50 CENT SPEAKS ON COMPETITION WITH DR. DRE IN HEADPHONE MARKET

Fif also explains what differentiates his Sleek by 50 headphones from others.

50 Cent tossed his hat into the audio market with his Sleek by 50 headphones, which sparked some ire from Dr. Dre, who was one of the first to enter the industry with Beats by Dre. During an interview with Gizmodo, Fif said he doesn’t exactly look at it like competition with the West Coast veteran and that the market isn’t narrow enough to put one ahead of the other.

“It depends on how you look at it. The category itself, how big is it? Is he in direct competition with me, or Bose or Sony? At this point, it’s just me creating what I feel like is the higher standard,” he said. “This is what I sit in the studio for after recording for the mastering process, to feel like it’s completely up to par and standard, so when people hear it, it registers the right way.”

50 did note that many rappers license their name for a product without overseeing the business side of things. With artists like Ludacris and RZA coming out with their own headphone lines, Fiddy is steering his company’s ship.  

“For them, it’s a licensing agreement. They just put their name on it, and they really don’t have any control over what their company decides to sell under that brand later,” he says. “I’m actually CEO of the company.”

‘WASTEFUL LEADERSHIP CANNOT MAKE PRUDENT INVESTMENTS’ – FELA DUROTOYE

Since I got back into Nigeria yesterday, I have heard some preposterous arguments that the removal of the fuel subsidy will be justified by wise investments that will benefit all.

My response has been…How will a wasteful government suddenly realize the genius of prudence and making the right investment decisions simply because there is more money available from oil subsidy removal?

Will there be less graft and bribes involved in process of issuing the road contracts or power contracts?

Have we sought to honestly find every way we can plug wastage in our leaking economy before we ask a feeble populace to carry the burden of corruption and gross ineptitude of a gluttonous few?

Have the Presidency, the State & Local Governments and the Legislature discovered how to travel without a convoy of 20 cars to the airport?

Can the occupiers of these lofty positions act in honour as Barack Obama did in 2010 when he got every member of his cabinet to take a pay cut, starting with himself?

Within his first few days as British Prime Minister, David Cameron led the austerity cuts (upon his assumption) by cutting down his convoy to 2 cars and one outrider. The Members of Parliament in Britain are now only allowed 3rd class train tickets on official travel (as opposed to their traditional first class train ticket allowances). The Mayor of London now rides a bicycle to work.

Leadership by example!!!

How come our ‘leaders’ in government earn so much and still spend so much furnishing the same houses and offices they furnished with our money last year?

Do you furnish your office every year? Why should the President, Governor or Senate President?

Wasteful leadership cannot make prudent investments!!!!! Q.E.D

The change we need is not just policy. It’s in the quality of mind and persons at policy making positions.

That said, how will we effectively deliver sustainable desired-change?

History has taught us that governments increase fuel prices, the people fight, students riot, labour unions strike, and then after a couple of weeks, the government reduces the price but never to its original price…and everyone feels like a winner, but the poor know and experience the reality of the loss. Then we start the cycle all over again with another administration.

God bless everyone who has stood up against this unjust policy. I salute everyone who has risked their lives to Occupy Nigeria with the message that Enough is Enough.

This is only the beginning of a long and arduous journey. The real Nigerian spring is going to be in April 2015.

WE NEED A CRITICAL MASS OF NEW NIGERIANS TO TAKE HOLD OF EVERY LEVEL OF POLICY MAKING POSITIONS BY 2015. Not a few good men and women whose voices will get drowned in the cacophony of mediocrity.

Let our brightest and best brains begin serious preparations NOW. Don’t wait till 2014 to decide you want to make a change by running for office in 2015. It will be too late if you don’t start NOW!!!!

As we keep up the pressure of PEACEFUL, NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS through all channels, let another set of emerging leaders (with a heart for the nation and a love for the people) arise and begin to prepare for 2015. We must encourage, train, mentor and empower the right people to go where few dare.

I have committed my life to raise and prepare as many exemplary leaders of excellence to take over the various policy making positions at all levels of governance (federal, state and local) – executive and legislative.

Even when ‘they’ back down on the fuel subsidy removal, (only because they need the banks to reopen so they can cash some of their billions or so that the airports can reopen so their children can travel back abroad to continue their education), don’t let us be deceived again into submission and celebrate the illusion of victory.

Until we change the quality of people in policy-making positions, we won’t yet have real and lasting victory.

Don’t get it twisted… The 2015 elections is going to be the opportunity for the real Nigerian Spring.

The real question is …Will we be ready to bring the real change we’ve always desired with the same zeal and fervour as we show now?

Please don’t let today’s passion die tomorrow.

The struggle continues today, tomorrow and forever. We WILL deliver the future!

God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

NECK INJURY FORCES JASON DERULO TO CANCEL FEBRUARY TOUR

US singer Jason Derulo has cancelled his upcoming tour, after fracturing his neck in an acrobatic move during rehearsals.

Derulo, 22, was trying to pull off the move but missed, landing and falling on his neck, causing an ‘acute fracture of his vertebra’. He was immediately rushed to the Memorial West Hospital in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where it was revealed that he just narrowly missed being paralyzed in the incident.

The singer told fans about the accident on Twitter, posting a picture of him in a neck brace and hospital gown stating that, ‘I fractured my neck doing tumbling & acrobatics 4 tour! Always tryin 2 push boundaries 4 YOU! Like my new chain?  ’, @jasonderulo tweeted.

The singer’s label, Beluga Heights, on his behalf issued a statement about the incident, which read, ‘To all my fans who planned to come to the ‘Future History’ world tour, the pain of letting you down cuts me way deeper than this injury I’ve sustained. My fans mean everything to me, so I’m praying for a speedy recovery in order to perform for you in the near future.’

The tour, named after his second album ‘Future History’, which dropped in September, was slated to kick off in Glasgow on February 23.

NOLLYWOOD DIVIDED OVER FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

Nollywood practitioners seem divided over the recent removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The division came to the fore on Tuesday after aggrieved stakeholders under the aegis of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers(ANCOP) addressed the press, while disowning the earlier position allegedly taken by the Segun Arinze-led faction of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), as they resolved to throw their weight behind the government on the removal of the controversial fuel subsidy.

Arinze’s faction of AGN organised a “Nollywood Roundtable on Deregulation” held on Friday, December 30, at Eko Hotel and Suites to drum support for the federal goverment regarding the removing of the fuel subsidy.

But reacting to the ugly development at a press conference on Tuesday, in Lagos, president of ANCOP, Mr Alex Eyengho condemned the action of the Arinze’s faction of AGN, stating categorically that their position did not in any way represent the collective opinion of the entire Nollywood practitioners.

According to him, the fuel subsidy removal is anti-masses as there is no way the industry would pitch its tent against the Nigerian masses in favour of the government of the day.

His words, “after painstaking consultations by ANCOP with various stakeholders in Nollywood on this disgraceful act of Segun Arinze and co, and as a result of the abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, it was resolved, and we hereby state categorically that the Nigerian movie industry popularly called Nollywood, rejects in its entirety the fuel subsidy removal by President Jonathan.

The act is anti-masses and there is no way Nollywood would pitch its tent against the Nigerian masses in favour of a wicked cabal who have resolved to further pauperize the Nigerian masses.”

“We align ourselves absolutely with the position of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other progressives on this matter. We shall mobilize for, and key into legitimate protests organized by the nation’s labour movement in days and weeks ahead.

We use this opportunity to call on all Nollywood stakeholders across the country to identify with the organized labour in their respective states. It is clear that the fuel subsidy removal is indeed injurious to citizens of this country and the country itself. Nollywood can never, ever, ever endorse this pain-inducing policy of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan targeted at the Nigerian masses with a view to further impoverishing them.”

Also, sultry actress Genevieve Nnaji who happened to be one of the recent beneficiaries of National Honours by the present government has expressed worries over the fuel subsidy removal, stating that “I still can’t help but feel that fuel subsidy removal is the right move at the wrong time.”

ACTRESS RUBY OSAS IN HOT ROMANCE WITH CANADA BIG BOY

The name,Ruby Osas might not ring a bell but call her Cindy and sure all Nigerian movie lovers will certainly know her.This pretty actress-cum-model is presently basking in the euphoria of a sweet romance that has beyond doubt stands the test of time.

And this is authoritative;she is presently in a sizzling romance with a certain Canada based Big Boy,The Don,who has been spoiling her silly with cash and gifts.Since this University of Benin graduate came into the movie industry few years ago,her profile has continued to rise.This has left a lot of people including her colleagues wondering.

Ruby,today is one of the fast-rising actresses who also dresses well whenever she steps out.The very reserved actress hardly goes to parties,and she has never been linked with any man in the past,unlike some of her colleagues who oftentimes fall prey of the unending antics of male admirers who find them irresistible,or to make extra money to maintain their status.This actress we gathered has been faithful,loyal and loving despite the fact that the money bag is married with kids.

When it comes to Igbo Big Boys making waves in Canada,one name stands out.He is no other than The Don who is said to be a top businessman.
The 2 love birds,we gathered are happy together and their affair is now so open to the families of the 2 of them,including the guy’s unsuspecting wife who allegedly believes that the actress is just a good friend to her husband;they have been for 2 years!

Now Ruby hardly talks to any other man,no matter what he has to offer or his status.She has been very protective of her married lover since they met.

According to those in the know,the bond between them is so strong that they can hardly stay apart from each other.

What may have attracted The Don to the actress is obviously her dazzling looks and physique,though beyond all that,it was revealed that it’s her innocent looks that got him love-struck the first day he set his eyes on her.They met in an eatery in Asaba,Delta State.

MICHELLE OBAMA MAKES APPEARANCE ON US TV SERIES

Michelle Obama, the United States’ First Lady will be making a guest appearance on an episode of popular Nickelodeon comedy series ‘iCarly’.

Obama recently recorded a cameo appearance on the show in Nickelodeon in line with the White House’s support for U.S. military families.

According to the Nickelodeon website, Obama who plays herself in the episode meets up with the main character of the show Carly and praises her for being a supportive daughter to a father who is serving his country.

It even gets more interesting as she dances with the cast too!

‘I’ve been doing the show for a long time and I usually don’t get nervous, but having the first lady on the set, I was really nervous‘, Miranda Cosgrove, who plays Carly says.

This isn’t Obama’s first appearance in a TV series as she appeared on the ABC show ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ for the same cause back in July 2011.

The episode of ‘iCarly’ featuring the first lady will air January 16 on Nickelodeon.