CREATIVITY

CONFIDENCE

NIGERIANS PARTICIPATION IN 2015 ELECTION

2015 JIMI AGBAJE ELECTION

Negus

Kemba, formerly YC the Cynic, born Matthew Jefferson, November 21, is an American hip hop recording artist from Hunts Point, Bronx, New York. Hailing from the origin of hip hop, Kemba speaks honestly about his awareness of others’ expectations to the art, “It feels like there’s a void in the Bronx, and I don’t necessarily feel like I have to fill it, but I feel like I could.” A heart-wrenching storyteller, Kemba’s music has advanced into a one of a kind path, a blend of rapping and singing over astute, assorted beats. Kemba has a conversational style, keeping a genuine, aesthetic edge to his art. His changeable flow gives his tunes power, including a feeling of enterprise from verse to verse. Smooth instead of hyper, Kemba can switch between without sounding jumpy. Political and cultural themes anchor his 2016 album Negus. He was named one of the “Top 5 Underground Hip-Hop Artists in New York” by Deli Magazine(2010).

David D. Michael

WEALTH OR VIOLENCE

It is better to be alone than to be with someone and still feel alone-Ty Howard.

The autumn leaves rattle as they make their way down the sidewalk in front of me and for a while, I stare at them. They had waited till they were dried up before leaving the tree. I stare up at the spot I’ve grown accustomed to recognizing as the forty-sixth floor of the sixty-two story building and sigh. I won’t be an autumn leaf.

My coat is way too light for the weather and the cold bites into my skin. I try swaying and bouncing to generate some heat. It’s to no avail. I wish I had a warmer coat. I wish I could afford one. As I raise my arm to read out the time on my watch, the three-million-dollar wedding ring on my finger catches a ray of sun and glistens, causing me to consider pawning it.

But I can’t. Henry would kill me.

            As you may –or may not- have figured out, I’m a princess. But not the kind that’s rich.

 

I remember being the seventeen-year-old Irish girl who lived in a little village. I used to laugh a lot back then. I was very easy to please and spoke to a lot of the folks there, but for some reasons, I didn’t have any friends apart from my boyfriend. Maybe my lack of friends was the reason why I was in a constant state of delirium when the second son of the queen kept dropping by the store where I worked so that he could talk to me.

Henry was such a charmer. I could never say no to him. Not when he kissed me twenty minutes after I told him I had a boyfriend. Not when he asked me to break up with my boyfriend. Not when he suggested we make out in old Wiley’s barn.  Not when he asked me to lie to my parents about doing extra school lessons so that we could sneak into his room to “have fun.” Not when he left me and told me to get rid of the baby. Not when he came back and begged for forgiveness. Not when he asked me not to listen to all the rumors about him and the other town girls and certainly not when he proposed to me with this very ring.

The ring was an heirloom of the royal family. It was a tradition that the son who got married first acquired it. Sometimes, I’m almost sure that the reason Henry was suddenly in such a haste to get married all those years back was so that he would get it. Once, I asked him why he had proposed to me when he did, and he glared at me and muttered, “Does it matter?”

Even if he denies it, I’m nearly sure that he wanted to become the next king. The crown belongs to the first prince to have a son. We had tried hard for so long; Henry was getting more and more agitated daily as I told him the pregnancy test was negative. However, as soon as his brother, Will, and his wife announced that their baby was a boy, Henry disappeared for almost a week and wouldn’t welcome any conversation on the matter.

It was then that it slowly began to dawn on me how silly a girl I had been. In his absence, I had gone to the hospital, and the doctor had confirmed what I had feared ever since the abortion. I won’t ever be a mother as there was severe damage to my womb. The anger that had been suppressed within me all these years suddenly began to well up, and during the week after his return, he had complained about his dinner and called me useless, “You are unable to even to conceive of a child. How hard could that have been?” and I had gotten enraged and yelled about how it was all his fault. I might have gone a little out of line when I told him not to dare blame me as he had killed his way to the throne all those years back when he made me lose the child I was sure would have been a boy.

It was the first time I had ever spoken back to him, and after staring at me in confusion for a while, he had stricken me across my cheek and told me not to think I could talk to him in that manner.

The very day after, we had moved to London, him claiming that the business he had there needed his attention. There was no business. As irrational as it might seem, I’m quite sure the reason we moved was so that nobody would notice the bruise on my cheek as that would tarnish his name. Or maybe it was so that he would never have to worry about such things as there would be no one I would know or run to whenever he decided to beat me up. This act, he performed a lot of the most concerning trivial things. Sometimes over nothing. He would return drunk, and I would watch him stagger towards the room, and he would suddenly lunge at me, claiming that I was judging him with my stare.

In barely two years, all of his fortunes were lost to drinking and gambling. The saddest thing was that despite his numerous attempts, he only ever won once. That day was the single day throughout our marriage that I allowed myself to think that he might consider me his wife. He had returned with a costly coat for me, and we had gone out for dinner at an expensive restaurant. When we had returned home, he had held my face in his hands and studied my face with a smile that elicited one from me in response. Then I had felt so overwhelmed with hope and joy. Maybe things could get better. When he kissed me, I felt tingles in my toes.

The day after that, he announced that we were going to visit his parents over the weekend and that I should pack my coat. We stayed with his parents for two days and during the dinner on both days; he insisted that I wear my jacket and found creative ways to insert “just that night when we Imperial Foods” into the dinner conversations.

I think he achieved what he wanted to because every one of his brother’s wives had admired my coat and one of his brother’s had mentioned that he had heard only wonderful things about the restaurant.

By the time we got back to London, everything had returned to normal, and he threw himself into the gambling with a renewed vengeance, claiming that he won once already and could foresee many such successes in the future.

Barely seven months after had he told me that part of the winnings of his victorious gamble was an apartment in a high rise building. He had said that the view, the concrete walkway in front if the trees, was terrific. He didn’t know I had seen the eviction notice and I didn’t inform him of it. One can only be beaten up so many times before one knows where to draw the line.

That’s how we ended up here. Almost Penniless. Regardless though, there is a brothel in the other street that he frequents and he somehow always has the money to buy drinks.

Once, when we had nothing to eat for breakfast, and I suggested we asked one of his brother’s for help, he had beaten me up and told me I was an ingrate. I was lucky to be married to a prince. I didn’t bother telling him that my parents were richer than we are now.

I tried getting a job, but everything required a level of formal education I didn’t possess and Henry forbade me from doing any cleaning or serving. “I won’t have my wife stoop so low.” That day, I had laughed for so long and cried for even longer. I was useless.

Now, I’ve decided to put an end to that. I’m walking away. I’m sure life has more in store for me than abuse, hunger, and idleness. Henry would instead kill me than have me get a divorce. He would say that such things don’t speak well of a man, much less of a prince. But I can’t do it any longer. I have to move on and try to gather the pieces of my broken life and make something out of it.

I walk into the building for the very last time, get into our apartment and drop the ring on his kitchen table. My bag is very light since there’s little I haven’t pawned to be able to afford a meal. I pick it up and walk out of the building… for the very last time.

Adeleke Praise

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SELLING TO MILLENNIALS.

We live in a socially-connected world. At any given time, hundreds of thousands of people are either tweeting, making a Facebook post, watching a YouTube video or engaging in one of the numerous internet activities. Not surprisingly, majority of internet users are millennials.

William Strauss & Neil Howe are widely credited with naming the millennials in 1987 in the book

Generations: The History of America’s Future 1584-2069.  Demographers have had diverse views on the age boundaries of millennials. Business Insider claims Millennials age range is from 1982-2004; Census Bureau’s 1982-2000; PEW Research Centre 1981-1997; and Goldman Sachs Global Investment Reach describes millennials as anyone born between 1980 and 2000. There are about 92 million millennials and some of the behavioral characteristics of millennials include that they are more predisposed to access than ownership. This has given rise to the sharing economy on which businesses like UBER, AIRBNB have built their business model and made profit.

The findings of a research conducted The Impact of YouTube and Blogs on the purchase decision of Millennials by Ayobami G. Olajide on millennials in Covenant University. The study shows the behavioral dynamics of Millennials and how they respond to brand portrayal on YouTube and Blogs.

 

1. Millennials are not Brand Loyal: The research showed that most of them would not buy a brand with negative reviews. 52% of respondents who strongly disagree that they would buy a brand with negative review. Also, 53% of them would buy an unfamiliar product with spectacular product reviews. This shows that millennials are not brand loyal and they prefer functionality over name tag.

 

2. Millennials rely heavily on Reviews while making purchase decision:

The statistics gathered have uncovered a trend that brands need to take as instrumental in pivoting business operations. Brands need to focus on getting good review and need to be more intentional about how their brands are portrayed because 82% of respondents agree that reviews are major determinants in influencing their purchase decision.

3. Millennials think highly of brands on YouTube and Blogs:

The research findings establish that millennials perceive brands heavily represented on YouTube as superior brands because 73% strongly agree and agree to this notion while 57% strongly agree that brands heavily represented on blogs are superior brands. What this means for businesses is that they should invest in maintaining their online reputation on YouTube and Blogs because millennials equate YouTube and Blogs portrayal to actual brand representation.

 

4. Millennials actively seek out YouTube and Blogs during purchase consideration:

 

It has been established that millennials seek out information sources to aid their purchase decision making process. YouTube and Blogs have been identified as a go-to source in the decision making process. 32% of respondents strongly agree that they would seek out blog review over advertisements while 31% agree that they would seek out a blog review over advertisement. The finding is similar in the case of YouTube as 29% and 40% strongly agree and agree that they would seek out product demonstration over advertisement.

Therefore, there could be a correlation between the representation of brands on YouTube and Blogs and their overall patronage.

 

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Brands are encouraged to pay attention to their company’s image on social media spaces and their portrayal on YouTube and Blogs as it can affect their profitability positively or negatively.

It is also important to note that millennials are information-driven buyers so brands must take note to adopt a content-focused approach to marketing to millennials like creation of product demonstration videos, explainer videos, influencer marketing and advocacy, blog posts, etc. rather than adopting traditional marketing models.

 

Olajide G. Ayobami

Starboy Wizkid finally drops Soco video

Wizkid’s club banger with Ceeza Milli, Spotless360 and Terri, Soco finally delivers visuals to the hit tune.

The video was directed by Clarence Peters, click the link blow, watch the video and feel free to share your thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qz7lMsFUJU

NEW AGE MUSIC

When someone mentions new age music what comes to your head?

Generations of young artistes with access to the internet?

The rising number of stars in the music scene?

The unfamiliar sounds in recently released songs?

There isn’t a definite explanation of what new age music as it depends on your perspective.

Wikipedia defines new-age music as a genre of music intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation and optimism

New Age music isn’t really about who is running in to the music industry making waves, getting seats occupied and filling up event centers. It is about going beyond the conventional genres with open minds, the unfamiliar sounds we hear, sounds that are different from Nigeria’s conventional heavy drum beats and tone of struggle or street life.

New age music creates a space where artistes can freely express themselves through their music which serves as an echo what they represent.

New age music showcases the creativity in music, beauty and the art of music itself. There is a long list of creatives pushing the force of new age music, like Ego Menar, Psycho yp, Amaarae, Famous Bobson, Lady Donli, Tonero, Nonso Amadi, Odunsi The Engine, Tay Iwar, Funbi, Foresythe, Tjan, Showdemcamp, Tomi Thomas etc. These are just a few of the long list, making it big, expressing themselves, having over 10k plays on streaming platforms.

ORE SOWEMINO

TREND ALERT

Fashion to me is self-articulation of workmanship and innovativeness not essentially garments things but rather likewise incorporates our fundamental need like attire, hair, improvement, lodging and even conduct. Fashion resembles a common custom or style.

Fashion is Vogue. This year has been another big one in the fashion and beauty industry. Above all, there are those trends that almost everyone loved, from our A-list celebs, to ordinary fashion lovers. Here are my top 5

Right off the bat: Sleeves       

This point can’t be contended not would it be able to be overemphasized. Sleeves have a method for making spirit to a whole outfit nowadays, unique style of articulated sleeves have been ruling appropriate from the runway to our lanes.

 

Besides: Frayed Hems

Since I wasn’t generally a fanatic of tore pants, it was decent of fashion to acquire something new and crisp and cool in the meantime which is Frayed sews and it’s a style I cherish as a result of its uniqueness and coolness. It’s additionally exceptionally easygoing too with a great deal of solace.

 

Thirdly: Tote sacks

These are a la mode sacks which by the name “tote” intends to convey. The tote slant has been around for some time now and I cherish it since it makes an easily chic look.

 

Fourthly: Palazzos

These are authoritatively my best outfit drift. I cherish them for solace and style. It fits each body compose in all the correct spots.

To wrap things up: Layering

Layering has truly up its diversion this fashion season, there are such a significant number of delightful kind of layering of outfits and it’s critical to know how to boost each bit of thing in your closet and still look sharp at the same time.

Extra: Mules are my best sort of shoes after foot rear areas with lashes since it’s extremely rich and chic. You simply feel great wearing them.

Abigail