Too Much Talk Episode 3: The Police Is Not Your Friend

Hi guys!
The Talkatives are back again with another exciting episode of Too Much Talk. This Episode is title "The Police is not your friend" and features Dipo & Bash who get to talk about the quality of the music in 2016, along with the problems with law enforcement in Nigeria.. NK was unavoidably absent and sent her best wishes. The police is not your friend. The police is your (pocket's) friend.

Here are the links to the episode.



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All Or Nothing Fitness With Dizzy: Adapting Mechanism

“It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change” – Charles Darwin


The quote above is evident in so many situations today and I couldn’t be more accurate, of course the ones that adapt certainly have the above attributes in some way that will aid its survival. Cut to the chase, so in this fitness business it’s important that we are able to adapt to whatever situation we find ourselves.


 This could be in the gym where someone is utilizing the equipment you intend using (gym traffic) , or the weather changing to an unfavorable one as you’re about to start running(screw the weather man), or the gym’s closed, or your trainer is probably on a trip, all these are factors that can dampen your morale or distort your progress.


 The question is whether or not you let it. I wouldn’t if I were you and really why should you? There are TONNES of alternatives for various exercises, so why let the one that you are unable to do today stop you from reaching your goals tomorrow? Sure it might not be the same, but if the only bad workout is the one not done then GO ON!  Adapt to the situation and edge ever closer to those goals.  Goodluck and may the GAINS be with you all!!



You can keep up with me on social media:
Twitter: @AONFitness
Instagram: @AONFitness
Facebook: https://t.co/GougsGtIkw
E- mail: aonfitnessnigeria@gmail

Music Mondays with Femi Samuel: CDQ- Quality Album Review

Artiste: CDQ
Album: Quality
Label: General Records

CDQ came into the music scene a few years back as a versatile underground rapper who dropped bars in Yoruba, pidgin and his infamous use of notable slangs (Woss Woss Wobi) which he is well known for. He started gaining attention after winning a rap battle at Industry Nite in December 2012. CDQ was consistent with excellent performances, so consistent that he caught the eye of super-talented record producer "Masterkraft" who is notable for producing songs for Banky W and other big names in the Nigerian music industry and subsequently handed a record deal to CDQ and signed him to his General Records imprint.

CDQ went on to release several songs under his new label and started to gain the recognition that he deserved. His big break came when he dropped one of the biggest songs at the time, "Indomie" featuring Olamide that went on to top charts and was played all over the country. There seemed to be no stopping for this Yoruba rapper who gradually developed his brand and continued to put out the right materials that would gain him his cult followership.

The Quality Album is the type that was already getting mixed reviews and wasn't shown any love in its anticipation because of the bad press it got when the album cover and Track list surfaced the internet, Most especially the feedback it got on Twitter. It was slandered on all fronts because of its mediocre cover art and the notable errors that were found in the spelling of the names of persons that were involved in the album. All this followed and people thought it was done on purpose but up until now no response has been made from CDQ's PR team.

 The album starts off slowly with the song "Shanowole" featuring Ice Prince. Which is better off recorded as a jingle than a proper song or even album material, CDQ was decent lyrically, while it was a below average effort from Ice Prince. Salaro is already a fan favorite with its depth and quality of the beat to the song and CDQ got it right with his delivery & storytelling for this type of song. Track 3 "Ferrari" also which is only an exceptional track because of its hook and it’s up tempo beat. CDQ was easily predictable with his verses to this song and he was caught lacking with the content in this song. Finally we get a familiar record on this album that brings life to this body of work with the song “Nowo e soke” featuring Wizkid which has to be CDQ’s biggest song till date. Both performers on this song did a splendid job. You can't be found dulling when this Masterkraft produced track is been played. It sets you in the right mind set to have a great night out.

 The next track which I feel had the prior intention to be the intro to this album is actually a really disappointing and basic Skit done by popular TV presenter VJ Adams who lacked the right attitude in delivering an exciting speech for an album material. CDQ would argue with you that he is confident of getting the bragging rights that can be linked to a proper hip hop record; 4AM is the track that enabled CDQ to show his skills on a proper hip hop beat. He got the right ingredients needed for this type of song, he was decent with the word play but wasn't sure how hardcore he wanted to be on the song as it was evident in the short duration of the song (3.03) minutes.

Track 7 Oobi featuring Cayana is where CDQ addresses his haters and nay sayers on the album, He spits one of his best rap performances on this album here. CDQ was in tandem with the piano instrumental of this song in his delivery. Talosobe is CDQ's version of the famous "Jor ooh" which lacks an original concept to it but he was able to link the song properly with the track before it and made up for whatever downside he had in the song with his delivery and album arrangement.

The next track FCFS (First come first song) is a meaningless song. It just had the right melody to it and CDQ was in the right zone to deliver exactly what was needed for this type of song, he was just having fun with this song. CDQ stayed true to the artistic persona for this type of record. He enlisted the help of RnB heavyweight, Banky W to help him with this wonderful record titled "Odikwa Ok". Banky made CDQ comfortable on this record and it made him fine tune and slow down his verses to be very smooth and he did a decent job lyrically while trying to proclaim how much he was in love with his special woman. The drums and minimum kicks in this song didn't make a boring one to listen to.

All songs aside the R'n'B song had the same monotonous sound to it and it was time to switch up the style a little with a dancehall track "Sun Seyin" which has a fast-frenetic vibe to it, one for the clubs and looked like a result of a studio session where CDQ was having fun in the booth and recorded something he felt would put his listeners in a happy and full-groove mood. CDQ finally outsourced his second skit material on this album to someone who is worthy and could deliver with his content in the person of talented & fast rising comedian/performer Kenny Blaq; who did an excellent job with his delivery and had a great outing with his smooth voice while he heaped praises on CDQ, also fondling around with slangs as used by Cdq's woss wobi and gave it, it's actually meaning.

 Olowo fe Wole/ olowo fe Wole wa/ which means a rich & wealthy person wants to enter; is the record which had fellow indigenous Yoruba rapper, Reminisce on it. This record is easily a stand out track on the album because of its perfect live performance recording and top notch production. Reminisce came through on the song and does what he does best on a record like this. His presence was also effective and influenced how CDQ executed his own part of the song, really well.

Track 14 "Otishe" had Gabanabwoy on the hook. On this record CDQ counts his blessings to God and states how grateful coming he is coming from a humble, poor background to his path to stardom. A laid back effort but is an all-around smooth & feel good song with decent story telling.

Abo featuring veteran rapper Vector is another stand out song on this album. “Abo” which is a Yoruba term and can be used in various ways, but in this song it was personified to be a female/woman. Vector got his well-deserved bragging rights on this record on the hook and his verse, CDQ also did a decent job with his flow. Another hip-hop song on this album that had an east coast/west coast rap feel to it.

The next track on the album, "Indomie" is a song that shouldn't have been included in this album or better still another version should have been performed for the album; the entire purpose of this song has already been fulfilled and the song had already been milked out for the right reasons, it's inclusion was not a smart move from CDQ which could make a case as to whether he is really hardworking and willing to take risks. The album draws to a close with the song "Gbemisaya" featuring Skales which is another predictable & expected track from an artiste like CDQ, another song I was not expecting on the album.

Listening to this album was not exciting. It puts one in different moods and gets one really confused as to what the contents of the album was trying to sell to the listeners. CDQ could be seen as being reluctant to record something ‘new’ most of the tracks on the album look pretty old. In an attempt for the Quality album to showcase CDQ’s talent, all tracks almost had the same exact message to it. In summary, this album lacked the right creative direction and A& R credit that should be associated to it. Notable issues on this album is the important case of the VJ Adams skit which is my opinion is pure trash, the skit should have been given to someone like DadaBoy Ehiz to handle.

Stand out tracks on this album have to be Ferrari, Odikwa OK, Olowo and Abo. Four very good songs out of 17 is not good enough. I believe there is still room for improvement for CDQ.

I rate this album 5.5/10

You can follow Femi Samuel on Twitter: @Femi_RichNation





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Beauty Tips With Ada: 3 Steps You Must Include In Your Skin Care Routine.

I'm back with the skincare routine topic! I hope you found last week's post on the importance of a skincare routine very helpful. If you haven't read that piece, you can check it out here . If you are trying to establish your own skincare routine, there are three steps you must consider regardless of your skin type or gender.

Cleanse: You should start by cleansing your face or body. This removes makeup, dirt and sweat from the skin. It is bad practice to use bar soaps on your face. It may work well for the body but will only strip your face of its natural oils, making it feel dry and tight. Your skin should feel comfortable after cleansing. If you have extremely dry skin then cut out bar soaps entirely and use shower gel on your body instead. A facial cream cleanser is also preferable for dry skin because it cleans without stripping the face of natural oils. People with acne-prone skin would benefit from using a salicylic acid cleanser.

Exfoliate: Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin from the surface of the skin. The skin naturally sheds off this skin especially after being damaged by the elements such as sun and dry air. Dead skin cannot be nourished and usually has a dull appearance. Dead skin is also capable of blocking your pores and causing you to breakout! You should exfoliate your skin to give it a brighter and younger appearance. The two types of exfoliation are chemical and mechanical. Mechanical exfoliation involves scrubbing off dead skin. For your body, you may use body polish, a sponge or exfoliating gloves in the shower. I love the exfoliating gloves because it's fuss-free and you definitely find an improvement in your skin's tone and texture in two to three months. There are also a variety of facial scrubs with abrasives like microbeads and oatmeal.  Chemical exfoliation can be achieved with toners or lotions that contain acids such as lactic acid derived from milk.

Moisturize: People with dark skin especially develop ashy looking skin when they do not use a moisturizer. If you wear makeup, you would find that moisturizer helps your foundation apply smoothly. You may use a humectant like glycerin which draws water into the outer layer of the skin or an emollient like petrolatum or mineral oil which traps water in the skin by forming a layer on its surface. Some areas need special attention like the knees, elbows and lips. These areas become rough when you do not moisturize them. Dry skin would benefit from creams while oily skin is better suited to gel or lotion as a moisturizer.

A good regimen should include these three steps and the result is healthier looking skin. If you want to find out how to choose the right cleanser, exfoliant or moisturzer for your skin type, make sure you're following me on social media to get an update for the next post.

Ada Beauty is a creative writer and a beauty enthusiast. She has worked as a blogger for onobello.com and as a copywriter for an ad agency. She is currently the editor of www.daisyada.com.ng

Plantain Goodness with OunjeAladun: Ikpekere (Plantain Chips)

How To make plantain chips (Ikpekere)

Use unripe plantains.

I prefer the light green type as the plantain is easier to peel and it tastes slightly sweet.

–    Cut plantain by making four vertical slashes on the sides and lift the peel.

–    Using a potato peeler (I favor a potato peeler)or a small sharp knife slice in your preferred shape. It has to be very thin slices, you achieve this better with a potato peeler.

–    Using a deep pan, heat the oil till very hot and fry.

Try dipping the slices in individually, they stick together if it is dumped in at once, and the chips take on the shape they entered the oil in.

–    For added flavor you can fry onions and fresh ginger along side or sprinkle, cayenne pepper or ginger or onion powder on the plantain slices before you fry.

–    Fry chips till golden brown, take out and strain in a sieve lined with a paper towel.  If you didn't add any spices before frying, toss with some salt and pepper or salt and ginger or any other desired spice.

–    If the oil is well strained you can keep in an airtight container for as long as 3-8 days. For large batches I fry lightly brown and after frying and straining I lay in an oven pan and allow it to dry a little bit in the oven. It is more crispy and crunchy and the shelf life is longer.

Our guest writer, Omolabake Bode - Matthew is unscripted , a lawyer turned virgin cocktail and fruit juice expert and she'd charge you to see her skills. To relax, she cooks, she loves to play with food, that she can share with you for free.

You can find her sharing her food therapies:

Blog: ounjealadun.com.

Instagram: @ounjealadun

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ounjealadun

Ounjealadun is #DodoGangEndorsed

Recap on Too Much Talk Episode 2: True Love: The Musical

The Episode started with the talkatives expressing how happy they were to be back with the listeners again, asked if they enjoyed the last episode and asked for their interaction, support and feedback on all platforms.

Then, Nkiru started talking about food which we all love and the talkatives dropped our insights on our favorite food. Weird enough, Bash talked about an interesting human flesh that is very pleasurable to eat. Dipo also gave the best food combination ever that left the talkatives drooling with imagination.

Dipo then went ahead to talk about the Olympics, praising the Nigerian Basketball team for carrying yam and for Divine Oduru's social media performance. The Talkatives also discussed the attitude of all  the Nigerian athletes at the Olympics on social media and how they only seemed to be turning up.

This discussion led to talking about the manner in which House of Representatives member Dino Melaye has been flaunting his wealth and lifestyle on social media especially when he is turning up at social functions. Then the Talkatives further proceeded into corruption, EFCC and revealing what departments they would like to be contribute if they worked at EFCC. Very interesting choices!

As Talkatives do, they somehow stumbled upon Love which was discussed at length and led to each of the talkatives giving out their bits not leaving out bits of their experiences from previous experiments. Nkiru was pronounced 'The Love Doctor' from this due to the nature of the in-debt knowledge she had to share about love, hurt and relationships. She admitted to craving that Zee-World type of love.

The Talkatives rounded up the episode by discussing new releases; music, movies and stage plays. They also asked for interactions, suggestions and support from their listeners as they had dodo waiting for them in the kitchen and really had to go.

Too Much Talk Podcast Episode 2: True Love: The Musical

We're happy to present to you the second episode of Too Much Talk Podcast hosted by Dipo, Bash & NK. The Title of this episode is True Love: The Musical. We hope you enjoyed the first episode last week as we will be bringing you another episode next week too. Please interact with us, like us on all social media platforms,comment and share on all social media platforms too.

There will be a recap of  the week's episode every Thursday on here and the Too Much Talk blog.

Too Much Talk Podcast Episode 2: True Love: The Musical

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We hope you have an amazing time.

Cheers,
The Team.