Jim Iyke turns singer, set to release 12-track album
•Features 2face, Sound Sultan & Yinka Davies
•Off to Pueto Rico for movie with Paul Cambell
When we predicted that Jim Iyke and Tonto Dike are part of the stars to watch out for in 2009, not a few people thought we were playing to the gallery and doing the usual things journalists always do at the end of every year.
But the happenings around Jim Iyke have confirmed that we could pass for a ‘genuine’ seer.
The star actor, who was very busy last year, especially with Van Viker (the Ghanaian actor who is gradually taking over from Ramsey Nouah) is set to release a 12-track musical album in a matter of weeks. The album has the ingenious production signature of Puffy-T, the same man that produced Yahoozee, the monster hit of Olu Maintan, and one Spoons, based in the US. Puffy T produced 10 tracks while Spoons produced two. And we heard that Marginal Records, a US-based record label, has signed him in the region of six figures in pounds.
The album has been tentatively titled ‘Who am I?’ Other tracks on the album include, “Ikenna,” “Who am I?,” “Jimiykemania,” “Bad Boys don’t kiss and tell,” “When you point one finger at me four are pointed at you,” “Truth or dare,” and others.
The songs which a very close source described as Afro Hip Hop were mastered and mixed in US. Four marketers who had gotten wind of it are already lobbying the star actor to use their platform to market the album.
According to our source, Who am I? will hit the streets in a matter of weeks and about four release parties are already planned for it across Africa.
The release party in Nigeria will take place sometimes in February when Jim returns from his planned trips to Puerto Rico where he’s billed to shoot a movie with Paul Cambell. March 27 will be the launching date in Ghana and another date has been chosen for that of Sierra Leone.
Showbiz Now learnt that a special launch has been planned for Cameroon because Jim is Cameroon’s First Lady’s favourite actor. Jim was guest at the First Lady’s birthday party recently. He is trying to leverage on that relationship to make a major musical in-road into Cameroon.
One track that is already causing ripples is ‘Truth or dare.” On that track Jim spat fire about his faceoff with a fellow star actor, Emeka Ike and popular radio presenter, Olisa Adibua.
Plan for the video of Who am I? is already in top gear and 2face Idibia who features on the track will jet out to US on first week of February to meet the star for the shooting of the video which will be directed by Janell Abraham.
Jim who will be departing for Puerto Rico and Antigua for the shooting of a movie tomorrow said he is not confirming or denying anything when we contacted him on phone.
