Taking a look at music groups and
singing partnerships that have broken up in the last few years
X-Appeal
Jazzman Olofin and Lexy Doo were known as the X-Appeal. That
was in 2000. The group was better known for the hit song, Baby Skeske,
a number from their maiden and only album, which was released in 2001.
While the groove lasted, Jazzman Olofin and Lexy Doo were
clearly a wonderful singing pair. They were imaginative enough to fuse elements
of juju, highlife, Afrobeat and hip-hop music together to create a
new and exciting music style.
The uniqueness of their kind of music endeared them to the
public. Also, both singers were lanky; their stature and their dance aroused
curiosity. After two years of being together as a group, X-Appeal broke off
with the members going solo. While Lexy Doo seem to have completely faded out
of the music scene, his ex-partner is still struggling to remain relevant by
recording a few unsuccessful albums in the last few years.
Maintain
Apart from co-founding the singing sensation known as simply
Maintain, Olumide Adegbolu and Tolu Ogunniyi are first cousins. Later, Adeboye
Bammeke, popularly known as Big Bamo, joined the group. They caught the public
attention by adapting tunes from popular American hits to a style that is
purely Nigerian. The result is a few hit songs, mostly stunning and laced with
satire, that caught on with music fans all over the country like
wildfire.
They soon got the public dancing to songs such as I
Catch Cold, Alo and Domittilla. After churning
out a total of six albums between 1998 and 2004, the members of the group split
and went their separate ways, evidently to pursue solo careers.
Olu Maintain is currently the most successful member of the
group. In 2007, he got Nigerians stomping toYahooze. A second album
titled Maintain Reloaded was equally successful. Later, he
formed a band named, Kentro World. But it existed for only a short time.
Olu’s new CD, Nawti, is currently being
broadcast on TV and radio. Tolu got married, but lost his wife.
In 2008, Big Bamo’s Kowonje, featuring Olu
Maintain, rocked night clubs and radio waves endlessly. Later, he released an
album. But nothing has been heard of the singer since then.
Zule Zoo
Ibrahim Alhassan and Michael Aboh, two multi-talented young
Nigerians, founded the group known as Zule Zoo. Many music fans found it
difficult to ignore this group, whose lyrical creativity and bias for a style
that is deeply rooted in Nigerian culture was exceptional.
From the outset, Alhassan and Aboh knew what they wanted: a
style that would not only be acceptable to music fans in the country, but
recognised globally. They called their kind of music, Takuraku beat and
accompanied it with an original choreography that is energetic and unique.
Zule Zoo’s first hit song, Kerewa, which brought
them instant fame across Africa, was banned by the Nigerian Censor’s Board
because it was deeply laced with sexual innuendoes.
Not long afterwards, the group recorded a full album entitled BANNED
IN NIGERIA, a nine-tracker that was overwhelmingly accepted nationwide. As
a result of its huge success, the controversial song, Kerewa, was
subsequently unbanned.
After this, Alhassan and Aboh parted ways. Nobody knows
exactly what led to the break-up. But it was rumoured that Aboh was afflicted
with madness for his role in the composition of a particular song that had
offended a deity in his home town in Benue State.
Although LIFE&BEAT learnt that Aboh had
recovered from the illness and both singers were back once again, nothing has
been heard of them till date.
KC Presh
Kingsley and Presh of the group known as KC Presh won the
maiden edition of Star Quest Mega Jamz. A few years later, they proved to
Nigerians that they were worthy of their status as star singers by rising to
reckoning in the music industry.
Known for their love of shiny objects, the group has
produced hit songs, such as like Ginger your Swaggerand Shokori
Bobo.
However, a rift led to the break-up of the group. Before
then, both singers were virtually inseparable.LIFE&BEAT learnt
that for over six months, they did not see eye to eye, nor attend the same
events together following their break up. It made them desert the group KC
Presh coined from their names, a group through which they shot to limelight
after they emerged winner at the maiden edition of the Nigerian
Breweries-sponsored musical talent hunt show, Star Quest.
Styl-Plus
Originally known as STYL, this group was formed in 1997 in
Abuja and comprised four members. In 1999, after the death of Lanre Faneyi,
Zeal Onyecheme joined the group and it was renamed Styl-Plus.
In 2002, Yemi Akinwonmi left the group to pursue another
career.
The members of the Styl-Plus are all graduates of the
Federal University of Technology, Akure. At a point, it was reputed to be
the hottest R&B group in Africa.
This group of talented artists will be remembered for their
amazing vocal abilities and thrilling love songs.
Styl-Plus’s maiden album was a great hit. The second album
did not do so well in the market.
2 Shotz and Biglo
Not much was known about 2 Shotz and Biglo until 2005 when
they released Delicious. The humorous and lively manner in which
they delivered songs in Igbo and Pidgin English soon earned them the attention
of music fans across the country. Apart from their witty lyrics, the contrast
in both singers’ physique was another object of attraction. As the name
implies, Biglo is tall and big, while 2 Shotz is short and stocky. This
disparity often made their music video a delight to watch.
The singers were the first group to receive the Hip Hop
World Award in the Best Collabo category. All of a sudden, for reasons best
known to both of them, the singers decided to part ways. While 2 Shotz has
since carved a niche for himself, nothing has been heard of his ex-partner for
some times now.
Don Jazzy and D’banj
They founded Mo’Hits Records from the scratch. While it
lasted, their union inspired many other young Nigerians. Recently, rumours of
their break up had made the rounds. Last Saturday, Don Jazzy formally confirmed
that the rumors were true.
While some say that his response was vague, others took his
response as a confirmation that the group had split. Together, Don Jazzy and
D’banj did not only bring danceable music, they also brought to Nigerians
talented artistes.
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