Born and bred in the concentrated town of Ajegunle, Lagos state, singer Solid Star had two options to make it out of there. They were music and football.
school, he settled on the former and pursued it relentlessly until he made a headway.
Speaking on a HIP TV show, the singer whose real names are Joshua Iniyezo said his childhood in Ajegunle was very rough.
“You had to hustle to survive. Surviving was tough but all those things made me who I am today,” he said.
“I remember hawking pure water up and down the street. The story wasn’t that good but at the same time, it wasn’t bad.
“The street is the best teacher. The street made me strong. It made me bold.”
Solid Star said he used his profit from hawking to record his first song.
But the recording did not take place in an actual studio, he added.
“I remember doing everything on my own. I hawked pure water and puff-puff. I used the money to record a song. The first recording I did was done live – not in the studio – with DJ Guliano.
“That’s how the hustle started and people began listening to me.”
The singer said he was charged N5,000 for his first studio recording and revealed that the song was “mixed, mastered and released that same day”.
Solid Star
Solid Star got his big break in the industry after collaborating with 2baba (formerly 2face) Idibia on the hugely successful ‘One in a million’.
“It was a very good song and it made it easy for me as Tuface dey the song nah. And Tuface was very big then, he was number one everywhere,” he said.
The ‘Skibo’ singer recently released a new collaboration with the music icon, entitled ‘Nwa Baby’.
Solid Star had nothing but fond words to say when asked about his relationship wth the ‘African Queen’ singer.
“2face is too good, too awesome. I can’t find the words to describe him. He’s just too humble. You cannot be with him and not be okay. 2face is the person that keeps encouraging me in this business,” he said.
Femi Kuti has expressed his views on the mass emigration trend, which Nigerians popularly call the “japa trend,” and has urged Nigerian youth to fight for a better country.
During the 2024 Celebration Festival, Kuti emphasised that he would not relocate to another country, noting that citizens of other nations had to fight for their own freedom.
He began, “People have asked me, ‘Shey you no go japa?’ japa to where?”
“Let me tell you about Europe; you see Europe and what made it great. Do you think they ran away? No, they fought; Europe fought hundreds of civil wars; dem just dey kill themselves. America had one of the worst civil wars in history, which is why till today Americans still carry guns,” he added, describing the past of some of the nations where Nigerians frequently relocate.
“Japa to where? … Made is a British citizen. Where is he? He is in Nigeria. He cannot be anywhere else. Who born am? Na monkey born am?…”
Femi Kuti called on Nigerians to acknowledge their duty to defend and improve their own nation.
“We must understand that we have to stay here and fight for a better country that we love. We did not build the Fela Shrine in Los Angeles or in London; we built it in Africa. Get your senses together because this country depends on you,” the singer continued.
“Made is a British citizen but where is he? He is in Nigeria, and he cannot be anywhere else. What does he want to do there? If they call him for work, he’d go there to play and come back. Who would take over the shrine? I want to retire.”
Omoni Oboli’s new film, The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3, earned ₦10 million in voucher sales just two days after its release. The director made the announcement in a joint post with Nile Entertainment, the film’s distributors.
This rapid success highlights the growing anticipation for Oboli’s work. The Uprising is already drawing attention across the country for its timely themes and engaging plot.
Nile Entertainment expressed excitement over the early sales figures, attributing the film’s success to its strong storyline and Oboli’s established reputation.
“My people, We have sold N10 million on our vouchers alone and counting. This is massive! You made this happen! Because of you, so many people will get to watch THE UPRISING for free!!! Thank you my Besties and everyone for showering The Uprising: Wives on Strike3 film the love that it deserves,” the post said.
Earlier this month, Nile launched a voucher system to allow cinema lovers to pre-order tickets before the premiere of The Uprising. This move helped build anticipation among fans eager to secure their seats ahead of showtime. As a result, the film’s initial sales surged quickly.
The Uprising is a satire that tells the story of a female local government official. She finds herself caught in a web of turmoil, juggling the challenges of her new authority with the complexities of her personal life. The film presents a powerful narrative, blending humor with important social commentary.
Adding to its appeal, Wives on Strike 3 features an impressive ensemble cast.
Leading the lineup are Chioma Akpotha, Uche Jombo, OmoniOboli, and Ufuoma McDermott. These celebrated actresses bring depth and energy to their roles.
Hilda Dokubo also joins the cast, further boosting the film’s star power. Additionally, rising stars like Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, popularly known as KieKie, and May Yul-Edochie deliver standout performances.
Nigerian rapper Falz has clarified that he was not pressured to study law due to his father’s success in the field.
Falz revealed in an interview with Chude Jideonwo on the “With Chude” podcast that his father, Femi Falana SAN, helped and fought for people who inspired him. This experience motivated him to pursue a legal career, contrary to popular belief.
He said,
“I won’t say it was pressure but when I was super young, it was like, ‘These people have to be something’ because I was already getting that reaction everywhere I went. And if I ever mentioned my name, people would be like, ‘Which Falana? Is it Femi Falana? Oh wow.'”
“Everyone sort of had a story about how my dad came to their aid at some point in time and how he fought for them and was there for them. At that time it was me taking everything in, like, ‘this is something’. So at that point in time, I wasn’t pressured; I aspired to emulate what he was doing,” he added.
This recognition made a deep impact on him, and he decided on his own to study law. Although he pursued a legal education, he practiced law only for a short period.
His decision to enter the field came from personal motivation. Despite his brief time practicing, the experience left its mark. Indeed, it shaped his perspective and contributing to his overall journey.
“I did practice law for a short period of time. Very short, almost two years. I worked at the Ministry of Justice during my youth service, which was like 2012 or so, then in 2013 I was at my father’s firm and 2014 was when things started to pick up for me so I started going out of practice,” he added in between laughter.