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GOOD MATCH 9ICE & ASA

Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to join this man, Abolore Adegbola Akande a.k.a 9ice and this woman, Bukola Elemide a.k.a Asa in holy matrimony. If anyman, woman, boy, girl or hacker has a cause why this man and woman should not be joined in holy matrimony, other than the fact that the groom is already married… let him, her or it speak now or forever hold his, hers peace. Good! Since no one objects, as the best man-woman, I would like to make a toast while I tell you why this two are a good match… no… scrap that! A PERFECT MATCH.

Abolore Adegbola Akande a.k.a 9ice was born on January 17, 1980. He is a south-westerner from Ogbomoso in Oyo State but he grew up in the district of Bariga in Lagos. 9ice attended Abeokuta Primary School and CMS Grammar School, and dropped out from his Law course at the Lagos State University to concentrate on music. (Na wa O!) He grew up in a polygamous home of five wives and nine children. His parents found out about his singing career a year after it started around 2000. Before then, 9ice wrote his own songs dating back to when he was just 14 years old. It is worth noting that as a big fan of Pasuma Wonder, he kick-started his singing career with Fuji music. He is also a big fan of Obesere, popularly known as Oba Alashakasha – the sleaze king of fuji music in Nigeria.

9ice’s style was largely shaped by his 75 year-old grandmother who he claimed taught him all he came to know about the culture, and the use of the language of Yoruba. In his words, ‘she hardly says anything without using proverbs or anecdotes to drive home her points. So, when I was trying to be creative with my music, I thought of doing something different and that is why I make use of deep Yoruba words in my songs…’.

9ice is known for his use of Yoruba language in his music. Non-Yoruba listeners may be excluded from his music. He seeks to keep a balance between keeping a wider fan base and maintaining his originality. 9ice compares himself to Youssou N’Dour who has won a couple of Grammy with music recorded in his mother tongue, and Yvonne Chaka-Chaka whose music has also embraced her language. He has been quoted as saying ‘English Language has been imposed on us but God graciously gave Yoruba language to us.’ 9ice also performed live in Cyprus at Lions garden where many if not all the Nigerian students where in attendance.

Bukola Elemide a.k.a Asa (Asha) on the other hand was born in Paris, France to Nigerian parents. She was two years old when her family returned to live in Nigeria. A?a grew up in Lagos, in the south-western part of Nigeria. Twenty years later A?a returned to Paris, which is where her life as an artist took wing. A?a was twelve when her mother sent her to one of the best schools in Nigeria. But educational excellence had a bitter taste: five years of studies and hardship. When she came home, she discovered Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Femi Kuti and Angélique Kidjo, in whose footprints she dreamed of following. At 18, Asa was very familiar with frustration. The university was on strike, the choirs were snubbing her. During these frustrating times, Asa used to lock herself in her room and sing; this she said was very comforting. Nevertheless, she managed to get her voice heard on a few radio talent shows and her first applause brought her boundless pleasure. She then signed up, in secret, for the Peter King’s School of Music and learnt to play the guitar in 6 months.

A?a was the only girl in the family and had to share her parents with her three brothers. At a tender age she began to look after the house during her father and mother’s frequent absences. That is when A?a started to sing. The desire to sing came to her and didn’t go away, carving out a permanent place in her soul. She preferred singing to talking, improvising endlessly until her mother made her stop. Over the years her father had built up a fine collection of records featuring soul classics and Nigerian music, including Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and Lagbaja and went on to draw inspiration from them. A?a said “I was a tomboy and when I was a teenager I became very shy because people made fun of me … in my own way, I was already attracting attention! I got in the habit of never doing anything like everyone else. People didn’t understand my low-pitched deep voice; the choirs didn’t want anything to do with me. I had to get to church first if I was to have any chance of getting near the mike”.

In 2004 A?a met her manager and friend, Janet, who introduced her to Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, who in turn became her musical partner and producer. He enabled A?a, the free spirit, to find her bearings and: songs in English and Yoruba, music falling somewhere between pop and soul, inspired by her musical heritage — with particular care paid to the melodies — and reflecting the feeling she puts into it. Her texts talk about her country, the things in her life and in life generally, all delivered with feigned naïveté and real irony. She states “I like writing or thinking about my texts on the bus, or the molué, as we call it. 49 seats, 99 passengers standing up, as Fela described it. Everyone’s squashed up together and mini-dramas break out all the time. And, at the end of the day, we still manage to laugh, that’s where our strength lies…” It was at this stage of her life that A?a finally returned to Paris. This was her chance to test out her talent on the French musical scene,

Now that we have gotten past their biographies, let’s get down to examining what makes them tick as a couple.

APPEARANCE
Now, the first great thing about this here couple is their absolute disregard to modern fashion and the latest trends… to simply put… bling bling. For me, bling bling is more than the cheap silver and ice that a lot of these artistes haul around trying to deceive people that they are living the goodlife when in fact, it’s either borrowed or they are down right broke after hawking their entire belongings to feel among. For me Bling Bling is the outfit, the swagger, the talk and the walk that just screams out at you to drop whatever you are doing and pay attention.

Now, I have had my eye on these two for quite some time and although lately 9ice has been furiously trying to match up to his counterparts like D’banj, P Square, Olu Maintain, KC Phresh in fashion… wait… on second thought, you might want to disregard the last two names. You know, sometimes I think those fellas record albums just to blind people with all that jewellery and oppress the public with how well they can price at clothing shops and as for KC Phresh, what is up with all those colours? It’s hurting my vision (squint). Anyway… back to 9ice. Lately, he has been trying to match his style with his popularity, fame and fortune but like folks say, you can get the man out of the hood but you gotta be pretty crazy to think you can get the hood out of the man. There is nothing wrong with a little street credibility 9ice, just be yourself. You may not be as extravagantly and unreasonably flashy as Olu Maintain (eyes rolling) or as colour crazy bordering on blind as KC Phresh, take your cue from Tuface ’I’m a do me, I’m a let you do you’… ’photocopy ko easy’. Look at Asa, what a natural! Asa is probably one of those girls that would walk into a fashion showroom, see a poncho on display and ask if it is a kaftan or something and she wouldn’t be bothered about the response she’d get.

Asa is really not a fan of cosmetics. Trust me on this one. The only time you will probably find Asa wearing any makeup is when she has a photo shoot, a video shoot or a really, really major show. I’m telling ya, if she had a date at burger king… Oops! Sorry, if she was going to Shitta for some Amala with Oncle and not Uncle and I mean that in a respectful way, she would not bother with such trivialities. I watched her on CNN a while back and I was like…???? The chick looked like a missionary. But then I got to realize that everything from Asa’s dreads to her shoes (which are anything but pumps and wedges) are just not complicated. This ought to make 9ice very, very, very happy. At least, he won’t have to break his head over soliciting for shows to make that extra cheddar to change her wardrobe every second. He is pretty lucky and ought to thank us that we are not matching him up with Goldie.

Asides fashion and trends, you will notice that both 9ice and Asa are not over weight… wait a minute… they are not even weight, not to mention over weight. They are stylishly lepa. That means that they look hungry but they are in fact not. So I guess 9ice won’t have to worry about breaking his back carrying her over the threshold. Hmm… and here I was thinking about pairing him up with Lepacious Bose. They would make an excellent couple. Asa and 9ice I mean. Come on! Have mercy on the dude will ya?

CAREERS
These two crooners have had a remarkable year. 2008 was specially assigned to them from above. It was like magic or what we Africans like to call Jazz. One moment they weren’t here, the next, they were being played in every home, event, office… you name it. There wasn’t any award nomination they received that they didn’t win. They both effortlessly won the hearts of the Nigerian people and both were almost immediately recognized and celebrated by the international public. They are both brilliant lyricists… that would be an added bonus to their love life and the initial courting phase. If 9ice ever messed up, a little ‘Bibanke’ from Asa ought to put him right.

They are both good at what they do and both had suffered and endured the pain of professional rejection before hitting it big. That will definitely be a major cause for strong bonding. Some people say that Asa insists on patronizing her local dialect in a number of her songs even though she is based in obodoyinbo, managed by an oyinbo label and touring oyinbo lands first before her own because she cannot compete with the big players in the western world at the level of music they are currently operating in. In other words, she just can’t keep up, so should in case all else fails, do something for the Nigerian folks should you ever end up back there. Well, that’s kinda below the belt don’t you think? My response to those allegations is… ‘Ever heard of Originality?’ If everyone kept trying to be like beyonce, music would be a dull thing to engage in and we would all probably be buying 9mm guns off the counter to blow our brains out. Asa is good… practically flawless the way she is. Did I mention that I know her? Yea… we both attended the same secondary school. My sister used to braid her hair whenever it unwound due to too much maths. Just kidding.

A?a’s song Eye Adaba featured in the 3rd episode of series 3 of the E4′s teen tv show, Skins, in which Congolese youngster Thomas is forced to return to Congo from Bristol, where he was living in a flat owned by Johnny White, and made new friends in Pandora, Effy and the rest of the cast. The song is used for the scene in which Thomas is told be pack his bags by his mother and he is upset at having to leave. She has played with artists such as the Nubians, Manu Dibango, Doctor L and Tony Allen.

In the meantime, back in Nigeria, her first single, Eyé Adaba, then Jailer, were beginning to get airtime. MTV chose her as the ambassador for South Africa. Her popularity became big, that when she came back to Nigeria she opened for Akon, John Legend, Beyoncé and Snoop Dogg amongst others.

9ice like Asa has also had the opportunity and privilege of performing for an international audience and being associated with world acclaimed personalities and celebrities. He performed at the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute concert (singing “Gongo Aso”) in London on June 27, 2008.

At the March 2008 edition of the Hip Hop World Awards held in Nigeria, 9ice won the Revelation of the Year award and the Best Male Vocal Performer. A month later at the first Soundcity Music Video Awards, 9ice was nominated in the category of Best New Artiste. 9ice’s biggest single is entitled “Gongo Aso”.

Since late 2007 9ice has featured prominently across Nigerian campuses in the Soundcity/MTN Campus Blast tours. In 2008 he won the MOBO Awards for Best African Act. That same year witnesses him walking away with the MTV African Music Awards for Best HipHop.

Now my only ish with this particular aspect of this couple’s union is that unlike Asa who is captivating on stage with her innocent, folklore kind of style and presence, 9ice has absolutely no stage presence and his performances are often predictable, dull and mundane. Really! You will find that people scream their butts off for the song and not him. How lame is that? Hey… don’t get me wrong, I love the guy’s music. I must have being one of the first 50 people to have bought his album okay? I am a devout fan. So take it from me, there is absolutely no beef for this dude. I just can’t help but feel sad and confused about his whole stage act. (Head Scratch), I particularly don’t get that whole jazzman-like move he does with his hand when he gets on to a stage. Y’all know what I am talking about and if you don’t… I guess the jazz worked after all. Come on! He did it at the Hip Hop World awards. Can someone please help a sister out and tell me what the hell it means? 9ice… really! You gotta do something about your stage performance men if you don’t want Asa to keep bringing home the lion share of the rewards of your careers.

BACKGROUND & ETHNICITY
Both Asa and 9ice hail from the western part of the country which will make for easy integration of both families. Both artistes are also extremely PRO-AFRICAN. When he first got on the scene, 9ice tried flaunting a bit of the traditional Yoruba attire and I guess it worked well for him until the whole bling factor came into play. Hmm… (Head scratch) Do y’all think KC Phresh pays someone to make them look that ridiculous and could the person have been any more conspicuous about the whole use of colours? They aren’t going to pay you any more money if that’s what you’re thinking. Oops! My bad… this is about 9ice and Asa right? Aaaaaaaaaaaarghhhh! FOCUS girl! Anyways, in the recently… okay… not too recently conducted Hip Hop World awards, on receiving his third award, he gave his acceptance speech in his Yoruba dialect, completely disregarding the rest of us that can neither speak nor understand it to save our lives. Still, not to get too personal about the whole thing, I kinda commend him for it; the brother ain’t ashamed of his roots. Well done! As for Asa, the fact that she is based a million miles away on the other side of the ocean and yet is still very much in touch with her native and traditional roots is amazing. I like that! Whatever you do, please do not use KC Phresh’s stylist for the wedding aso ebi… PLEASE!

TEMPERAMENTS
Now this is a tough nut to crack. One thing we all know about these two is that they are pretty reserved or introverted… if you like big words. However, let’s not make the mistake of confusing something with the appearance of it. Maybe I should rephrase it; they both appear to be reserved or introverted if you like big words. Yeah! That sounds about right. Hmm… (Head bleeding from scratching) As uncomplicated as Asa is, it will be really difficult to analyze her. I mean, she really is so near but oh so far. The babe hasn’t being around for quite sometime and whenever she is, she isn’t for a long time and the time that she is; is never the time that’s right to do our analysis. She wouldn’t even have any of that time to give us and even if she did, there still wouldn’t be enough time for us to devote time to analyze her, so we would just need to search for another time, which would be the right time instead… (Head spinning) did you get all that? Because I don’t think I did.

Phew! Now, if you managed to get passed all that mumbo jumbo, I heard it from a grapevine close to Asa, that with her, you basically get what you see. She is pretty laid back and down to earth. She is the kind of person that could wear bathroom slippers, cross the road to buy garri to soak with ewa ganyi unlike some of our screen divas would have to steam their faces, throw on a bit… okay a lot of brown soil to hide those unattractive blemishes and marks, bloody their lips and choke the whole neighbourhood with their perfumes just to buy air freshener from the store next door. Crazy huh? With Asa the watch word is low maintenance. She is definitely, almost every man’s dream when it comes to temperament.

Now, I cannot speak of 9ice. I mean, he appears to have started out that way but this little bird heard from a reliable source that this fairy tale boy has of recent begun seriously stepping on toes with his thousands of naira shoes and biting the hands that once fed him. Now I don’t know about that… but like I said, it was from a reliable source. No matter, there is a saying and y’all know this to be true… ‘Woman get power’. I am pretty sure it’s something Asa can easily handle and if he still doesn’t come round, that’s what the guitar is there for. Whack him hard in his sleep. That ought to knock some sense right back into him.

Now I don’t know about you but Asa and 9ice are definitely a Good Match but if you don’t think so; email me at graye@goodlife.com.ng and let me know your thoughts concerning these issues and you can also air your views about our next good match later in the week- SAMMIE OKPOSO and COSSY ORJIAKOR. Catch ya online… Toodles!

About the Author

Goodlife Promotions is an internet Adverising and online magazine, for more entertainment news, visit www.goodlife.com.ng

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