Tosin Abayomi

Joshua, a former boxing heavyweight unified champion is known to have a relationship with Cuppy.

While <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/sports/sports-gist/anthony-joshua-reveals-strategy-to-beat-usyk-in-rematch/nyfq611">Joshua continues his preparation for his rematch against the reigning unified WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk</a>.

The 29-year-old Cuppy is enrolled and pursuing a master's degree in African Studies at the University of Oxford.

On Tuesday, May 3 Joshua paid Cuppy a visit at her school the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Anthony Joshua teams up with DJ Cuppy at Oxford University

Cuppy took to social media to give her followers an update about Joshua’s visit.

Cuppy posted a photo with Joshua in her school with a message that said, "Look who came all the way to Oxford University.

" Do you reckon @AnthonyJoshua would make a great research assistant for my thesis? 👨🏽‍🎓 lol #CuppyDat.”

In a separate post, Cuppy then went on to give Joshua words of encouragement as he continues in his preparation to face Usyk.

ALSO READ - <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/sports/other-sports/boxing/oleksandr-usyk-says-his-country-is-more-important-than-fight-with-anthony-joshua/qre2796">Oleksandr Usyk says his country is MORE IMPORTANT than fight with Anthony Joshua</a>

She said, "So PROUD of this MAN! With or without belts, always my CHAMP 🥊 Femi KNOWS I got him ANYDAY!.

"Sometimes, the greatest friendships are the ones you never expected to be in. #CuppyDat."

This is not the first time Cuppy would be involved with a professional boxer of Nigerian descent.

A few months ago, <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/sports/sports-gist/lawrence-okolie-visits-surulere-teams-up-with-dj-cuppy/0mcd887">Cuppy teamed up with Nigerian-born Cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie</a> when he visited the country.

'Always my champ' - Cuppy sends sweet message to Joshua after meeting at Oxford University.

'Femi knows i got him' - Anthony Joshua teams up with DJ Cuppy at Oxford University

Motolani Alake

<h1>On February 13, 2021, Nigerian singer, Joeboy will be on Cuppy's Apple Music Radio show, 'Africa Now.' He will discuss his new album, 'Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic,' why the album has no features and his plans for a deluxe. </h1>

As regards the lack of features on his album, Joeboy says, "I really, really wanted two of my favorite artists on the album, but I couldn't get their verses on time. So by the time they submitted their verses, it was too late to actually add it to the album."

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-joeboy-somewhere-between-beauty-and-magic-album/99qrxdx">Joeboy - Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic [ALBUM REVIEW]</a>

When asked who these two artists are, he says, "Oh, okay. Part of my favorite artists are definitely Simi and WurlD. So the deluxe version is coming out in a couple of months, the deluxe version of the album. So those features are definitely going to be on it."

Joeboy says, "I&nbsp;remember the whole idea behind the album is love, love is beautiful and magical. So, we're speaking, and I'm like, "Yo. I think we should name it&nbsp;‘Beauty and magic.’&nbsp;" We're like, "No, that's just straightforward.

"Maybe&nbsp;‘Somewhere between beauty and magic.’&nbsp;" And it kind of stuck. I think the album title is really, really catchy. Once you get that title, it just was like, "Yo, let me check this out. What this album was about?”

Joeboy also says that he wants to be humble, as much as possible.

Joeboy releases 14-track debut album, 'Somewhere Between Beauty and Magic.' (emPawa/Banku)

Joeboy also says that he wants to be humble, as much as possible.

Joeboy speaks on why his album had no features, says Simi and Wurld will feature on deluxe

<h1>On January 28, 2021, a video of Nigerian rapper, Zlatan denying that he knows his former collaborator, DJ Cuppy went viral on Twitter.</h1>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Zlatan did DJ cuppy dirty 💀 <a href="https://t.co/kNjTnM6b0a">pic.twitter.com/kNjTnM6b0a</a>&mdash; 𝕂𝕦𝕤𝕤𝕞𝕒𝕟 (@kusssman) <a href="https://twitter.com/kusssman/status/1354799802626658304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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That came after Cuppy revealed that <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/dj-cuppy-wonders-why-rapper-zlatan-has-her-blocked-on-instagram-and-whatsapp-for-10/ks2ddhv">Zlatan had blocked her</a> on all social media platforms following their collaboration on Italian Ice Cream-inspired single, 'Gelato.'

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">For the record... There have been no breaches of my contractual agreement regarding the song <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gelato?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gelato</a> as confirmed by lawyers... However, as <a href="https://twitter.com/isrealdmw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IsrealDMW</a> publicly inaccurately declared I owe an artist money, I am suing him for libel and defamation! See you in court Isreal. <a href="https://t.co/4fvwIyuzMB">pic.twitter.com/4fvwIyuzMB</a>&mdash; Cuppy (@cuppymusic) <a href="https://twitter.com/cuppymusic/status/1356269243701075969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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After a refusal to comment when Pulse Nigeria reached out to her, she has now broken her silence.

On February 1, 2021, Cuppy tweeted that, "For the record... There have been no breaches of my contractual agreement regarding the song <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gelato?src=hashtag_click">#Gelato</a> as confirmed by lawyers... However, as <a href="https://twitter.com/isrealdmw">@IsrealDMW</a> publicly inaccurately declared I owe an artist money, I am suing him for libel and defamation! See you in court Isreal."

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The reason Zlatan blocked and denied knowing anyone name DJ Cuppy <a href="https://t.co/ss2WMgXVAB">pic.twitter.com/ss2WMgXVAB</a>&mdash; BASITO (@itzbasito) <a href="https://twitter.com/itzbasito/status/1355082180448423939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On January 21, 2020, Isreal DMW, a self-acclaimed friend of Zlatan's took to his Twitter and wrote that, "Kudos to someone like Zlatan, who took a bold step, by flushing out a full fake friend like Cuppy, who was just using his head, all in his name of 'my papa na Otedola.'

"Zlatan did a hit collabo with her, ordinary one kobo, e no see. She also took Zlatan to Abuja, for her fundraising, where she made billions of Naira, and didn't even remember Z for one Kobo till tomorrow. No accommodation, no feeding. Zlatan had to even spend his own money at Transcorp Hilton, to [cater] for everyone including me. This na 2021 abeg."

As the conversation went on, Pulse Nigeria reached out to Cuppy's team for comments and the response was: "We have nothing to comment on this situation unfortunately.&nbsp;Cuppy foundation does have an upcoming conference in February which will be announced shortly.&nbsp;We also released our annual report last week."

You can find the annual report of The Cuppy Foundation <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/0k3ho8l0x1nqlpl/CF%20Annual%20Report%202020.pdf?dl=0">HERE.&nbsp;</a>

Cuppy denies that she owes Zlatan money, threatens to sue Israel DMW. (Twitter/Cuppy)

After refusing to comment when Pulse Nigeria reached out to her, she has now broken her silence.

Cuppy denies that she owes money to Zlatan, threatens to sue Israel DMW

<h1>On January 24, 2021, Nigerian hitmaker, Rexxie became the new cover artist for the 'Africa Now' playlist on Apple Music.</h1>

He also had a conversation with Nigerian artist, Cuppy on Africa Now Radio on Apple Music.

Here is how the conversation went down;

"‘KPK' is a short form for 'Ko Por Ke.’&nbsp;It means,&nbsp;‘Is it not plenty?' So when&nbsp;you say, 'Talo so,&nbsp;Ko Por Ke’&nbsp;you're saying,&nbsp;’Who said it's not&nbsp;plenty?' So you're telling yourself, you're&nbsp;saying, 'Who said I'm not plenty?' Man I'm plenty 'OPP, O Por pa' 'OPG&nbsp;O Por gan.' I'm very very plenty."

"I worked with&nbsp;Mohbad for a while, we've dropped some songs together, so I understand the kind&nbsp;of music he wants to put out there. I understand the kind of angle he's&nbsp;coming&nbsp;from. I can't wait for them to hear…"

<h2>Rexxie on producers now realising the need for recognition</h2>

Cuppy enthused that,&nbsp;"I've always felt like producers&nbsp;and DJs, we were always behind the scenes. I mean, for you as a Nigerian&nbsp;artist, do you agree that it's only now we're getting&nbsp;the recognition we&nbsp;deserve?"

Rexxie replies:&nbsp;"I believe it's only now we are&nbsp;realizing that we deserve the recognition."

Rexxie covers Africa Now on Apple Music.'  (Apple Music)

Rexxie also had a conversation with Cuppy on Africa Now.

Rexxie covers Africa Now on Apple Music

<h1>On Sunday, January 17, 2021, Marlian Music artist, Zinoleesky joined Cuppy on Africa Now Radio on Apple Music Radio via Apple Music. The episode will also be the first to be aired on Cool FM, as part of the newly announced deal. </h1>

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/apple-music-radios-deal-with-cool-fm-is-the-third-step-in-a-long-play/drfrqxd">Here is why Apple Music’s deal with Cool FM is an interesting third step in a long play</a>

During the show, he talks about his journey and working with his label boss, Naira Marley. On working with Marley, he says that, "We have some projects going on,&nbsp;going on, going on, and then I'm on my&nbsp;own."

He also speaks about what <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/naira-marley-announces-new-label-marlian-records-signs-four-artists/290z57c">signing to Marlian Records</a> means to him, "Being signed&nbsp;to Marlian Music is, trust me, an experience like no other. Because&nbsp;Naira Marley&nbsp;doesn't&nbsp;take us an artist, this is like his brother, or his brother like&nbsp;his family. So, you know it's a&nbsp;family thing, he's a very intellectual person&nbsp;that looks at all angles, spiritually every&nbsp;angle left, morally. I think I'm in&nbsp;a perfect place, perfect place, and I'm very happy I&nbsp;made that decision.”

Recently he released his impressive debut EP, <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-zinoleesky-chrome-eccentric-ep/l286bes">Chrome Eccentric</a>. He tells Cuppy about the inspiration behind that titled, "There's this game I play, GTA... There's a car in the game that has this&nbsp;chrome color I like. I was in love with that car."

'Chrome Eccentric' produced the buzzing single 'Kilofeshe.' You can play the EP below;

Zinoleesky talks about working with Naira Marley and new EP, 'Chrome Eccentric.' (Apple Music)

During the show, he talks about his journey and working with his label boss, Naira Marley.

Zinoleesky talks about working with Naira Marley and new EP, 'Chrome Eccentric'

<h1>On January 14, 2021, Apple Music and Cool FM announced a content partnership that allows Cool FM to syndicate two Apple Music shows; Rap Life Radio by broadcast OG and Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&amp;B, Ebro Darden and Africa Now Radio by Nigerian artist and influencer Cuppy.&nbsp;</h1>

A report by Pulse Nigeria reveals that the shows will be broadcast every Saturday and Sunday at 6pm starting on January 16 and 17, 2020 respectively. Already, Rap Life Radio is broadcast every Saturday while Africa Now Radio is broadcast every Sunday. Cuppy’s latest guest would be Marlian Music artist, Zinoleesky.&nbsp;

Zinoleesky to appear on Africa Now Radio today. (Apple Music Radio)

Once again, that move underlined Apple’s intention and awareness of where the world is headed. The future is tech-led and key to that is data and data can only be easily managed by the internet. Also key to that dynamic is market share and control - as rapped by AQ on <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/aq-gods-engineering-album-review-mi-abaga-oxlade-tomi-thomas-feature/vq1qyxl">‘No Pensions.’</a>

In Nigeria, Apple Music reportedly rose to a neck-in-neck battle with Boomplay by the end of 2020, with both companies boasting around 140,000 subscribers each.&nbsp;In Q2 2020, Apple Music made a clear statement of intent by expanding to 37 African countries while offering a six-month trial period, upon registration.

However, only the company with a core understanding of consumer behaviour, demographics and consumer interaction will control the future of the Nigerian - and the larger African - dysfunctional music/entertainment markets.&nbsp;

Transsion already laid down the gauntlet by controlling the phone market in Africa with phones that offer important features like better battery life, great processors and relative durability at cheaper rates. In 2018, the company sold over 120 million phones in Africa where 90% of the smartphone market is Android users.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This helped the company to have a manufacturing plant in Ethiopia and launch Boomplay, a music streaming service. Apple looks quite far behind Transsion and Boomplay on brand equity, but the war is far from over.&nbsp;

Nigeria is the most populous African country and therein lies potential. This deal with Cool&nbsp;FM will likely be the first in a larger play at understanding consumer behaviour, demographics and consumer interaction.&nbsp;

Cool FM, a subsidiary of Steam Broadcasting Communications is one of the largest radio networks in Nigeria. It broadcasts in four states, across demographics and languages with different consumer behaviour and different types of interaction. Cool FM’s parent company also runs the internet original content platform, Clout.&nbsp;

In 2017, Geopoll reported that Cool FM controlled a whopping 8% of the Nigerian radio audience.&nbsp;

On August 18, 2020, Apple Music announced an online radio entity called Apple Music Radio. During the announcement, Beats 1 became Apple Music 1 while other channels like Apple Music Hits, Apple Music Country and a number channels were introduced.&nbsp;

Apple Music 1 is led by cornerstone presenters Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, Brooke Reese, Dotty, Hanuman Welch, Matt Wilkinson, Nadeska, Rebecca Judd, Cuppy and Travis Mills.

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/clubhouse-app-creators-intent-vs-the-vanity-of-human-usage/9d7k492">&nbsp;JoinClubhouse: Creator’s intent vs. the vanity of human usage</a>

Interestingly, the new Apple Music Radio also came with direct listening interfaces to Nigerian radio stations like Cool FM and Beat FM as well as other stations across the world. It was Apple’s first major announcement of its intentions for radio.

This is important because as much as the internet is now pivotal to humanity, offline entities like radio still have as much power.&nbsp;

In Nigeria, around 60-70 million Nigerians download music, but over 75% of Nigeria listens to radio. Radio also remains the major ground for music consumption in Nigeria. You can check analysis on <a href="https://turntablecharts.com/">TurnTable Charts </a>for more info.&nbsp;A lot of reports make it known that radio remains the primary source of music consumption in Nigeria.

During a 2019 conversation with The Breakfast Club, Label Exec and UnitedMasters Founder, Steve Stoute said, “Radio will never be obsolete, radio will just need to be consumed in different formats” and he was telling the truth.&nbsp;

Apple knows that. Internet radio like Apple Music Radio, which is integrated into the Apple Music app is some years of genuine acceptance. Apple Music itself is struggling to gain subscribers in Africa’s most populous nation due to poverty, high internet access costs and a habit of avoiding payment for online service.&nbsp;

Yet, radio culture is imperative to Apple’s quest to control the music market in Africa and the world at large. If you can understand and interpret the Nigerian interaction with radio, it could do wonders for Apple Music and its pricing strategy, its UI/UX, algorithm - which is average at the moment and so forth. It could also help the company to create better Africa-centric products.&nbsp;

<h2>Is there a precedent for this?&nbsp;</h2>

Yes. On April 28, 2003, Apple launched iTunes Store and a little later, it struck a deal with Best Buy. Best Buy, then a high flier, was the first third-party retail seller of Apple's iPhone.

On February 26, 2008, the iTunes Store surpassed Best Buy to become the second-largest music vendor in the US behind Walmart. It then became number one on April 3, 2008.&nbsp;

By March 2012, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2012/03/30/its-death-by-apple-for-best-buy/?sh=5eca0a3024ae">Nigam Arora reported for Forbes</a> that, “Apple is sucking profits out of Best Buy.&nbsp;Best Buy does not talk about the subject because it needs its contract with Apple to drive traffic to its stores even though margins on Apple products are slim…

“For years, Best Buy relied on music CDs and DVDs to drive traffic to its stores.&nbsp;The most prominent and the largest amount of floor space used to be dedicated to CDs.&nbsp;Not only were CDs profitable, they helped Best Buy sell all kinds of other electronics to routine CD buyers.

“Then iPods and iTunes killed the CD business.For a while, Best Buy was driving significant profits from high-end phones.&nbsp;Then along came the iPhone. Best Buy had lower margins on iPhone. iPhone also killed momentum at Research In Motion (RIMM), whose products were helpful to Best Buy.

“Further battering Best Buy was the spread of Apple stores. Apple stores were a thing of beauty, more fun and the staff was knowledgeable in comparison to Best Buy stores.”

In September 2014, Apple also acquired Beats Electronics for $3 billion. While it felt like a glamorous acquisition at the time, it was about the Beats Music Subscription Service. Around a year after acquisition, Beats morphed into Apple Music.&nbsp;

In April 2020, Michael Simon argued that, “Over the years, Apple Music has basically extinguished any trace of the soul of Beats Music…

"Apple Music is most definitely a product for Apple users. Yes, there’s an Android version, but Apple doesn’t market Apple Music to buyers of the original Beats in any way. In fact, you won’t even find a single mention of it on the Beats by Dre site.”

In his spectacular article, which offers a relatively veritable addition to the foregoing, Simon breaks down Apple’s continued <a href="https://www.macworld.com/article/3537448/apple-kill-beats.html">quest to ‘erase’ Beats.</a>

Bottomline is that Apple offers mutually beneficial situations and deals before moving to dominate. It definitely looks like radio is key to dominating the African music/entertainment market.&nbsp;

Apple isn’t the monster. In fact, Apple is brilliant for the way it goes about things. These acts might seem ethically disturbing, but they are more than fair in the business world.&nbsp;

<h2>Why is the Nigerian music market important?&nbsp;</h2>

As noted earlier, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with 200 million people, and that is currency. Statistica reports that over half of the Nigerian population is under 19 years old. That's a lot of tech-savvy people, with a strong attraction to social media. Their relationship with payment is also projected to be different.

While Nigerian music is currently faced with a lot of structural problems, internet entities will be key to solving a lot of those problems. From the look of things, Apple Music wants to be at the forefront of that battle.&nbsp;

In 2020, Apple Music surpassed Spotify in terms of paid subscribers in the US and its subscriber base keeps growing. Platoon is helping Apple to gather catalogue - a front which currently makes the company subservient to major labels, who own the extensive discographies.

Apple Music also continues to make strides on the publishing and licensing frontiers with deals with artists like Chance The Rapper. In 2019, it hired Lindsay Rothschild, the former head of songwriter and publisher relations at YouTube as Head of Creative Services and Music Publishing for North America.

At this time, the aim is for internet entities to be a one-stop shop for production, recording, publishing, distribution, sale, aggregation and broadcast of the music as well as integrated consumer interaction and payment points. In essence, Apple Music - and Spotify - aim to become record labels and then some.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/our-future-record-companies-vs-streaming-platforms-vs-publishing-companies-vs-digital/vb5f8xm">In a 2020 article </a>about the global state of music, this writer enthused that, “In the old days, record labels had a lot of power. To get music out, they indirectly controlled all the four fronts of music - records, publishing, distribution channels and points of sale.

"The records were coming from them, so they had a leverage on what goes where and how it gets there - down to the trucking companies that used to transport records in the 70’s.

"With the advent of the internet, those powers have been slashed. They still very much have the power in catalogue and the origin of records because most artists are signed to majors or their affiliates, but they now split those powers with streaming platforms who are now a one-stop shop for records, publishing, distribution - to a little extent - and points of sale.”

When Apple Music Radio launched, one thing that really stood out was the influencer-led strategy to certain shows.&nbsp;

Public figures like Aitch, Kerwin Frost, HAIM, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Travis Scott, Young M.A and many more joined old shows by public figures like Action Bronson, Billie Eilish, Elton John, Joe Kay, Lil Wayne, Frank Ocean, Vince Staples, and The Weeknd.&nbsp;

This marked the maturation of shows like the Drake-branded OVO Radio and Nicki Minaj-led Queen Radio. After what Tory Lanez achieved with Quarantine Radio during the lockdown became a reality, this model became more imperative. It showed how easily public figures transition into influencers - powerful figures in today’s tech-led world.&nbsp;

In the current world, <a href="https://www.ion.co/millennials-listen-social-media-creators-celebrities">70% of teenage YouTube subscribers</a> say they relate to YouTube creators more than traditional celebrities and <a href="https://www.ion.co/millennials-listen-social-media-creators-celebrities">40% of millennials believe their favorite creators understand them better than their friends.</a> Tory Lanez proved that celebrities can move like creator’s and it means a jackpot for Apple Music.&nbsp;

In five to 10 years, Nigeria and the rest of Africa will likely see internet radio in a more attractive form. It’s a long game, but it has definitely started. Within the next five years alone, Apple will poach a number of popular Nigerian OAPs.&nbsp;

However, this doesn’t mean that radio will simply turn over and die. Traditional radio stations will just have to create veritable internet alternatives like internet stations and podcasts to compete in the longterm.&nbsp;

Send the word out; Apple - Music - is coming for Nigeria/Africa… big time!

Cool FM to syndicate Apple Music's Rap Life Radio & Africa Now Radio

In Nigeria, around 60-70 million Nigerians download music, but over 75% of Nigeria listens to and consumes music via radio.

Here is why Apple Music’s deal with Cool FM is an interesting third step in a long play [Pulse Editor’s Comment]

<h1>Details/Takeaway: Released off Cuppy's debut album, 'Original Copy,' 'Litty Lit' caught the eye from day one and it featured Teni in her element, dishing out a freestyle in one-take as she aims to soundtrack a Litty Lit party. </h1>

Song Title: Litty Lit

Genre: Afro-pop, E

Album: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/cuppy-original-copy-album-review/vmh9wfz">Original Copy</a>

Date of release: December 17, 2020

Video Director: TBA

Cuppy releases new video for, 'Litty Lit.' [Platoon]

This was one of the best songs on 'Original Copy.'

Cuppy releases new video for, 'Litty Lit'

<h1>When Stonebwoy was in his teens, he met Rastaman and his crew, and they changed his life forever. While his mom initially had reservations about his association with people that were not essentially his family, she later warmed up to the idea because that particular set of people gave him a sense of belonging.&nbsp;</h1>

Born Livingstone Etse Satekla, that set of people gave him the name Stonebwoy. They took the ‘Stone’ out of his name, Livingstone and added ‘Bwoy’ for Creole effect.&nbsp;

“It was going to be Rudebwoy, but I was like ‘Rude?’ ah… I then felt I’d just keep the ‘Stone’ from my name over there and add the ‘Bwoy’ for desired effect,” he jokes. “I actually think all the African artists who have ‘Boy’ in their names should pay royalties to me [shrugs and laughs]. But my ‘boy’ has a ‘w,’ so it’s ageless. So I guess that differentiates me [laughs].”

That movement also influenced his Afro-Dancehall style of music. Till this day, he still follows the Rastafarian movement.&nbsp;

Over the past 10 years, he has released four studio albums and numerous international awards while also starting his own label, Stonebwoy laughs off suggestions that he’s becoming an OG.&nbsp;

“I think I have been here before other people, but ‘OG’ comes with a lot of things. I believe these terms get thrown around these days. Maybe there are cadres, but I feel like I’m not in that realm yet,” he says.&nbsp;

<h2>Working with Davido, Zlatan and Cuppy</h2>

Davido and Stonebwoy have always known each other because they are fans of each other. First, their relationship started through Instagram DMs and then they met each other for the first time. Since then, they’ve wanted to make songs together but situations never really allowed that to happen.&nbsp;

In fact, there was one occasion where the song was recorded but then the file ended up being corrupt. Due to the fact that the culprit is a frequent Stonebwoy collaborator, the Ghanaian star forgave him and kept it moving. Finally, they are here with ‘Activate.’&nbsp;

On his album, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lBS41bHC4xYZaRijsY1OqHS0bYe4YS9DI">Anloga Junction</a>, Stonebwoy also worked with Zlatan. Produced by Nigerian beatmaker, Phantom, the beat was made in Gambia, but Zlatan recorded his part in Lagos.&nbsp;

With Cuppy, who featured Stonebwoy <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/cuppy-original-copy-album-review-teni-fireboy-ycee-rema-darkoo-and-more-feature/vmh9wfz#:~:text=Cuppy's%20'Original%20Cuppy'%20is%20filled,back%20by%20identity%20%5BAlbum%20Review%5D&amp;text=The%20production%20on%20'Original%20Copy,album%20with%20an%20open%20mind.">on her album</a>, she came to Ghana with producers with the aim of working with the Ghanaian superstar.&nbsp;

“I like to help people, you would be amazed at the type of people I’ve written songs for,” he says. “We did the song and wrote it for her, but the most important thing is that she’s happy and pushing what she believes in. For me, it means I’m able to use my platform to support other artists.”&nbsp;

For Stonebwoy, aiding people is “the natural thing” to do because everybody needs somebody.&nbsp;

“If you can help people, help people. If you can’t then don’t do it,” he says.&nbsp;

Stonebwoy is a Grammy nominee. This year, he got a certificate of nomination after Avrakedebra by Morgan Heritage got a nod in the Best Reggae Album category at the 2017 ceremony. This comes after Shatta Wale was featured on <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/the-lion-king-the-gift-by-beyonce-album-review/v441rss">Beyonce’s Lion King: The Gift</a> album.&nbsp;

A lot of people tend to ignorantly think ‘Afrobeats to the world’ is just a Nigerian thing, but it’s not. A lot of African artists are part of this contemporary journey, but Stonebwoy is quick to point out the wrong notion that ‘Afrobeats to the world’ is novel.&nbsp;

“I believe in ‘Afrobeats to the world,’ but Afrobeats has been making it to the world before our era and we have to be truthful about that. We can’t bring it here, if it wasn’t somewhere before we picked it up,” he enthused. “Big respect to the founding fathers - from the Highlife era, before it became Afrobeat. Now, our sound is called ‘Afrobeats.’ Maybe in the next 40 years, it will be called something else.”

“One thing we can’t deny that the fire has been burning since the time of Ghanaian Highlife artists who created an invasion and influenced the great Fela,” he continues. “Fela then flew it away to the shores of America and Europe.”

But then, Stonebwoy feels like a positive from ‘Afrobeats’ is the ‘s’ suffix which makes it easier to fuse African pop sounds with other influences. He feels the ‘s’ broadened the horizon - per description, which might have been hard without the ‘s.’&nbsp;

Stonebwoy then highlighted the unfairly downplayed influence of Ghanaian Highlife in this entire journey. On social media, Nigerians and Ghanaians have often gotten into bant-ridden squabbles over superiority and whatnot.&nbsp;

“We are the same and I don’t think that’s fighting, but we should also be able to recognize origin stories. Without knowing where you are from, you can’t know where you are going,” Stonebwoy says. “It’s just like saying you now, Motolani Alake and Stonebwoy… we look alike and therefore, our names don’t matter. Of course our names matter.”

“It matters for documentation and accuracy of history. Understanding our history is now where our brotherhood should eradicate any bad blood and give us the platform to be honest,” Stonebwoy continues. “If the credit goes to Ghana, leave it to Ghana. If it goes to Nigeria, leave it to Nigeria - we are the same.”&nbsp;

Stonebwoy then praises a recent video where legendary Nigerian actor, Pete Edochie was breaking down the origin of Afrobeat, with backstories on Ghanaian Highlife.&nbsp;

“If there is one thing Ghana did right, let us chop our credit now [laughs],” he jokes.&nbsp;

“Of course, I always say that whatever Afrobeats has become today, Nigeria made it so,” he closes.&nbsp;

Sub-Saharan Africa is still a large download market where streaming is only starting to make a headway. Others might see music streaming as a means of music consumption, but Stonebwoy sees streaming as something that, “makes sure that your income comes to you directly.”

He continues, “Once you get the right link, distribution channels and rights holders, you are going to get your music heard and you will get the money that comes from that. That’s the positive side of streaming, but we still have some way to go as regards putting the right structures in place to make sure that streaming is totally beneficial.”

While Stonebwoy doesn’t necessarily agree that it’s a negative, he highlights some of the perceived negativity around streaming in Ghana.&nbsp;

“Some people feel like the inability to sell physical CDs like in the old days is a problem because the funds can be easily tracked and calculated,” he says. “These days, you are looking at decimals and extreme calculations. Thankfully, the artist doesn’t do that, but I don’t see the problem. With the emergence of the internet, we were always going to migrate to online platforms.”

Stonebwoy also feels like victory over piracy is key for all African markets. To him, if streaming guarantees that and income streams, then there’s not much to complain about. Nonetheless, Stonebwoy feels like there are still avenues for exploitation in the streaming era and that African artists need to negotiate properly.&nbsp;

Like in Nigeria, December events in Ghana are also uncertain. It’s also made more interesting by how Ghana just concluded its Presidential elections. Stonebwoy had a show planned for December, but due to COVID-19, everything was on pause as of the day this interview was conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nonetheless, Stonebwoy did the BEAM Friday in November and he might do one for December outside Accra, Ghana.&nbsp;

Right now, Stonebwoy doesn’t know if he will release an album next year. Right now, he simply wants to see the performance of ‘Activate’ featuring Davido.

Stonebwoy: The power of origins. [Instagram/StonebwoyB]

Stonebwoy speaks about Davido and ‘Activate,’ Cuppy, Zlatan, Ghana vs. Nigeria, streaming and more.

Stonebwoy: The power of origins  [Pulse Interview]

<h2>You have to be really cynical to think ‘Original Copy’ is a bad album or even mid. Until recently, Cuppy’s career had been dogged by intense criticism stemming from Nigerians who seem to have a grouse with a background she didn’t choose.&nbsp;</h2>

When this writer had a chat with her in the weeks leading to this album, she joked that like any creative, she was both nervous and excited about the album. On August 21, 2020, <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/rema-teni-fireboy-sir-shina-peters-feature-on-cuppys-debut-album-original-copy/gqexjqp">Original Copy</a> was released as her first release under Platoon. The truth is Cuppy needs to relax, her album is actually pretty good.&nbsp;

At the root of Original Copy is Cuppy’s visible will to retain identity as an Epe native, a Nigerian and an African. The very first track on Original Copy is dedicated to her roots in Epe, Lagos State.&nbsp;

Epe is the land of her fathers and she delivered a ringing endorsement to it, “I am looking forward to expressing myself on different sounds, but I want to make sure that on every track, I’m integrating my own DNA, you know. So even if I’m creating music that’s for everyone globally, I’m still reppin where I’m from and that’s here in Epe.”

As the drums of Afro-House fuse with the amazing vocal performance of Efya Nokturnal who sounds like she was delivering the victory score of an epic movie, Cuppy noted two things that intimate her will to retain identity; she wants to integrate her own DNA and retain the part of her that is fro ‘Epe,’ from Nigeria and from Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/cuppy-tells-pulse-about-original-copy-asa-asika-africa-now-tekno-music-production-and/6r1hb69">Cuppy speaks with Pulse Nigeria [Pulse Interview]</a>

When the time was right, she delivered a proud ode to Africa on ‘54’ with the help of Julian Marley and the legendary Sir Shina Peters. During that interview with Pulse Nigeria, Cuppy said that being the host of Africa Now on Apple Music was helping her understand the truth about her African identity even better than she realized or anticipated.&nbsp;

On a Trumpet-rich sound that feels like Calypso-infused Boomba from East Africa on pon pon &nbsp;drums sits this ode.&nbsp;

Julian Marley sings, “No place like Mama Africa.” While that line is very much cliche, it is not any less of the truth. At a time blackness is under attack across the world and black people are desperate to connect with their roots, songs like this have more value.&nbsp;

‘54’ is a symbolism for the number of countries in Africa - 54. Shout-out to Sir Shina Peters for clarifying that bit. As you read this, scream “Ace!” to celebrate this Nigerian legend...

She then goes further to showcase African talent on the love-themed Dancehall tune, ‘Karma’ featuring Stonebwoy and on, ‘Jollof On The Jet’ featuring Tanzanian act, Rayvanny and Nigerian singer, Rema. ‘Jollof’ is one enigmatic topic that both unites in uniform nomenclature and divides Africa in a case of petty quest for superior culinary output. Shout-out to Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria.&nbsp;

The sound that births ‘Jollof On The Jet’ is what a Nigerian will call beautiful and soft lamba music. One time for Killertunes for this beat. And can someone help us ask Rayvanny why he went off like that with, “Pakorafimbomechemechekalifileghettonattachakaza…” All in all, it’s such an amazing song.&nbsp;

Another legend shows his face on Original Copy to aid Cuppy’s cause. On a Pon Pon beat, Cuppy tells a love story as she declares her love for a faceless man. This is her weakest vocal performance on the album and just before Wyclef came in, the song was getting kind of flat.&nbsp;

Aided by stellar production, Original Copy is filled with feel-good. Another one of such is, ‘Feel Good’ featuring Fireboy. The P-Prime-produced Afro-pop track is something that a lot of women will definitely like. But then, the littest song on this album is, ‘Litty Lit’ featuring Teni. For once, a hyperbolic title for a Nigerian song feels accurate.&nbsp;

The song feels like mixing eating cuisine by a lake on a great September morning - it’s that good. In fact, it’s so good that Cuppy thanked Teni for her contribution at the end of the song. If this write were Cuppy though, he would have put Niniola on the track too - just to drive everybody crazy.&nbsp;

We also got an Afroswing number with the well-written ‘Guilty Pleasure’ featuring Nonso Amadi. Darkoo also came&nbsp;through on the Latin-Pop-Fusion of, ‘Cold Heart Killer.’ That hook is so amazing too.&nbsp;

When all is said and done, the best verse on the album belongs to Ycee on, ‘P.O.Y.’ I mean Ycee said, “Looking like a snack, but I know that you a feast…” Yo… When they were called upon, Seyi Shay and Ms Banks also performed. Cuppy’s line, “My name is Cuppy, mo nife boy…” is meh though.&nbsp;

The tracklisting on Original Copy aids sequencing, progression and sonic cohesion. However, songwriting on the album is not as impressive and neither are Cuppy’s vocal performances which sometimes feel like exertions. But then, Cuppy understands her own artistic limitations. So instead of going all Beyonce, she chose her moments wisely and delivered as necessary.&nbsp;

That said, production on Original Copy is its best feature. It’s so amazing and well-rounded that it offers more than three favourite to any non-cynic who genuinely played this album with an open mind. On ‘Epe,’ Cuppy said that, “I am looking forward to expressing myself on different sounds…”

Ladies and gentlemen, she achieved that. Kudos to her. Her roots as a DJ definitely came through. More than anything, the album is also very African.

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.0-3.9: Near fall

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4.0-5.9: Average

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6.0-7.9: Victory

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.0-10: Champion

Stonebwoy, Efya featured on DJ Cuppy's "Original Copy" album

The production on 'Original Copy'is its best feature. It’s so amazing and well-rounded that it offers more than three favourites to any non-cynic who genuinely played this album with an open mind.

Cuppy’s ‘Original Cuppy’ is filled with good vibes back by identity [Album Review]

<h1>She was eating while on a break from her multiple media appearances in the build up to her debut album, ‘Original Copy.’ Two days later, she would announce a deal with Platoon, the Apple-owned label services company. A few weeks prior, she was announced as the host of ‘Africa Now’ on Apple Radio.&nbsp;</h1>

Cuppy

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Cuppy denies that she owes money to Zlatan, threatens to sue Israel DMW

Rexxie covers Africa Now on Apple Music

Zinoleesky talks about working with Naira Marley and new EP, 'Chrome Eccentric'

Here is why Apple Music’s deal with Cool FM is an interesting third step in a long play [Pulse Editor’s Comment]

Cuppy releases new video for, 'Litty Lit'

Stonebwoy: The power of origins [Pulse Interview]

Cuppy’s ‘Original Cuppy’ is filled with good vibes back by identity [Album Review]

Cuppy: The ‘Original Copy’ and a policy of excellence [Pulse Interview]

Rema, Teni, Fireboy, Sir Shina Peters feature on Cuppy's debut album, 'Original Copy'

Cuppy surprises fans with new single, 'Karma' featuring Stonebwoy

Cuppy signs deal with Platoon for her debut album

Cuppy salutes Teni for supporting her through dark times