Entertainment

Rulers Of Nigerian Hip-Hop Clan On Parade

Published

12 years ago

November 29, 2013

Artistes featuring in Stigma

Hip Hop Music, one of the
thriving genres of music has come to stay in the Nigerian music clan and the younger stars are giving the older ones a run for their money. The new wine making super stars now rub shoulders with the older artistes to whom they once looked up to as their mentors and role models.
It is not gainsaying the fact that the younger generation of music artistes are now in their own class and are the most sort after by multinationals, telecommunication outfits and major event sponsors, the result of which are their mega bucks and overwhelming wealth which they flaunt around without minding whose ox is gored.
Some of their escapades in the music industry in Nigeria include luxury mansions, sold out contracts, huge fan base, state-of-the art cars, best selling albums, multimillion naira endorsement deals chattered flights, big budget videos and customs made outfits among other achievements.
These raves of the moment include:- Ice Prince: Panshak Zamani, popularly known as Ice Prince, gained international recognition after beating 2 Face Idibia to the Best International Act Award (BET) Awards. He also won the Hennessy artistry 2009, aged 26.
Born to Mr and Mrs Nasara Zamani in Minna, Niger State, Ice Prince who featured in Yvonne Nelson’s “House of Gold” alongside Ghanaian actor Majid Michael is a proud owner of a 2010 model of Benfley GT, a Range Rover Suv, a mansion in Ogudu of Lagos and his home town in Jos.
The Chocolate City Records “golden boy” single, titled “Oleku” has endeared him to his numerous fans as well as his monstrous music album “aboki”, while his Vip Video directed by Clarence Peters is a huge market success.
Wizkid: This 23 years old music sensation started singing at the age of 16. Today, his talent has taken him to different parts of the world and seen him perform alongside world class artistes such as Chris Brown, Akon, Young Jeezy and Kardinal official.
At 23, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun alias Wizkid leads the pack of a list of endorsement deals including one from MTN which has placed him on the list of big earning music artistes in Nigeria. At present, he is the highest paid Pepsi ambassadors in Africa and lives in a N140 million choice home in Lekki Lagos.
Wizkid’s personal cars include: a N14.6 million Porsche Panamera, N10 million BMW. X6, N6 million blue Volkswagen convertible and a Hondai Sonata.
Burna Boy: Burna boy broke into the music industry in December 2010 when he moved back to Nigeria from London and has remained a house hold name in Port Harcourt, but it was not until June 2012 when he made a cross over to Lagos with his mid tempo summer Jam “like to party”.
Davido: At 20 David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido is oneo of the most popular young artistes in Nigeria. So far, he has won some international awards and performed at various shows within and outside the country. He is also face of MTN pulse.
His personal collection of exotic cars comprise a silver 2012 Honda accord, a 2012 Hyundai Sonata, a N12 million 2012 Audi Q7, N17 million Chevrolet Camaro and a N21 million Mercedes Benz – G55 AMG.
After his monster album ‘Gobee’ Davido has just released another monster hit titled “Skelewu” now making waves in the radio and television stations across the country.
Olamide: For the self acclaimed “voice of the street”, who grew up in The Bariga area of Lagos, who is also known as the alternative rapper after Dagrin, fame did not come cheap.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.

Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.

Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.

Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.

What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.

Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.

Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.

Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.

Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.

And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.

Entertainment

Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.

The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.

“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.

While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.

Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”

The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.

Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.

The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.

Entertainment

Jesse Flames Opens 2026 With ‘Praise The Lord’ Featuring Magnito

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.

Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.

“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”

The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.

Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.

Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.

The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.

“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.