RV IS BEING TRANSFORMED TO A WEBSITE.

Dear Readers and Followers, I am sorry for not blogging for sometime now. I have been busy of late and I have always wanted to run a full fledged website. I know you might feel disappointed with my decision to stop this blog. I believe in doing things properly and I have decided to take my web writing a few notches higher. This blog will not be updated again. It has been left in the cyberspace graveyard. A professional and well managed website will arise from the ashes of REDMAN'S VIBEWORLD. Thanks for following this blog all the while. We will keep you informed when the new website is ready. Thanks.

Tolu Ihidero

Belinda (1984) by Grady Harrell { RV VIDEO FEATURE }.

This song by Grady Harrell takes me back to my childhood.'Belinda' is a song that makes you want to hit the dance floor. This song inspired many Nigerian contemporary musicians. Eddy Ashiedu Brown of The Remedies sampled parts of this great song on one of the group's tracks.

I don't know why Grady was not successful as his contemporaries like Janet Jackson, New Edition and Jody Watley. Grady is from Los Angeles, California, and he has been a professional singer since he was 9 years old. His first album 'Mwana' was produced by Fred Wesley in 1984. 'Belinda' is one of the great songs on the album. Many Africans loved 'Belinda' because of the African feel of the song coupled with the African dancers in the video of the song. RV has a detailed story on Grady Harrell coming up. Enjoy this great video. Cheers.

BOB MARLEY'S FAMILY SUCCUMBS TO US COPYRIGHT LAW IN BITTER COURT CASE.

The family of Reggae Music Icon, Robert Nesta Marley, have lost out in a bid to obtain the copyrights to some of his revered recordings. Rita Marley and her children had sued Universal Music Group ( UMG ) seeking millions of dollars for the company's alleged attempts to 'exploit' his recordings. They also accused UMG of not paying royalties to the Family's Fifty-Six Hope Road Music Company. However, in a comprehensive ruling in New York last Friday, Judge Denise Cote ruled that Bob Marley's recordings were 'works made for hire' as stated under US Copyright law. According to Cote- 'Each of the agreements provided that the sound recordings were the absolute property of Island Records. Whether Marley would have recorded his music even if he had not entered the recording agreements with Island is beside the point.' Island Records is a subsidiary of the Universal Music Group ( UMG ).

The albums at the centre of the dispute include 'Catch a Fire'(1973), 'Burnin' (1973), 'Natty Dread' (1974), 'Rastaman Vibration' (1976) and 'Exodus' (1977). The albums listed were recorded by Bob Marley and his band, The Wailers, and contain some of the Reggae Legend's greatest songs like 'I shot the sherrif', 'One love' and 'No Woman, No Cry'. Judge Cotes ruling has put an end to the bitter legal fight between UMG and the Marley Family. In another development, Rita Marley who lives in Ghana will be attending a memorial concert in honour of her husband. The concert which has been tagged 'A Bob Marley Celebration' will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the 23rd of this month. RV has gathered that some of Bob Marley's children including Damian, Julian, Stephen and Cedella Marley will be performing at the event ahich will be held at the Benedum Centre for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh. The money that is raised from the concert will be donated to the family's One Love Foundation. Bob Marley died of Cancer in 1981 at age 36. He has sold between 100-250 million albums all over the world.

Sources: cdinsight.com, modernghana.com, RV.
Where To Find Bob Marley Online: www.bobmarley.com

A MESSAGE FROM TOLU IHIDERO.

I want to thank you all for taking the time to read and follow this blog. I am really amazed at the growth of REDMAN'S VIBEWORLD. Your consistent patronage has given me the motivation to continue with this project. I have had some positive feedback from readers in different parts of the world. Due to the traffic that this blog is receiving, we have decided to work harder to make your visit to REDMAN'S VIBEWORLD an unforgettable experience. We will be adding some new features to the blog like CD Reviews, Promoting upcoming musicians, writing articles about legendary Nigerian, African and world artists and also taking in and featuring guest bloggers. So here we go.

Are you a music lover? Can you write? You don't have to be a professional writer to be featured on this blog. We are looking for guest bloggers that want to make a name for themselves. If you have something to say about Nigerian artists or others matters relating to music, we will publish your article. Just write it and attach a photograph with it [ We can source for photographs too ] and mail it to us. The article should be in Microsoft Word and should not be too long. Your name will be credited as the author of the story or article. If the story is good, you will get paid for it. If you're an artist or musician, you can send a short biography to us along with links to your music online [ YOUTUBE videos, Myspace Page, Your personal website etc ]. We will promote you on the blog for FREE. We are all about Music and all that is associated with it.

Contact Us: tolukandi@yahoo.com, tolu.ihidero@gmail.com

Keep it locked on REDMAN'S VIBEWORLD. Our best is yet to come. Thanks.

PATTI LABELLE PLAYS FELA'S MOTHER ON BROADWAY MUSICAL.

Funmilayo Anikulapo Kuti, the mother of Africa's legendary Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, will be resurrected once more on stage by Legendary American R&B singer, Patti Labelle. Labelle made up her mind about playing Funmilayo Kuti on FELA, a Broadway musical produced by rappers Will Smith and Jay-Z after attending the show. According to Labelle- 'I am both thrilled and honoured to be joining the cast of FELA on Broadway. Fela's mother, Funmilayo, was a strong, truly inspiring woman and I am so privileged to be able to pay tribute to her on the Broadway stage.'

Labelle, who is renowned for her passionate stage performances, wide vocal range and distinctive high octave belting will make her debut in the play tomorrow [ September 14, 2010 ] and she will stay with the production until it ends on January 2, 2011. Playing Funmilayo Kuti will not be difficult for Patti Labelle because she is an actress with a lot of experience. She featured in the NBC sitcom 'A Different World' as Adele Wayne {Mother of Dwayne} and also acted in her own sitcom 'Out All Night' as a former R&B star known as Chelsea Paige. So she is in familiar territory. FELA is directed and Choreographed by Bill T. Jones. The show stars Sahr Nguajah and Kevin Mambo who both play Fela Kuti alternatively, and also features Antibalas and other members of the New York City Afrobeat community under the directorial skills of Aaron Johnson.

FELA which opened on Broadway in November 2009 tells the story of Fela Kuti as the target of 1000 soldiers who are hell bent on stopping his performances at his famous night club, Kalakuta Republic. Patti Labelle is also an accomplished singer-songwriter who was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003 due to her song 'Lady Marmalade'. She has reportedly sold 50 Million copies of her albums worldwide and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. If you're in the USA, you need to see this Tony Award-winning show about Fela Kuti. Fela is a freedom fighter who continues to inspire many Nigerians to demand for better governance in the oil rich nation.

Sources: theatremania.com, allhiphopnews.com, RV.
Where To Find Patti Labelle Online: www.pattilabelle.com

ASA IS BACK WITH ' BEAUTIFUL IMPERFECTION ' .

There is something unique about Bukola Elemide A.K.A Asa. I became her fan in January 2008 after listening to her CD repeatedly for three days. I did some research about her on the internet and I was amazed by the number of websites that carried stories about this wonderful lady. Her first album, 'Asa' was a total package of living songs and the deft touches of Producer Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo can be felt on the album. 'Jailer' and 'Fire On The Mountain' were the two outstanding songs on the album. They share a common theme of social injustice and oppression, and I'm not surprised that Bukola has remained a social crusader with her second album, 'Beautiful Imperfection'.

Asa has reinvented herself and she looks at life in a new way. She is also looking very womanly presently ( You need to see her recent pictures ) and it is clear she is projecting her sensual part to the world. Her new personal and physical consciousness can be felt through her new songs. 'Be My Man' is the first single from her new album and the song should be on the airwaves any minute from now. Apart from telling us that she is ready for love, I feel the Paris born singer is also using 'Be My Man' to dispel rumours that she is having a lesbian affair with her Manager, Janet Nwose. Other tracks on the album include 'Questions' { Asa is back to her usual social criticism on this joint }, 'Bimpe' { A cool song about a character the singer has lived with in her head }, 'Ok', 'Broda Ole' et al. The full album will hit the music stores next month.

I don't want to bore you with information about Asa's background but it should be noted that she was born in France [ Her father was working at the Nigerian High Commission in Paris when she was born ] and returned to Nigeria at age 2. As a lonely child, Asa embraced music and was influenced by the music of greats like Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, King Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. After she started to establish herself on the world music map, She jammed with the likes of Manu Dibango, Doctor L and Tony Allen. Bukola won the highly regarded Constantine Award in France in 2008 [ though she hardly speaks French as a language ] and has performed with John Legend, Snoop Dogg and Akon. She is still signed to Naive Music in France. Stay tuned to RV for more information when 'Beautiful Imperfection' finally comes out.

Sources: Hi Magazine, RV.
Where To Find Asa Online: www.myspace.com/asaofficial
Contact Us: tolukandi@yahoo.com

RIHANNA'S RED RAGE FOR SINGLE RELEASE!!!

If you're still trying to figure out why Robyn Rihanna Renty danced like a slut in the video of her hit song 'Rude Boy', then you've just been hit by another daring act of sultriness by the Umbrella crooner. Rihanna's picture on the sleeve of the CD of her forthcoming single 'Only Girl ( in the world )' is really hot with a tinge of red. In the picture, the R&B diva is kneeling down almost nude with a piece of red cloth covering her reproductive organs. She spots a necklace and a bracelet on her arm. Her hair has been dyed red and she looks defiant in the picture. The tattoo on her bum can also be seen in the photograph. This PR strategy to boost sales of the single which will be released iTunes on September 21 is really smart. The sexy artwork will influence music lovers to buy the song.

On her official fansite, Rihanna Daily, the singer took time to talk about her new album 'Loud' that will hit the stores in November. ' I'm done recording the whole album. I made sure not to let you down with my music. You guys are always defending me, so now you've got some great songs to justify it.' She told her fans in a web chat. RV has also gathered that 'Only Girl ( in the world )' premiered on Ryan Seacrest's Radio Show in the US. I heard the song some hours ago and I feel it is going to be a club hit. It is really danceable and you're bound to get up and dance to the song. The chorus of the song goes thus-

' Want you to make me feel,
like I'm the only girl in the world
like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
like I'm the only one who knows your heart.'

The song was produced by the Norwegian hit making duo, Stargate, who were responsible for Rihanna's other singles like ' Hate that I love you', 'Please Don't Stop The Music' and 'Rude Boy'. Rihaanna who was born in St Michael, Barbados, has sold 5,563,000 album units in the United States of America as at July 23, 2010. Her wax figure was unveiled in Madame Tussauds at Washington DC late last month. She won awards for World's Best Selling Pop Female Artist and Female Entertainer of the Year at the World Music Awards in 2007.

Sources: billboard.com, metro.co.uk, sussexexpress.co.uk, RV.
Where To Find Rihanna Online: www.rihannanow.com