10 years ago
"I would be honoured to have (Man. Utd) players do my 'Oliver Twist' dance"
His first UK single, Oliver twist is set for may release. Dbanj has been endorsed by UK heavyweights, like Estelle, Mr Hudson (who tweeted about having a 'business lunch' with dbanj few weeks ago), Tinie Tempah (top UK rapper), and Man-U player Rio Ferdinand (who professed his love for dbanj's oliver twist single lately). In an interview with Sky sports, dbanj talks about having Rio Ferdinand,Sir Alex Ferguson - a fan of the song, and other manchester united players as his fans.
"I live in Nigeria and I've always been a Man United fan. In Nigeria, football is our thing. On Saturdays and Sundays, there's no traffic, you see people sitting down, everyone is in their house, watching a Premiership match or a Championship match.
My family are actually divided; we have Manchester United, which is me, then you have Arsenal fans and Chelsea fans. It's very interesting on match days, that's why every Saturday we're watching a game - either to support someone or to not support someone.
Either way you're watching the match.
I was just saying a couple of weeks back, I was in the States and I saw a Tweet from Rio Ferdinand, saying he was a big fan. He's actually been to Nigeria and he said 'Oliver Twist', my single, was actually his favourite Afrobeat song. I was like, get on the phone to Sir Alex Ferguson, get me to that locker room and I'll perform it for him before he goes out for his next match.
It was so inspiring, because it's my first single coming out, and for Rio Ferdinand to say that, I know that's like me getting the stamp of approval. Tom Cleverley also gave props to 'Oliver Twist' on Twitter.
I know he's injured so a speedy recovery to him.
I would be honoured to have players do my 'Oliver Twist' dance. I would actually come to the locker room - any one - and actually do it with them. I know Sir Alex Ferguson could do it, he needs to just move, move his shoulders. You don't have to be a professional dancer, you can even do it with the ball. That's the mission - get the players doing that."
D'banj signs with Mercury Records UK
According to its Wikipedia page, Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the The Island Def Jam Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group... and it seems the Kokomaster is signed to the label as he was listed on their official website as one of their acts alongside international stars like Neyo, Rihanna, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, U2 etc.
A Statement From D'banj's Spokeswoman, Vanessa Amadi
I guess that fan letter got to D'banj. He's changed his twitter name to D'banj Kokomaster...
Below is a statement from his spokeswoman Vanessa Amadi of VA-PR
Over the past few weeks Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo aka D'Banj has experienced a series of vicious hacks on several of his social networking sites including his Facebook page and more recently, his Twitter of which his account name was wrongfully changed.
Unfortunately the hackers managed to carry out a number of hurtful, damaging activities directly aimed to deceive D'Banj's fans with false information.
With the help of the security teams at both Twitter and Facebook, we have managed to regain full control of the said sites which are currently being operated personally by D'Banj.
Fans can continue to interact with D'Banj at his official Twitter handle @IamDbanj and his official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DBanj. Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo is known and celebrated worldwide for his originality and distinctive sound and is committed to staying true to that foundation.
D'Banj apologies for any inconvenience caused by the hacking and thanks his beloved fans for their continued support.
A fan's open letter to D'banj(MUST READ)
D'banj
goes from Dapo 'D'banj' Oyebanjo to Daniel 'D'banj' Banjo, and an
ardent fan isn't happy abourrit! Read his open letter to the superstar
below...
Dear D’Banj,
I
love your work, I really do, I think you’re one of the greatest
musicians of your generation, but I must say, your new affiliation with
G.O.O.D music seems to be getting to your head.
For years you’ve been known by your official name, Dapo Oyebanjo,
even using it as part of your twitter handle.
Well
all good things come to an end, and your affiliation with your new
label seems to have brought that particular chapter of your life to an
untimely conclusion.
D’Banj you’ve now gone from ‘Dapo Oyebanjo’ to ‘Daniel Banjo’. All I
can do is laugh, I mean, Daniel ‘Banjo‘ ? What are you, a country music
star from Nashville?
Lol, country music star from Nashville indeed...continue reading...
I mean, I get it, Daniel provides the ‘D’ and Banjo provides the ‘Banj’,
but negro please, you’re hustlin’ backwards.
Why
abandon the successful person you are to become a less successful
version of what you’re not? You’re a Nigerian, not an American, and no
matter how hard you try, you’ll never be one, so be yourself and have
faith.
Plus, truth be told, based on a fan base, you’re the BIGGEST artist in
the entire G.O.O.D music family other than Ye’ himself.
You
don’t need to become an Americanized version of yourself to fit in, not
to knock their hustle, but I promise you, John Legend, Pusha T, Big
Sean, Kid Cudi, Common and your other label mates wish they had as many
rabid long-time fans as you do, they Don’t.
You’ve
accomplished something most of them will never get to do, they should
be insecure around you, not vice versa.
Either way, Dapo Daniel I’m sure you still have people who can advice
you. I’d suggest they step up and tell you to accept who you are and not
try to be something you’re not.
Truth
be told, your music is what people are interested in, not the
un-africanization / westernization of your name, heck, just go study the
life of Tupac Amaru Shakur to see how having an ethnic name is
immaterial to one’s success. Or go further back and study the work of
one of your mentors, the late, great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who actually
went from his westernized “Ransome-Kuti” to the very Nigerianized
”Anikulapo”.
Till today his name still rings out in all corners of the world, heck he was even immortalized with a show on Broadway.
Anyway, all I’m trying to say is people love those who keep it 100, please get back to that.
I’ve spoken my piece.
Deuces.
'Spirit of '76'
***
Original letter can be found here
Thoughts?
HOT GOSSIP:PREGNANT STAR ACTRESS GENEVIEVE NNAJI IN SECRET WEDDING WITH POP STAR D’BANJ
She has been described as one of the hottest spinsters in the movie industry but yesterday Saturday,March 31st,2012 African Screen Goddess ,Genevieve Nnaji dropped that tag.
Several years of speculation about her love life which has been under scrutiny was finally laid to rest as she tied the knots with her heartthrob, Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D’Banj at a very private ceremony that held in London.
We were told they had a secret court wedding that had couple of friends and families of the newest couple in town in attendance.
This finally nailed a coffin on the rumour making the rounds then that Genevieve and D'Banj are dating.
This news is yet to be officially confirmed but our reliable source informed us that the duo are now a happy and engaged couple.
Meanwhile tongues have started to wag,that the wedding was rushed and hushed because the actress was already pregnant.
Photos from the superlative wedding coming. HAPPY APRIL FOOL..........
LOVE GONE SOUR !! THE UNTOLD STORY OF GENEVIEVE AND D'BANJ
She needs little or no introduction in Nollywood.The Queen of Nollywood,Genevieve Nnaji is a hot thespian,not just because of her talent but also for her exceptional acting prowess.
Genny as she is popularly called is one of the thespians who came on the scene over a decade ago and became popular with her good mastery of the craft which was evident in her sound delivery of movies roles.
She has been courting controversies since her emergence in the movie industry, but has remained unperturbed about uncomplimentary remarks flying around her.
Despite the fact that Miss Nnaji has been romantically linked with so many men in the past,she has been trying so hard lately to shield her love life from prying eyes of the media because of the humiliation she suffers in her last relationship.
Last year,Genny was rumoured to be in a sizzling relationship with popular hip-hop star, Dapo Oyebanjo a.k.a D’banj and everyone thought it was altar-bound until the devil reared its ugly head and the whole affair collapsed like a pack of badly arranged cards.
One of the reasons for their break-up is the story of how Genevieve was given the embarrassment of her life by a London based Nigeria babe days before her last birthday.
It would be recall that D’banj and the Mo’hit crew treated Genevieve to a surprise birthday bash in London last year.
We learnt D’banj had earlier hooked up with Genevieve at a hotel and later in the day,took her to a departmental store to shop for a befitting birthday outfit.
According to sources,D’banj over the years he lived in London,has a serious girlfriend.Interestingly,D’banj girl and the girlfriend of his partners Don Jazzy are pals.
While the story was on in Nigeria that D’banj was in romance with Genevieve,the star musician we hear,was denying the fact and telling his London based babe that the story about him and Genevieve was contrived by the Nigerian media and that outside appearing in his video,she was just an acquaintance in the industry.
Nemesis however caught up with D’banj when he took Genevieve to the shop.
We gathered that Don Jazzy also took his own babe on the trip.Insiders say Don Jazzy’s babe must have used her Black Berry to contact the girl who arrived the shop in a fury.What happened next was a blur as she allegedly attacked Genevieve and almost stripped her bare.
We were told that D’banj had to buy another dress for the actress to wear back to her hotel room.
This occurrence is said to be the reason they parted.
SEYI LAW TO EEDRIS: YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE D’BANJ!
Comedian Oluwaseyitan Aletile better known for his stage name Seyi Law has condemned rapper Eedris Abdulkareem‘s recent outburst towards D’banj at the Occupy Nigeria protest. Seyi Law says campaigning and voting for Goodluck Jonathan ‘is D’banj’s choice and he should not be judged for it.
The comedian while on stage at the Ojota, Lagos centre of the protest yesterday, Wednesday 11, 2012, told the crowd that D’banj had every right to ‘collect money’ to campaign for Goodluck as it was his own business. He also added that it is left to every Nigerian to decide to do so or not if they were to be approached by politicians campaigning.
On the DAY 2 of the protest, Eedris had called out D’banj and other Nigerian artistes who had campaigned for Goodluck Jonathan, challenging the Mo’Hits‘ pop singer to make an appearance at the protest.
Nigerian artist D BANJ’s ‘Oliver Twist’ music was used as background to London 2012 NEW YEAR Fire Works(video)
Nigerian artist D BANJ’s ‘Oliver Twist’ music was used as background to London 2012 NEW YEAR Fire Works. Kudos to Mohits
Hundreds of thousands of revellers have welcomed in the new year at open-air parties across the UK.
An estimated 250,000 people watched an eight-minute firework display at the London Eye, which was set to music for the first time.
Crowds also gathered in central London for the free annual fireworks, which were launched from barges on the Thames and the Eye itself.
Showers of brightly coloured fireworks shot into the sky to a soundtrack including Queen’s We Will Rock You and The Beatles’ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
