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Diddy to remain in prison as sex trafficking trial begins May 2025

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The federal sex trafficking trial of the US rapper Sean Diddy Combs is scheduled to start on May 5, a judge in New York declared on Thursday.

The embattled rapper was arrested on September 16 over sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

The US magistrate judge Robyn Tarnofsky ordered that the entertainer be jailed while awaiting trial.

Tarnofsky’s order followed after the Bad Boy Records founder pleaded not guilty to the 14-page federal indictment against him.

Diddy was also accused of sexually abusing 120 more people, including a 9-year-old boy.

On Thursday, the rapper, wearing a beige shirt and pants, was brought to Manhattan federal court from a Brooklyn jail for an afternoon appearance before Arun Subramanian, the new presiding judge.

Subramanian was assigned to the case after another judge recused himself based on his past associations with lawyers in the case.

Combs’ lawyers have unsuccessfully tried to get the Bad Boy Records founder freed on bail. Two separate judges denied him bail twice, with one arguing that Combs was a “serious flight risk.”

At the recent hearing, Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ lawyer, expressed concerns about what he termed improper leaks by federal agents about the case. He also asked the judge to exclude a video of the 54-year-old rap star assaulting a former girlfriend Cassie in 2016 from being used in the trial.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson, however, called the claim baseless. The assistant US attorney said the claim was “simply a means to try to exclude a damning piece of evidence”.

“Not a single one of those alleged leaks are from members of the prosecution team,” Johnson stated.

Diddy faces life in prison if convicted on the racketeering charge. He faces another statutory minimum of 15 years for the sex trafficking charge.

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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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