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JJC

JJC

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Nigeria
 
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About: JJC
ABOUT
JJC (Abdul Bello), a.k.a. Skillz, is most known in the UK as the producer and creator of the multi-platinum and award-winning group Big Brovaz. He has also worked with the likes of Jamelia, Lemar, Jennifer Lopez, Liberty X, and Ginuwine.

JJC (short for Johnny Just Come; Nigerian slang for a recent arrival, especially naïve newcomers - see example of JJC usage at the forum of Nigerian Village Square) is the stage name for Abdul Rasheed Bello, a Nigerian rapper and record producer. He was born on April 4, 1977, in Kano, Nigeria.

He has produced singles for UK pop acts such as Liberty X, Lemar, and Big Brovaz. He is currently CEO of BIGBOYZ Entertainment, which houses a collection of outstanding young youthful artists already making waves within the Nigerian music industry and internationally, and working with a number of developing new artists. He has stated that some of his influences are Shina Peters and Fela Kuti.

On the African scene, JJC is established as one of the leading African hip-hop artists and is the creator of the Afropean sound and the man behind artists such as D'banj (Most selling artist in Africa 2006, 2007, 2008), Don Jazzy, the 419 Squad, Weird MC, Olu Maintain, Bouqui, and Justina. He has, together with his group the 419 Squad, won numerous awards including the 'Best African Group' category at the 2004 KORA All Africa Music Awards (the pan-African equivalent of the Grammy Awards).

PERFORMANCES: JJC & 419 Squad have thrilled audiences at the WOMAD (2004 & 2003), RESPECT, and LONDON UNITED/RISE festivals and also at the launch of the BBC's AFRICA LIVES season at the British Museum, as well as at the Fast Forward event on London's Trafalgar Square, at the Barbican (part of the Black President - Fela Kuti season), The Shrine at Cargo, and many more UK events.

The group has also performed in Nigeria (including Femi Kuti's New Africa Shrine in Lagos), America, Italy, and France. In April 2005, JJC & 419 Squad performed alongside Ludacris at 'MTV 100th LIVE' in Abuja, Nigeria, to mark the launch of MTV's 100th channel, MTV Base in Africa. Highlights from this show have been shown on MTV channels worldwide - broadcast to 418.8 million households in 164 countries around the world.

The WOMAD 2003 & 2004 festivals (2003 performance on Charlie Gillett’s stage was broadcast on Sky’s AC-TV and live on BBC London radio), the Fast Forward event on Trafalgar Square, BEN TV’s Nigerian Independence Party at the Ocean, at the Barbican (part of the Black President Fela Kuti season) and both The Shrine and Out Of Africa at Cargo. Lagos and Abuja/Nigeria (MTV Base Africa’s televised launch in Abuja alongside Ludacris and 2-Face, as well as at Femi Kuti’s New Africa Shrine, Fantasy Land, Do It All, and The Dome).

JJC & 419 Squad are probably the only act to have been guests on Tim Westwood's BBC Radio 1 Rap Show and Charlie Gillett's BBC London World music show. JJC was previously a BBC 1Xtra radio DJ (African Vibes) and has also presented a number of other one-off BBC radio programs as well as a one-off special on France's No.1 taste-making station Radio Nova.

JJC released a monster hit, "Serious," but also fun, tongue-in-cheek, and wildly infectious, JJC’s single and video “We Are Africans” has attracted over 2 million views on YouTube alone, not counting the REMIXES (5) and counting, and also picked up by the influential American hip-hop site www.worldstarhiphop.com, as well as being playlisted on MTV Base Africa, and also being on heavy rotation on Nigezie, BEN TV, and many other channels.

“We Are Africans” is an anthem - in fact, it could be labeled as the national anthem for the United States of Africa, a concept that signifies the unification and reinvention of Africa and Africans from all parts of the Diaspora. Like James Brown’s “Say it Loud” many years before, “We Are Africans” combines the sentiment of pride, unity, and positivity, while being controversial to some.

We Are Africans has spawned over 6 remixes from We African [Sierra Leone Remix], [Zimbabwe Remix], [Naija Street Remix], and more to come as other countries want to leave their mark on a track that unites the continent.

JJC has currently released a new album, AFRICAN DREAM 2011, in the UK.

JJC, aka Mr. Skillz, signs artists and is currently working with a range of artists, Noni, Lil Miss, Tipsy, 2Kriss, AbFresh, TeeBo.

JJC also runs BigBoyz, a production and entertainment company that also makes music videos, and they have produced some of the top Nigerian videos to be seen on your TV screen today. JJC and BigBoyz are currently working on releasing a BigBoyz ALL STAR album, coming out summer 2012.

JJC embodies the true word of an ‘INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN’ who continues to help spread the "We are African and Proud" theme home and across the oceans.

CURRENT SINGLE - "AFRICAN SKANK"

Top Performances include:

1. AfroBeat Festival (Hammersmith Apollo) UK 2011 including WizKid, P-square, BigBoyz Allstars
2. African Music Awards 2010 UK (AMA)
3. MTV Base Africa’s televised launch in Abuja
4. Nigeria 50th at Trafalgar Square 2010
5. WOMAD 2003 & 2004 festivals
6. Ay Show 02 Arena UK 2010
7. Felabration 2011 (Lagos, Nigeria)
8. Nigerian Music Video Awards 2011 (NMVA)

Awards and Nomination:

Nominated for BEFFTA AWARDS 2011 (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts). Won (NMVA) Nigerian Music Video awards in 2010 for "We are Africans."

KORA All Africa Music Awards in 2004.

· Nominated for African Music Awards 2010 (AMA).

JJC also picked up Best Male UK-African Act at the BEFFTA.

JJC TO FEATURE IN AFRICAN ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS - (MALAYSIA 2011)

Best Music Video Director – Global News Awards 2012

JJC - Social Media Space:

Facebook page - www.facebook.com/jjcofficial
Twitter - @jjcskillz
YouTube - www.youtube.com/JJCofficial

For More Information Contact Manager:

Steve Osagie – 07956-969-824 UK - BB pin- 297592 (NIG) 08155512877
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