By Kenneth Oliko
It was a bumper package this weekend as Storm 360 artiste YQ, popular for the original version of E fi mi Le withDagrin, unleashed his debut album – one for the guys on ‘The Island’ on Saturday and another for Ikeja on Sunday. We had front row seats and backstage access for both!
The Saturday Show, Rehab, Victoria Island:
It all started quite low key, and some guests began to wonder: would this be a long, lonely night. Then before you could blink, the red carpet looked mobbed! Where did they all come from all at once? Apparently from The Wonder Woman, Omawumi’s video premiere-party at Swe Bar!
Nigerian music stars ‘represented’ fully: DJ Zeez, Iyanya, Wiz Kid, D’Prince, Scales, Ice Prince, Terry G, So Sick, Dockta Frabz, Vector and others. There was also Beat FM’s Oreka, Soundcity’s Olamide Adedeji, EME Music boss Segun Demuren and the entire Storm crew, on ground to support their own.
Hosted by Olisa Adibua, the evening started right away with performances: WizKid rocking his hit track Holla @ ur boy, then came the Grammy dreamer Scales. One of the revelations of the night was Sleek P, newly signed on Storm records – boy, didn’t he sound like Busta Rhyme! However, the crowd went bizarre as D’ Prince held it down with Ooze, Jonz ft WizKid and Omo-oba.
The climax of the event, of course, was when the man of the night, YQ (real name Yaqub Jubril) came on stage – performing from his new album. “You all have been awesome and I am indeed very grateful,” he said to guests and fans. “I can’t forget my main dude Da’Grin – God rest his soul! I remember when I used to be just Yakubu on the streets but Naeto took me and introduced me to the best label in the world. I am YQ’. His performances were wonderful and the acceptance was splendid.”
The floor was opened and it dance till dawn.YQ ft. Naeto C & Ejay-Dresscode(Official DJ Leak)
The Sunday Show, D’Hac, Ikeja:
At the gate of D’Hac, venue for the party, guests were flashed a copy of I am YQ, the CD for #1,000 as the gate pass, and they were let in immediately.
The party started more than two hours late, again with guests coming trickling in, but soon enough it was in full swing soon after YQ stepped on stage, introduced the show and himself and began to serenade the guests with slow, paced songs. Guests at the Ikeja launch included Sasha, Naeto C, Terry tha Rapman, Skuki and Artquake. He wrapped up this session with another tribute to Da Grin.
The next session brought on stage Naeto C, his label mate, whose collaborative performance was heralded by two ladies who struck poses wearing mobile TV screen in front showing music video clips.
Instinctively it seems, guests knew it was time to party. The hit single ‘I like girls’ excited the audience, who rocked the party until the host, Olisa declared the party over.
The album is available on the streets in Lagos and other states as well as all audio platforms from today, Monday, 29 August 2010.
Many thanks for the amazing article.
I precisely needed to appreciate you once again. I am not sure the things that I might have handled in the absence of the entire pointers provided by you on such a problem. It has been a very frightening difficulty in my circumstances, however , looking at the skilled manner you processed that made me to jump over fulfillment. I am happier for this help and in addition hope that you know what a great job you are always getting into instructing others through the use of your site. I know that you have never encountered all of us.
I was there!