Culture

Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie fires shots at Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Asake in new single ‘Brag’

Published

5 months ago

May 13, 2024

Ghanaian rapper, Michael Owusu Addo, popularly known as Sarkodie, has sparked a new round of storm after he fired shots at Nigerian Afrobeats singers, Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy and Asake in his new single, “Brag.”

In the single which dropped on Friday, May 10, Sarkodie boasted about his 2016 sell-out performance at the O2 Arena, claiming he paved the way for the Nigerian acts.

The Ghanaian rapper said he laid the light for Nigerian Afrobeats top artistes and as such, they should be grateful to him and his pioneering role in projecting their careers.

The “Painkiller” hitmaker boasted about selling out the O2 in 2016, long before the Nigerian stars and created the platform they are now enjoying.

He went on to place himself in the same league as Grammy Award-winning Burna Boy and Ghanaian rapper, Black Sherif.

Sarkodie also stated that his main competitors in the music industry were American rappers Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, noting that he wasn’t on the same level as African rappers.

A line from the song goes:

“Wizkid came, I was already doing it, Davido started, I was improving it, then Odogwu came through Black Sherif & Asake.”

The release of “Brag” has however, elicited controversy and heated debates within the African music community, with fans weighing in on Sarkodie’s bold assertions and the perceived rivalry between him and the mentioned Nigerian artists.

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Culture

South African tavern owner kills seven, self in deadly mass shooting

Published

2 days ago

October 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A South African tavern owner has reportedly killed seven people, including a three-year-old child, in a mass shooting in Gauteng Province, before turning the gun on himself.

The provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, who confirmed the incident, said it happened during the early hours of Sunday, October 13, in the Mokokotlong informal settlement and is being investigated by police in Orange Farms.

Muridili said the incident was stoked after one of the victims went to the local tavern to buy alcohol but he found that it was already closed.

“He (the victim) had an altercation with the tavern owner and went back home. It is alleged that the tavern owner followed him home where the family members were still celebrating after lobola negotiations. The tavern owner entered the house and opened fire on the family members.

“He shot and killed seven people including a three-year-old boy (five family members, a neighbour, and a friend).

“Four people survived the shooting, two of them, a 31-year-old and a one-year-old boy were taken to hospital with injuries while a 24-year-old woman and a four-year-old did not have injuries,” Muridili said.

Muridili said the tavern owner then drove back to his home in Evaton where he then turned the gun on himself and shot himself.

‘He was rushed to the hospital but died on arrival. The Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit has registered seven counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and an inquest,” Muridili said.

Culture

South African star Tyla grabs four MTV EMA nominations

Published

3 days ago

October 12, 2024

Isaac Dachen

2024 is definitely a good year for South African “Ampiano” star, Tyla, as she continues to shine on the global stage after receiving four nominations for the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs).

Tyla, who already boasts of an incredible catalogue full of awards, has scooped a Grammy, a Billboard R&B Award, and an MTV Video Music Award (VMA).

She has also received five nominations for the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) and has more opportunities of scooping more awards with her latest nominations.

Tyla’s EMA nominations include Best New Artist, Best Afrobeats Artist, Best R&B Artist and Best African Act, making it her first-ever nomination for the EMAs.

Tyla who spoke on the new nominations, explained she was beyond grateful for the nominations and said it was “a dream come true to be recognised among such incredible artists.”

According to the South African, the “Water’ star has paved the way for African artists on the global stage, proven to be an inspiration for musicians across the continent, and been a key figure among African artists on the global stage.

“Tyla’s recognition in the Best Afrobeats category, in particular, is significant. It reflects the growing popularity of the genre globally, with artists like Burna Boy and Rema also nominated,” the entertainment platform wrote.

The EMAs will take place in Manchester on 10 November and fans can place their votes up until 6 November with Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr, also nominated as “Best New Artist.”