One of the first hip hop records back before Hip-Hop was exposed in 1979. This is from 1968. Rap being around longer than you know!!!
Pigmeat Markham as "The Judge".
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Pigmeat Markham - Here Comes The Judge + The Trial - 1968
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvMBxlu62c0
One of the first hip hop records back before Hip-Hop was exposed in 1979. This is from 1968. Rap being around longer than you know!!!
Pigmeat Markham as "The Judge".
One of the first hip hop records back before Hip-Hop was exposed in 1979. This is from 1968. Rap being around longer than you know!!!
Pigmeat Markham as "The Judge".
Monday, April 18, 2011
WHAT'S ON ROTATION AT THE T.R.P OFFICE?
We’re in the first half of the year, but I’ve already got three albums on rotation: Adele’s 21 (a clear contention for album of the year), Big K.R.I.T.’s latest mixtape Return Of 4eva (the mixtape before his Def Jam debut i.e before he goes commercial and stops spitting intellectual. You know how labels make you dumb it down) and Canadian R&B sensation, The-Weeknd, whose mixtape House Of Balloons is the best contemporary R&B album (let’s face it, a mixtape is now an album) out so far this year. He reminds me of The-Dream. They’re both soulful (The Weeknd even more) and they cuss quite a lot, the kind of R&B I like. The two of them are definitely the new generation of Jodeci.
So here’s a list of where to find what’s on my rotation:
Adele’s 21: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/21-20110217(If it’s still not free to listen to at Rolling Stone.com, do like a pirate...)
Big K.R.I.T’s Return Of 4Eva: http://www.returnof4eva.com/
The Weeknd’s House Of Balloons: http://the-weeknd.com/
So here’s a list of where to find what’s on my rotation:
Adele’s 21: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/21-20110217(If it’s still not free to listen to at Rolling Stone.com, do like a pirate...)
Big K.R.I.T’s Return Of 4Eva: http://www.returnof4eva.com/
The Weeknd’s House Of Balloons: http://the-weeknd.com/
THE TOP 20 MOMENTS, EVENTS, PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT CHANGED THE ABUJA MUSIC INDUSTRY
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT, DEBATE, ADD AND OF COURSE CORRECT! IF YOU'RE GONNA ADD, WRITE WHY YOU FEEL ITS OF SIGNIFICANCE AND NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE M.I.
1. PAYBACK TIME RECORDS
In the words of Terry Tha Rapman, “Back then, back then”, a group of up and coming MCs formed a collective known as S.W.A.T R.O.O.T.S on a label known as PAYBACK TIME RECORDS and set Abuja music lovers on a frenzy. They were Nigeria’s answer to the Wu-Tang Clan, our own So Solid Crew. Like Wu-Tang, individually they were stars and collectively they proved there was strength in numbers, but like So Solid Crew in the U.K, their reign as a group was short-lived. With only a handful of the collective putting out solo albums, most famously Six Foot Plus and Terry Tha Rapman, the group album never materialized. Till this day, it’s hard to pinpoint where it all went wrong, but for the moment these guys were on the scene, they reigned supreme almost over nearly everyone.
2. STYL-PLUS
No other group in Abuja has enjoyed the fan success that Styl-Plus has, maybe except Age Beeka and some up and comer named M.I. Blowing up almost entirely on radio and word of mouth, Styl-Plus became Abuja’s first bonafide superstar group. After their first single Olufumni aired on radio, every single and video of theirs became an event.
3. AUDI MAIKORI
When Audi Maikori brought his Chocolate City imprint to Abuja from Jos, not many people knew the impact it would have on the city. Signing a then unknown R &B/Gospel singer, Jeremiah Gyang one of its premiere artist, Chocolate City became a springboard for other acts to emerge through the label, most notably M.I and the Choc Boys. Chocolate City became the city’s most recognized label, probably after Payback Time. Now the label has expanded its investments to Lagos as well as venturing into other sectors of the entertainment arena.
4. THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA
There’s no denying that if it weren’t for the University of Abuja, musicians in this city would not be as hot as they are. Back then (in the 2000s), it was a rite of passage for any big Abuja artist to show up at Gwagwalada to perform for students, ask Styl-Plus, Age Beeka and even P-Square who schooled there.
5. THE COOL FM CREW
Back when Styl-Plus were the hot new group in town, Cool FM seemed like the station that premiered all their songs and upcoming info. They were the Al-Jazeera to Styl-Plus’s Bin Laden notoriety (in the group's case, everybody loved them). The crew back then, which consisted of Nike Coker, Wale Ewedemi, Tyeng Gang among others helped championed Abuja artists giving them a platform to shine. Obviously Cool FM has gone through some changes in staff, but there’s no denying its impact on the Abuja music scene.
6. THE THIS DAY DOME
Built by the THISDAY company (or rather shipped from Scotland) as a venue to hold its annual THISDAY festival, the THISDAY Dome has became an attraction for events ranging from music festivals to comedy shows and even weddings. It was first “constructed” to hold the Abuja leg of the THISDAY music festival, which featured Rihanna, Jay-Z and Usher. Ever since, countless concerts and shows have been held at the Dome.
7. AGE BEEKA
There’s no denying there was a time Age Beeka ruled the airwaves. In the aftermath of the Payback Time era, when Abuja was still relatively young in terms of music, came Age. With almost entire self-promotion, Age Beeka became the artist to beat. His soulful crooning brought life to a city that was thought to be soulless. After the brashness of the S.W.A.T R.O.O.T, Age provided a pill to those who may have suffered a concussion from all the “hard-coreness”.
8. AND THE RADIO STATIONS GREW… IN NUMBER
There was a time Abuja had four main radio stations (93.5, 94.7, 100.5 and the no longer here, but in Kaduna 106.5) and as Cool Fm swept in, so did others. Pretty soon the Federal Government commissioned more radio stations across the country and 92.1 and 92.9 came in. Now there are 10 radio stations in Abuja, which means more music, more info and generally more entertainment.
9. THE OCTAGON DOME NIGHTCLUB
Before THISDAY had a dome, there was The Dome, Abuja’s first big nightclub. It succeeded where other nightclubs failed. It brought it in all kinds of crowds from lawmakers to students to of course entertainers.
10. QUEST MEDIA
If you’ve never recorded, being or heard of Quest Media studios located in Garki, you must not be an Abuja artist.
11. ABUJA ARTISTS LEAVING FOR LAGOS
It seems almost like a cliché that when an artist makes it in Abuja, Lagos becomes their next port of call and for some their new home. Six Foot Plus, Mode 9, Terry Tha Rapman, M.I and his fellow Choc Boys all joined the Las Gidi bandwagon. But in recent times, Abuja has seen somewhat of a reverse situation. Dare moved to Abuja from Lagos, Six Foot Plus came back. Other artists from the North, specifically Kaduna move here. Lest we forget there were those that never left like Styl-Plus.
12. THE BRITISH COUNCIL
From its inception, the British Council has hoped to foster relationships with people of various backgrounds through the arts and such other avenues. So it was no surprise that among its usual events that invited Abuja artists to perform, the British Council was the home of WAPI (Words and Pictures) for about two years.
13. THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY
One of the reasons the Abuja music scene has grown is because of the diplomatic community, who wish to experience the culture of the nation as well as its capital. Whether it’s the traditional singers and dancers or the urban entertainers, the diplomatic community has helped raised a platform for Abuja artists.
14. RHYTHM UNPLUGGED
When Rhythm FM launched in Abuja, they brought with it the whole Silverbird package, which in a few years would include the annual Rhythm Unplugged event; a showcase of the industry’s who’s who from Abuja to Lagos to wherever.
15. NTA ABUJA & NT A PLUS
No two local TV stations have showcased Abuja artists like the ones in Abuja; NTA Plus & NTA Abuja. Before the birth of the Sound Citys and the introduction of MTV Base, NTA was where Abuja artists got their first TV exposure. There were also shows like Buzz FM and countless others showing music videos from Abuja artists as well as from other areas.
16. AM EXPRESS
Okay, so we mentioned NTA, but no other show on TV became accessible to Abuja’s talent quite like AM Express. The morning show was shown nationwide, but was led by a crew based in Abuja, which meant they got most of the air-time, which meant they showcased more people from Abuja than any other city. Acts like Kush, Six Foot Plus, Styl-Plus all graced the show at one point or another during its peak. It was Abuja’s 106 & Park, except in the morning and with more news (none of which had to do with when Lil’ Wayne was coming out of prison) and less performances.
17. NAMES ON PLATINUM
Before the Rhythm Unpluggeds and THISDAY Festivals hit Abuja, Names On Platinum was providing an avenue for Abuja artists to shine. Headed by Xtranger, a one-time musician himself, Names On Platinum was one of the first companies in Abuja to organize shows for Abuja artists as well as others.
18. T.G.I.F
Another Silverbird conception, T.G.I.F (Thank God It’s Friday) hit Abuja in 2010 to great reception and once again helped in promoting the city’s finest. Held every first Friday of the month, it hosts local acts as well as headliners from other cities, specifically Lagos. But hey, it’s all love!
19. W.A.P.I
W.A.P.I (Words and Pictures) was one of the first of many such groups to provide a platform for the discussion and promotion of the music scene (as well as other art forms) in Abuja. Held at the British Council on Saturdays, it was hosted by the likes of Audi Maikori and M.I just to name a few. And while it no longer holds in Abuja, it helped create an example for other such organizations to come.
20. SAZZY
There are many prolific producers in Abuja and have always been, but Osaze “Sazzy” Omonbude stands out for one reason. The 26 year old producer who died on the morning of Ocotber 23rd, 2010 was on the verge of stardom. Many outside of Abuja may not have heard of his name, but his impact is beyond that of your usual producer. He produced the first track that M.I and Naeto C ever appeared on in Nigeria and as the time of his death, he had completed what was to be his debut (and unfortunately last) album, RED as well as produced for a slew of Abuja up and comers like Yoye and S. Solar, just to mention a few. He also produced for The African Rockstar, one of Nigeria’s most alternative artists. Sazzy will surely be missed.
1. PAYBACK TIME RECORDS
In the words of Terry Tha Rapman, “Back then, back then”, a group of up and coming MCs formed a collective known as S.W.A.T R.O.O.T.S on a label known as PAYBACK TIME RECORDS and set Abuja music lovers on a frenzy. They were Nigeria’s answer to the Wu-Tang Clan, our own So Solid Crew. Like Wu-Tang, individually they were stars and collectively they proved there was strength in numbers, but like So Solid Crew in the U.K, their reign as a group was short-lived. With only a handful of the collective putting out solo albums, most famously Six Foot Plus and Terry Tha Rapman, the group album never materialized. Till this day, it’s hard to pinpoint where it all went wrong, but for the moment these guys were on the scene, they reigned supreme almost over nearly everyone.
2. STYL-PLUS
No other group in Abuja has enjoyed the fan success that Styl-Plus has, maybe except Age Beeka and some up and comer named M.I. Blowing up almost entirely on radio and word of mouth, Styl-Plus became Abuja’s first bonafide superstar group. After their first single Olufumni aired on radio, every single and video of theirs became an event.
3. AUDI MAIKORI
When Audi Maikori brought his Chocolate City imprint to Abuja from Jos, not many people knew the impact it would have on the city. Signing a then unknown R &B/Gospel singer, Jeremiah Gyang one of its premiere artist, Chocolate City became a springboard for other acts to emerge through the label, most notably M.I and the Choc Boys. Chocolate City became the city’s most recognized label, probably after Payback Time. Now the label has expanded its investments to Lagos as well as venturing into other sectors of the entertainment arena.
4. THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA
There’s no denying that if it weren’t for the University of Abuja, musicians in this city would not be as hot as they are. Back then (in the 2000s), it was a rite of passage for any big Abuja artist to show up at Gwagwalada to perform for students, ask Styl-Plus, Age Beeka and even P-Square who schooled there.
5. THE COOL FM CREW
Back when Styl-Plus were the hot new group in town, Cool FM seemed like the station that premiered all their songs and upcoming info. They were the Al-Jazeera to Styl-Plus’s Bin Laden notoriety (in the group's case, everybody loved them). The crew back then, which consisted of Nike Coker, Wale Ewedemi, Tyeng Gang among others helped championed Abuja artists giving them a platform to shine. Obviously Cool FM has gone through some changes in staff, but there’s no denying its impact on the Abuja music scene.
6. THE THIS DAY DOME
Built by the THISDAY company (or rather shipped from Scotland) as a venue to hold its annual THISDAY festival, the THISDAY Dome has became an attraction for events ranging from music festivals to comedy shows and even weddings. It was first “constructed” to hold the Abuja leg of the THISDAY music festival, which featured Rihanna, Jay-Z and Usher. Ever since, countless concerts and shows have been held at the Dome.
7. AGE BEEKA
There’s no denying there was a time Age Beeka ruled the airwaves. In the aftermath of the Payback Time era, when Abuja was still relatively young in terms of music, came Age. With almost entire self-promotion, Age Beeka became the artist to beat. His soulful crooning brought life to a city that was thought to be soulless. After the brashness of the S.W.A.T R.O.O.T, Age provided a pill to those who may have suffered a concussion from all the “hard-coreness”.
8. AND THE RADIO STATIONS GREW… IN NUMBER
There was a time Abuja had four main radio stations (93.5, 94.7, 100.5 and the no longer here, but in Kaduna 106.5) and as Cool Fm swept in, so did others. Pretty soon the Federal Government commissioned more radio stations across the country and 92.1 and 92.9 came in. Now there are 10 radio stations in Abuja, which means more music, more info and generally more entertainment.
9. THE OCTAGON DOME NIGHTCLUB
Before THISDAY had a dome, there was The Dome, Abuja’s first big nightclub. It succeeded where other nightclubs failed. It brought it in all kinds of crowds from lawmakers to students to of course entertainers.
10. QUEST MEDIA
If you’ve never recorded, being or heard of Quest Media studios located in Garki, you must not be an Abuja artist.
11. ABUJA ARTISTS LEAVING FOR LAGOS
It seems almost like a cliché that when an artist makes it in Abuja, Lagos becomes their next port of call and for some their new home. Six Foot Plus, Mode 9, Terry Tha Rapman, M.I and his fellow Choc Boys all joined the Las Gidi bandwagon. But in recent times, Abuja has seen somewhat of a reverse situation. Dare moved to Abuja from Lagos, Six Foot Plus came back. Other artists from the North, specifically Kaduna move here. Lest we forget there were those that never left like Styl-Plus.
12. THE BRITISH COUNCIL
From its inception, the British Council has hoped to foster relationships with people of various backgrounds through the arts and such other avenues. So it was no surprise that among its usual events that invited Abuja artists to perform, the British Council was the home of WAPI (Words and Pictures) for about two years.
13. THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY
One of the reasons the Abuja music scene has grown is because of the diplomatic community, who wish to experience the culture of the nation as well as its capital. Whether it’s the traditional singers and dancers or the urban entertainers, the diplomatic community has helped raised a platform for Abuja artists.
14. RHYTHM UNPLUGGED
When Rhythm FM launched in Abuja, they brought with it the whole Silverbird package, which in a few years would include the annual Rhythm Unplugged event; a showcase of the industry’s who’s who from Abuja to Lagos to wherever.
15. NTA ABUJA & NT A PLUS
No two local TV stations have showcased Abuja artists like the ones in Abuja; NTA Plus & NTA Abuja. Before the birth of the Sound Citys and the introduction of MTV Base, NTA was where Abuja artists got their first TV exposure. There were also shows like Buzz FM and countless others showing music videos from Abuja artists as well as from other areas.
16. AM EXPRESS
Okay, so we mentioned NTA, but no other show on TV became accessible to Abuja’s talent quite like AM Express. The morning show was shown nationwide, but was led by a crew based in Abuja, which meant they got most of the air-time, which meant they showcased more people from Abuja than any other city. Acts like Kush, Six Foot Plus, Styl-Plus all graced the show at one point or another during its peak. It was Abuja’s 106 & Park, except in the morning and with more news (none of which had to do with when Lil’ Wayne was coming out of prison) and less performances.
17. NAMES ON PLATINUM
Before the Rhythm Unpluggeds and THISDAY Festivals hit Abuja, Names On Platinum was providing an avenue for Abuja artists to shine. Headed by Xtranger, a one-time musician himself, Names On Platinum was one of the first companies in Abuja to organize shows for Abuja artists as well as others.
18. T.G.I.F
Another Silverbird conception, T.G.I.F (Thank God It’s Friday) hit Abuja in 2010 to great reception and once again helped in promoting the city’s finest. Held every first Friday of the month, it hosts local acts as well as headliners from other cities, specifically Lagos. But hey, it’s all love!
19. W.A.P.I
W.A.P.I (Words and Pictures) was one of the first of many such groups to provide a platform for the discussion and promotion of the music scene (as well as other art forms) in Abuja. Held at the British Council on Saturdays, it was hosted by the likes of Audi Maikori and M.I just to name a few. And while it no longer holds in Abuja, it helped create an example for other such organizations to come.
20. SAZZY
There are many prolific producers in Abuja and have always been, but Osaze “Sazzy” Omonbude stands out for one reason. The 26 year old producer who died on the morning of Ocotber 23rd, 2010 was on the verge of stardom. Many outside of Abuja may not have heard of his name, but his impact is beyond that of your usual producer. He produced the first track that M.I and Naeto C ever appeared on in Nigeria and as the time of his death, he had completed what was to be his debut (and unfortunately last) album, RED as well as produced for a slew of Abuja up and comers like Yoye and S. Solar, just to mention a few. He also produced for The African Rockstar, one of Nigeria’s most alternative artists. Sazzy will surely be missed.
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