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People are willing to spend considerable amounts of money on collectible items, especially thanks to online auctions. Within Hip-Hop alone, collecting items belonging to rappers and others has become a multi-million-dollar industry, particularly when it involves artists who have passed away. Unsurprisingly, Tupac Shakur is one of the most highly sought-after musicians in history, as far as memorabilia is concerned. Next month, the late icon will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but not before a historic auction takes place that will likely see sales totals well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Why Tupac Is The Most Influential MC Of All-Time 20 Years After His Death
Ambrosia For Heads recently spoke with Paxton Baker, a 30-year veteran executive in the entertainment business, and longtime collector of memorabilia who will be organizing the Black Heritage Auction on April 7. Baker believes that memorabilia plays a vital role in documenting history, preserving heritage and acknowledging the value of culture–in this case, Black culture. He spoke at length about why collecting Black historical memorabilia is so important, what makes Tupac’s legacy so popular with collectors, and which of his items will be up for sale to the public next month.
“One of the blessings in my life is being able to collect catalogs, buy and store African-American and Americana memorabilia,” Baker says. As an informal collector, he began amassing the autographs of artists he saw perform, in college, but it was in 1992 when he began exploring collecting in any formal sense. It all began with iconic actor, singer, songwriter and social activist, Harry Belafonte. After visiting Belafonte’s home, Baker noticed his collection of memorabilia, which he calls “overwhelming and nothing short of amazing.” Belafonte shared some insight about how auctions and estate sales function, and how he was able to amass such an astounding amount of historical possessions. After that, Baker began to pursue a similar path and it took him across the country.
Snoop Talks With The Star Of All Eyez On Me About How Much The Film Moved Him (Video)
Focusing primarily on African-American collections, Baker credits Charles Blockson of Temple University as a collector whose trove of possessions inspired him to pursue Black history as his focus. Such individuals, he says, “have taught me the importance of history, and in particular, African-American.” Of special importance in collecting such memorabilia is preserving the parts of history he says “have been taken from our past,” as well as those things we might be unaware of. Listing milestones in African-American history like crossing the color line in sports, integrating the army, and the abolitionist work of Frederick Douglass, Baker emphasizes the value in Black Americans being able to own tokens of past chapters. “The heritage of what we’ve overcome as a people is overwhelmingly important,” he says. “When you really embrace Black culture, you embrace American culture. And you get to see how much a part of history we actually were.” Contemporary history and culture are also focal points of Baker’s collection. “On this auction that we’re working on right now, the Black Heritage Auction, we have contemporary people in there like Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Jeffrey Osborne, Freddie Jackson, and other artists who are contemporary living artists, as well as other artists who have recently passed on,” he says. Of those, items related to James Brown, Miles Davis, Muhammad Ali are being featured in this particular auction. “Our heroes are just as important as any other American hero,” Baker argues. Ali along with Michael Jordan are two of the three most sought-after African Americans, as far as collecting goes. “They have whole books, literally, of their stuff that’s gone up in auction…they’re probably the two greatest contemporary figures of collectible material, given the body of things they’ve signed in their careers.”
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Heads will not be surprised to hear that Tupac Shakur is who Baker calls “the most cherished and iconic African American figure” – and creator of one of the three most collectible legacies. He credits ‘Pac’s incredible career, as well his young life cut so short. “He was a very, very colorful figure,” says Baker. “And, as an artist, was probably up there with the greatest artists of our lifetime.” Calling the late rapper a poet, Baker says ‘Pac was a figure as great as anybody of his day, and the body of work he left behind combined with the lionization of his memory has made him a dream for diehard collectors. But ‘Pac isn’t just competing with some of history’s greatest sports icons.
Tupac Shakur’s Estate Is Now In The Hands Of The Man Who Signed Him
According to Baker, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are the two most collected Presidents. A formal, two-to-three page letter from either can range anywhere in price from $150,000 to $250,000. At an auction this past October, a four-page handwritten letter from Tupac Shakur, sent from jail to a Black charity, went for $169,000, putting Pac in the company of Presidents and some of the country’s greatest national treasures. Baker adds that “a one-sheet, handwritten lyric sheet to one of his songs goes for about $30-35,ooo. A canceled check, $2,500. A contract, $7,500. The tickets that he had in his pocket when he was killed, that went for, like, $7,500.” Just today, it was reported that Tupac’s handwritten lyrics for his landmark single “Dear Mama” are up for sale for $75,000. These astronomical prices are driven by the simple fact that “people want Tupac Shakur.”
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On April 7, some of Tupac’s items will be available at the Black Heritage Auction organized in part by Baker. “We’re building the auction around Tupac, who that day is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” he explains. The induction ceremony begins at 7pm at Barclay’s Center in Downtown Brooklyn, New York, whereas the auction will run from 1pm to 6pm at a nearby loft. Shakur-related items include his Death Row Records medallion, handwritten lyrics for songs from All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, some of the clothing he wore in music videos, and more.
For a look at some of the items being auctioned off that belonged to Tupac Shakur, Frederick Douglas, President Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcom

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Nigerians on social media have reacted to the eviction of one of the lead strategist and housemate in the ongoing Big Brother Naija reality show, Offiong Edet Anthony, popularly known as Thin Tall Tony.

Recall that Thin Tall Tony, a father of two kids, was evicted from the house on Sunday evening after after scoring the lowest vote among the housemates nominated for eviction during the week.

While some lambasted him for denying and cheating on his wife, even to the extent of stripping naked at the early stage of the show, some jubilated that he was finally booted out.

Others had described him as a shame to his family and relatives.

A twitter user, David Dennis wrote, “Husband that cheated on his wife to win N25 million , and ended up losing, is that one a husband?”

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The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Wednesday, refused to confirm Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

President Muhammadu Buhari had late last year submitted the name of Mr. Magu to the Senate, for confirmation as substantive Chairman of EFCC, having served in acting capacity since November, 2015.

President Buhari, however, resubmitted Magu’s name on the 23rd of January, 2017, after consulting with the leadership of the Senate.

The Senate however, turned down his confirmation, citing security reports as reason why it would not go ahead to confirm Magu.

While answering questions from the Senators on the allegations preferred against him by the security agencies, Magu said he was arrested and detained by the Nigerian Police for over 2 weeks, over the allegation that he was carrying official files and documents.

“I was locked longer than necessary for over 2 weeks, I was detained with armed robbers at Area 10.

“Another allegation was that, I was living in an apartment which belongs to Air Commodore Mohammed Umar.

“The truth was that, I was staying in Karu and was almost late for official assignment, so the authority got a new place for me”, Magu explained.

He gave a brief scorecard of his regime as acting Chairman of the EFCC, which includes, the $153m, $927m, £74,000 recently recovered from Andrew Yakubu and others, as well as the N49m recovered at the Kaduna Airport on Tuesday.

A mild drama however, turned out when the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, drew the attention of the Senate to a security report submitted to the office of the Clerk on Tuesday, 14th March 2017.

Paragraph 14 of the said report reads in part: “In the forgoing, MAGU has failed the integrity test and will eventually constitute a liability to the anti graft agency”.

The letter which emanated from the office of the Department of State Security (DSS), was however faulted by Magu and some Senators.

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Rick Ross is just trying to stay rich forever.

The Bawse is following in the footsteps of his Epic brethren DJ Khaled and venturing into the beauty and care arena. Ross is partnering with RICH Hair Care to help develop the luxury beauty brand. Rozay’s news comes one month after the announcement of his upcoming album, Rather You Than Me, and one day after his labelmate announced his latest endeavor, a limited-edition Live Life Smooth lotion line with Palmer’s Cocoa Butter.

The news was first broken to family and friends Monday night during an intimate gathering dubbed Beauty & Belaire and held at the MMG mogul’s 235-acre Atlanta home. Catered by Ross’ own champagne brand Belaire Rosé, the artist and entrepreneur celebrated the night as RICH Hair Care executives boasted about their excitement to partner with Rozay.

“We are extremely excited to partner up with such an icon as Rick Ross. He’s a master of blurring the lines between commercial and entertainment worlds, not to mention his ability to generate a brand halo,” said, Indrek Lohmus, CEO of RICH Hair Care.

Rick Ross said it was an “amazing new venture.”

“Beauty and Hair care are both huge markets” Ross said. “I appreciate and understand quality products, especially when those products are used to enhance your overall personal health and appearance. Being a supporter of men’s grooming and healthy facial hair in specific, I was more than pleasantly surprised with RICH Hair Care products and had personally used them before this partnership. I’ve always been asked about my beard, hair care and what I use to take care of myself. It was something that I always overlooked until I sat down and really thought about the benefits and the message that could be created by partnering with the great guys at RICH Hair Care. I am excited to build a global network around this new RICH Hair Care venture, continue the entrepreneurial conversations and offer additional exposure to an incredible brand.”

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Victor Moses celebrated his impressive display and Chelsea’s Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with Nigerian music star Davido, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
“What a feeling!So happy to get the win in such a big game.Thankful to score and help the team!Good to celebrate with @iam_davido too #CFC,” Moses tweeted on Saturday night after scoring the winner in the 2-1 victory.
The tweet is accompanied by a picture of celebration in the dressing room with Davido, popular for such hits like Skelewu, Aye and Gobe, crouching in front of Moses, David Luiz, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard as they pose for the photograph.
Meanwhile, former Manchester United star, Rio Ferdinand, has showered encomiums on Moses following the Nigerian’s superb display in Chelsea’s 2-1 Premier League home win against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The 25-year-old scored the winning goal as the Blues rallied from a goal down to win the contest, ending Spurs’ unbeaten run in the process.
The former Wigan Athletic player was voted man of the match for his dazzling display, his second award in consecutive games for Antonio Conte’s men.
Ex-England centre- back Ferdinand was gushing with praise for the Super Eagles winger after the match.
“All young lads watching the game should be admiring this player (Moses),” Ferdinand told BT Sport.
“He ran 60 to 70 yards to get on the back post as a wing-back and he got his reward. It’s a fantastic effort.”
The win lifted Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League and one point ahead of second placed Liverpool.
Read more at http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/moses-celebrates-chelsea-win-davido-gets-rio-praise/#0YpcFmrfPJJDOIYl.99

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Manchester United have accepted they will lose to rivals City in the chase for Lionel Messi, should he ever leave Barcelona.

Messi was reported in the Spanish media to have rejected talks for a new contract at the Spanish champions, with his current deal due to expire in 2018.

That led to speculation he could leave the Nou Camp, with the two Manchester clubs, along with Real Madrid, the only ones that could afford his wages.
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The 29-year-old’s offer from Barca is believed to be in the region of a staggering £825,000-a-week before tax, and while United would be able to afford that, they believe the Pep Guardiola factor would give City the edge, according to The Sun.

A source told the paper: “City would be the favourites if he were to one day leave, but we would obviously love the sign a player of that level.

“We can certainly compete on the cash front and Messi is an Adidas player like Paul Pogba, so we have our pluses.

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Dangote Cement Plc has declared an increased revenue of N442.09 billion in the last nine months, its financial report released yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) indicated.

The revenue in the nine month ended September 30, this year was 20.97 per cent higher than the figure recorded during the corresponding period last year, despite the harsh operating environment, a development attributed to management’s strategy to leverage on its pan-African status.

The report indicated that the cement manufacturer increased revenue by N76.642 billion from N365.450 billion it made during the corresponding period last year.

The crises of foreign exchange gulped a huge amount of its revenue, as it spent N231.684 billion on cost of sales during the period of nine months in foucs as against N138.694 billion spent on the same purpose in the same period last year.

The huge money spent on cost of sales affected its profit after tax from N157.993 billion it made in nine months last year to end the current period with N133.521 billion.

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The National Youth Service Corps accredited 1,344 out of 4,800 graduands of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife recommended for the 2016 ‘Batch B’ of the service, an official of the institution has said.
The official, Dr. Babaiide Afolabi, Vice Dean, Division of Student Affairs, stated this on Wednesday in Ile-Ife in an interview with newsmen.
Afobabi said: “May be it was as a result of inadequate resources for the programme that caused the reduction in their intake for the programme.”
He expressed dismay over the situation, saying that the remaining 3, 500 graduands would have to wait for another batch before they could serve their father land.
Afolabi, however, advised those not immediately mobilised to engage in entrepreneurship programme pending the time they will be called for service.

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President Jacob Zuma has received the latest call for his resignation from his own brother, according to a media report, as the South African leader clings to power despite a string of scandals.

Zuma's younger brother Michael urged him to quit or risk being killed, the Sunday Times reported.

The president has survived accusations of corruption and even rape before he took office in 2009, showing no signs of leaving office before 2019 when he is required by law to step down after two five-year terms.

"My brother is having a very difficult time and I have never seen such difficulty," said Michael Zuma, speaking from the family's rural home of Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

"My brother has such difficulty in such a way that you fear that they are going to kill him," he said, without elaborating on any death threats.

Presidential spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga said he could not comment on family matters, while State Security Minister David Mahlobo told Reuters he could not comment on Zuma's safety. "We never discuss any security details of the president," he said.

The leader of Africa's most industrialised nation has faced calls to quit from several members of the African National Congress (ANC) after the ruling party suffered its worst losses in municipal elections in August. But the ANC's top echelons have backed the president.

On Thursday, anti-apartheid campaigner Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a former first lady and wife of the late Nelson Mandela, said South Africa needed fresh leadership, but stopped short of asking Zuma to resign.
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The opposition failed in a bid to remove Zuma through a motion of no-confidence in parliament in April following a scandal over lavish improvements including a swimming pool and amphitheatre at his Nkanlda home. Zuma has since paid back the money spent on non-security features.

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Lil Wayne and Birdman perform during the BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles.

Lil Wayne's ongoing legal battle against his longtime label Cash Money Records and its co-CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams took another turn over the weekend, as TMZ reports that Birdman has admitted to spending $70 million in advances from distributor Universal Music Group, money for which Wayne would like to see receipts.

A Timeline of Lil Wayne's Beef With Birdman and Cash Money

According to legal papers, the site says, Birdman claims to have spent the money on royalty payments, marketing endeavors and recordings costs, providing more than 20,000 pages of documents to support his claims.

Lil Wayne Mocks Ryan Lochte, Cash Money With Chance the Rapper on 'Ellen'

But Wayne's lawyers aren't buying it, and have responded by saying that none of the 20,000 pages accounts for the $70 million, part of which Wayne claims he is entitled to. In a landmark deal in 1998, Cash Money signed a distribution deal with UMG that included $100 million in advances; a March 2016 court filing made on behalf of Wayne against UMG and SoundExchange noted that $60 million of that has to date been un-recouped.

Lil Wayne's Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group Put On Hold

This latest round of documents is part of Wayne's ongoing $51 million lawsuit against Birdman and Cash Money, which alleges he's owed $10 million for an advance to create Tha Carter V, which is still on the shelf, as well as additional royalties from recordings released by Drake on Wayne's Young Money imprint and various other complaints. The simultaneous lawsuit against UMG was put on hold by a California federal district court in August to allow the Cash Money lawsuit to proceed first.

Reps for Lil Wayne and Cash Money did not return requests for comment as of press time.

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After Manchester United suffered three straight defeats, Peter Smith looks at some of the problems facing Jose Mourinho...

Manchester United slipped six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday, concluding a week to forget for Jose Mourinho. It's the first time since 2002 that Mourinho has endured three competitive defeats in a row. Next up is a tricky away trip to Northampton in the EFL Cup before defending Premier League champions Leicester visit Old Trafford.

After winning his first three Premier League games in charge, Mourinho now has issues to address at United. We take a look at some of the problems he's facing. With Manchester United and Manchester City going into the derby on the back of three straight wins, something had to give, and the result has had a contrasting impact on each team.

For City, victory has further boosted their belief in Pep Guardiola's methods. For United, defeat has highlighted problems and affected the players' confidence. "I feel the first moment we had a defeat, a difficult situation, some of the boys are having a bit of difficulty coping with the negativity," said Mourinho. That mental blow has been reflected in United's subsequent performances against Feyenoord and Watford. Against Feyenoord a much-changed team managed just four shots on target. At Watford, that number halved to two, while they attempted fewer dribbles than they have in any Premier League game this season and less than half the total they tried against Southampton before the City loss.

The only way to address this issue is with results. That means there is added pressure on Tuesday's League Cup tie with Northampton. The Sky Bet League One side have only been beaten three times in 2016 and will be fired up at Sixfields.

United have been knocked out by League One MK Dons and Championship Middlesbrough in the past two seasons in this competition, so victory is far from a foregone conclusion. Can Mourinho afford to drop too many first-team regulars?

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A 57 year old American man, Charles Carlson, has been found dead in his hotel room, Ellyx Ville hotel, situated in Lekki Phase one, Lagos Tuesday September 6th. ‎ The Nation reports that Carlson’s body was found beside a rope at about 5:30pm.
After his body was discovered, the police at the Maroko division were informed of the incident by the hotel manager, Vincent Onwuke and have evacuated his corpse.

It was gathered that the hotel management became suspicious after the guest did not come down for breakfast on Tuesday neither did he respond to telephone calls to his room and mobile number.

His business partner was contacted and his hotel room forced open only to discover him dead close to the door. It was not clear if the man committed suicide with the rope found beside him.

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*Akon dropped by VladTV to talk about his light up Africa Project, and he mentioned how he grew up living without electricity, which he now believes is a necessity no man, woman or child should go without.

Akon grew up in Senegal, a small country on the West coast of Africa. As you can imagine, not having electricity and running water made it quite challenging to eat, cook, or wash, as he had to use the same water from a running water well for everything.

“When I came to the United States, and [saw] the projects or what they claimed to be projects, Vlad I thought they was living in luxury, compared to what poverty is back home…” Akon explained that the US citizens have it a lot better than others around the world, and many of us may take the simple things in our Western life for granted.

Akon says his grandmother was the main inspiration behind him providing electricity to nearly 80 million Africans. He explained how she never moved from her hometown and still lived without electricity.

“Every time I would come, I would try to upgrade her, but she would never take it… one day I said ma I’m not coming to visit you anymore… you have to at least let me put electricity in the house. Come to find out the grid was so far out; I don’t care how much money I had there was no way I could bring electricity to her.” That’s when he said something had to be done, not just for his grandmother but for everyone in the rural area living without power. “Without electricity, you can’t even begin to develop a country, let alone your own home.”

READ RELATED NEWS: Akon: Men Must Have Multiple Women – Tito Jackson Drops 1st Album (WATCH)

Akon got started by partnering with some of his billionaire friends that he made during his singing career, and he used their money, influence and connections to build power plants in the five major areas of Africa so the countries could share the plants.

“I started to realize how deep it was cause this is the type of business that starts real wars, the politics was little heavier than I expected…”Akon explained that the politics behind his venture was too complicated for him, so while searching for alternative solutions, he came across Solar Energy.

“So I went to China, met up with some friends out there, some manufacturers, and aligned myself with one of the biggest companies in China, that’s own by the Chinese Government, that manufactures Solar…”

While working on the project, Akon learned there was a significant tax on solar products due to George. W Bush. “He did it because his main agenda was in oil, he needed the oil to keep burning right, so anything renewable he wanted to keep away because if effected the money.”

Akon took advantage of all the unused solar products, and the Chinese manufacturers gave him a Billion dollar credit line to start his project — which is now in 15 countries. He has provided almost 16 million people in Africa with power and energy.

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Although most Nigerians needed no Daniel to help them interpret the hand writing that preceded the 2016 Rio Olympics, some are right now mourning the woeful performance of Team Nigeria at the world’s largest games in Rio de Janiero Brazil.
Before the games, only incurable optimists still believed Team Nigeria would perform better than they did four years ago in London.

Instead of preparing for the games, what dominated the headlines were crises of different proportions. Preparations were to say the least completely unsatisfactory. Indeed, most of the athletes who managed to qualify for the games were like sheep without a shepherd.
Unlike in the past when athletes who qualified to represent Nigeria at the Games were exposed to foreign training tours, the Solomon Dalung led sports ministry did not deem it necessary to arrange foreign training camps in time for the athletes.
It is an open secret that the authorities responsible for athletes preparation dwelt more on the ‘missing N2.9 billion’ released to the then National Sports Commission, NSC, by the Presidency for the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.
The unexpected scrapping of the National Sports Commission, NSC, by Dalung and immediate removal of the then Director General of the commission, Alhassan Yakmut, a thorough bred sports administrator did not help Team Nigeria’s preparations for the 2016 Olympics.
Well even as there was another Olympics disaster looming in the horizon, at the last minute, Team Nigeria was hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari with the charge to go and conquer.
Although there was no money for preparations, government promised to make money available for Team Nigeria’s participation in the games. Pessimism among Nigerians was really high going into the games but some remained optimistic that Team Nigeria would banish the ghost of London 2012.
For such optimists, the Rio games are gradually coming to an end, yet there is nothing to suggest that their optimism will produce anything different from what was witnessed in London. As at the time of press, Team Nigeria was yet to win a medal.
As a matter of fact, the failure of the Dream Team to qualify for the finals in the football event has caught the attention of Nigerians more than the anticipated failures in other events where Nigerian athletes crumbled like a pack of cards.
Although the Dream Team still have a chance of winning a bronze medal when they face Honduras in the third place match, the same cannot be said of the other athletes who are down and out and cannot redeem themselves in Rio.
Like the Dream Team, reigning African champions, the D’Tigers dashed the hopes of millions of Nigerians who felt they would use the Rio Olympics to atone for their dismal outing in London. Unfortunately, they have failed to rise to the occasion again.
D’Tigers stirred up the hopes of Nigerians that they may reach the quarter finals after they came back from two straight defeats against Argentina and Lithuania to beat highly rated Croatia 90-76. However, they faltered in their final group match against the host nation Brazil 68-86 to crash out.
For basketball loving Nigerian’s the performance of the D’Tigers is a huge disappointment because they had prepared better than most members of the Nigerian contingent.
And based on their Olympics experiences, Nigerians expected the table tennis trio of Segun Toriola, Olufunke Oshonaike and Aruna Quadri to impress in Rio but it was the same story of disappointment as they failed to get close to any medal in their event.
Apart from Quadri who made history by becoming the first African to reach the quarter-finals in the singles event at the Olympics, the rest did not go beyond the second round.
While veteran player Segun Toriola who featured in his seventh Olympics crashed out in the second round 4-2 to Japan’s Niwa Koki, his compatriot Oshonaike who attended her sixth Olympics bowed out in the women’s singles round one after losing 2-4 to 15 year old Adriana Diaz of Purto Rico. It was therefore early exits for Nigerian medal hopefuls in table tennis.
The failures of the less fancied Nigerian canoeist and rower, Jonathan Akinyemi and Chierika Ukogu heralded the disappointments in table tennis but did not surprise anyone. While Akinyemi crashed out of the slalom canoeing event after placing 20th, Ukogu finished second in the finals of her event with a total time of 7.44.76 but did not qualify for a medal.
Although she has been labelled as Nigeria’s queen of the track, Blessing Okagbare appears to be living on past glory. In Rio she failed to re-enact the form that has seen her winning numerous international competitions.
Unlike in London 2012 Olympics, Blessing failed to qualify for the 100m finals in Rio. The commonwealth champion finished third in her semi final race with a time of 11.09 crashing out of the finals qualification as only athletes that ran under 11seconds made it to the final.
She then shifted her attention to the 200m event but again failed to qualify for finals as she finished fifth in heat one of the semifinals in 22.69secs, where she competed with Holland’s Dafne Schippers, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Germany’s Lisa Mayer.
It is said when talking about oceans, rivers are mentioned so other less popular Nigerian athletes followed in the disappointing footsteps of their more illustrious colleague as they all fell by the way side in Rio.
Nigeria’s only boxer at the games, Efe Ajagba lost 2-1 decision to world number two ranked Ivan Dychko of Kazakhstan in the super heavyweight category. He had raised hopes by knocking out his opponent Nigel Paul of Trinidad and Tobago in the run up to the quarter-final clash.
With all these failures, Nigerians sole consolation was the encouraging results coming from the Dream Team. They had qualified for the semis after beating Denmark 2-0 in the quarter-finals.
Unfortunately, they were made to look anything but formidable by the more sophisticated ‘German machines’. The Dream Team lost 0-2 to miss a chance of winning at least a silver medal which they won in 2008 under the present coach.
As at the time of press, Team Nigeria was conspicuously missing on the medals table even as other African nations like Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia had written their names in gold. So as curtains draw on the 2016 Rio Olympics, prayers are already mounting for Team Nigeria to at least avert the London 2012 disaster of no medal.
Definitely there would be a lot to discuss when the games in Rio end but even as Team Nigeria are still struggling to win a medal, most Nigerians are already making demands which they believe, if taken and implemented, would turn around the sports sector.
One of such Nigerians is the former Katsina State Director of Sports, Alhaji Aliyu Kofar-Soro who blamed Team Nigeria’s dismal outing on the minister of sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung.
He said the minister is entirely responsible for the failure of Team Nigeria in Rio as he insisted that Dalung’s decision to scrap the National Sports Commission and also remove the then NSC Director General Alhassan Yakmut with few months to the Olympics was the most unreasonable thing to do.
“I am not surprised at all by what has happened. As patriotic as I am, I was not expecting anything from Team Nigeria. The sports minister messed up everything.
“The man who would have guided Team Nigeria’s preparation was removed on the eve of the Olympics. Before he was removed, Yakmut was already preparing athletes for the games. You cannot do that and expect to win anything.
“After the games, President Muhammadu Buhari should please look at the sports sector. If the minister must remain, he should be told to engage professionals who are knowledgeable in the sector. For now, he is leading sports by the nose. He cannot take sports anywhere,” he said.

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Apple Music has signed a deal with Birdman and Cash Money Records, the latest addition to its ever-expanding list of artists with which the streaming service has entered exclusive deals, a source confirmed to Billboard today. The Cash Money CEO announced the "power move" on his Instagram, posting a picture of himself with Apple Music head of content Larry Jackson, who confirmed the signing in an Instagram post of his own.

"Welcome to the fam @birdman5star," Jackson wrote on Instagram, tagging the Cash Money mogul. "Tough negotiator. Much respeck." As of press time, there are no other details about what, exactly, this deal might entail, but it raises a few interesting questions for the label, which boasts Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj as its marquee artists. For one, there's Drake's own deal with Apple, which has manifested itself in two exclusive album releases, the music video for "Hotline Bling" and a sponsorship deal for his current Summer Sixteen Tour alongside Future. Then there's Wayne, currently embroiled in two separate lawsuits -- one against Cash Money, one against distributor Universal Music Group -- that have held up his ability to release music, and his status as one of 20 artist-owners of Jay Z's streaming service Tidal (as is Nicki Minaj), which would seemingly put him at odds with any Apple deal.

Update (8:34 p.m.): Two additional sources confirm to Billboard that the Apple deal is for a one-off documentary film about Birdman and Cash Money Records and does not affect the other deals with Cash Money artists, including Nicki and Wayne with Tidal and Drake with Apple. The original story continues below.

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And finally there's the implications that would exist for Cash Money's distribution deal with UMG/Republic Records. This deal would be Apple Music's first with a full label, having previously struck direct deals with individual artists such as DJ Khaled, Future and Chance the Rapper, among others, for various types of exclusives and promotions. Cash Money's relationship with Universal goes back to 1998, when the company struck an unprecedented $30 million distribution deal with the major, turning the regional rap imprint into an international brand overnight.

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Regardless of the terms, it seems to be another step by Apple Music to lock down as many exclusive releases as possible. Birdman announced recently that he has two new projects on the way: his final solo album, Ms. Gladys, and another label compilation from his Rich Gang cohorts called The Lifestyle 2. And with Apple Music expanding its television, film and advertising offerings of late, there are several mediums within which a deal could exist.

The story was first reported by Music Business Worldwide, and Birdman has since changed his Instagram caption to a link to that publication's story. Reps for all parties did not immediately respond to Billboard's requests for comment.

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Former Super Eagles coach, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has warned the Dream Team VI that they cannot get rich by simply playing for Nigeria.

The U-23 team playing at the 2016 Olympics, have threatened to boycott games because of unpaid allowances.

Okocha has now advised Samson Siasia’s boys to take pride in playing for Nigeria, rather than hoping to make money. “You can’t get rich playing for Nigeria, you will get exposure and touch lives,” Okocha said as he marked his 43rd birthday, with a visit to internally displaced people.

“We have to look beyond match bonuses when playing for our country.”

‘Jay Jay’ recalled how his turning professional in Germany wiped out poverty from his family.

“The decision to take the flight to Germany took away poverty from my family.”

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Kanye West appeared to hint at a bit of tension between himself and his wife Kim Kardashian West as the pair tried to organise plans for Mother's Day. The 'Only One' hitmaker criticised his wife - with whom he has three-year-old daughter North and eight-month-old son Saint - for having plans in New York on their first Mother's Day as a family of four.

In a scene from May aired on a recent episode of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians', he told Kim: "Are we going with you or you just don't wanna see your husband and children on Mother's Day?"

Luckily, Kanye got his wish and the family spent the day together, where Kim was treated to a performance from a string orchestra in her own house.
KUWTK: Kanye hints at marriage tension
By

Bang

Published Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Kanye West appeared to hint at a bit of tension between himself and his wife Kim Kardashian West as the pair tried to organise plans for Mother's Day.

The 'Only One' hitmaker criticised his wife - with whom he has three-year-old daughter North and eight-month-old son Saint - for having plans in New York on their first Mother's Day as a family of four.

In a scene from May aired on a recent episode of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians', he told Kim: "Are we going with you or you just don't wanna see your husband and children on Mother's Day?"

Luckily, Kanye got his wish and the family spent the day together, where Kim was treated to a performance from a string orchestra in her own house.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old television personality previously revealed Kanye, 39, was left "disappointed" with her when she turned up late to the filming of his music video.

She recalled: "When we get to the glacier, Kanye is already done shooting and I'm like heartbroken. He's being nice and kissed me and it's all good, but like I just know he's more probably disappointed in me.

And Kim recently opened up about family life, revealing they talk about race "every single day" in their house. The 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' star joined her husband Kanye West when he toured with Jay Z in 2011 and admits she was worried about how her dancing skills would stack up against the 'Crazy In Love' hitmaker.

She said: "My biggest fear was during Watch the Throne that if I sit next to Beyoncé, she dances and she's up, like, you know. So, the last night of the tour, she came to dressing room and was like, 'Hey, do you want to sit together?' Then, she wanted to go in the mosh pit and I was like, 'What do we do in the mosh pit?' She's like, 'Dance! Just let loose. Just dance!' And I was like, 'My life is over!'"

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Apparently down with kidney related disease, Nollywood actor, Leo Mezie, has now been stunned with yet another attack on his right leg, as he is in desperate need of financial help to get an urgent medical treatment abroad to forestall further collapse.


Mezie is said to have been suffering with a kidney related illness for quite a while before the situation degenerated to an advanced stage.

Though friends and well-wishers have been contributing money to enable him get a proper kidney transplant abroad; however the donation is not trickling in as expected.

Mezie, who has decided not to take the path of late compatriot, Muna Obiekwe, who died in silence, is currently crying for help as he is in need of N10 million for an immediate kidney transplant abroad.


Speaking to The Nation, the actor’s wife, Maureen Mezie, disclosed that his colleagues are doing all in their power to raise the N10 million, needed for a kidney transplant.

“They have been working together to raise the money as individuals and as a group. Truth be said, they do not want to lose any of their members again. Even those that we do not know have been contributing too. And most of them have been using their social media platforms to create awareness for the fund,” she said.

On plans to fly the actor abroad for surgery, she stated: “he is currently on dialysis. They are checking to see if the kidney will respond to the treatment. But once the money is completed, he will be flown abroad for the surgery.”

Soliciting for the ill actor, Nollywood actor and movie director, Charles Inojie, said;

“Hello my family, friends and fans all over the world. I ask of you most passionately to give your window’s mite to help a friend, brother and colleague (Leo Mezie) who urgently requires a N10 million medical intervention to stay alive. It sounds big, but where there’s a will they say, there’s a way. Together, we can make this happen. May the sacrificial reward of giving never elude any of us.”

Nigerian Actress, Rita Dominic also said;

“My people, I’m here to plead again for my dear colleague Leo Mezie… Please let’s give whatever we can to save this talented actor’s life. God bless you all for standing by Nollywood always,” she posted.

As at August 2, 2016, his colleagues were only able to raise N1.2 million, which is quite sad.

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On Friday night, President Obama is reportedly set to attend a “top-secret” dance party at the White House. The lavish event, organized by First Lady Michelle Obama, marks the president’s 55th birthday, and the last one he will enjoy as a resident of the White House.

According to Page Six, the guest list includes Usher, Kendrick Lamar (“Obama’s favorite rapper”), Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Magic Johnson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, and John Legend. (The Washington Post also floated the names of Oprah Winfrey, Will Ferrell, and Fantasia.)

But the two names that received top billing were none other than Jay Z and Beyoncé.

“All the preparations and the guest list are being kept top-secret,” a source told Page Six. “The plan is to throw a party for the president to really let his hair down. There will be performances and a dance party that will go late into the night. Social media will be banned.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment, and The Daily Beast was not able to independently confirm the guest list for Obama’s dance party. But the inclusion of Jay Z and Beyoncé would be no surprise: The president, first lady and music’s reigning power couple have been friends—not to mention political allies—for years.

“I’ve gotten to know these guys over the first several years,” Obama told radio host Colby Colb in late 2012, shortly before his re-election. “They’re good people. Beyoncé could not be sweeter to Michelle and the girls. So they’re good friends. We talk about the same things I talk about with all my friends.”

On the eve of election night 2008, Jay Z spoke at a GOTV rally in Virginia urging young voters to cast their ballots. It was one of several pro-Obama events during that cycle that Jay Z headlined.

“I can’t tell you who to vote for—all I can do is tell you to vote on Nov. 4, the most important election that will happen probably in your lifetime,” the rapper said. “Rosa Parks sat so that Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so that Obama could run. Obama’s running so that we all can fly … I can’t wait until Nov. 5 and I’m going to say, ‘Hello, Brother President.’”

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Nas, one of music's most revered lyricists and story tellers, is taking his talents into filmmaking.

The rapper has traded performing onstage to work behind-the-scenes as an executive producer on projects including Netflix's "The Get Down" and IFC Films' "The Land," which opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday. Nas said he's looking to make a mark in film like he has done in music.

"I'm right on track of what I'm supposed to be doing in my life," the 42-year-old said in an interview this week. "It's been my dream to work in films. I share a love for films as much as I feel it for music. This is my calling."
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"The Land," which stars R&B singer Erykah Badu, focuses on four teenagers who have aspirations of becoming professional skateboarders and hopes to escape the streets of Cleveland. But their plans are derailed when they get caught in a drug dispute with a local queen pin.

Nas found and placed songs for the film's 14-song soundtrack, which features Kanye West and Pusha T. It's the first soundtrack released under Nas' indie label, Mass Appeal Records.

"It gave us a little idea of what is cut out for us for future projects," he said. "We got wings behind our back, so we're just flying with it. We're looking to do more in the future."

On "The Get Down," Nas wrote all the lyrics including poems and battle raps that will appear in the 13-episode series, co-created by Baz Luhrmann. The show, which premieres Aug. 12, delves into the birth of hip-hop in New York in the 1970s and rap icon Grandmaster Flash is also an associate producer on the project.

Luhrmann said Nas played an integral part of the filmmaking process.

"He completely dedicated himself to getting it done," said Luhrmann, who also directed "Moulin Rouge!" and "The Great Gatsby."

"He wrote rhymes for every act. It's his voice. He is an executive producer, and it's not just a title. He helped me with bringing a lot of creative ideas to the table. He was a go-to guy," Luhrmann continued. "I would call him at 2 a.m. in the morning for his opinion. So, he's been great like that."

It's not the first time Nas has ventured into film: He had roles in the 1998 movie "Belly" and "Black Nativity" in 2013.

But these days, Nas is continuing to learn the different aspects of filmmaking so he can one day create his own movie. He wants to get more involved as a screenwriter and director.

Luhrmann believes Nas has the potential to do just that.

"His raps are very well-written narratives, and filmmaking is storytelling," Luhrmann said. "If Nas would make a film, it would be something to see."

"The Get Down: Original Soundtrack from the Netflix Original Series" will also be available Aug. 12 via Sony's RCA Records and Luhrmann's label, House of Iona. Nas executive produced the soundtrack, which features the Grammy-nominated rapper as well as Miguel, Christina Aguilera, Zayn, Leon Bridges and others.

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Maybach Music Group has a new member. Isa Muhammad first came to Rick Ross's attention when he stopped him in the streets of Venice, California and rapped for him in June. Rozay put the video on Snapchat and it's gone on to pick up more nearly 2m views online since that day. Muhammad, who was homeless a few years ago, has been putting out music over the summer and yesterday, July 28, it was officially announced that he has signed with MMG.

“This was something that I wasn’t expecting,” Ross said of the new signing in a press release. “This kid gave me his heart when he was spitting and the internet got a hold of the video I put up on my snapchat. I wanted to give an opportunity for someone else to be put on – I know so many people in his same position. MMG is about giving back and pushing the culture forward by finding new and real talent. Isa Muhammad will reflect quality rap music and MMG is going to make sure of that.” Check out Muhammad's "signing day" Instagram post below, as well as his latest track "Inglewood's Sunshine."

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A first class traditional ruler in south west Nigeria, the Ooni of ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja the second has admonished President John Mahama of Ghana to relax policies that encourage the physical and mental boundaries set among African countries. Oba Ogunwusi made this call during a visit to President Mahama with the senior special assistant to the President of Nigeria on foreign affairs and diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

It was reported that since his coronation last December, the Ooni of Ife has traversed several countries to promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

The traditional rulers with senior special assistant to the president of Nigeria on foreign affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri Erewa recently visited Ghana to meet with Nigerians living in Ghana. Their first port of call was the flag staff house, office of the president of Ghana..

Commenting on the bond between the two countries, and the need to do more, Oba Ogunwusi, described Nigeria and Ghana as countries with similarities in culture and tradition.

For his part, President Mahama described himself as very lucky to be the first African president outside Nigeria to host the foremost African monarch who is globally known as King of peace and unity. The senior special assistant to the president of Nigeria on foreign affairs and diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa who was part of the delegation praised President Mahama and advocated for a deeper bond between Nigeria and Ghana.

Later at a meeting with Nigerians living in Ghana, Dabiri-Erewa noted President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to provide credible leadership for Nigeria to take its place in the comity of nations.

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You need to hear this because it serves as an apt soothing balm for the days in this country that have become nights, as the sun refuses to shine upon us, bathing us with warmth, satisfaction and a healthy mind-glow.


That’s the very artistic combination to end world peace, bring on salvation, galvanize dying hearts, and set minds in motion for change. All with music.
The two stars have been on this path for as long as their careers have existed, feeding on the existence of suffering to create protest beauty for the public to channel their hearts to higher purpose, and inspire hope.
From artistic photos that set social media ablaze 48 hours to the release, the hype for the song was allowed to fester with no aim at controlling the narrative. Nigeria has had a rough 2016 with an increase in the ills plaguing the populace. Boko Haram is still a looming spectre of doom. The economy is in shambles, as inflation continues and the Naira experiences a free fall. The IMF has projected a recession for Nigeria by 2017. Rampaging Fulani herdsmen have laid waste to communities in a concerted effort at snatching grazing lands. Militants from the South have returned in numbers, with each day bringing the spawning of a new cell of destroyers. The government appear to be occupied by matters far from the core issues that threaten national peace and security.

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Snoop Dogg is officially the biggest Lakers fan of all time. The rapper paid homage to the Los Angeles basketball team — and one of its most famous players — by giving a retiring superstar a tricked-out, Lakers–themed car as a farewell gift.

According to ESPN, three months after his final pro basketball game, Snoop Dogg gifted Kobe Bryant with a custom purple and gold ’64 Chevy Impala convertible to honor his 20 seasons as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers. Snoop Dogg had the hood of the pricey custom car painted with pictures of Lakers legends, including Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But most importantly, the custom ride also features a supersized picture of Snoop wearing a Lakers jersey.