28th March, 2014
Funsho Arogundade
Beat FM, Nigeria’s leading urbane radio station, has announced the kick off of a new hip-hop show to discover and promote budding rappers on the Nigerian entertainment scene.
Tagged “The VS Class Show” and produced in partnership with premium cognac brand, Hennessy, the show will select the hottest rappers in town who will battle for rights as the hottest rapper in Nigeria.
Olisa Adibua, veteran OAP and Programmes Director at the Beat FM, said, the VS Class is the first of its kind in Nigeria and it will kick off on 10 April.
Adibua added that the show will address various hip hop conversations including Hennessy’s image as hip hop’s number one spirit as well as the celebration of hip hop, both in the local and international entertainment industries. Along with selecting the next MI or Jay Z among the rap contenders, the show will also feature some of Nigeria’s rap icons who have marked their names in the hearts of many.
“Apart from having conversations on the growth of hip hop on the Nigerian entertainment scene, we are also searching to promote young rappers by giving them a platform where they can develop their talents to the maximum. The hottest rapper from this competition is definitely in for a treat,” said Adibua.
Also commenting, Lere Awokoya, Brand Manager Hennessy Cognac added: “The long-lasting and ever-growing relationship between Hennessy and music is very evident. As for hip hop, Hennessy is undoubtedly a genuine part of hip hop with so many references to the brand in countless hip hop songs over the years. So this is just an initiative to show appreciation to this music genre in Nigeria and to create a showcasing platform for unrecognized hip hop talent.”
The VS Class will feature three episodes in 2014 and have well-known MCs & Lyricists and DJs on the Nigerian music industry as guests on the show.
It will also honour rap icons on the Nigerian rap scene. These rappers will be placed on The VS Class Wall of Fame.
P.M.NEWS Entertainment Cafe learnt that auditions will kick off on Sunday, 30 March, and up and coming rappers can begin to register.
Since inception, Hennessy has influenced various music genres, ranging from classical to jazz, funk, soul, Hip-Hop, R&B, rock, latin, pop and electronica.
Hennessy has taken the “art of blending” to a different level by organizing outstanding initiatives with some of the world’s finest hip-hop and R&B artists.
Over the years an impressive list of artists and musicians have manifested their appreciation of Hennessy in numerous ways.