Everybody’s talking about the best this and that of 2004 and New Year resolutions. So here’s my own best of 2004. In this case the best (seven in number) things/happenings in my life that I’m grateful for in 2004.

My Blog

Also know as a weblog, a blog for the uninitiated, is a popular and fairly personal content form on the Internet. A person’s Web log is almost like an open diary. It chronicles what a person wants to share with the world on an almost daily basis. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger". And starting my own (and it being enjoyed by its readers) was definitely one of my highs of 2004. Being a cyber freak since 2001 and having kept a diary since I was 10, moving over to the internet and blogging is something I can really relate to. It’s a hobby I really enjoy and it sure has built up my journalistic intellect. Big up to other bloggers out there. After all we are ABC News People of the Year for 2004.

Getting my handset and mobile line

For sure it’s the GSM age in Nigeria. And owning a GSM line is a must if one is to call oneself a correct guy/chick in Naija. Ha ha whatever. So getting my own line and handset in April sure was a wonderful moment for me. Now I can handle my own biz personally, talk less of advanced communication and pimping. I’m sure y’all love birds can relate with me on the wonders of text messages and late night calls.

Big Flexing

It’s Jay-Z who said in one of his songs that he was big pimping. Well in my case in 2004 I was big flexing. By flexing I mean I partied big and I really enjoyed myself socially. Thank you Jesus (smiles). My policy was to be happy as much as possible 24-7. So I kept positive and tried to enjoy each moment with friends. With the girls it was something else. In 2004 I had my first real relationship which lasted about two months, and I got miself some really close girlfriends. And not girlfriends as in relationships but having girls as my real tight buddies the way two guys could be best friends. And somehow I relished seeing the girls over and over again trusting me and feeling secure in my presence (ask girls, most of em will tell you they prefer close buddies of the opposite sex than the same sex. Ain’t the same with guys though). Funny huh? Some times I ask myself if I’m sick or trying to over do things to get over some inner fears. Whatever, it’s the opposite attract, the power of the P-U-S-S-Y according to Kels, Jay and Devin.

Meeting my Hip hop idols

Yep 2004 was the year I witness two of my biggest Hip hop idols perform live. DMX in January and 50Cent in December. Both events where electrifying and will live on in my memory for years to come. There’s something about finally meeting someone you really admire. After the encounter it’s like your life will never be the same again. Ask Bill Clinton; he’ll tell you about his encounter in his youth with the then US president John F. Kennedy.

My ride

There sure is nothing better than cruising/rolling down the street with your ride on a beautiful day, with your windows down and getting admiring stares from passers by. And that’s what I experienced big time in 2004. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I leant to drive in 2004; instead 2004 was the year I finally got unlimited ride access from my mum after months of battling. And man have I had good moments with my Toyota. Funny abi? Well that’s life you know, one man’s meat is another man’s garri (smiles). So am a continue riding and keep my eyes on the ultimate: the Peugeot 307. I must ride that car or die!

Quitting UNN

Quitting? Well more like graduating from UNN (University of Nigeria Nsukka. I still got shit to tidy up though, damn!). I sure am grateful to God for achieving that in 2004. After all the stress…and fun of university life, it feels good to be finally through with the system. Although for real I still miss campus life. Well I gotta suck it all up and move on. Next step is the NYSC and making my own dough. How scary can it get? I’ve always had one saying: you never know you’re a man till you feed and take care of yourself for a week with YOUR OWN SWEAT. God help us all!

My body

It ain’t as if I’m Right Said Fred singing: “I’m too sexy for my body”. But like him I was some what pleased with my body…looks in 2004. It’s like my gyming finally paid off. It’s not as if I got a 50 Cent type body, but I think I got an above average physique for a guy. Still I gotta wake my lazy ass up and keep lifting them rods. Also I changed my hair style early this year. I kept it low like Lloyd Banks. Sorry Wyclef, the Nigerian environment couldn’t allow me keep it Rasta. But I’ll definitely try it again someday.

So what of you what were your own highs of 2004? Moving over to new year resolutions I can’t say what all mine are (cos some are…too personal to…whatever) but my new year resolution sure does read it part : to start replying my emails in time. HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

We..."I" love to blog! after all we (bloggers) are ABC News' People of the Year for 2004.

Hype does one thing: it makes u wanna see what all the noise is about. and that's what happened with Modenine and I. I’ve heard peeps be like "this nigga is the shit in Nigerian hardcore hip hop circle". and man after finally listening to his CD (if if u see it: cop it...get it. spread the love) I’m beginning to feel the same way. honestly this rapper is fucking tight. his punch lines and metaphors are one in million. they're very much above what could come to the mind of an average Nigerian MC. no doubt Modenine got me when he said:

I kill paper when I pen punch lines with murder ink/
every cipher in my lyrics makes you scratch ur head and think/I wish I wrote that...
(from "orisuna basement freestyle" track 17)

now who the fuck said that to make it in the Nigerian music scene u must come African and use the local flavour and pidgin English thing? well to me that ain't shit. all that matters is that u come out tight in whatever style u use. and that's what Modenine has done. very unlike most acts out there the self proclaimed lyricist flows largely with a foreign accent and style, plus he swears. true to the hardcore feeling his beats are complex and involve some sampling (sampling is like what Kanye West does when he puts an old school feeling into his tracks. it's a sort of mixing).

my favourite tracks in the album (in descending order) are:

1) head ft Baron and Terry tha Rapman
To me that's one hell of a freak song, just like Snoop Dogg's "don't tell". u should put it on when u wanna fuck (smiles). cool smooth beats with pimping lyrics. check the chorus:

don't lie everybody knows u like (head), so be a cheerful giver/
don't be shy we've all heard about your (head), you look like a brainy diva/

2) elbow room ft Callen
damn I love the orchestral feeling of this song's chorus. added with tight flows by the Ninestein, the song's a hit.

3) small boy
funny song. it's one of the only songs you'll hear Modenine rapping in Pidgin English. but the production is poor. and that's because a rock feeling was added to it to make it different from the original in Modenine's debut: the nine files. u can listen to the original at: paybacktymerecords.com

4) 419 state of mind part 2
This song really captures the current phenomenon like Six Foot Plus's "millennium bugging" did in it’s time. all those sick of Nigerian scam emails will relate to this.

5) you can't fuck wit dis
a bounceable-party sort of track. I like the Hausa used at the end. makes we wanna theorize that Hausa is good for hardcore, Igbo for funny songs, and Yoruba for party.

on the critic side I think Nine has got an ego problem. a lot of the tracks on the album were just plain bragging tracks, where he's tryna proclaim his tightness and supremacy. a more mixed themed album might have been better. and Mode why u ain't hola at Six Foot Plus and Callen in the "hola back outro"? just asking though. also some of the beats could have been better along with better production.

on the whole the album's really worth ur time and cash. all em hardcore freaks might be quick to proclaim Modenine Nigeria's Nas.

shit, I can't believe I’m on this track talking about (head)/yo peace I’m out/
(terry tha Rapman in "head")...shit I can't believe I’m on the net talking about (Nine)/yo peace I’m out/

Stanclef might be Modenine's number one fan, but I’m a sucker for Terry...I don dey kolo oh!

Modenine. Call him a rapper or an MC and he’ll tell u that he’s a lyricist

University life (especially in Nigeria) is always very stressful. But nevertheless it's been good to me. And it feels great to be finally coming out. So I’m all gay and in the mood of toasting to success, while playing Kanye’s “Last call” in the background. While reading this, pop a bottle and get crunked with me. The bill’s on me (grins). Now prepare for a synopsis (smiles, project writing pays you know) on my life in the university (University of Nigeria Nsukka/UNN).

Finance/Resource Management: I’ve always been a one for all and all for one guy. But entering school very early money wasn’t a problem, as I didn’t socialize much, so didn’t spend much. But now that I can’t sit still I’ve had loads of down periods. But life goes on and somehow in the university I pulled through.

My Religious Life: I went to a seminary secondary school so I guess I had Jah on my mind when entering the university. But as time went on I started loosing my religion. But I still made it to church most of the times and I think I satisfied the NFCS (Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students) slogan: living the faith. Jesus walks man, and I walk with him. Ain’t that right Kanye?

Academics: my pops is a bookworm, my sis: Cle and bro: Ebx too. And so I’m academically tight myself. Graduated best in primary and secondary school, but lack of concentration and my last minute jacking culture did at the end get the best of me in my course: Economics/Political Science. Especially in Economics with all the maths involved. But anyways am a still cross that line even if it’s with a second class lower. I got plans for a second degree in computer science and this time I swear on Einstein’s grave (smiles) am a hit it big. Thank God age is very much on my side.

Student Union Politics: student union politics like Nigerian politics sure does stink. We got so many idiots coming out for elections who don’t know what the fuck is really expected of them. Most of them peeps just got ego problems. I guess we all wanna be big. I never was into politics on campus. The only post I held was as the Director of Socials in my town’s students union, and man was I good. I long for the day Nigerian and student union politics will be developed to the point coming out for elections demands so much of one character wise. Our politicians just gotta be sharp like the likes of Bush, Blair and John Kerry.

UNN as an Institution: man it ain’t no joke when peeps say UNN is living on it’s past glory. True to poor maintenance and management being our problem in Nigeria: UNN stinks! Well may be lack of finance is a cause. That’s why I do respect UNN first class products for sticking through all the shit and graduating well. It ain’t easy man.

My Social and Love Life: entering school very early (I’m the youngest in my class) I was socially fucked at first. But being a “soji guy” I finally came out on top and running things. Flexing in the Lion's den sure was worth the experience. With all the shows, parties and bonfires etc. And from flats and behind flats, to beach And Carolina, all Nsukka hotels and hot spots, Jives, Franco Republic and environs, up school Female and male hostels, SUB and environs, PAA, Arts Theater, CEC, Social Science Quadrangle, freedom square, hill top, Odim gate etc, UNN did really bubble. When I’m doing my thing: I keep it real. I picked up rapping while in the university and excelled to the point that my song was at one time a regular spin on campus radio. I got quite popular with it. Now I consider myself slicker than your average (Craig Davidly speaking you know, if you’re a girl anyway). One word on relationships: girl who demand so much of their guys financially are crazy. You’re both still dependent so be real. Also for guys: getting a girl ain’t all about money. It’s more about making her trust you and enjoy your company. Take me as an example; “I’m still slick with 50 kobo/I guess I’m the original shine shine bobo/” (smiles). Friends are life and life is friends, Love makes the world go round. You heard!

Life after University: on the real man I got cold feet about it. You know putting what you studied into practice and through it fending for yourself. But anyways it couldn’t be worse. Jah lives so it’s gon’ be alright. You got my back anyway, don’t you?

I finally participated in Rag Day...in my final year!!!

Yep this post in August is meant to AUGment your life. From the post title apologies to all UNN good image advocates, but for real my school’s quite hot right now. We got a high level of handset theft going on in the nighttime. And it’s a pity that our school security is pretty helpless in this regard. One advice, if u consider ur handset ur buddy just like I do, u’ll do well to strap the shit up tight!

On the social side, cos we all gots to jive to survive. I had some pretty remarkable times this past month. One of em was at my class final year dinner and award nite. Man was it fun after coming through this past four years together. On the real am a miss u guys when we’re finally through. Another of em was at a gospel show on campus. Minus the DMX show I attended earlier this year I’ve never seen an audience so lively and worked up at a show. Dem gospel peeps sure know how to work it for Jesus. It just beats me dat in their dance there ain’t no touching involved. I wonder what Sasha in Sean Paul’s "I’m still in love with you" video would think of that. anyway I know what I think of Maura. A girl I met/friend I made recently. She the intellectual kind, writes poetry and novels and is a presenter on air at our campus radio station. Peep what I wrote for her below, finished it in 30 minutes. Quite impressive right? Considering that I’ve not written much rap wise in the past three months.

Concerning thee
Written for Maura_Dawn (Maureen Uwem Akpan)
5th August, 2004

so here’s what’s up concerning thee
after much we finally meet
all this while I’ve been on my feet
cos with you I’ve longed to speak
first I saw you at the CAST
you was cool my test you passed
but I couldn’t make a pass
had exams by quarter past
took your add, twas on your pen
mailed your ass, every now and then
but you was all: “na Jesus”…end
I was like I’ll get you man
Back in school I saw you more
Took it cool I just explored
To the point I was like “jo”
TRAE go flow, go open door
Now I’ve finally done the shit
I’ve known you. I’m loving it
Like your style, I must admit
I just hope that it’s a hit

Afrihub CyberCafe where i spend a lot of my time these days