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Eazzy plays guest judge on Vodafone Icons + What Gena West and Appietus think about the Street Edition!

Published

11 years ago

June 12, 2013

Rapper/singer Eazzy recently joined Vodafone Icons resident judges, Gena West and Appietus at the Accra auditions of the new season of the reality TV singing contest. Judging a talent show is not entirely new to Eazzy, who was a judge on GhOne’s Next Big Thing last year

She commented: “It feels good; it makes me feel that the work that I am putting into the different aspects of my career is being noticed. I think that being a judge on The Next Big Thing was a reference point and it made it easier to become a guest judge on Vodafone Icons.”

Eazzy isn’t an easy judge to convince when it comes to spotting the talent. She said during the first half of the Accra auditions that she was yet to be blown away, and that she was looking to see a female rapper that would give the boys a run for their money.

She said “So far I haven’t been totally impressed, I am waiting to find uniqueness – a voice that will hit you so you can say that we haven’t heard this before in Ghana. I’m still waiting to find a girl who can rap”

Ace producer, Appietus who returns for his second season as Vodafone Icons judge said it feels good to come back with another opportunity to find more talent in Ghana and to reward such talents. He was particularly happy about the street pop-up auditions this year though not wholly impressed by the talent found on the streets thus far.

He said “Most of the rappers are on the streets and that is what we have had with the street pop-auditions. With the pop-up auditions, we go to the city with our Vodafone Icons bus and set up audition booths for anyone on the streets who thinks he or she has the talent to pop in and audition for us. It has been fun and different from the main auditions. We had only a few singers, everyone was rapping. The talent was not that big but we got a few that were good. “

Appietus also hinted that he had seen many familiar faces from past Vodafone Icons seasons. He said, “Most of the people who were here last year and couldn’t make it, went back and did their work so they were better this year. But for those who auditioned in one city and rushed to the next city after they were turned down, they were still not that good. “

The only surviving judge on all 3 seasons of Vodafone icons, Gena West was also excited that this season would see contestants perform as solo acts and not in groups as in the past two seasons. She said: “I think that it has been really open to everyone and you can feel the difference because people are more comfortable being themselves. By grouping them in previous years, I felt sorry for them, because how do you jell with people you don’t know, people whose talent you don’t necessarily admire. But this season, they get to just be themselves and bring it all by themselves.”

Auditions have now been completed in Koforidua, Kumasi, Takoradi, Accra and Tamale and judges are now selecting finalists from the semi-finals. Stay tuned for more updates

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Davido Inks Partnership with UnitedMasters For His Nine+ Records Venture

Making yet another major power move, three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated Nigerian global superstar and Afrobeats pioneer Davido has inked a deal with UnitedMasters for his recently launched label Nine+ Records.

In this groundbreaking collaboration, Davido will spearhead artist development, A&R, and behind-the-scenes curation, nurturing a pioneering lineup of artists across the continent under Nine+ Records. United by a shared vision, the teams will work together to introduce and foster talent, amplifying Davido’s influence and extending his reach even further. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in shaping the future of African and world music.

Together, the teams will collaborate closely in order to not only introduce, but cultivate career talent. It only expands Davido’s influence and reach.

Of today’s announcement Davido said, “I couldn’t be more proud to partner with Steve and the team at United Masters, this announcement represents an exciting new chapter for developing and established artists around the world.”

Steve Stoute, Founder and CEO of UnitedMasters states, “Over the last 2 years, we’ve proven our commitment to Africa investing in artists, education, and technology. Today, we are doubling down. With this new venture with Davido & the launch of Nine Plus Records, we reinforce our mission in becoming a bridge for artists on the continent. Together we’ll identify & develop new artists while supporting them with brand and synch opportunities.”

Nine+ Records will be announcing more artists and partners in the future.

Last night, Davido just sold out one of the most iconic venues in the world, headlining Madison Square Garden in New York City. He ignited the stage with what will be remembered as a historic set, bringing Afrobeats to the Big Apple in the biggest way possible. In advance of the show, he extensively spoke to Billboard who praised how “Performing in New York has also become a special ritual” for him.

This news also arrives on the heels of various major company announcements for UnitedMasters. The company locked down a high-profile alliance with SymphonyOS and Groover. Plus, it hosted its annual “A Celebration of Independence” GRAMMY® Concert at the Palladium in Hollywood, CA. The show boasted an all-star lineup, including headliner Davido, Uncle Waffles, Tokischa, Donavan’s Yard, and NLE Choppa. Of the latter, The Source wrote, “This marked the first time UnitedMasters featured international acts, solidifying its impact and representation within the global independent artist movement.”

Stay tuned for a whole lot more soon