BET Africa has officially unveiled its latest magazine program, ‘OFF THE TOP’, which will be hosted by the well-known media figure VJ Adams.

The show is scheduled to debut on Thursday, September 5, 2024, airing on BET Africa's DStv and GOtv Channel at 21:00 WAT/22:00 CAT.

It will showcase prominent personalities from the realms of music, film, comedy, and content creation, featuring talents such as Falz, Simi, Osas Ighodaro, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Bovi, and Magixx, among others.

In a conversation with Taiwo Okanlawon, VJ Adams shares how this star-studded platform allows these celebrities to reflect on their remarkable journeys and offer insights from their careers in an engaging, open, and unscripted format.

Can you shed some light on BET Africa’s new show, OFF THE TOP? What’s the premise?

Okay, so the new show is called “OFF THE TOP”. The reason that is, is very clear. From the title, it explains being able to speak from the heart or just speak directly from your mind. And that’s why the show is like that. So it’s a show where I’m interviewing public figures without teleprompters, cue cards, or none of that stuff. And that’s the real reason I created the show, because I thought it was important that public figures could come into a room and have a conversation, but in the most relaxed way, where they are actually having a great time. When you watch the show, you would hear them a number of times when the interview is wrapping up, and they’re saying, oh my God, I really enjoyed this. Oh, I didn’t want this to end, and that kind of stuff, which explains why I created the show.

So, “OFF THE TOP” is a one-on-one interview show with public figures. The public figures range from actors to artistes, people who can double with multiple things, like Falz, Osas who is a host and a model, and also a dancer plus an actor, or Jimmy Jean-Louis, who is a model as well, and a top Hollywood actor. The cast is amazing, and it’s just exciting to see this come alive.

Given the nature of OFF THE TOP, how crucial was it for you to create a space where guests felt comfortable expressing their true selves?

It was important I did this because, I mean, I’m privileged and just blessed to have been able to serve in the media and just entertainment generally in the last 16 years. I naturally would see talents when they walk into a room and they’re seeing like a laptop or prompter or cue cards, they kind of a little more uptight, and I didn’t want that. I wanted to be able to have friendly conversations. But also, I’m able to do this on this level because I know these people in real life. So when you’re watching from a viewer’s perspective, it’s almost like you’re seeing two friends hang out. And even for a Jimmy John Louie, for example, that I was meeting for the first time, the Hollywood actor, that wouldn’t even reflect when you watch the show if I didn’t even tell you that I was literally meeting him 30 seconds before we called roll tape action.

So from a viewer perspective, we wanted people to watch something that would excite them for 30 minutes and we want 30 minutes to move so quickly you’ll look forward to seeing it again.

OFF THE TOP promises a mix of emotions and surprises. Can you share any standout moments or unexpected turns that viewers should look forward to?

Oh, there are standout moments every step of the way. As a matter of fact, per episode, you’ll find multiple standout moments, and I think that’s part of what is exciting about the show. You know, the type of questions that are being asked are questions that you probably would have never heard any other broadcaster or any other presenter or host ask the guests, and in the way it’s being asked as well. You know, when you watch the Kcee’s episode. I mean, it’s all there when you watch it.

I mean, but I can just tell you for free, this is the most relaxed show you would find, all of these heavyweights in a room. I’m not even just saying this, they said this themselves on tape, on camera, but fingers crossed, September 5, the first episode debuts. I crave your indulgence not to miss it.

What can viewers expect from the premiere episode of OFF THE TOP, and why should they tune in?

The first episode features Falz The Bad Guy, and for multiple reasons and over the years you’ve seen Falz The Bad Guy made remarkable strides in being a lawyer, being an actor, making skits, being an a-list artiste, plus Falz The Bad Guy is a BET winner by the way.

So there’s a lot to speak about and a lot to catch up on and you’re going to see Falz The Bad Guy in the roller coaster ride of emotions, one minute he’s in his comedy funny expressive-self and the next minute we’re talking about something very serious and you’re seeing him zoning in and articulating himself in the best way possible. So it’s a roller coaster ride of emotions. It’s Falz The Bad Guy, he is known for his witty and exciting personality, you’re going to see all of that reflect on the show, and just by virtue of him being a stand-up guy in terms of he’s he’s also someone who prides himself in excellence, there’s a lot of inspiration to be drawn for the viewers and after watching this episode, went next you see Falz The Bad Guy, you would feel like you genuinely know him.

What’s in store for the rest of the season, and why should viewers keep watching?

I mean, the casting is packed. I remember when I put out the teaser just before we announced the show premiere in itself. It was, everyone was just going, incredibly anticipating the show, because there’s Niniola right there who’s celebrating 10 years since she debut with ‘Single The Baddie, now she is dropping an album, literally few weeks who’s on the show as well. There is Simi who living multiple lives excellently well as an artiste as a mother and as a wife as well as a friend to her partner.

So there is a lot of talking point right there , you know there’s a young acts like Bayanni and Magixx who are source of expression to young people across the continent, who are pursuing the Afrobeats dream. There’s a Jimmy Jean-Louis who is a Hollywood superstar who has a clear perspectives on a lot of things and just how he would rather live his life as well.

I think the casting is incredible, the personalities are fantastics, the show production is spectacular, all that is left is just to set your reminder from the September 5th on BET. You don’t want to miss it every Thursday and even on the repeat broadcast as well.