ELDEE, JIMMY JATT, TEE A, OTHERS FOR NIGERIAN CORNER AT NOTTINGHILL CARNIVAL 2011

The official Nigerian Corner at the popular Nottinghill Carnival, in London will again host a galaxy of stars, this year as organisers announced. The line up of entertainers who have signed up to fly the Nigerian flag at the world-famous carnival.
Organisers Sodium Brands Solutions say hiphop hit-maker Eldee, iconic DJ Jimmy JATT, super-compere Tee A are some of the acts fans should expect to see this year.

Principal Consultant of Sodium Brand Solutions Abisoye Fagade says 'There's no better time than this, to preach and sell the Nigerian brand. And we'll continue to do that at home and abroad, wherever well-meaning people are gathered. We must continue to tell - and show- the world, that there's more to Nigeria than what the world thinks it knows...'

The Naija Corner is on Adela street, off Kensal road, (Harrow End), W10, London
Fagade says other performers will be announced in due time.

Last year featured dozens of participants from Nigeria and the UK, including Jimmy JATT, Banky W, Keke and D-One, 9ice, Julius Agwu, AY and JJC.

The 2011 Nottinghill Carnival will hold on August 29. The Naija Corner is proudly produced by Sodium Brand Solutions, with support from Reve Entertainment. Other partners include Primetime Entertainment, BlackHouse Media, Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET), Hip TV and Kennis Music.

Now in its 47th year, the Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which takes place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London. At least 1 million people from all over the world attend the 'street party' each year, and the carnival is the second most popular in the world.

HENNESSY ARTISTRY ENTERS YEAR FIVE

No stranger to the crowds that flock to intimate music venues around the world, Hennessy Artistry is a premium innovation that celebratesthe ‘art of blending’ by bringing together different music genres and the cool, luxury life style associated with the Hennessy brand.

After a successful edition last year, the organizers of Hennessy Artistry are already putting finishing touches to this year’s edition to make it ‘bigger and better’. We’re told some high profile names in the music industry have already been shortlisted for Hennessy Artistry 2011 and that grand VIP events characteristic of the exciting annual project are already in the works.

According to Tokini Peterside, the Communication Manager of Hennessy in Nigeria “this year’s Hennessy Artistry is going to surpass the previous years. We’re working with some of the best urban music artistes in Nigeria today, and we will announce soon officially, who these artistes will be.”

Last year Hennessy Artistry was tagged the ‘Like a Bottle’ experience, and was a three-part collaboration project featuring Nneka, M.I, Bez,Ice Prince and Shina Peters. The diverse group of Nigerian musicians came together to compose, record and perform a song titled ‘Like aBottle’ which was produced by Kas. The artistes also partook in a music video and headlined a Grand Finale concert at the GET Arena in Lagos.

BASKETMOUTH TO HOST "THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW"

Nigerian comedian Basketmouth has been revealed as the host of THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW - the edgy new Friday night music and entertainment show from MTV Networks Africa and STV. 

Airing every Friday night from 5 August, THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW brings fireworks, fun and Nigerian youth culture to Friday night TV.  Among the regular slots featured on the show will be: interviews with the hottest Nigerian celebrities; entertainment news and gossip from the digital sphere in C-VON’s and Bella Naija’s V-Log of the week; a club review highlighting the best places to party when the weekend lands, and a weekly restaurant challenge where Lagos’ top chefs create "THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW SPECIAL” for their menu. 

As you would expect from a funnyman of Basketmouth’s stature, comedy will be a key component of the show – with side-splitting pranks, spoofs and zany skits bringing laughs aplenty to Friday night viewing. Episode one will see 2Face’s seminal track ‘African Queen’ given a makeover as ‘African Weave’ – a humourous homage to fake hair - while Wizz Kid will be the first celebrity on the receiving end of one of THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW’s soon-to be-legendary pranks!

Viewers will play a BIG part in THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW - so much so that every week a viewer will be given the opportunity to come to the studio and interview the week’s star guest.  Basketmouth will also read out his hot pick of the coolest Tweets, funniest emails, bizarre text messages and off-the-wall Facebook comments submitted by viewers.

Music authority MTV Base will ensure that THE BIG FRIDAY SHOW features the best contemporary music – spotlighting the hottest music videos trending on Facebook, Twitter & SMS in the "The BFS Jams Countdown”.  Up-and-coming Naija artists will also get the chance to shine on the programme – performing only if they successfully complete the studio challenge.

CHOCOLATE CITY TOP "THE HEADIES" NOMINATIONS

Chocolate City has scored a remarkable 15 nomination in Headies. The “music city’s’ Ice Prince mopped up nine nominations which includes (Song of the year, Producer of the year, Best Rap Single for Oleku and She and my Swagga, Lyricist on the roll, Best Collabo for Oleku and Joor Oh Remix ,Next Rated and Best street hop for Joor Oh Remix), while Five nominations for MI (Artiste of the year, Album of the year, Best Collabo, Best Conscious music and lyricist on the roll). His brother, Jesse Jagz has two nominations for Producer of the Year and Hiphopworld revelation of the year.

Mohits Records yet again got thumbs up from members of the Headies screening committee with six nominations for Dr. Sid in album of the year, Song of the year, Best Pop single, Best RNB/ Pop album, Producer of the year and Revelation of the year categories. Dbanj follows closely with nominations for Artiste of the year, song of the year (Give it to me and Pop something), Pop Single and Producer of the year; D’Prince has two nominations for Best Pop Single and Song of the year while Don Jazzy is nominated for Producer of the year. In all Mohits records is up for 10 nominations at this year’s Headies.

The nominees for the annual urban music awards were announced via the official website www.theheadies.com, and on the Beat 99.9 FM by Radio personality Oreka Godis.

Soul Muzik’s Darey was also recognized by the Headies screening committee as he scores Six nominations in Artiste of the year, Best RNB/ Pop album, Best RNB single, Producer of the year, Recording of the year and Best male vocal performance.

Following in the footsteps of mentor Banky W, EME Record’s WizKid gets a first time nomination in Next Rated, Best Pop single, Best Music Video and Producer of the year categories.

Other new comers to the list include Kas (Song of the year, Best Pop single), Olamide (Best Music Video, Rap Single, Street Hop and Next rated), Samklef (Producer of the year, StreetHop), Gini (Best Music Video), J Sleek (Producer of the year), Flavour (Best Collabo and Best RNB Single)Tiwa Savage ( Next Rated and Best Female Vocal performance), Lynxx (Revelation of the year), Vector (Lyricist on the roll), Goldie (Best Music Video and collabo of the year), Wiz boy (Street Hop), Essence (Best Collabo) and Patrick Ellis (Best Music Video).

Other usual suspects like Waje (Best RNB single and Best Female Vocal performance), Mocheddah (Best Music Video and Revelation of the year), Eva (Best Female Vocal performance and recording of the year), Modenine (Lyricist on the roll), Terry Tha Rapman (Best Rap Single, Best Rap album and Lyricist on the roll) Timi Dakolo (Best conscious music, Producer of the year and Best Male vocal performance) also make the nominees list for the highly coveted awards.

As usual 2face makes his mark on the Headies list as he attains seven nominations in the Album of the year, Artiste of the year, Song of the year, Producer of the year, Best RNB single, Best Conscious Music and Best RNB / Pop Album categories.

A new category in 2011 has increased the extent of artistes eligible for the headies, as Eldee, MI, Omawumi, Timi Dakolo and 2face make their first entry into the Best Conscious Music category.

Jury Chairman DJ Jimmy JATT says“ Once again we are set to reward talents who have done exceptionally well in the year in review”

The year in review according to the screening committee is from December 2009- February 2011. The nominees for the 2011 Headies was shortlisted by The Headies screening committee comprising of six grounded individuals from different spheres of the music industry.