PROFILE: DAMMY GEE

Standing 5’6, DAMMYGEE OLUWAGBEMIGA a graduate of Lagos State University with B.Sc in Radio and Television broadcast and Communication Technology is probably best known as a prolific producer, sound engineer, keyboardist/trumpeter and a Gospel artiste. 

This young multi-talented instrumentalist has produced songs for several artistes in the Nigerian music industry.

He came into the industry in the year 2001 and released his first single titled ‘MAMA’S LOVE’ and shortly after that, another promo track titled 

‘MA RONU MO’ released on air in the same year.

He later released his first album ‘I BELIEVE’ in the year 2003, a contemporary gospel album. The launch featured established gospel artistes such as Tope Alabi and Papa Tee.

His sophomore album was in 2007 titled ‘AIMASIKO’ and the launch did not lack superstars and this lead him gracing the same stage with award winning gospel group; Infinity - ‘Olori Oko’ and KORA Award winner in the gospel category; Folake Umosen of the Koso ba bire’ fame. Same year he shot three Music videos from the album.

Working as a Radio, Tv and advertising Producer, he has produced over (50) corporate jingles in the last few years. They  include jingles for  Zain (now Airtel) “wake up a Millionaire and free Night Call, Toyota Briscoe and Avencis, Dangote salt and Pasta, Nipost “End of season Promo”, Nigerite  “Floor Flex tile”, Fug Pensions, NDL end of the year Promo”, soundtrack of “ living under the law” a weekly T.V series on N.T.A network, wind of change TV series among others.

Recently, he has been working in the studio within the last few years with the aim of raising the bar of gospel music in the country. His latest effort ‘ATEWO’, featuring O black is a good blend of Dancehall gospel and Afro hip hop and has been receiving positive reviews from far and near. The video is set to be shot and released in the last quarter of this year.

Dammy Gee is happily Married and in his early thirties. 

Listen to ATEWO

 

Contact  Dammy Gee

Twitter: @dhammygee

Facebook: Dammy Gee Oluwagbemiga

E.Mail: Dammygee007@yahoo.com

JUST CHILL

I’m sure some of us would have heard the statement “Just Chill” and I’m very sure the time you heard it, it didn’t sound like the appropriate thing.

Anyways, that’s probably the last thing anyone who has lost something valuable such as his/her ATM Card would love to hear especially if you got a few Naira Notes in your Bank Account- Exactly what happened to me.

Days, Weeks and almost 1 month passed, no trace but I figure I prolly left it somewhere at home so the deal is I’ll look for it while I pay the Bank to get my money anytime I wanted to withdraw.

To cut the story short, I checked my room alas it was there so I thought the next thing to do was to get another one. 

So here I was at the Bank to withdraw and fill a form for another ATM Card but, the woman at the customer care says “have you searched for it well”? In my mind I’m like, excuse me, you didn’t just ask me that q. Well, as she crawled like snail –pardon my English- I thought, I can’t wait for this, I’ll deal with it another day besides I have a colleague waiting for me outside – I can’t miss the free ride back to the office.

The gist is I didn’t know God had orchestrated something hence the woman’s snail movement that got me worked up. Almost 2weeks after, I went to another branch to withdraw, also to see if I could block that one and get another ATM Card. The customer care woman was welcoming, so I sat, told her my story… she gave me 2 forms to fill which I did, unfortunately I didn’t remember my account number so I checked for it on my phone but to my greatest surprise, it wasn’t there. I asked her to help check and while she did, she asked me where I worked, I told her. Again, she goes  “does your name have Funmilayo in it? Meaning is my middle name Funmilayo… I said no. 

While I wondered what the question was for, I went back, head down to my phone… then I heard take-on looking up, right there, held up in her hand was my ATM Card. I sat there, frozen and too shocked to move but smiling. Of course what came to mind was how come and all that? She explained that it was brought in from another Bank where I confirmed I had gone to withdraw from the ATM. 

Talk about my steps being ordered, that’s exactly what it was. Imagine my joy that morning.

For me one key lesson I learnt is God is always working behind the scene even when it seems all is not well. I remember the woman at the other bank and the way she was ‘snailing’ mscheew – I didn’t know it was for my own good.

Trust me, I don’t want to sound preachy but I told God I was sorry, also I said a big thank You.

So sometimes when it seems all is not going too well, ‘JUST CHILL’.

HEADIES 2012

Hosts: MI and Omawumi

I SAT ON HE FLOOR LAST YEAR says young Davido… Let me say this is my first award; I have been doing this since 1998 ace producer Tee-Y Mix says as he acknowledged his Headies Award…  Well, the talk is endless as different acts or their rep came on stage to receive their Headies.

Anyways, let me not jump but start from the very beginning. As much as I would love to skip the fact that YET AGAIN the Headies “prestigious award” ceremony as it is called started way before stipulated time. On the invite it says Yellow Carpet 7pm while the main event was scheduled for 9pm… but guess what? The main event started at 12am… Really that wasn’t cool.

One thing I also noticed, while we sat waiting for the award to start, the DJ kept playing songs from Oyinbo land… me think it should have been a selection of some of the greatest hits from our shores… it came eventually but quiet late-MY THOUGHT o.

Also, people were left on queue at the ticket exchange area for too long hence the hall was empty for too long (maybe that’s why the ceremony didn’t start early) plus them organizers where adding more chairs to the VVIP area while guests were already seated. Haba! Y’all should have known na.

*sigh of relief* Now that I have finally let that out let me say, the ceremony was far better than that of last year; Here is a bit of what went down.

THE STAGE/ANBIENCE

The stage was simple and nice. The Hall was divided into four parts; directly in front of the stage was the VVIP area, behind it was the booked table which had drinks et al, the VIP area was outside the two spaces and finally the upper gallery.

Generally, the atmosphere within the hall was welcoming and the crowd was a great one. They laughed, clapped, and all.

THE COMPERE  

The hosts Omawumi and MI were wonderful and somehow I feel they both have set a new standard- the next hosts better prepare.

Anyways, the two started with an opera piece using “the Headies” as the subject.

Both changed outfits at different time. While Omawumi wore nicely made-figure hugging dresses, MI played with colours keeping his kinda simple. 

Omawumi's lovely dresses

Both kept to the script and even had a bet of N500,000;  MI says Omawumi couldn’t present without speaking ‘pidgin English. Well she failed at it.

 PERFORMANCES

The opening performance by lovely CHIDINMA was not bad at all as Dammy Krane came on with his bicycle and of course they kinda sealed that part with a very light kiss abi I nor see well?  I did jare.

Anyways the performances were good/great and some people took their time to rehearse to put together live performances while others who could have done same did the usual MIME. That reminds me- BURNA BOY??? Hmnnn! that stage fall got me scared. Anyways he got peeps on their feet as he performed his hit track; DAMMY KRANE had fun performing and dancing too. BEZ and PRAIZ did a good one with ‘Stupid Song’ with Bez using a mega phone towards the end as he made funny sound. CHUDDY K came on with his lovely looking ragged dressed dancers to perform “gaga crazy”.

EVA brought her swag as she performed, the fifth performance came from DAVIDO who sang his heart till he was obviously tired… then came DON FLEXX and his team with a choreography – it was on point, up next was BRYMO who came on stage disguised as Eyo masquerade, he serenaded the crowd with hit single Ara, TIMI DAKOLO sang passionately and really got every one’s attention, finally the EME boys and its first lady NIYOLA came on stage to wrap things up. 

AWARD PRESENTERSTERS

The list of Award Presenters was quiet impressive, most of them didn’t waste time, and they also tried some jokes. They include: Debola William & Toke Makinwa (Best Pop Single) , Dayo Adeneye & Franca Asindi (Best R&B/Pop Album), Tunde Obe (Best Vocal performance –Male), Darey Art-Alade (Artiste of the year) , Wunmi Obe (African Artiste of the year) Audu Maikori (Revelation of the year), Nneoma of Interswitch (Recording Artiste of the year),  Yibo Koko & Cordelia Okpei (Best Street-up), Mode 9 (Lyricist on the roll), Tee-Y Mix & Adaora Oleh (Best R&B Single), Isaac & Nneka Moses of Goge Africa (Best Collabo),  Comedian Ay Makun & Waje (Best RapAlbum) and others

EXTRAS

As Part of its social corporate responsibility, Smooth Promotion the organizer of the Headies award went to Makoko to give out food and clothing items to peeps around that area.

October 19, 2012, a day before the event, an event was held for veteran musicians and these saw a few new act sing songs by those veteran. For instance Waje did a piece by Onyeka Onwenu…

Anyways the two events were edited and shown at the award ceremony.Three of those veteran – Mike Okri, Oritz Wiliki and Stella Monye came on stage to share their thoughts on the music industry.

Stella Monye, Mike Okri and Oritz Wiliki

Finally as one of the things to spice up the event,  Interswitch gave out a reward of 500,000 to a lucky number- That was won by Mrs. Matina.

WINNERS SPEECH

This part got me a bit concerned; while some came prepared with ‘a winner’s speech’ well delivered, one or two came and left without saying something/something meaningful- haba! Even if you can’t speak English, pidgin no go bad at all. Someone even came without saying a word… I guess he doesn’t have an idea how many people would love to boast of one Headies – The young shall grow sha.

Anyways to wrap this all up, I think the Ceremony was a wonderful one and I am looking forward to the next one.

One thing though, I agree there will always be personal opinion as regards the winners,  but hopefully it doesn’t stop our acts from seeing themselves as winners, also people won’t stop appreciating the effort of the peeps who take their time to put together such ceremony- A round of applause for Ayo Animashaun and his #TeamHeadies.

Below is the list of winner:

 

Best R&B Single
Private Trips – Wande Coal
Stupid Song – Bez
Nawti – Olu Maintain
SOUND TRACK-MAY D
Love Me (3X) – Tiwa Savage

Best Pop Single
Dami Duro – Davido
Oliver Twist – D’Banj
Gaga Crazy – Chuddy K
Chop My Money – P-Square
KUKERE- IYANYA

Best R&B/Pop Album
Superstar – Wizkid
Super Sun – Bez
Versus – 9ice
THE INVASION – P-SQUARE

Best Rap Single
Too Much Money – Iceberg Slim
Shutdown – Phyno
ANGELI – VECTOR FT. 9ICE
Oh My Gosh – Yung6ix
Young Erikina – Olamide

Best Rap Album
EVERYBODY LOVES ICE PRINCE (E.L.I) – ICE PRINCE
The Dreamer Project – Show Dem Camp
Rapsodi – Olamide
Super C Season – Naeto C

Lyricist on the Roll
VECTOR – ANGELI
Yung6ix – Oh My Gosh
Iceberg Slim – Too Much Money
Phyno – Shutdown
Erigga – Mo Street Gan

Best Street Hop
Kako Bi Chicken – Reminisce
GAGA CRAZY – CHUDDY K
Akpako – Terry G
Roll – Rayce
Mo Street Gan – Erigga

Song of the Year
Chop My Money – P-Square Featuring Akon & May D
Dami Duro – Davido
OLIVER TWIST – D’BANJ
Gaga Crazy – Chuddy K
Kukere – Iyanya

Recording of the Year
Stupid Song  - Bez Featuring Praiz
Private Trips - Wande Coal
ARA – BRYMO
Praiz – I Love You

Best Collabo
Chop My Money Remix – P-Square Featuring Akon & May-D
Angeli – Vector Featuring 9ice
Carolina – Sauce Kid Featuring Davido
Stupid Song – Bez Featuring Praiz
OROBO – SOUND SULTAN FEATURING EXCEL & FLAVOUR

Best Vocal Performance (Male)
WANDE COAL – PRIVATE TRIPS
Banky W – Low Key
Praiz – I Love You
Brymo – Ara
Bez – Stupid Song

Best Vocal Performance (Female)
TIWA SAVAGE – LOVE ME, LOVE, LOVE ME
Chidinma – Kedike
Ijeoma – Oloomi
Waje – Na The Way

Producer of the Year
Cobhams – Stupid Song by Bez Featuring Praiz
TEE-Y MIX – SUPER C SEASON BY NAETO C
Shizzy – Dami Duro by Davido
Jay Sleek – Private Trips by Wande Coal

Best Music Video (Video Director)
5 & 6 (Naeto C) – Clarence Peters
CHOP MY MONEY REMIX (P-SQUARE) – JUDE OKOYE
Ara (Brymo) – Ajeh
Kosorombe (Dipp Featuring Da Grin) – Mex

Album of the Year
Everybody Loves Ice Prince (E.L.I) – Ice Prince
THE INVASION – P-SQUARE
Superstar – Wizkid
Super C Season – Naeto C

Artiste of the Year
P-Square
WIZKID
Ice Prince
Naeto C
D’banj

Next Rated
DAVIDO
Eva (Alordiah
Praiz

Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year
WIZKID
Ice Prince
Bez
Timi Dakolo
Olamide

African Artist of the Year (Non- Nigerian Category)
SARKODIE (GHANA) – AZONTO
Camp Mulla (Kenya) – Feel No Pain
D-Black (Ghana) – Get On The Dance Floor
Zahara (South Africa)- Loliwe

Headies Hall of Fame
Femi Kuti

Enjoy Pictures of a few celeb present

Keffe                                             Labi

Eva

Steel and JJC

Lala and Praiz