Morgan Heritage gives up East Fest

Announcing recently that they will no longer be a part of the management team of the annual East Fest, Morgan Heritage says bowing out of the family founded tradition comes after considering the strains it would make on their hectic touring schedule.

East Fest goes on nonetheless, without Morgan Heritage - as the family reportedly took the decision to turn the event over to new management. Making a return last December after its seventh staging, East Fest has become a successful cultural festival that is in line with the Morgan Family beliefs of togetherness and love.

It will be the first time since its inception that the group of Morgan siblings will be absent from the planning tables, however they say the group will be there in spirit. Giving up management of East Fest for even years to come, Morgan Heritage reportedly is holding fast to the hope that all former supporters of the St. Thomas based festival continue showing their support.

Source: Yard Flex

Family of Skin Bleachers

Despite being entirely illegal, skin lightening creams are big business in Jamaica - but who are the women - and men - who use them? And who sells them?



Source: Current

Flippa Mafia Awaits Movie Premiere Oct. 2

Deejay Flippa Mafia is eagerly awaiting the special screening of the film What Goes Around on October 2 in his hometown city of Philadelphia. The deejay has delivered a convincing, critically acclaimed performance in the film.
"I am looking forward to the premiere which will be held at The Bridge at 40th and Walnut in Philly, it's going to be incredible," Flippa Mafia said.
Flippa has been riding a wave of success in recent months as his Dem Yah and Dem Yah single has exploded on the dancehall scene and is now in the top five of the Stampede Street Vibes and the Jamaica Music Countdown charts. Flippa Mafia's followup single, Rolling Deep, has also hit the local charts.
Sunrason Films' What Goes Around takes to the road this October with special screenings in the Philadelphia, Charlotte, Atlanta, Toronto, and Baltimore areas. The relationship drama, heralded for its gutsy outlook on the dangers of unprotected sex, and the spread of HIV/AIDS, features a stellar cast of actors, media personalities, and prominent entertainment figures. The relationship drama is set against the backdrop of South Florida's vibrant entertainment scene and What Goes Around examines the intricacies of love, lust, romance, promiscuity, friendship, and family with the sharp and witty humor and bold frankness that is characteristic of Caribbean-Americans


You can catch the upcoming screenings in the following cities:

SEPT. 28 - CINEMA PARADISO - Ft. Lauderdale, FL 503 S.E 6 St
OCT. 2 - THE BRIDGE - Philadelphia, PA South 40th St & Walnut St.
OCT. 5 - ALLURE LOUNGE - CHARLOTTE, NC 1508 SOUTH MINT ST.
OCT. 10 - TBA - Atlanta, GA
OCT. 11 - YORKDALE SILVER CITY - Toronto, 3401 DUFFERIN ST.
OCT. 12 - TBA - Atlanta, GA-Direction:
OCT. 18 - The Hoff Theatre (Stamp Student Union)

Source: One 876 Ent and SunRASson Productions

Vegas Calls It Quits From Music

A disheartened Mr. Vegastold one876entertainment that he had decided to call it quits and take an extended sabbatical from the music industry to spend more "time with God and my kids".
The deejay, who sounded really despondent during the interview, said that his decision was not based on any one factor, or any fallout with his present management team, Irish and Chin.
"You know when you are in a place and you're are not happy with your environment, it is best to take a walk, the passion is just not there any more; i tis not coming from teh heart, the music is not what it was. Mi feel mi waan leave right now, just take a walk," he said.
"It no have anything to do with no man ah get to me, nobody caan get to me, God control all destinies...but mi tired fi a keep proving miself."
The singer who is known for the monster hits, Nike Air, Tek Weh Yuself and this year's Daggerin, said that he wanted to take time to get "close to kids and God'.
"God shows you signs and you use these signs as stepping stones," Vegas waxed poetically.
"I believe it is time for me to take a walk, I don't know how long. The other yutes dem can do dem ting. Mi have high expectations for yutes like Serani," he said.
Last year, Vegas was admitted to the hospital for pericarditis and gastroesophageal reflux. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium sac which encloses the heart and causes pressure on the heart muscle which results in pain. He has been receiving treatment for his medical problems.

Source: One 876 Ent

Beenie's Daughter is Pregnant at 16

One876entertainment has learned that Beenie Man’s 16 year-old daughter is pregnant. Rumours suggest that it is either for a popular deejay, or a young teenaged boy called 'Nick' who the young girl was dating a few months ago.
The air had been pregnant with whispers all of last week that the teen was 'with child', with some rumours suggesting that she was four months pregnant just a few weeks shy of her 17th birthday. Her mother reportedly lives in Canada.
This development means that the 35 year-old deejay is facing the possibility of being a grandfather for the first time. One876 was unable to get in touch with the ’Doctor’ to get a comment, however, other industry insiders confirmed that she was indeed pregnant.
"She is not here, she is in Florida. The rumors were getting out of hand, Beenie Man is going through a lot right now, my heart goes out to him at this time because of all his other troubles. It’s tough for this to happen, but I guess it is also another life coming into the world,” the person said.
Members of the management team of the deejay (who we will not name here for obvious reasons) denied that he was involved.
“That is a million times false, she too young for that to happen, ah style dem a try style the deejay; we and her are just friends,” the person was quoted as saying.
Teenage pregnancies are quite common in Jamaica. According to the United Nations Population Fund, contraceptive use among Jamaican teens is low. Data from Jamaica's National Family Planning Board shows 66 per cent of all births are not planned and among women under the age of twenty, 40 per cent have been pregnant at least once, and 85 per cent of these pregnancies are unplanned.
The figures for teenage pregnancy in Jamaica are startling; before the age of 20, some 20% of Jamaican women have been pregnant at least once; 48% of males 15-19 years of age do not use condoms with their regular sexual partner, while 41% do not use condoms with a non-regular partner.

Source: One 876 Ent.

Beenie's Grandchild is a Girl! ...

BEENIE’S DAUGHTER IS HAVING A GIRL
What is going on with these teenaged girls? It stink on the road say Rosie Daseca’s younger sister is also pregnant for a popular deejay. My word! Dutty Jen, mi no waan yu put yu goat mouth pon my pickney (or pitney as you like to write) but from she reach 10 mi ah stop go certain dance, mi no waan come in like Jen who she and her madda used to go the same dance and ah borrow each other bleaching cream and hair, whooiiii, mi body! Mi assets! Mi tight-o right-o! Weh dem feel like? Back to the argument, mi hear the Little Miss is really SIX months pregnant and she is (wait for it, wait for it…drum roll please) expecting a girl. It would be remiss of me not to point out teen pregnancies are a bit of a tragedy for too many of our young girls, and I don’t blame Beenie in any way, sometimes, these things do happen, what is important is how he handles the situation now. Beenie ah still mi artiste to the end like Chuck, but right now, it’s all about baby fever, Proper Ugu Toya is also preggers for the White Gadd, Gordine is pregnant for a big big name artiste, just wait, more baby news is on the way.

QUEEN PAULA TAKES ON SPICE

Mi see Paula pon HYPE TV last night inna her dark glasses and hoodie and she ah talk de tings dem bout Spice and she ah say ‘bounty say I are the one, but I say I is the one’. She deejay and get a forward fi her tune Gimme Dat. We love how Paula a gwaan, mi girlfriend say ah she and Spice tek the All Woman show. She go up de and say, ‘some gal favour werewolf weh a change and never finish because the sun ketch her' and the crowd pap up, and some girl ah ask, who she a talk? Paula continue: 'As a matter of fact, her colour nuh de inna the crayon box, yu haffi mix up the black wid the yellow. The crowd roared. Then she call up Spice name and talk up some bad man lyrics bout she ah go 'mek blood spray like when stone buss pipe' and all these things. She do her up bad. Spice work afterwards and never did ah call up back Paula name but some people rounda backstage start jeer and say 'if yu nuh call her name, yu flop' and she start in pon Paula and say 'when yu a step up inna life, and some dutty gal over de so nuh like it' and she point inna Paula direction and the crowd love it and start shout. It look like dem out fi clash at Sting this year, memba mi told yu.

Source: One 876 Ent.

Kartel's Divorce Now Official

Deejay Vybz Kartel a.k.a Addi the Teacha is now officially a single man, joining the ranks of eligible celebrity bachelors, as his divorce has been granted by the Supreme Court of Jamaica.
The decree absolute for the dissolution of marriage was granted on September 9, 2008. It was filed by attorney-at-law Seymour Stewart.

One876 obtained official documents which stated that the marriage be “dissolved on the ground that it had broken down irretrievably and no cause having been shown to the court why the said decree should be made absolute”. The divorce was granted by Judge McIntosh.

A decree nisi for dissolution of marriage had been granted in February this year. It came to the public attention in February that Kartel had decided to end his two year marriage to his wife Stacy Ann Alicia Elliott who resides in the United States.

In papers filed with the Jamaican Supreme Court, Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Azim Palmer, alleged that his 31-year-old bride had given birth to a son who was fathered by another man. He said he had never lived with his wife since the January 9, 2006 private wedding, pictures of which are posted on the Internet. Kartel also provided for the court a copy of the child's birth certificate. Kartel said also that his wife never visited him in Jamaica after the US revoked his visa to that country some time after the wedding.

The two met at a stage show in Brooklyn, New York and had been dating four years prior to tying the knot in a private ceremony before a marriage officer at the Registrar General Department branch on Trevennion Park Road in Cross Roads, Kingston.

Source: One 876 Ent.

Will Munga and Aidonia take a piece of the Christmas hype?

Dancehall artistes Munga also known as the Gangsta Ras and the lyrical genius Aidonia were two of the hottest artistes last year ripping up the airwaves and the dancehall circuits. However, in the first quarter of 2008 that hype slowly faded away.

One of the things that these two artistes have in common is that fans are anxiously waiting for them to make a monstrous come back. A lot of persons were anticipating that they would have been hot for the summer, but the summer hype went to the Energy god Elephant Man with his usual dancing antics with songs such as ‘Nuh Linga’, ‘Gully Creeper’ and ‘Sweep’. But what really placed the icing on the ‘summer hype cake’ for Elephant Man was when the world’s fastest man on earth Usain Bolt did the ‘Nuh Linga’ and ‘Gully Creeper’ after breaking his own world record at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing (China).

Even though both Munga and Aidonia were not at their uttermost best, they still had songs ripping up the dancehall. Munga with ‘Rise My Own’ and Adonia with ‘Want Fi F**k Yuh’. Personally, I think these two artistes will once again become hot commodities for this coming Christmas season as I have done a few rounds to various studios listening to tracks soon to be release by Munga and Aidonia. So far, Aidonia can be defined as the favourite of the two because most of Aidonia’s tracks that I heard are now out and creating a havoc in the dancehall. Songs such as ‘Bruise Up Di P*ssy Jaw’, and the overnight hit single ‘Daggering’ that quickly attached its self like glue to the ladies in its first week of rotation especially at RTI weekend, Negril. If Aidonia can continue on this same path or better, he will definitely be a contender for Sting 08.

We have seen Munga used ‘Wine Pon It’ to control almost an entire year, but the questions is will he be able to do it again - I am going to say yes, he can. Munga has several new songs waiting to be release that are definitely potential hit songs that can “run di flipping place and di baddest one I have heard suh far is di one pon Mr. G’s Brawling Riddim”. When I first heard di song, it reminds me of “di waan buss, must buss Munga Honorable,” who swiftly aware his fans that “Dem Guy Deh Nuh Bad Like I”.

Rememba mi told yuh that Munga and Aidonia aguh happen fi dis Christmas, Sting uhnu betta book dem from early out before dem price get high.

Source: Out A Road

Beenie's Baby Mamma Drama...

BEENIE’S BABYMOTHER STRIKES BACK
How Beenie Man babymother so billias? Yu watch the Youtube video where she ah talk up a bagga tings. Beenie styles his mother as ‘carelessness’ in what is presumably a radio interview. There are also spliced sound bytes such as ‘mi get a son ah England which mi never know ‘bout but mi know ‘bout him now’, juxtaposed with images of Ms. Laing and her son, and words from Ms. Laing which counteract Beenie’s arguments. Some of the sound bytes appear to be downright mean: ‘mi babymother is a kinda crazy woman but mi know ah who she know’, and ‘yu need fi drop the ting because yu nah go have me…yu nah go have a Beenie Man…and mi know ah dat yu want’, but to at least be fair, the whole interview is not available and it is easy to take his comments out of context, but it still looks bad. She uses the classic Buz Luhrman music single Wear Suncreen as a soundtrack as she dismantles Beenie Man, and she even brings up the Bogle incident where he went on television and ‘cried like a bitch (I thought you were a bad man)’. Ouch!

QUEEN PAULA DEMOLISHES ALL-WOMAN SHOW IN L.A
Mi love how Queen Paula career just tek off back so to the point where ah she lock the All Woman show inna Los Angeles over the weekend. The crowd love Paula and the way she talk the tings dem ‘bout Spice and her bleaching and all these things The promoter go through a rough time mi hear because of a split inna the camps between Macka Diamond/Queen Paula and Lady Saw/Spice over the next side. Mi hear say him haffi get two different hotel fi dem and a bagga tings

SHAGGY AND TAMI CHYNN TO THE WORLD
Big up Tami Chynn and Shaggy, the Pepsi commercial yu endorse show say Jamaican artistes have the appeal fi market A class products on the international stage. Mi see the two version dem during Rising Stars’ show on Sunday night but somebody need fi tell me which commercial dem ah go show worldwide, the one wid Tami a sing or the one with Shaggy? Big up Carl Douglas who originate the Kung Fu Fighting song, the first Jamaican to go #1 on the Billboard charts. Reggae music to the flipping universe


Source: One 876 Ent.

Jamaican hit-maker Steven McGregor featured in the New York Times

Jamaica’s hit beat maker/producer Steven McGregor aka Di Genius was featured in the New York Times as one of their entertainment leads. You can read the interview below that was written by Vivien Goldman of www.nytimes.com.
THE new hit-making force in Jamaican music doesn’t live in the steamy downtown ghettos Bob Marley made famous but on a leafy residential road high on a hill here, in the upscale neighborhood Havendale, St. Andrews. Just 18, Stephen McGregor, also known as Di Genius, is a member of one of reggae’s reigning families: the clan of the veteran singer Freddie McGregor.
Big iron gates slowly swing open to reveal a yard with a raised, shaded area designed for playing dominoes. Inside a large villa narrow wooden stairs behind the living room lead up to Big Ship Studio, named after Freddie’s 1981 worldwide hit. With its richly colored walls hung with framed awards and its big black leather couch, Big Ship feels like a cozy clubhouse outfitted with huge speakers and a mixing desk. Here Stephen, who is known as the studio’s Captain, swivels around in an office chair, punctuating a chat by flicking a fader and unleashing yet another monster hit like Sean Paul’s “Watch Dem Roll” and “Always on My Mind,” his collaboration with Da’Ville.
Also in the room are Stephen’s brother Daniel, 25, a popular lyricist and rapper known professionally as Chino, and his sister Yeshemabeth (also known as Shema), 29, an up-and-coming singer. Stephen produces them both.
All three siblings are making sound waves in Jamaica, but Stephen, who looks about 14 with his guileless smile and neat cornrows, is the most prominent. One of the hottest producers on the island (and certainly the youngest), Stephen has a challenging sound that combines playfulness, the spatial drama of a movie soundtrack and orchestral brio.
“Jamaica has a lot of great producers,” said Bobby Konders, a D.J. at the New York urban-music radio station Hot 97, “but people view him as the new kid carrying the flavor; so young but with a proven track record. He took many different influences from hip-hop and reggae and made them into his own sound. Stephen’s that dude, and he’s a winner.”
Since the 1960s Jamaican musicians have been recycling rhythm tracks, called riddims. The success of a riddim is judged by how many artists “juggle,” or make their own vocal interpretations, of it. Marked by a tension between sparse, punching jabs of sound and lush snatches of melody, Stephen’s riddims are so popular that more than a dozen people might sing over them; his thematically linked riddims have their own compilations on the top reggae label, VP Records.
Stephen’s skills are also propelling the careers of the lanky, dashing Chino, whose slightly abstracted air suggests constant mental wordplay, and Shema, whose rich voice and cameo features recall her mother, Judy Mowatt of Bob Marley’s backing trio, the I Three. Shema was in a band with Damian (Jr. Gong) Marley, Bob’s son, and she is now working on her own album, to be released this year on Big Ship Records.
Their father, Freddie McGregor, has been a star since he was a child, recording in the early 1960s for the Studio One label, where Bob Marley was an artist and in-house arranger. “I remember how Bob kept on saying, ‘We must have our own studio, our own thing,’ ” he recalled. “When I recorded songs for different producers, I always wished I owned them. I knew I had to take a chance and build my own studio.” He finally started Big Ship in 1996.
Stephen gravitated to the studio when he was a little boy. “If we saw the door was open, we’d know Stephen was in there,” Freddie said. “He was just so short you couldn’t see him over the mixing desk."
By the age of 7 Stephen had taught himself to play keyboards, bass, guitar and violin. But his prodigy status was cemented even earlier: he wrote and released his first song, “School Done Rule,” when he was 5. That was Stephen’s sole foray as an artist; he prefers the producer’s role. "It’s psychological, dealing with all the different egos and attitudes," he said. Clearly, his laid-back but cheery demeanor can coax the best out of artists ranging from the suave Sean Paul to gangster ragamuffins like Vybz Kartel and Mavado.
Stephen’s “whole energy is fresh,” Sean Paul said, “and I feel excited to work with a new sound and a new crazy young talent like him.”

Source: Out A Road

Dancers to copyright moves

Disputes over the creation of dance moves have become a common occurrence in the dancehall.
It is undeniable that dancing and dancers have become just as popular as the dancehall songs and artistes. Two years ago the, Dutty Wine exploded around the world, putting a focus on the island's dancing and dancers.

Everyone seemed to be doing the dance - on Youtube, at stage shows and in music videos for American pop artistes.

During the recent Beijing Olympics, triple world-record holder Usain Bolt introduced to the world the Nuh Linga, the Nineties Rock and the Gully Creepa - again bringing Jamaican dance moves to the world stage.

Yet, while artistes and the music industry have begun to pay attention to royalty and licensing rights, the dancing arena has remained behind.

In a recent article published in The STAR, creator of the Gully Creepa, David Smith, more popularly known as Ice, told THE STAR that he had not received what was fairly due to him for his creation of the dance, even while Elephant Man has profited from the massive hit song.

As with the Gully Creepa, the Dutty Wine was another dance that caused a dispute.
The Attitude Girls from Montego Bay claimed to be the creators of the hugely popular dance, while Kingston's Mad Michelle also claimed rights to the head twirling move. The Dutty Wine was even featured in Beyoncé's music video Ring The Alarm.

When THE STAR made checks, it was discovered that according to copyright laws, dancers can protect and gain money from creating dance moves. Copyrighting covers areas such as literary, artistic, musical, and dramatic works, architectural designs, maps, technical drawings, photographs, computer programmes, choreography and advertisements.

It is the right of the owner of the intellectual property to copyright his or her creation.
The copyrighted owner of a dance would have an exclusive right to exploit his or her creative work and has the authority to prevent others from using the work without his or her permission.

Anika Radcliffe of the Intellectual Property Services Centre explained to THE STAR that forms were made available at its offices for dancers to copyright their moves. The dancer would be required to pay a small fee, complete the forms and give either a detailed step-by-step description of the dance or provide a CD of the dance. After this is done, the dancer would then receive a licence showing that he/she is the owner of the dance and the name of the dance.
However, Radcliffe claims she could only recall one dancer coming to the office to licence a dance.
She said that dancer did not complete the process, however.

When THE STAR contacted the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), it explained that there is an even simpler way for a dancer to claim intellectual property rights which does not involve paying any money.

According to the representative from the JIPO, a dancer can use the 'poor man's copyrights' where he/she simply writes a letter containing a full description of the dance, or tapethe dance, declare themselves as the creator of the dance and date the letter. The letter would then be sent back to them through registered mail, and they would keep it unopened.

According to the JIPO, when copyrights are done as the dancers are considered the 'authors' of the dance. If someone, locally or Internationally, decided to use the dance for profit, they could be sued if the dance is protected through copyrighting.

However, JIPO pointed out that there were few cases of dancers claiming their rights locally, but there are many cases of dancers on the International scene doing so.

The JIPO representative said, "I think its important, that's how you profit from your work. You can sell the use of your work."

However, creators of the most popular local moves were not practising copyrighting of their dances.

Taz, from Timeless Dancers, who created the popular 'To di Worl' slang and dance, the 'Powercut' dance and others, said that he has been thinking about copyrighting.

"When mi did deh in New York recently mi did a talk bout it ... but it nah really mek no sense, yuh just haffi kno seh a yuh create di dance. When mi did just start dance, mi did investigate it but nobaddy neva gimme a good feedback," Taz said.

According to Taz, some of his dances have been used in major videos. He says the Powercut was featured in Elephant Man and Wyclef's Five O video.

Taz says he does not make money from the dances themselves but has to work hard to get the Timeless name popular so that the dancers will be booked for shows. "Di artistes dem have it easier, but we haffi go out every night and dance," he said.

Overmars, from the Ravers Clavers crew, who created dances like the Nuh Linga, Raging Bull, and Paper Bag says he is also thinking of utilising copyright laws, especially after the worldwide popularity of the Nuh Linga following the Olympics.

"I haven't copyrighted my dances, but I was going to when I check it out to copyright ... People would have to ask permission and di people dem put my dance out there. At the same time, people tekking di dance and doing it and we not getting nothing," Overmars said.

Source: Jamaica Star

Love is Wicked Blows Up In Europe

Stunning singing duo Brick & Lace are currently touring Europe promoting their hit single Love Is Wicked. In the UK the single charted on Music Week’s urban chart at #18 and this week jumped to #7. Brick & Lace’s Love Is Wicked is the highest climber and biggest audience increase on the European Airplay chart. It has made a huge jump from #116 to #28. It is also a new entry at #36 on the European Single chart. Love Is Wicked charted at #8 in on NRJ France before promo on the single even started.
Nyanda and Nailah will be in France this weekend to kick off their French promotion by performing on major radio station NRJ’S showcase. Last month Brick & Lace’s Love Is Wicked single had these following stats in these European countries:
· Sweden- #2 radio track and #1 iTunes song
· Finland- #3 radio track and #2 iTunes song
· Norway- Top 10 radio track and Top 10 iTunes

Source: One 876 Ent.

Who tief Portia campaign money?...

BEENIE RETURNS FROM ENGLAND
Beenie is expected to return from England this evening after attending court regarding the child support case involving his babymother, a well-known relative of Sting promoter Isaiah Laing. We will keep our ears to the streets to hear how that is progressing. In the meantime, crazy people ah talk about Beenie new tune Gimme that a go lock the place this Xmas.

KARTEL AND THE EMPIRE HEAD TO SWITZERLAND
The Portmore Empire will be holding centrestage in Switzerland with a show tomorrow that by all indications, is already sold out. Members of the Empire such as Shawn Storm, Blak Ryno, and Jeffrey Hype have reportedly also made the trip.

PORTIA CAMPAIGN SABOTAGED?
Bwoy, dem a try everything fi mash up Portia, is wah? The poll results that have her as the most popular political leader ah bother dem? It just look very fishy that on the eve of the eve of the historical presidential contest that $3 million woulda just go suddenly missing out of the vehicle of the man entrusted to secure the funds. Ah trail dem trail him or what? Why the security dem never challenge the people who bruk inna the car? All dem a talk dem cyan stop Portia. That cyan mek dem win, Portia fi life, ah dat mi say.

STACIOUS, DEM CYAN HANDLE YU SUCCESS!
Hey, from Stacious start drive the new expensive ride, she start get fight. Her ting step up, uptown apartment, two tunes inna top 20 of the charts and all these things. She de pon TVJ, CVM, HYPE and RE regular, she lose over 20 pounds and have up her new Summer body and some girl just start playa-hate her same time, but no watch dem Stacious, ah yu have the 'goodas clap'. No matter dem time, anno your fault yu career ah happen, anno your fault yu man waan yu, anno your fault dem life inna chaos and dem man ah beat dem like dem tief something. Stacious to the world, ah dat mi say!

BENZLY HYPE AND BIG RALLO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS
The 20th is going to be a busy day. Usain Bolt celebration. Peter and Portia face off fi leadership of the PNP. Benzly Hype celebrates a birthday, and Big Rallo from Negril also celebrates a birthday, mad tings.


PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW…
If ah true say Ras Kassa rechristen himself Selassie I as him new directing name?

Why dem a try fight the Usain Bolt Hart Hill celebration tomorrow? Dem nah change no date, it ah keep same way because the people dem want it.

Source: One 876 Ent.

Kartel records single about incarceration

Deejay Vybz Kartel has recorded a single called Babylon Say Jail for Me on a one-drop rhythm created by the Portmore-based producer Not Nice. The song chronicles the deejay's recent wrongful incarceration at the hands of authorities in relation to a criminal matter. The song is a far cry from his humourously defiant 'When Shotta Go a Jail'' which he did after he was incarcerated by cops after getting into an altercation with fellow deejay Ninjaman at Sting 2003.

CLICK HERE FOR TRACK

The lyrics go:
Babylon say jail for meThen the judge set bail for me
Smaddy tell the jury Jah control mi destiny
Down a cellblock mi whole mi stay, mmhhhh
Pree me a pree mi case, mmhhh
Next court date a next year February, that a f----ky
Mi de pon two months remand, mmhhhh
Thirty years mi a face,mmhhh
And the police bwoy know inna him heartAh the court time him a waste

Source: One 876 Ent.

Beenie's Girl gives away the ting de...

Beenie's Girl Gives Away the NookieHeh heh! This ya one ya deep. What is going on in my favourite deejay's life? Mi see her at French Connection wid a man wid mi owna two eyes and from dem time de, mi a wonder if the Doctor turn back into a gal clown. Then, one of mi links spot her wid man ah go go club ah give lap dance, and another one of mi girlfriends dem spot her inna Platinum nightclub ah give another lap dance. But mi say mi nah say nothing, but the other day, an argument buss pon the road that the same day Beenie fly out, she go check in at a big-shot hotel inna New Kingston wid a top man. Mi hear say somebody trail her while she go check inna her room, and dem wait and see her ah drive out the next morning wid a top man name mi nah go call. Is Beenie going to allow this girl to clown him out? Mi nuh ready fi call her name but she was in CHAT the other day in an article comparing her to one of Bounty's main girl. Everybody know her from Portmore, mi nuh haffi call no name.

Source: One 876 Ent.

Mad Ras 'Kills' Firelinks in Portmore

Early Sunday morning, by way of huge crowd applause numbering some 5,000 persons, Rebel T was declared the winner over FireSounds and Black Kat took the nod over Area Code 876, at the first staging of the Guinness Sounds of Greatness competition, held at Ken’s Wildflower Lounge last weekend.Early ‘jugglings’ came from the resident disco Turbo Crown as the crowd filed in hour after hour. Then it was time for the sound off with the first set coming from Area Code 876, led by Fire Black followed by Black Kat, whose main selector, Pink Panther did the honours for his team. This round – 15 minutes of non-stop juggling each – produced an even match up between the veteran, Black Kat and the Portmore-based Area Code 876.The second round – the tune (chuun) for tune round – saw the home-based team putting up a good fight but the veterans started to show their dominance and by the time they got to round three, where the dubs (dub plates) ruled, Black Kat registered their victory with a more superior set. The victory was clear and Black Cat copped the prize money and made way for the Rebel T Firesounds match up.The jugglings were close for this match but the judges – Kingsley “Ragashanti” Stewart and Junior “Heavy D” Fraser – scored Rebel T higher numbers. The tune-for-tune round saw Rebel T taking a commanding lead over their opponents. But not to be outdone, the Firesound brought some heat in round three by playing eight of 10 winning dubs. The competition made for great entertainment for the thousands gathered and in the end Rebel T got the second semi-final spot available.The event, which was emceed by the very bubbly and full-a-vibes Miss Kitty, saw patrons in attendance receiving cash prizes amounting to $20,000 with one lucky Guinness lover, Andre Rose, walking away with a Sony entertainment system.The charge-free party moves to Cambridge in the west on September 27 when Bass Odyssey competes with Body Guard and Swatch International takes on Pisces. The top four winners will form a semi-final round to be contested on October 19 in Highgate St. Mary and October 25 in Wakefield Trelawny which will then determine the top two for a game day of November 1, 2008 at the Kingston Waterfront.


Source: One 876 Ent.

Nikki Z suspended from ZIP 103 FM after a curse word was accidentally played during her radio set.

ZIP FM radio disc jock Nikki Z was suspended for playing a song with a curse word on radio.
Quoted in an interview with the Star she said she was informed of the suspension last Saturday and that there was nothing to talk about except to say that she was sorry about the whole thing.

"I did listen to it (the song) before, a word slipped me and I just didn't hear it. I let down my boss and he had to do what he had to do," Nikki told the Star.

Regarding the suspension it was revealed that Nikki was suspended for an indefinite period which could range from a week to whatever time the company thought was suitable punishment for the deed.

Nikki Z's show runs from 6:00 am to 10:00 am and has built up good listenership.

Source: Yard Flex

Four VP artists get MOBO Award nods

Four VP artists, Etana, Mavado, Busy Signal and Tarrus Riley have been nominated in the category of Best New Reggae Artist for the upcoming 13th annual MOBO Awards. Beenie Man is also listed as a nominee for an award at the event that salutes Music Of Black Origin each year.
Taking place at the Wembley Arena in London, England on October 15, the ceremony will be a culmination of the online voting now in progress at www.mobo.com.
More than an awards ceremony, MOBO represents innovation, aspiration a diversity that endorses the history of music from Black origins; while working through its productions and many other activities – on increased awareness of this musical culture and the future of its development.
All the VP linked nominees have a strong presence on reggae and dancehall scenes internationally. Each one has been to the top of charts everywhere and winning awards is not uncommon for most.

Voted Best New Reggae Artist by Rolling Stone Magazine, Mavado was an overnight sensation and his distinct forceful voice has been churning out hits since his debut single “The Real McKoy” in 2004. The album “Gangsta For Life” was his 2007 VP Records release and his sophomore album will be out in December 2008. Mavado’s collaborations with hip-hop stars like: Jay-Z, Foxy Brown and G-Unit have helped to send him catapulting to the top of dancehall rock.
The 2006 hit, “Wrong Address” gave Etana her strong footing in the reggae music world and that was followed by more number one songs: “Roots” in 2007 and “Warrior Love” in 2008. Hers is a refined sound and coupled with lyrics that speak of life experiences, her songs have achieved global recognition and afforded her four Best Female Vocalist awards. Released by VP in June 2008, her album “The Strong One,” is enlightening.

Busy Signal who released smash hits like: “Jail,” “These Are The Days,” “Unknown,” “Tic Toc” and “Wine Pon Di Edge” – became a household name beyond Jamaican dancehall circles in 2005. His breakthrough hits like: “Born & Grow” and “Step Out” illustrated Busy’s creativity that has been proven outstanding. A member of the powerhouse – Alliance, his upcoming album, “Loaded” will be released on September 23, 2008 on the VP Records label; and it includes chart topping favorites like, “Jail” and “Unknown Number.”

Leading the 2008 annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) with seven nominations, Tarrus Riley brought his mesmerizing roots and lovers rock style to the world with huge hits like, “She’s Royal” and “Stay With You.” His album, “Parables,” released by VP Records in 2006 is full of Tarrus’ hot tracks that won him the IRAWMA for Best Male vocalist.

He also received the award for Best Song for “She’s Royal.”

Get on the website and vote.

Source: Yard Flex

Kapri Disses Kip Rich, starts feud

Dancehall youngblood Kapri has issued a firm challenge to fellow deejay Kip Rich in a song called Strike Out for top producer Seanizzle.

The hard-hitting single uses brilliant wordplay to challenge Kip Rich’s masculinity and street cred, making insinuations about Kip-o’s ‘oral habits’ and the real reason for his fallout with Elephant Man. One of the best verses goes: Yu shoulden diss the Trod/Balance ah mi dad, yu tracing like a fag/is like yu want a body bag/ah wah do Black-er friend/Bossy ah go copper dem/mi mek mi talk once, him affi chat again.

Kapri, who reps the Hungry Town family, did the song because he believes that Kip-o has dissed his mentor and friend, Turbulance. However, Turbulance’s religious beliefs compel him not to respond to Kipo’s perceived diss, but Kapri feels inclined to defend the Hungry Town name.

“I feel say Kip Rich violate Turbulance by doing the same Too Late to Apologise song that Turbulance did five months before him. He even performed the song at Capleton show after Turbulance do it, and when people say it to him, he says only the white man (who did the original) can tell him not to sing it,” he explained.

Since ‘Strike Back’ hit the streets, Kapri said that his street credibility has shot through the roof but he has heard not a squeak from Kip Rich. In fact, he now he believes the deejay is clearly a coward for not wanting to respond.

“When Kipo violate, Balance (Turbulance) say low it but mi tek it on myself fi deal with it. Him hear my song but him nah answer it, mi feel say him afraid, this is not Monster Twins, him see the lyrical content and caan run in. Kip Rich ah gallis, him fi low real gangster ting, and go back to writing letters,” Kapri said confidently.

When contacted, Bready, Kip Rich's manager said that Kapri was
'just looking a hype' so he was advising him to ignore the challenge of who he called a 'hothead'.

"Ah music and an artiste can say anything he wants, as long as he doesn't cross the line and then man ah go tek it personal. Kip Rich call Turbulance who say him no know how that come in, but him need fi know say ah the wrong road him a bark up," Bready said.

"He must know what he is trying to achieve by saying this, but he doesn't know much about music. As long as he doesn't go overboard and tek it physical, everything alright."

Kapri said that Kip Rich called him last week and said 'his thugs don't like the song', but Kapri said he refuses to be intimidated.

"Me ah go inna the streets ah do mi song and promote it, him ah try get sound man nuffi play mi song but the people dem a log onto it, so mi ah go all over go promote it hard, even inna Waterhouse," he said.



Kapri, whose real name is Dwayne Wallace, was born February 12, 1988 in the parish of Kingston. Kapri grew up in the inner city community of Waltham Park Road before moving to Pembroke Hall. The youngest of seven children for both parents, he knows what it means to struggle having lost his father, the major breadwinner for his family, when he was only three years-old, pushing the family to the brink of poverty.

While he attended the Eltham High school in Spanish Town, he fell in love with music and recorded his first song in 2002 for Mr. G’s Youngblood label. Kapri’s turning point came when he reunited with a childhood friend, a record producer Seanizzle in 2004, but it was not before 2007 when he recorded the hit, Dear Mama that his true talent began to shine through like a clear beacon.

The hit single, Dear Mama is currently getting heavy rotation on local radio stations and is now in position number three on Chris Goldfinger BBC top ten charts. The song is also in strong rotation on DJ EM’s programme on Love 104 radio in the Cayman Islands. New singles such as Your Eyes, Try Hard on the Hungry Town riddim and Rik-Tik-Tik on the Reverse riddim.

Kapri has appeared in major shows this year such as Black My Story, and Negril Spring Break and he will be performing on September 30 at the Steppaz Niteclub in Grand Cayman.

“Right now, mi feel that mi can walk out onstage and face a crowd of 1,000 and tek it to them, I am ready,” he said.
Kapri is currently under the management of Turbulance and the Higher Trod family, as well as style maven Keiva the Diva.


Source: One 876 Ent.

Dancehall Artisted Vybz Kartel Arressted

Out A Road gets to understand that entertainer Vybz Kartel and several other men have been detained by King Fish (cops) earlier today.

An eyewitness told Out A Road that the deejay and friends were hanging out at the studio as usual when a fleet of police stormed onto Kirk Avenue, searched the area and everyone insight before ordering them into one of the several police jeeps.

According to reports, the deejay was held for questioning on a recent incident. Even up to late this evening, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) did not confirm as to what incident the deejay was detained for.

It was just weeks ago, Vybz Kartel’s Honda Accord (motor car) was allegedly bombed outside of his plush upper St Andrew home in the late hours of Sunday on August 24th.

Source: Out A Road

Mavado, Serani in rotation on New York's Hot 97

Dancehall artistes Mavado and Serani will be blazing up the airwaves in New York after having songs added to Hot 97's regular playlist.


According to www.rap.about.com, Hot 97 is one of the most popular radio stations in the urban area. The station broke barriers by becoming the world's first hip hop-formatted radio station in 1994. Known for breaking new artistes and setting trends, the station features an on-air line-up that includes award-winning mixers, personalities, and artistes.


Mavado's So Special and Serani's No Games, both on the popular 'Unfinished Business' rhythm, produced by TJ Records, have been added to daytime rotation by the station's programme director.



When THE STAR contacted the station's assistant programmes manager and music director, Jill Strada, she confirmed that the songs were in regular rotation. According to Strada, Hot 97 has a listernership of 1.25 million persons in the United States.


Serani and Mavado aren't the only dancehall artistes to have been played on the station but are the two most current ones.


Strada explained that last summer saw more reggae/dancehall artistes being included on the station's playlist. Unlike Jamaica, where artistes can bring songs to the radio stations for the selectors to play, Hot 97 goes through a process of song selection. Strada explained: "Basically, the process starts from a street level. Our DJs have their ears to the streets to see what's popping in reggae, then they go to the clubs to see which songs are playing there before it's played on the station in our reggae rotation."


Strada emphasised that getting on the station's rotation would give both artistes exposure among the West Indian community of which the station has a large following.



In a release sent out by Julian Jones-Griffith, manager for both artistes, he commented: "It's been a while since dancehall has had a song in rotation on commercial radio in the US. So, to have both records added at the same time endorses that dancehall is still as strong as ever. We put in a lot of hard work to make this happen, and if it wasn't for people like Jabba and Mister Cee up at HOT 97, and Johnny Wonder, this wouldn't have happened."


Since both tracks are on the same beat, the station mixes them. Serani and Mavado got rave reviews for their appearances at the HOT 97 On Da Reggae Tip event held recently in New York. Mavado will be dropping his sophomore album, Mr Brooks - a Better Tomorrow for VP Records in November and will be making a triumphant return to New York on October 25 at Club Amazura. Serani continues to put out new songs with Naked and Whine My Girl.


Source: Jamaica Star

Morgan Heritage Rocks 25,000 in Guyana

It was eight years ago that reggae group Morgan Heritage performed in Guyana, and their return to that mainland territory last weekend was nothing short of historic.
A record-breaking 25,000 patrons packed the National Cricket Stadium to see welcome the group and receive their musical message. Morgan Heritage played classics and new hits alike — from Don't Haffi Dread to Nothing ToSmile About which received the biggest roar from the crowd all night. TheMission In Progress album made its presence felt and the Guyanese fans sang along throughout the group’s entire set.
Also making an impact was the powerful song, Leave The Young Girls Alone, which touches on the issue of older men sleeping with under-aged girls. Interestingly, this song, which is not played at all on Jamaican radio seemed to be the young audience's anthem as the crowd sang along with the scoustic performance of the song from start to finish.
A big part of the Mission for MH is to bring definition to Jamaican Music, Reggae and Dancehall.“Dancehall was a place where u would go to heaReggae Music in the 70's,” Peter Morgan told the attentive audience. He added that ‘Dancehall’ became the name of a music in the late 70's with founders Brigadare Jerry, U-Roy, I-Roy, Big Youth, just to name a few.“You never hear the music of Jay-Z being confused with R-Kelly, Mary J Bligewith Lil Kim, Chris Brown with Lil Wayne. So let's not confuse the music of Beres Hammond with Beenie Man; Taurus Riley with Busy Signal; or Morgan Heritage with Elephant Man,” Professor Peter explained to his class.
MH empowered the crowd to embrace this truth by having them say, “Dancehall is Dancehall and Reggae Music is what?” To which 25,000 answered back in one voice:, "Reggae Music".
For the one hour and 45 minutes of their performance, Morgan Heritage had members of the crowd riveted to the spot and entertained from start to finish.History was created in Guyana as this concert pulled the largest crowd ever at any stage show.
Title Sponsor Digicel, pulled off this feat with Akon when they first launched in Guyana some time ago. But organisers were surprised when Morgan Heritage did it again. But such is the power of Reggae music.
Source: One876 Ent.

Zebra released on Saturday

Despite reports from Major Richard Reese that Garfield 'Zebra' Vassell's earliest release date from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Facility is today, Zebra was actually released on Saturday.


When THE STAR contacted Reese yesterday he said he was not informed of Zebra's release and directed THE STAR to Charmaine Grey, information and communications manager at the facility, who said she was informed unofficially of his release.


Vassell, who is known for songs such as Rupert and Redder Than Red, was incarcerated at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre in 2001 after he was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison for rape, assault at common law and breaching a probation order.


The deejay was charged with the rape of an 18-year-old university student who was assaulted in the bushes near Barry, St Catherine, in January 2001.


The assault at common law charge stemmed from an incident involving his then girlfriend Sherilla 'Zebress' Williams. Vassell was later charged for the incident assult, which occurred on October 17, 2000.


Since it was disclosed that he would be released, plans were put in place to host a party in Zebra's honour at Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine. However, deejays Tiger and Wayne Lonesome were insisting that he should not be released or allowed to get back into music.


Source: Jamaica Star

All-white funeral for Benz's son

The son of popular deejay Spragga Benz, Carlton 'Carlisle' Grant will be laid to rest this Saturday September 13 in an all-white funeral service.


When THE STAR spoke with the deejay he said that the funeral will be held at 'Our Lady of the Angels' on Molynes Road at 10 a.m., and the burial will follow at Dovecot Memorial Park. The funeral, which was originally expected to be held in October, got pushed forward when the autopsy date was changed from the scheduled October 2 appoint-ment.


According to Spragga Benz, the autopsy will now take place this Thursday. The funeral will be open to the general public as long as persons who are attending wear white for the service. Spragga Benz explained, "we requesting persons to wear white, cause we not into di mourning thing."


Carlisle Grant was killed on Saturday August 23 by police in what is believed to be questionable circumstances.


The incident occurred on Church Street in Kingston when the police were on an alleged patrol. It was reported that Grant and a friend was riding a bicycle when ordered by the police to stop, which they did and one of them pulled a gun and fired at the police. The fire was returned and the men ran, the area was searched and Grant's body was found suffering from several gunshot wounds.


Spragga is taking legal action, gathering information on the incident and thus far there are no further updates on the case.


Source: Jamaica Star

Alliance-members heat up

Jamaica's Dancehall powerhouse, the Alliance has created history by having two of its artist's songs added to rotation on America's most important urban radio station, New York's HOT 97.


Mavado's "So Special" and Serani's "No Games," both on the popular Unfinished Business riddim produced by TJ Records, have been added to daytime rotation by the station's Program Director.


"Its been a while since Dancehall has had a song in rotation on commercial radio in the US," said Julian Jones-Griffith who manages both artists. "So to have both records added at the same time endorses that Dancehall is still as strong as ever. We put in a lot of hard work to make this happen and if it wasn't for people like Jabba and Mister Cee up at HOT 97, and Johnny Wonder, this wouldn't have happened."


Since both tracks are on the same beat, the station has mixed the two together. Serani and Mavado got rave reviews for their appearances at the HOT 97 On da Reggae Tip event held recently in New York. Mavado will be dropping his sophomore set, "Mr Brooks - a Better Tomorrow" on VP Records in November and will be making a triumphant return to New York on October 25 at Club Amazura.



Source: One 876 Ent

Macka Diamond's Fiance' threatened...

MACKA DIAMOND'S WHITE MAN THREATENED


This just in, ladies and gentlemen. Apparently, since news broke in the CHAT that Macka white man propose to her, nuff of her old flames dem start crawl outta the woodwork and ah say no wedding cyan gwaan because ah dem ah the real man inna Macka life. Dem say no white man cyan get her and wherever the wedding keep, it haffi mash up. Mi hear say one of the more psychotic one dem call the white man and threaten him wid bodily harm anyhow him go near Macka again. Ah pure drama, mi hear say Macka fly out this morning fi try soothe out him nerves, but mi know say the white man no used to dem kinda livity de. How man so bad mind? Macka just about fi hit the jackpot because mi hear say the man money no normal, ah skyscraper money him have and now dem dutty Jamaican man who no have dry s--t inna dem b---y waan come mash up the woman ting. Mi vex star and ah not even me.



BOLT ARRIVES TODAY

Mi get the date fi Bolt’s arrival wrong, mi hear say ah today him a forward, he will arrive at 1:15 p.m. and a brand new red BMW convertible will transport Bolt in the motorcade, leading vehicles carrying the prime minister and other officials from the airport to the hotel, where a press conference is scheduled to be held. However, mi hear say crazy rain is expected this afternoon from IKE so dem better him a big Jamaica umbrella, but wid dem breed a lightning weh a flash, mi no know ‘bout that either. Bolt’s arrival will kick off several planned activities to commence in October when all the members of Jamaica's Beijing Olympic team will return to the island on a special flight. Before that, there will be the Sept. 20th show in Trelawny featuring artistes such as Shaggy and Stacious.



PEOPLE WAAN FI KNOW…

How Liquid nuh stop spar up wid him 7 month old daughter Milan all over the place? Him ah look the title fi babyfather of the year.


How Minister Mike Henry nuh stop plant kiss on Sophia Brown cheek after she perform at a JUTC function on Saturday? What is going on Minister?


Which famous celebrity crew girl come in like she stuck pon the rock? How come she nah travel again? Ah true say de authorities dem gone wid her passport and all these things?


Why D'Angel cyan find a proper tune? She perform alright on the Caribbean Model Search show last night but her performance lack oomph and pizzazz, she needs a hit like how Nordia Rose need a hairstyle. Sort it out.


What a way Lady Saw ah party up a S-T-O-R-M inna Quad on Saturday night? She just step out inna her new Emancipation hairstyle. Why emancipation? She free herself from the weave ting and her hair born again, hot gal have dem owna hair! Yea, ah dat we say! Big up the Badda Badda crew who was in the place.


Why big big Pulse coulden have a proper generator system in place for the event last night? Kingsley Cooper get up at least three times and make a big production out of trying to blame JPS for the delay in the show. Two of mi girlfriends dem get vex and leave but mi is a girl love get the full value fi my money so mi stay and get the most fi my money.


If is true that the Liquid two babymothers dem concede defeat now and Milk ah #1 now on the Liquid charts? One is a career girl ah deal with her Red Stripe career and the other one ah try build back her career where she never did have inna the first place. Heh heh, mi body, Milk to the flipping universe, gwaan mi friend.







Source: One 876 Ent.

Is Dancehall-Reggae on the Decline?...

IS DANCEHALL-REGGAE STRUGGLING?
The year almost end and all now, we no have no big song on the Billboard Hot 100. The tours dem still a gwaan, Shaggy tour sell off and him find a European hit, Beenie Man perform at some of the biggest festivals in Europe like Uppsala for the first time even though the gays dem stop one of the concert dem; Morgan Heritage rock one of the biggest festivals in Europe, Parkpop performing alongside Sheryl Crow in front of 300,000 people. Mykal Rose continued his comeback when him do Reggae Sunsplash in Austria. Queen Ifrica is growing in popularity in Europe, Tarrus signed a contract with Wisynco to be the spokesperson for the 30 million healthy living campaign for Ocean Spray. Mavado’s remix with Lil Kim and Wyclef got crazy airplay on HOT 97 and Junior Reid continues to do major collabs with hip hop and R & B acts in the US. Big up to the late Natasja, Calabria, and Matisyahu ah the bright sparks in a sea of mediocrity. The other day Matisyahu go pon tour and the bandmembers dem from Jamaica bring home $1.8 million each, the reggae star ah tek care of him bands dem proper, we love that. And when Bolt do the Gully Creeper and Nuh Linger, the whole world ah ask about our dances, but how can we cash in on Brand Jamaica in a real way?
However, where are the international hits? Ele’s album tanked, Shaggy sold less than 25,000 copies of his album. And what happened to Sean Paul’s album? What about new prospects like Jovi Rockwell? Tami Chynn? Cherine Anderson is doing well but still, she is not moving units. There are other troubling signs, Corporate Jamaica is not supporting the Reggae Academy, Red Stripe pulled its name from Sumfest, record production is down 52.3 per cent according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, and even though the stats show that more entertainment licences are being granted across the island, a lot of dances are being shut down by cops long before the promoters recoup their expenses, things look sticky right now.



REGGAE BOYZ NEED FI STEP IT UP
Mi watch the match yesterday on TVJ and mi never pleased. Mi go over mi girlfriend apartment inna the afternoon with her boyfriend and bagga him friends and listen some music and chill till the match start. The Mexicans dem can play, yu see all the number 10, wahhim name, Branco or Blanco or whatever, the man bad him bad him bad. Mi see the man all a use him back fi mek pass and all these things. Is like dem man de live, sleep, eat and think football but our ting no have the same intensity and commitment and it show pon the field. Mi hear the yute dem a cuss the ballers dem, but mi feel proud, dem only get 3-0, mi memba one time dem did pick up pure 6 and 5 love so this is an improvement. Hope we do better against Honduras.



Source: One 876 Ent.

Macka getting married?

Tongues have been wagging that Macka Diamond is getting married, but the 'money goddess' says she has no immediate plans for such a move.


Last November in an interview with outaroad.com, Macka Diamond, real name Charmaine Munroe, said she had plans of getting married earlier this year to an old friend from Jamaica who she reunited with on a visit to Britain.


In the November interview she said, "I was scared to say yes because it was a surprise since we both know each other from long time and none of us have ever expressed feeling towards each other and now we are getting married.



However, when questioned about the report Macka Diamond said, "From dem long time deh, so why people a bring it up back? Dem jus a trouble mi cause dem nuh know mi business."


Adding, "Mi nuh love talk bout mi personal life inna di media."


Macka Diamond did not deny an engagement but said she has no intentions of hosting a wedding in the near future.


"A me a hold it back cause me a gwaan set di ting good," Macka Diamond told THE STAR. "Is a big step. As an artiste when you have fans, if you get committed you might lose some a dem or nuh have enough time fi di music."


In the meantime, she is preparing for shows in Los Angeles and France. Also, she is making preparations for her Birthday Bash which will be held in January.


"A dem ting deh mi a prepare fa so wedding caan come now yah," she told THE STAR.


She also mentioned a new project that she plans tostart, but was not yet ready to disclose too much information. She, however, promised that it would shock the public.


Recently, Macka Diamond collaborated with Lady G on a new track called Run and shot the video for her Robbery. Her weekly dance, Money-O Sundays in Old Harbour is also doing well.

Saturday Latte...

WHO OWE OBEAH MAN AND THESE THINGS?
Why dem a talk up a bagga lies and tings about Kartel say him join lodge, and ah drink blood out a skulla, ah wear guard ring and all these things? Is just Alliance propaganda, memba say it come inna the STAR say Killa helper say ah pure candle ah burn inna him house all hours of the day? And everybody know say him did send go obeahman fi find out if him can get back D’Angel. As far as mi concerned, a nuff artiste involve inna iniquity workings, dem a sprinkle oil, dem a write other artiste name pon parchment paper and put inna dem fridge and dem a write dem name pon paper and put inna dem shoes fi walk pon dem. Ah pure dark dealings, but mi no fraida none a dem, mi say GOD over evil.

JAMAICA GOES 1-2-3-4
Jeezam, mi heart swell up with pride when mi see Bolt, Powell, Carter and Frater sweep the top places at the meet in Brussells yesterday. SWWEEEEEPPP. Weh dem feel like? And what are they trying to do, spoil the reputation of Ennis-London wid the story on that website talking about HGH being mailed to her home, and mi love how she answer dem wid a victory at Brussells. Jamaica to the universe!


Source: One 876 Ent.

Introducing ‘Daggering Condoms’ by Vybz Kartel

As an fundamental element in his campaign to promote Safe Sex, Vybz Kartel has gone into the business of churning out condoms.
The brand name of the dancehall genius’ condoms is “Daggering” and they will surely live up to their name, as the three pack condom sets will be manufactured and tested to US FDA standards.
The release of this new venture comes on the heels of “Vybz Rum” that was also recently launched.
Kartel, who spearheads the Portmore Music Empire will have “Daggering Condoms” packaged in Jamaica and marketed there as well, through a private company.

Source: Yard Flex

Tifa, Natalie Storm & Timberlee A.K.A. The Bada Bada Gang - Fader Magazine

The three leading ladies of dancehall, Tifa, Natalie Storm and Timberlee, a.k.a "TNT", or more popularly known as the "Badda Badda Gang" were featured in the latest issue of The FADER Magazine.

The feature speaks to the ladies affiliation with producers and artists Ward 21, and also gives a bit of personal information on the dancehall trio. The Fader is a magazine that is "the definitive voice of emerging music and the lifestyle that surrounds it." They are currently awaiting the release of their Mix CD by Max Glazer's Federation Sound, which should be available in September 2008.


Tifa has also been busy promoting her new singles which includes, "If You Lef," on Jam 2's Pull Up Riddim. Other artists featured on the riddim include: Vybz Kartel, Lady Saw, Natalie Storm, Stacious, Chino, Einstein and a host of other artists.

Tifa and Ward 21 are currently wrapping up their 6-week European Tour, which included performances in Italy, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and a host of other countries. Tifa's next stop will be a performance in Canada on September 6th and then at the Hart Hill Usain Bolt Homecoming Party on the 20th of September.

Source: Out A Road

VP Records refuse to divulge information on ‘shut down’ rumor

VP Records’ top guns have been remaining tight lipped about word on the street claiming the newly amalgamated major reggae music administrators will be shutting down their offices in Kingston soon.

Marketing Manager, Yolan Zanders, who has for around 4 years been the main mover and shaker of VP’s Jamaican arm reportedly said she has heard the word, as many people have contacted her for more information on a possible closing.

However she has been unable to give any confirmation, saying that no official statement of that sort has been passed down to her from VP’s head offices and she continued to say that she would not be able to comment further.

Recognized globally as the largest independent reggae music label in the world, VP opened its Kingston office in 2004 at the same time it celebrated 25 years in the business. The objective then was described by Randy Chin as bringing VP closer to partners in the music and business communities.

Many wonder now if the new acquisition of Greensleeves Records by VP that was followed by some staff layoffs; or their recent appointment of former Director of A&R, Cristy Barber, have anything to do with the ‘closing’ rumors.

Source: Yard Flex

Garrison Hawk gets sweet deal with Coca Cola

Deejay Garrison Hawk was recently chosen to be featured alongside 35 other artistes as part of Coca-Cola's worldwide Coke Rewards campaign and his song, Sweet Music, has been one of the top five most downloaded songs in the promotion.Quite excited at the way things have turned out, the deejay says this success is in no way fleeting. His previous single, Gangsta Roll, had nudged him onto the world stage - the song reached #9 on the Hype TV top 20 chart and the track received radio airplay in Jamaica as well as in Europe, Japan, London, New York, and Miami.

When a club remix of Sweet Music leaked, it hit #11 on the UK pop charts. The song has also been featured in the video game Tropico:Caribbean Sims, which has sold several million copies worldwide.However, prior to all of the acclaim, some of Hawk's tunes wound up in the hands of legendary reggae producers Sly & Robbie as well as the heads of A&R at Warner Brothers UK.

Hawk wanted to take his songs and record them in a new style - one taken from his experiences in growing up in Jamaica and New York and touring Europe and Asia. Warner Bros loved his vision and signed Hawk almost instantly. Within weeks he was recording in Brixton, England with one of London's hottest young producers, Dan Carey, then it was onto Kingston's Anchor Studios with Sly & Robbie and back in Brixton. The result is a truly original hybrid of roots reggae, electronic music, English and American pop and vintage.

Born in Manchester, Hawk and his family moved to New York City and by the time he was 17, he was touring around the East Coast of the US with some major reggae stars. All the while, Hawk's family believed he was going to school and was on a path to a degree and a 9-to-5 job. A funny moment (probably not so funny for Hawk at the time) came when Hawk was performing with Shabba Ranks and Supercat in Connecticut and one of Hawk's uncles just happened to be in thecrowd. Exposed! Hawk's Ma and Grandma laid down the law, but that didn't stop the Hawk from flying.

After several unwise career decisions, he started handling his own affairs and set up Marathon Productions, writing, producing and deejaying under the name Hawkman. Several of the tracks received heavy play on New York's Hot 97 while Fakin' It and Addicted reached #1 on the European charts garnering the attention of world renowned DJs and producers, Roger Sanchez and Armand Van Helden, resulting in a collaboration on their AV8 club records series in 1999.

His breakthrough onto the world scene happened when he linked up with the alternative British artiste Tricky, formerly of the legendary group Massive Attack. As Tricky told Billboard Magazine, "Hawkman is my partner musically." Hawk co-wrote and laid down guest vocals on six tracks of Tricky's Blowback album and toured with Tricky in support of the record, performing in front of audiences of thousands of fans as well as on worldwide television and radio shows.

Source: Out A Road

Spragga Mourns 'Carlye', his eldest son

Spragga Benz has come to the defence of his son’s reputation, calling him a well-mannered ambitious young man with a future in the international film industry.

“Him no different or worse than no other yute. He beat the odds, he had six subjects, I have to give thanls to his teachers, that was the manifestation of all his hard work. I know they must feel proud and sad at the same time,” he mused.

Spragga's son, 17 year-old Camperdown High student Carlton Brown Jr. was shot and killed two Saturdays ago by cops on patrol in downtown Kingston. The cops allege that the youngster engaged them in a shootout after they approached him and another young man riding a bicycle in a dangerous area of the capital city. The cops claim that they recovered a gun from his body. However residents dispute this account, and at least one eyewitness, the other young man on the bicycle has told police investigators that he was told to run by the police and looked back to see Carlton's body on the ground after hearing gunshots.



Spragga said that it was the natural order of things for a father to predecease his son, but now that had been perverted.

“It shoulda be the next way around, but we de ya still,” he said.

He said that his son had a bright future ahead of him, but all that potential will never be realized now.

“Me neva get six subjects, mi never star inna movie at that age, mi never get a cheque fi US$50,000, so he was on a greater track than even me. And then these people appoint themselves, judge, jury and executioner and kill my yute. Somebody needs to be called to account for this if the situation never warranted the use of deadly force,” he said.

Spragga said that Cess Silvera, the director of the cult Jamaican classic, ‘Shottas’ called him and cried openly when he heard of his son’s death.

“The man ah shed tears, he told me that Carlye would have had a role with Queen Latifah in an upcoming movie and him cut up about it…I had to console him,” Spragga confided.

Spragga also said that he planned to request at least three forensic pathologists to observe the post mortem of his son. It is unclear when this post mortem will be performed given the current backlog in the system because of the steamrolling murder rate and overburdened government facilities.

Last night, a ni-nite was held on Hanover Street in downtown Kingston for the slain youngster.


Source: One 876 Ent.

Pandemonium on the Parkway

EASTERN PARKWAY WAS M-A-D
I thought that we were so over this war-war thing and mi cyan believe say mi lef Jamaica weh gunshot sing like Peabo Bryson fi come a farin fi get shot. The parade did a gwaan good, mi go down a the Crown Heights section where it kick off, and mi leave and go on a next avenue and teh Jamaica float sell off. Mi see Elephant Man ah do him ting, mi did buy some Jamaican food and mi de de good good and ah enjoy myself, den all of a sudden, the almshouse just start, shot start sing out like Rihanna, mi see people ah jump barricade like dem a run a hurdle race like Melaine Walker and all these things. We black people are some excellent athletes. Anyhoo, mi just tek weh myself and gully creep outta the excitement. Mi did de the West Indian parade inna 2006 when a man did get shot in the leg and another one get stab. In previous years, the event has been marred by tragedy. In 1999, two children died when they were pinned between floats, and hours later a man was run over by a float and killed. In 2005, a man was shot to death according to media reports. Later, Kriq ah go post the picture dem, yu might see me.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ‘VADO AT JAMBOREE?
Mi girlfriend call me last night and say she heard a discussion on radio where Mavado was saying that the people dem cut his vibes, and she say the listeners dem start call in and ah deal wid him a way and a cuss him out rotten. Mi no really live here so mi not even know ah which station that and all these things, but from what mi remember, him did end him set suddenly and mi did feel say the organizers dem did cut him time. Mi need fi get a call dem to Bobby Clarke fi find out what really went down why him come offa the stage, alll mi friend dem ah ask when Kartel ah come a New York.

NO REGGAE BOYZ MATCH THIS WEEKEND
Bwoy, mi vex, look how mi coulda stay ah New York some more days because mi did schedule fi fly down on Thursday fi get ready mentally fi the big match versus Mexico and now mi a hear say Burrell pull a fast one and get the Mexicans dem fi get we fi come play dem up inna Mexico City. It coulda work because mi hear mi cousin ah say we ah go get three home match straight but mi still vex, after Stadium nuh mash up enough fi Burrell pull off dem stunt de.


THE PEOPLE WAAN FI KNOW...

Mi friend from Jamaica send me a text ah ask if a true say Mavado ah spar wid Jay Z brother up here and if 50 Cents give him US$20,000 fi go pon shopping spree?

Why was Beenie Man so upset that him go perform before Elephant Man and lef him inna one big hole on the stage?

Which browning mi see ah force up herself on Coco Tea backstage after IRIE JAMBOREE?

How Flippa Maffia ah go so hard? Two songs inna the top 20 of the Jamaica Music Countdown? No sah, gwaan Flippa! Philly ting sell off but mi used to the free ticket ting and mi nah go so far.


Source: One 876 Ent

Zebra to roam free on Saturday, Sept. 6

Dancehall deejay Zebra will be a free man this weekend as he will be released after a seven-and-a-half year incarceration. He became eligible for parole on March 5, 2005, however, his earliest possible date of release is September 6. There will be a big concert and party in Tawes Pen, St. Catherine to mark his return to freedom.

Zebra, whose real name is Garfield Vassell, rose to popularity in the early 1990s and was immediately noticed because of his similarity to veteran DJ Tiger. His hits include ‘Picture Frame’, ‘Hype Type Of Love’, ‘Redder Than Red’, ‘Rupert’ and ‘Dem Unfair Eh-No’.

However, his life began to unravel when his deejay career began to flounder a bit. First, he was arrested for an assault at common-law and charged stemming from an incident involving his then girlfriend, Sherilla Williams. The two reportedly had an argument at their Oakland apartment and Williams was allegedly beaten.

Zebra was later charged with indecent assault following an incident which occurred on October 17, 2000. He reportedly fondled a 15-year-old girl, pushed her onto a bed and tried to have sex with her.

The DJ was charged with the rape of an 18-year-old university student, who was assaulted in bushes near Barry, St. Catherine, in January 2001. According to reports, at about 5:00 a.m., Zebra, while using his car as a route taxi, picked up the student in Half-Way-Tree and proceeded to Spanish Town. Police said he dropped off the other passengers and then took the girl to Barry where he raped her.

Zebra was convicted of one count of rape and admitted on November 19, 2001. He was eventually sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison for rape, assault at common-law, indecent assault and breaching a probation order.

Two years ago, he created a minor stir with the release of the single Stocky on the Key One Records label.

Source: One 876 Ent.

“TEFLON” CHARGED FOR ILLEGAL GUN

Twenty-three year old entertainer Shaneil Watson, otherwise called “Teflon” of Jacks River, St. Mary, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition at his home yesterday.
Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) Liaison Officer for St. Mary are that about 5:30 p.m., about members of a police team carried out an operation at Watson’s house. During a search, a .45 Colt pistol with 7 rounds of ammunition was found.
He was subsequently charged and is scheduled to appear in the Port Maria Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 1.

The Oracabessa Police are investigating.