Damilola Purple: 03/01/12

T.I SIGNS TRAE THE TRUTH TO GRAND HUSTLE RECORDS

Trae The Truth is the latest to join the house that T.I. built.

T.I. has signed Trae The Truth to his Grand Hustle Records imprint.

According to a Twitter post from both Trae and Tip, Grand Hustle is joining forces with ABN Entertainment, though it is unclear regarding the terms of the deal. Trae also just made an official announcement on MTV’s RapFix Live.

Further details regarding the deal are yet to be disclosed. HipHopDX will keep you updated as more information comes to light.

TREY SONGZ MAKES GQ FEATURE FOR MARCH 2012 EDITION

He is a hunk by many miles. They don't come this cute and dapper very much again, he is handsome, dresses very well (Though he loves to tear up those shirts, when he is singing) and yes he can sing! And he just made about 10 pages of a feature in the men's style bible-The GQ- that's Gentlemen's Quarterly of March 2012 and we believe he deserves to be there.

The feature was titled- The Most Important Items In Your Wardrobe. And it showed Trey Songz wearing some of the best jackets & blazers available for guys for the Spring 2012 season. The dapper dude is preparing for the release of his 2012 offering titled ''Chapter V''.
And he had some things to say in the edition. Quoting him verbatim

On Privacy-"What made Prince Prince is, you didn't know sh*t about him. As an artist, you [need] a persona, a mystique.

On his music direction- "I could make a hundred 'Bottoms Up's, but they won't change nobody's life. Marvin Gaye sang love songs to a certain point, and then it was like, 'F*ck this, I'm not clean-cut no more. I'm putting this skully on, letting this beard grow out, and I'm doing whatever the fuck I wanna do."

Check out the dapper dude in pictures below. He R O C K S! Don't you all think?

LADY GAGA LAUNCHES "BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION"

Rocking another one of her unique fashion choices, Lady Gaga made a stop by Harvard Yard in Cambridge, MA today (February 29) before launching her "Born This Way Foundation".

The "Poker Face" singer looked ready for the snowy day ahead wearing a structured long black jacket with iridescent arms, sheer black gloves and a full length black skirt with the fashion icon topping off her outfit with one of her signature wild headpieces and a red lip.

The 25 year-old entertainer took to her Twitter page to let her little monsters in on her current endeavors, tweeting, "Getting ready for Harvard. Mother is asking me for fashion advice, little does she know I stole her look. #BTWFoundation."

The singer also tweeted a live stream link for her fans to join in on this moment, as well, saying, "You can watch the live feed of the keynote conference where I will be speaking with Oprah, Chopra + others. Watch now: http://bit.ly/ygGPjy."

"The Born this Way Foundation" was started by the pop icon and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, to foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated.

JENNIFER LOPEZ'S NEW PHOTO: SEXY OR TACKY?

American singer, dancer and movie star, Jennifer Lopez, recently did a photo shoot for V Magazine and sincerely, we don’t know how to classify the pic.

What do you think of the photo …sexy or tacky?

STAR ACTRESS INI EDO DELVES INTO HOSPITALITY BUSINESS+ ACQUIRES BMW X6

Top actress Ini Edo has really hit it big this time in the entertainment industry.

The Glo ambassador has just acquired a brand new BMW X6.

The wonderful ride is black and the actress has been spotted cruising in it everywhere.

The ride described as a mid-size luxury crossover has a customized registration number Ini 4P and is said to cost the sexy actress several millions.

In related news, we learnt the sultry actress is planning to move into other lucrative businesses, as she is set to open her own restaurant.

Sources says Ini was so inspired by Kefee’s restaurant that she sent spies to check it out and report back to her so that her upcoming restaurant will be the best…comparable to none.

Go girl !

WIZKID, ICEPRINCE, NAETO C, D'BANJ AND DUNCAN MIGHTY FOR GHANA MUSIC AWARDS 2012

Naeto C has been nominated in the ‘African Artiste of the Year’ category…

The 2012 edition of the annual Ghana Music Awards will hold on April 14, 2012 and organizers have released the list for this year’s nominees.

The unveiling was done Wednesday February 29, 2012 at studios of GH One Entertainment Television and was witnessed by members of the media, VGMA Academy and Board members and organizers of the event.

The ‘African Artiste of the Year’ category is highly dominated by Nigerian acts with Naeto C, Duncan Mighty, Ice Prince, D’banj, Wizkid received nods. Cabo Snoop is the other contender in the category who is non-Nigerian.

Out of a total of 30 categories, 23 were announced; Organizers say the seven other categories are ‘honorary and technical’ and have promised to announced winners of those categories at the main awards night on April 14, 2012 in the Dome at the Accra International Conference Centre.

ARTISTE(S) OF THE YEAR
Becca
Okyeame Kwame
Sarkodie
Efya
R2Bees
Kwaw Kese
4×4

HIPLIFE/HIPHOP ARTISTE (S) OF THE YEAR
Stay Jay
Okyeame Kwame
4X4
Sarkodie
D-Cryme
Kwaw Kese
R2Bees

HIGHLIFE ARTISTE (S) OF THE YEAR
Daddy Lumba
KK Fosu
Kwabena Kwabena
Kwasie Pee
George Darko
Lucky Mensah

GOSPEL ARTISTE (S) OF THE YEAR
DSP Kofi Sarpong
Gifty Osei
Philipa Baafi
Lady Prempeh
Bernice Ansah
Selina Boateng

BEST NEW ARTISTE (S) OF THE YEAR
Atumpan
Racquel
Stay Jay
D-Cryme
EL
Zigi

BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Trigmatic/Racquel – Aageii
Fuse ODG/Tiffany – Azonto
Racquel/Sarkodie – Sweetieo
Eduwordzi/Stay Jay – Yenko Nkoa
Okyeame Kwame/Bertha – Faithful
Sarkodie/Efya – I’m In Love With You
Sarkodie/EL – You go kill me

AFRICAN ARTISTE (S) OF THE YEAR (NON-GHANAIAN)
Naeto C
Duncan Mighty
Ice Prince
D’banj
Cabo Snoop
Wizkid

HIPLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR
Stay Jay – Shashee Wowo
Eduwordzi – Yenko Nkoa
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful
Buk Bak – Kolon
D-Cryme – Kill Me Shy

HIGHLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR
George Darko – Lucky Star
Lucky Mensah – Nkratour
Kwabena Maphia – I Go Pay
Daddy Lumba – Ko Hye Po
Kwabena Kwabena – Be Gye Me
KK Fosu – Akoma

MOST POPULAR SONG OF THE YEAR
4×4 – Yesi Yesii
Stay Jay – Shashee Wowo
Selina Boateng – Me Nku Me Ho
D-Cryme – Kill Me Shy
Sarkodie – U go Kill Me
Zigi – You Say Wetin
Atumpan – The Thing
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful

AFRO-POP SONG OF THE YEAR
Ruff N Smooth – Beautiful
Becca – African Woman
Fuse ODG – Azonto
Zigi – You Say Wetin
Atumpan – The Thing
Racquel – Sweetieo
Chase – Tell Me Your Name

HIPHOP SONG OF THE YEAR
Bra Kevin – Three Headed Beast
D-Black – My Kind Of Girl
Sarkodie – I’m In Love With You
Edem – Too Much
Guru – Mmaakuo
Kwaw Kese – Poppin

GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR
Lady Prempeh – Nsantaban
Gifty Osei – Fefeefe
Philipa Baafi – Dea Eba Wosem Afeyi
Jake Alolome – Tomorrow By This Time
DSP Kofi Sarpong – African Borborbo
Bernice Ansah – Final Say

REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR
Blakk Rasta – Miss Right
Sonni Balli – All They See
Edem – Ghetto Arise
Kesse – Oh Yes
Stonebwoy – Climax
Jupiter/Trigmatic – Uptown Downtown

GROUP OF THE YEAR
R2Bees
Buk Bak
Keche
Ruff N Smooth
4×4

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sarkodie – Rapperholic
Kwaw Kese – Untold Stories
4×4 – Waist and Power
Stay Jay – Repetition
Trigmatic – Solutions
Selina Boateng – Menku Meho

BEST MALE VOCAL ARTISTE
Kesse – Oh Yes
Fritz – Me Do wo
KK Fosu – Akoma
Kwasey Pee – Shwe Ahenie
Chemphe – Number One
Kwame Adinkra- Abena Dansoaa

BEST FEMALE VOCAL ARTISTE
Efya – I’m In Love With You
Racquel – Odo
Bertha – Faithful
Becca – African Woman
Irene Logan – Light and Darkness
Diana Antwi Hamilton – Eye Wo Ara

BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Becca- African Woman (Davis Media Group)
4X4- Yesi Yesii (Phamous People)
D-Black- My Kind of Girl (Jonathan Olamide/Desmond Blackmore)
Mensah- No One Knows (Sam A. Kessie)
Bra Kevin-3 Headed Beast (Nana Asihene)
Sherifa Gunu- Mrantie (Phamous Films Production)
Okyeame Kwame- Faithful (Ohene Media)

BEST RAPPER OF THE YEAR
Manifest – Ghana Must Go
Sarkodie – U go Kill Me
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful
Edem – Legacy
Trigmatic – Light and Darkness
EL – Obuumo

SONG-WRITER OF THE YEAR
Okyeame Kwame (Faithful)
D-Cryme (Kill Me Shy)
Mensah (Fante Love Song)
Manifest/Efya (Asa)
Sarkodie/Efya (An in Love With You)
Kiki Banson (African Woman performed by Becca)
Trigmatic (Light and darkness)

RECORD OF THE YEAR
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful
Jayso/Adina – Music
Mensa – Fante Love Song
Trigmatic/ Irene Logan – Light and Darkness
Sarkodie – I’m In Love With You
Kwame Adinkra – Akua Dansoa
Yaa Pono – Goodmorning

GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Philip Baafi – Dea Eba Wosem Afeyi
Selina Boateng – Me Nku Me Ho
Bernice Ansah – Gbenze Gbenze
Lady Prempeh – Ne Ntaban
Asukufou – Chapter One
Gifty Osei – Fefeefe

PHOTOS: SEE DAKORE AND OLUMIDE AKANDE'S 5 MONTHS OLD DAUGHTER

In 2011,Dakore Egbuson’s wedding to Olumide Akande is one of the most costly weddings in Nigeria.

The beautiful nuptials shook the social scene to its foundation with the crème de la crème in the society as participants.

After over four years of romance between Dakore and Olumide Akande,son of billionaire tycoon,Dr. Harry Akande,the lovebirds solemnized their affair on the altar.

The dalliance weathered many storms and many believed it could not happen.

At a point,Olumide’s father was rumoured to have kicked against his son marrying an actress on the excuse that Nollywood stars marriages don’t last long.

However,love triumphed as they got married on Sunday,January 16,2011,at an elaborate ceremony at Guiding Light Assembly,Parkview,Ikoyi,Lagos.

That was after the engagement at a venue very close to the church.

Guests were later treated to a swell reception at KFA Events Centre,Lekki-Epe Expressway,Lagos.

Both Olumide and Dakore are now proud parents.

Checkout the picture of the happy family !

KATY PERRY MYSTERY DUDE PROOF THEY ARE NOT DATING

Katy Perry and a hot guy who's definitely not Russell Brand stepped out in L.A. -- but we have solid evidence the BF is waaay more likely to be a BFF. Drift caught?

HALLE BERRY FIRES LONGTIME LAWYER HIRES LEGAL BULLDOZER

Halle Berry has dumped another man ... but this one has been with her way longer than all the others -- her longtime lawyer/confidante, Neal Hersh ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the lowdown. Our sources tell us Halle wants to go after her baby daddy Gabriel Aubry with nuclear weapons -- metaphorically speaking -- and she thinks Hersh is too much of a gentleman to wage that kind of legal war, even though he has guided Halle through 2 divorces, a custody war and various other legal skirmishes.

So we've learned Halle has hired Stephen Kolodny (above), who is legendary in L.A. legal circles for the level of legal warfare she so wants. You may recall Kolodny repped Mel Gibson in his epic battle with Oksana Grigorieva -- and that got kinda nasty.

Kolodny has already gone to court with Halle. We've learned last Thursday the new duo went to dependency court to have more restrictions placed on Aubry. The dependency judge has already ordered that Gabriel can only have contact with Nahla in the presence of a monitor. On Thursday, we're told the judge voiced additional concerns and ordered Gabriel to return the child to Halle earlier than the 6 PM deadline on days he has custody.

Kolodny will have his hands full trying to convince the family law judge that Halle should be able to move to France with the child because she's concerned about paparazzi and safety.

One thing's for sure ... it's gonna get nasty.

Hersh and Kolodny could not be reached for comment.

OKOROJI DEVASTATED AT THE DEATH OF JAMES IROHA

The Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji has expressed great sadness at the death of Mr. James Iroha, known nationally as “Gringory”.

Mr. Iroha who created the nationally acclaimed sitcom, Masquerade in which he featured as Gringory, the senior houseboy to Chief Zebrudaya Okorigwe Nwogbe was reported to have died in Enugu earlier this week.

Chief Okoroji has described the late Mr. Iroha as one of the greatest creative talents that Nigeria has ever produced. He recalled that Mr. Iroha played host to him a few months back in his Umuahia home where they had concerted discussions on how to activate some creative projects that Mr. Iroha had conceptualized. Chief Okoroji at the meeting had also promised to generate response to the debilitating eye problem that James Iroha was experiencing.

Just before the news of the passing on of Gringory, Chief Okoroji had concluded arrangements with Mr. Olu Akinlabi, Senior Project Manager, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” for a special appearance of the COSON boss on the popular Television programme specifically to assist Mr. Iroha.

Reacting to the death of James Iroha just a few months after the death of another Masquerade star, Christy Essien-Igbokwe who was discovered by the great James Iroha, Chief Okoroji exclaimed “this is a bit too much and absolutely devastating. I took a crew to Umuahia a few months ago and recorded a significant video interview with James Iroha. Some of that was used in The Story of The Lady of Songs, the cradle to death documentary which I produced on Christy Essien-Igbokwe. A great part of the interview dealing with the experiences of James Iroha is yet to be seen by anyone. I hope we can put it together soon and let the nation see. I am saddened by the fact that we were unable to execute much of what we had planned to do. There will never be another James Iroha”.

James Iroha studied theatre arts at the University of Ibadan and was conferred with a national honour by the Federal Government of Nigeria. He will be surely missed.