Entertainment/Arts/Culture
XL Creative Hub Launches Nigeria’s First Afrobeats Reality Show” Battle Of The Beats”
XL Creative Hub has unveiled Battle of the Beats Season 1, the nation’s first-ever Afrobeats production reality show.
According to a statement by the Hub’s Business Manager, Clement Makinde, the 12-day musical contest will run from November 1 to 12, 2025, with live streaming on YouTube.
Makinde said the show would bring together six top Afrobeats producers in an intense creative showdown, all under the watchful eyes of seasoned industry professionals.
“Watch six carefully selected producers locked in an intense camp, creating beats under pressure while professional judges evaluate every production,” the organizers stated.
He added that registration for the competition is free, stressing that “we are not collecting a dime from any participant.”
The show opens on November 1, with an elimination night on November 8, and the grand finale on November 12, where the top three producers will vie for the crown.
Prizes for producers include ₦500,000 for the winner, ₦300,000 for second place, and ₦200,000 for third place.
After the producers’ contest, artists across Nigeria will be invited to record songs using the winning beats and compete for major rewards between November 12 and 24, 2025.
Participation steps include downloading the winning beat, recording a song, creating a video, and submitting entries via Instagram and the official website.
Artist prizes are even bigger — ₦1 million and a label contract for the winner, ₦500,000 for the second, and ₦300,000 for the third place.
Public voting and professional judging will determine the winners, with voting scheduled for November 12 to 25, 2025.
Makinde explained that the initiative aims to bridge the gap between grassroots creativity and professional opportunity by providing access to world-class production facilities regardless of financial status or location.
He said, “Battle of the Beats seeks to discover raw talent, document Afrobeats’ evolution, inject funds directly into the creative economy, and build a transparent annual platform that launches real careers.
“We urged music lovers to follow @battleofthebeatsshow on Instagram and tune in for the show’s premiere on November 1, 2025.
“This is your moment don’t miss a beat,” Makinde declared.
In the short term, the competition aims to launch at least three professional careers, deliver measurable economic impact, and build a 50,000-member YouTube community. Its long-term vision targets Pan-African expansion, prize pools worth ₦25 to ₦30 million, and recognition alongside major music awards.
The organisers said the project directly tackles issues of industry gatekeeping, producer undervaluation, and limited exposure by creating a transparent, inclusive, and sustainable creative platform.
The judges include Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Onusiriuka professionally known as Mr. Mekoyo, Tunde Akinsanmi of Styl plus and Manasseh Mashi popularly known as Monlee Mane.
Mekoyo is a versatile Nigerian musician, music producer, songwriter, and multi-talented instrumentalist. He gained national recognition as the producer of Styl-Plus’s highly acclaimed hit single “Olufunmi,” a timeless classic that remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated love songs. Over the years, Mekoyo’s name has appeared on numerous album credits as a producer, composer, and songwriter, solidifying his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most respected creative minds.
Manasseh is a music producer and an artiste.
Nigerian fashion designer Veekee James, has spoken up on some of the experiences that shaped her childhood, revealing that she began hustling at a very young age.
The entrepreneur, while speaking in an interview, disclosed that she lost her father before she was five and at a point when her mother was pregnant with her youngest sibling.
While recalling her childhood, Veekee stated that her family was forced to rely on the support of relatives.She also noted that the death of her father made her learn to fend for herself at a very young age.
“Growing up, I had to hustle a lot.
My dad died before I was five. In fact, my mum was still pregnant with our last born when my dad died. So, you know, from five years old with no dad. Thank God for my dad’s brothers because they helped us, you know, at least through school. They tried their best. I have been like a hustler since primary school. E no get wetin I dey tell you I no do. I’m not sure if we can get any handwork for this world… well, some sha, like all those carpenter works and the rest. In fact, I even followed that one because there was a time I used to make kolo for saving money,” she said.Veekee explained that while in primary school, she learnt to render beauty services to her classmates in order to make some money to support herself and her family. She added that despite their difficult circumstances, she refused to be limited by her background.
She added, “I used to make knitted outfits like caps and blouses. I was good in Ajegunle. From there, I started to sell things, started to do hair. I was making hair like all my classmates in primary school every weekend after school. Even as I dey make hair, I still dey knit. I still dey sew clothes for people.”
Media personality and actress, Toke Makinwa, has claimed that it is not ideal for women to get married in their 20s.
According to her, most women are still discovering themselves in their 20s and don’t even know how to make better decisions yet.
Speaking in a recent episode of her podcast Toke Moment with guest, reality star Tacha, Makinwa claimed that most of the women who got married in their 20s end up regretting it.
“Women have no business getting married in their 20s… You don’t even know yourself yet. Those who did are regretting it now. Even those who are still married, if they are being honest, they will tell you that they shouldn’t have rushed it,” she said.
Her guest on the show Tacha added, “My mum says marriage is like an institution. Those inside want to get out, those outside can’t wait to get in.”
American rapper Cardi B has reacted to growing speculation surrounding her friendship with Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, following recent public appearances that sparked dating rumours.
The Grammy-winning artiste, who was recently spotted having dinner with Okoye and a group of friends at Gio’s Restaurant inside the St.
Regis Hotel in Venice, expressed frustration over what she described as constant public scrutiny of her personal life.Speaking in a video circulating online, Cardi B said she believes her activities attract disproportionate attention compared to those of other celebrities.
According to her, ordinary aspects of her life often become subjects of public debate, while similar situations involving other public figures receive little attention.
“No cap, I’m really hip hop’s Britney Spears. I got all the tea on these celebrities. I know who’s with who and what’s doing what. But guess what? Nobody reports about it because nobody cares.
“But when it comes to me, I can’t even do anything without people talking about it. This is crazy. You’ve got to take the good with the bad. It is what it is. People pay for this type of talk,” she said.
Cardi B’s comments come amid increasing speculation about the nature of her relationship with Okoye after the pair were seen together on multiple occasions, including during Paris Fashion Week and a recent outing in Venice.
Neither Cardi B nor Okoye has publicly confirmed any romantic relationship, despite the growing buzz on social media.
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