Tuesday, 27 December 2011

Top Ten Nigerian Albums In 2011

 

10 Double Dare -- Dare

Label: Soul Muzik

Date: March 2011

Double Dare Is A Double album comprising two parts; Heart (majorly slow love songs) and Beat (more up tempo and fast paced songs). Featuring Production By TY Mix And Providing Hit Singles Like Love The Way You Are, Ba Ni Kidi As Well As The Chamillionaire assisted Love The Way You Are remix. Other Guests On The Album Include Flavour, Timaya, 9ice, jesse jagz, mo' cheddah, p square.

 

9 Super Sun -- Bez

Label: Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions

Released: July 2011

Bez; this soft-spoken soul singer breezed into the hearts of the ladies. With his slow-music. Honestly, I didn't like bez at first, I didn't get More You (his first single) at all, even though I loved the kemi adetiba directed video. But listening to and watching bez perform LIVE at an event in lagos blew me away. I searched for, found his songs and eventually copped the album. Super sun is something different, something fresh, after all the heavy and fast paced beats we listened to all year, super sun offers something mellow, something to slow it all down. If You Love Asa, You're Gonna Love Bez. Highlights include Super Sun, Super Sun remix, More You, That Stupid Song. The album features production by Cobhams & Guests the likes of eLDee, Eva, Ice Prince & Praise

 

8 Port-Hacourt First Son -- Duncan Mighty

Label:

Date: January 2011

Ask Any Young Person From The Eastern Part of Nigeria Who Their Best Artiste Is, And Some Might Mention Duncan Mighty. The Singer Has A Knack For Making Catchy, Melodious Sing Alongs That Rock Any Party. He Makes The Best Gyration Music while also passing a message across. The album takes up many topics from love to hate to forgiveness and to the good life. The singer smiled home to the bank with numerous shows all around the east

 

7 Nonilizing -- Samklef

Label:

Date: January 2011

Samklef noni, producer extraordinaire is gifted. If u see him on the streets of ogba, a suburb of lagos, just say noni. I had heard a couple of samklef songs on the radio n t.v (laba laba, n noni). Then I attended his birthday bash in february 2011 where I had mad fun n got a signed nonilizing cd as well, I didn't even give it a chance. A few days later, I slotted it into my laptop and for the next hour I was unconciously screaming noni n nodding my head. Immediately Molowononi came on, I knew it was a hit. Nonilizing is one of those albums you can buy over and over again.  Surprisingly lovely effort by samklef; excellent production and superb delivery by guests such as Wizkid, Da prince, Olamide, Ice Prince and Skales.

6 Super C Season -- Naeto C

Label: Cerious Music

Date: January 2011

2008's 'You Know My P' took many by surprise as we had never seen a rap album achieve such a huge acceptance by mainstream naija (where hip hop and rap isn't really accepted). Naeto Chikwe produced hit track after hit track and also made popular street slangz like 'P' and 'las gid'i... So when it was announced in january that the album was ready for release, fans across naija were clearing their music shelves in anticipation. Preceded by smash hit singles like 'Ako Mi Ti Toju', 'Ten Over Ten' and 'Share My Blessing' (which features soul maestro asa). Naeto C not only delivered another classic album but also provided an album which even your mother and aunties can listen to due to, with the infusion of pidgin english, as well native languages like ibo and yoruba. On this album, naeto worked with TY Mix, Sarz, Sossick, Dr Frabs and Terry G and guests the likes of Omawumi, Asa, Waje, Da Grin, Terry G, YQ, as well as UK rapper Sway.

 

5 Rapsodi -- Olamide

Label: Coded Tunes

Released: April 2011

When Da Grin Died Last Year, the whole naija music was saddened by the loss of a huge talent, he is remembered in nigerian pop culture. The akogun of naija rap paved the way and inspired a lot of up and coming artistes, one of them is olamide. think I'm lying? he even made a tribute the song the nigerian icon in debut album rapsodi. Rapsodi was surprisingly good, preceded by smash hit track eni duro and its very creative dj tee directed video, naija peeps really took this guy serious when the second single omo to shan featuring rave of the moment singer wizkid. Backed by production from the legendary Id cabasa as well as great delivery, clever rhymes as well as native proverbs, all layed out in his mother tongue, rapsodi is an album that was superior to most in 2011. the album had guests such as wizkid, 9ice, terry tha rapman,  as well as label mates like 2phat, adol, reminisce. Olamide can hopefully, get even better from here.

 

4 Versus/Bashorun Gaa -- 9ice

Label: Alapomeji

Released: December 2011

After several delays and controversies, 9ice finally released his much anticipated double-disc album in dec 2011. 9ice delivered on this showing how hard working he has been and providing enough material for his fans to last them for years. I'm not sure what the official numbers for the album are but the album moved off the store shelves faster than usain bolts gets off the blocks. the album is in two parts. Consisting of Two Parts; Versus which favours the younger section of his fans has a track list that reads the who is who in the industry, Hitlist would have been a more appropriate name for the album. The other part is Bashorun gaa which features the regular 9ice with the usual serving of african proverbs. Versus/Bashorun Gaa is feel good musci and is a good item to include in christmas hampers for your boss or your mum!

 

3 The Invasion -- P Square

Label: Square Records

Released: July 2011

Naija's Favorite Twins Have Already Achieved Veteran Status, Yet The Invasion Showed That These Talented Guys Are Not Resting On Their Laurels Just Yet. The Uber Succesful Duo, Invaded The Media, Market & Our Hearts With Yet Another Smash Hit Album! With Little or No promo, Just A Concert which was held a day after the album was released. No Preceeding Singles, Just Good, Quality stuff all round. Naija surely didn't see this one coming! P square didn't really have to do much work as they unleashed their secret weapon on the album to unsuspecting fans, MAY D the square record signee did what he does best, he stole the show at every opportunity he was given! Of course, like everything associated with p square is handled in the family, this was no exception as production was by jude engees okoye and the twins themselves. Notable guests on the album include, Naeto C, Muna, Eva, Tiwa Savage & May D.

 

2 -- The Dreamer Project (Show Dem Camp)

Label:

Released: September 2011

My Personal Favorite -_-

Okay, You May Not Know who these guys are, but trust me, they make good music. Show Dem Camp easily is my album of the year! Both locally and internationally, the album I jammed the most. The duo of Tec & Ghost provided their fans with an instant classic! their varying styles served to add spice to the excellent beats provided by the various producers on the album. Not since M.I's Talk About It has a nigerian rap album been this good! Lyrically, this album stands toe to toe with any other album out there, even modenine's pentium IX! Pound for pound its the best naija rap album ever!! the arrangement, the production, even the skits, excellent! Tec & Ghost took no prisoners

The Dreamer Project Is Like The Hip Hop Equivalent of The Hail Mary Pass in American Football! If Only their distribution and production had been better, getting the album was like searching for the holy grail, I was glad I persisted though as I wasn't dissapointed at all. The dreamer project was backed by beats from Ikon,   Rundatrax, Jusa Dementor, Kurt, Ceeko as well as Show N Prove and features guests like May D (who stole the song here too), Eva, Eyfa, M.I, Lynxx, Temi Dollface, Poe, Badman Floss, Abasa,  Lucci, Benny P, A1, Nneka & Tuface Idibia. These Duo "Showed Dem" What Real Music Is About In 2011

 

1 -- SuperStar  Wizkid

Studio Album By Wizkid

Label: EME Records

Date: June 2011

Starboy! ,as Ayo Balogun is sometimes called, is undoubtedly the biggest artist in naija right now! Not since Tuface Idibia went solo or even D'Banj has Naija had a more widely accepted and crossovered artist. The 17 tracker was launched amid huge media hype and much pomp at the Eko with a large concert. The album was a huge hit and it had wizkid combining several styles of music. It also showed how much wizkid has grown as an artist, as he included material he had done earlier in his career. However, this proved to be a minor blip on the album as it seemed to lack cohesion and no particular arrangement. that could also be as a result of the album featuring a pot pouri of producers such as Samklef, Jay Sleek, Knighthouse, E Kelly. Guests Artistes On The Album Include Wande Coal, D Prince And Label Mates, Skales & Banky W. All In All, Superstar Is A Solid Debut Album earning the Holla At your boy singer awards both locally and internationally, MOBO, Headies etc. Despite Pressure & Huge Expectations, Wizkid Delivered To His Fans & Earned Rave Reviews From Critics. Wizkid Has Perfomed at almost all the major shows both in Nigeria and abroad in the last 12months.

 

Honorable Mentions Also Go To Beautiful Noize (Timi Dakolo),  Terry G.zuz (Terry G), Evolution (Godwon)

Top Ten Albums of 2011

Top Ten Albums of 2011

This year-end list is composed of The Best Selling & Most Popular albums released Between Jan. 1  through Dec. 2011. The Amount of Units Sold By The Albums As Well As Acceptance & Popularity Also Play A Part. All The Albums Listed Here Have Been Number One On the Billboard Album Chart At Some Point. However, Albums Like Rihanna's "Talk That Talk", Michael Bubles' "Christmas" Album As Well As The Roots' "Undun" Were Not Considered.

*Honorable Mentions Go To

Four The Record (Miranda Lambert), Own The Night (Lady Antebellum) As Well As Ambition (Wale) & Late Nights & Early Mornings (Marsha Ambrosius) And Bon Iver.

10 -- Mixtapes, EPs & Indie Rap:

Indie Music made a big showing this year, several lyricists plagued with label issues finally got their albums released. Veteran MCs made significant comebacks. While Conducting The Compilation of The List I Just Couldn't Just Ignore The Great Music Provided By EPs Such As Bad Meets Evil: Welcome To Hell 2 (Eminem & Royce Da 5'9") or mixtapes Such As House of Balloons (The Weeknd) ,Nolstagia/Ultra (Frank Ocean) & Section 80 (Kendrick Lamar). Indie Releases Like Tyler, The Creator's Goblin, All 6's & 7's (Tech N9ne)-- Sorry Guys, we're waiting for that proper studio project. Artists With Record Label Issues Who Still Managed To Put Out Good Efforts Such As L.A.S.E.R.S (Lupe Fiasco), Grestest Story Never Told (Saigon) Get A Shout Out Here.

9 Tha Carter IV -- Lil Wayne

Released

August 29, 2011

Genre

Hip hop

Length

60:30

Label

Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic

Producer

Lil Wayne (exec.), Cortez Bryant (exec.), Ronald "Slim" Williams (exec.), Birdman (exec.), Willy Will, Bangladesh, Noel "Detail" Fisher, T-Minus, Polow da Don, Develop, Kenoe, Cool & Dre, Infamous, Rob Holladay, The Smeezingtons, Snizzy, MegaMan, Young Fyre, The Commission, Drum Up

Tha Carter IV is the ninth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. The fourth installment in Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter' series isn't exactly his greatest, but after having to wait an extra eight  months while Weezy sat in a Rikers  Island jail cell for a gun possession  charge, it satiated wagging tongues.  The anthemic lead single, '6 Foot 7  Foot,' showed promise, but Wayne  surprised fans, taking a turn from the  usual money-loving and gun-slinging  themes of his earlier tracks to his own  take on love, especially on songs such as 'How to Love,' 'How to Hate' and 'So  Special.' However, Songs Like 'Blunt Blowin', 'John' and 'President Carter' "6 Foot, 7 Foot" show that despite  taking chances (and taking up skateboarding), The Old P***y Loving Weezy F Can Still Deliver When He Wants.

Appearances on the album include Cory Gunz, Drake, T-Pain, Tech N9ne, Andre 3000, Rick Ross, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Birdman, Kevin Rudolf, Jadakiss, Bun B, Nas, Shyne, and Busta Rhymes.

Tha Carter IV achieved first week sales of 964,000 copies in the United States and became Lil Wayne's second album to top the US Billboard 200 in its first week.

Critics felt it was a disappointment compared to his previous work. Nevertheless, The album provided a couple of hit singles and On November 16, 2011, the album was certified double platinum.

Highlights of The album include;

"6 Foot 7 Foot" (The album's lead single which features Cory Gunz);

"John" which features Rick Ross;

"How to Love" (which became  Wayne's fourteenth top ten (billboard) hit and the best performing single from the album. No Auto-tune was used while recording it);

"President Carter" as well as the performances of the several guests on the albums interludes.

As of December 11, 2011, the album had sold 1,797,600 copies in the United States alone.

8  F.A.M.E -- Chris Brown

Released

March 18, 2011

Genre

R&B, pop, hip hop

Length

53:53

Label

Jive

Producer

Alle Benassi, Afrojack, Brian Kennedy, Bigg D, Benny Benassi, Chris Brown (exec.), DJ Frank E, Diplo, Free School, H Money, Jroc, Kevin McCall, Mark Pitts (also exec.), Polow da Don, Ra Charm, Tha Bizness, Team Breezy (also exec.), The Messengers, The Stereotypes, The Underdogs, Timbaland, Timothy Bloom, Tina Davis (also exec.), T-Wiz

Let's Start From It Being His First Album To Debut At Number One In The US! (After Four Tries). His video for 'Look at Me Now' featuring Lil  Wayne and Busta Rhymes has  generated 129  million views since  premiering in March -- that's more than the numbers for Lady Gaga's 'Born  This Way' and Weezy's own '6 Foot 7  Foot' videos combined. The Album Is A Blend of Various Styles, From Chris Rapping, To Pop (In Next To You With Justin Bieber), To Electro Beats (Beautiful People) As Well As R&B (In Songs Like She Aint You & No Bullsh*t)

The album featured several guest appearances, including McCall, Tyga, Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Justin Bieber, Benny Benassi, Wiz Khalifa, The Game, Timbaland and Big Sean.

The acronym of the title has two meanings, "Forgiving All My Enemies" and "Fans Are My Everything".

F.A.M.E. was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the 2011 American Music Awards. On November 27, 2011, it won Album of the Year at the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards. F.A.M.E. has earned Brown three Grammy Award nominations, including Best R&B Album. while "Look at Me Now" is nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.

7 Mylo Xyloto -- Coldplay

Released

24 October 2011

Genre

Alternative rock, electro rock

Length

44:09

Label

Parlophone, EMI

Producer

Markus Dravs, Daniel Green, Rik Simpson, Brian Eno

Mylo Xyloto is the fifth studio album by British (alternative) rock band Coldplay.

Mylo Xyloto is a concept album, and its contents follows a story throughout. According to Chris Martin (the bands lead singer), the album is "based on a love story with a happy ending," Internationally, the album charted at number one in seventeen countries. In the United Kingdom, Mylo Xyloto became their fifth album to debut at number one. The album became the group's third to debut at number one on the US Billboard 200.  "Paradise" and "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" received a total of three Grammy Award nominations. The album has been certified platinum in the US and has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide to date.

Highlights of the album include

"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"

"Paradise"

"Princess of China"

6 Cole World: The Sideline Story -- J.Cole

Released

September 27, 2011

Genre

Hip Hop

Length

60:00

Roc Nation, Columbia

Producer

J. Cole (also exec.) Jay-Z (co-exec.) No I.D., Brian Kidd, The University, L&X Music, Canei Finch, Ron Gilmore

The album is J. Cole's first studio release, following three successful mixtapes ('The Come Up,' 'The Warm Up' and 'Friday Night Lights'). Production was handled mainly by Cole himself, with some production from high-profile producer No I.D..

Jay-Z's Roc Nation protégé came out  punching on his hotly anticipated  debut, Taking No Prisoners and Speaking His Mind Out. Two years in the making, with huge media  blitz fueling the hype created by Cole's preceding successful mixtapes.  The "Can't Get Enough" Rapper delivered under  pressure and debuted atop both the  Billboard 200 and Hip-Hop/R&B charts. "Cole World: Sideline Story" Is Not Your Average Rap Record and it Features Guests Such as Jay-Z, Trey Songz, Drake As Well As (a singing) Missy Elliott.

The album was one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 due to the sharp rise in Cole's popularity and mainstream fan base. Cole's lyrics perhaps most strikingly deals with issues such as abortion and the consequences of growing up in a fatherless household. However, these themes are incorporated alongside more introspective issues such as relationships, family problems, fame and attempting to be successful - an area which very much links in with the subtitle of the album 'The Sideline Story'. Upon its release, the album was generally well received by critics, who praised the wholesomeness of the album.

J. Cole stated that the reason for the subtitle "The Sideline Story" is because he feels being signed to Jay-Z is like someone being on the sidelines for their favorite basketball team, and they're just waiting until the coach puts them in.

Despite Huge Expectations, Cole World: The Sideline Story has more bright spots than lowlights and serves as a solid debut..".

Highlights Include "Mr Nice Watch", "In The Morning", "Lights Please"

 

5 Take Care -- Drake

Take Care

Studio album by Drake

Released

November 15, 2011

Genre

Hip hop, R&B, pop, electronica

Length

79:49

Label

Young Money, Cash Money

Producer

Boi-1da, Cortez Bryant (exec.), Chase N. Cashe, Aubrey "Drake" Graham (also exec.), Illangelo, Jamie xx, Just Blaze, Kromatik, Lil Wayne (exec.), Doc McKinney, Gee Roberson (exec.), Noah "40" Shebib, Supa Dups, T-Minus, The Weeknd

 

Take Care is the follow-up to Drake's 2010 debut album Thank Me Later. If Drake's 2010 debut "Thank Me Later" was the sound of a man decisively snatching fame and whole lot of money from a mountain of hype, then his luxurious sophomore album "Take Care," finds Drake holding his new fortune in his hand, unsure of what to do with it and where to go from here .

Drake's lyrics mostly eschew boastful raps for introspective lyrics that deal with topics such as failed romances, relationship with friends and family, growing wealth and fame, concerns about leading a hollow life, and despondency.

the rhymer smooths things out  vocally on his sophomore effort,  ditching rap totally on a couple of songs. with most tracks favoring mellow,  drowned-out beats than anything  anthemic. The overall effect is a  beautiful rap&B record that can be  played continuously. 'Take Care' almost sounds like an indie effort. It seems hanging  out with fellow Toronto soft singer  The Weeknd (who shows up on 'Crew  Love')  has paid off for Drizzy.

Take Care was leaked to the Internet nine days before its scheduled release. The album has produced three singles, "Headlines", "Make Me Proud", and "The Motto",

Drake Continued His  creative partnership with record producer and audio engineer Noah "40" Shebib, who had first introduced his distinct sound on Drake's breakthrough mixtape So Far Gone.

Noah "40" Shebib contributed to most of the album's production .Although he is credited as producer for only eight of the album's 17 songs, Shebib also served as audio engineer and mix engineer on the album. This Led To The Album Having A More Cohesive Sound Unlike Its Predecessor "Thank Me Later" Critics view that the album's mood and style are modelled after Kanye West's 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak.

On Take Care, Drake Successfully mixed a nice-guy vulnerability with wounded narcissism. In the future, an album may become more commonplace, today its radical.

Highlights Include "Headlines" "Take Care" "Marvins Room" "The Motto" And Kendrick Lamar's Take On The Buried Alive Interlude

 

4. Watch The Throne -- Jay Z & Kanye West

Released

August 8, 2011

Genre

Hip hop

Length

46:02

Label

Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam

Producer

88-Keys, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean, Hit-Boy, Jay-Z (exec.), Don Jazzy, Kyambo Joshua (exec.), Sham "Sak Pase" Joseph, Anthony Kilhoffer, Ken Lewis, The Neptunes, Q-Tip, Lex Luger, Gee Roberson (exec.), RZA, Swizz Beatz, S1, Kanye West (also exec.)

 

The Biggest & Best Collaboration of 2011! Without A Doubt!!

The EP-turned-LP Collaboration Between The Biggest Rapper Alive & The Most Creative Rapper Alive Could Have Been Such A Major Flop, Instead It Exceeded Out Expectations . It Was Recorded Amid Heavy Security & Secrecy But Fans Went 'H.A.M.' for the album as soon as it was released. "N***as in Paris" was 2011's unstoppable banger, "Otis" returned Mr. Redding to the Hot 100, and "New Day" let our heroes wax poetic about their unborn sons (we and the RZA connect, too).

Jay-Z and West's braggadocio lyrics on the album exhibit themes of opulence, fame, materialism, power, and the burdens of success, as well as political and socioeconomic context.

its downfall, however, is that it doesn't  offer anything new in the "taking chances" category. Its Just Features the two bragging on a dozen consecutive tracks like 'Otis' and 'Niggas in Paris.'

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.

critics commended its production and the rappers' performances but criticized the subject matter and the album's cohesiveness.

The album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America

As of December 2011, Watch The Throne has sold excess of 1,144,000 copies in the United States.

Originally intended to be a five-track EP by Jay-Z and West, Watch the Throne was revealed by West to be a full-length album and it features guest artists such as  Beyoncé, Frank Ocean (twice! O_O), and Mr Hudson.

The Production On the album Is Similar To That of The Critically Acclaimed. "My Beautiful Sweet Dark Fantasy.

Both co-kings flaunt their outrageous arrogance even by the standards of a genre where braggadocio is the main event.

Watch The Throne became  Jay-Z's 12th number-one album (Most Number One Albums of All Time By Any Artist) and West's 5th number-one album in the US.

Watch the Throne was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The album was nominated for several. (4) Grammy Awards inclucding Best Rap Album and Best Recording Package.  The song "Otis" was nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.

It is  an album of the moment (a point underlined by the presence of Frank Ocean on two tracks) yet it has the substance to endure and stand the test of time and become a classic.

 

3 Born This Way --  Lady Gaga

Released

May 23, 2011

Genre

Dance-pop, synthpop

Length

61:07

Label

Streamline, Interscope, Kon Live

Producer

DJ Snake, DJ White Shadow, Fernando Garibay, Lady Gaga, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Jeppe Laursen, RedOne, Clinton Sparks

 

Born This Way is the second full-length studio album (and third major release) by American recording artist Lady Gaga.  It is a follow-up to her internationally-successful albums The Fame (2008) and The Fame Monster (2009). The album experiments with genres like opera, heavy metal, disco and rock and roll while its lyrical topics include sexuality, religion, freedom, feminism, and individualism.  Born This Way received three Grammy Award nominations, including her third consecutive nomination for Album of the Year.

Internationally successful, Born This Way debuted in the top five spots in every major market, including the Billboard 200. In the United States, Born This Way sold 1.108 million copies in its first week, the largest first week album sales in five years.

As of October 2011, worldwide sales of the album have exceeded 8 million copies.

The album includes references to several religious figures of Christianity, notably Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene, and Jesus of Nazereth.  Several songs on the album give reference to multiple social topics, including the Arizona immigration law. Messages of sexuality and feminism are among the most distinguishable components of Born This Way. Other themes referenced in the album include individualism, equality, and freedom.

The album received Grammy Award nominations for the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Album and Best Pop Solo Performance (for her song "You and I"). Being her third consecutive Grammy nomination for Album of the Year, Gaga is the first artist since British rock band The Beatles to receive three consecutive nominations in the category. Additionally, the album was nominated in the category of Favorite Pop/Rock Album at the American Music Awards of 2011, losing it, however, to Adele's 21.

Several religious groups have condemned the album for its incorporation of several religious icons of Christianity and its stance on sexuality.

Born This Way was Gaga's first number-one album and the highest first-week total since 50 Cent's The Massacre (2005) sold 1,141,000 in its first week. Gaga is the fifth woman to sell one million copies in a week, after Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard Soundtrack, 1992), Britney Spears (Oops!...I Did It Again, 2000), Norah Jones (Feels Like Home, 2004), and Taylor Swift (Speak Now, 2010).662,000 digital sales, the largest in SoundScan history. The digital downloads accounted for 60 percent of Born This Way⁠'s first week total. The album also became the eighth best-selling digital album in United States history after its first week of sales. Born This Way is the second best selling album of the year in the United States, with sales of 2,000,000 copies.

The album sold 2.5 million copies worldwide on its first week of release. As of October 2011, worldwide sales of Born This Way exceed 8 million copies.

2 4 --  Beyoncé



Released

June 24, 2011

Recorded

2009–11

Genre

R&B, pop, soul

Length

46:33

Label

Parkwood, Columbia

Producer

Antonio Dixon, Babyface, Brent Kutzle, Beyoncé Knowles (exec.), Caleb, Jeff Bhasker, Julian Napolitano, Jens Bergmark, Kuk Harrell, Kanye West, Kaskade, Luke Steele, Los Da Mystro, Ryan Tedder, Shea Taylor, Switch, Symbolyc One, The-Dream, Tricky Stewart

 

Beyonce's Fourth Studio Album is the first release by Knowles since separating professionally with father and manager, Mathew, in March 2011.

However, When 4's First Single  'Run the World (Girls), was released, fans and critics geared for a dud album from the B in R & B, The Single which entered the charts at No.  23  and then fell to No. 76, marked the first time a leading single of a beyonce album won't debut in the top 10 (Double  digits aren't exactly what you'd expect to see in Queen B's court) but the diva struck back, releasing follow- up singles and their accompanying  videos like 'Love on Top,' 'Countdown'  and 'Party.' While '4' lacks the same  adrenaline as its  predecessor 'I Am ... Sasha Fierce,' it's  an album with eclectic songs that when looking back  years from now, will undoubtedly make her 'Best of' compilations.

Knowles claims to get inspiration from simple things she enjoyed during her hiatus from music, she also drew inspiration from Fela Kuti; Earth, Wind & Fire, Lionel Richie, with additional influences from The Jackson 5, New Edition, Florence and The Machine, Adele, and Prince,

The Stylistics, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson.

According to beyonce, she mixed genres, she said "I wanted musical changes, bridges, vibrata, live instrumentation, and classic songwriting. Knowles also added that 4 was more of "a labor of love" rather than just singles and radio songs and that she Felt that she has "earned the right to make artistic music". Knowles' main objective was to bring back "the emotion and live instruments and just soul missing out of the music industry."

When speaking about her inspiration by Kuti, she said she takes a major inspiration on 4 with drums and horns and "how everything was on the one". The album was also inspired by '90s R&B. Knowles also said she discovered Frank Ocean (who guests on the album) through Jay Z. "I noticed his tone, his arrangements, and his storytelling. I immediately reached out to him—literally the next morning. I asked him to fly to New York and work on my record". Beyonce submitted 72 songs to her label in preparation for the album’s release.

4 is Beyonce's  fourth consecutive solo debut at the top of the chart and makes her the second female artist and third artist overall, to have her first four studio albums debut atop the Billboard 200. While 4⁠'s first-week sales became Knowles' lowest sales start with a studio album to date. It marks the third-largest sales week of the year, after the [number one] bows of Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Adele's 21. On August 1, 2011, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),

4 was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the 2011 American Music Awards and Album of the Year at the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards. It is also nominated for Album of the Year at the 38th People's Choice Awards and Best Album at the 2011 Virgin Media Music Awards.

1 21 --  Adele

Released

24 January 2011

Genre

Pop, soul, R&B, alternative rock, indie

Length

48:12

Label

XL, Columbia

Producer

Jim Abbiss, Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, Fraser T Smith, Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson

 

the album was named after the age of the singer at the time of its production. With its universal theme of all-consuming heartbreak (andthe emotional wound-licking that inevitably must follow said heartbreak), the polished album transcended the pop world and touched just about everyone who gave it a shot. Led by singles "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You," "21" showcased not only the emotional songwriting of Adele Atkins but also the British songstress' incredible vocal range. Released in January (i.e., the music industry dead zone known as the first quarter), "21" did not fade by mid-year; nay, the album -- and Adele -- only continued to increase in as 2011 moved forward, despite releases from Lady Gaga, Rihanna and other pop divas.

The album was met with general critical acclaim for its vintage authenticity, lyrical depth.

21 debuted at number one in the United Kingdom & Spent 18-weeks atop the UK Albums Chart. The album also debuted at No.1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and peaked at number one in a total of 24 countries. 21 surpassed many domestic and international chart records following its release, and appeared in the 2011 edition of the Guinness World Records. The album also spent 13 weeks atop the U.S. Billboard 200, 23 weeks atop the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, and set an all-time record of 26 weeks at number one in New Zealand and 29 weeks in Ireland. As of December, worldwide sales for 21 are around 15 million copies.

Her introduction to American country music provided the conceptual framework for the album's sound. She Was Also Influenced By The Music of Garth Brooks, Wanda Jackson, Alison Krauss, Lady Antebellum, Dolly Parton and Rascal Flatts, Mary J Blige, Kanye West, Elbow, Mos Def, Alanis Morissette, Tom Waits and Sinéad O'Connor ,Yvonne Fair, Andrew Bird, Neko Case and The Steel Drivers

The sequence of the album's songs mirror the range of emotions Adele experienced after the break-up of her relationship progressing from the anger and bitterness (Rolling In The Deep), to loneliness, "heartbreak and regret", (Don't You Remember) and finally, acceptance (Someone Like You)

The lead single "Rolling in the Deep" became the year's best selling song at over five million digital copies sold.

"Someone Like You" It was certified Platinum by the BPI on 1 April 2011.

As of October 2011, "Someone Like You" is the biggest selling single of 2011 in the UK, having sold 1 million copies by July 2011. 21 shares  thematic similarities with Amy Winehouse's Back to Black song writing: "Almost every song oozes pain, sadness and anger". No Doubt, The Death of The Rehab Singer Also Influenced The Acceptence of Adele By The Whole World.

The album was also nominated for the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize. In November 2011, Adele won three American Music Awards including Favorite Pop/Rock Album for 21. On 30 November Adele received Grammy Awards nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for 21, while "Rolling in the Deep" was nominated for Record and Song of the Year, as well as Best Music Video, Short Form; "Someone Like You" was also nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance.

Adele became the first living act since The Beatles in 1964 to have two UK top five albums and singles simultaneously. Adele was recognized by the Guinness World Records for becoming the first female artist to have two singles and two albums in UK top five 5 simultaneously. 21 also became the first album in UK chart history to reach sales of three million in a calendar year,

As of 17 December 2011, 21 has been certified fourteen-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It also became the most downloaded album in UK history.  As of December 2011, 21 has sold over 3.4 million copies in the UK, and became the biggest-selling album of the 21st century, overtaking Amy Winehouse's Back to Black. It also became the 10th biggest-selling album of all time in the UK.

21 Was At the top five (Billboard 200) for thirty nine weeks, outlasting all albums released in the U.S. in 2011. 21 is the first album to spend as many weeks in the top five since Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard soundtrack spent thirty weeks in the top five between 1991 and 1992.the only 2011 release to sell over 2 million copies. It is also the best-selling digital album of all time in the U.S., selling 1.02 million copies.

American R&B artist Beyoncé Knowles cited Adele among the influences for her latest album 4. In addition to the numerical titular reference, Knowles' album also showcased an understated and more soulful side that contrasted with her more up-tempo, aggressive side.

21 was certified platinum or higher in more than 15 counties including US & UK.

The Singer, Real Name, Adele Adkins was recently been named Billboard's Artist of the Year. She is currently recovering from throat surgery said she may not release a new CD for a couple years. She sat atop the music world this year with the number-one Single, number-one Video and, unless something miraculous takes place in the next few days, the number-one Album.

"21" is on pace to be the the first album to sell five million copies in 12 months since Usher's "Confessions" in 2004.

Monday, 21 November 2011

Untitled

So I went on a field trip with the rest of my 'transport economics' class about a month ago. We went to lagos to "see" some of the things we had been learning about in theory in practice. We planned to get to the Sea_port (NPA), NIMASA (the maritime agency), the Air_port (FAAN), as well as LAMATA. We also planned to go Oniru beach (the fun part :D) but due to several constraints, most epecially the legendary Lagos "hold up", we were only able to get to just two of those places, NPA & LAMATA. The trip to lamata is what I wanna talk about, it was enlightening as well as inspiring!

Leadership isn't just about having a fancy post, office, earning a fat salary, giving fancy speeches, having a trophy wife (or in naija, a wife who is legendary on the mic.), for all the perks of office, there are also equal downsides to public office. Leadership is about service, what's the point of being a leader if after 8years, people only remember you with curses, cos you brought them backward instead of taking them to the next level. A leader is only about as good as his team or "backroom" staff, in fact one of the principal functions of management is staffing.
The Sea_port (NPA) gave the impression of a very rough place to work (it probably is), buh tis understandable cos of the hands on approach to such a business; In Contrast when we visited the lamata offices, it was very impressive n attractive to those who wanted to specialise in transport economics. the staff were professional looking (even for a friday) n speak well or articulate, they gave the air of people who are accustomed to travelling abroad n interacting with foreigners.
A Comment posted on a very popular nigerian internet forum suggested that since GEJ (the naija president) got into power, these are some of the things he has been up to (in case u have been wondering):
-campaigning for the next election
-fighting several political enemies
[sylva-must-go campaign
7yr single tenure presidency.
oil subsidy removal
federal university in his village
5.toll gate errection.
6 controversial soverign wealth fund
7.canonisation of Hafiz ringim with OFR
8.BOKO HARRAM
9.Demotorisation of benin-ore road

It may not be totally true or may not even tell the whole story buh you cannot deny that it makes for interesting and thought provoking reading.

On the other hand, LAMATA is just one of the lagos state government's objectives to help improve the welfare of the citizenry of the state (how I wish power supply in naija was decentralized, maybe fashola would have made it much better).
They believe that by improving the transport system in Lagos, life would be easier for the residents, this is a really laudable plan because an almost perfect transport system will reduce the transport cost of transporting goods n services in the state, this will directly lead to a reduction in price of goods n services in the state, an improved transport will reduce the horrible lagos traffic jam, leading to efficiency of workers, the advent of alternative means of transport will reduce the number of automobiles on lagos roads, this will reduce pressure on the reduce, pollution and even the scourge of area boys. There'll be less congestion in the lagos metropolis as people will be able to live farther from their places of work since the transportation system is reliable, this will lead to development of other parts of the city as well as reduce congestion/over crowding in the major city centres. An excellent transport system also aids tourism which fetches big bucks in countries in countries such as kenya.
LAMATA which stands for the lagos metropolitan area transport authority plans to revolutionise the transport system and regulate it, it plans to implement an integrated transport system comprising rail (hopefully we'll get underground trains), road n water.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is already effective n lagosians can attest to how much it has changed their lives, lamata is committed to making sure the roads (and eventually rail n sea) maintain a certain safety level. By 2020 lagosians should be able to enjoy excellent road, rail n sea (ferry) transport services.
lamata is a semi autonomous agency that was created with 2002 with the support of the world bank. It's backed by an act that was signed into law in 2002 and ammended in 2007. The staff regularly embark on training so as to keep up with advancements and innovations in urban transport.
»Countries such as south africa as well as other naija states haff come to enquire about how the BRT system is run, the lagos BRT is based on the colombian bus system.

The Dearth of good managers and visionary people has been the bane of Nigeria for years now, if people like
Gov. Fashola, Dr Mabereola (md/ceo lamata) & the rest of the lamat team had a chance, I'm sure the change we're looking forward to isn't so far away after all.

follow @MrTuneri on twitter

Common Mistakes Made By Students During Exam Period



The Dumbest Things Students Do When Cramming for Exams

Each year before the holidays, university students find themselves staring down the barrel of exam week. Fortunately, they're totally serious about learning the information and they aren't getting up from this desk until they do! Unfortunately, desperation can only be directly converted into high scores on reality TV. But this crawling panic and insane workload is a great learning experience. University is all about preparing for the real world, and this is one of life's favorite lessons to teach: You've messed up badly and there will soon be a reckoning. How do you deal with that?

Plan A

The first and most important thing is to actually deal with it, because running away from University only dumps you in the real world faster. And make no mistake: In the game of life, University isn't even easy mode, it's the bonus level. You want to enjoy it all the way to the end. Here are some ways your brain can trick you into studying without actually learning anything.

Stockpiling
Listen, students, this might sound crazy but it's important: You are not squirrels. You may be hyperactive mammals frantically running around trying to mate, hibernate and look hilariously retarded in online photographs, but there's an important difference: Hoarding things doesn't help you. Students spend the days leading up to exams stockpiling handouts, photocopies, printouts and textbooks by the video game logic that simply owning books makes you smarter
Your head won't absorb knowledge because you built a library on your table. If you find yourself doing this, simply take a deep breath, and tell yourself it's not your fault. You're trying to cram three months worth of information into a brain that stress has tricked into thinking it's being chased be a bear. Hell, you're lucky you're not wearing your socks on your hands right now.

But that doesn't mean you should let yourself off the hook when you notice yourself doing this. If you're familiar with the university system, one thing you will notice without fail is that the terrible students would "study" by piling up work all around them, then sit there wasting time and being miserable until the clock said they were finished. Which is actually brilliant preparation because that's exactly the type of job they'll get.

Instead, try starting with something manageable like reading one book you were supposed to have read. And when you do, keep in mind that ...

Highlighting Key Points Doesn't Mean You're Really Studying

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="273" caption="markers/highlighters don't do magic"][/caption]

If you've ever been to a university, or a library within two miles of one, then you've seen a student painting their notes like a My Little Pony in drag. We shouldn't have to explain that highlighter pens aren't like supermarket scanners -- they might drag bright lights over things but they don't instantly upload data.
Again, this is just your brain flipping out. People having nervous breakdowns revert back to infancy and start flinging their poop around. You're having 40 percent of a nervous breakdown, and reverting to preschool logic. "I'll take the most essential parts of my course and COLOR THEM IN! Yay!"

It's understandable, but it's profoundly stupid. If you notice yourself lighting a textbook up like TRON fanfic, drop the highlighter. Instead, try writing out the key points of your reading material on a separate page you can study easily and anywhere. If that sounds like too much work, well done, you've just found out why people highlight instead.

Nest Building

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="256" caption="Stressus Procrastinatus"][/caption]

In times of stress, the Examinated Student (Stressus Procrastinatus) can spend over an hour crafting the perfect "study nest" to defend itself from guilt. It all has to be just right, from lighting to coffee, because every single thing that needs to be fixed is another reason not to actually study yet. Some students spend longer trying to reach the perfect setup than Buddhist Monks spend trying to reach Nirvana, and with less tangible result

Depending on 'Re-Reading' Materials Alone
Re-reading your notes does not count as studying, even if it is the easiest way to technically study while watching Tinsel. Also, you're ruining Tinsel. Watch Tinsel, and then set aside time to actually engage with the material. If you're in science or engineering, do problems. If you're in history, write out key elements of a period in a paragraph, or try to teach the chapters you've read to your lazy roommate who didn't read them, and have him try to teach you the ones he read.

If you're in English lit, put down the play you already read, and write a one page essay discussing how Hamlet was the greatest pussy of all time. Do something, anything, which tests your knowledge or makes you actually think, then use your notes to find out what you'd forgotten. Then do the problem again. Instead of sitting and reconfirming.


Fake studying is the worst waste of time since the super chickens replaced the super eagles. If you don't want to study, there are bars full of other people having more fun than you while not studying. And while they're screwing themselves, they figure they might as well screw each other. You'll always find the best college parties just before the exams. You're missing that by studying, so make sure it's worth it

Solving Questions For The First Time In The Exam Hall
There is no way to say this without sounding patronizing: If you're preparing to do an exam, prepare by doing exams. Every year millions of students do their first exam-style problem in the exam hall, and if there's one thing we learned from university, it's that the first time you do anything important, you suck at it. Even if you suck at it.

»INSERT PIC
Odds are your course wasn't created this term. They've been asking the same questions for years, and the only reason they even pretend to change the wording is because they'll lose their accreditation if they don't. Your Exam Questions Are Got When Exam banks, Older students, just Google your course code and the word "exam," there's no excuse for not practicing what you actually have to do. Many students think of preparing for exams like Dragon Ball Z: You focus and concentrate all sorts of power with endless text for weeks, then fire it all out in one perfect blast. But exams are just like everything else. You get good at things by doing them as many times as possible. Which is also most students' real plan in college anyway.

Skip the "I'm So Screwed" Competitions

"I'm so screwed!" The attention-seeking cry of the idiot, one who knows they desperately need to fix themselves but would rather have attention for being useless instead. It's the Project Fame of exam season.

SCENE: Library, two dumb-asses.

A: OMG, I'm so screwed for this test!

B: I didn't go to half the lectures!

A: Well I didn't go to any!

B: Our Lecturers Are So Old, They Don't Know How To Teach

A: Our Lecturers Don't Even Understand The Course Well

B: Our Lecturers Said No One Will Graduate With First Class Honours

A: Our Lecturers Divide Our Exam Scores

B: Oh GOD, We're So Screwed!

By The Time You Finish Trying To Prove You're Even More Screwed Than Your Buddy, Precious Study Must Have Been Wasted And You're Under Even More Stress!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="312" caption="@#$%& Experience!!!"][/caption]

Complaining That the Lectures Didn't Prepare You for the Exam
Complaining that the exam was unfair is generally the best way to go through the uncomfortable process of failing a class, while not learning that any of the above strategies are bullshit.

The most common post-exam complaint is, "Why didn't the lectures just teach us how to do the exam?" For the same reason sex isn't just wetting a condom and throwing it in the toilet. Your professors are actually trying to teach you the subject. Exams aren't the point of education. They're the flaccid little appendix we still sort of need to test if people have been turning up. Exams used to be walking into a room with all the smart people and just talking to them until they decided whether you were a dumb-ass or not. We suspect most students don't want to go back to that.
I'm sorry, but here at The Real World Incorporated there's no multiple choice section. You actually have to know what the fuck you're talking about.

Now that higher education isn't just for nobility we can't do it that way. Hundreds of thousands of people get into higher education. This is progress. But it's not going to be a perfect system.

You're in university to learn how to think and do things. Exams are an extremely small part of that. If you treat the only minor obstacles in four years of opportunity unmatched in the entire history of human civilization as a huge hassle to be avoided, you're right when you say the educational system isn't working for you. But it's not the educational system's fault. ITS YOURS!

follow @MrTuneri on twitter

Untitled



SO I went on a field trip with the rest of my 'transport economics' class about a month ago. We went to lagos to "see" some of the things we had been learning about in theory in practice. We planned to get to the Sea_port (NPA), NIMASA (the maritime agency), the Air_port (FAAN), as well as LAMATA. We also planned to go Oniru beach (the fun part :D) but due to several constraints, most especially the legendary Lagos "hold up", we were only able to get to just two of those places, NPA & LAMATA. The trip to lamata is what I wanna talk about, it was enlightening as well as inspiring!

Leadership isn't just about having a fancy post, office, earning a fat salary, giving fancy speeches, having a trophy wife (or in naija, a wife who is legendary on the mic.), for all the perks of office, there are also equal downsides to public office. Leadership is about service, what's the point of being a leader if after 8years, people only remember you with curses, cos you brought them backward instead of taking them to the next level. A leader is only about as good as his team or "backroom" staff, in fact one of the principal functions of management is staffing.
The Sea_port (NPA) gave the impression of a very rough place to work (it probably is), but its understandable cos of the hands on approach to such a business; In Contrast when we visited the lamata offices, it was very impressive n attractive to those who wanted to specialize in transport economics. the staff were professional looking (even for a friday) n speak well or articulate, they gave the air of people who are accustomed to travelling abroad n interacting with foreigners.
A Comment posted on a very popular Nigerian internet forum suggested that since G.E.J (the naija president) got into power, these are some of the things he has been up to (in case you have been wondering):
campaigning for the next election

winning the election

7yr single tenure presidency

fighting several political enemies
[sylva-must-go campaign]

oil subsidy removal

federal university in his village

toll gate erection

controversial sovereign wealth fund

canonization of Hafiz ringim with OFR

BOKO HARRAM

It may not be totally true or may not even tell the whole story but you cannot deny that it makes for interesting and thought provoking reading.

On the other hand, LAMATA is just one of the lagos state government's objectives to help improve the welfare of the citizenry of the state (how I wish power supply in naija was decentralized, maybe fashola would have made it much better).
They believe that by improving the transport system in Lagos, life would be easier for the residents, this is a really laudable plan because an almost perfect transport system will reduce the transport cost of transporting goods and services in the state, this will directly lead to a reduction in price of goods and services in the state, an improved transport will reduce the horrible lagos traffic jam, leading to efficiency of workers, the advent of alternative means of transport will reduce the number of automobiles on lagos roads, this will reduce pressure on the reduce, pollution and even the scourge of area boys. There'll be less congestion in the lagos metropolis as people will be able to live farther from their places of work since the transportation system is reliable, this will lead to development of other parts of the city as well as reduce congestion/over crowding in the major city centers. An excellent transport system also aids tourism which fetches big bucks in countries in countries such as kenya.
LAMATA which stands for the lagos metropolitan area transport authority plans to revolutionize the transport system and regulate it, it plans to implement an integrated transport system comprising rail (hopefully we'll get underground trains), road n water.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is already effective n lagosians can attest to how much it has changed their lives, lamata is committed to making sure the roads (and eventually rail n sea) maintain a certain safety level. By 2020 lagosians should be able to enjoy excellent road, rail n sea (ferry) transport services.
lamata is a semi autonomous agency that was created with 2002 with the support of the world bank. It's backed by an act that was signed into law in 2002 and amended in 2007. The staff regularly embark on training so as to keep up with advancements and innovations in urban transport.
»Countries such as south africa as well as other naija states have come to inquire about how the BRT system is run, the lagos BRT is based on the colombian bus system.

The Dearth of good managers and visionary people has been the bane of Nigeria for years now, if people like
Gov. Fashola, Dr Mabereola (md/ceo lamata) & the rest of the lamata team had a chance, I'm sure the change we're looking forward to isn't so far away after all.

 

follow @MrTuneri on twitter

Technology (Social Media) As A Bane of The Nigerian Youth

EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE NiGERIAN YOUTH

Technology as a whole has good and bad effects on the Nigerian Youth of today. Technology has helped make the erstwhile impossible become possible. Otherwise difficult tasks have become faster and easier to accomplish. It's both a boon and a bane. Things such as posting of letters, getting information (research), getting in touch with people within and outside the country have become as easy as pressing a button or click of the "mouse".
The internet has also made it easier to see what's happening in other parts of the world. We know what is happening everywhere- anything from current affairs, natural disasters, politics, latest treatments or innovation in medicine, invention of electronic gadgets, astronomical discovery etc.
Internet has helped people to connect-- emails for one-to-one interaction, blogs for expressing & discussing, groups for specialized discussion.
it has helped to improve welfare of people in several ways. Medical research, new drugs, organ donors, infertility treatments, unusual surgeries..we now are aware where we can go for treatment.
These Days, business is totally dependent on internet. For any company, there are offices globally. Employees connect with each other, have video conferences, have meetings on internet.
Sales and marketing is highly efficient because the world is a global village.
Online shopping is the in-thing now. It saves time & energy.
Again, people from one part of the world can order anything from a distant place.
There are many more miscellaneous benefits--tracking courier,
online reservations, online examinations, online lecture classes.

While our culture heralds the Internet as a technological wonder, there are suggestions that Internet use has a negative influence on individuals and their social skills.

For the Nigerian Youth, the negative aspects of the Internet include Internet Addiction as well as Online Risks such as exposure to sexually explicit material and online victimization such as fraud, scams and sexual soliciting.
The Internet Has Succeeded In Intensifying The Negative Effect of The Television.

Internet Addiction

Excessive Internet use is emerging as one of the more negative aspects of young people's online activities. Excessive Internet Use Can Said To be synonymous with terms such as 'compulsive Internet use', 'problematic Internet use', 'pathological Internet use', 'Internet dependence', 'computer addiction' and 'net addiction'. Internet addiction, as used here involves the continued use of the Internet to escape from negative feelings, continued use of the Internet despite the desire to stop, experience of unpleasant emotions when Internet use is impossible, thinking about the Internet constantly, and the experience of any other conflicts or self-conflicts due to Internet use. There is evidence that Internet addiction has a negative effect on academics (a drop in grades), family relations (having to hide their excessive Internet use from parents), physical health (sleep deprivation due to long hours of Internet use), mental health (depression), and finance (cost of accrued Internet expenses). Social Networks & Interactive communication applications such as chat rooms, instant messaging, e-mail, and online games have most commonly been associated with Internet addiction among Nigerian Youth.
Identified symptoms of the Internet Addiction disorder include:
(a) using the computer for pleasure, gratification, or relief from stress;
(b) feeling irritable and out of control or depressed when not using it;
(c) spending increasing amounts of time and money on hardware, software and internet-related activities;
(d) neglecting work, school, or family obligations.
the Nigerian Youth use the computer "as a tool to evade, procrastinate and escape" .
among the most vulnerable are individuals who are lonely and bored or from families where nobody is at home to relate to after school."

It has been hypothesized that, because adolescence and young adulthood is a time of identity and relationship exploration, those who have trouble navigating through these developmental challenges are particularly vulnerable to using the Internet as a coping mechanism.
Youth with deficiencies in the ability to read, express, and elicit desired emotions may be more prone to partake in online-addiction-behaviors.
A recent sample survey found out that people in the sample who used the Internet more reported keeping up with fewer friends. They also reported spending less time talking with their families, experiencing more daily stress, and feeling more lonely and depressed. These results occurred even though "Interpersonal Communication" was their most important reason for using the Internet.
Many respondents spoke of the sense of isolation inherent in this medium and the lack of face to face contact as a contributing factor to feelings of alienation and loneliness.

It is important to note that Social Networking, online gaming and Chatting can be enjoyable leisure activities for youth, however, the excessive use of the internet and social media for general entertainment purposes decreases the quality of friendships and romantic relationships.

Online Risks

Online risks facing young people include exposure to sexually explicit material as well as online harassment on the Internet.
The Internet is so easily accessible these days in a blink of an eye, a "mis-click" some where can lead anyone to website that "stream" pornographic videos on the internet thus exposing children to things way beyond their age.
Exposure to sexually explicit Internet material is an important concern as there is evidence that such exposure is related to greater sexual uncertainty and more positive attitudes towards uncommitted sexual exploration among the Nigerian Youth.
Websites which showcase pornography make up more than 70% of the internet. Pre marital Sex, rapes, sexual abuse has increased. Kids at a very young age get exposed to things which they shouldn't be at their age.
One can have multiple email addresses. People make fake addresses and misuse this independence. Kids keep on chatting with anonymous people the whole night. Their eyes are badly affected. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is becoming too common.
Medicine has now recognized "addiction to internet" as a disease

Online Harassment

Online harassment is when 'threats or other offensive behaviour (not sexual soliciting) sent online to the youth or posted online about the youth for others to see'. Sexual Soliciting is when 'requests to engage in sexual activities or sexual talk or to give personal sexual information that were unwanted or, whether wanted or not, made by an adult to younger ones.
It must be pointed out that it is not the availability of identifying information (personal info posted on social networks etc) that increases the risk for sex crimes, but rather the willingness of certain youth to respond to or partake in relationships with online strangers. It was found that youth who engaged in potentially risky online behaviours and who freely interacted with strangers online experienced significantly higher numbers of aggressive soliciting. There is also evidence that online soliciting is heightened for youth who have experienced high parental conflict, physical abuse, and/or sexual abuse.

The case of Internet Fraud or "Yahoo Yahoo" Is Also A Major Issue These Days. Most young men these days would rather be on the internet looking for would-be victims instead getting gainful employment or studying. It appears to be a means of making fast money and young people venture into it not mindful of the consequences. The image of the Nigerians as a whole has been severely damaged as people from the country are seen generally as dishonest by the international media.

The Introduction & Proliferation of sophisticated devices which enable easier access to the internet, easier connectivity to social networks & social media as well has taken this issue to unprecedented levels. Devices such as blackberries, iphones, androids, tablets, ipads, even any phone with opera mini has virtually replaced the need for social interaction, reading and other past times that used to be norms in years gone by. Blackberry users get so engrossed that its a normal thing to see them pinging on the road, on the bus, on the bike, in the lecture room etc.
This has made students deviate their attention from their studies which is their primary responsibility of getting an education, learning and studying to get good grades or even gaining admission into tertiary institutions.



Also, the working class is not left out. The sight of people receiving calls while driving is now a normality. Jobs are abandoned while the "important" goings on in the day are being updated, tweeted, pinged, etc.

I'm Sure If you're Reading This, You Probably Are Guilty of One If Not All of The Behaviours mentioned. In Time, This Will Blow Up To Be A Major Issue.

On a light note, younger job-seekers will have skills such typing as well as data presentation on the C.Vs

Adedeji Tinuade,
Mass Communication
Moshood Abiola Polytechnic,
Abeokuta.

Tinu is on facebook like all the cool kids, you can check her on www.facebook.com/adedeji tinuade

 

 

 

follow @MrTuneri on twitter

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Wale: Ambition; The Nairaview

Album Review of  "Ambition" By American Rapper, Wale.


I Love Music, So Album Reviews Will Be A Big Feature of Nairanotes, I Know This Is A Bit Late But I Wanted Wale Folarin's "Ambition" To Be The First Album I'll Review On This Blog... I Had A Lotta Help From "The Music Geek" Himself, So Shout Out To Onos For This Piece.


Leggo!


Ambition is a themed album about the journey of a driven individual towards his goals and the rollercoaster ride which ensues therein. From the die-hard attitude to succeed by any means necessary to the ups and downs of the inherent success and a few reminiscent capers, Ambition is an album that intends to motivate the everyday dreamer. The production has a massiveness and snobbery that fits the Maybach Music Group perfectly in their esteem of living good, living large and being a boss. But, on a less visionary stand point, ergo bringing down Ambition from the pedestal it wishes to stoop on; Ambition doesn’t fulfil the clout and buzz that it had before its release. This is not to say that Ambition is not a good album or that it is not musically savvy. But, this is to say that the methods used to express the lofty heights of Ambition were far too crude especially for the Calibre of the album artist, Wale. Wale established himself on his prior album and mixtapes as a deep, no-nonsense, down to earth, poetic genius with his epic wordplay, punchlines, innuendoes and graphically clear storytelling and song intentions. But rather, on Ambition, Wale exchanged a heavy dose of his deepness, well thought out poetry and wordplay for braggadocio, stories of lavish, frivolity, illusions of grandeur and a lot of weed smoking apparently; probably on a whim that his sophomore attempt at chart success and Hip Hop History should be far different from his first.


  Personally, as a long time Wale fan, I am very much disappointed by his choices. Most fans, like me, would feel lost as the experimentation on this album is far from home. There are barely five tracks that incur reminiscence of Wale’s niche. This is not implying that experimentation is not welcome, no! This just means that, so far in Wale’s career, his fans have journeyed with him through his growth and development as an artist, poet and sub-consciously friend, even up to his “eleven one eleven theory” pre-album mix tape. But, in this case, he didn’t carry us along; we could not connect with him and didn’t realize his quantum leap from “pick six” to “Illest Bitch”. As far as I'm concerned, he was so quick to sell out to make that green that he left his artistry behind. He used no production with his ever familiar Go-go movement but rather experimented with Diplo’s Frankenstein monster on “Slight Work” with Big Sean; of which by popular demand, Big Sean outSean’d


[caption id="" align="alignright" width="308" caption="Wale & Not-So-Big Sean"][/caption]


(outshone) him. That wasn’t the only track that felt far off from his comfort zone or much better to say, excellence zone (style where he would triumph; imagine timbaland producing classical music, it might be listenable but Bach and Mozart are still the main G’s).To state a fact, Wale was outdone by every feature on this album from the melodious crooners, Miguel & Lloyd to double featured boss, Rick Ross and co-label mate, shouter extraordinaire, Meek Mill. To put this casket of an album to rest, I’ll say my final peace. Wale almost lost me as a fan but there are some biases I wish not to express that still keep him in my favourites. Kid Cudiwas a wasted feature on Ambition in my opinion, from him sounding like Roscoe Dash to his low participation in the track he was featured on. I was disappointed at his complacency and aloofness but can I really blame a "pot-head"? As individual art pieces, the songs don’t have that long lasting impression because of their experimental nature; so, a song you might have liked on first listen would soon be forgotten. And, I think that is because of the flawed method system mentioned earlier. For example, there are just some books that when it’s time for them to become a huge feature film, cartoons or CGI are picked over actors in live action so, need I say more?


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="344" caption="M-M-M-Maybach Music"][/caption]


My only kudos to Ambition goes to the formula; the discipline in sticking to the script/concept and the fact that each track has the ability to win new fans; although, those new fans will not experience the true artistry that is/was Wale Folarin.


*watch out for: "chain music" n "legendary", as well as Big Seans verse on "slight work"


The Nairaview: 3/5 (cos tis my first album review, so i'm being generous)


 


@Onosraye Is A Very Ambitious Guy, So You Can Follow Him On Twitter or read more lovely music opinions by the music geek on www.th3rdculture.wordpress.com

"Coming Soon" Top Movies You Must See This Winter

 



»The Descendants, (George Clooney) Out Nov.16

 



»Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part1 (Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart) Out Nov.18 *Spoiler Alert: the gruesome birth of bella's "half-vampire" child, definitely the most challenging scene to shoot, no dialouge, 15 lines in 20 minutes

»Happy Feet 2
(Elijah Wood) Out Nov.18

»A Dangerous Method
(Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley) Nov.23

»The Muppets

(Jason Segel, Chris Cooper) Out Nov.23

»My Week With Marilyn
(Michelle Williams As Marilyn Monroe) Out Nov.23

»Rampart
(Woody Harrelson) Out Nov.23

»The Artist
Out Nov.25

»Sleeping Beauty
(Emily Browning) Out Dec.2

»Shame
(Michael Fassbender) Out Dec.2 *Spoiler Alert: Michael Fassbender Gets Naked A Lot In This One

»Hugo

(Asa Butterfield) Out Nov.23

»Arthur Christmas
(James McAvoy) Out Nov.23

»The Sitter
(Jonah Hill) Out Dec.9

»W.E
(Directed By Madonna) Out Dec.9

»We Need To Talk About Kevin
(John C Reilly, Ezra Miller) out Dec.9

»New Year's Eve
(Jon Bon Jovi, Lea Michelle, Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Sofia Vegara,) Out Dec.9

»Young Adult
(Charlize Theron) Out Dec.9

»Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
(Gary Oldman, Colin Firth) Out Dec.9



»Sherlock Holmes :A Game of Shadows

(Robert Downey Jnr., Jude Law, Jared Harris) Out Dec.16

»Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Out Dec.16

»Carnage
(Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C Reilly, Jodie Foster) Out Dec.16

»Mission: Imposssible-Ghost Protocol (Tom Cruise, Paula Patton) Out Dec.16

»The Adventures of Ti

n_Tin

(Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig) Out Dec.21

»Albert Nobbs

(Glenn Close) Out Dec.21

»The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig) Out Dec.21



»In The Land of Blood & Honey (Written & Directed By Angelina Jolie) Out Dec.23

»We Bought A Zoo
(Matt Damon) Out Dec.23

»War Horse
(Jeremy Irvine) Out Dec.25

»Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Tom Hanks, Thomas Horn) Out De

c.25

»The Iron Lady

(Meryl Streep As Magaret Thatcher) Out Dec.30

»Beauty & The Beast 3D
(After Lion King 3D Earned $93m, Disney Was Encouraged To Try Out Talking Tea Cups)
Out Jan.13

»Red Tails
Out Jan.20



»HayWire
(Gina Carano) OutJan.20

»Underworld: Awakening
(Kate Beckinsale) Out Jan.20

»One For The Money
(Katherine Heigl, Jason O'mara) Out Jan.27

 

 

http://m.ew.com/gallery-detail-lu-by-gallery.rbml?guid=20544775&pos=1

 

 

 

 

 

 

follow @MrTuneri on twitter