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Cissy, ace gospel singer and mum of Whitney Houston, dies at 91

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Cissy Houston, the two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artiste and mother of Whitney Houston, has died.

The 91-year-old singer died on Monday morning in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.

Pat Houston, her daughter-in-law, in a statement, described Cissy as a “strong and towering figure” in the family’s life.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” the statement reads.

“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.

“Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled.”

Cissy was born in New Jersey in 1933 as the youngest of eight children. Born Emily Drinkard, she began singing at a young age after she formed a gospel group with her siblings.

She started to gain popularity in the 1960s as a member of the backing group The Sweet Inspirations with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick.

They sang backup for soul legends including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls and the Drifters, and Dusty Springfield.

Cissy left the group to pursue a solo career, which made her one of the world’s most in-demand session singers of that era.

She recorded more than 600 songs and her vocals can be heard on tracks by Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé and Paul Simon.

In 1997, Cissy won a Grammy Award for her traditional soul gospel album ‘Face to Face’. She secured another Grammy Award in 1998 for her album ‘He Leadeth Me’.

She lost her daughter Whitney in 2012. Whitney died at the age of 48 after years of battling addiction and a notoriously troubled marriage.

Cissy and Whitney were famously close. Their relationship was also one of mentor and protégé. She also recorded a duet with Whitney titled ‘I Know Him So Well’ in 1987.

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Spotify names Burna Boy as the most exported Nigerian artist of 2024

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Spotify has released the data for the most streamed artists outside Nigeria in 2024.

On the list shared by Spotify, Grammy winner Burna Boy is the Nigerian artist with the most streams outside Nigeria. For the past couple of years, the hitmaker has been at the forefront of exporting Nigerian music globally.

Burna Boy’s feat is a testament to his global popularity which has made him the only African artist with 3 albums surpassing over 500 million streams.

Second on the list is Grammy-nominated star Ayra Starr who enjoyed a good year thanks to the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album ‘The Year I Turned 21’ which enjoyed critical and commercial success.

The album features a star-studded lineup that includes Asake, Seyi Vibez, American singer Giveon and Coco Jones, and Brazilian star Aniita.

Rema is the third most exported Nigerian artist of 2024. His hit single ‘Calm Down’ continues to enjoy global success, especially in the United States where it became the first African song to garner 1 billion streams.

This year, Rema released his sophomore LP ‘HEIS’ which is one of the most talked about albums of 2024. The album buoyed by its upper tempo arrangement, pulsating production, and aggressive chest thumping delivered the bit records ‘Ozeba’, ‘Hehehe’, and ‘Azaman’.

Tems (4) and Omah Lay (5) rounds off the top 5. Grammy winner Tems enjoyed a successful year on the global front with the release of her debut album ‘Born In The Wild’ which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Global Album.

Top 10 exported Nigerian Artists on Spotify in 2024

1. Burna Boy
2. Ayra Starr
3. Rema
4. Tems
5. Omah Lay
6. Asake
7. Wizkid 
8. Davido
9. Fireboy
10. Victony

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I’m a hardworking businesswoman, more than just Wizkid’s baby mama, says Jada P

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American talent manager Jada Pollock, popularly known as Jada P, has asserted that she is far more than just singer Wizkid’s “babymama,” a title often used by the media.

Speaking in a recent interview with BET UK, Jada P lamented that her accomplishments as an entrepreneur and professional in the music industry have been largely overshadowed by her role as the mother of Wizkid’s children.

Jada P highlighted her career achievements, noting that she has managed international artists such as Chris Brown, Wizkid, and Skyla Tyla.

She described herself as a dedicated businesswoman and music manager actively contributing to the growth of the industry.

“When Wizkid won a Grammy, I wrote a statement about how far afrobeat has come. They put the statement out, and the caption was ‘Wizkid baby mama.’ The narrative is not seen as you’re an entrepreneur and hardworking businesswoman. I’m not only a mother but also a manager, who has actively contributed to building a legacy,” she said.

She further emphasised her role in managing top-tier artists, adding, “Some of the artists I have managed are Chris Brown, Wizkid & Skyla Tyla, etc.”

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Stop seeking human validation, Eucharia Anunobi advises fans

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Eucharia Anunobi, the ace Nigerian actress, has advised her fans to stop seeking validation from people.

In an Instagram post on Friday, the actress urged her followers to embrace self-worth and resist the pressure of wanting to be liked by everyone.

She cautioned that the constant need for approval often leads to “emotional and spiritual imbalance”.

“Seeking to be liked by all is a sign that you are emotionally and spiritually imbalanced. Some people will hate you because to hate is what gives them joy because they are genetically wicked. So get used to not being liked. 1 John 5:19,” she wrote.

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