MUSIC REVIEW

SIFER
HEY BABE

I received the link to listen to this song a week or two ago, but i wasn't too interested. As far as I knew it would just be another badly produced song with no quality whatsoever, in terms of lyrics especially.


Fortunately for me though, at some point yesterday I clicked on the link without even intending to, about a minute later I heard this sound and I traced it to my phone. Alas, it was the link I had received a while back ....... I was pleasantly surprised.


For some of us who love music, we've been a little bit discontent with the quality of rap music in Nigeria, I mean MI is indeed incredible, Ice Prince is aight, and hey do we even need to bother with the genius that is Jesse Jagz? but asides these guys and one or two more there's really been no fresh face in the rap "game" for a while.


Well, that was then. It is with a big smile and loads of excitement that I introduce you to the next big thing in Nigerian music, (if his single Hey Babe is anything to go by) Sifer. For a young dude without a record label and all the perks that come with it, Hey Babe is a bit of a surprise, the quality of the production is really really good.


Usually with rap songs, at first listen, its one of two things, you either get stuck on the beat if its really good (like Jayz's Forever Young, it took me ages and ages to get to the words cos the beat was so good) or you only listen to the words cos the vocal strenght of the rapper plus his choice of words and rhymes hit you head on. Hey Babe however is one of those rap songs that at first listen (at least for me) you find yourself both enjoying the beat /instrument coordination at the background and at the same time you follow the lyrics.


You can't help but wanna listen to this song over and over, I know its been on replay since yesterday, I can't say I've listened to any other song since my first taste of the song.
The laid back flow, well arranged lyrics, ease of transition from one point in the song to another plus the rapper's voice and the beat are just too awesome to be ignored. It's quite possible that another rapper would have been able to blend with the beat/instrumental, might have been too harsh or too soft but Sifer's tone was just right!


Borrowing a line from the song itself, this song has "gotta blow up, dropping land mines".
I'm reminded of MI in his first days with Crowd Mentality and some of his earlier songs, not to say this is anywhere similar to that, (Sifer is giving a "holla" at his "queen B" cos he's a "young Hov") just a reminder of how he started off.


I'm rating this one a sexy 8.


To listen to the song and download click on the link http://hu.lk/5ar00owukclc or download it here https://m.box.com/view_shared/upjxl093tc9v011nwtrn . Don't say I didn't warn you, you'll definitely find yourself leaving it on repeat.....


Leave a comment, let me know what you think about the song, and what you would rate it. I'm sure the artist would appreciate the feedback

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?3

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure this is a wedding scene from a movie! Or what else could possibly be going on here?


Send your funny photos to abnefertiti@gmail.com and we'll upload them here.

A CAGE OF THEIR MIND

Everyone has an opinion. As a matter of fact, we are all entitled to at least one. I wonder how dull it would be if everyone thought the same, no one had an original thought in their head........ Extremely boring no doubt.


     It is our opinions that eventually inform our decisions, even the mundane things like what to wear on what day of the week. I have no qualms with personal opinions informing personal decisions. What I do have a problem with is shoving one's opinion down another's throat. Simply because you think your way is right for you doesn't make it right for someone else.

    
      We usually have a mould we expect people to fit into, to dress a certain way, look a certain way, never go beyond certain borders , and when they don't it becomes a problem. That person becomes an outcast.


     People are entitled to their idiosyncrasies, their expression of who they are, as long as it doesn't encroach on your rights or anyone else's, it really shouldn't matter. So what if your neighbour decides to cut her hair and dye it blue? or decides to pierce her nose. How does that affect the price of the blackberry Z10? And what does if matter if some guy in your neighbourhood gets a massive tattoo, as long as it doesn't magically appear on your skin, should you be bothered?


       People will be quick to say don't do this or don't do that, all because it doesn't fall within their definition of normal. For me conforming to the everyday norms is just boring and usually a sign of weakness, of fear. Fear to step out of the cage of conformity because then people will look at you like you are strange or weird..... I like strange, I like weird. Life's more fun that way. Life's too short to be trapped in a cage of someone else's mind.


    Explore the craziest recesses of your mind, decide who you are. Don't just go with the flow; the crowd is isn't always going in the right direction.

    

55TH GRAMMY AWARDS 2013 (the winners, the who shoulld have won(ers)

So, since most of us Nigerians were caught up in the rapture of the Super Eagles victory over the Stallions of Burkina Faso, we missed the 55th Grammy Awards. The biggest winners of the night were The Black Keys who went home with a total of 4 awards, other big winners were Skrillex, Gotye, Jay z and Kanye West with three wins each!
Here's list of the most important categories (to me anyway) with the winners, the losers and the "who should have won(ers?)"



Record Of The Year

Lonely Boy - The Black Keys

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

We Are Young - Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe

WINNER Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Thinkin Bout You - Frank Ocean

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift

"No doubt Gotye and Kimbra deserved this one, the song was a major hit and just about everyone loved it. *Except you were like my brother who was apparently living under a rock throughout 2012*



Album Of The Year

El Camino - The Black Keys

Some Nights - Fun.

WINNER Babel - Mumford & Sons

Channel Orange - Frank Ocean

Blunderbuss - Jack White

Since I'm a big fan of Frank Ocean I'd love to say Mumford &Sons shouldn't have walked away with this one. But its a really good album (if you can stand British guys singing for well over an hour) and they deserved it.


Song Of The Year

The A Team - Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)

Adorn - Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)

Call Me Maybe - Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)

WINNER We Are Young - Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)

We are Young as Song of the Year? In what planet if I may ask? With Miguel's Adorn and Carly Rae Jepson's Call me Maybe in the list they got this one wrong!



Best New Artist

Alabama Shakes

WINNER Fun.

Hunter Hayes

The Lumineers

Frank Ocean

My top contenders were, Frank Ocean, The Lumineers and Fun. But then we all love Fun (see what I did there?)








Best Pop Solo Performance

WINNER Set Fire To The Rain [live] - Adele

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen

Wide Awake - Katy Perry

Where Have You Been - Rihanna

If Adele hadn't won this one then there'd truly be no justice in the world!






Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Shake It Out - Florence & the Machine

We Are Young - Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe

WINNER Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Sexy And I Know It - Lmfao

Payphone - Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa







Best Pop Vocal Album

WINNER Stronger - Kelly Clarkson

Ceremonials - Florence & the Machine

Some Nights - Fun.

Overexposed - Maroon 5

The Truth About Love - Pink

Unlike the name of the album, I don't think Kelly Clarkson's album was the strongest on this list with Ceremonials, Some Nights as competition.






Best Dance Recording

Levels - Avicii

Let's Go - Calvin Harris Featuring Ne-yo

WINNER Bangarang - Skrillex Featuring Sirah

Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia Featuring John Martin

I Can't Live Without You - Al Walser

I work out to all the songs on this list but I was a little partial to Swedish House Mafia's Don't You Worry Child because I love the lyrics but Bangarang is a totally banging tune.







Best Rock Performance

Hold On - Alabama Shakes

WINNER Lonely Boy - The Black Keys

Charlie Brown - Coldplay

I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons

We Take Care Of Our Own - Bruce Springsteen

I listened to the Lonely Boy performance but I don't know if I would say its the best. Bruce Springsteen's we take care of our own was performed better if you ask me (but then nobody asked me)







Best Rock Song

Freedom At 21 - Jack White, songwriter (Jack White)

I Will Wait - Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall & Marcus Mumford, songwriters (mumford & Sons)

WINNER Lonely Boy - Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton & Patrick Carney, songwriters (the Black Keys)

Madness - Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)

We Take Care Of Our Own - Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)

If you are a fan of 80's style rock then you'll like Lonely boy(After watching Rock of Ages, I know I am) Just like the title says, its a song about loneliness and having "your heart ripped out of your chest"







Best Rock Album

WINNER El Camino - The Black Keys

Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay

The 2nd Law - Muse

Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen

Blunderbuss - Jack White

I can't be objective when Cold Play is in the mix so let's move on






Best R&B Performance

Thank You - Estelle

Gonna Be Alright (f.t.b.) - Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Ledisi

I Want You - Luke James

Adorn - Miguel

WINNER Climax - Usher






Best R&B Song

WINNER Adorn - Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)

Beautiful Surprise - Tamia Hill, Claude Kelly& Salaam Remi, songwriters (Tamia)

Heart Attack - Benjamin Levin, Rico Love &; Tremaine Neverson, songwriters (Trey Songz)

Pray For Me - Antonio Dixon, Kenny Edmonds, Anthony Hamilton & Patrick "jque" Smith, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)

Refill - Darhyl "dj" Camper, Elle Varner & Andrew "pop" Wansel, songwriters (Elle Varner)
Really, no surprise here.







Best Urban Contemporary Album

Fortune - Chris Brown

Kaleidoscope Dream - Miguel

WINNER Channel Orange - Frank Ocean

Finally Frank Ocean gets it. I was wondering if I was the only one who absolutely loves the album!







Best R&B Album

WINNER Black Radio - Robert Glasper Experiment

Back To Love - Anthony Hamilton

Write Me Back - R. Kelly

Beautiful Surprise - Tamia

Open Invitation - Tyrese

Surprise..... Not. Most of these albums were supporting the winner. I'm even still in shock that R.Kelly still sings (who knew)







RAP FIELD






Best Rap Performance

Hyfr (Hell Ya ... Right) - Drake Featuring Lil' Wayne

WINNER ... In Paris - Jay-z & Kanye West

Daughters - Nas

Mercy - Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz

I Do - Young Jeezy featuring Jay-z & André 3000







Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Wild Ones - Flo Rida Featuring Sia

WINNER No Church In The Wild - Jay-z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-dream

Tonight (Best You Ever Had) - John Legend Featuring Ludacris

Cherry Wine - Nas Featuring Amy Winehouse

Talk That Talk - Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z







Best Rap Song

Daughters - Nasir Jones & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Patrick Adams, Gary Decarlo, Dale Frashuer & Paul Leka, songwriters) (Nas) Track From: Life Is Good

Lotus Flower Bomb - Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson & Miguel Jontel Pimentel, songwriters (Wale Featuring Miguel)

Mercy - Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton & Kanye West, songwriters (Denzie Beagle, Winston Riley & Reggie Williams, songwriters) (Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)

The Motto - Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham & Tyler Williams, songwriters (Drake Featuring Lil' Wayne)

WINNER ... In Paris - Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West, Songwriters (W.A. Donaldson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Young, Wild & Free - Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Peter Hernandez & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (t. Bluechel, M. Borrow, T. Griffin, K. Jackson, N. Lee & M. Newman, songwriters) (Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars)








Best Rap Album

WINNER Take Care - Drake

Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1 - Lupe Fiasco

Life Is Good - Nas

Undun - The Roots

God Forgives, I Don't - Rick Ross

Based On A T.r.u. Story - 2 Chainz

I think the Grammy guys got it all right in the rap category. Although I'm wondering who decided 2 Chainz should be nominated at all!







Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners - Casting Crowns

Take Me To The King - Tamela Mann

Go Get It - Mary Mary

WINNER 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) - Matt Redman

My Testimony - Marvin Sapp








Best Gospel Song

WINNER Go Get It - Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, Songwriters (Mary Mary)

Hold On - Cheryl Fortune, James Fortune & Terence Vaughn, songwriters (James Fortune & Fiya, Monica & Fred Hammond)

I Feel Good - Phillip Feaster, Fred Hammond, Jonathan Miller & Calvin Rodgers, songwriters (Fred Hammond)

My Testimony - Aaron Lindsey & Marvin Sapp, songwriters (Marvin Sapp)

Released - Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Bill Winston & Living Word Featuring Donald Lawrence)







Best Contemporary Christian Music Song

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners - Mark Hall & Matthew West, songwriters (Casting Crowns)

WINNER 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) - Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman, songwriters (Matt Redman)

When Mercy Found Me - Jeff Pardo & Rhett Walker, songwriters (Rhett Walker Band)

White Flag - Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Matt Redman & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Passion & Chris Tomlin)

WINNER Your Presence Is Heaven - Israel Houghton & Micah Massey, songwriters (Israel & New Breed)





Best Gospel Album

Identity - James Fortune & Fiya

Jesus At The Center Live - Israel & New Breed

WINNER Gravity - Lecrae

I Win - Marvin Sapp

Worship Soul - Anita Wilson






Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Come To The Well - Casting Crowns

Where I Find You - Kari Jobe

Gold - Britt Nicole

WINNER Eye On It - Tobymac

Into The Light - Matthew West






Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

The Descendants - (Various Artists)

Marley- (Bob Marley & The Wailers)

WINNER Midnight In Paris- (Various Artists)

He Muppets- (Various Artists)

Rock Of Ages- (Various Artists)







Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media

The Adventures Of Tintin - The Secret Of The Unicorn - John Williams, Composer

The Artist - Ludovic Bource, Composer

The Dark Knight Rises - Hans Zimmer, Composer

WINNER The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Composers

Hugo - Howard Shore, Composer

Journey - Austin Wintory, Composer







Best Song Written For Visual Media

Abraham's Daughter (from The Hunger Games) - T Bone Burnett, Win Butler & Régine Chassagne, Songwriters (Arcade Fire)

Learn Me Right (from Brave) - Mumford & Sons, Songwriters (Birdy & Mumford & Sons)

Let Me Be Your Star (from Smash) - Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Songwriters (Katharine Mcphee & Megan Hilty)

Man Or Muppet (from The Muppets) Bret Mckenzie, Songwriter (Jason Segel & Walter)

WINNER Safe & Sound (from The Hunger Games) - T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, Songwriters (Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)

If you've seen Hunger Games(the movie itself was a bit overhyped) then you'll agree its a beautiful song.







Short Form Music Video

Houdini - Foster The People | Daniels, Video Directors; Gaetano Crupi, Video Producer

No Church In The Wild - Jay-Z & Kanye West Featuring Frank Ocean & The-dream | Romain Gervais, Video Director; Mourad Belkeddan, Video Producer

Bad Girls - M.I.A | Romain Gavras, Video Director; Romain Gavras, Video Producer

WINNER We Found Love - Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris | Melina Matsoukas, Video Director; Juliette Larthe & Ben Sullivan, Video Producers

Run Boy Run - Woodkid | Yoann Lemoine, Video Director; Roman Pichon, Video Producer

Rihanna's We Found love was definitely a captivating video, controversial yes but that just might have added to its appeal







Long Form Music Video

WINNER Big Easy Express - Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros & Old Crow Medicine Show | Emmett Malloy, Video Director; Bryan Ling, Mike Luba & Tim Lynch, Video Producers

Bring Me Home - Live 2011 - Sade | Sophie Muller, Video Director; Roger Davies, Grant Jue & Sophie Muller, Video Producers

Radio Music Society - Esperanza Spalding | Pilar Sanz, Video Director; Esperanza Spalding, Video Producer

Get Along - Tegan & Sara | Salazar, Video Director; Nick Blasko, Piers Henwood, Sara Quin ; Tegan Quin, Video Producers

From The Sky Down - U2 | Davis Guggenheim, Video Director; Belisa Balaban, Brian Celler, Davis Guggenheim & Ted Skillman, Video Producers

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?4

 

I really don't know what to say about this one. But a brother can dream can't he?