Afro pop, hiplife and hiphop artiste Shiraz Abdul Majeed best known by stage name as 'Shaker Bilz' now changed his name to 'Mista Bilz'. He has therefore urged all his fans to address him by his new stage name.

Known for his hit song, 'Sherrynina', Mista Bilz has also droped two new tunes and both fearures some of the best artist in the industry. "Benedicta" featured BBNZ Live artist, Lil Shaker and "She Wants" which also featured Luther and I bet you will love the tunes.

Mista Bilz released his second song, 'Bcos Of You' which featured 'Prada' last year and later released the visuals which was shot by Pascal Aka’s Breakthrough Studios.

The video has crisp shots; costuming is on point for the most part and the sequence of events is varied such that they keep the eye busy while the twin models used were lively and lovely.

Prada Bazino very much at ease delivers well while the silhouette scenes and yellow background go on to delight the viewer.

Based on a concept of two friends almost engaging in a fight over a pretty damsel, the day is saved when the other half of the twin shows up to allay fears and nip any violent act in the bud.

For those wondering who Mista Billz is, he is an afro pop, hiplife and hiphop artiste who has some 5 years of experience in the music industry having begun his musical journey at the University for Development Studies in 2010.

According to Mista Bilz, it was his producer friend cum mate in school who urged him on to rap by offering him varied beats to flow on since he had a studio.

Despite not being enthused in the beginning, Mista Bilz disclosed having been offered a sweet beat one fine day; he went home, wrote lyrics and recorded a tune with a friend. The University community embraced and showed love for his first tune ‘Let’s do the Dance.’

“Turned on by the support, I recoded ‘Abaa’ and offered another tune with Zugu while still in school. I also did ‘Pressure’ with Joey B at Mingle Studio, Abossey Okai” Mista Bilz stated.

But it would be ‘Sherrynina’ which made Shaker Bilz to taste fame outside of the university community as this was mainstream hit in Tamale. “When Okyeame Kwame heard it he told me he loved it as did Agbo Ayei Hughes of TV Africa” the lanky artiste recalled with a smile.

Sherrynina was a love song; the beat was on point as was the message which resonated with the people.

Featuring Article Wan, the song talks about desire for a lady and according to Bilz:“My fan base grew with this song; I got massive exposure with interviews on 4Syte TV, TV Africa, GH One, Fiesta TV and e TV.”

Shaker Bilz next major hit was with ‘Bcos of U’, another love tune which featured Ghana based Nigerian Prada Bazino for which the video is out now.

According to Shaker Bilz his dream to become a household name in the country and beyond, win awards, use music to touch lives and also make money through his music as this is his main focus now.

Managing his career through his own Bilz Music Empire initiative, Mista Bilz says he is open to offers from investors with cash and the right networks to elevate his music.

On why after his university education, he seeks to do music full time, the bachelor explained “I am using the knowledge acquired in school to direct my music affairs.”

The Tamale Kukuo bred entertainer who is now based in La, Accra mentioned Asem, Sarkodie, Samini and Stonebwoy as artistes whose work he admires adding that he shall love to collaborate with them as well as Patoranking, Mzvee, EL, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal and P-Square.

Mista Bilz has more songs to be released this year, together with some major projects which are all in the works so you all should watch out for him.

You can reach Mista Bilz on any of these social media platforms: twitter:@shakerbilz facebook: shaker bilz Instagram: shaker bilz

06:28

Dear ED,

I heard you are in Ghana! Yeah. Please which hotel are you? I've combed the length and breadth of this country but to no avail. Hmm..I heard you came with Fuse ODG and a couple of friends hanging out and doing some chilling bi.

Oh! I'm shocked you didn't look for me cos I'm your biggest fan here in capital G. I am on your YouTube Channel, I follow you on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and whatchamacallit. I'm basically addicted to your music.

Anyways, I heard you're really having fun with Fuse ODG and other friends as depicted in the picture above. I'm really happy for you ED. I do hope you get a Ghanaian babe to Think out loud with. Ghana is an exciting place to be and you couldn't have been at a better country. I heard you love waakye and Omotuo. Well, that's my favorite too.

PS. I hope you can swim though, cos God has blessed us with lots of natural rain filled "swimming pools". LOL

Enjoy your stay,

Your Biggest fan in Capital G.

16:34

Assalamu Alaykum Dear Readers,

Ramadan is a blessed month that increases a Muslim’s spiritual awareness, fortifies the worshiper’s connection with Allah, reminds us of our duties towards the needy in the community, but also reminds us of our own need for an increase in faith, asking God for mercy and forgiveness.

The most obvious cornerstones of fasting that the Muslim follows during Ramadan are abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from sunrise to sunset.

However, there is far more than that to attain true fasting; the fasting that will indeed fulfill the goals of elevating us to higher levels of spirituality, compassion to others, patience, and piety.

The dos of fasting are the recommended acts, the practices that our role model, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was keen on doing during Ramadan.

Rushing to breaking the fast as soon as one is certain that sunset has commenced is recommended. When the call for Maghreb prayer is heard, break your fast on water, a few dates, or fruit juice, before praying Maghreb. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

“People will always be in a good state [or be at ease], as long as they haste to do Iftar [breaking fast when it is time for Maghreb].

At the time when you break your fast on that first sweet date, remember to make a supplication, to ask Allah for what you desire: Paradise, forgiveness, pardon, health, and wealth. In the authentic Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

“There are three whose dua [supplication] is never rejected: the fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the one who is oppressed.” (Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi)

Muslims are encouraged to eat the Sahoor or pre-dawn meal. The later in the night the better. Sahoor can be a light snack, such as a glass of milk and a few dates, a banana, or a cheese sandwich. Do eat Sahoor every night because this small meal gives the body important nourishment which will help one endure the long fast without experiencing physical weakness. The Prophet (peace be upon him)

said, “Have Sahoor for verily there is blessing in it.”

In Ramadan, choose the best deeds, the recommended acts that you may have neglected throughout the year, and spread goodness. You can gain rewards by spending more time with your parents, visiting relatives, helping anyone in need whether it is through charity or by helping take care of problems he/she may be facing. The fasting person is like a fragrant rose; his pleasantness is sensed by and extended to those around him.

Feeding others when it is time to break the fast, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

“He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, will receive the same reward for fasting, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting person’s reward.” (Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi)

Since the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Ramadan, now is the perfect time to read it, understand its meanings, and memorize its verses. The Holy Qur’an is a mercy, guide, blessing, and gift from the Creator to mankind.

The companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Ibn Abbas, said,

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous during the month of Ramadan because Angel Jibril used to meet him every night in the month of Ramadan until it ended. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to review the Qur’an with Jibril; and he was more generous with good than the blowing wind.”

In addition to not eating, drinking, smoking, and having sexual relations, there are other practices, which we should not be doing during this blessed month.

Avoid blood cupping, blood withdrawal, and using ear drops or inhalers while fasting.

Some scholars are of the opinion that, ideally, you should use siwak or a toothbrush and water for cleaning teeth, rather than toothpaste.

Do not listen to music because your heart should be occupied with supplication, remembrance of Allah, and the Holy Qur’an, not with songs.

Do not waste your time. The days and nights of Ramadan are too precious to be wasted away watching TV, going on shopping sprees, oversleeping, and cooking extravagant feasts.

Do not engage in idle talk, gossip, lying, quarreling, cursing, or any form of speech that is unnecessary and has no benefit, especially if it is hurtful to someone else. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

“Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said,

“The true fast is not to merely abstain from food and drink, rather true fast is to abstain from futile activities and obscene talk.”

Stressing the importance of a refined and gracious code of conduct, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

“When one of you is fasting, make sure not to use obscene language and not to be foolish and irresponsible in your speech. And if someone provokes you, have control over yourself and say, ‘I am fasting’.”

This Ramadan, make it a true fast, a fast from all that will interfere with your spiritual growth. May Allah bless us abundantly in this holy month!

Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi ta'alaa wa barakatuhu.

08:08

Assalamu Alaykum Dear Readers, Today I share with you a wonderful article on healthy leaving in Ramadan. Enjoy!

Each year, many Muslims aim to use the month of Ramadan for a variety of self-reforming habits, including spiritual, mental, and physical changes. Fasting clearly places an emphasis on spiritual reform by gaining mastery over natural appetites. But some people also see it as an opportunity to stop smoking, overeating, and starting exercise regimes.

When fasting in summer, the stresses on the body are more extreme. There is less time for eating, praying, and sleeping in the night hours, and completing required tasks during the day can be more difficult due to heat and extended hours without sustenance. Unfortunately, many Muslims abuse their bodies in the month of Ramadan by eating unhealthy foods and overeating and/or by abandoning all exercise due to fasting and time constraints. In addition to getting less sleep, this leads to weight gain, muscle loss, illness, and lack of energy.

Nevertheless, with careful planning, it is possible to start, maintain, or improve eating and workout habits during the month of Ramadan. A plan should incorporate both exercise and nutrition. First of all, one needs to have a proper frame of mind that food is for energy first, and we should choose what we eat to provide our body with what it needs for energy. There are definitely social and pleasure aspects to eating that we also need to accommodate, but these should not be allowed to override all consideration of healthy eating. Exercise in the month of Ramadan should include strength training to help minimize muscle loss due to fasting. This applies to men and women of all ages, as strength training helps maintain or improve bone density, increases metabolism, improves body shape and posture, and may reduce depression symptoms. Aerobic or cardio exercise is necessary for health of the circulatory system and burning excess calories.

One good method for planning your eating and fitness regime for the upcoming month of Ramadan is to use or adapt an existing program. One program designed particularly for use in the month of Ramadan, although it can also be used at any time, is Fit4Ramadan (http://www.fit4ramadan.com). This program is detailed in an 80 page manual (a pdf e-book download available for purchase at a reasonable price) that provides everything from a strength training workout plan, complete with pictures, that does not require a lot of special gym equipment, to a detailed daily meal plan and even a grocery shopping list. This list will not include samosas, but there is information on how to allow a limited amount of the special and rather unhealthy foods you may desire during the month. It provides quality information on what is healthy to eat and what a good meal for Suhoor and Iftar ought to consist of. If you are already a fitness guru, you will not find a lot of new information in the Fit4Ramadan program, but it does provide a logical, doable program for a variety of fitness levels. If you want a ready-to-go program so that you do not have to reinvent the wheel, then this is a sound option.

A very much less-detailed but similar plan was written by Rehan Jalali, C.S.N.

"There are a few minor differences of opinion between the two programs on matters such as caffeine and timing of workouts, but the general nutrition and exercise advice are quite alike. Both recommend consuming a daily multivitamin especially during the month of Ramadan, and both recommend that workouts take place before Suhoor or after Iftar, and not during the fasting day. Cardio exercise may be best done before Suhoor, while strength training may be good either before Suhoor or after Iftar. Both suggest nutrition shakes as a reasonable option for Suhoor.

Neither discuss enough around getting proper sleep. Sleep deprivation is likely in the month of Ramadan, but it is still necessary to try to make allotments of time for sleep in order to maintain health, avoid weight gain, and maintain ability to perform required daily tasks while fasting. In the month of Ramadan, this may best be accomplished through a nap before Maghrib whenever possible. Doing most meal preparation one day a week on a weekend day, simplifying meals, and limiting unnecessary extra work and tasks for this month may help make this possible.

A third option is to adapt your existing fitness regime or, if just starting, to adapt one that may not be specifically for the month of Ramadan. If you are an avid exerciser, particularly if you are a cardio-fanatic, you may want to scale back the intensity of workouts and focus on maintenance while fasting. But it is not necessary or healthy to avoid exercise during the month – the regular guidelines in terms of time for exercise still apply (such as the oft-recited 30 minutes a day for all adults). One example of an easy-to-adapt realistic program is the 10-Minute Total Body Breakthrough by Sean Foy. It is an extremely reasonable, adaptable, well-researched program that can easily be incorporated into your routine during the month of Ramadan. It discusses nutrition, but its focus is on a variety of simple, adaptable workouts that provide strength training and cardio benefits in a short amount of time. These workouts could easily be accomplished prior to Fajr prayer without having to drastically reduce sleep time. One could also adopt a walking routine with a bit of strength training on alternate days, or adapt an exercise video or book one already has or that is readily available on the Internet. One of the best Internet resources for fitness is Sparkpeople. It is an excellent free community resource where you can find workouts, nutrition information, moral support, and track your food and fitness. A well-researched, non-fad, quality nutrition program like Weight Watchers can also be started or maintained during the month of Ramadan to help you make proper eating choices and avoid weight gain."

Some people see the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, but starting a whole new program during a summer fast can be intimidating and unrealistic. It is a common saying that it takes 40 days for a new habit to be created or a bad one to be destroyed, and the month of Ramadan, which already requires change, may be a good beginning for many. Even if you are not interesting in making big changes in the month of Ramadan, everyone should want to avoid abusing their body in this month and gaining weight, and some will want to make fitness and nutrition gains. These goals can only be accomplished through planning. The above options provide tools for that planning so that you can have your healthiest month of Ramadan yet, which should also make it easier for you to achieve your spiritual goals during this blessed month.

May Allah make it easier for all of us! Assalamu Alaykum

07:29

The "Champion boy" hitmaker emerged as the Overall Artiste of the year at the maiden edition of Northern Entertainment Awards 2016 in Tamale on June 4th. 

The awards organized by Smile Multimedia  to reward personalities in the creative acts industry saw the conglomeration of participants from every facet of the creative industry in the three Northern Regions. 

The event was climaxed with Fancy Gadam beating his "rival" Macasio to claim the award for Overall Artiste of the Year.

Check out the full list of winners below.

.
ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
FANCY GADAM

NEW ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
NANDOZ

MOST POPULAR SONG OF THE YEAR
CONCRETE BY FANCY GADAM

BEST RAPPER
MACCASIO

DANCEHALL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
NACHIMBA

BEST GROUP
TRINITY

BEST COLLOBORATION
CHOGGU BOYS

HIPLIFE/HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
MACCASIO

HIP HOP SONG/ARTISTE
ATAAKA

BEST VIDEO
CONCRETE

BEST ALBUM
DEENSI

BEST FEMALE VOCALIST
DIVA 1

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
KAWASTONE

03:09