THIS Friday's Free Downloads | Featuring: Rooftop MCs [SERIES 1 - 3] - Agbara Nla, Heroes, Entourage

Happy Black Friday! How was your Thanksgiving? I hope you got to spend quality time with family and friends over the short break.  I did.  Lord knows I needed that break.

The songs featured here today have actually been around for months.  They were released in the first half of 2012, but I just realized that I never shared them in this series.

Rooftop MCs, the 'Boys in the Building' are a rap/hip-hop duo whose career spans more than a decade.  The duo, comprising of Sokleva and Snatcha, worked with esteemed music producer, Cobhams Asuquo, to produce the 2008 hit, Lagimo.

In 2010, they released their 4th album, Back at One, which they made absolutely FREE (and is still available as a free download on 'I Want Airplay').

Fastforward to 2012.  In the first quarter of the year, they began releasing a series of singles, aptly titled SERIES, in anticipation of their 5th Album, Crosseyed: Minority Report 2.  The first three tracks in that pack are available here today as free downloads.  So, here they are in order of release:

1. SERIES [Season One]: Agbara Nla



If you lived in Nigeria in the '90s, then you probably remember the popular Yoruba TV Series by Mount Zion Film Ministry, Agbara Nla. Sampling the refrain from that TV show, the duo, assisted by the production and vocal skills of UK-based producer, Shabach Nwaname, celebrate the authority and supremacy of God while acknowledging that their relationship with Him is what has brought them as far as they have come.

The Perfect Nigerian Gentleman: Endangered Species or Non-Existent Mythical Creature?

Okay, I will concede that I went a bit overboard with the title.  I mean, there's no such thing as the perfect anybody or anything.  Maybe there's the perfect cupcake, or dress, but human beings are flawed.  It's in our nature.  So, why on earth would I, Relentless, even think of using the words 'Perfect' and 'Gentleman' in the same sentence?  Of course, I skipped right over Nigerian.  I am guessing you saw it.  I did.



Going back to the title, if I had to answer this question out-rightly  I would say: Yes, Nigerian gentlemen exist.  That of course, rules out the mythical creature option.  But, then if they do exist, what percentage of Nigerian men are gentlemen?  That's a difficult question to answer, especially if you don't know what the criteria are.  So, I need to start there, i.e. who or what is a gentleman, and specifically, who is a Nigerian gentleman?

THIS Friday's Free Downloads: Ephraem Chene (Ephraim Haruna), IBK Spaceship Boy and Ernythang (Ernest Bisong), Christ I Abide (C.I.A)

If you listen to Nigerian music regularly, one instrument that features quite regularly (apart from the keyboard and drums) would be the guitar.  However, the guitar is just one of many string instruments.  It is always refreshing to see musicians, particularly gospel artistes, creatively using other string instruments in unique and interesting ways.  And that brings us to this Friday's free downloads.

Apart from the fact that today's free downloads are well-produced and delightful to the ears, the first two downloads have one thing in common:  a strong and pervasive use of the violin.  You'll see (or hear) what I mean in a little bit. Meanwhile, let me briefly introduce you to the artistes one by one.

Ephraem Chene (Ephraim Haruna) - Beautiful

Ephraem Chene | Oooteejay.blogspot.com

SONG REVIEW | What You Do - Christ I Abide (C.I.A)

Before diving into today's post, I need to share the road map with you.  Please see below the 'legend' I intend to use for reviews from this point forwards.

B.R.A.V.E

B - Background
R - Review
A - Additional Information
V - Video(s)
E - Extras

And now, let the games begin!


6 Popular Hair Styles for Nigerian School Boys Guaranteed to Raise their Parents' Blood Pressure


Unless your parents are very liberal, chances are they restrict what you can do with your body under their roof.  By 'under their roof,'  I don't mean the house they built with their own blood and sweat.  That's unnecessary, and you would be inviting trouble if you dared to challenge your father especially on why he has not built a house like your friend's father (insert name of friend here).  

[Source]
But this is not about houses, rented or bought.  It's about your hair (or lack of it).  I had primary school and secondary school students in mind for this post because for the most part, they are still minors living with their parents at this stage.  The following list covers a few hairstyles, outside of the typical Gorimapa and Tyson,  which are guaranteed to raise your parents' blood pressure.  Of course, I hope you'll want to do the opposite.

Recommended Reading: All Ages

Here we go:

THIS Friday's Free Downloads | Featuring: A'dam, Frank "Rich Boy" Edwards, Okey Sokay

All of the songs featured on today's post were brought to my attention via Twitter.  Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have heard of them either.  Thank God for social media, ba?

So, it is with joy that I present to you new music from the following artistes: A'dam, Frank Edwards (a.k.a "Rich Boy"), and Okey Sokay.  Brief information on each artiste follows:

A'dam - Fire on my Tongue

A'dam, a singer and songwriter, is an indigene of Osun State who was born in Lagos State.  Among his music credits are Mujojo, a collaboration with Midnight Crew and Feel so good featuring J-Town.  His newest single, Fire on my tongue, is a reminder that "the Holy Spirit gives power and utterance to speak God’s word without fear [Jeremiah 23:29]." [Source]. 

A'dam | Gospogroove

OFFICIAL VIDEO: Tolazee - Bintin L'aye (Life is Short) + Chorus Lyrics and Translation

Last year, I featured and reviewed Tolazee's single, Bintin L'aye.  Sometime last week, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that he had released a music video for the same song. Here is the official music video, directed by Tolucci:




Don't be a Foolish Builder

Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.

Psalm 127: 1 (NLT)*

THIS Friday's Free Downloads | Featuring: Ada Ehi [Bobo Me], Henrisoul [Your Love], Chris Shalom [We Bless Your Name]

I am really excited to be continuing this series:  This Friday's Free Downloads.  I have come across quite a number of songs I would love to share with you, but as always I will have to limit myself to three a week.  So, without rambling any further, check out the following free downloads courtesy of Ada Ehi, Henrisoul and Chris Shalom.

Special thanks to Praizhouse and Gospogroove for the download links.

Ada Ehi - Bobo Me

Ada Ehi | Praizhouse

Ada's latest single titled Bobo Me is our first free download.  It is a re-make of a popular Ishan folk song.  For more information on Ada, check out the following links: