Man opens up to being CIA spy

May 29, 2014

Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has described himself as a trained spy specialising in electronic surveillance, dismissing claims he was a mere low-level analyst BBC reports.

In an interview with NBC, he reiterated that he had worked undercover overseas for the CIA and NSA.

He said the US got better intelligence from computers than human agents.

Mr Snowden, 30, fled the US in May 2013 and has been living under temporary asylum in Russia.

Last year, he fed a trove of secret NSA documents to news outlets including the Washington Post and the Guardian.

Among other things, the leaks detailed the NSA’s practice of harvesting data on millions of telephone calls made in the US and around the world, and revealed the agency had snooped on foreign leaders.

The revelations have sparked a debate in the US over the appropriate role of the NSA and the extent to which it should be authorised to conduct such broad surveillance.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to rein in the programme by barring the NSA from storing phone call data on its own and to require it to seek a court order to access telecom companies’ records.

Last week, the US House passed such legislation, sending it to the US Senate.

In excerpts of an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, Mr Snowden said he had trained as a spy “in sort of the traditional sense of the word in that I lived and worked undercover overseas – pretending to work in a job that I’m not – and even being assigned a name that was not mine”.

But he described himself as a technical expert who did not recruit agents.

“What I do is I put systems to work for the US,” he said. “And I’ve done that at all levels from the bottom on the ground all the way to the top. Now, the government might deny these things, they might frame it in certain ways and say, ‘Oh well, you know, he’s – he’s a low-level analyst.’”

But he said he had worked for the CIA and NSA undercover, overseas, and lectured at the Defense Intelligence Agency.

When Mr Snowden fled the US, he had been working as a technician for Booz Allen, a giant government contractor for the National Security Agency.

Brazil economy in slowdown ahead of World Cup

May 31, 2014

Brazil’s economy grew 0.2 per cent in the first three months of 2014, official statistics show.

The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics also revised down economic growth in the last three months of 2013, to 0.4 per cent.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the sluggish growth figures come just before the start of the World Cup and presidential elections in October.

President Dilma Rousseff, who is seeking re-election, has said the football event will spur growth.

But high inflation and low business investment have put a damper on the expected lift from government investment in projects leading up to the sporting event.

This has spurred protests from Brazilians angry over the expense of the World Cup and the lack of trickle-down growth.

Business investment fell 2.1 per cent in the first three months of 2014, the biggest decline in two years.

“I couldn’t find anything positive at all in the [data],” said Bruno Rovai at Barclays.

Brazil, which is Latin America’s biggest economy and the world’s seventh largest, has suffered from stubbornly high inflation, which remains at six per cent, above the central bank’s target.

On Wednesday, the central bank kept its key interest rate at 11 per cent in an effort to combat rising prices.

We got nothing for winning African titles – Isiaka Olawale, Sand Eagles Captain

May 31, 2014

Isiaka Olawale

Isiaka Olawale became popular in the country after he captained   the Super Sand Eagles to the 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. He helped Nigeria win the 2007 and 2009 CAF Beach Soccer Championship, both in South Africa. In this interview with Idris Adesina, the Dolphins star speaks about his career and the challenges facing beach soccer in the country.

You were in the Super Eagles in 2007 ahead of the 2008 Nations Cup. How did you miss out on the final team selection for the Africa Cup of Nations under Berti Vogts?

I would say I was not picked for the competition because there were better players.

I played in two qualifying matches and the friendly match against Kenya, and then I was on the bench when we lost 3-1 against Uganda in Kampala   and when we defeated Niger 4-1.

You had a two-year stint at Wydad Athletic in the Algerian League. Why did you come back home?

I would say that the period I spent in Algeria was just to add to my experience. Wydad Athletic rely very much on young players from their academy, so they promote players to the main team regularly.

After spending a season and half at the club, I asked for an upward review of my contract. When we couldn’t agree on a new deal, I decided to come back home to join Lobi Stars.

Would you say the Algerian league is better than the Nigerian league?

Yes. The Algerian league is better than ours in terms of coaching, facilities, sponsorship and officiating. I can remember that we played our matches on Thursdays and Fridays. I can also remember that I learnt how to play on a synthetic pitch over there because most clubs there use synthetic pitches. Only a few of them play on natural grass.

How did you come into football and later beach soccer?

I started playing football from my primary school days. I loved the game and I continued playing it when I got to the secondary school. I played for my school and I had many fans.

I started playing beach soccer after one of our coaches at Lobi Stars recommended me to the national beach soccer team coach. I didn’t find it strange because I had played football on sand   at Wydad Athletic. I travelled with the team on a two-week training tour of Tunisia. In Tunisia we played on sand and I loved the experience.

But I prefer normal football to beach soccer. Playing beach soccer is not easy at all. The style and the rules in beach soccer and normal football are totally different. Beach soccer requires a lot of skills, agility and stamina.

Who was your ( football) hero when you were growing up?

Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Okocha were my heroes in Nigeria. I loved the way they played and loved to be like them. I am a fan of Arsenal and and loved Freddie Ljunberg and Patrick Vieira.

Would you say playing beach soccer has helped you with the other?

Yes, my experience in beach soccer has really helped my football career.

You have been playing for the Super Sand Eagles since 2006. What impact has this made on your game?

It helped improve my game. Playing on sand is not that easy. I remember that when we started (in 2006), we didn’t have the ball used for beach soccer. We were playing with the normal ball.

Nigeria crashed to Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 2011 Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy. What happened?

I believe we could have won it but I would say we lost due to the politics of the game. Our experiences at the previous World Cups had taught us a lot of things so we were prepared to win the title then but we lost at the quarter finals because of politics.

When the score was still 8-8, we had a throw-in that was awarded to Brazil at our expense. They scored and progressed to win the encounter 10-8.

You led the Super Sand Eagles to win two African titles. Do you consider these to be your best achievements in sports?

Yes. I won the FA Cup with Lobi Stars and the Four-Nations tournament with the national Under-23 team. I won the African beach soccer twice (in 2006 and 2009). These are achievements to admire.

What was your reward for winning the African titles?

This is one of the biggest problems of beach soccer in Nigeria. The government has yet to recognise us as they recognised the Super Eagles (after winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013). When we won titles, the government didn’t host us not to talk of rewarding us. We have not even got as little as a presidential handshake and this is really not making the players happy. But we will keep doing what we do because we love our country.

The government should know that a national team is still a national team and there is no difference. The beach soccer family is just a little one – 10 players and maybe five officials. We are not saying we want to be treated like the Super Eagles. They should remember us and do something for us too to encourage those coming after us.

How would you assess beach soccer in the country?

For me, beach soccer is not growing in Nigeria.we don’t have a league.   The Nigeria Football Federation under Sani Lulu promised to organise one but nothing has been done. Anytime we go to competitions, players from other countries do ask us if we have a league in Nigeria and when we say no, they find it difficult to believe. We have talents in the country but there is no league to aid the development of the game in the country.

When I heard that they wanted to start the beach soccer league in Nigeria, I knew it would be difficult because the normal football league is not being properly organised . For instance, league football has ended in other countries but we are still playing and have not even finished the first round of matches. Our amateur league, women’s league and the premier league have problems.

How can the problem be solved?

An individual or the private sector must be willing to start it on a small scale in a place like Lagos. I know the teams in Lagos are enough to start a mini-beach soccer league. If the government sees that someone or a company has started it in a place, they can now work together to spread it across the country. I know that the organisers of Copa Lagos can get the league started. If not it will be very difficult.

What targets have you set for yourself as a player?

Every footballer must have a target and they work hard at it. my target is to win everything possible I can win. Then I would love to play outside in one of those oil countries to earn a little of the oil money.

Dolphins have a formidable team this season and our target is to be on the continent next season.

Before you joined Dolphins, there was a dispute between your former club, Kwara United and Dolphins. Would you say that affected your game in anyway?

Not at all. The year Dolphins won the league, I was supposed to join them immediately from Kwara United but coach Kadiri Ikhana pleaded with Dolphins to wait until the end of the season. So it didn’t affect me at all in any way.

What role did Lobi Stars play in your move to join Waydad Athletic of Algeria in 2004? Do you think they sold you out cheaply?

I don’t think so. I had to plead with Dominic (Iorfa) to let me go. That transfer generated a lot of tension between Lobi Stars and Waydad Athletic. However, the problem was resolved and I was allowed to go to Algeria.

Why did you decide to become a professional footballer? Who encouraged you?

I became a professional footballer because I have the talent and I wanted to be like the people I admired in the game.

My mother was the one who encouraged me to play football. She was happy when I became popular.

When my father was alive, he never supported me. He wanted me to concentrate on my education alone and do nothing else. It was my mother who stood by me throughout that time. I remember that I would have to lie to my dad each time to play the game.

Before he died he succumbed to pressure from my mum and allowed me to concentrate on football.

Your most memorable matches?

My most memorable local match was the 2003 FA Cup encounter between Lobi Stars and Kwara United in Makurdi. I was at Lobi Stars then and we won the match 2-0. I scored the two goals.

I will always remember the final of that same year’s FA Cup between Lobi and Sharks in Kaduna which we won 2-1.

Another match I will not forget is a CAF Champions League match between Katsina United and Ajax Cape Town in Kaduna, which we drew 2-2. We were 2-1 down before I scored the equalising goal.

For international matches, I won’t forget the friendly match I played with the Super Eagles against Kenya in 2007, which we won 1-0. It was my first international cap so I won’t forget it.

Taylor Swift cancels Thailand concert

May 31, 2014

Taylor Swift has waded into the political situation in Thailand, cancelling concerts in the country after recent political unrest.
Concert promoter, BEC-Tero, stated on its website that Swift would no longer be performing in Bangkok on Monday June 9 “due to recent events in Thailand.”
The statement read: “This has been a difficult decision for all parties. Taylor, AEG, BEC-Tero and 13 Management all express regret and sincere apologies to the fans in Thailand.”
Taylor tweeted to her 41 million followers: “I’m sending my love to the fans in Thailand. I’m so sad about the concert being cancelled.”
Last week, Thailand’s army seized power of the country in a coup after months of political turmoil.
In Bangkok, a number of anti-coup demonstrators were injured after clashing with the military in the streets.
The junta has also detained more than 180 activists, academics and journalists, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Taylor Swift’s net worth
The American country pop singer, songwriter, musician and actress has an estimated net worth of $150m (N24bn). She became one of the country’s brightest (and youngest) faces in 2006, when she released her first album. Although new to the American public, Swift had been performing since her preteen years in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, where she first took the stage as part of a children’s theatre troupe.
In 2009, Forbes ranked Swift as the 69th most powerful celebrity with earnings of $18m (N2.9bn), in 2010 as the 12th with earnings of $45m (N7.2bn), and in 2011 as the 7th most powerful celebrity with earnings of $55m (N8.8bn).
Swift’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards, ten American Music Awards, seven Country Music Awards, among others. She has sold over 20 million albums and 41.8 million digital tracks worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
She has endorsement deals with Target, CoverGirl, Sony, Elizabeth Arden, Walmart and American Greetings. In addition to her music career, Swift has appeared as an actress in the crime drama Crime Scene Investigation (2009), the romantic comedy Valentine’s Day (2010) and the animated film The Lorax (2012).
Swift has luxury homes
Just like many of her contemporaries, Taylor Swift has an impressive real estate portfolio. Her beautiful Nashville home sits on 4,929 square feet of area surrounded by vast expanse of sprawling gardens. The house is incredibly spacious with high ceilings and large windows. The Nashville home boasts four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a big kitchen, along with other amenities that include a library, wood burning fireplace, and a bright and breezy outdoor entertainment area.
Swift also has a home in Beverly Hills which she bought for $3.7m (N592m). Though the Grammy winner loves to live in Nashville with her family, she also has been spending much of her time in California. The Beverly Hills house is bright, romantic, full of light and warmth and stunningly charming and gorgeous, much like Taylor Swift herself, and is the largest of her three properties.
When someone has about $150m (N24bn) in the bank, he/she is expected to spend some on some of the world’s supercars. Swift is not an exception.
Her autos
Taylor Swift has been spotted cruising Beverly Hills in her Audi R8 sports car. The R8 takes car manufacturer Audi to a next level, as precision and performance has been put beyond the limits in the sports car. It is Audi’s first car built with the aluminum body, and its newly introduced Quattro permanent all-wheel drive engine has made it the topper in various racing events throughout the world.
Swift also owns a Mercedes-Benz Viano, formerly known as the V-Class. The Viano is a car that proves that space can also be comfortable, efficient and eco-friendly, and is equipped with room for up to eight people. It’s a multi-purpose vehicle based on the popular Mercedes-Benz Vito commercial panel van.
Taylor Swift loves to ride luxury sports cars as she’s been spotted cruising Beverly Hills area in, apart from her Audi R8, a Porsche 911 Turbo, one of the most powerful sports cars. The car generates a jet-like thrust as it is catapulted off the line using Formula 1-inspired launch control. It accelerates from 0 to 40kph in just 1.1 seconds.
The multiple Grammy winning singer/songwriter was gifted a pink Chevy Silverado by her record label on her 18th birthday, which she later donated to charity. The Silverado is a complete family car and provides all of the necessary features people want as standard.
It is, however, noteworthy that Swift does not spend all her earnings on homes and supercars as she is known to support a number of NGOs.
Some facts about Taylor Swift
- Her mother named her ‘Taylor’ because she did not want to let people know if she was a boy or girl if they saw her name on a business card.
- She was born on December 19, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania.
- A computer repairman taught her how to play three chords on the guitar when she was 12, and this inspired her to write her first song, “Lucky you.”
- She plays guitar, piano, ukulele, and electric guitar.
- She loves reading and enjoys writing poetry.
- She has seven Grammy Awards, 11 American Music Awards, and six Country Music Association Awards.
- She has received two Golden Globe Award nominations.
- She wrote a 350-page novel at the age of 12 which has never been published.

Murray faces tough test

May 31, 2014

Andy Murray has dropped just one set in his first two matches at the French Open but will face a stern test of his clay court credentials when he takes on Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round on Saturday, Skysports reports.

Kohlschreiber is the 28th-seed and the German has a good record on clay, winning in Dusseldorf last week to claim his third career title on the surface.

That is three more clay court titles than Murray can boast and Kohlschreiber thrashed the Brit 6-2 6-1 in Monte Carlo in 2010.

Murray said, “It’s a very tough match for me. He obviously won the tournament last week and he’s not dropped a set here, I don’t think. He’s a very good player.

“I played him once before on clay and I think I got three games or something.

“I remember not playing particularly well, I was very disappointed after the match.

“At the beginning of the clay-court season I have had some tough matches over the years, so I don’t remember a whole lot about it in terms of exactly what happened during the match. It just wasn’t a pleasant memory for me.

“Over the years I have had a few matches like that in Monte Carlo, where I’ve lost fairly comfortably. I lost to Stan (Wawrinka) last year very quickly, as well.”

Murray was beaten by Santiago Giraldo in Madrid following his exit in Monte Carlo but shaped with a lot more promise in Rome, where he lost a great match to Rafael Nadal.

And Kohlschreiber admits that a peak-form Murray will be hard to beat.

“It all depends on his level of play, I would say,” he said. “If the big guys are confident and they win many matches, they’re going to be tough to beat.

“Obviously, I’m also on a very nice run at the moment, so it’s the best chance to play against the big guys.

“For sure, he’s the favourite in this match, but I’m going to try everything and fight from the first to the last point. I’m going to enjoy this match.

“If he’s fit and mentally strong, he’s unbelievably tough to play. He’s a very solid player and a big fighter. You’re going to work very hard for the points.

“But I have a lot of confidence at the moment and winning a title is always very special. It came at a great time, let’s put it this way.

Messi becomes world’s best-paid player

May 31, 2014

Lionel Messi has signed a restructured contract extension with Barcelona that reportedly makes the Argentine international the world’s highest-paid football player.

Barcelona had originally announced the deal last Friday but said it was officially signed on Monday. The Catalan club said Messi “was very motivated by the deal.”

The 26-year-old will earn a reported $27m (N4.2bn) per season with further incentives able to drive the deal up to $34m (N5.2bn) per year until the contract ends in 2017-18 — surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s deal with Real Madrid. Messi also has a buy-out clause of $343m (N52.8bn).

Messi’s previous contract ran through the 2017-18 season and was worth a reported $22m (N3.4bn) per season.

Messi’s deal came two days after Barcelona lost its Spanish league title to Atletico Madrid following a 1-1 draw between the teams at its Camp Nou Stadium.

New deal drives Messi’s net worth

Sports marketing specialist, Gerardo Molina, has claimed that the Barcelona superstar is worth €400m (N85bn).

Molina, who works for Euromericas Sport Marketing, has written a report on the market value of the attacker, and has revealed that there is a club willing to pay an astonishing fee for the Argentine forward.

He said, “There is a club that is practically sponsored by a government that would be prepared to pay €400m (N85bn) for Leo Messi.

“There are three European clubs that asked us to come up with this study in order to find out how much Messi was worth.

“We cannot say who the clubs are. The clubs wanted to analyse the viability of a possible transfer for Messi.

“Messi is five times more marketable than Cristiano Ronaldo. According to studies, Ronaldo is worth around €155m (N33bn).

“Messi’s buy-out clause is €250m (N53bn), but we believe that figure is obsolete and devalued. Right now there is no player in the world of sport that has a greater value than Leo Messi. According to market research in the last five years, Messi is worth €400m (N85bn).”

Lionel Messi, born June 24, 1987, currently has an estimated net worth of $115m (N18bn) and his status as the world’s best player has started to translate into endorsement opportunities.

Nicknamed “The Flea” for his diminutive stature, Messi is the world’s best football player, having been voted player of the year the past two seasons. He reportedly earns $16m (N2.5bn) annually, but with the new Barcelona deal, he is expected to earn up to $27m (N4.2bn) annually.

He has recently built up his endorsement portfolio which now includes Adidas, PepsiCo, Konami, Audemars Piguet, Chery and AirEuropa. Dolce & Gabbana also struck a deal in October, 2013 with the Barcelona forward.

The Argentine footballer currently plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team as a forward or winger. He also holds Spanish citizenship, which makes him eligible as a EU player.

According to Forbes magazine, Lionel Messi makes substantial amount of money every year through some of the highest paying sponsorship deals he has signed over the years.

Messi has mansions and cars to show for his success

The Argentine star of Barcelona FC owns a house in the form of football in Bdralbs neighbourhood in Catalan city, Spain. The house was designed by world-class architect, Luis de Garrido.

Among his many car possessions, Messi owns a 2009 Maserati Strada. The new Maserati has a 440 HP V8 4.7 engine and an electro-actuated gearbox with fast MC-Shift arranged in the Transaxle layout typical of high-performance sports cars that represents the technological DNA of all Maseratis. It gives a performance of 0-60 mph 4.8 secs.

He also owns a Lexus sports car which features sport-tuned suspension, aluminum trim on the interior, a different front fascia, 18-inch wheels, leather interior with heated and ventilated seats, a voice-activated navigation system with rear parking assist and Bluetooth, a radar-enforced Pre-Collision System with Dynamic Radar Cruise control, parking assist, moonroof and much more.

The young superstar also owns other world supercars including a Dodge Charger SRT8, Audi Q7 (a full-size luxury crossover SUV), a Ferrari F430 Spider, and a customised Audi R8.

Some facts about Messi

• Messi supports a number of charities through his Leo Messi Foundation.

• He was offered a place in the national team by Spain which he did not accept.

• He rakes in more than $35m (N5.4bn) a year in salary.

• Barcelona officials were quick to spot his footballing skills.

• He is sponsored by Adidas and appears in their television commercials around the globe.

• His family is of middle-class Italian origin.

• He was detected with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 11.

• Messi’s favourite music styles are Samba and Cumbi.

• He shares his birthplace with the Argentine revolutionary, Che Guevera.

• He is the third youngest; he has two brothers and a sister.

• In January 2013, he became the first player to ever win the Ballon d’Or for four years straight.

Radwanska bundled out

May 31, 2014

The top three women’s seeds are all out of the French Open after Agnieszka Radwanska lost 6-4 6-4 to Ajla TomIjanovic in the third round on Friday, Skysports reports.

While not as big a shock as either Serena Williams or Li Na’s exits, it was a sizeable upset nonetheless and leaves fourth seed Simona Halep as the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament.

Radwanska has never enjoyed playing on clay, particularly in the slow and heavy conditions that have been a feature of the first week at Roland Garros this year.

She reached the quarter-finals for the first time last year but was on the back foot from the start against 21-year-old Croat Tomljanovic.

It was a breakthrough at the top level for the Croatian world No 72, who is through to the fourth round at a grand slam for the first time at her maiden French Open.

This has been a tournament where the young guns have made their mark, and the powerful Tomljanovic joins Garbine Muguruza, Kristina Mladenovic and Taylor Townsend as a headline maker.

Tomljanovic, Muguruza and Mladenovic, the conquerors of the world’s top three in Paris, were all born in 1993.

The Croatian said, “After seeing the two first seeds go out, you kind of feel like ‘I can do this too’. I grew up with these girls that are beating them.

“I went on the stadium for the first time, and she kind of feels like home there, because she’s been there a lot more than I did. I went out there, and I really, inside really thought I could win. I think that showed and it is why I won.”

Tomljanovic moved to America eight years ago to train at Chris Evert’s academy and remains close with the 18-time grand slam singles winner.

“She really wants me to do well, and I can feel that from her,” Tomljanovic said. “I’m really happy that she’s someone I can rely on.”

Eminem apologises to mother in new video

May 31, 2014

In a new video released for Mother’s Day, rapper Eminem apologised to his estranged mother.

The song, “Headlights,” begins with the line, “Mom, I know I let you down,” and explores the rapper’s troubled relationship with his mother, Debbie Mathers.

In the past, Eminem had publicly vilified his mother for his unhappy childhood, most notably in the song, “Cleanin’ Out My Closet.”

But in “Headlights,” the 41-year-old rapper expressed remorse for how he treated Mathers.

The video, directed by Spike Lee and featuring Fun’s Nate Ruess, was told from Mama Mathers’ viewpoint and shows her smoking and drinking while flipping through childhood photos of her son, as well as attempting to connect with her now famous offspring.

In the song, Eminem acknowledged his mother’s own struggles after his father left the family and his younger brother Nate was put into foster care. He went on to say that both he and his brother forgive her, knowing that she did the best she could.

The video concluded with Eminem and his mother reuniting when he pulled out of his gated driveway just as she pulls in for another attempt to see him. Mother and son hug outside their cars before going their separate ways.

The rapper ends with, “I’ll always love you from afar cause you’re my ma.”

Who is Eminem?

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, is a 41-year-old American rapper, record producer, songwriter, and actor. In addition to his solo career, Eminem is a member of the group D12, as well as one half of the hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, alongside Royce da 5’9”.

He is one of the world’s best-selling music artists and was the best-selling artist of the 2000s. He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines, including Rolling Stone magazine which ranked him 82nd on its list of ‘The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.’ The same magazine declared him ‘The King of Hip Hop.’

Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has achieved ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200. He has sold more than 80 million albums and over 120 million singles worldwide.

As of March 2014, he is the second best-selling male artist of the Nielsen Soundscan era and the sixth best overall selling artist in the United States, selling 44.91 million albums. He is reportedly worth $160m (N25.6bn).

Eminem’s homes and cars

Eminem owns many grand mansions around the world with awesome décor. One such house is located in Michigan which he bought in 2003 for $4.75m (N760m).

The entire estate is spread in the area of 5.69-acre in which his grand mansion is built. The house is built in the area of 15,000 square feet and boasts of six bedrooms and nine and half bathrooms. Eminem’s house also features a full tennis/basketball court, outdoor swimming pool, large oval-shaped pond, and over 14,000-sq ft of living space.

The famous rap star owns a Cadillac Escalade which is the first light truck in the history of the Cadillac brand. He has a shining black Cadillac in which he is often spotted driving. This car runs on the 6.2-litre V8 engine that delivers an imposing exhaust rumble and has six-speed automatic transmission. Although it’s a mini truck, the company did not compromise with the luxurious looks of the car.

Apart from owning a Cadillac, he also owns a Hummer H2 that debuted in 2003. His car is powered by 6.0-litre V8 engine and has a six-speed automatic transmission. The car also features 8-way power front seats and BOSE premium sound system.

Some facts about Eminem

• He is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the fastest selling hip-hop artist.

• Artists looking to be signed on to Eminem’s label, Shady Records, must compete against him in a rap battle.

• He was bullied as a kid because he was small and was often mistaken as retarded.

• He is of Scottish and Welsh descent.

• He has been falsely reported dead by a car crash four times and for drug overdose once.

• He is the oldest member of D12 (b. 1972). Kon Artis is the youngest (b. 1978).

• He is a Spiderman fan.

• Eminem is a Baptist (just like his mom and the rest of her family). He’s not religious, though.

• He wears glasses because he’s near-sighted.

• He is a gadget freak.

• Despite his chosen profession, Eminem is still a very quiet individual which either surprises or annoys some people.

• He used to have a problem with people staring at him.

• His all-time favourite movie is The Matrix.

• He had a crush on Madonna when he was 11.

• He cuts his own hair.

• His favorite dance song is Busta Rhymes’s “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See.”

• He wears XXL size clothes.

• He prefers Fords. His friends say that he doesn’t like to drive, though.

• He does not smoke.

• When Eminem first met Doctor Dre, he was wearing a yellow tracksuit and was described by Dre as looking like a banana. Despite the Tweetie bird tracksuit, Eminem and Dre began a collaborative effort that lead to platinum albums for Eminem and a revitalised career for Dr. Dre.

• He received $3m (N480m) for his role in “8 Mile.”

• His favourite drink is Mountain Dew.

• He wears size 10 shoes.

• He used to read the dictionary to expand his rhyming vocabulary.

• He originally wanted to become a comic-book artist.

• He gave his manager Paul Rosenberg one of the Grammys that he won in 2000.

• Eminem’s height is 5 feet 8 inches

• When Eminem dropped out of high school, he already had a job and was signed to a record label.

Floyd Mayweather gets N5bn for Las Vegas win

May 31, 2014

 

After rolling over most of his recent opponents and defying the aging process, pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather finally found himself in a fight last Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Fight week began with Mayweather talking retirement and buying the Los Angeles Clippers. By the end of the week, the fight was in jeopardy over a controversy regarding the Everlast gloves Marcos Maidana planned to wear.

The dispute was settled with too much money at stake for Mayweather to walk away.

When the fighters finally climbed into the ring at the sold-out MGM Grand, Maidana almost took the zero that Mayweather cherishes so much in his now 46-0 pro record.

Mayweather threw half as many punches as Maidana, but still managed to land more blows. Yet, the 221 punches Maidana landed were the most times Mayweather has been hit, according to data compiled by Showtime Stats from 38 of Mayweather’s previous fights.

Mayweather suffered a brutal cut over his right eye from a head-butt during the fourth round, but his cutman, Rafael Garcia, managed to stop the bleeding. Mayweather took some shots at Maidana after the fight for hitting below the belt, but was mostly gracious. ”It was a tough, competitive fight,” Mayweather said. “I gave the fans what the fans wanted to see. Normally, I box and move. Finally, I was in a tough, competitive fight. Tonight, I wanted to stand there and fight and give the fans their money’s worth.” Mayweather pocketed a guaranteed $32 million (N5bn), plus his share of revenue if the fight scores big on pay-per-view.

Saturday’s fight was so good that many were calling for a rematch for later in the year. “If the fans want to see it again, we’ll do it again,” Mayweather said.

Mayweather is expected to be back in the ring in September for the fourth fight in the six-fight, $200 million-plus blockbuster pact he signed with Showtime in 2013.

About Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (born Floyd Joy Sinclair; February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxer, currently undefeated as a professional. He is a five-division world champion, having won eight world titles and the lineal championship in three different weight classes.

Mayweather is a two-time Ring magazine ‘Fighter of the Year’ (winning the award in 1998 and 2007); he also won the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) ‘Fighter of the Year’ award in 2007 and the ‘Best Fighter ESPY Award’ in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

He is a known spendthrift

Floyd Mayweather has a strong passion for cars, and it’s a well known fact. His rich collection of cars includes Bentley Mulsanne, Lamborghini Aventador, Rolls Royce Phantom, Ford Mustang, and a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG model. Recently, the American Boxer purchased the latest model of Lamborghini Aventador. Painted in pure white, it’s one hell of a fast roadster that has the capability of reaching 0-100 km/h mark in just 2.9 seconds. The ‘toy’ cost him £400,000 (N107m).

Floyd Mayweather recently posted picture of his newly purchased Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG model. The full white coloured lavish sedan is all class and style. One amazing feature available in this new roadster from Mercedes is the AMG Ride Control sports suspension.

Because of the presence of this suspension, the electronically-controlled dampers are allowed to choose from the three different suspension settings available during driving. The car starts at a price range of $196,100 (N31m).

The Bentley Mulsanne is one of Floyd Mayweather’s favourite cars and the champion boxer is known to own at least two of these beauties. Inside the ring, Mayweather has a reputation for being a showman, while outside it, his life maintains the aura of a circus with a vast entourage of hangers on who must be ready at any minute to do whatever he desires, even if that means playing basketball at 2am.

Other facts about Mayweather’s spending habit

• He has a single bank account with $123m (N19.7bn) in it. He’s obsessed with cash.

• He travels with Ziploc bags of hundreds, and is known for his crazy shopping sprees.

• He has two fleets of luxury cars including a $290,000 (N46.4m) Bentley. All his cars at his Miami house are white, and the cars at his Vegas house are black.

• He only wears shoes once. He leaves them in hotel rooms for the staff when he’s done.

• He spends $6,500 (N1m) per year on boxers. He throws them out after wearing them once.

• He owns a Gulfstream 5 private jet, but doesn’t let his full entourage ride on it.

• His bodyguards travel on a separate jet because Floyd is afraid of having two much weight in the cabin.

• He is known for making insane, seven-figure bets on sporting events.

• There was even a rumour that he bet $5.9m (N944m) on the Miami Heat in the playoffs.

• His Instagram account is full of money pictures.

• He spends millions on necklaces, and once had $7m (N1.1bn) in jewelry stolen from his house.

• He spreads the wealth. He bought his on and off fiancee Shantel Jackson a diamond ring worth $10m (N1.6bn).

• He can afford all of this because of the eye-popping amount of money he earns from his fights.

• Floyd earned $90m (N14.4bn) in 2013 alone. He’s the highest-paid athlete in the world.

• He earned a record $41.5m (N6.6bn) for his fight against Canelo Alvarez in 2013.

• The money will keep pouring in. He’s currently one fight into a six-fight, 30-month deal with Showtime that’s rumoured to pay him $300m.

• Floyd doesn’t have a single endorsement deal.

• He has an apparel company called The Money Team, but no deals with Nike, Adidas or Reebok.

• His entourage also calls itself “The Money Team.”

• For all of his wild spending habits, Floyd has a reputation for having a maniacal work ethic.

• He’ll often wake up at 3am and go work out.

• He’s also considered one of the most tactical boxers ever. He is 44-0, and a massive favourite to beat Alvarez and keep the mystique of “Money” Mayweather alive.

• Mayweather’s 22,000-square foot home in Las Vegas requires $3,000 (N480,000) in monthly gardening maintenance.

French Open: Federer, Djokovic battle through

May 31, 2014

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic reached the last 16 of the French Open despite dropping their first sets of the tournament on Friday, ESPN reports.

Federer defeated Dmitry Tursunov 7-5 6-7(7) 6-2 6-4 to reach the fourth round for a record-breaking 12th time, while Djokovic overcame Marin Cilic 6-3 6-2 6-7(2) 6-4 as the pair continue to remain on course for a semi-final clash at Roland Garros.

There was nothing to separate Federer and Tursunov on their serves as neither player could create a break point opportunity. However, when the first break of the match came along, it turned out to be set point for Federer in the 12th game as he clinched it 7-5.

The second set followed the pattern of the first, but Federer was unable to convert any of his three set points when leading 6-5. Tursunov forced a tiebreak, came from 4-1 down and saved another set point to level the match by taking the tiebreak 9-7.

Federer seized an early break in the third set to comfortably take it 6-2 as Tursunov struggled following a lengthy injury timeout. And the record 17-time grand slam champion converted a break in the seventh game in the fourth set to go on and seal a spot in the fourth round, beating the previous record of 11 appearances held by Guillermo Vilas.

Overall, Federer converted only four of his 21 break-point opportunities against Tursunov and even joked when asked, moments after the match, whether his poor conversion rate worried him.

He next plays Ernests Gulbis, who reached the fourth round for the first time since 2008 – the year he reached the last eight – after beating Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-2 7-5.

“I don’t want to tell all my cards. But I have a game plan,” Gulbis said. “You don’t need to be scared to do certain things against him.”

Federer leads Gulbis 2-1 in their three career meetings. All of those matches were in 2010, and they are 1-1 on clay.

Djokovic secured a ninth win in as many career meetings against Cilic to join Federer and Gulbis in the last 16.

The world No.2 won five games in a row by coming from 3-1 down to take the first set 6-3. The Serb also broke twice in the second set to hold a comfortable advantage.

But Cilic came out fighting in the third set and took it 7-2 in the tiebreak after 64 minutes. The 25th seed then came from 4-1 down to level at 4-4 in the fourth set, but Djokovic won the next two games to end the challenge of his opponent.

Serena Williams among world’s 100 most influential people

May 31, 2014

 

Tennis star, Serena Williams, has been named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

Williams was listed alongside other personalities like the eminent American politician, Hillary Clinton; entrepreneurs, Aliko Dangote and Jef Bezos; and singers, Pharrell Williams and Beyoncé Knowles.

Dwayne Wade, an American professional basketball player, who has won three NBA championships with the Miami Heat, said of Williams, “I first met Serena over a decade ago in Miami when I joined the Heat.

“Since then, I’ve watched her grow and dominate in her sport, overcoming adversity to win title after title. There is no doubt that she has made an incredible impact on the world of tennis, but it’s her determination to never give up that has always resonated with me.

“Serena does not take her abilities for granted. She deserves all of her success, because she is one of the most hardworking and disciplined people I know. She is a world-class athlete and a true champion in every sense of the word. Serena is on a mission — and how amazing that we all get to witness it.”

More about Serena Williams

Serena Williams has been playing tennis since the age of four and has established herself as one of the greatest female players of all time, having racked up 32 major titles in her career.

“I always try to stay positive through the ups and downs and try to keep a smile on my face,” she said of herself.

Despite a number of controversies and injury setbacks, Williams is competing in a number of tournaments this year.

She was born as Serena Jameka Williams on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, USA to Richard and Oracene Williams. She is the youngest of the couple’s five daughters.

Williams and her elder sister, Venus, have at various times throughout their careers, dominated the sport.

A multi-millionaire star

Serena Williams has an estimated net worth of $90m (N15bn). She has been ranked number one in the world five times and has earned the most prize money of any female athlete ever.

She won Gold Medals at both the Sydney and Beijing Olympics and has continued to be the most feared player in the game of tennis when in full fitness.  Williams’ 13 singles Grand Slam titles put her among the all-time greats.

Ballen Isles property

The most dominating female tennis player in the history of the game, Williams, is the proud owner of a beach home in Ballen Isles. The property was estimated at $2m (N324m) in 2009.

The V-shaped estate is located in the community of Ballen Isles in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The house is located inside the Ballen Isles Country Club, which has recently renovated their 22 tennis courts. So Serena Williams need not practise anywhere else now as she has all the required facilities in her community.

Williams is planning to leave her long-time home in Palm Beach Gardens, according to Gossip Extra.

Palm Beach County records reportedly showed that Williams paid for the property in cash.

The wooded (and hilly, by South Florida standards) property, which is wedged between two holes of the Club’s golf course, is currently vacant.

Williams, who had just been named AP athlete of the year, has been living with her sister, Venus, at Palm Beach Gardens’ BallenIsles since 1998. The sisters even helped build a world-class tennis training centre in the gated community.

While the sisters co-own the Ballen Isles house, Williams is the sole owner of the Bears Club property, which is seven doors from ex-NBA champ, Michael Jordan’s sprawling crib.

Exotic cars

When you’ve got N15bn in your bank, you really need to treat yourself to the good things of life, which explains why Williams is not exempted from the list of celebrities driving rare cars.

The tennis superstar drives around in her flashy Bentley Continental Supersports and a posh Range Rover SUV.

Drake makes fan’s dying wish come true

may 31, 2014

Canadian rapper, Drake, has out with fellow celebrity, Rihanna, a lot lately, but last weekend, he spent time with another really special girl named, Kennedy Brown.

Kennedy is a 15-year-old high school student in Houston, USA who has suffered from brain cancer for the past two years. She’s currently in a hospice, but she left to pay her high school a visit where her classmates surprised her with a party and a graduation ceremony.

One of Kennedy’s dying wishes was to get a message or a visit from her favourite artist, Drake.

By using the hashtag #DrakeForKen on Twitter, her classmates got the attention of Drake, who said he would record a special video for her.

Instead, Drake travelled to Houston, where he was planning his Houston Appreciation Weekend for June, and paid Kennedy a visit for what he called an “incredible day” on Instagram.

Drake’s profile and net worth

Canadian recording artist and actor, Drake was born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

He has an estimated net worth of $40m (about N6.8bn).

Drake was initially known for his role as Jimmy Brooks in a Canadian teen drama television series, ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’.

He stepped out as a rapper and singer with pop appeal in 2006 when he initiated a series of mix tapes.

A year later, despite being unsigned, he got public attention when his cocky and laid-back track ‘Replacement Girl’, featuring Trey Songz, was featured on BET’s 106 & Park programme as its ‘Joint of the Day’.

He raised his profile throughout the next several months by popping up on countless mix tapes and remixes, and as rumours swirled about contract offers from labels, he gradually became one of the most talked-about artists in the industry. He had support from the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne, who were more experienced in the industry.

By the end of June 2009, Drake’s promotional single ‘Best I Ever Had’, had climbed to number two on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. After a fierce bidding war, Drake signed with Universal Motown in late summer and released an EP (So Far Gone) made up of songs from his popular ‘So Far Gone’ mix tape. It peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and won a 2010 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.

Drake was the highest-earning newcomer on the Forbes 2010 list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings with $10m (N1.7bn). He returned on Forbes 2011 Cash Kings with earnings of $11m (N1.87bn), thanks to a new record deal, advertising pact with Kodak, Coca-Cola’s Sprite and agreement with Virgin America, that plasters his likeness onto the sides of airplanes. Another good decision was recruiting Lil Wayne and Jay-Z to appear on his debut album.

Drake’s cars

Drake has been photographed driving around the streets of Hollywood in his white Bentley Continental GT. It is one of the fastest production cars from the Bentley stable and boasts of a top speed of 328 km/hour. The sports car comes with an open top and the presence of an upright darkened chrome mesh grille along with LED xenon headlights gives it a very contemporary exterior look. The glamorous interiors contain expensive diamond-stitch leather upholstery and an extensive maple wood trim level. The sophisticated infotainment package consists of the 11-speaker Naim audio system and a rear-view camera.

The rapper was also spotted back in his hometown of Toronto taking delivery of his Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir before he headed back to the US to finish off his Club Paradise Tour last year.

The striking Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir, which costs a whopping $3.4m (N578m), will be in good company in his garage, which also boasts of other luxury vehicles like the Bentley Continental Supersports, Range Rover and a Maybach.

The Sang Noir edition is listed as the most expensive new car to be advertised and sports a ‘black blood’ exterior and a creamsicle orange guts’ interior. The aesthetic treatment is a departure from the more common two-tone colour schemes that Bugatti tends to favour.

Only 15 Sang Noirs were available in North America when released and they’re now worth more than what they sold for from Bugatti direct.

So it’s no surprise to see the ‘Started from the Bottom’ rapper act fast to jump on his chance to purchase a Sang Noir and set himself apart from his fellow Bugatti-owning rappers like Lil Wayne and Birdman (who also own Veyrons).

Drake‘s $7.7m mansion

It seems Drake is enjoying the fruits of being successful. He recently splashed out a whopping $7.7m (about N1.3bn) on a luxurious mansion in Los Angeles.

The singer appears to love plenty of privacy, as the property sits in the Hidden Hills locale. Partying seems to have featured on 28-year-old rapper’s decision to buy the property, as it boasts of a mechanical bull, fake lagoons, cave and 80-foot waterside.

He will no doubt enjoy showing his rumoured girlfriend, Rihanna, a good time by inviting her to his new residence.

The sprawling property was initially on the market for an eye-watering $27m (about N4.6bn) in 2009.

The facilities at his new abode certainly offer the potential for epic parties to rival those of his hip-hop forebears.

In addition to the fake lagoons and gigantic waterslide, the mansion also boasts of a hidden cave, stables, equestrian ring, and sand volleyball court.

It appears Drake may also be a cowboy at heart, as he has also acquired a mechanical bull with a viewing area.

Inside the building, there is a 24-seat theatre, where he can entertain his guests by putting on old episodes of his hit Canadian television show, Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Omeruo targets Chelsea debut

May 31, 2014

Omeruo

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo is determined to break into Chelsea’s first team   after signing a new two-year deal that keeps him at the club until 2018, BBC Sport reports.

The 20-year-old has largely been loaned out by Chelsea since he joined the Premier League side in January 2012.

Omeruo, who is part of the Eagles’ World Cup squad, told BBC Sport, “I’ve been working towards a new contract and I am really happy it is done.

“I’m very confident and I know I have to prove myself more to get a chance.”

After signing for the Blues from Standard Liege, Omeruo was immediately sent on a season-long loan to Dutch side ADO Den Haag.

In his first game for ADO Den Haag he scored a goal, an own goal and received a red card – something that had never happened before in the Dutch league

He is yet to make his Chelsea debut and spent the second half of last season on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship, where he made 14 appearances.

However, Omeruo remains positive about his chances at the London club and is aware of what he needs to do to convince manager Jose Mourinho to play him.

“Going to the World Cup is an opportunity to show myself and prove that I am ready to play in the first-team,” Omeruo said.

“I’m enjoying myself here in England and settling down to the football.

“I just need to take the opportunities when presented to me, stay focused, do my best and show the manager what I’m capable of doing.”

Omeruo was a key member of the Nigerian side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in 2013.

He also played in last summer’s Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Akon seeks to light 1,000 African homes

April 12, 2014 

The American-born Senegalese rapper, Akon, who spent some of his childhood living in Africa, remembers growing up and seeing people who didn’t have access to electricity. Decades later, to his frustration, that situation isn’t much changed, and so he’s becoming a clean energy entrepreneur as a little side project with ambitious aims.

He said, “My passion has always been to try to be a part of building infrastructure in Africa. We ran into a challenge every time in areas where infrastructure was planned on being built, but there was no electricity grid set up in those areas. So that became one of the biggest problems on why the development of Africa has been so slow. There’s still kerosene lamps and candles being lit today.”

His self-titled project, “Akon Lighting Africa,” isn’t so much a celebrity whim as a major endeavour that hopes to electrify one million homes by the end of 2014 with solar energy, which is cheaper and more portable for rural villages. The Grammy-nominated star is putting some of his own money behind the project and the remainder will be financed via a public-private partnership with governments, banks, non-governmental organisations, and his own Akon Corporation.

A nine-country tour in February, where Akon and partners met with heads of state and energy ministers, resulted in early success.

He said, “We’ve closed four contracts and another three are still being in negotiation. So it’s looking really good.

“We’re close to 200,000 (homes electrified), so I’m thinking by the end of 2014 we should be able to achieve that goal for sure.

“In each country, the partners are funding the electrification of one village to demonstrate their work. The rest will be financed by investors, where countries will pay back the loans. The group will be hiring and training locals to build and maintain the installations.”

Electrifying one million households sounds ambitious, but it’s still a drop in bucket compared to the energy needs of Africa. The International Energy Agency estimated in 2009 that 587 million people still lived without electricity on the continent.

More about Akon

The Senegalese American R&B and hip hop recording artist and songwriter is one of the world’s richest hip-hop stars with a net worth of $80m (N13.6bn).

Akon is one of the most notable rappers in the world and apart from that, his business ventures have made him a rich man.

It is noteworthy that Akon’s 2004 debut album ‘Trouble’ went platinum and became his first commercial successful album. After that, Akon has repeatedly received many awards and platinum.

Akon is probably the only rapper that holds the number one and two positions in the Billboard Hot 100. He is also probably the most successful rapper in Hollywood since he has received platinum six times and five Grammy Awards nominations.

Forbes Magazine has also placed the Senegalese-born rapper in number 80 on its celebrity top 100 list.

Aside from his successful music career, Akon also earns money from endorsements and personal businesses.

In 2010, Pepsi chose Akon as the producer to record their single “Oh Africa”. As that was not enough, Akon also launched his own clothing line named ‘Konvict Clothing’ in 2007.

With a combination of his musical and business careers, Forbes reported that Akon’s annual earnings were $12m (N1.9bn) in 2008, $20m (N3.2bn) in 2009, $21m (N3.3bn) in 2010 and $13m (about N2bn) in 2011.

But Akon doesn’t just make money; he spends it too.

The ‘Lonely’ singer has some beautiful homes and some of the world’s super cars to show for his money.

The hip-hop singer owns an 8,697sqft home in Georgia, USA which he bought in January 2008 for a reported sum of $1.6m (N280.5m). Set on 4.6 acre piece of land, the six-bedroom home finds place in the Atlanta National Country Club.

The mammoth mansion features six comfy bedrooms, eight full baths and two half baths, a gorgeous swimming pool, a spa, seven fireplaces and a 20 by 30-foot kitchen.

The lavish home also includes a game room, a six-car garage, a media room, a dining room holding space for 12 people, a separate bar, billiards area, and a panelled library.

Aside from the Georgia home, Akon also owns a unique ultra modern estate in Atlanta which he bought for about $2m (about N456.5m) in February 2007. The musician’s house has hosted high-profile memorable parties, like the star-studded Fantasy Island bash which music mogul, Devyne Stephens, threw for his 40th birthday.

Hobbies

Football is definitely a backbreaking yet exciting game, and it works the same way for the Grammy-nominated artist Akon, who loves playing the game when not recording in studios.

Akon was spotted playing the football at an event held in Carson, California, during which the musician appeared to have transformed into a professional football player. The eminent music artist was also hired as a musical director for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

His powerful autos

When you have a lot of money, you’ve got to show you’ve got it, and definitely, Akon has chosen to spend his on some of the world’s super cars.

The artist owns a white Porsche Panamera, customised by the Exclusive Motoring Company in Miami. Equipped with a commanding V8 engine, the four-seat sedan accelerates from 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds. It features staggered black and white Savini wheels and an active three-mode suspension, which makes the ride extremely comfortable. The highly engineered driving machine incorporates a beautiful and quiet cabin with exceptionally comfortable front and rear seats.

His customised Ferrari 458 Italia is surely one of his favourites as the musician is often spotted driving the car. The car is equipped with a 4.5 litre V8 engine producing 570hp. Italia’s white gleaming exteriors make a grand on road presence while its comfy and spacious interiors make the ride more enjoyable for everyone.

The musician’s car collection also features a white Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, which has a dazzling exterior and equally bright red interior.

Another wonder vehicle yet to be added to the Akon’s existing car collection is the ‘Dartz Prombron SUV’, which he plans to buy soon. Some noticeable features of the Dartz truck include white exterior trim, Asanti wheels, a 360-degree video surveillance system, front row with Recaro seats and massage seats at the back.

Akon has a giving heart

The rapper doesn’t just lavish his wealth on homes and cars. He also supports a number of causes including the ambitious plan of bringing smiles to 1,000 homes in Africa through electricity.

Dr. Dre overtakes Jay Z on hip-hop rich list

April 26, 2014

American rapper and record producer, Dr. Dre, has overtaken fellow rapper and record producer, Jay Z, on Forbes’ list of the Five Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists.

The publication said Jay Z’s assets jumped from $475m (about N81bn) to $520m (about N88bn) in the past year alone. The report said the figure was boosted by his $150m (about N26bn) partnership with Live Nation, his Budweiser Made In America Tour and his Roc Nation Sports agency.

However, this wasn’t enough for him to maintain second place on the list. He has now been overtaken by Dr. Dre, whose Beats by Dre company made $1.2bn (N204bn) last year, earning him $200m (N34bn) and leaving him with a total of $550m (about N85bn).

Top of the list again was Puff Daddy, who is worth an estimated $700m (N119bn), thanks mostly to his non-musical ventures such as Revolt TV.

Cash Money Records founder, Birdman, is in fourth place on the list, worth an estimated $160m (about N27bn), while 50 Cent comes in fifth place with an estimated worth of $140m (N23.8bn), thanks mostly to his $100m (N17bn) haul from the sale of VitaminWater in 2007.

Who is Dr. Dre?

Andre Romelle Young, better known by his stage name, Dr. Dre, is an eminent American rapper and producer, who attained prominence with his solo album, The Chronic, and rap record label, Death Row Records.

The rapper, who also produced some albums for Snoop Dogg and Eminem, pioneered gangsta hip-hop and delivered a number of tplatinum-selling albums.

Also known for his inflammatory lyrics and the unique variation of his sound during gigs, the extremely confident Grammy awards winner, claims that he can make a record hit even with a three-year- old. This can be considered true considering the immense potential the record producer has.

Born on February 18, 1965 in Los Angeles, Dr. Dre started his early career performing gigs as a hip-hop deejay at night parties in the south-central district.

He founded the group ‘Niggaz with Attitude’ with fellow rappers, Ice Cube and Eazy-E, which brought a revolution in the gangsta rap movement. The group’s second album ‘Straight Outta Compton’ had a criminal theme based on violence, featuring overt descriptions of street violence and drug trade.

With Suge Knight, he founded Death Row Records, which later became one of the most triumphant rap record labels. His solo album, ‘The Chronic’, featuring the Grammy-winning single ‘Let Me Ride’, went multi-platinum.

After the success of his solo album, the rapper entered into producing other artists’ works, collaborating with Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Eminem.

A respected musical artist in the industry, Dr. Dre makes lots of money and lives a lavish lifestyle. The musician rubs shoulders with some of the most elite people in the world of entertainment as he attends the town’s most exclusive parties.

On the personal front, the rapper is married to Nicole Threatt and has five children, out of which one of his sons, Andre Young Jr, passed away in 2008.

Woodland Hills mansion and car

Dr. Dre’s house in the Hollywood Hills cost $13m (about N2.2bn), and features massive columns, a ridiculously large backyard, and stunning views of the surrounding city from just about everywhere.

The home also sports rooftop decks, multiple balconies, a wrap-around pool, and a stunning entry courtyard.

The house is three storeys in some sections, and two in others and is as impressive from the back as it is from the front. The multi-unit compound also features a number of large guesthouses, and wooded areas that allow for privacy.

Dr. Dre’s house is a visual testament to his level of success, and to the amount of power he wields in the hip-hop community.

The rapper cruises around in a Hummer H2, a military styled SUV from General Motors, featuring some common and unique characteristics.

Equipped with a 6.2-litre V8 engine, the H2 delivers 393-hp and high ranges of torque. Its U.S. military Humvee-inspired styling and bulky size makes it a sweaty heavyweight prizefighter.

The spacious cabin features a beautifully designed dash, comfy seats, switch gear and multiple electronics interfaces. The incorporated advanced features include a driver-selectable rear differential locker and a DVD-based navigation system.

The H2 is a superb performer in off-road situations, as it can roll over almost any type of terrain without getting jammed or damaged, thanks to the 10 inch ground clearance, protected underbody and a generous wheel travel.

Elaho wants Uchebo in Brazil

May 31, 2014

Michael Uchebo can force his way into Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi’s   final 23-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Brazil, says Algiers ’90 Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist Friday Elaho.

The Cercle Brugge striker, who made his international debut in the friendly game against Mexico in the United States on March 5,   built upon his performance against Scotland in London on Wednesday by scoring his first goal for the Eagles.

Uchebo, a surprise inclusion in Nigeria’s 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup, equalised with four minutes left of the first half to cancel out Charlie Mongrew’s strike after 10 minutes into the game.

The Tartan Army took the lead via an own goal by Azubuike Egwuekwe early in the second half, but Uche Nwafor capitalised on a defensive blunder to end the match in a 2-2 draw.

Former Nigeria winger Elaho, who was impressed with the way Uchebo performed in the match, feels the 24-year-old could be Nigeria’s secret weapon in Brazil and suggested his selection for the football’s showpiece in the South American country.

“Uchebo is a good player and he showed flashes of his ability during the encounter,” the Brondby legend told our correspondent on the telephone during the week.

“He scored a goal in the encounter. He has a good height and fights for the ball and gets into scoring position. I think he deserves a place in our final World Cup squad.

“He could prove very useful in the attack in difficult games at the World Cup.

“But the player must show more consistency before he can be considered for a place in the final squad.

“I would love Keshi to play him against Greece (in the United States on Wednesday). The match will be tougher than the one against Scotland. If he proves himself, he should be taken to Brazil.”

Former Enugu Rangers forward Uchebo scored five leagues goals in 21 appearances to help   Cercle Brugge place second behind Standard Liege in the Belgian Jupiler League in the just-ended season. Elaho, who is popularly called Professor, praised the national team’s fighting spirit in the match and tipped them to make an impact in Brazil.

The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale star said, “It’s a friendly match but I’m satisfied with our approach to the game.

“The   Scotland weren’t a fantastic side. They are building a new team and had nothing to lose. But we showed our quality in the game and I think the opponents were surprised we could fight back to hold them to a draw.

“Keshi and his assistants deserve commendation for what they have done so far.

“I want to see how the team will play when they face Greece who are also preparing for the World Cup.”

Elaho urged his former Eagles’ teammate Keshi to work on his defence ahead of the World Cup, lamenting poor defending in the London clash.

He said, “The problems in our defence are still there. We must solve these problems before going to Brazil to avoid silly goals.

“The World Cup is for the big boys and we can’t afford to arrive in Brazil with a weak defence.

“I believe Keshi is aware of the problems and has his plans.”

The former Africa Sports attacker praised on-loan Norwich defender Joseph Yobo for his “leadership role” in the game. He insists the Nigeria captain, who made his comeback to the Eagles after fallen out of favour with Keshi after guiding the country to the Africa Cup of Nations success last year, is still relevant to the team and suggested his inclusion in the final squad for Brazil 2014.

“Yobo played well in the game and he showed his class,” Elaho said.

“He is an experienced defender and I think his experience will benefit the team in Brazil.

“I’m not saying he should command a starting place in the team. He can play from the bench.”

I know my World Cup squad – Keshi

May 31, 2014

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi says he has already decided on his 23-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Brazil but intends to wait until the Monday deadline before unveiling his roster.

Keshi earlier this month released his 30-man provisional squad for the football’s showpiece in the South American nation. And the list has been greeted with an avalanche of criticism, much of it based on the omission of Villarreal hitman Ikechukwu Uche and Schalke 04 forward Chinedu Obasi, as well as the inclusion of former Newcastle striker   Shola Ameobi and on-loan Norwich defender Joseph Yobo on the list.

Nigeria battled to a 2-2 draw against Scotland in London on Wednesday and face World Cup-bound Greece in the United States on June 3.

Speaking ahead of the clash against 2004 European champions Greece at the Philadelphia Eagles Stadium in Philadelphia on Friday, Keshi said he had made his decision on the players to board the plane to Brazil for the World Cup.

“Yes, I have an idea of those who will go with us to Brazil but we will still wait till the last minute before we announce the list,” the former Nigeria captain and Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner was quoted as saying by the spokesman for the national team Ben Alaiya.

Alaiya also quoted Keshi as saying that he had decided to delay the announcement of the list to enable him “ to have a second look at those who are not measuring up”.

Jonathan urges prayers for Nigeria at otedola’s burial

May 31, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday urged Nigerians to pray for the country at the funeral service for a former governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, in Epe, Lagos.

He called on Nigerians to pray for the country amid the frequent terrorist attacks, which have led to the deaths of many innocent people in the last five years.

The President acknowledged that the country was passing through challenging times and therefore urged Nigerians to be committed in their prayers for the country.

He also made reference to other countries that had passed through similar challenges and encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope in the current situation.

He said, “Please pray for the country. As a nation, we have challenges. Some other countries have passed through their challenges. Continue to pray for the nation with commitment.”

Meanwhile, the President joined many other prominent Nigerians to condole with Otedola family.

Jonathan advised Nigerians to emulate the lifestyle of the deceased whom he said had made a positive mark in his service to the country.

He said, “Issue like this gives us concerns, making us to think about life. To our late father, we are quite happy because he has left a mark in the sand of life. He has served us gracefully and has left us gracefully.

“What lesson will we leave when we also leave this planet? That is the challenge for all of us. He has been a father to all. We pray that God would raise someone who will fill the gap that he has left.”

Shortly after the service, Jonathan left in company of his wife, Patience, for Accra, Ghana, for an official assignment.

Otedola, who died on May 5, 2014 at the age of 88, was buried amid tight security with former President , Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Jonathan’s wife, Patience; Lagos, Ogun and Anambra states governors, Babatunde Fashola, Ibikunle Amosun and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in attendance.

Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also attended the event among many other dignitaries.

Delivering his sermon at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibowon, Epe Local Government, Monsignor Philip Hoteyin, Chaplain of Marian Shrine, Lagos Catholic Diocese, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to strengthen the unity in the country.

Hoteyin said, “Nigerians are everywhere. Everywhere you visit, Nigeria is regarded as the greatest. Let us remain one of the greatest countries that we have always been.”

He noted that the country was regarded as a family, adding that efforts must be made towards keeping the country as one.

The chaplain urged Nigerians not to forget that they were visitors on earth