Interviews & Hype: "I Am Not As Crazy As People Think I Am" – Terry G

Gabriel Amanyi is very different from his alter ego Terry G or Gzus as he likes to be called these days. The popular musician and producer who recently released his fourth album ‘Book of Ginger’ is in all ramifications an energetic entertainer and at the same can be as calm as a toad in the sun.

The Benue State-born performer talks to us about the changes in his life, enjoy...

You’ve been quiet for a while. Why’s that?

I decided to lay low for a while because I now have a kid. I’m also into a few businesses that at the time needed my attention. I opened a water company called REX Water. The truth is, I now have more responsibilities, which I need to concentrate on. It’s not like those days when I used to go for shows on a regular. I can’t depend on music money alone; so, other businesses and my son are other responsibilities that now have my attention.

You’ve also changed your looks and toned down on your stagecraft?

That is life for you. There is time for everything. Maybe I’m tired of all of it and I’m becoming more matured as a father. Since I had my kid, I now see life in another perspective. It still adds to the fact that when your environment changes, you should be able to adapt.

You recently ended your European tour. How is your assessment of the tour?

It was fun and at the same time very hectic because I had to perform every day of the week. I never had even a day to rest; we were going from one country to the other. Nobody cares to know how tired you were. The fans just wanted to see you perform because they have paid for you to do so. At the same time it was fun because we killed it everywhere in the twelve cities.

A few months ago you released the ‘Book of Ginger’. How have your fans accepted the album?

So far the reception has been positive and great. Many of the fans have been reaching out to us telling us how much they love it.  We have also been shooting a couple of videos too. All we have to do is keep doing the promotion.

In the Book of Ginjah, you did a few tracks that were a shift from your regulars. Why did you do that?

In terms of music, Nigeria is a very rich nation. There are so many style of music that we could play, it is just that the current trend does not give room for people to be creative and have their own styles. On this album I just decided to do a few experiments, which at the end of the day is working out well.

You started out as an R&B singer. Do you miss that side of you?

I don’t miss the RnB Terry G because I still record RnB songs, which I would never release. I just sit back on my own and enjoy them. The market identifies you by what you release. It is only people that are close to you that will know what you have.

How close are you with the mother of your child?

We have been together for about six years now. We live together even though we are not married yet. That is just how close we are. She’s my manager and so any business that has to do with Terry G has to go through her. She is very well educated. I have other mangers out there but she is my permanent manager.

Are there plans in the works to get married anytime soon?

Yes there are plans but it has to be the right time.

Amongst all Nigerian artistes, you seem to have a strong closeness with Timaya?

Actually Timaya is the only artiste I’m very close to in the industry. I don’t go out and I’m not so social based on the fact that my kind of music seems to be a threat to so many of my colleagues and some are scared to do collaborations with me and so I decided to keep to myself. Timaya is one artiste that isn’t afraid to work with anybody and he is a great guy. Timaya and I have been very close for a long time.

But at a point in your career you were the go to guy for production and collaborations, what now happened?

I decided to change my way of life and be on my own. I think then, I never used to value my talent as much as I should. I just did things for free and at the end of the day, it was either I didn’t get my credit or I got embarrassed that I hijacked a song. Due to these experiences, I decided to back off and to concentrate on my thing because I know I can do it myself and it has been working well and I have been earning more.

The ‘Book of Gingah’ concert was held in Abuja a few months ago, when is it happening in Lagos?

Yes we are still working on that, and it’s definitely going to be a big one. I don’t like to rush because every step one takes is a huge risk, so it has to come at the right time. The one we had in Abuja was a big one and by the grace of God, it was a huge success. The area father, Charly Boy was there to support us all the way. The fans in Abuja were awesome.

Why did you disband your crew, House of Gingah?

As at the time, I think I wasn’t responsible enough to manage and finance the group. I took the whole responsibility of financing the group by myself. I was shooting videos and other stuff and it was becoming very hectic to manage and so I decided to back off because it affected me personally. But it’s a dream that can be accomplished when the time is right. They are my friends so we might come back together or I just might do solo stuff for them.

How do you separate Gabriel from Terry G?

People need to understand that my real life is different from my artistic life. Sometimes people see me and expect me to act crazy. Before I go on stage, I like to be sober. I don’t drink before I go on stage because I work with energy and alcohol weighs you down. Sometimes I’m sober so much that the organisers come to me to ask if there is a problem. But when I go on stage, it is with the mind that the better my performance, the more shows I will get or else I will be hungry. I’m not as crazy as people think I am. It is all an act just like the way you see Jim Iyke and other actors do their thing in the movies. That’s why they call it entertainment.

You started your music career in the Church; do you still go to service?

It’s been a while since I went to church, because we work on weekends. Most of our stuff are held during the weekends. If we are not at events, we are probably shooting a video or doing other stuff.

The last time you went what was the reception like?

The last time I went was one of the New Year eve’s services. I was sitting at the back seat and after the New Year wishes; people turned around and saw me. Before I knew it, there was a large crowd of people around me and my car. It didn’t seem like we were in a church.

Gossip & Gists: Kelly Rowland Engaged To Marry Her Manager, Tim Witherspoon

Kelly Rowland is a single lady no more! Sources confirmed to us that the 32 years old former Destiny Child singer is engaged to marry her manager and boyfriend Tim Witherspoon.

Rumors that Witherspoon had popped the question circulated when Rowland was seen wearing a large diamond ring in a video on a pal's Instagram account. This will be Kelly's first marriage. She was previously engaged to football player Roy Williams; they split in January 2005, two months before their planned wedding.

"I was too young for marriage," the British X Factor judge later told source of their breakup. "But sometimes you fall down and you learn from it."

Big congrats to her!

Music: Funky Out With Fresh Tune, "Move (Freestyle)"

Funky continues in the direction of 2face Idibia-inspired Afro Pop on his new tune, “Move”. Another hit in the making? What do you think?
 

Much in the vein of Funky's present effort, MOVE addresses one of the biggest heatseeker singles out in Nigeria produced by 3Shells. With its nostalgic flows to match, “Move” found a keen way to sneak into our hearts with its catchy melodies.

So, it’s no wonder the young Lagos-based act has just been snagged by Kajjor Family Entertainment, a label spearheaded by Kabbar.




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Gossip & Gists: My Husband Marathon Sex Sometimes Makes Me Faint - Wife Cries Out

A 45-year-old trader, Muina Adelami, has asked a Lagos family court in Lagos State to dissolve  her  eight-year-old  marriage to her husband, Shuaib, a clerical officer, on the ground that his sex drive was high.

“I  have managed to stay this long  in the marriage  because I thought his libido would  go down but that has not been the case. In the eight years of our marriage, we only have a child, I had two miscarriages  as a result of  excessive sex.’’

She informed the court further that her husband liked sex too much and gave  her no breathing space. “We start having sex every night just before midnight  and this goes on till the early hours of the next day.  Many times, immediately  after he comes back  from work, he starts demanding for sex. He  will refuse to stand up even when I am crying and will start beating me whenever I complain. There were times I did  faint, but when I came around, he would start again. The way he’s going, he will kill me. I now look older than my age mates due to too much sex,” she said.

In his defence, Shuaib admitted to having a high sex drive, but added that it was his right to have sex with his wife. “I was advised to marry a younger wife but I cannot afford that, that is why I take care of her and give her everything she wants. I have been trying to change her mind on the issue of divorce, but she is adamant. I love her and would not want to divorce her. I also know that sex can’t kill her,” he said.

Gossip & Gists: Who Knew Late Legendary Playwright Hubert Ogunde Had 12 Wives?

 
Who knew legendary actor, playwright, theatre manager, and musician Hubert Ogunde had 12 wives? Pictured above with eight of his twelve wives in 1969.

Ogunde, described as 'the father of Nigerian theatre,' founded the Ogunde Concert Party in 1945, the first professional theatrical company in Nigeria. He died in 1990 at the age of 73.

Gossip & Gists: Dear Readers, Is This Applicable To Marriage?

From a reader

I believe so much in this Chinese proverb: “No matter how far you have gone in the wrong direction, as soon as you know, turn back." Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer.

If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.

(Is this applicable to marriage? What do you do when you realize you have been with the wrong man or woman?)

Gossip & Gists: Kanye West Says Kim K Is The Most Beautiful Woman Of All Time

Kanye West is a man truly and crazily in love. In a radio interview with a source yesterday, Kanye said he isn't worried about how his relationship with Kim K is affecting his career, saying she's so beautiful it doesn't matter if she is uncool.

 

"I don't give a f*** what type of jacket she got on. Ladies and gentlemen y'all acting like this ain't the most beautiful woman of all time! Arguably of human existence. The top ten of human existence."

Kanye also said dating Kim has taught him that life was about more than 'whats cool or not cool'.

"I felt like our love story is a love story for the ages. I felt like when we first got together it's a Romeo And Juliet kind of thing. Like she's a reality star and I'm a rapper and people talking about how our brands connect and it doesn't fit. And I'm just so tired of brands... It's not about branding at a certain point. I loved her from the first day I saw her which I said on Bound."

He then admitted he allowed the Keeping Up With Kardashian cameras to capture his elaborate marriage proposal to Kim last month.

"When we got engaged I made sure the show was there because I felt like that would make her happy. Regardless of how it was shot I felt like this was a moment she would want to have."

Gossip & Gist: Oh No! Actress Nia Long And Her Nigerian Beau Ime Udoka Break Up

If new reports are to be believed, then actress Nia Long and her Nigerian baby daddy, professional basketball player, Ime Udoka, have ended their relationship. 

According to Terez Owens, Ime and Nia, who have a two year old son together, quietly separated a while ago and Ime has already moved on with someone else. Ime is supposedly dating his long time friend, Alicia Deforest. 

Nia also has an 11-year-old son with ex boyfriend Massai Z Dorsey.

Gossip & Gists [RECAP]: “I Am Not Dating Chimebuka, We Are Just Friends” – Sensational Act, Jahfizz Cries Out

It is no longer news that Jahfizz, Nigerian sensational act, 2-times Most Intensifying Artiste, The Revelation R&B Artiste and Best Afro Pop Lyricist Artiste Of The Year winner is the next big thing a sister would always love to have around her but he seems to have grown strong emotional feelings for Chimebuka and Martha Ankomah, find out.

L-R: Chimebuka, Jahfizz & Martha Ankomah

Back to the memory lane. Could you still remember the previous story on Jahfizz, last seen hanging out with Chimebuka, Genevieve Nnaji’s daughter in London? 

Well, this same fella just released a 2 minutes and 16 seconds recording titled “Letter To Martha Ankomah” some weeks back, that became the gossip in town, that got many wondering if Jahfizz is in love with both damsels.

With the rate at which the rumour spreads in the air, we were able to gather from a reliable source that the fly handsome dude  the record as an open and official letter to Ghana’s charming Martha Ankomah, asking her out and we were able to converse with him via e-mail as we could not connect to him on mobile.

In reply to the message, he wrote: 

“Please, I just want to beg you people to stop the rumour!! I am not dating Chimebuka, we are just friends, I met her through a get together party in London. So, get your facts right. In other news, I have a crush on Martha Ankomah, my fantasy girl and she shall feature in my coming video”‬.

Okay o! Our fingers are crossed.

Gossip & Gists: Here's What Wande Coal Promises To Do When He Sees Don Jazzy Next Time

Former Mavin Records artiste, Wande Coal, has insisted that he has no grudge against his former boss, Don Jazzy, even though some have insinuated on the contrary.

During his interview with a correspondence, the singer disclosed that he has gotten past the bad way he and Don Jazzy disgraced each other on twitter some days ago.
 
The ‘Black Diamond Entertainment’ boss also revealed that he will show to the Mavin Records boss that he has nothing against him.
 
According to Wande Coal, he would hug Don Jazzy whenever he sees him anywhere just to show that "...old things are passed away, behold, he is now a new creature and things have become new."

Interviews & Hype: "I wish I Knew My Father" – Shan George

Actress turned movie producer, Shan George says she can’t stop wondering who her father really is.

The 43 year-old half-caste actress revealed to Showtime Celebrity in an interview saying, "I wish I knew my father. I’m the only child of my mother, and my father was a Whiteman. My mum is a very wonderful person, but I guess there is always going to be that part of me that keeps wondering who my father is. I tried several years to trace his whereabouts to no avail". 

The ‘Blood Diamond’ star says she had travelled to Manchester, UK to find her father, but repeated efforts failed to yield any result. 

"Consequently, I travelled to Manchester in search of the man that fathered me. But my mission was not accomplished. I gave up hope of meeting my father at the age of 35.’ 

The Cross River State-born actress who had her movie debut in ‘Thorns of Rose’, 1997, has been married twice and has two sons.

Gossip & Gists: Pastor's Wife Bathes Sister With Hot Water (PHOTO)

The police at Idimu, Lagos, have arrested the wife of a pastor, Mrs. Angela Uzoma, for pouring hot water on her sister.

 

 

The 28-year old housewife who is also the women’s leader in her husband’s ministry at Shasha allegedly poured hot water on Chidinma Chukwu, causing her serious injury because the 14-year old Chidinma sold only few pawpaws she was to hawk on the fateful day.

The incident happened at their residence at Ifelodun Street Orisunmbare, Shasha, Lagos State. According to source, Angela had warned Chidinma to ensure that she did not come back home without selling all the pawpaws packed in her tray for sale that day.

Unfortunately, Chidinma did not sell everything and Angela became angry, accusing her of being too playful. After Angela burnt her sister, she tried to hide the incident by refusing to take her to a hospital. Instead, she arranged with a nurse who was treating Chidinma at home. But the matter came into the open when a samaritan heard of it and reported to the police at Idimu.

Angela was promptly arrested. Narrating what happened, Angela told source at the police station that she did not intentionally pour water on her, adding that she brought her from the village to train her and she was hawking pawpaw to assist the family to feed.

“It is the devil’s work and I regret what happened. I want to settle this matter out of court,” she begged.

Her husband, Pastor Paul Uzoma, described the incident as unfortunate. “When I heard of it, I blamed my wife and told her she went too far,” he said. He, however, said his wife meant well for the girl and that was why she brought her to Lagos to train her.

Interviews & Hype: "My Jobless Boyfriend Smashed The Car I Won On Nigeria Idols" - Debbie Rise

Debbie Rise was the last girl standing at the previous Nigerian Idols television show. In a chat with a correspondence, the songstress said that ever since the show ended it has not been a bed of roses for her.

 

 
The up and coming singer said she would not forget in a hurry how a jealous lover smashed the windscreen of the car she won at the reality television show.

“After having a minor accident with the new car I won from the show, a jealous lover smashed the windscreen so badly and as a result it was a whole new type of challenge, trying to get it fixed, bringing the person to book... but I overcame.” She also said that some friends had been breathing down her neck saying she doesn’t care about them anymore after all the money they spent voting for her while on the Nigerian Idol show.

“I tried to act the same, maintain my old phone numbers of about eight years, tried to keep in touch with all my friends even though it was honestly difficult to keep up. I kept getting Watsapp, sms, Facebook and all kinds of messages from some particular friends with words like ‘what are you feeling like? Is it because you are now a superstar or what?’ Some would even say ‘Debie, you have changed, you can’t even call me after all the money I spent voting for you.'

"It really got to me then and I used all my time and resources to try and make all of them see reasons and all, but then they just didn’t stop, so I decided to do my best and leave the rest. But I want to use this opportunity to tell them that I didn’t change one bit, but someday, they will understand. That was one challenge I had also. The important thing is not the gravity of the challenge but how to come out strong, and I must say, I am wiser, stronger and better,” she added.

Gossip & Gists: US Rapper Wale No Longer Coming To Nigeria, Releases Statement

US/Nigerian rapper Wale was supposed to be in Nigeria today for Ice Prince Zamani's FOZ album launch but he just released a statement via his record label Maybach Music saying that he's not able to make the trip due to logistic reasons. He says it's not Ice Prince's fault. Statement below..

 

 

But UK rapper Chipmunk is in town. Pictures below...

 

Music: "Keresimesi" By Lil' Ping

Lil' Ping debuts his mixtape album with a freestyle on the popular "Keresimesi", originally done by Skales of EME, he really did a lot of damage on this song with so much energy, flair and versatility.




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