Entertainment
‘I slept in hotel kitchen for months’ — TI Blaze recalls struggles before meeting Olamide
TI Blaze, the fast-rising Nigerian singer, has recalled his struggles before meeting Olamide, the rapper, who he said helped his career.
The musician, in the latest edition of ‘Echo Room’, a podcast anchored by Quincy Jones, narrated how he slept in a hotel kitchen for nine months.
TI Blaze, born Akintunde Timileyin, said he left his parents’ house to look for new opportunities.
“I was on the street for like one year without seeing my parents. I went away from home. I was just on street just roughing things. I was sleeping at one hotel kitchen for like eight months or nine months before I got to meet Badoo (Olamide),” he said.
“I feel like I already got to a stage where I don’t need to ask my parents for anything anymore. So I just left home. They didn’t even want me to leave at that time. I left in 2020, so I was 20 that time.
“I went to one hood like that. So I made new friends. Those ones too they were sleeping at that hotel too. So we were just there by 4am, we would just hit the street again. So when it is around 10 pm, we go to beg the gateman to let us inside. So we’ll just sneak inside.
The singer revealed that Olamide helped him to gain popularity when he featured on ‘Sometimes’ remix.
“December 31st (2021) Badoo posted that song artwork on his IG story. I wasn’t online that day. But people were just calling like Bro check your IG. I just checked it and noticed that Badoo (Olamide) posted the artwork on his IG story and put the love emoji there. I went to text him in his DM and I was going wild saying bro please help me, help my life,” Blaze said.
“He now replied that I should come to his place the next day. I went there. The producer was already there so we just went in and did the recording. I was even asking him that when can we drop the song or something like that? Badoo was like are you guys joking? We are dropping this song tomorrow. That was how I moved from 1 million streams on Audiomack to 40 million streams.”
Blaze released his debut album in 2022, titled ‘EL Major’.
Entertainment
Rapper NBA YoungBoy pleads guilty in drug fraud case
NBA YoungBoy, the US rapper, has pleaded guilty to charges connected to a prescription drug fraud scheme.
The Louisiana rapper appeared in a courtroom in Logan, Utah on Monday, where he admitted to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery, and six counts of misdemeanor unlawful pharmacy conduct.
YoungBoy, who is still serving 27 months on federal charges, also entered a “no contest” plea for 36 additional charges. He initially faced 46 state charges.
The plea deal reduced the felony charges to Class A misdemeanors.
Spencer Walsh, the judge, suspended a prison sentence, instead imposing a $25,000 fine.
The judge acknowledged YoungBoy’s prior agreement to serve over two years in prison and five years of probation for a related federal case resolved in September.
Authorities revealed that YoungBoy orchestrated the scheme from his home in Huntsville, Utah, where he posed as a doctor, using stolen identities to call in fraudulent prescriptions.
His associates allegedly collected the drugs from area pharmacies.
During sentencing, Walsh offered words of encouragement for the 25-year-old artiste.
“I’m sure that in your future, once you’re done with your federal prison time, you can be really successful on federal probation and have a really bright future where you can reach your full potential in every aspect of your life,” he said.
YoungBoy, known for his 2018 debut studio album ‘Until Death Call My Name’ and projects like ‘AI YoungBoy 2’ (2019) and ‘Sincerely, Kentrell’ (2021), is also facing an unresolved federal gun case in Louisiana.
The rapper, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, recently announced plans to release his new album, ‘I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders’, on December 6.
Entertainment
Nancy Umeh welcomes third child via surrogacy after secondary infertility battle
Nancy Umeh, the Nigerian chef and public health scientist, and her husband have welcomed their third child via surrogacy.
Surrogacy is when a woman carries and delivers a child for a couple or individual. This is done by fertilizing eggs from the surrogate or an egg donor with sperm from a donor to create an embryo.
In an Instagram post, Umeh shared a video capturing the process of childbirth. She said she opted for surrogacy because she battled “secondary infertility” for seven years after the birth of her last child.
Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a baby after previously giving birth without any assistance or trouble.
Umeh expressed her excitement while appreciating her surrogacy agency for the support. She also thanked the surrogate who she described as “an angel”.
“Our princess is here. Talia Tobechukwu Umeh,” she wrote.
“Too stunned to speak right now. I can’t believe we are parents again. Our last son is 8 years old and we have tried for 7 whole years.
“An angel carried our child for us. An angel sent from God through Meet Surrogate Mothers. I can’t believe we are holding our child.”
In an accompanying caption, she wrote: “Somebody pinch me. 7 years later. God bless you indeed Meet surrogate mothers. #parents again #secondary surrogate”.
The chef tied the knot with her husband in 2015. They now have three children.
Umeh is the older sister of popular Nigerian dancer Korra Obidi.
Entertainment
‘It hurts’ — Don Jazzy laments not having partner
Michael Ajereh, the Nigerian music executive better known as Don Jazzy, has lamented his relationship status.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the founder of Mavin Records expressed his desire to participate in a trend ‘suspect challenge’.
The ‘suspect challenge’ is a new social media trend in which couples take turns to playfully tease each other.
The 41-year-old entrepreneur said he would like to join the trend but has no partner.
“Suspect wants to do suspect challenge but no suspect partner,” he wrote. In the accompanying caption, the music executive lamented that “it hurts”.
-
Education1 week ago
Keystone Bank Renovates Schools In Zamfara, Says Governor Lawal’s Feats In 17 Months Surpass Over 20 Years Of Previous Administrations
-
Politics5 days ago
Okpebholo fires permanent secretaries, dissolves boards
-
Business1 week ago
No November salary for workers without valid residents registration number, says Kwara state government
-
Politics3 days ago
DSS operatives arrest man with bags of cash during Ondo guber
-
News3 days ago
Alice Loksha, abducted UNICEF nurse, escapes captivity after 6 years
-
News3 days ago
Nnamdi Emeh: Suspect Facing Charges In Court, Process Independent Of Police Influence
-
Celebrities3 days ago
Daddy Freeze, Akah Nnani clash over Emmanuel Iren
-
World1 week ago
Trump speaks to Putin, warns against escalating war in Ukraine