I have never thought of quitting school - Maame Serwaa

Despite the good money the child actor is making
in movies, Clara Amoateng Benson, aka Maame
Serwaa, says she will never allow acting to
interfere with her schooling.
“I have heard people say I will not have time for
school because I am making money. Money is
good but it cannot be as good as my education.
Even though I can earn up to Ghc 2,500 a movie,
I have never thought of quitting school", the 15
year-old said.
“I have told movie producers who ask for my
services that when I am in school, I won’t have
time for them and they respect my decision”
Maame Serwaa told Showbiz in an interview last
Monday.
Explaining why she would choose school over
acting, Maame Serwaa said acting is seasonal and
that producers can decide not to use you
anymore but if she takes her schooling seriously,
she will be in a good position to land a job any
time.
Responding to a question whether she could
speak English as well as she speaks Twi in her
movies, Maame Serwaa said she was fluent in
English and that she was one of the brilliant girls
in her class.
“I wish I could try one of the English language
movies to prove to everyone how good I am.
So far, she has featured in ‘Me Ba’, ‘School Girl’,
‘Sekiha’, ‘Tumi’, ‘Ntaafo) Tumi’ and ‘Otan Ne
Bayie’.
Maame Serwaa told Showbiz that she is often
saddened when she hears people say that
because of the roles she plays, she involves
herself in “mpaninsem” and therefore she is
disrespectful.
According to her, she hears such comments often
and though she has been able to convince some
people she is not disrespectful, many are those
who believe she is.
“I don’t know why anyone should say I am
disrespectful. Ever since I started acting at age 6,
never have I insulted or spoken to anyone
rudely”.
Asked what she intended to do with the money
she earned, Maame Serwaa said her mother and
her manager would invest for her.

Source: Graphic Showbiz

'We pray to the risen Jesus' - Bono reveals

He is known for his forthright views.
But while U2's Bono can command the attention of world leaders, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has revealed he gets his inner strength from Jesus.
The singer-humanitarian, who has been seen attending Presbyterian services, says he and his family pray to 'the risen Jesus' on an outsized family bed.
Opening up about his religious views, the singer, 53, revealed that he and wife Ali Hewson, and four children Eve, Jordan, Elijah and John Hewson, hold impromptu prayer sessions in honour of sick members of the family and those generally struggling in life.
In an interview with Ireland's RTE One, the rock star said: 'I pray to get to know the will of God, because then the prayers have more chance of coming true, I mean, that’s the thing about prayer,' Bono told interviewer Gay Byrne.
He added: 'We don't do it in a very lofty way in our family. It’s just a bunch of us on the bed, usually, we’ve a very big bed in our house. We pray with all our kids, we read the Scriptures, we pray.'
When asked who he prays to and for what, Bono replied: 'The risen Jesus.'
He said: '[Jesus] went around saying he was the Messiah. That’s why he was crucified. He was crucified because he said he was the Son of God.
'So, he either, in my view, was the Son of God or he was nuts... And I find it hard to accept that whole millions and millions of lives, half the Earth, for 2,000 years have been touched, have felt their lives touched and inspired by some nutter. I just, I don’t believe it.'

 

Famous father: U2 front man Bono, with wife Ali (L) and daughters Eve and Jordan (far right)

Aside from his prolific music career, Bono is an avid philanthropist and social entrepreneur.
In 2002 he co-founded DATA, an AIDS and poverty awareness organization that would go on to create ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History.

I’d rather be miserable than be in a relationship — Yvonne Okoro

Voluptuous beauty, half-Nigerian, half-Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Okoro, isn’t exactly the kind of damsel you would think is in distress.
She has nothing on her to cut that image and it doesn’t appear her career is in danger either. If the beautifully endowed sexy actress should come under any observation, I guess the lots would be in her favour as she seems to be doing better than ever, career wise.
But her post on the Instagram last week placed a huge question mark on the state of mind of the actress. The declaration “ I would rather be lonely and miserable than be in a relationship” wouldn’t pass for any woman who is fulfilled as a woman, even though the career is on the up and up.
It wasn’t until further checks were run on what could have brought about that rather gloomy assertion that the whole scenario began to make sense. It turned out Yvonne’s post was an extract from a previous interview the talented actress granted on relationships.
“If you give me all the attention and make me laugh I think that’s it. I am not in a relationship, not because I don’t want to. Let me correct that, because you go somewhere and people say `oh, I am happy with just my job’ but the truth is nobody is happy being single. Again you hear  `I don’t want to get married now’ I think it’s a lie
.
“In my opinion, it’s because your master hasn’t come yet. My mother always says that once your master comes you don’t need anyone to tell you to go, you’ll go. I haven’t had my master yet but the truth of the matter is, because of what I do, I meet people.
“However, it’s so difficult for me to meet single people, it’s so difficult as well to trust people and that is the problem. At a point, you realize that they treated you like a trophy and showed you off because you are on television. The ideal relationship for me would be to hang out with my boyfriend and his friends, who won’t even care that I am an actress.
“At this age, I don’t see the point of dating someone and knowing deep down that it’s not going to go far. I would rather be lonely and miserable than be in a relationship and be happy for a short while; then walk away because I realized this is not the kind of man I want to be with.
I’d rather stay put until my master comes. But what if my master comes at a time I am with somebody, then what, I have to bounce him”.
Going by her post last Wednesday, it does appear, the actress hasn’t found her master yet and this must have bothered her enough to reach out and tell the world she is still single, willing and very much available.

INTERVIEWS: Guru opens up on his rise after “Kasiebo”

Musician, GURU, who was born Nana Yaw Adjei Yeboah Maradona, talks to enewsgh.com in an exclusive interview on career; about making Obrafuor’s controversial single “Kasiebo”, and his ‘Boys Abre’ album.
He also reacts to accusations of him hijacking songs.
You’ve been nominated in seven categories at this year’s GMAs. It’s coming after a long push. Looking back, how easy was the journey?
It never came cheap; right from day one when I stepped into the real game people attacked my brand and approach to music. And it was Obrafuor who believed and introduced me to this industry officially with the “Kasiebo” song, and I was glad I did that song because that was the whole idea of the Guru brand, I wanted to be outspoken and be far away from the trends and norm, and that song captured all of that and I have never looked.
Talking about “Kasiebo”; how did that song happen?
I was called to meet Obrafuor after I met Jam Master Jay. Obrafuor was recording his Asem Beba Dabi album and he was looking to project many underground musicians of that time with that album.
So many artists had laid their verses on several songs that were all building towards the release and the decision on which song to be released first was not yet realized. I was made to understand the album was done and “Kasiebo” wasn’t supposed to be part of the album, it was to help me get into the game.
Obrafuor and JMJ gave me the beat and said I should try and put my best flow on it and bring it back, on my way home, I was riding the trotro from Dansoman where JMJ has his studio to Darkuman when I heard Agya Brefa on Peace FM doing the introduction to read the news at 6pm on radio and the idea hit me right there in the lorry and that’s the line I toed.
I wrote my verses with a conversation in mind and when I met Obrafuor and he heard the whole concept he just jumped on the song and it sounded amazing, I didn’t know how he was able to get himself into the song that flawless but it was things like that that proved to many of us his talent was on a whole new level.
They didn’t tell me what to do when I got the beat, so I was briefing him (Obrafuor) about what was happening in the game while he was gone and asking him about his opinions about certain issues and he responded without even asking questions about them as to why I chose to talk about those particular issues, he told me to let my imagination run wild and true to his words when I returned the record, he didn’t question it, he played along and many still never believe Obrafuor allowed me to control the song creatively.
So I followed up with the “Democracy” record to let people know, what happened on “Kasiebo” was all me. And we won collaboration of the year for “Kasiebo” with no official single out for me.
What goes into deciding which next song you are going to work on?
I make songs having the target I want to hit in mind, “Nkwadaa Nkwadaa” was for the kids, Mmakuo for the adults, “Lapaz Toyota” for the lovers, “Boys Abre” for all those going through whatever hardship. I only want to share my ideas, opinions and view of whatever it is about this life that influences a large group, how you decide to relate to the songs is your own to decide.
I put just a little of my experiences in my song and even most of it, I won’t talk about the glorious aspect, I will share the downside because already you are famous and people expect things to be a bit easier for you, telling them in every song life is good for you is not fair, let them know you are human and go through hard times too.
Your current album ‘Boys Abre’ is responsible for all seven nominations. Why Boys Abre?
I chose Boys Abre because in reality things were hard and there was a lot of tension in the country because of the court case and as time went on you could sense the fear and fatigue on every Ghanaian you met.
We had run out of energy and couldn’t dance and sing faster like we were already doing. And we put Lil Win on the record and Ghanaians got it and were cheered back to happiness.
Lapaz Toyota, Nkwadaa Nkwadaa, now Boys Abre and you don’t have a single Ghanaian award; do you feel underrated?
I don’t feel that way, I just feel they are challenging me to do more, and many at times I just think I don’t concentrate on what the industry’s reaction is when I am creating my music, all I think about is the audience and the audience only. Yes, at some point you need the industry to endorse you for you to do certain things but the biggest award is releasing a song and getting massive positive response. Who knows may be my best is not enough for them.
Any time you release a song and it hits, some persons later lay claim to it being theirs. How do you handle that?
In every field you should expect propaganda; people find it difficult to accept change or your impact. So people find ways to attack the brand and artist. Competition is using ways and means to get your brand down and those coming up also want to climb on the back of your brand to gain some attention, I didn’t use those tactics and I just think people should work hard on their talent instead of trying to cut corners. I work hard for my hit songs and expect everyone to do that.
I’m addicted to making hits, the struggle to make a single hit song is huge and we try and put in work and replicate the same procedures as we find new ways and avenues to make those viral songs. “Lapaz Toyota” contributed a lot to the Azonto era and when the trend was moving to the Akayida where the kicks were slow, “Boys Abre” stood out because we captured it better in terms of audio and visually with Lil Win.
What’s next for you?
Now I just look towards the music bodies that matter to endorse the brand so we can take the brand out there with confidence knowing the audience and the music stakeholders have endorsed the brand.
I just want everyone to know we have worked tirelessly and hard enough to get the recognition and they should endorse those who deserve the endorsements. It never came cheap, running up to the awards, I had five hit songs back to back. It’s very painful if you look at the amount of work you have put in and then when it’s time to award the hardworking ones, the award goes elsewhere.
Source: Abdullai Ishaak-enewsgh.comGuru Opens Up On His Rise After Kasiebo

I'm Not Ready For Marriage - Ice Prince

According to Myjoyonline.com, Panshak Zamani, popularly  known by fans as Ice Prince is a Nigerian hip-hop recording artiste best known for winning the 2009 Hennessy Artistry for his song “Oleku”.
The music crooner hit the limelight with his party banger ‘Oleku’ after which he released several other rave tracks in his debut album, ‘Everybody Loves Ice Prince.’His second album, ‘Fire of Zamania’ which was unveiled in November 2013, has also been applauded by music lovers and critics alike, in the music industry. The singer ran into one of our reporters at an event recently, and an interesting chat ensued. Excerpts:
What are you doing presently?

I just dropped my new album ‘Fire of Zamania’, its on the street right now, I am also up to  recording a video for the album. I’m about doing my tour of UK and around Africa and I have new artistes I’m trying to promote as well.
How has life been treating you generally?

I just thank God for my life because I don’t see obstacles as challenges the way other people see them, I only see them as stepping stones for me.
Life before fame?

Actually, I have seen life in different forms because I wasn’t born poor and I wasn’t born rich. I lost my Dad in 1999 and then things became different and my mum also passed away in 2011. So life  has not been easy. I could remember back then, I was sent out of school because of school fees but today I thank God for who I am and where I am.
Has music always been your dream?

Yes, but when I was young I have always wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer and a soldier. But music for me, started when I went to secondary school in the late 90s. I started performing at social events, at school and I would mimic 2Pac and B.I.G songs, and that’s when I fell in love with rap. A few years later, I joined the choir in my church  and groomed myself as a musician.
But will you ever go for your dream profession?

No, I don’t see any need for it, they were mere childhood fantasies. And even if I want to follow the dream, I don’t think I have what it takes to chase those dreams any more. So if you ask me, I think I am a musician,  it is my call and it is God who designed me for music.
We learnt you were one of the artistes featured on the Nigerian cipher for the BET Hip-Hop Awards last year. How did you manage that?

It just happened one day, I got an email a day before the recording. I actually wasn’t meant to be part of it. It was meant to be Sauce Kid, Naeto C, M.I and Mode 9, but I think Sauce Kid was having problems with his flight from LA to Nigeria a day before filming and they thought he wasn’t going to make it, so they replaced him with me.
But then Sauce Kid made his flight and it was too late to bounce me, so they put all of us together and we went to the studio and recorded. Out of everyone who was on it, I was the youngest. I felt really honoured to be on the BET cipher, it was a good platform to be on and I felt blessed.
What can you say about your record label, Chocolate City , because you’ve been there for a long time?

Chocolate City is one big family, where we make music and promote music as well. I think presently, there is one in Kenya with this one in Nigeria. Chocolate City has been existing since 2007  and I am proud to be signed to the record label.
Why are you still single?

I don’t think I am planning to get married now because am still young, I’m in my youth  and moreover, I am just 27 years old. Maybe later in my late thirties I can start planing to get married  or not.
But what are your reasons?

It’s because I still have a long way to go before thinking of settling down. I can’t say because of what I have, that I am okay to get  married,  no. I don’t think I am mentally ready for marriage.  I think before one could get married, one needs to attain certain level of understanding and awareness. I don’t think I have those qualities just yet.
But are you in any serious relationship, and any plan of  settling down with your baby mama?

Yeah , but I wouldn’t want to talk about my girlfriend and about the mother of my baby. She is good and we are not talking about getting married because I’m not ready yet.
How did ‘Oleku’ come about and were you surprised about the storm it has created?

‘Oleku’ was one of those songs that came during one of my recording sessions. I came up with the chorus first, later I featured Brymo in it and we did it together.  I don’t really have a good singing voice. Jesse Jagz produced that track also. So, we finished the song and then I sent it to my record label and they weren’t really excited about it enough to put it out.
They wanted us to touch up the song some more , but I was persistent and wanted to put the song out as soon as possible. They eventually got tired of my stubbornness and they were like,  Just put the song out on the Internet and see how it goes. I was really surprised because I didn’t expect it to go this far. Like, I didn’t expect it to reach Tim Westwood. That’s really big  and from that one song, I have performed all over the world.
Why do you think they’re taking more notice of artistes like yourself  on radio stations like BBC 1Xtra ?
I think it’s my time. Well, that’s what I tell everybody. I think it’s time for Afro-beats and African music to get in. Like I always say, ‘UK music and American music have been everywhere.’ Jamaican music is big all over the world right now and I think it is time for Afro-beats as well. We have good music, we have good sound and we have something special to offer the world. I think it’s time for the world to listen.
How true is the rumour that Unity Bank has cancelled your endorsement deal ?
That is not true, they never cancelled the deal, even Unity Bank put out a press statement to that effect and  presently they are still working on it. What you saw online then was mere  rumour.
How would you describe a typical day in the life of Ice Prince?
A typical day for Ice Prince would be to wake up, shower and, if I’m not performing that day, I  head straight up to the studio. I have a studio in my house. I go to the studio and listen to music that I made the day before and I just try to create new stuff. After that, I reply to my emails, get on Twitter to talk to a few girls and then return to the studio. If I have a visitor, I go and chill with them and then I jump straight back to the studio.

I don't wear panties - Baby Blanche

Female celebrities all over the world, because of
the nature of their jobs and their status in society
have an exotic and often highly developed sense
of fashion and sexy actress Baby Blanche is no
different.
Due to the kind of clothes she likes to wear and is
comfortable in, Baby Blanche has revealed in an
interview with Showbiz that she hardly wears
panties when she’s going out.
“I love all kinds of lingerie that make a woman
feminine because I’m a woman, but I hardly wear
panties. This is not because I don’t want to wear
them but because the clothes I love to wear
wouldn’t permit me to,” she told Showbiz.
“I try as much as possible to act as a lady and not
to let my panty lines show just because I like to
wear dresses that hug my figure. So if I wear
clothes and the outline of my panty is glaring like
that I don’t like it,” she explained.
“Being a lady is not only about wearing make-up
and Brazilian hair but also comprises the
propriety of whatever you’re wearing,” says Baby
Blanche.
Baby Blanche says she does not worry much
about thoughts that she may be sexually attacked
by unscrupulous men because she makes sure she
doesn’t go to awkward places at awkward times.
“I wouldn’t ever put myself at risk by finding
myself at an awkward place at an awkward time.”
Talking about her the progress of movie career,
the actress says she refuses to be type-cast any
longer in so-called ‘sexy’ roles as had happened
in the past, she now chooses roles that are
challenging because as an actress she believes she
should be able to play different roles.
“When I first get a script, I read it and think
about it. Do I really want to do this job? Is the
story catchy enough? I just don’t say because I’m
an actress I accept just any script. I read a script
and if I’m interested, I give it a shot. I want to be
challenged this time around so I want daring
scripts that would have more challenging roles,”
she explained.
Having been out of the limelight for some time
now she says she is back with a vengeance.
“I’ve been away from movie sets for a while due
to personal reasons. But I’ve sat down and
decided that this is where I belong and this is my
passion. My family and my fans let me know that
this is my talent and since then, I’ve done three
movies so they should watch out. I’m coming back
soon, better and rebranded.”
Baby Blanche was discovered by Socrates Safo of
Movie Africa Productions and started acting about
four years ago. She has appeared in several
movies helmed by the famed producer/director,
including Hot Fork, Adults Only, What S*x Can Do,
among others.
She assures her fans of nothing but the best from
her in subsequent movies. “I can assure my fans
that anytime they see me in a movie it will be
something they will really want to sit back and
watch. I’m going to surprise a lot of people who
do not know the depth of my talent,” Baby
Blanche says.
“I thank my fans for the support and the
encouragement I’ve been getting on social media,
like Facebook and Instagram. Had it not been
them, there would be no point in me being out
there. I thank them and everybody who wants me
to come back. And I thank my enemies because
they give me the urge to strive and give off my
best,” she added.
The sexy actress says the parts of her body she
feels most comfortable flaunting on any day are
her flat tummy and her legs. She says she does it
only to ‘tease a little’.

Source: Graphic Showbiz

Reggie Rockstone: I have humbled myself to join VIP, now VVIP

When Reggie Rockstone announced a couple of
months ago that he was joining VIP, many were
those who thought it was a joke because they
could not believe that the Grandpapa of Hiplife
would do a thing like that.
Showbiz can confirm today that indeed, Reggie is
a member of VIP. Last Monday he told Showbiz
that the trio will now be known as VVIP.
“It all began when I posted on Twitter that I was
joining VIP. That simple message drew a lot of
attention but the truth is that I have always
wanted to be a member of VIP.
When Promzy left I told myself that VIP has to
continue in order not to slow down the vision. I
said to myself, I’m not bad looking and I can still
rap so why not join my younger brothers to keep
the vision in progress?”
Most importantly, Reggie added, “It is God’s work;
it has nothing to do with Promzy’s leaving. It
happened after many discussions but the truth is,
it was all by divine intervention.”
As to people’s perception that he is too old or too
big to come to the level of VIP, Reggie said that
was neither here nor there because people still
rap and sing regardless of their age, mentioning
Jay Z as an example.
“No matter how old I am, I can still be a member
of VIP, the merger is historical. Regardless of my
age, I have humbled myself to join my younger
brothers, it has not happened before and that is
why I call it historical.”
Asked if he was going to be the leader of VVIP,
Reggie said, “Originally, I think Lazzy (now called
Zeal) was the leader but the chemistry of working
together is so tight that there is no leader but my
age and experience in African terms makes it
easier for them to listen to me.
“There has always been mutual respect even
before I joined the group and I must admit that
they are both respectful.”
Reggie revealed that their first single, Selfie will
be released tomorrow Friday which happens to be
his birthday. “Today is Efya’s birthday and
tomorrow is my birthday so there is going to be a
big party at Rockstone’s Office, Django Bar to
celebrate our birthdays.
According to Reggie, the party is open to all, “You
just pay to get in and be part of the party,
proceeds will go to charity, and it will be so much
fun no one would want to miss it, please dress
well.”
Throwing more light on Selfie, Reggie said it is a
very danceable song and everyone will love it.
“Another single will follow soon but I will keep the
title of that one a secret for now,” he said.
“It was produced by DJ Breezy who comes from
D-Black’s camp. “We are on a mature level now,
call it senior citizens,” he said with a smile.
Incidentally all three VVIP have had baby girls
within the last one year. Lazzy’s (now Zeal) is Jara;
Prodigal’s is Nana; and Reggie’s is Rehji.

Source: Graphic Showbiz