A DEVOTED BEAUTY AND AN INSECURE GIANT: A LOOK AT THE BURNA BOY-STEFFLON DON RELATIONSHIP

We may wake up tomorrow or next to find a Burna boy and Stefflon Don joint instagram post denying the story that they have gone their separate ways and it won't suprise to see a lot of people rush into saying it was all a publicity stunt.But then before anyone does that,it is important they study the facts available to us.First,someone leaked that video of Burna and the monstrously hipped Gambian actress,Princess Shyngle.There was a reason and for the simple fact that Burna boy isn't already promising to get whoever did it or threatening to shoot up instablog9ja for publishing it,he is the prime suspect.

A Stefflon Don post on her insta story read "Old Old videos,Please let it rest.We good over here.Thanks.".But a careful look at the videos will show while Burna's look on the Face time call was his in the period he shot the YE video,the look at the arcade machines where he was just a couple of seats away from Princess Shyngle is his look as of today.

On the Face time call,Shyngle is heard asking of songs he made while they were together which implies they had split even before he hooked up with Steff and it could pretty much be argued that since he wasn't by Shyngle's side at the arcade spot,it could just be that they happened to be in the same place at the same time.But that also leads us back to the million dollar question-why was that video leaked?.

A careful look at the Burna-Steff relationship will reveal an unpleasant behavioural pattern on the part of the African Giant.An inferiority complex manifests in several ways.While some guys depict a low self-esteem in public others try to over-exert themselves as the dominant partner and yet others,bottle it all up to punish their bigger partners with it.Stefflon Don showed up to celebrate with Burna boy after his BET best international act accolade and the first words out of his mouth in public were 'Our wife,you can't be dressing like this oo'.A lot of ladies would end the relationship there and then for not telling them so in private.

When interviewed on beats1 radio by Oldman Ebro,Stefflon Don's first reaction to the Burna boy question was 'that is husby' and in sharp contrast,Burna boy told Charlamagne tha god on the break fast club show before the African Giant album dropped that 'he didn't want to talk about that' when asked about his relationship with Steff.Then also add the fact that Burna made a whole album without putting her on any of the tracks.Our African Giant may not be as emotionally and psychologically secure as we would like to think.

For Steff to overlook the stuff we have seen her do means she loves Burna boy a lot.The leaked video could very much be an over-pampered lover trying to make his girl jealous and then get back with her afterwards just as much as it could also be an egoistic and psychologically insecure lover being eager to tell the world 'i broke up with her and not the other way round' irrespective of the scum tag that comes with it.Time will unravel everything.

REVIEW: ILLBLISS STEPS UP HIS GAME ON ILLOSOPHY

Illbliss won't give us jaw-dropping punchlines or awe-inspiring metaphors.We already knew that much.Illygatti is reputed for just about anything other than his hard core lyrics and for Illosophy to work in a way the Illyzilla joint EP with producer,Teckzilla didn't,Illbliss would have to decentralize the focus on pure content rap.This EP is splendid because he does just that.

He infuses components from his comfort zone of indigenous rap to create very catchy choruses and solicits a more groovy set of beats to de-emphasize lyricism and an erratic delivery.He captures his modus succinctly on Osadebe when he says-"Do my shit differently shout out to Johnny Drille,the lyricism nice but the marketing is key".Oh yes it is.

The hippy ibo/english chorus on the banging Suspekt beat for Ruler2 (RIP B-Elect) kicks in the adrenaline as soon as it comes on and has you nodding till the end.All Illbliss had to do was string together any set of rhymes.

Illychapo does combine a host of factors to make pleasant music but it also has to be said for him that he stepped his lyrical game up a notch.He was miles better than he was on Illyzilla.Its at a level where no one can say Illbliss can't rap,they can only say he isn't an outstanding wordsmith.He thumps gloriously on the Suspekt produced Lie Down Dia in perhaps his best lyrical display on Illosophy-"Mentally i'm chess; you lose more or less,wisdom reveals the devil in a dress.Prayers ensure i never digress,you don't wanna see the claws on a tigeress".

The Illyzilla EP may not have been a classic rap offering but it had a really top notch production.Those Teckzilla beats were better suited for an out and out lyricist.Most heads sprang up Mode 9 as a first thought and its good they have both hooked up for a joint project.Illy appears to have understood better on Illosophy that there are good beats and then there are good beats meant for the artiste.Major Bangz's breath-taking instrumental for the opening Player To Coach allows Illbliss strut authoritatively through his statement of intent.Even the worst pessimist would have to accept he may be in for a helluva ride.

Bangz replicates his magic on the triumphant Die there (Hustle) where another fresh beat comes on at the 1:48 mark for Illygatti to lay the same 'still winning' chorus and pick up the rhyme spree.

Black Intelligence sets him up perfectly on the absorbing Thankful where Illy drops some really hot bars-"I let the words paint on the pad,thats the canvass,acrylic whatever lyric,such a relic".Uzezi's singing complements him to great effect on the uplifting chorus.Overall,Illbliss has in Illosophy a 7 track EP,you can hit play,sit back and enjoy.No skippables.

If he'll get flak for anything its his lack of versatility.I remember saying on my Illyzilla EP review that he was stuck on the very first stage of a hardcore lyricist's evolution-the freestyle stage.Illbliss still beasts through an entire body of work solely self-glorifying.He only does it much better on Illosophy.

Even when a song is titled Thankful,he praises self till the very end where he reels out names.Grown Man Raps too which on the face of it,would have one thinking along the lines of Jay-Z's 30 Something.His friend and fellow thoroughbred,the late B-Elect was much more in tune with the message.Illygatti aka Illychapo aka Illy... doesn't talk growth,he just gets to painting that monochromatic image he is used to.Gratefully,he doesn't bore us here.

I'm pleased to announce llbliss has a winning formula for pure hip hop as well.Thats the major takeaway from the Illosophy EP.

THE REVOLUTION MEANT TO HANG SOWORE VS THE REVOLUTION THAT ACTUALLY IS

rev·o·lu·tion

\ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən\

noun

: the usually violent attempt by many people to end the rule of one government and start a new one

: a sudden, extreme, or complete change in the way people live, work, etc.

: the action of moving around something in a path that is similar to a circle 

(Culled from Merriam Webster Dictionary)

Omoyele Sowore never threatened to overthrow President Buhari and he never called on anyone to join him in doing so.He only demanded that government end the killings across the nation and that every government implements the N30,000 minimum wage to alleviate the sufferings of his fellow countrymen.In view of how the average nigerian has been made to live,Sowore felt it was only right he was rest assured that his children are educated in our public schools for free.There have been blackouts across several parts of the country for the last weeks and as if to mock our impotence,Vice-President Yomi Osinbajo came out to say N900bn had been spent on electricity with another N600bn due to follow.Sowore didn't ask Buhari to probe himself,all he requested was that the power companies ease our problems by abolishing their estimated billing policy and ensure that their costumers get a right to audit their electricity bills.Just so we are clear,this is a list of his demands-

*All governments must pay the N30,000 minimum.

* Abolition of tuition fees in universities and secondary schools.

* Stop the killings in the country and sack all the incompetent service chiefs.

* Stop all estimated billing by the power companies, provide pre-paid meters for free, and communities must have the right to audit the electricity bills they get, and review the licenses of all discos.

* Free all political prisoners now, including El Zakzaky and his wife.

* Employment for the youths.

But government having failed the citizenry understood what a medium as elaborate as Sowore's #RevolutionNow portends.The aggrieved will get a chance to voice out their grievances even if it means sleeping on the streets.Government will either cave in to their demands and face serious backlash for having to be forced into it or watch its citizens embarrass it by crying out to the world non-stop.In typical lawless fashion at about 1:45am last Saturday,the department of state security in breach of his constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression,association,liberty and dignity arrested Sowore and bungled him to their offices.The next day they issued a statement after the police also had,relying on the definition of 'revolution' that best suited their diabolic agenda of silencing a dissenting voice to government-one that meant Sowore was planning to forcefully kick Buhari out of office.It would have been easier to just pick him up on grounds that he was conniving with foreign enemies of Nigeria abroad to destabilize the country but pressure would be mounted on them to name those accomplices and that lie could boomerang right in their faces so they crafted a narrative that dwelled essentially on Sowore waging war against the government of Nigeria.The man just had to be stopped.In its rapid entrenchment of a lawless order,the Buhari administration has grown increasingly intolerant of criticisms.An attempt to point out the truth to it is an affront on its authority.

Sowore's demands were made publicly and he never said anywhere he would ensure Buhari is kicked out of Aso Rock if they aren't met.His revolution is totally in sync with the second meaning in the aforementioned text i referred to-"a sudden,extreme and complete change in the way people live,work etc".Enough of the killings,enough of the unemployment,enough of the hunger.Government must live up to its responsibilities.#RevolutionNow.

That was what Sowore invited every aggrieved nigerian out there to come and demand from its government without any sort of threat as to what would happen if they didn't comply.The only set of people that have threatened to take action if their demands weren't complied with is the Arewa group that demanded that the RUGA initiative be implemented within 30 days.And before that the one that ordered the ibos to vacate the north or face drastic consequences.

It is not half as painful as it is about our authorities choosing to so shamelessly wallow in self-inflicted ignorance and profound nescience than it is about how they have chosen to so do.They don't take into cognizance everything he has claimed to stand for or has proferred as his reason for publicly calling on nigerians to protest,they just say 'revolution' commonly means forceful change in government and as such,Sowore was planning to commit treason.Why not just say the man is mobilizing the masses to complain about how they are being governed and that that doesn't sit well with government?.Perhaps Sowore should have taken into consideration more the primitive times we live in.

The outrcry over his arrest has been massive and it is likely he will be charged to court soon just to save face if he isn't released outright.How demanding better and leaving it at that amounts to a plot to overthrow government will be answered.Only the guilty are afraid.

The revolution Sowore meant and as has been evidenced by every step he has taken in the furtherance of his cause,we all know.

I remind Buhari and all his dogs that nigeria belongs to everybody,it belongs to nobody.The clamp down on free speech and freedom of expression will only create more voices of dissent.The irrepressible nigerian spirit guarantees that.If Buhari doesn't want to be criticized then he must govern us like he should.If he can't then its better he moves back to his farm and cater for his stagnant number of 150 cows.Nigeria must move forward.

I am revolutionary Umar Sa'ad Hassan and i stand with Omoyele Sowore.His only crime is wanting better for his country.#FreeSoworeNow

BURNA BOY'S AFRICAN GIANT IS A GREAT PIECE OF WORK

Burna boy's previous album titled Outside was released on the back of the blazing hot Heaven's Gate featuring Lilly Allen.He left out DeJa Vu and Gba,two fan favourites out just months earlier and dropped an entirely fresh body of work that will go down as one of the best in recent times.The African Giant tracklist showed songs released as far back as a year ago-Gbona and On the Low.Dangote and Killin dem are at best worthy of bonus track status.Add that to the fact that Burna boy hasn't quite impressed with his releases this year and it'll make sense to set expectation at a moderate level.

Its one thing to not disappoint and another to impress.Over new 13 tracks (if you take away the Blak Ryno skit),Burna boy reminds everyone why based on his antecedents over the years,he is rated outrightly by a sizeable number of fans as Nigeria's most talented artiste.He was so many sounds we allowed him pick a genre for himself; afro-fusion and on African Giant,he while deploying the rich and robust artistry he is noted for stretches his versatility to new lengths.Asides the traditional pop theme of the good life,on the Outside album we saw an artiste who to a great length focused on self-his city,growing up,triumphs and fears.African Giant is a more diverse work.Most noteworthy is the Don Guorgon's foray into the realm of socio-consciousness.Three whole songs are dedicated to expressing his grievances over the problems plaguing his nation.Another Story featuring Ghanaian rapper M.anifest opens with a quite insightful narrative on how Nigeria has been in the shackles of its colonial masters.Burna boy waltz mesmerizingly through the crisp and subtle Kel P instrumental bemoaning the nigerian situation.M.anifest complements him really well with his signature laid back delivery.

He decries looting on Collateral Damage with a chorus that reminds of the great Baba Fela.He has always had a stronger Baba '70 influence than Wizkid and D'banj and asides the Collateral Damage chorus no point highlights this better in the entire album than the way he renders 'Man go fight for money,Man go fight for woman,Man go fight for business,Man go fight for nonsense' on the sublime Wetin Man Go Do.Without taking anything away from Another Story and Collateral Damage, Different is his most special socio-conscious effort.He not only does a quite amazing job of voicing it all out in ragga,he gets a mind-blowing Damien 'Gongzilla' Marley verse and some great singing by the legendary Angelique Kidjo to make a true classic.

The buzzing Omo highlights his bad man credentials but no one will fail to notice the love songs are slower and more intense.We don't get a Stefflon Don feature but regardless,the love stories are told straight from the horse's mouth.On the last pre-album single,Pull Up,he states his case in a soothing and arresting manner while british star singer Jorja Smith's supporting vocals give Gum Body a quite heavenly feel.A distinctive feature of Burna's art is an uncanny ability to get everything spot on.He always managed that.

But these days,he seems to miss a lot of details and ends up making good songs that could have been much better.He commendably strikes up a good rhythm on Anybody and while the saxophone is a great touch,the overall instrumentation of that song robs it of some shine; the creepy bass especially.Secret seemed to have been made just for his guests- Jeremih and Serani.Burna sounded out of place on his track and should be grateful to both artistes for their efforts.

Show and Tell featuring Future would ordinarily be slugging it out with Different and Another Story for best song of the album.Burna's delivery is out of this world and absorbs you into it right from the jump but then the track switches up drastically for Future's verse leaving two brilliant parts of a song to stand isolated from each other.The least he could do was try to create some balance by allowing the chorus play again after Future's verse.

Special credit to Burna however for the artistes he recruits for this album.Everyone made his song better.YG is the last collaboration on the album and he complements the the Don Guorgon handsomely on the gangsta This Side.

You are hoping he doesn't flatter to deceive when he opens the album in style with the beastly and assertive African Giant.Thankfully he doesn't.This album is a great piece of work.

MALAMI'S POSITION ON BAIL IS CRIMINAL AND PUNISHABLE UNDER OUR LAWS

Abubakar Malami's screening on the floor of the senate was the most anticipated of President Buhari's ministerial nominees.There were a wide assortment of questions spawning from his controversial four year tenure as Attorney General of the Federation for the senators to pick from.That there were quite a number from the opposition that had over time proven to be vibrant and fearless on the floor of the senate was supposed to guarantee Malami had no escape route.

The house of reps had indicted him over the reinstatement of ex-pensions boss,Abdulrasheed Maina who was wanted by the EFCC and is currently claiming in hiding that President Buhari ordered Malami to reinstate him.The senators would at least while making reference to the overwhelming evidence available,ask Malami for his own version of events.There is also the issue of the clean bill of health he passed on former secretary to the government of the federation,Babachir Lawal regarding the IDP grass cutting scandal before he was indicted by VP Osinbajo's committee and the EFCC.

There was a lot to pick from but suprisingly,the senators didn't ask Malami what they were expected to.The former AGF bungling a matter as simple as one on the disobedience of court orders by government tells you he would have made a bigger mess of the weightier questions.First,Malami isn't in charge of any prison or detention centre in the country.

One would ordinarily expect him to stroll past that saying the authorities flaunting the orders of the court are not doing so at his behest while bemoaning the fact that he was being made a scapegoat.But well,the man chose to tell the truth and in a fashion reminiscent of his 'technician technicality' CJN brother,Ibrahim Tanko just a week ago,sensationally gave a well known legal position an ignorant colouring.Only in this instance,unlawful as well.

Malami sought to justify the breach of the constitutional rights of nigerians being held in captivity despite having been granted bail by saying their release was not in the best interest of 180 million nigerians and that it was his duty as AGF to uphold public interest.This is the number one law officer of the land publicly and unashamedly conferring on himself the power to veto the decisions of our courts.

It is shocking how a man of Malami's standing and experience in the legal profession would be totally oblivious of the fact that those comments are of a criminal nature.Our laws are clear on what constitute contempt and a flagrant disobedience of a court's ruling or decision forms a key element of that offence.Contempt ex facie curiae (outside the court room) is followed by an arrest and a trial in court.

Except of course he wants to tell us that he as AGF can also decide what laws apply to him.Quite astonishing is how he makes reference to the Supreme Court's decision in Asari Dokubo V Federal Republic of Nigeria in justifying his position as acting in public interest.It is the prerogative of the courts to grant bail and in that case it refuses Mr Dokubo in the best interest of the public.No individual whomsoever is empowered to arbitarily tow its steps other than a court of law and refusing to comply with the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction amounts to contempt.We aren't speculating,Malami by his response at the senate,copped to doing just that.

In defending his action,there was nothing to suggest he was aware of the grave implications of his utterances and what that highlights more than anything else is the calibre of persons being appointed by the Buhari administration into sensitive positions.

The powers of the Attorney General of the Federation are clearly spelt out in Section 174 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).No provision therein empowers him to choose which court decisions to comply with.Sub section 3 states that-" In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process" but the power Malami weilds isn't captured by the preceding provisions of that section.The issue of public interest and interest of justice brings me to another question i expected the former Attorney General to be quizzed on.

The popular notion is that Sen.Danjuma Goje,a former Governor of Gombe state accused of embezzling billions of naira in office by the EFCC had charges against him withdrawn just weeks ago because he struck a deal with President Buhari in a meeting at the villa to step down for the President's preferred candidate for Senate President,Sen.Ahmed Lawan.Goje had 2 charges pending in court and most people above any other thing,expected Malami to give the official position of his office on that while justifying how the decision was taken in the 'best interest of justice or the public'.

Malami should be before a court next week and not being named Minister.

BURNA BOY'S AFRICAN GIANT ALBUM: 4 EARLY TAKEAWAYS

Its just a couple of hours to the release of Burna boy's African Giant album and these are 4 early takeaways.

-The build up to African Giant has not been too inspiring.Killin Dem with rave of the moment,Zlatan is the only smash he has 4 songs and a whole EP later.

-On The Low,Gbona and Killin Dem shouldn't be on the this album.The first 2 are almost a year old while Killin Dem was released in December last year.If the African Giant wanted a 19 track album at all costs,he could have just made new material instead of having not only 6 songs fans already listened to but some as far back as a year ago.Anybody and Pull Up best fit the pre-album single tag while Dangote should come in as a bonus track.

-Wizkid's SFTOS had Drake,Chris Brown,Trey Songz,Ty Dolla $ and Major Lazer with the Drake collaboration leaking months before it was released as the official lead single.African Bad Gyal with Chris Brown leaked before SFTOS dropped as well.Burna boy has Future,YG,Jorja Smith,Jeremih,Angelique Kidjo and Damien Marley all on songs never-before-listened-to.I think it is safe to say Burna Boy's African Giant album perhaps by not too far a margin,has the most mouth-watering features ever on an album by a nigerian artiste.Probably by an African artiste.

-Finally,most people would have bet their last kobo Stefflon Don was going to be on at least one of the tracks.She isn't anywhere on the album.I hope our giant doesn't think its 'unafrican' to have bae drop a few lines.

HOW THE NIGERIAN ARTISTES FARED ON BEYONCE'S LION KING: THE GIFT ALBUM

"This sound track is a love letter to Africa and i wanted to make sure we found the best talent from Africa and not just use some of the sound or my own interpretation of it,".This is an excerpt from Beyonce's interview with Good Morning America after the release of The Lion King movie and accompanying music album.When in 2017,the producers told the world a 3D remake was in the offing with Beyonce playing Nala and Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) playing Simba,it became one of the most anticipated movies in Hollywood with names as prominent as Quavo of the Migos requesting that the group be casted as the three hyenas.

What no one knew however was that Beyonce was going to drop new music to commemorate its release and with the Lion King: The Gift album accompanying the movie,it was safe to say which ever artiste she had chosen from the continent to be on the album was going to be on the biggest album worldwide when it was released.From Nigeria were Wizkid,Mr Eazi,Yemi Alade,Tiwa Savage,Burna boy and Tekno.The Gift represented the biggest medium ever made available to our artistes to sell themselves to the world.It was indeed a love letter.

Lets take a look at how the artistes fared.

BROWN SKIN GIRL (WIZKID,BEYONCE,SAINT JHN AND BLUE IVY CARTER)

This has turned out one of the most loved songs of the entire album.Wizkid's velvety smooth vocals pack the track with just the right emotion for the inspirational black and beautiful message.The synergy with Beyonce is mesmerizing.She gets on a higher pitch with her vocals to create a balance with his absorbing verse and then she complements him on the chorus for the climax moment.Sheer magic.

If Wizkid has a strategy on how to conquer the global market,a shrewd use of his vocal prowess should be a key part of it.The spotlight will be on him after this fantastic display and it is left for him to make the most of it.

KEYS TO THE KINGDOM (TIWA SAVAGE AND MR EAZI)

Tiwa Savage is reputed to have written and worked with some of the biggest names in music overseas.The lady freely expressing herself without having to worry about the dynamics of the Nigerian music market would entail some R&B.The work she so commendably puts in here comes from a natural place.Bearing in mind the craving for a strong african feel,nigerian producer Northboi deserves special credit for keeping that in mind with his infusion of a healthy dose of authentic african instrumentation.

Tiwa Savage was simply amazing on Keys to the Kingdom.She flawlessly hits the right notes and matches it with excellent drift in rhythm.She has a management and publishing deal with Beyonce's husband,Jay Z's Roc Nation and that will wow a lot of the foreign audience bound to look into her after listening to the song.I honestly think Keys to the Kingdom should have been a wholly Tiwa affair.One of the stand out qualities of the song is that it exhibits what the continent's refined singers are capable of and Mr Eazi appeared more than anything to be crashing her party.

JA ARA E (BURNA BOY)

Dating Stefflon Don gained Burna boy some major buzz and Atlantic records moved to have him make a joint EP with label mates,LA DJ/Production duo DJDS.Giving Burna's lacklustre effort at making a first major impression on the grand stage,a lot of fans expected him to seize the opportunity Beyonce's The Gift album presented to sell himself on an even bigger platform.

Burna boy doesn't quite do that.He goes purely african on Ja ra E; a song that is more or less made just for the Nigerian listener.Its really hard to figure out why Burna chose to make a song like this for the album.

The predominantly youthful global music audience would only gravitate towards a song they didn't understand a word of if its catchy.Fela was able to stir up some interest among fans abroad on his terms because he was bringing something they had never seen.There was the unique instrumentation,the costumes,the dancing and the legend about all the dancers being his wives.

Even from a Nigerian perspective,Ja ra E

is a mid-tempo afro-beat song that appears stuck between now and then.It lacks the energy to move the young listener and though a recognizable template for the more matured listener,its ladden with too many elements of music for the young to get a permanent spot on the playlist.As far as impressing the international audience goes,most will hit skip when it comes on.

DON'T JEALOUS ME (TEKNO,YEMI ALADE & MR EAZI)

Its really not a big deal these days for a nigerian artiste to score a major international collaboration or to see foreign acts dancing to nigerian songs.That is a huge testament to growth.In 2019,a nigerian artiste dreaming of making the next Gagnam style doesn't sound far-fetched.

Dance has always represented the best potential to key into with the shaku shaku and zanku dance steps making waves across the globe and in Don't Jealous Me, the fabulous trio of Tekno,Mr Eazi and Yemi Alade keep their eyes on the ball.Its bouncy and absorbing in a real African way and just about any of the dances would appear tailor-made for it.

With the right video,this song could go on to become huge.If we really want to talk this album being an opportunity for african artistes to showcase their wares to the world,then Don't Jealous Me is the jam.Its where artistic brilliance meets right strategy.Tekno talks the talk perfectly and Yemi Alade's background vocals add some spice but Mr Eazi is the star of the show with his auto-tuned, 'african' accented pre-chorus and ghanaian post-chorus.A great song no doubt.

Nigerian artistes certainly don't disappoint Beyonce on The Gift.