Ding Dong in Edmonton Tonight

Dancer Ding Dong is the main feature of a “Dancers & Divas Explosion” happening in Edmonton, Alberta tonight.

BET Reverses Decision: Mavado’s Video To Be Aired Next Week

Late last month, “legal issues” reportedly prevented the airing of dancehall artiste Mavado’s new video for his “So Special” single on BET’s 106 & Park show. However, Mavado’s management has just informed Dancehall.Mobi that after much back and forth and some re-editing of the video, BET’s top brass have reversed their decision and will now allow it to be aired as 106 & Park’s “New Joint of the Week” - this coming Tuesday, March 3rd.

“In some ways the timing worked out even better!” said Mavado’s manager, Julian Jones-Griffith. “Mavado’s album ‘Mr. Brooks - A Better Tomorrow‘ is to be released on March 3rd, the same day the video will air, so hopefully it will give it that extra push.” Note - the album was released exclusively in digital format via iTunes earlier this week.

Source: Dancehall Mobi

FINAL SHOTS - Last words thrown before Follow The Arrow

The musical 'war' is on tomorrow at Follow Di Arrow and some of the deejays are in a 'killing' mood, as the battlefield is set at James Bond Beach, St Mary, for the 10th anniversary of the event.

The clashes that should have happened two months ago at Sting will hopefully be settled at Follow Di Arrow where Kiprich is scheduled to clash with musical nemesis the Monster Empire and Merciless will test his clashing skills against Ninja Man once again.

Left high and dry

Last December a prepared Kiprich and Merciless were left high and dry onstage after blazing performances and no-shows from the Monster Empire and Ninja Man, respectively.

Now the deejays are all prepared, ready and raring to go for the much-anticipated clash. For Merciless, he claims to have been much grieved and hurt by Ninja Man's non-appearance at Sting, and is happy for the chance to 'kill' Ninja. He says, "a long time dat boy deh fi dead and mi nuh know who come dig him up from him grave. Right now, mi happy seh is him doorstep we going, Ennis never do a better thing. St Mary Ninja born and grow and right now is his territory mi a go kill him on."

Merciless says fans can expect an outstanding performance from him; like Sting, he will again be coming prepared with a new outfit and new lyrics - no repeats from Sting, "mi neva lose a war mi a warhead."

No talking mood

While when THE WEEKEND STAR spoke to Ninja Man, he was in his usual clash mood saying, "Mi nuh inna no talking mood, I'm in a killing mood. Yuh nuh hear seh Lisa Hype kill Merciless on Wednesday in Clarendon? Afta Lisa Hype kill him, him caan chat to me Saturday. I not gonna clash Merciless, mi a go kill him, when mi done wid him, Merciless nuh have no career, there will be no more Merciless."

Confident KipRich


Kiprich

Likewise a confident Kiprich, who came out of Sting with a huge hype from his energetic performance and sharp lyrics, says he is more than prepared for the clash. He told THE WEEKEND STAR , "is a clash and yuh know yuh haffi prepare, mi ready fi do wha mi haffi do. Mi have whole heap of new things and some older stuff, it's just a matter of where whatever fit." At Sting, KipRich came out ready in full black for war and the artiste already has his new outfit for Follow Di Arrow.

General B from the Monster Empire says that the Empire is ready and waiting for anything.

"We prepared for anything and fans can expect di best." This, however, according to General B, will be the last of any lyrical confrontations between the Monster Empire and Kiprich, whoever wins. "A di last of it dis, we nuh inna nutten wid Kiprich, is only caw di fans dem want it, him a try get a hype off Monster Empire. Whether we win or lose, di war done, caw dis nah benefit me," he said.

Sunday morning will tell who will be victorious when these artistes go head to head at Magnum Follow The Arrow at James Bond Beach in St Mary.

Source: Jamaica Star

Studio Engineer Attacks Luciano

Studio engineer “Freckles” reportedly attacked and beat veteran reggae chanter Luciano while he was at a gas station on Dunrobin Avenue in Kingston last week Friday (February 20). The incident reportedly stemmed from a previous incident last year where Freckles was assaulted at Luciano’s office by persons associated with the artiste. Freckles it is said, assisted some Australian promoters to book Luciano for a tour, and asked to come on the tour as well, but was not pleased with the financial compensation that he received. It was in August 2008 that he went to Luciano’s office to sort out this matter when he was “roughed up”, and reportedly chopped by on the hand by someone associated with Luciano.

With last week’s incident, Freckles reportedly attacked Luciano with an iron pipe, hitting him on the head and causing a wound that required six stitches. Luciano has apparently taken the high road on the matter, and has reported the matter to the Half-Way-Tree police and plans to take Freckles to court.

Source: Dancehall Mobi

Sasa Step Dance Trouble Brewing

This is a Dancehall.Mobi special update. There’s a new dance gaining popularity in the dances here in Jamaica. It’s called the Sasa Step, and was created by Mundo Ravers of the Ravers Clavers dance crew. It is no secret to the dancehall world that leading dancehall deejay Elephant Man has made a name for himself over the past few years by doing songs that speak to the current dancehall dance trends. His songs ‘Pon Di River’, ‘The Sweep’, ‘Nuh Linga’ and ‘Gully Creeper’ are just a few examples.

Trouble seems to be brewing however with regard to the brand new Sasa Step dance. Recently, Elephant Man released a song about the dance (which we’ve featured below) on the Mercury Overdose riddim, and the original creators of the dance are reportedly none too happy about this development, as they had already released a single to go along with the new dance they had created. Fellow Ravers Clavers dance crew member Overmars and QSean did this original Ravers Clavers Sasa Step song which is also featured in the play list below.

Dancehall.Mobi will keep you updated on this one. What’s your take on it? Please post comments below.

Source: Dancehall Mobi

BASHMENT GRANNY FOR THE BIG SCREEN - Movie to hit the streets by Christmas

It's official. Shebada, Bad Boy Trevor, Miss P, Mr Bashment and Angel are heading to the big screen, as the Bashment Granny movie is slated for a December 2009 release.

The movie comes after the very successful 2007 Bashment Granny and the sequel, which is currently playing across the island.

Speaking to THE STAR after Saturday's screening of Desperate Decisions at Redbones the Blues Café in New Kingston, scriptwriter and director Paul O Beale said "it is going to be a groundbreaking film". He will be doing the screen script for Bashment Granny; Garfield 'Bad Boy Trevor' Reid wrote the original play.

Beale said the film would be done with the same cast members as the play. But while it will be basically the same plot, "there are many things that are going to happen".

All he would reveal about the new things is that "it starts with a car chase in New Kingston.

Pre-production for the Bashment Granny movie starts in April.

Beale said in addition to the existing main cast, a further 20 persons will be required and open auditions will be done to fill the roles. He said that he isn't into the building of cliques, hence the audition process. In addition, it helps to unearth new talent.

He said that bringing in new talent not only means that there will be some continuity in the business, but "it keeps the people who are in there on their toes".

The movie will be produced by B.L. Allen while Stages Production serves as executive producer.

It will be no longer than two hours.

"For me personally, it is something I am looking forward to. Bashment Granny is a franchise. This is an expansion of that franchise," Beale said.

Source: Jamaica Star

Mavado shines at BET's Rip The Runway '09

Again & again Mavado aka the Gully Gad continues to wave the flag for dancehall on the international scene when he gave an outstanding performance to represent for Jamaica and the Caribbean at the prestigious BET's RIP THE RUNWAY '09 at the Hammerstein Ballroom on February 21, 2009 in New York City.

The Gully Gad shared the spotlight with other big acts such as T.I., Busta Rhymes, Bobby Valentino, Keri Hilson, The Dream, GS Boyz and Ron Browz. While the top designers for this year were, Johnny Vincent created by Celeste Johnny, T.I.'s clothing line Akoo, Korto Momolu, Protégé created by NBA star Al Harrington and CEO/Chairman Rodney Henry, Monif C. Plus Sizes designed by mother/daughter team, Monif Clarke and Elaine Clarke, Douglas Says and Byron Lars.

BET's RIP THE RUNWAY returning for its fifth season displayed the latest styles in fashion, the hottest entertainers and models on the runway. The night's event was hosted by "Notorious" star Derek Luke and one of the sexiest actors/model, Joy Bryant.

BET's RIP THE RUNWAY will premiere on BET on Monday, March 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT* and will re-air on Thursday, March 5 at 8:00 p.m. and Friday, March 6 at 10:00 p.m.

Source: Out A Road

GIRL FIGHT!!! Debbie vs the Keiva di diva

A major spat has been brewing between Keiva di Diva and Yardflex CEO Debbie Cole in recent weeks over a nasty posting made on the yardflex.com website that suggested that Keiva was 'bruk and that she need fi pick up back dancing because the store alone nah go mek it'. The posting came as a result of an encounter between one of the Yardflex's workers at Keiva's store during which she 'coerced' the worker to buy a keychain he did not particularly want or need. After the posting was made, Keiva did not respond but as fate would have it, she accompanied someone to the Yardflex office a few days later where she saw the young man who had been in her store days earlier.

Naturally, she confronted the male worker, saying 'God nah sleep and if mi did rich, mi woulda sue oonu'. Ms. Cole took offence and rose to her worker's defence accusing Keiva of threatening him. They exchanged heated words, but a subsequent posting on Yardflex blasted Keiva about her store with another picture of Keiva saying 'try sell some clothes and turn on back her light'. Enraged, Keiva planned a media campaign to put Ms. Cole on full blast.

Into the breach stepped Jalive online who also have been with Debbie Cole and so the stage was set for the major mud-slinging that would follow.

Last night, Keiva the Diva graced Jalive online chatroom with a stunning comeback. She informed the streamers that Debbie Cole daughter of Judy Mowatt was a drug mule that spent 7 years in a US prison for bringing coke in her vagina and had her children while she was there. As far as reggaemusicfm understands, this statement is not true because Ms. Cole, while we understand that she has been convicted of drug charges, was never incarcerated for being a drug mule.

Keiva also stated that Debbie and her sister were sleeping with the same man (Maxi Priest and apparently the reason for Judy becoming a christian was because of the life that Debbie was living and that even after she was deported from the US she was still living a dirty life which includes sleeping with younger men to the point were she was dragged from a bedroom by reggae artist Iley Dread (who we are assuming is her man). It was also stated that she is family to the talented Big Ship Family (Freddie McGregor) but has been an embarrassment to the family with her attitude of doing anything to get rich quick.

Streamers were very surprised by all this news.

"Her lifestyle no pretty...She have four kids and the four ah dem born a prison so she no have no quality," Keiva said.

Other statements were equally hard-hitting.

"Nuff respect to Judy but your daughter is a devil!"
Stay tuned for part twice of this mushrooming scandal between these outspoken women.

Source: Reggae Music FM

No more Passa Passa, Dutty Fridaze or Bembe?

Yow! An mi a seh flick it like a dollar - an mi a seh roll it like a ten-cent- an mi a seh "Daggering" never postpone," are the words Bragga's uttered in his 2008 hit single "Dagga Dat". However, since of late his statement above which declares that Daggering never postpone did not stand grounds for long as the Broadcasting Commission has "flicked" the "Daggering" script like a one-cent and rolled all "Daggering" songs from off the air waves and TV stations "like a roller-coaster."

So far, the Broadcasting Commission has been successful in ridding the airwaves and TV stations of these "Daggering" songs. But more problems seems to be on the rise for the Dancehall Fraternity as The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) are now lobbying for the government to put an end to several street sessions (party) such as Passa Passa, Bembe, Dutty Fridaze to name a few.

According to the JCC, these sessions should also be held responsible for the promoting of sexually crude songs that are filled with lewd lyrics.

A promoter of one of these popular street dances who did not wished to have his name disclosed slammed the JCC saying, "this is rubbish why the church would want to fight against these sessions when a lot of poor people survive from the staging of these parties. The churches need not to focus on street sessions, what they need to do is spend more time in trouble communities and try to restore peace."

The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) is also calling on the Jamaican Constabulary Force (police) to do everything in their power to make sure that private and public vehicles desist from playing these vulgar daggering/edited songs.

"Yow! An mi a seh flick it like a dollar - an mi a seh roll it like a ten-cent- an mi a seh 'Daggering' not only postponed, it cancelled to di fullest."

Source: Out A Road

Meet the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall finalists

Triple Threat

Groups are in every genre of music and dancehall is no exception. Gangsta Wasp, Medallion and Crazy Kid are celebrated as members of the only group so far to make it to the Live Show round; they are doing so under the name Triple Threat.

The group has been together since 2005, but has a strange tale of how they got together for Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall.

"I auditioned in May Pen and was turned down, Medallion went to Portmore and Montego Bay, and Crazy Kid went to May Pen, Portmore and Montego Bay and they, too, got turn down. We then decided that we would go as a group to Ocho Rios and that's how we made it to the final round," said Gangsta Wasp. Medallion, who hails from St Catherine, revealed, "It is like a dream come through. We work very hard and dedicate a lot of time to our music, we won't disappoint."

Destiny
Songwriter and sing-jay Destiny admits that she loves music and that her music mentor in the industry is Lady Saw. Coming from a musical family, and with years of experience, there was no surprise that she would blow away voters and cop one of the spots from the Ocho Rios audition with her original song Goodas Gal. "I'm looking to Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall most of all for the exposure," beamed Destiny. She continued: "I have this fear of performing onstage, so I see this competition helping me to overcome that fear."

Sexy K
With lyrical prowess and style, Sexy K started singing in the church at six years old. She still recalls the songs that she used to croon. Maturing in the choir and delivering acts while at high school in Oracabessa, she has grown into a capable deejay. Like the boys, she was never afraid to belt out a chorus or an entire song at lunch or breaktime, where she would whet the appetites of her friends. She said: "I have exciting dreams about the music business and entertainment, so I will make use of this opportunity to enhance my career."

Soca Under Fire

Broadcasting Commission bans lewd carnival music, gun lyrics

Contrary to what many believed would not happen, the Broadcasting Commission has now placed a ban on certain soca and hip-hop songs.

In a release issued yesterday, the commission declared; "The Broad-casting Commission is prohibiting transmission of any soca music content that displays, simulates or instructs about sexual activities or positions."

As it pertains to dancehall music, the commission has issued another directive. The release also declared a halt to the airing of lyrics which glorify the gun, killings and other acts of violence.

double standard

This follows an earlier directive on February 6, prohibiting the airing of 'Daggerin' 'and other explicit sexual content in the broadcast media. A lively debate was triggered in some quarters, with many individuals accusing the commission of a double standard approach to dancehall, while turning a blind eye to the crude and sometimes overtly sexual dances during carnival parades.

However, the regulatory body had earlier this month, said it would act against "all types of musical broadcast output, including soca music and carnival music". Yesterday, the commission officially put this in place.

extends to any content

The recent ban also extends to any content from live coverage or recorded shows, dances or events which display children participating in activities that simulate sexual activities or positions, whether in street parades, stage shows or at any other event.

The commission's directives on 'gun lyrics' further stipulate that any recording, live song or music video promoting and/or glorifying the use of guns or other offensive weapons, offences against the person such as rape, murder, and mob violence or other offences such as arson should be taken off the airwaves.

In ending, the release urged that immediate steps be taken to prevent the airing of material to which the directives apply, or which has to be edited by using 'bleeping'.

Source: Jamaica Star

Lauryn Hill pregnant again

According to one of source, Lauryn Hill is pregnant with her 6th child. We are just wondering whose is the father...rumors has it that its Rohan Marley.

We are not assuming anything at this time, we will keep you guys posted, as the story progress.

Source: Yard Flex

Spice engaged but not ready to get married

Deejay Spice recently got engaged when long time boyfriend and baby father, Nicholas Lall, proposed during his birthday party on February 7.

Spice who is ecstatic says that they have not set a date yet as she is too busy to get married right now. Even though they are happy and in love marriage is not something that she wants to jump into without careful consideration - they haven't even bought a house yet. She says that she wants to be financially comfortable before taking the plunge.

Fans will unfortunately not see Spice sporting an engagement ring as she will only do so among friends and family as she says that a marriage is not a public thing, it should be private and she is not sure whether she will have a big wedding or a private one.

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Sean Paul to hit New York

Fans who remember him during his struggling years, when he used to perform in clubs in Queens, sometimes for free, are delighted to learn that Sean Paul will be returning to his old stomping grounds.
Sean Paul who has not performed in New York since gaining international success will be performing at Club Maracas, Richmond Hill on Saturday, February 21, along with Kevin Lyttle and dancehall deejay Assassin.

Sean Paul's new album "The Next Thing" from Atlantic Records will be released this spring.

Source: Yard Flex

Who Murdered Gospel Singer Moses?

The family of the gospel singer Kasim 'Moses' Grant will be seeking to have an independent pathologist examine the body of the singer to determine the cause of death after failing to get what they deemed a 'satisfactory result'.

"They were not pleased with the results of the government autopsy so they're seeking to have an independent pathologist come in to give their own assessment of how they believed Moses died. The family is very hurt about the whole thing and it is creating a lot of turmoil in their lives," a source close to the family told ReggaeMusicFM said.

Government pathologists performed a post mortem on the body of gospel singer Moses earlier this week to determine the cause of his death and the findings suggested that "his death was consistent with a fall".

"The question is now is who murdered Moses? Was he pushed? How did he fall? Did he jump off? And if he did, would his body be in that position? People want to know," the source said.

Moses, whose real name is Kasim Grant, died more than two weeks ago. The police found his battered body under a bridge in Gordon Town, St. Andrew. He had been on the run from police after a shooting incident during which it is alleged he shot a man who had intervened in an argument he had with his wife's uncle. According to the police, the argument involved a motor vehicle.

Much speculation has surrounded his death with some suspecting foul play because of the position his body was found in at the scene of the crime. He will be buried by Brite Lite Funeral Services.

Source: Reggae Music FM

D'angel to be baptised?

Many dancehall fans have been wondering if D'Angel is flirting with the idea of giving her life to Christ after she did two gospel songs, the latest, Dem Cyan Get We Out featuring Prodigal Son.

I just thought it would be a great idea to do a song with Proddy, a song that would be like a rock for anyone going through struggles in their life. The song is a declaration against all haters and bad mind people who seek to overcome you with their negative thoughts and attitudes. This song celebrates life," D'Angel told Reggae Music FM.

D'Angel recently won the Singjay of the Year title at the EME awards at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel and her smash hit, Stronger stayed at #1 for four consecutive weeks. D'Angel also concluded the video shoot of her soon-to-be released single Dreams which was produced by riddim maestro Dr. Dizzle. Dreams will soon be available for download on a number of Internet sites, including iTunes.

Source: Reggae Music FM

Belize Reggae Fest kicks off with the King

Dancehall's Royal Highness Beenie Man is headed to Central America next month to inaugurate the Belize Reggae Fest series, which will be held on Saturday, March 7, at the Civic Center in Belize City. The Fest is an initiative of Triple T Productions and Nuff Muzik Productions to bring top tier Caribbean performers to Belize's ample community of reggae music lovers.

On Saturday, March 7, Beenie and reggae crooner Anthony Cruz are set to launch the Reggae Fest Series at the Princess Hotel and Casino with a lively mix of dancehall and lover's rock, while DJ Andrew D of Irie Jam Radio 93.5FM in New York will be spinning the latest reggae and dancehall tunes, as Jamaica's favorite "Attitude Gyal" Dyema shows off dancehall's latest fancy foot work.

Triple T and Nuff Muzik are launching the Belize Reggae Fest Series in response to a tremendous demand for top tier Caribbean artists in Belize and other parts of Central America. Tasz Smith, CEO of the New York based Triple T Productions, was floored by the overwhelming response to Beenie Man at his last performance in Belize in 2005. After noticing that shows featuring top billing Caribbean entertainers were far and few between in Belize, Smith joined forces with Garth Guthrie of Nuff Muzik Productions in Florida, to initiate the Belize Reggae Fest Series, which will be bringing the most popular reggae and Caribbean music artists to Central America. By bringing back Beenie Man, Smith and Guthrie are geared to launch the series with a bang.

"Beenie is one of the greatest entertainers of all time," states Smith, who has worked with other leading entertainment figures like Jay Z, Wyclef Jean, Sean Paul, and former NFL player Tiki Barber. "He does everything - he sings, dances, deejays, and his performances are very interactive, he engages the whole crowd in his performance. His stage persona is magnetic; I know the people of Belize can't wait to see him again."

Source: Out A Road

Mavado New Song Bad!

A So You Move - Mavado


Have you heard Mavado's new song lately...entitled a So You Move? It hit out at the government's stance on dancehall music. Irie FM is 'rinsing' it out and right now it's getting a lot of buzz on the streets and people are just talking. Man the singjay went all out on this one and the lyrics are really powerful. Trust me this dancehall, Broadcast Commission debate won't be going away anytime soon.

Hypocrites
Still I have to give my side of the debate in all of this. If you ask me, they are all hypocrites, how dem fi come down on dancehall music and not touching soca and carnival. A don't tink it is right that kids should be wining up and carrying on bad on the streets in skimpy outfits. Not to mention the adults who behave like real old bangarangs. You listen to the lyrics of di Calypso song dem...so what Broadcast Commission say bout dat. On pon top of that on Easter Sunday a cyaan turn on mi TV in peace just through di whole heap a naked people a dagger in the streets...so no more a those tings come Easter...a hope suh.

Red Stripe wheel and come again big time
Red Stripe launched Diageo Learning For Life - Project Artiste on Wednesday at the Heart School of Cosmetology. It's a big move to be taking raw talent - 40 participants to be exact and working with them. Training them and guiding them to deal with the whole business of music. In my books they have totally redeemed themselves.

Source: Yard Flex

Gyptian fires manager...again

Yardflex got it hot off the press that Gyptian has fired his manager...again. Don't know what was the reason for the falling out, but at this rate if he continues on the same track he won't have any candidate who can fill the bill. We will keep you in the know as soon as we get more on this one.

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US fly the gate for Shabba Ranks
Big up to Mr Shabba Ranks, dis one did more than overdue. Shabba Ranks can now travel again and we understand that he has a massive tour planned for the Caribbean. Speaking of which he had a gig in Miami the other day and reports are that him "teck it whey big time". Yeah man the venue pack and outside whey people couldn't get in did just as pack! Shabba a di real big man right now.

Source: Yard Flex

Bounty Killer for Trial/Beenie Man's tax evasion case...

Alliance leader Bounty Killer is set to stand trial on May 12 for his recent run in with the law.

According to reports, Bounty Killer aka Warlord whose real name is Rodney Price was accused of breaking seven red lights, obstructing traffic and refusing to do a breathalyzer test.

While Bounty Killer is getting ready to stand trial his long time nemesis Beenie Man might still has to pay a large percentage of his outstanding $40 million tax owing to the government, even though he was freed of tax evasion charges in September 2008.

Senior Magistrate Owen Parkins dismissed Beenie Man's tax case when Beenie Man's attorney declared a no case submission. . (Income taxes was improperly drafted)

However, OutAroad.com gets to understand that the Government’s tax department is still not pleased with the ruling and is now in the process of appealing the decision.

If the tax department can produced sufficient evidence to support their appeal then matter will be heard this year.

Source: Out A Road

Reggae Film Festival 2009 Postponed

Barbara Blake Hannah, organizer of what was to be the 2nd annual staging of the Reggae Film Festival, announced recently that the festival has been postponed due to inadequate funding. The event was set to take place February 23-27.

She said “Postponing the event to a later date will provide ample time for proper funding and planning to be put in place to create a proper event. We already have serious sponsorship interest from two private-sector companies, as well as some Government support that will take the burden off the Ministry of Culture’s stretched resources.”

Source: Dancehall Mobi

Soca Banned

Soca Music has also been included in the Broadcasting Commission's ban on airing sexually explicit lyrics.
The debate on the agency's ban on lewd dancehall music grew as they were accused of being biased. The Chairman Dr. Hopeton Dunn has stated that recommendations have been made to the Government to make amendments to the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations in a bid to clean up the music playing on the airwaves. These include the transmission of songs that condone or encourage hostility or violence; glamorizing the use of illegal drugs or alcohol.
The agency is presently trying to amend the existing Broadcasting and Radio Regulation Act of 1946 and will propose a model act that will deal with regulating the airwaves.
Last Friday, the commission announced the banning of the transmission of any song or music video which promotes the sexual act of 'daggering' or the use of the bleeping technique to mask explicit lyrics.
The ban was in response to a deluge of 'daggering songs' on the airwaves.
By this afternoon, Dr. Dunn said that the commission would be keeping an eye on the carnival festivities.

Source: YardFlex

Lil Jon Tries Soca

The superstar rapper and producer Johnathan Smith aka Lil Jon & "King of Crunk" who started out his musical career as a dancehall DJ with the Four Season's Sound System of the 1990's in Atlanta, is now creating a soca beat for this year's Carnival festival in Trinidad. Though he will not be performing, he will produce a beat for a collaboration between himself, Latin hip hop star Pitbull and soca artist Machel Montano called "Floor on Fire".

The track has evolved into a full fledged riddim including many Caribbean voices such as Kevin Lyttle and Mr. Vegas and will debut at this year's Carnival in Trinidad.
Jon, has in the past displayed a flair for island beats by appearing alongside Pitbull and Machel Montano at soca's Crop Over festival in Barbados.

Source: YardFlex

No Bleeping, No Daggering Hits Radio Playlists Hard

As a result of the new “no bleeping, no daggering” guidelines that were recently handed down by the Broadcasting Commission, Jamaica’s radio stations are scrambling to conform and finding that their existing playlists have to be completely revamped in order to comply full. Most are being hit hard by the regulations, with one radio station in particular - ZipFM - estimating that approximately 60% of its regular playlist will now be affected by the new ban.

Source: Dancehall Mobi

Greensleeves Wants a Bleeping Compromise

Greensleeves reggae label wants government to allow songs with daggering and bleeps for late night broadcast but concedes that, at times, local radio goes too far.
At the same time, it does not expect the ban to hurt these songs popularity.

"I think they should be more laxed in deciding when these (daggering songs) can be played," Greensleeves president, Olivier Chastan told the Observer from his UK office. "That is what they do in the UK and the US, in the day you cannot air that stuff either, it must be done within specific hours."

The restrictions will ban scores of popular songs including, Dagga Dat by Bragga and Ramping Shop by Vybz Kartel and Spice who never use the term dagger in the track.

Violent songs by artistes such as Mavado and Sizzla will also be banned as they require censorship. The ban was enforced by the Broadcasting Commission on Friday. It has inadvertently turned these songs about sex and violence into protest anti-establishment music. Greensleeves thinks this will fuel its popularity.

"At the end of the day I don't really have a strong opinion on the statutory requirements. I don't think it will change the popularity of the music. I don't think their will be a huge impact. Look at music from the 80s including Love Pu*a*i Bad they were popular and I do not think that radio was as lax as it is today," said Chastan, who added that Jamaican radio plays music which is disallowed in other markets.

The Broadcasting Commission described these recordings as being "explicitly sexual and violent" and contrary to sections of the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations and against certain tenets of the Children's Code for Programming. As a result, the commission had decreed that radio, television and cable stations must not transmit any recording, live song or music video which promotes or is suggestive of daggering.

The ban will not affect Greensleeves earnings as local radio market is small. However, it has already begun editing songs for its overseas markets years before.

"For us we are already affected by it. We have had to make (songs) clean years before (in the international market). In Jamaica there was a lot of freedom in terms of what comes on radio. Not necessarily in a good or bad way but its just incredible the amount of freedom and expression on radio, not on TV which is more regulated," Chastan continued. "We are putting some slack music on CD but we have also been policing ourselves for years. Because we cannot play a slack video on MTV and it wouldn't be played on commercial radio in the US. So we have been having to recut songs and change lyrics regularly for the past 10 years or so."

At the same time, Chastan is concerned of its impact on artiste creativity, that artistes may adjust their craft in order to secure airplay. He says that artistic freedom enables creativity.

"At the end of the day for me the question is how this is going to impact the choice of content for the artiste. That is going to be interesting to watch," he said. "We see Busy Signal,

Mavado and Vybz Kartel competing in terms of who is going to be the most outrageous . At times they have created extremely interesting music. Look at Busy Signal's Tic Toc. It is a very funny song. You need to give the artistes freedom to create."

Artistes are not the only agents of socialisation he says and calls on the family and the media to play their role.
Greensleeves is a subsidiary of VP Records both once were rivals until last January in a buy out deal.

The commission in its statement defined daggering as "a colloquial term used in dancehall culture as a reference to hardcore sex or what is popularly referred to as dry sex, or the activities of persons engaged in the public simulation of various sexual acts and positions".

Source: Jamaican Observer

Selectors Beaten, Foota Hype's Hand is Broken

A Westmoreland dance ended in agony for two selectors who were beaten by men aligned to the notorious Nineties gang. One of the selectors who was injured was Alliance selector Foota Hype who early reports say was beaten to the point where one of his hands was broken in two places.Another selector, Fluggo from Travellers, was also beaten brutally by a group of over 20 men to the point where he had to be admitted to the hospital.


"De man dem say Mavado was supposed to go to the dance and him never go, dem claim say a Foota cause it, but Fluggo from Travellers get it wicked, the argument is that him violate wid the flyers inna some way and dem beat him too, all chop wid lass him get," one source told reggaemusicfm.

Three years ago, selector Hottaball was beaten by men from the Nineties as well who felt that he had dissed the Alliance, and was aligned to Beenie Man.
When contacted, selector Foota Hype would neither confirm or deny that the incident had happened only to say that he "was stressed out about the whole thing but call me tomorrow".

Source: Reggae Music FM

Government Bans "Daggering"

There shall not be transmitted through radio or television, any recording, live song or music video which promotes the act of 'daggering' or which makes reference to, or is otherwise suggestive of 'daggering'," said Hopeton Dunn, commission chairman, in a release last night.
"There shall not be transmitted through radio or television or cable services, any song or music video which employs editing techniques or bleeping of its original lyrical content," Dunn continued.

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica banned radio and television stations from airing songs with content deemed explicitly sexual and violent, even if concealed by bleeps.

All dancehall songs which qualify as 'daggering' content including Kartel's Ramping Shop, RDX's Daggering and Bend Over, are included in the ban, which takes effect immediately. Obviously it does not affect content recorded on CDs and DVDs because that cannot be effectively policed.

Broadcasting Commission has come under pressure in recent months from church and civic groups to police the airwaves and sanction stations which breach the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations.

Source: Reggae Music FM

Portmore Empire in Toronto Next Month

Black Ryno, Jahvinchi, Shawn Storm and the rest of Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire (excluding Kartel himself) will perform live in Toronto on March 19 at Fusion Lounge. This will be their first appearance in Canada.

Source: Dancehall Mobi

Silence Stumping Ice Murder Investigation

Jamaica’s “culture of silence”, which has been highlighted, emphasized and reiterated over the years in our “informer fi dead” dancehall music and culture, may ironically be preventing the solving of the murder case involving popular dancehall dancer, David Smith (more popularly known as ‘Ice’). Ice was gunned down on Boxing Day last year, and despite a strong lead which has lead to the arrest of a suspect, he is still to be charged as no witnesses are forthcoming.

In the legal world, minimal evidence and no witnesses means no case, and this may very well be situation with regard to Ice’s murder, as the police cannot hold the prime suspect in custody indefinitely without charging him; and it seems obvious that they are unable to charge him because no one is willing to identify him.

Even if the silence prevails, and the suspect is eventually released, it’s not a stretch to imagine that there are persons who may very well be planning their own jungle justice retaliation for Ice’s murder. It’s a never-ending cycle that replays itself here in Jamaica over and over again. Where will it end? R.I.P. Ice.

Source: Dancehall Mobi