WANDE COLE DENIES NUDE ONLINE PHOTOS, SAYS "IT WASN'T ME"

Multiple award winning artiste, Wande Coal, real name Ojosipe Oluwatobi Wande Jnr, has said he was not the person in the controversial nude pictures which appeared on social networking site, Twitter, which allegedly showed him lying naked on a bed.

He said there was no way the person in the picture could have been him, adding that whomever was responsible for spreading the lies must have used Photoshop to superimpose his head on another man’s naked body.

Coal said he and his attorneys were still investigating the matter and would proceed with legal actions once they identify those behind the circulation of the pictures.

Speaking in the same vein, D’banj, who said he was in the United States when he heard the news, lamented that people could descend so low to do things that were capable of extinguishing the glittering career of Wande Coal. He described Wande as a humble, talented young man who all members of the Mo’ Hits were proud of.

He, however, admitted that the controversy had catapulted Wande Coal to international stardom.

DAGRIN RESURRECTS...

Renowned Director, Lancelot Imasuen would be directing a memorial and biographical film on the late Olaitan ‘Da Grin’ Olanepekun. The film financed by Stingomania Entertainment is titled ‘Ghetto Dreams’ would tell the story of the late rap artiste. The film will chronicle the growing years of Dagrin, his struggles, his rise to fame and his death.

The choice of the respected film director has been hailed.

The movie is just one of the ways Stingomania Record would be immortalizing the legacy and memories of the late artiste.

The Dagrin Memorial Project, amongst other things will ensure that the family Dagrin left behind is catered for and the loss is made more bearable for his family in a tangible measurable manner. The memorial project will also provide a lasting structure and means to encourage upcoming, struggling and budding entertainment stars, while helping talented artistes deal with the different challenges and lack of resources limiting them from fulfilling their potential and set up a foundation to provide assistance for upcoming and struggling musicians with limited means and poor backgrounds to realize their ambition. The foundation will provide help for young musicians in areas of Finance, Training and Mentoring. All these were ideals the late musician stood for.

GENERAL PYPE STRIKES GOLD

Storm Records new sensation General Pype, has landed a mega deal with the continent’s sports channel, SuperSport. His massive hit song Champion is now the official theme song of the channel that prides itself as the channel of champions.

Though details of the deal remain sketchy, Showbiz Trends learnt that the deal has been described as the first of its kind done by a locally-based Nigerian artist for international release.

“We are proud to have concluded this deal for this record which has already become a massive street anthem for the youths across Africa and has now been recognised by SuperSport, the channel of Champions. General Pype was elated about this deal as it will promote his brand of music to an even larger audience,” said Obi Asika, CEO, Storm 360 Group.

General Pype is the emerging dancehall champion of the African Urban Scene and his song is now on rotation on BBC 1 Extra and has also been on heavy rotation all over Nigeria and Africa.

“We are using this medium to send a special message of thanks to all the DJs, VJs, radio and television stations and blogs, print media and most especially, the fans that support General Pype and also all the music and other releases from Storm,” Asika added.

General Pype’s previous single before Champion, Keep It Cool, was featured in Season 6 of the popular American television drama series, The Shield, which aired on Fox TV in May 2007 and licensed through his management company XXL Untertainment.

In the meantime, General Pype’s debut album has a tentative release date of 1 October. The track, Champion and the remix are available on iTunes, yahoo, amazon.com and all major media stores.

TV STAR, TOUN ONI DIES

By Jayne Usen

Veteran Nigerian actress, dancer, and vocalist, Toun Oni is dead. The actress passed away Wednesday morning while being rushed to the hospital. <-- more -->

“She complained about not feeling too well last night and then this morning she felt very weak so we had to rush her to the St Paul’s Hospital, Ebute-Metta, but she passed away before we arrived there,” said her son, Toyin Oni. “We were rushing her to the hospital from our Ajah home.” The body of the late actress has been deposited at St Paul’s Hospital, while funeral arrangements are currently being finalised at the family house at 66a Brick Field Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

Fondly called Mama T, Toun Oni was one of Nigeria’s most successful cross-over actresses. She was also a recipient of the prestigious Order of Niger (OON), conferred in 2006. A staunch Jehovah Witness, she will be remembered for her many movie roles. Her most memorably roles were undoubtedly on television, with parts in one of Nigeria’s longest running soap opera, ‘Checkmate,’ and the popular ‘Fuji House of Commotion,’ where she played Mama Moji.

Equally at home in movies and television, she tended to feature more in soap operas, and it is for these that she will be remembered by most fans. Amaka Igwe, who produced ‘Fuji House of Commotion,’ could not be reached for her reaction on the late actress’ death as at press time. Toun Oni’s career dated back to the 70s. She was aged 67.