Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet20th Century FoxWant to feel old? Titanic, “MMMBop,” Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Harry Potter book series are all turning 20 in 2017. Scroll to see more of the best pop culture phenomena from 1997.
'Titanic'
The Best Picture Oscar winner (still the second-highest-grossing film of all time), which starred now-BFFs Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as star-crossed lovers aboard the doomed ocean liner, hit theaters on December 19, 1997. Credit: 20th Century Fox
Mariah Carey's 'Butterfly'
Mariah Carey's acclaimed sixth studio album, her first after her divorce from ex-husband and svengali Tommy Mottola — which spawned hits including "Honey," "Butterfly" and "My All" — dropped in September 1997.
Australia's Natalie Imbruglia was everywhere in 1997 and 1998, thanks to her hit song "Torn," the first single from her debut studio album, which was released internationally in November 1997.
Backstreet Boys' U.S. Debut Album
BSB's self-titled U.S. debut, released stateside in August 1997, was actually a compilation of songs from their first and second international albums, which came out in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Credit: L. Busacca/Getty Images
Hanson's 'Middle of Nowhere'
Hanson — made up of brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson — burst onto the music scene with this May 1997 album, which spawned their most famous song, "MMMBop." Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'
Though the U.S. version of J.K. Rowling's first Harry Potter book — which changed the "Philosopher's Stone" to the "Sorcerer's Stone" — didn't hit shelves until 1998, British readers enrolled at Hogwarts in June 1997. (The first of the movies debuted four years .later in 2001.Credit: Warner Bros. Picture
'Selena'
A then barely known Jennifer Lopez had a star-making turn as the slain Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez in this biopic, which debuted in the U.S. on March 21, 1997. Credit: Warner Bros
'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion'
Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino road-tripped to Sagebrush High to show Billy Christianson what he was missing in this riotous comedy, which premiered in the U.S. in April 1997.
- Popular Nigerian singer Dammykrane has been arrested in Miami, U.S - He was arrested alongside another Nigerian for grand theft, credit card and identity fraud - Dammykrane was granted bail set at $17,500 (₦6.8Million) Popular Nigerian singer, Johnson-Hunga Oyindamola Emmanuel popularly known as Dammykrane, was arrested today, June 3 in Miami, U.S, for grand theft, credit card and identity fraud. gathered that Dammykrane who is now being held at Dade county was granted bail set at $17,500 (₦6.8Million). He was arrested alongside Chukwuebuka today in Miami.
Dammy Krane and another Nigerian were arrested for credit card theft and fraud in US.
Several media outlets reported this plagiarism with many Nigerians trooping to Pia’s Instagram page, calling her and her record label out, for the shameful rip off.
While, this was ongoing, Nigerian Media Outlet, Pulse Nigeria published a counter report that claims Pia never stole the song, instead, reverse is the case.
Read Their report below;
“The entire Nigeria is up in arms about a perceived theft of Phyno’s song by an American singer named Pia Mia. The record in quote is a song named ‘I’m a fan’ which was released by Phyno in 2016 as part of his “The Playmaker” album. Phyno’s version featured Mr Eazi, and another relative newcomer, Decarlo.
The song which is an urban Carrribean fusion, has not been made a single by the Nigerian rapper, but it is one of the critically loved records on the project.
The song was produced by Benjamz. On May 26, 2017, American singer and songwriter, Pia Mia, released a version of the song which featured singer Jeremih.
The similarities between hers and Phyno were present from the start. Pia Mia employs the same song title (I’m a fan’), extremely similar production, chorus, and verse.
On basic inspection, they are the same song, but Pia Mia’s version was produced by Remo the Hitmaker.
The basic crowd mentality with singles in Nigeria is that whoever releases it first owns the song, and very other version is a copy. And that’s what’s been happening. Pia Mia has been dragged across Nigerian social media as a thief, with fans and music enthusiasts accusing her of blatant theft.
But here’s the story. Pia Mia did not steal any song. She didn’t take Phyno’s record, neither did she appropriate the music. The true story is way beyond her.
The story of ‘I’m a fan’ single began from Phyno, Jeremih and producer Remo. According to verified sources close to Phyno’s camp, the rapper was working on incorporating Island-ready production on his sophomore album to tap into the international market. He was in talks with Remo, who sent him the song to work with.
“The guy sent the song to us, and we wanted to work together, but something happened and we couldn’t use it,” our source tells Pulse.
Due to issues regarding remuneration, clearances and demands, Phyno and Remo did not work together. But Phyno liked the idea of the sound, so he sought the help of producer Benjamz, who reconstructed the single, and brought on Mr Eazi and Decarlo to collaborate and release the record.
Remo, who had totally abandoned the Phyno project, still has his music, and so when Pia Mia tapped him and Jeremih for a new record, they had this one ready-made for her to record and release.
These things are not uncommon. In 2014, Phyno’s ‘Authe’ record featuring Flavour, and DJ Spinall’s ‘Gba gbe’ featuring Burna Boy possessed similar melody and lyrics in the choruses. But it was also a recording misunderstanding which was never taken to court. Both Burna Boy and Flavour had worked on a song, which was never finished. So they supplied it to other people.
So Pia Mia, did not steal a Nigerian song. Phyno and Remo had a misunderstanding, and the music has been duplicated.
Phyno got to read the article, and he has since reacted.. He rubbished the reports by Pulse.. Thus insinuating that Pia’s camp indeed stole his song. See his reactions below;
Adidas has enlisted the help of Desiigner to help unveil the new away uniforms for Paul Pogba and his Manchester United teammates.
The new uniforms for the 2017/18 season are inspired by one of Manchester United’s most iconic kits worn by legends like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes during from 1990-92.
According to the Adidas press release,
“Manchester United fans of all ages will recognize the bold graphic pattern from the 1990-92 away jersey that defined football shirt design for an era. Connecting the past to the future, the new kit pays homage to the historic design, celebrating the rich history of the club.”
“The graphic design of the original kit has been reimagined on a black backdrop with white hues, with the classic adidas three stripes, club badge and adidas logo all in white. A crew-neck collar gives the kit a modern makeover, making it a jersey that’s as much at home on the streets as it is on the pitch.”
Check out the video below starring Desiigner and Paul Pogba, and click here to see Adidas’ full Manchester United collection.
American business magazine, Forbes Magazine, has released a compilation of its top 10 African richest musicians. African entertainers like, Jidenna, Akon, Wizkid, Tinashe, Davido, Don Jazzy and Sarkodie, made it to the list.
Forbes Africa list was put together using factors such as endorsement value, popularity, show rates, sales, awards, YouTube views, appearance in newspapers, investment, social media presence, Influence and others.
Here’s the list of the artistes that made it;
1. AKON
Akon has over 35 million albums sold worldwide. He has won numerous awards including five Grammy Award nominations and has 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs under his belt. He tops the list according to Forbes Africa.
2. BLACK COFFEE, SOUTH AFRICA
The multi-award-winning artist’s real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo. He was born in South Africa’s house music province, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and raised in the Eastern Cape province, where Nelson Mandela hailed from, before moving back to KZN to study music.
3.HUGH MASEKELA, SOUTH AFRICA
Hugh was born in Witbank, east of Johannesburg. He has released more than 43 albums and performed with Marvin Gaye, Dizzy Gillespie, The Byrds, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Miriam Makeba.
4. DON JAZZY, NIGERIA
Don Jazzy is ranked fourth richest in Africa and also first in Nigeria. Like many artists, his real name is Michael Collins Ajereh, and he started playing music as a child in church before moving to the UK to pursue his career.
5. TINASHE, ZIMBABWE-AMERICAN
Tinashe was a child model by the age of three. The twenty-four-year-old sang before she could talk and made her first appearance in 2000 in the film Cora Unashamed. Her voice also starred in the cartoon feature film The Polar Express alongside Oscar-winning actor, Tom Hanks.
6. JIDENNA, NIGERIAN-AMERICAN
By the age of 10, Jidenna Theodore Mobisson knew he wanted to do music but was afraid to tell his father who wanted him to be an engineer. He is ranked sixth according to Forbes Africa.
7. WIZKID, NIGERIA
Wizkid is arguably currently the uncrowned king of African music. Grammy Award-winning artist, Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beatz, danced to his songs Ojuelegba and Caro, with Keys posting a video on her Instagram account with the caption, “This song makes me happy”. Kylie Jenner also posted a video of herself dancing to Wizkid’s music on Snapchat.
8. DAVIDO, NIGERIA
Davido has claimed a high status in just five years. He said it was people like P-Square and D’Banj who made him believe this was possible. He became famous for his widely acclaimed 2012 debut album “Omo Baba Olowo”.
9. SARKODIE, GHANA
Michael Owusu Addo started out as an underground rapper and through the help of Duncan Williams, his former manager, his career was launched. Staying true to his identity, he is a big advocate of Azonto, a Ghanaian genre that is said to have been born out of Kpanlogo, a traditional dance.
His first single off his fourth album, Mewu, sold almost 4,000 copies on the first day of its release in Ghana. He was also the first Ghanaian to win a BET award.
10. OLIVER MTUKUDZI, ZIMBABWE
Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi has 65 albums under his belt, more than the legendary Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. It’s a remarkable career stretching back 41 years with songs that have enlivened parties all over the world. He his ranked 10th richest musician in Africa.
Nigerian music singer Banky W and actress Adesua Etomi are engaged.. and they are getting married.. and NO! It’s Not a Movie, neither is it a promo for The Wedding Party 2!
The ‘Made for you’ singer broke the news on Instagram today, May 3, 2017.
Writing a lengthy post on love, relationship, friendship and marriage the singer said Adesua finally agreed to be his wife.
Dear Susu
We crossed paths 2 or 3 times since 2012, but I wasn’t paying enough attention. Destiny was staring me right in the face and I was too caught up in my own hustle and paper chase, to know it. In June 2015 however, God brought you my way again, and this time, I really SAW you. I was smitten by your grace, aura, and beauty. So smitten infact, that even though I didn’t get to say a word to you that day (because you were seated far across the room), I immediately called my best friend @captdemuren and told him I’d found my next girlfriend. LOL. He laughed.
I asked one or two people about you.. your manager Isioma, who I’d worked with previously, and then I did some research myself. Googled you, stalked your instagram.. the whole 9 yards, and the more I found out, the more you seemed like a breath of fresh air.
Now, I personally don’t like being “hooked up”, so I decided to approach you myself by sliding into your DM a few days later. Introduced myself, made some silly attempts to make you laugh, told you I planned to become your biggest fan, and asked if we could be friends. Thank God you laughed at my silly jokes, and thank God you graciously agreed to become my friend. At the time, I was COMPLETELY lying about only wanting to be friends, by the way.. but I figured it was a safe place to start.
Since that DM, I’ve spoken to you pretty much every single day for almost 2 years. Sometimes, in the morning, at night and in between. We clicked instantly, and you quickly became one of my favourite people on earth, and one of my closest friends. It got to the point where my day wouldn’t quite feel right without speaking to you. I needed your friendship. I needed, and still need, the bond we share. It completes me.
I knew pretty early in the process that I wanted to spend forever with you. Prayed about it fervently. But it took you FOREVER (okay fine.. maybe a year and a half or so) to see things my way. But I kinda knew all along.. I was just waiting for you to catch up.
In that time, I got engaged to you in my “Made For You” music video… and then by coincidence, we both got cast to get married in “The Wedding Party” movie.. but all the while we were the very best of friends. I guess, in our case, real life will now imitate art.
I’m not sure what the future will bring, but I’m completely sure that I am ready to face it with you by my side. I pray that God continues to build me into the kind of man that you deserve. I love you Susu.. I feel safe and at peace with you. You mean the world to me. Thank you for agreeing to be my lover and best friend. Thank you for agreeing to be my wife.
PS: The timing of this may make some people think this is promo for another video, or a movie. It isn’t. Ironically, everyone who has seen us together in art, or in life, always insists that we have amazing chemistry. I guess you can say we have been hiding in plain sight. I fell in love with an Actress. Now my life is a movie.
In February of 2017, I asked Adesua Tolulope Oluwaseun Etomi to be my wife. She said Yes.
Adesua meanwhile disclosed that they started dating a year and a half after they met.
She wrote, “I went to an event in 2015 and I suppose that was the beginning of something amazing because once banky saw me, he decided that he was going to be my biggest fan.
He slid into my DM and sent the funniest message and that was how we became friends.
At the time, I wasn’t interested in anything but a friendship and he was very respectful of that and so we stayed just friends for about a year and a half.
Our friendship opened my eyes to a lot of things. Opened my eyes to the type of man Olubankole is and WHAT A MAN. WHAT A MIGHTY GOOD MAN.
Olubankole, Your Heart is pure and good, to the very core. You are proof that God is real, you are proof that what’s on the inside is greater and so much more powerful than what we see on the outside and you are the evidence of what I hoped for.
I bless God for entrusting my heart in your hands because I know it’s safe.
You are everything i prayed for and so much more.
Thank you for praying with me, fasting with me, always making time for me, laughing with me, and caring more about me than yourself. Thank you for being kind, loving and full of Integrity.
And i’d like to say one more thing. I’m SO SORRY that it took me sooo long to realise that it was you. It has always been you. It couldn’t have been anyone else.
In February 2017, you said you couldn’t be without me and asked me to be your wife and I said YES cause I can’t be without you.
It will be an absolute pleasure and one of the greatest blessings of my life to walk the path of life with you.
Thank you for being who you are.
My goodluck charm, my King, my lover, my bestfriend. I love you till eternity and beyond.
Here comes the amazing and rip cracking comedian Last Prophet AKA. Otwetwe master with is comedy show called "Share a Laugh With Last Prophet Otwetwe."
It's happening life every Thursday 8:00 pm @Hacienda Comedy Club 88 Atekong Drive, Calabar.
Wish Last Prophet Aka . Otwetwe Master a happy birthday celebration with Sparqlzzz Tv. crew as he marks his birthday today 5th May, 2017.
Sparqlzzz tv. crew sayzz.. Age with grace Otwetwe, we love you...
This is where you have to be every Thursday to laugh out your pains and have fun with Last Prophet and other hilarious and funny comedians and artist in the house who knows where to tickle that laughter out of you...
The Award winning comedian Last Prophet is set to take you on a wheel of steel to world of fun..
Legendary hip-hop superstar and mogul Jay-Z will be embarking on a music tour tagged “Made In America”.
The “Made In America” music tour will feature some of Africa’s brightest music acts. (042’jamz.com) On the list of participating acts will be Mavin records Tiwa Savage who is also managed by Roc Nation.
Also on the line up of artistes are Wizkid, fellow starboy music act Maleek Berry and British Grime star Stormzy.
The music event will happen on the 2 – 3 September 2017 at Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia.
American A-list artistes like J. Cole, The Chainsmokers, Migos, Solange, 21 Savage etc.
Nigerian singer, Davido and rapper, Iceprince Zamani were reported to have been involved in a fight which broke down in Warri. According to a social media user, Davido Music Worldwide boss, Davido who was in town for an event fought the Chocolate City ‘Oleku’ crooner at the event in Warri, Delta State.
The Twitter user, Saint Lee, alleged that the fight broke after Iceprince Zamani questioned Shina Peller, Quilox club boss, why he was asked to manage a ride with some other persons when Davido got a salon car to himself.
The social media user noted that the DMW boss got furious on account of Iceprince’s remark which led to the fight.
Both Nigerian stars had prior to the event put up publicity on their social media page.
Nigerian singer and winner of the first season of Project Fame West Africa, Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, known by his mononym Iyanya, has insisted he is not jealous of Tekno’s success and says he is not surprised at how his career has risen.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, When asked if he is envious of Tekno’s success, the singer simply smiled and said he had always believed Tekno whom he dubbed ‘Golden boy’ would succeed in life.
He said, “I am so happy for Tekno and his success and I am not surprised. At a point, we were all together and this is a young guy that works very hard. He worked every night and when we woke up in the morning, he would still be working. So, I am not surprised that he has finally made it. I believe this is just the beginning and there are many more things to come his way. When he came to Triple MG, he sprayed his hair gold and anytime I wanted to call him, I referred to him as golden boy. I am very happy he is doing great things.’
How would I be envious of somebody that Ubi Franklin and I raised from our platform? We used our platform to promote him and I cannot be envious of him; there is no need for that. People would always try to say negative things but we are very fine.”
The popular actor who has been battling with a heart/lung disease died in the early hours of Saturday Morning. This is according to his personal assistant, who was with him when he passed away.
Today, definitely is a sad day in Nollywood. Reports gathered claims that the actor is yet to fully recover from the sickness. But then, his condition worsened at the middle of the night and he was said to have called on his PA to take him UCH in the middle of the night but died before he could be conveyed to the hospital.
Olumide Bakare, while on his sick bed at UCH, once told Ace TV broadcaster in Yoruba “Jide Omo Moronfolu, agbara mi o ka mo o(meaning /Jide, I can’t hold on much longer).”
He will surely be missed by fans, colleagues, and family.
Big Brother Naija Finalist, and Winner of the 2017 Edition of the reality TV show is still touring around for press rounds, interviews, courtesy visits to Celebrities and more.
The BBNaija star Efe Ejeba visited the P-Square brothers at their Ikoyi mansion.. and they of course took pictures!
Paul Okoye shared a picture with the BBNaija star with the caption: “@efemoney in da building #homage #nobodyugly came to visit the real big brother ”
While Peter Okoye shared a picture with Aliona and captioned: “And @efemoney was in da house #basedonlogistics #nobodyugly”
came to visit the real big brother 
”
