Entertainment

Former Rivers PMAN Boss Pays Tribute To Sound Sultan

Published

4 years ago

July 16, 2021

Former Chairman of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Mr Robin Maja (The Farms) has paid tribute to late singer and song writer, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan who died recently in America as a result of throat cancer.
Robin Mama, who spoke with The Tide recently described Sound Sultan as one of the pace setters of modern hiphop music in Nigeria. He noted that Sound Sultan’s demise had left a big vacuum in the Nigerian music industry. He stated that Sound Sultan was a talented, resourceful and enterprising musician, who had contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Nigerian music industry.
The former PMAN boss prayed God to give the late singer eternal rest as he prayed God to grant Sound Sultan’s family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
Sound Sultan, born Olanrewaju Fasasi, was a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, comedian and recording artiste. He was regarded as one of the pace setters of modern hiphop music in Nigeria. In 1991 he had taken an interest in music, mining at school parties and writing his own lyrics. He attributed his early stage experience through Baba Dee qe he started learning how to play the guitar after his secondary education and was in a band in 1999.
Sound Sultan’s career in showbiz started in the 1990s when he hosted show to raise money for studio sessions, by 1999 he had won numerous local talent hunt shows. He released his first single “Jagbajantis” in 2000 which was a hit in Nigeria. After independently releasing other works he was signed by Kennis Music. He released four album. By 2007 his contract with the label expired and he partnered with Baba Dee to start Naija Ninjas, a parent organisation for a record label production, outfit and clothing line.
After starting as a rapper, he has worked in different musical genres from RnB to Afrobeat, Soul and Nigerian Fuji music. He had said artistes should not be judged on the genre in which they perform, that the important thing was the message conveyed in the music. Under Naija Ninjas he released ‘Back From The Future’ (2010) and signed artistes such as Karma Da Rapper Young Greya Shawn and Black’s.
Sound Sultan began a working relation slip with Wyclef Jean when featured alongside 2face Idibia and Faze on proud to be African from Wyclef’s welcome to Haiti Creole 101 album. They have collaborated on two other projects, King of my Country (2009) and People Bad (2012).
In 2012, it was announced that Sound Sultan was made a UN Ambassador for Peace for his exemplary life style and career. In 2015, Sound Sultan released the rap single, ‘Remember’, after a long absence from the music scene.
After a fallout of African Basketball league, Sound Sultan joined forces with the organisers of the continental Basketball league to become a team owner of Lagos City Stars, the 2017 champions and a facilitator of the league entertainment. Sound Sultan featured on the Honorebels 2019 single ‘Bridal’, with Joe EL.

By: Jacob Obinna

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

17 hours 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

18 hours 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

18 hours 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.