Pull-Out
23 | THE VOICE JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012
BAD BOY
P Diddy sued by intern
HITS OUT
Stacey Dash blasts Oprah
Dumi Oburota Managing his Tempah
24 ! THE VOICE AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
SUMMER LOVIN’…
As the weather cools down, we look at celebrity romances heating up 1
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KELLY ROWLAND AND PUSHA T The former Destiny ’s Child star revealed her relationship with the Clipse rapper, posting a picture on Instagram with the caption, “I love you baby ”
NELLY AND TAE HECKARD The pair began dating earlier this year amid claims that he cheated on singer Ashanti with model and actress, Tae
FUTURE AND CIARA Wedding bells are reportedly in the air for the Body Party singer and her rapping beau after Future recently revealed plans to marry Ci-Ci
FUNNY TUMMY AND LETITIA HECTOR The UK artist and theVenus vs Mars actress went public with their relationship last month, posting an intimate picture on Instagram
NAYA RIVERA AND BIG SEAN The rapper and Glee actress have become red carpet favourites since going public their romance
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CHANEL IMAN AND A$AP ROCKY A$AP Rocky recently slipped up and confirmed his relationship with model Chanel Iman during an interview, but the pair still tend to keep things low key
FRENCH MONTANA AND TRINA The Pop That rapper has been linked to fellow musician Trina after being spotted cozying up with her on several occasions. Trina denies it
CALVIN HARRIS AND RITA ORA She might not like his music, but there ’s obviously plenty other things that singer Rita loves about her man, DJ Calvin Harris
KARRUECHE TRAN AND CHRIS BROWN They ’re on and then they ’re off again, but things seem pretty serious between the Fine China singer and his model girlfriend this time around
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K MICHELLE AND CHAD OCHOCINCO During an interview, the singer spoke on her relationship with the shamed basketball star, saying, “We have not slept together... feel like now I have to pace it ”
RAY J AND TEAIRRA MARI When asked about his relationship with the former Roc-A-Fella singer, Ray J said: "I love her. I've been knowing her for so long"
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EVA MARCILLE AND KEVIN MCCALL Chris Brown's protégé Kevin McCall says the America's Next Top Model winner is his "special lady"
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PAIGION & SHORTY DA PRINCE The new hosts of BET's 106 & Park have more than their new jobs to be happy about after confirming their relationship on Instagram
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Justina Kehinde Ogunseitan RYAN PRESS AND BRANDY The Right Here singer announced her engagement to her music executive beau in December. The couple kept their relationship under wraps before then
TIGER WOODS AND LINDSEY VONN The American ski racer began dating the shamed golfer earlier this year. Vonn said the pair “immediately clicked ”
HISTORY WAS made in Cambridge this year when the first all-black and all-female cast graced the stage for the production of Ntozake Shange’s For Coloured Girls. Justina, who produced, directed and acted in the production, was unperturbed when the main student theatre refused to host her show, but fought to ensure that the
message of the play went ahead. “I fell in love with the play during my A-levels and was desperate to see a piece of theatre that reflected me.” Last year, Justina won the University Category of the Benjamin Zephaniah Poetry Competition for a poem submitted on the topic of female genital mutilation.
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SERGE IBAKA AND KERI HILSON Singer Keri has been quiet on the music front recently, but she ’s been keeping busy with her reported flame, NBA player Serge Ibaka
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MARCO PEREGO AND ZOE SALDANA The couple went public in February. Artist Marco, a former football player, makes a change from Zoe ’s penchant for actors
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AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 THE VOICE ! 25
PIC CREDIT: Daniel Muhindi
Dumi Oburota, manager of UK rapper Tinie Tempah, talks to YV’s Janelle Oswald about building his empire, the importance of dreaming big and shares his tips for the top
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F YOU search the name Dumi Oburota on Google, very little information pops up about the dynamic east Londoner, who was recently recognised on Powerful Media’s list of most influential people under 40. An undeniable power house within the music game - and the driving force behind multiaward-winning UK rapper Patrick Okogwu, more commonly known as Tinie Tempah - Oburota has a fast-growing international rep. Spunky and most defiantly funky, Oburota, the managing director of independent label Disturbing London, where he manages and nurtures several artists on the rise, is also rapidly becoming a well-known fashionista, frequently snapped perched front row at major international fashion weeks.
And drawing on his organic love of fashion, he has expanded his empire to include his Disturbing London fashion collection, which is exclusively sold in Selfridges. Reflecting on his colourful journey, the British Nigerian said: “I have multiple roles and I like to be a part of all the decision making because Disturbing London is my entrepreneur baby, my dream and I want it to become my legacy.� He went onto explain that the business, which he set up with his cousin Tinie primarily as an official outlet for the rapper’s music, aims to represent everything good about young London. “Our business is very much a lifestyle brand,� he said. “Not only is it music and management it’s very much everything that we represent and everything that we love and what
London represents. A very big part of London is fashion and the way people look; from the trendy kids in Shoreditch to the more aristocratic, classier people in Chelsea. Fashion is quite a big thing and after T started to get acclaim for the way he looked and the way he presented himself, I realised it was a great addition to the brand.� It was also his love of the capital and his Nigerian heritage, which inspired the company’s name. “We are London bred through and through fused with our Nigerian culture and tradition, but we are still very much Londoners and we wanted to celebrate our dual heritage.� He added: “London is an amazing place and melting pot full of inspiration, which has motivated me to make Disturbing London able to
compete with our American counterparts. I’m very much inspired by the whole American urban industry and blackowned businesses, which are all flourishing because they are extremely professional. I wanted to apply those business ethics and ethos to our business.â€? Talking about the origin of his own business principles, he said: “I have always applied myself in a professional manner and strongly believe in quality control, ensuring everything we produce comes from a high standard. Just because you are brought up in a council estate or from the streets, you don’t have to talk or dress in a certain way - you can still be a successful business person. I want people to read my forename and surname and realise you don’t have to have an English name to be successful, or have to be white to move forward in life.â€? Oburota, who diligently saved and faithfully invested ÂŁ10,000 to back his business dream and Tinie’s music career, hopes that his journey to the top will inspire every young black person to believe that they can achieve whatever they put their minds to. “I strongly believe you get out what you put in,â€? he said. “If you want to make something happen in life, you can’t wait for someone or something to come along and fulfil your dreams. I took control of our goals and began to plant our seeds wisely,â€? he added.
“I believed in Tinie so much because I knew how passionate and how amazingly talented he was and is. A lot of our critics thought we were overly ambitious, but we weren’t, we just believed in ourselves and pushed ourselves forward the best way we could. I saw that there was a gap in the British market for an equivalent of a UK Jay Z or Kanye West and we stepped up to the game.� Disclosing the secret to his success, he went on: “My belief system is driven by my ambition. My dad always advocates that what you sow in life, is what you reap and you reap more than what you sow, especially if you are passionate. Whatever you are going to do, aim as high as you can. I feel
that for us in regards to Disturbing London, the sky was and still is the limit!� When asked what advice he would give to others wanting to follow in his footsteps, he answered: “Just keep your vision completely clear and really believe. Sometimes you have to be really insanely optimistic to a level where people won’t even believe what you can see, but if you see it and believe in your vision, let the world, your industry or the people around you see it as well. When they see it, that’s what helps you to move forward and grow. Make every day your mission to make people see what you can visualise.� For more information, visit: www.disturbinglondon.com or follow @DisturbingLDN on Twitter
KHALI BEST:
JAY Z:
The rap mogul is set to follow in footsteps of wife BeyoncĂŠ by starring in a documentary about his life
The Eastenders actor recently revealed that starring in the popular BBC soap has changed his life for the better
BUFF OR BUSTED? Dear Kat
I started seeing this guy six months ago and everything was going well until his ex came back on the scene. They were together for two years before I started seeing him and things between them were pretty serious, until she announced that she was going to live in LA and they broke up. She returned from her travels a month ago and since then, my boyfriend has become distant and not as loving as he once was. When I told him I had noticed a change in his behavior, he laughed and told me to stop overacting and said they’re just friends. I don’t know if it’s my jealousy speaking, but is it healthy for ex partners to be ‘friends’ who text and see each other non-stop?
P DIDDY:
Hi Anon,
This is a sticky one. But no, it’s not healthy for ex partners (who seemingly still care for each other) to be texting and seeing each other all the time. They didn’t break up because anyone cheated or because they argued, they broke up because of distance, so there’s a big chance that there’s some residual feelings still lurking. And an even bigger possibility that these feelings could resurface based on the amount of time they’re spending together. You have every right to be concerned. You say he laughed off your concerns when you confronted him about the new addition in his life, so my advice to you would be to flip it on him. How would he feel if you suddenly started hanging out with your ex again? If he says he doesn’t mind, I think that tells you all you need to know. Have a serious conversation with him. Don’t pull that ‘it’s her or me line’, that’s emotional blackmail. Let him make the decision. I hope it’s the right one for you.
STACEY DASH:
The music mogul’’s Bad Boy record label is being sued by a former intern over unpaid wages.
BUFF
BUFF KENDRICK LAMAR: Simply done
LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK: Smoking hot!
The actress slammed Oprah for comparing Trayvon Martin’’s death to Emmett Till, killed for reportedly flirting with a white woman in 1955
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Craig David
““Ready to get it in with @marshallmusic today in the #HITRoom studio! Time 2 get this new album finished 4 all of U! #CraigDavidNewAlbum2014”�
NAYA RIVERA
26 ! THE VOICE AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
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