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I go through depression to make an album, says Ajebutter22

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Akitoye Balogun, the rapper better known as Ajebutter22, says he usually goes through “depression” to make an album.

In January, Ajebutter22 unveiled his highly anticipated 15-track album titled ‘Soundtrack to the Good Life.’

In the latest episode of #WithChude, hosted by Chude Jideonwo, the media personality, the rapper spoke on his struggles with releasing the album.

Ajebutter22 said he had a lot of “self-doubt” but decided to release the project as an “opportunity to escape.”

“EP is less pressure, it is a freeing experience, you just have fun and make the music. For me, an album feels like pressure, for me to make an album I must go through depression,” he said.

“There is self-doubt, ‘is this good enough?’. There is so much overthinking. But all that doesn’t matter, because, for all the questions you ask yourself, you will still not know the answer.

“The best thing to do is release it, it is better to fail fast, if you are going to fail, you are going to fail. I am trying to give us an opportunity to escape. It is an opportunity to japa.

“But you don’t have to physically japa, you can do it in your mind. The album is the ‘Soundtrack to the Goodlife’ from Butter Nation. Butter Nation is not just my fan base, it is a place I invented.”

The alternative music star also revealed how he overcame the temptation to switch to a different music genre.

“I have other options; I didn’t think that music was the end. I went to look for job, although I was still making music. But then, what worked for me in music, was me and my own style,” he said.

“So, I won’t go and try something else. As a musician, you will always go back to what works for you. If the first time I made a hit there were 20 people in the room, anytime I am recording I will want 20 people in the room.

“So, I just went back to what worked for me. Even at the time when music wasn’t working, I was looking for jobs, I applied to Oando, Total, I even failed a personality test.”

The Lagos-based rapper also spoke about how he maintains a peaceful mentality while living in the city.

“I have deliberately designed my life to be like that because I can afford to, when I couldn’t afford to it was first a mental state,” he said.

“My last album was called ‘What happens in Lagos’, the album before that was called, ‘Anytime Soon’, as per when I blow. All the energy I take I just pour into the music. Everybody in Nigeria has an escape.

“Some people’s escape is to be loud and aggressive, and some people are to be chill, it’s all about the personality, but everybody has their way to escape. At this stage I am now, I have tried very much to control my environment.”

Entertainment

Rapper NBA YoungBoy pleads guilty in drug fraud case

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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.

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Nancy Umeh welcomes third child via surrogacy after secondary infertility battle

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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.

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‘It hurts’ — Don Jazzy laments not having partner

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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”.

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