The Martian Has Arrived, IBK Spaceshipboi

"Spaceshipboi, never under estimate that boy . . "

Last month, February 2014, vocalist Emuwawon Ibukun popularly known as IBK Spaceshipboi, released a visual audio album for his "I Come In Peace" album which was released late last year.

IBK Spaceshipboi maybe Nigerian but brace yourselves, he does not come forth with sounds of Afrobeat or typical genres that other Nigerian artists tend to work with. His new album made up of 8 tracks features genres such as gospel, jazz, rap and hip hop with a touch or two of traditional African instruments and sounds. The album features collaborations with Bez, Dami Kalejaiye, Olalekan Maxwell, Stan Iyke and TaiChy.

"He is supernatural always"

The "Spaceship Anthem", which is the first track on the visual album introduces you to who the Spaceshipboi is. "Light In Me" featuring TaiChy is a gospel rap track. Now, there are not that many doing this; I actually don't know of any Nigerian artist who has put out a gospel hip hop track with such style. My favourite line in  this song is "No disrespect to Biggie, that's a little smalls, cause homie I ride with the most glorious".

One of my best songs on the album is "Worship Medley" featuring Dami Kalejaiye. As you can guess, it's another gospel song. It's a really smooth song. I have never heard Yoruba language sound so sweet. This song actually brings tears to my eyes (every single time I listen to it). Dami is such a marvellous singer (with an amazing personality). I would really like to see this song performed live.

IBK showcases his personality in his various songs. His song "Loving You" has this Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke swing to it. I listened to the a cappella mix of this song before the original, I much prefer the a cappella mix of it.


I like how IBK switches from gospel to singing about love then about food and change. If you are in a public place don't listen to "This Time", because you'll find yourself clapping and shouting "This Time"! (This happened to me on the tram the other day). This song is such a Jazzy record. You can't help but snap your fingers to this.

"I'm on mission, changing the world . . . "

I particularly like the sound of the first instrument that that plays on "The Mission". Not sure if it's a wood block or xylophone. This song featuring Olalekan Maxwell has an influence of traditional Yoruba folk music. IBK is soldier of change, spreading the message of love and courage. I've seen him perform at a couple of Bez's concerts, I'm glad to see he featured Bez on "Sticks and Stones. The song also features Stan Iyke. This song is dedicated to the ladies, it's clearly a contradiction to songs like "Birthday Song" by 2 Chainz and "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J. "Baby keeping your body well na so . . .  Don't let nobody tell you, you are as good as the sex you are bringing".  Ladies, you don't need to be a hoe to make it. Three men have made a song about it.

And the album comes to an end with "The Heaven Experience". The name of the song already describes it, such angelic sounds and celestial harmony. This song also brings tears to my eyes. This is a song for the masters, such powerful music!

IBK's "I Come In Peace" album is lyrically rich with lovely music. It's fun, joyful and entertaining. The Spaceshipboi's voice is definitely out of this world! I love his voice. I can't sing (except for food).

I must commend IBK Spaceshipboi for being daring and stepping out of the commercial bullish*t music bandwagon. His "I Come In Peace" album is available on iTunes and Spinlet.

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#IresPlaylist: The Sushi Playlist

All I could think was who would eat avocado, crab and mango in the same mix. But I was too polite to say "no thanks". I had just gone to do a recee at the Avenue Suites in Lagos and coincidentally, their sushi bar had just opened that week. I was with FS1 and she was no sushi virgin, but I was. I did attempt to say no but the folks around were excited about the chef's skills and the fact I was the only who had never tried it. As I swallowed the roll, I felt a claw in my throat (of course this was a figment of my imagination). I had to shut my eyes to figure out what I was tasting, the poor chef said my facial expression made him think I was going to spit it out!

Learnt to make sushi yesterday with some friends. It was so much fun. Tasted wasabi for the first time, once again, my facial expression was a killer.

I've been asked repeatedly to kindly put my playlist together in a blog post. Finally got round to it. Decided to call this week's playlist the"Sushi playlist". Enjoy!

Yung L - Fever



Warm Water (Snakeships Remix) - Banks



Jerk Ribs - Kelis



Rather Be - Clean Bandit 


Look Right Through - Storm Queen



Dream - Danny K 

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Keeper Of The Sun

The condolence register at the Sheffield Town Hall

Since moving to the Steel City I've hardly felt the sun. Most days it's grey; sometimes the sun does come out and on those days I feel as though it's saying to me: "Hey Ré I'm here, smile, go out and do something". The other day I realised I had started acting as cold as some of the city folk. And that's not who I am. I am warm, loving, I am the daughter of the sun! It seems I might have finally found a heart warmer; God bless TemiDollFace and IBK Spaceshipboi for this.

Now what this two did was write, produce and release an inspirational song titled "Keeper Of The Sun". Their new song is a tribute to late revolutionary leader Nelson Mandela. The song starts off with chants of "Mandiba Mandela", at first you are not sure what turn the song is going to take. Then the dolly (Temidollface) comes on with some enchanting lyrics. The hook of the song is one of those that ropes you in and you don't even realize your fists are pumped and you are singing along. I was very allured by IBK's verse, I felt like it was reminding of the greatness I was born into.

As most of you know I am obsessed with the star at the centre of the solar system. I believe I am from the sun . . . well that is a story I will tell you another day. 

"Seek in yourself what you see . . . "

"I am the future and  I am the one
As long as I see a ray,
I know there's a sun . . .  "

After listening to "Keeper Of The Sun" I concluded I did not need to feel or to see to the sun to remember to smile or be kind. I looked into my mirror and I saw myself Ré, then I looked closer and I saw the sun and the Madiba in me. I am a keeper of the sun. I am That Ré of Sunshine.

Listen to Temi and IBK's track below. :-) 

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Seyi Shay: Wanted For Ragga Dancing

It's 2014 and Seyi Shay has got something new coming out! The singer is set to release a video for her recent single "Ragga Ragga".  Get ready folks 'cause knowing this lady it's going to be HOT!

I remember the first time I heard about Seyi Shay, I was having dinner with the editor/publisher of Mannequin Magazine. She had barely sat down when she said excitedly: "I've got a song you need to listen to."

And she started singing Seyi Shay's "Loving your way" before showing me the video. After watching we admired her voice, how she could sing so smoothly even in pidgin English and her fashion style.

"Loving your way" was stuck in my head for weeks (more like a whole year and I'm singing it right now). Since that night I've listened to almost everything she's released. And thanks to my old job at Base I got to see the songstress perform live.

**Updated

The official "Ragga Ragga" music video is out! I must say Seyi Shay has started 2014 on a fabulous note. Check out her new video:

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Happy Mew Year!

Photo credit: Holly Golabek

Hello there beautiful people! Well if you didn't know, January 2nd is Happy Mew Year for Cats day!

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SpongeBob in Lagos

SpongeBob and Nickelodeon specialist Seun Oratokhai

Now when I heard the yellow sponge was in Nigeria I was very upset. I had been looking forward to meeting SpongeBob since 2011. I even told Dora yes Dora The Explorer; we had a lovely chat when she was in Lagos. Thanks to Nickelodeon Africa, I've met Dora, Boots and Diego. 

I'm very upset that SpongeBob Squarepants waited till I left Lagos to go on tour to the West African city. The Nickelodeon character and the Nick Africa team paid surprise visits to Beat FM, Classic FM, Cool FM and Rhythm FM on 25 October 2013 and got to hang out with the cool OAPs. 

SpongeBob is such a star! He even made an appearance at the Eco Star Awards while he was in town. He also had a special meet and greet session with some of his fans at the Viacom Office in Ikoyi, Lagos where he danced and took photos with kids and parents present.

Now I understand why Ntokozo told me to stay in Lagos a little longer. *sniff sniff

Check out pictures from his media tour below:

The "Big Man" Osahon and Lil miss Seme

SponeBob and fans

Doesn't Seun look stunning! Love you mama! 

SpongBob at the Beat FM with Toolz, Jimmy and Koch

SpongeBob at Cool FM with Mercy, Mannie and Shine

I told you he was such a star! He even had a body guard!

SpongeBob and Bukky at Classic FM

 “Well, it’s no secret that the best thing about a secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby adding another secret to their secret collection of secrets, secretly.” - SpongeBob

Well my secret is I'll be going to Orlando to see my girl Dora and pay SpongeBob a surprise visit next summer! Sssshhhhhh don't tell anyone.

Happy November folks!

Princess Irede

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5 Things I recently did

Hey guys, the last month has been really eventful for me.  I'll give you a quick catch up of what this Ré has been up to.

1. I resigned from my job.

I miss my desk, I miss my Base fam . . 

Before you scream out loud, keep reading and you'll know why. Enough people have told me I must be crazy for doing this. Well my Base fam were very supportive. Gosh I miss that Base life. (I'm still a Base writer though :-), I couldn't leave completely).

2. I moved to a new city.

The Steel City

It was time for a new adventure . . .  Sometimes you've just got to make that move. I moved to a city in South Yorkshire, England. Loving it so far. Only thing I've got qualms with is the weather. I'm a summer girl; I love the sun.

3. I went back to school.

Looks like a church doesn't it? It's a lecture theatre. 

I'm currently working on getting a master's in Broadcast Journalism. Whoop whoop!

4. I finally found true love.

Brandon and I.  *Insert Beyonce lyrics here { . . . I'll be your baby, now promise not to let you go, love you like crazy}

Love my new MacBook Pro more than a fat kid loves cake!

5. I got a house plant.

Her name is Clara. She's a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Her spines are not as prickly as I thought they would be. She sure brightens up my place.

I'll be honest with you guys, I was afraid of leaving my job, I was afraid of moving to a new city and leaving my family . . . but  I'm happy I took this decision. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

My name is Princess Irede Abumere, I am a Mongo ma Ndemi native and my journey continues. xx

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