?

"Not really. I am matured and I know what to do at that point of ny life. The video is a dream like I said and as it is, am' currently working on another video that will balance up both the first and second videos."

How do you cope with female advances because you are a good looking boy and am' sure you will have a lot of girls around you?

"Yes I have a lot of girls, but as friends. I just keep them as friends and I move on from there. What you see in the video is just the opposite of me. I love them all as friends."

You mean you have nothing to do with the girl in your first video 'Holla at your boy',because I understand there is a kind of pairing for the video?

"She is my girlfriend and a friend for the video. That is all, nothing less and nothing more."

How do you write your songs?

"I write when it comes. I write my songs based on what is happeniing to me. My songs are compendium of what has happened and what is happening to me. Its all about true life stories, this is what my forth coming album is all about."

What is the title of your yet to be released debut album, and how many songs should we expect?

"Well am just putting finishing touches to it. I don't have a title and the number of tracks to expect, it's still under wraps now cause am still working on it."

What comes to your mind when you hear your songs?

"I see myself because like I said its a true reflection of what has been happening to me."

Who is your biggest fan?

"I love 2face Idibia, I am a fan of his music and am also working with him on my coming album. Then of cource. Dbanj and Banky W."

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

"I see myself doing music and travelling all over the world doing music."

Our World of Pearls....

Oh what an ornament! Is probably the first words that will jump out of one's lips at the sight of rope of beautifully collected pearl.
Like it is always said; 'the description of pearl is a hopeless task,in its simple aesthetic perfection,mystery,sensuous and seductive charm,it is simply indescribable !. History has shown in its records that no stone,jewel or metal has so entranced people more than the soft,seductive pearl especially with the knowing that it comes to us naturally without having to do anything to them,they are simply and purely what nature gives to us with no need for cutting or polishing like other gems and precious stones,they are just for the eyes to behold and the soul to appreciate and covet.

Persian mythology described pearls as the tears of gods,the Chinese believed only the moonlight made pearls grow,to the Greeks pearls are dew collected by oysters openly flaunting their inside as they float on the sea at night,and the romans attributed pearls to Venus with a flavored myth that included impregnation from a kind of celestial sperm bank of heavenly dew! The importance and luxury attached to the pearl is enormous and unmatched,less wonder they were the first gem known to prehistoric man.

Pearl has been adorned since the history of man. It has hung from the necks of aging rulers and ruthless tyrants,nestled in the cleavages of queens and fashion goddess and found prominent places in rings,buckles,necklaces and even crowns and treasure chest of millions of people since antiquity. Queen Elizabeth 1(1533-1603) is perhaps the most passionate royalty and celebrity about pearls in history. She almost aways wore seven ropes of them,some reaching her knee. She was also a proud possessor of 3,000 pearl embroided dresses
Its value is always determined by the combination of luster,color,size,lack of surface flaw and symmetry. The larger the pearl the costlier or more valuable it is but the perfectly round ones are scarce and most valued. They come basically in eight shapes;baroque,oval,round,button,semi round ,circle ,dropped and pear. And as we'll in different colour grades;pink,blue,green,champagne,black and even purple.
By Subomi Kukoyi.

PIX OF THE WEEK

Mercy Johnson during a movie shot recently

M.I BUYS NEW CAR

Few weeks ago the Oleku crooner, Iceprine bought a brand new car, his wall on twitter was filled with congratulatry messages. He wrote @iceprincezamani 'I just bought a car". And now after battling with an unauthorised leak of the video to his hit single 'Oleku'. The management says the official video is duo for release this week.

And now, label mate and popular lyricist M.I last week bought a new car and he was quick to tweet the picture with some few lines. First it was @M.I I just bought a car. Followed by the picture. While a chunk of Twitter followers congratulated the rapper, a few poked fun at him. One wrote:@MI_Abaga u have to return this car..I’m soRry …2011 Range or nutin RT @sydoxpins: Dis benz na old skul na, where @MI_Abaga de wen dem @DONJAZZYMOHITS de buy madt cars. Mo hits, u’re mouthed!!!

J.Sleek In Auto Crash

Scanty details has it that one of Nigeria’s gifted producers J Sleek was involved in an auto crash in the cause of the week, leaving him with a broken arm.
‘Just confirmed the incident now from a friend who picked his call. It’s an auto related accident. He had a broken arm‘, a close friend of the producer tells us.
Currently one of Nigerians finest music producer he is best known for songs he has produced for 2face Idibia (‘Enter the place‘, ‘Implication‘) , Sound Sultan and Cartiair.

"I WAS BABY SITTING IN AMERICA"

Ras Kimono is one African Raggae that we have come to adore over the years. And after a succesful career and a blissful relationship with Sony records, the hit maker left the shores of the country in search of a greener pastures in the United States of America when it was evident that Nigerian music was on the edge of collaps. The singer after many years of nursing and baby sitting his kids in the foregin land, Ras Kimono came back into the country in March 2009. Since then he has been working in the studio and now he is back to make a statement and to tell anybody who cares that he is fully back and back for good.

Currently the singer released two new singles titled "Veteran and Wicked Politicians". Now he hoping to hit the top chats with them. He was recently catch up with and he sheared what he has been up to in the United States all through the years. When ask what actually he was doing over the years in America. He said "I was just home nursing my kids in America. I was babysitting. If show comes once in a while I do a show. That is what I did, rejuvenating, relaxing, when song come I put it down. I have a midget, Charles you made me to buy a midget back in the days. I was looking after my kids, growing with them, taking them to playground, school back and forth. When show comes once in a while I go do my show if not I stay house and keep praying for better days. I think I am the only Nigerian artiste, Majek and I, that never really worked in America, we focused on our music So to me, there is no regret".

OMAWUNMI PREGNANT FOR LAGOS NIGHT CLUB OWNER

2009 Hip Hop World Awards next rated winner Omawumi is not in a happy mood right now. Reports making the rounds about the diva have it that Omawumi, a law graduate of Ambrose Alli University is a few months pregnant for a popular Lagos night club owner. And she is not ready to clear the air about the pregnancy.

Sources have it that the singer of late, has been sighted throwing off at two different events which has raised suspicion about her pregnancy. Confirmed sources also say her bubbling and lively acts have drastically reduced and has chosen to remain indoor of late.

Two years ago after the release of her self titled album, the singer broke up with her one year old producer cum boy friend Dr Frabz which pundit says she might probably have left for the Lagos Night club boss. "She is old enough to decide what is best for her and she decides whom she goes with, nobody can decide for her" spilled a close source to the first runner up of the 2007 Nigerian Idol winner.

Report also has it that the singer has been taken round, by the mysterious Lagos club boss, to his family members for introduction and preparations. Stories have it that preparations are in top gear by the two love birds to walk down the alter anytime soon.

When Rockshock Magazine confronted the singer on Wednesday (January 19th) to confirm the story, she had this to say via a text message 'Thanks for the message, unfortunately I do not discuss my private life. I am focused on the work ahead including the release of my new single 'If you ask me'....regards Omawumi'.