E-Square

Its Bacchanal - the final nite of Treasures

2010-03-29T13:47:00.001-07:00

For the last in the series of Mas Camp theme fetes before the hot Beach J'ouvert, Jouvert and Road parade that will bring the 2010 season to a close, Digicel decked out its SKYbox with Gimme 5 promo livery and brought in Trini queen Destra to rockthe crowd, ably supported by Busy Signal and the L'ACADCO Dancers.

This writer (ensemble completed by a Digicel bandana) could not resist a personal memento of the occasion, which in turn was enhanced by my wide-ranging conversation with Digicel Network Design Director Steve Curran (shown here with wife Shelly).

Trevor "O. K." & Ribbi

2010-03-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Renowned ZJ Bambino (aka Trevor Off Key), left - makes sure Nite Time Promotions Quad honcho Brian 'Ribbi' Chung (also one of the new faces of Digicel's Gimme 5 promotion) doesn't have ALL the fun as they cozy up to the Digicel Bacchanal girls during Friday night's bacchanal Fete at the Mas Camp.

- photo from Digicel

David M Hits on Centric

2010-03-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

David M, who first introduced himself to the local industry in the 90’s confirms the grand premiere of his music video for the single “Lest we forget” on Black Entertainment Television (B.E.T.) on Sunday March 14th and in good faith the video was shown at 10:30am EST. For several months David M and his team have been lobbying for the video to be aired on the station and when it was finally confirmed David took the precaution of watching his dream manifest before going public.

*1 The single “Lest we Forget” which ironically was written 16 years ago on the eve of the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa resonates with words that are as relevant today as they ever were. The song is currently in rotation on Music Choice, has been featured on Centric formerly B.E.T.J. for Black History Month and is silently breaking new grounds in the United States. David M *2 is a natural song writer able to write songs like a classic Reggae ballad with an effort akin to breathing. One of his more recent singles "This is our world" has been recently uploaded and featured as background music on http://www.playersforpeace.org. Players For Peace is a movement that works as an organized commitment of Goodwill working on Legacy Projects through the Gol Iluminado Foundation in support of the United Nations Sport for Development and Peace program’. David M, another son of the Jamaican soil is working assiduously towards the completion of his debut album at the end of March 2010 . The album which is tentatively called "Here comes your life" has already attracted the interest of one prominent record company in the United States.

A little Ways to Go For Jr Gong-Nas project

2010-03-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

Nas & Damian Marley's Distant Relatives project was initially due on April 20. However, now fans are likely to wait until May 25 to hear the full-length union between Bob Marley's youngest son and the iconic Queensbridge emcee. At last report, Marley said that the album would feature two tracks with A&M Records' K'Naan, with the album's entire production handled by Damian and Stephen Marley.

In December, Nas spoke about the album's affect on his rich musical legacy. "I can't say how it's gonna affect my musical legacy. I just think that with everything I do, I want it to mean something. Like [Tony Montana] said, 'I tell the truth, even when I lie.' What he was sayin' is, he never lies. He's honest, even when he makes mistakes or misjudgments, he did it in truth. Everything I'm doing is because I feel right about it. The benefit of it [is] we contributed something to the world. Something like this...I don't know who's gonna like it, who's gonna hate it or whatever, but it's another contribution to the world. One more thing to just listen to,"

-Hiphopdx via Headline Entertainment

Comedy Dons for Backyard

2010-03-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

The Comedy Dons to take all on April 4

Kingston, Jamaica:- The fourth JA/USA Comedy Connection, set for the Backyard Entertainment Complex on Sunday April 4, is all set to bring laughter to Jamaicans like never before, as they present the theme ‘The Comedy Dons’.

Featuring international comedic superstar and BET Comic View regular Shang and Jamaican comedians Ity and Fancy Cat, Johnny Daley, Rohan Gunter, Emperor and Leighton Smith, the event is being organised by funny-show experts Pro-Starz Entertainment.

Its principal, Renae Excell, says that the ‘comedy don’ theme was selected because of the great experience and respect the comedians on the show have, and that “they simply know how to make people laugh.”

“When we chose the line-up, we needed to ensure that the comedians appearing on the stage were real comedians, people who aren’t afraid to really get involved in their act and ensure that each and every patron has a good time.

“So the ‘comedy don’ theme we thought was more than apt for the cadre of comedians we have put together. From Shang to Gunter, these are men who can make people laugh and laugh well. Trust me when I tell you that come Easter Sunday, laughing ago spoil,” Excell said.

The event will be hosted by Jamaican comedy queen Elva Ruddock, who is the lone female on the bill. Excell mentioned that Elva was picked because she’s expected to inject her own brand of humour which, makes for even more laughter. She also said that there would be another surprise international comedian.

Tight-lipped about who the surprise might be, she continued stating that the event would be a well-needed night of relaxation for Jamaicans, and that they will be able to unwind, have a great time, leave satisfied, and have a few jokes and stories to tell friends. Ticket prices to the event will also be at a minimum, with price-tags of $1000 for college students with ID, $1200 pre-sold, and $1500 at-the-gate, with outlets at Watts New, Rory’s Texaco, Derrick Harriot’s Music Shop in Twin Gates Plaza and Pool Plus in Portmore.

Love & Unity @ Digicel Bacchanal Nite

2010-03-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Last Friday nite, the buzz was definitely sky-high at Mas Camp as Digicel presented its night's entertainment in the Bacchanal Treasures series. Its a transformation witnessed many times before but no less awesome for the repetition. The early night's sparse crowd (which of course allows room to move around) mushroomed into a ultra-capacity affair with ZJ Bambino (aka Trevor Off-Key) and DJ Smoke keeping the vibes soaring.

Those who got in were treated to a masterful show from Alison Hinds, who was not only "smokin'" in a 'second skin' purple-silver catsuit with sequins, she reeled off her hits but in manner that told everyone that she was far from jaded, even having performed on Bacchanal several times before

Upstairs the Digicel box, there was even an impromptu "Dance Off" pitting Riverdance against Dutty Wine and other dancehall moves. Hard to say who won, but a good time was had by all, Thanks to Digicel execs.

Around the grounds amid the revelry, vendor parters did boffo business, and in the Bacchanal Pavilion, the windows displaying the costumes increasingly bore "SoldOut" signs as patrons have been snapping up

NUFF LOVE "THIS LIFETIME" FOR SHEBA

2010-03-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

Love This Lifetime (Remix)” the debut single by Ethiopian Singer/Songwriter/Producer, Sheba Sahlemariam featuringBounty Killeriscasting a spellon lovers the world over. The song, released independently anddigitally distributed globally byUniversal Music Groupreceived an unexpected boost last week when it officially debuted on the UK Urban Charts at #28 (Music Week).

The single showcases aromantic R&B/ One-dropflavor,andfeaturesa DJ style reminiscent of old schoolStone Loveremixed by infamousDancehallSuperstar Bounty Killer. Thesongis steadily climbing the charts globally; it currently holds the #9 seat inJamaicaonRichie B Charts,and made it's African debuton AFRO FM out ofAddis Ababa, right at the top, at the #1 Spot.DJ Sirak, a resident on AFRO FM calls the song an “instant hit with the African community;both inside and outside Africa.” The video also holds the #4 spot on CVM Jamaica's popular video show, "Hit List". (Hey Gary Please confirm:)

The video of the songwasshoton the streets ofKingston, Jamaica by Internationally known director Jay Will “Game Over” debuted online http://www.facebook.com/l/e4858;atwww.boomshots.comwith a raving endorsement from Vibe Magazine Editor, Rob Kenner “Sheba’s uniquely qualified to rock your world. And did Imention she can sing?” the video premiered earlier that dayonJamaica's "Entertainment Report"the leadingentertainment news show in Jamaica,hosted by the Anthony Miller, the “Simon Cowell” of Jamaica,with the declaration: “She has got the goods!”

The video has also been added tothe MTV UK and MTV Baserotations, a true coup d’etat for the unknown and independentSongstress.It is also being featured on European music video networks, Starz and Flava.Sheba is now in Europe on a promotionaltour, where she will be celebrating the success of the Single in the UK and introducing French audiences to her music.

There are plans tokeep the momentum going strong for Shebawithseveral follow up singles includingRat-Tat-Hot”,anup-tempo club banger fusingdancehallandelectro pop,“Get Yo Story Str8”abreakthroughAfro-beatRaggaSoul fusion song for the dance floors, anda mixtape previewing material from her upcoming studio album,“The Lion Of Sheba” due in May 2010.

Sheba is also excited to start work withsuch internationally heralded multiple Grammy award winnersSongwritersand Producers likeSly and Robbieand Bobby Digital, some of Reggae and Dancehall's most prolific composers for the past three decades delivering such international hits between them as Chaka Demus and Pliers "Bam Bam" and "Murder She Wrote" and Shabba Ranks' Wicked inna Bed" and Sizzla's "Good Ways" to name just a few. Digital plans toreunite with Reggae legendSizzlaon collaboration with Sheba to be featured on her album called "Someone To Love Me".

“It feels really good to get such a great response from the song, especially as an independent artist who is basically running a label from my lap top while I’m on the road! It makes me feel like I need to hurry up get more music out.” says Sheba from Kingston where she is currently wrapping up of several weeks of a media run in which she was featured on most major television, music video, print and radio outlet that serve the Jamaican Reggae and Dancehall markets.

About SHEBA:
A refugee from the majestic war-torn land of Ethiopia, Sheba Sahlemariam was reared among the concrete jungles of New York City, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Named after the Queen of Sheba, famed empress of Ethiopia, to whom her family traces direct ancestry, Sheba is a cousin to Emperor Haile Selassie, which highlights the serendipitous circumstances that moved her family from Ethiopia to Guyana, where she spent her early childhood and later, Jamaica, which deepened her connection to Reggae and Dancehall, the glue to her global and urban sound. Sheba stirs up a unique musical brew that is a mélange of Reggae grooves, Afro-beat, Ethiopian traditional music and jazz, R&B riffs, 16 bar rhymes, and Dancehall Sing-Jaying --souvenirs from her nomadic life. Sheba’s gorgeous four octave range, soul stirring, provocative lyrics and fierce ability to dial up a diversity of musical styles puts her at the razor’s edge and will expel you from preconceived definitions of urban, pop and world music.

-AXES Media

White crowds dig "Black Gold"; Stephenson upbeat

2010-03-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

“We lived up to our word and delivered professional sets, we were on time and had no problems with promoters,” he explained, adding, “People deal with you according to how you deal with them.”
So says reggae crooner Duane Stephenson, fresh from his European performance debut.

“Three people who had never toured before managed to fill venues night after night, despite freezing temperatures. We played to predominantly white audiences and they sang the songs word for word. In some places there were literally one or two Africans and then in France there were a few Jamaicans, but it was mainly white people who came out to support us. And we made sure to leave a positive and lasting impression on them,” he told Chat!.
He was on tour with Tarrus Riley and I-Octane.
Duane, whose album August Town, with the hit song of the same, did well both locally and overseas, said he was surprised that fans knew his repertoire so well. He says his set comprised songs from the album, as well as two singles from his upcoming album, Black Gold and Sufferers Heights.

The three-week tour ended on Valentine’s Day with a sold-out concert at the Brixton Academy in London. Also on that bill were Lukey D, Bitty McLean, John Holt and Freddy Jackson.

- dancehallreggaeweseh

Sounds Ahoy! - Music @ the Marina

2010-03-09T06:21:00.000-08:00

From my good friend Jana Bent. Two worthy causes in one

MUSIC AT THE MARINA!!
This Sunday from noon til...., come get a seabreeze out!!
Live Music Jam
With Rupert Bent Jr. & Friends
P A R T P R O C E E D S T O H A I T I R E L I E F

Music By

Nothing Fancy (John & Gibbo)
Dress Code:

Wear yu JAMAICAN COLOURS
Special appearance by

Ernie Smith
Support our Jamaican Sailing Team for the U.S. Harpoon Nationals in Ocala, Florida!!

contribution to help the Team compete

$1,000.
food and drink on sale
Reggae Jammin'
on the grill
Jamaica Beverages

at the Bar
Pico Sailing

in the Marina
Sunday, March 14, 2010

• From noon ‘til …… • RJYC Palisadoes Park (Yacht Club

Rap icon Guru (of Gang Starr) Still Hospitalized

2010-03-09T04:32:00.000-08:00

Despite what friends and supporters are tweeting, Gang Starr’s Guru - a.k.a. Keith Elam - is still in a coma and his condition is “touch and go.’’ So says Harry Elam, the 88-year-old father of the hip-hop pioneer who grew up in Dorchester. We reached the elder Elam in Buzzards Bay, where the retired Massachusetts judge lives alone. (His wife, Barbara, is in a nursing home.) Elam told us he’s upset about the “misinformation’’ tweeted by Guru’s former musical partner, DJ Premier. “Why is someone who has not spoken to my son in 10 years talking about his medical condition?’’ said Guru’s dad. Harry Elam said his son was originally hospitalized for complications from back surgery and, as far as he knows, his son has not had heart surgery. (DJ Premier tweeted that Guru had successful surgery.) “Keith is seriously ill,’’ said his father, who is relying on reports from his other children. “You never think this is going to happen to you.’’
- The Boston Globe (boston.com)

CD Ka-Ching! - Music industry seminar

2010-03-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA) in response to the members request is facilitating this workshop/panel discussion on how to Market Music.

This session at the Jamaica Trade & Invest Training will take a close look at the mechanics (the how to) of how to actually sell music. This is going to be a close look at what one has to do to get someone to actually pay for a CD, Vinyl Record and/or music download.

This is will be done by speaking to individuals and/or companies who have a track record in the actual sale of Jamaican Music.

So far we have confirmed the participation of Lucas Corthesy who has a successful business selling vinyl records from Jamaica to the markets of Japan and Europe.

Many other music business luminaries will be there to share their experience on how to actually sell Jamaican music.

The workshop is free to all JARIA members
Non-JARIA members $1,500

Whitebones goes "Live" with Griot

2010-02-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

Live Music & Seafood come together at Whitebones Seafood Restaurant

There will be weekly live music at the Whitebones Seafood Restaurant starting on Sunday March 7, 2010.

Whitebones Seafood Restaurant is the latest venue to come on board Griot Music Limited's weekly live music series that is aimed at reviving the live music nightlife in Kingston and in towns around Jamaica resulting in Jamaica becoming the live music capital of the world.

The series will feature performers and groups such as Black Zebra, Sezi, Della Manley, Blugrass in the Sky and Rising Star finalist O'Neil Peart and many others from Griot Music's increasing roster of live music talent.

Showtime starts at 6:00 pm and will end at 9:00 pm, Whitebones owners, Jackie Wilson and Richard Elliot are eager to share their restaurant with a new audience through the regularly scheduled live music.

At Whitebones entrées are prepared in many ways, Shrimp, Conch, Fish, Lobster, Crab, Salmon and Squid and the menu offers other selections such as Vegetarian, Italian, Chicken and Steaks.

The restaurant is no stranger to live music or special nights as they have on Thursdays an “All U Can Eat” Crab Night that starts at 6pm -10pm.

Whitebones is located at 1 Mannnings Hill Rd. Kgn 8 at Mary Browns Corner, off Constant Spring Rd and operates on these days and times:

Mondays – Saturdays: 11:30 am - 10:30pm
Sundays: 2:00 pm - 9:30pm
& most Public Holidays

Dancehall's "Hawk" Soars Again

2010-02-26T07:09:00.000-08:00

even though it was the white dove of peacethat was released during the night's happenings, what was really being celebrated was the public return of one of the most aggressive and potent forces in the sound system movement.

Artistes (Buccaneer, Goofy, aka Mr G; Red Rose; Wickerman; Capt barky among others), selectors from other sounds, media and well-wishers thronged the upper deck of Medusa bar & Grill on Thursday night for the relaunch of Silver Hawk, one of a handful of sound systems that helped define the transition of dancehall music from underground to mainstream, beginning in the 1990s.

The evening also encompassed a masterful tribute - courtesy of DJ engineroom (aka Chris Edmonds) - to the late production wiz, Steelie (of duo Steelie and Clevie; Clevie was very much in attendance ), who playeda stunning range of tracks featuring the ace producer. Then it was time for Silver hawk maestro Richie Poo and company to take control, reeling off the hits and "specials" (dubplates)from the lieks of Buju, Toots Hibbert, Bunny Wailer and even the late Crown Prince Dennis Brown. Co-sponsor Wray & nephew ketp the libations flowing, and the two former MainStreeters, Goofy and Buccaneer did a short but peppy stint.

Miss Global Returns to Kingston

2010-02-25T16:06:00.000-08:00

From Tuesday's launch of The 2010 pageant:

Miss Global International Beauty Pageant 2010 will take place at The Hilton Kingston Hotel Jamaica on Sunday 26 of September. Entries are now open for beautiful, intelligent, talented young ladies, unmarried between the ages 17-26 from all over the world who wish to participate in the most prestigious Miss Global International beauty pageant.

Kindly contact us at pageantambassador@hotmail.com or call us at our office from Monday to Friday between 9:00am – 5:00pm at 1-876-953-9020-2 for further information.

Miss Global International 2009 took place at RIU Montego Bay on Saturday 1st of August at 9pm. The auditorium at the RIU was packed to capacity with tourists from around the globe, local spectators, sponsors, media and well wishers for the grand Coronation show.

AZARIA CLARE of BAHAMAS emerged as Winner also the receipient of MOST AWARE, IRIS ORDENANA of NICARAGUA was 1st Runner Up and recipient of the BEST COSTUME award, ADRIANNA BRYAN of JAMAICA was 2nd Runner Up and recipient of the MOST TALENTED and MOST CONGENIAL went to KATIE FLOOD of CANADA.

GLAAD Still Mad at Capleton

2010-02-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

nternational Jamaican Reggae superstar Capleton has once again become the target of the gay community and the organization GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) in response to his concert and festival bookings in California and Florida this month.

They have once again used their strong arm tactics to intimidate concert promoters and venue owners putting misinformation in the public about the artiste to further their own agendas. Capleton is very disappointed that his many fans (that cross all races and creeds) have not been able to see him at his scheduled shows in California this past week. He has performed at the same venues and festivals over the past two years with no incident bringing a message of love for all through Reggae music. The barrage of protest from these groups is unwarranted and has been addressed many times in the media in the past. The artiste has a forgiving heart for what has been done to him and will continue on the high path.

Capleton will continue to spread a positive and spiritual message through music to the four corners of the Earth and continue to stand firm that universal love can unite all mankind. Capleton will be performing this coming Saturday, February 27 in Miami, Florida at the annual Bob Marley Day / Caribbean Festival 2010 and will be featuring his new song "Haitians" in tribute and support to the earthquake victims on the island of Haiti.

- Capleton Music News

Vegas Non-Grata in Grenada?

2010-02-22T15:03:00.000-08:00

Jamaican Dancehall sensation Clifford Smith AKA Mr. Vegas, with mega hits Heads High, I Am Blessed and Do You Know, is the second Jamaican artiste to be banned from performing in Grenada by the 19-month old NDC administration, in less than a year.
The popular entertainer was scheduled to perform in Grenada for the first time in just under two years at the popular Karma night club in St. Georges Grenada, on Sat Feb 27th 2010.
According to the promoter of the event Steve Duncan, this one came as a shock. No specific reasons were given by the Ministry of Labour for the refusal of the work permits.
Inside sources has hinted that the refusal may have been as a result of one particular song from the artiste which is judged to contain derogatory remarks about women.

-ENTERTAINMENT News

Shaggy Heads West

2010-02-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

Diamond selling dancehall/reggae superstar Orville Burrell popularly known as Shaggy will be the featured act at the Negril One Love Reggae Concert winter series show which will be held on Tuesday the 23rd of February at the Negril Escape Resort. Shaggy came to international prominence in the early 1990s with a cover of the Folks Brothers Ska hit Oh Carolina; since then he has become a household name world wide having sold millions of album and singles. Shaggy’s impressive catalogue boasts several international chart toppers such as It Wasn’t Me Angel, Boombastic, In The Summer Time, Luv Me Luv Me, Hey Sexy Lady, Wild Tonite and Whats Love.

Also on the lineup for this event is long-time stablemate and collaborator Rayvon, as well as local acts Terry Wonder and Escapade.

Part proceeds from this event will go to the Ironshore Basic School. Admission is US$50, tickets are available at Negril Escape resort, the Jungle Night Club and Sue’s Easy Rock Café. Gates open at 7 PM and show time is 8PM. The sponsors of the One Love Reggae winter series are the Jamaica Tourist Board, Boom Energy Drink, Tori-Shae’s Productions, the Jungle Night Club, Negril Scuba Center, VYBZ FM 96.3 FM, LYNKZ FM 96, Western Pressure Cleaners, Island Multi Media Solutions Ltd. and Wow Negril.

"All Is Well" for Pressure on the Love Potion Riddim

2010-02-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

Kingston, Jamaica: Love is still in the air after Valentine's day as the dynamic duo of Jammy James aka Jam 2 and Camar aka Flavaunit now known as JAM 2 Productions has released their first single for 2010 on their "Love Potion" riddim with the ever talented Pressure Bus Pipe with a song entitled "All Is Well".

This one is fresh from the pipes, creatively composed by two masterminds in production. Jam 2 & Camar are more known for their previous chart topping hit with "Nah Go A Jail" by Busy Signal. Now, they are back and from all indications from this single, "All Is Well" indeed. Pressure fuses his seductive vocals with Jam 2 Productions' "Love Potion" to create a love ballad that speaks to a relationship between a man & a woman that is not perfect, but "All Is Well".

Jam 2 & Flava have been busy the past couple of months in Florida at the famed Hit Factory studio where they were in studio with the likes of T-Pain, working on Lil Wayne's Carter 4 album and had previously released a single "Trust Me" by Brooke Hogan. Now they are back to their 'home base' at the legendary King Jammy's studio, in Waterhouse, Jamaica where they are working on stellar productions which are expected to hit the market this first quarter of 2010.

Jam 2 Productions are increasing the pressure and are about to buss the music production barriers with productions that are fused with all genres and cultures in one. With the release of this single, "All Is Well" coming from the camp it is expected that this production will rise to the top of the charts.

- END -
-From Rockwildaz family

U Saw I t Here First: Tastee Talent Trail 2K10

2010-02-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

The 2010 edition of the Tastee Talent Trail steps out (bigger & Better) this April. A new venue has been added so check back with E-Square and follow the official announcements.

Brayahn Art makes this "his year" with new album

2010-02-19T14:14:00.001-08:00

Bryan Art is ready to release his debut album 20Ten for March 2010. He has been known as an outstanding Jamaican voice for some time and now he is all set to take his music to Jamaica and around the world. His latest releases “Ready Or Not” as well as “Murder Dem A Play” feat Queen Ifrica have been received exceptionally well on the international market.

20Ten is a reflection of Bryan Art as an artiste and all true music lovers will enjoy every song on this album.

About Bryan Art 20Ten

“Being able to express myself through such a powerful medium is more than a privilege and even though I have missed so many deadlines and have had to face the music, I must humbly acknowledge the honor I found in the fact that so many people keenly await my work. My solo career started out very gradually but I had hoped for not much delay in presenting the very first compilation which was due, completed but still unreleased.

Anyway, nothing happens before the time and with my kind of love for the art form I really had a lot of fun putting together a newer collection of really great works. Thanks to my die hard support team who stood firmly by the standard we have set and now – at length and at last 16 inspired and inspiring tracks being “Bryan Art 20Ten” is set for soon release. “

MACKA GOES 'GANGSTA' FOR HER NEXT BOOK

2010-02-09T03:50:00.000-08:00

The ink is dry, the follow-up novel, ‘The Real Gangster’s Wife,’ is ready, and the free food and drink inclusive, star studded launch is set for February 18th at Club Moulin Rouge, 104 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 8.

So what can fans expect from Macka this time around? “Fans and critics alike are actually in for both a surprise and a threat,” states Pageturner Publishing House (Publishers of BUN HIM!!! and The Real Gangster’s Wife) CEO, Karl Larmond. “First you are all invited to attend our Drinks On Us book launch on the 18th, at Club Moulin Rouge, where the book will be available for the first time at a special launch price. Fans can also come out and get a first taste of the book upfront and personal, with readings from members of the entertainment fraternity and members of the literary society, while also pick up their autograph copies of what we expect to be yet another bestseller.” Mr. Larmond continues by saying, “Not only has Macka’s writing skills improved by leaps and bounds, but once again she has taken on yet another subject matter that we are all too familiar with in our Jamaican society and the world at large. A subject matter that very few of us have ever given any serious thought to, or may even realize is affecting countless females around us; and that is the subject of being emotionally involved with a man that operates on the wrong side of the law, and all the drama and mental anguish that comes with that reality, all in the name of love.”

Sounds like reality?…Very much so, and come February 18th, Macka’s sophomore novel will take on this delicate subject matter, in the form of The Real Gangster’s Wife, available at all Sangster’s and Kingston Book Shops island wide, for all to read, dissect and hopefully get the message that she has again taken a bold step to convey and shed much needed light on.

EMEs Feel India is "Arie"

2010-02-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

SINGER COPS “INTERNATIONAL FRIEND OF REGGAE” HONOUR
India Arie was named this year’s International Friend of Reggae at the recently held 6th Annual Excellence in Music & Entertainment (EME) Awards 2010 staged at the Gardens at Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston. The EME Organizers were honoured to have her presence, as this was her first appearance since winning her third Grammy on the Sunday before.
Arie received her award after gracing the stage with Gramps Morgan. The two performed their duet, “Therapy”, which is featured on Morgan’s album, “2 Sides of My Heart”, which was named the 2010 EME Album of the Year. India Arie also performed her single “Ready For Love” and received great response from the audience.
Jamaicans were thrilled to see Arie, who is the first international artiste in this category who has appeared in person to receive the award. “I call myself an honorary member of the Morgan’s Family”, she stated during her acceptance speech. Describing herself as feeling “humble and excited”, she spoke warmly of her love for the Jamaican people, and of the beauty of the island she admired during her stay at the luxurious Strawberry Hill resort.
The organizers of the EME Awards congratulate all winners. Three artistes scooped up three awards each, Vybz Kartel DJ of the Year (Male); Recording Artiste of the Year; and Songwriter/Lyricist of the Year); Singer Jah Cure, Vocalist of the Year (Male), and his song “Call On Me” featuring Phyllisia, being awarded Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year; and Ding Dong, Best Original Dance Move of the Year; Song of the Year (Dancehall) – “Holiday” featuring Chevaun; and Collaboration of the Year (Dancehall).
For more information on all the winners of the 2010 EME Awards, please see www.emeawards.com.

Griot hitches 'John Crow' to Ochie

2010-02-08T14:14:00.000-08:00

Griot Music limited will start booking live music at John Crow's Tavern starting with four weeks of performers from Kingston starting on Saturday, February 13 and ending on Saturday March 6.

John Crow's Tavern is a Sports bar and restaurant that is committed to provide a fun, relaxed but high quality experience for tourists and locals alike in Ocho Rios. It is located at 10 Main Street in the town of Ocho Rios and is very accessible being right in the middle of town on the main street within easy access of the main hotels and walking distance from the Town Square.

For Griot Music this is another opportunity to see the realization of "Jamaica, the Live Music Nation" the company's objective of seeing Jamaica surpass Austin, Texas as the live music capital of the world measured by the number of live music venues per capita. This would make three venues that Griot Music provides weekly live music for and resulting in the production of 150 live music events per year.

The performers that will be featured in the initial four weeks will be Wayne McGregor, Airplai, Bijean Gayle and Christine Fisher. After this initial four week period it is the intention that the venue will be booked with local talent from Ocho Rios with occasional performances from Kingston Artists.

Griot Music will be seeking performers from Ocho Rios who can perform for two 45 minutes and have their own sound equipment.

Interested performers should email griotmusic@gmail.com

"Game Not Over - Yet" for Haiti: digicel, Shaggy, Jay-Will to the rescue

2010-02-04T05:39:00.000-08:00

Digicel and Shaggy´s `Rise Again´ Haiti Relief Song Available on iTunes Now

International acclaimed Caribbean artists Shaggy, Sean Paul, Sean Kingston and many more feature and internationally renowned director Jay Will shoots video

Kingston, Jamaica: Digicel today announced that `Rise Again´ - the song written by international reggae sensation and Grammy Award-winning artist, Shaggy, to support the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti on 12th January - is available on iTunes for download and purchase for 99 cents (US) now with the artists and label donating their proceeds to the Digicel Haiti relief fund.

`Rise Again´ is a Caribbean song, which was written and performed by Caribbean artists for the people of Haiti. And with the New York Times hailing the song as "fast becoming a post-quake anthem", `Rise Again´ has had a fantastic reception and is already getting heavy rotation radio airplay and news coverage across the globe.

In addition, from mid-next week, the video to accompany `Rise Again´ will also be available on iTunes.

Directed by internationally renowned film and video director, Jay Will, and filmed around Port Royal in Jamaica, the video´s central theme is of people from across the Caribbean coming together to rebuild Haiti and help the people of Haiti to rise again.

From red, white and blue balloons mirroring the colours of the Haitian flag being released to aid arriving on boats and planes and a mother being gently handed her new born baby by a nurse - the images portrayed are of hope for the future - and are interspersed with actual footage of the aftermath of the earthquake.

A veteran of some 50 music-related films and videos and with roles at MTV, CBS, ESPN and NBC under his belt, Jay Will has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Kanye West, Bob Sinclar, Elephant Man, Lee Scratch Perry and Vybz Kartel.

Commenting on the video, director Jay Will said; "The devastation in Haiti and the heartbreak is immeasurable. The aim of this video is to offer hope and a chance for change and recovery. The simple message is: throughout all things, one thing will remain true - that despite the tragedy, despite the struggle, despite the hardships, Haiti will rise again."

Colm Delves, Group CEO of Digicel, comments; "`Rise Again´ succeeds in being both moving and uplifting and we are delighted with the reception that it has had across the globe to date. We would like to thank everyone for their support and encourage people to log on to iTunes and purchase the song so that we can keep giving to the people of Haiti in their time of need."

Artists featured on `Rise Again´ include Shaggy; Sean Paul; Sean Kingston; Barbadian Artists, Alison Hinds, Shontelle Layne and Edwin Yearwood; Trinidadian Soca Artists, Destra Garcia, David Rudder and Kes Dieffenthaller; Jamaican reggae artists, Tessanne Chin and Etana; and Haitian artiste, Belo. The track was produced by Christopher Birch.

As the single largest investor in Haiti with a total investment of over U$300 million since its launch in 2006, Digicel has over two million customers in Haiti. The Digicel Haiti Relief Fund has donated US$5 million to NGOs in Haiti to support the relief efforts and over US$600,000 has been raised by Digicel customers across the Caribbean and Central America through a text and voice donation line. Digicel also gave each of its two million customers in Haiti US$5 in free credit - totaling US$10 million.

In addition, over 60 video messages of support have been recorded by well known people such as the Fastest Man in the World, Usain Bolt; President Martinelli of Panama; West Indies legend, Sir Garfield Sobers; and many more. All videos are available to view on

www.facebook.com/helphaiti.

Shaggy & Friends 2K10: Bigger, But....?

2010-01-03T06:09:00.000-08:00

"Even up to 12 midnite, people still a buy ticket come in"

So noted conceptualiser-host-performer Shaggy at one point near the end of the renewal of his charity concert.

Even at a cursory glance, it did seem that Shaggy & Friends Dare to Care 2010 had managed to defy the economic odds and attract an even bigger crowd than its predecessor.

But Bigger is not necessarily better.

The show, which contrary to last year's edition, got off to a late start, ran smoothly thereafter, but as far as performance quality, it delivered only in spurts and never achieved the transcendence of the previous outing when a tone-deaf Elephant Man still held the audience rapt while "singing" and Macy Gray recovered after an initial lukewarm presentation.

There was a string of good, but not great performances: T.O.K.; Alaine; Ding Dong (Holiday was the nite's 1st high point), Shaggy himself - who opened - and others. In the early going, veteran Mykal Rose showed he still had it, even while doing his more current material ("Police and Thief") while later, another veteran, Toots Hibbert delivered what amounted to an extended vocal run on his signature tune 54-46 (That's My Number)

It took Trini soca superstar Machel Montano to really bring the Jamaica House crowd to life, and his brief onstage collaboration with Shaggy almost took the show to the level one was expecting.

Also giving good accounts of themselves were Baby Cham, Sanchez (though below his best) Busy Signal (his set lacked coherence)Ce'cile and Queen Ifrica, though it seemed her anti-incest track "Daddy (Don't Touch Me There" ) might have hit too close to home as there was a palpable dip in the energy level after that song went out.

Of the overseas acts, three proved one too many as Mario Winans proved that having a hit or two to one's credit does not a performer make. Joe was solid and his rendition of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" came off as sincere rather than patronizing as it has from other R& B acts in the past.

Boyz II Men went right back to the beginning opening with their first hit, the uptempo "Motownphilly" and following with a midtempo number before reverting to the tried and true. They did On Bended Knee Water Runs Dry, I'll make Love to You and End of the Road, tossing out roses to the ladies in the process.

The grounds was well laid out overall, but, as befitting the price tag, the large, open Diamond level skybox proved the best point in the house even if one was looking at the stage almost from a sideways vantage. Amenities were as good as last year(which means excellent), save for the odd sourpuss at the bar and there was a disappointing lack of knowledge and courtesy among many of the ushers

Overall the show satisfied and the persons who forked out for the cause would have left feeling that it was money well donated.

2010-01-02T05:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUSOZAgl95A

BOYZ II MEN: STILL HAVING FUN GOING SLOW

“I still like to make people dance and party and have a good time, but the people have really responded to the ballads and the soul stuff so we’re gonna continue to do that primarily.”

So said Wanya Morris, of Boyz II Men, speaking by telephone ahead of their scheduled performance at the Shaggy & Friends Dare To Care on the lawns of Jamaica House tonight.

Though the group’s firsat major hit, “MotownPhilly” was an uptempo number (in the now classic New Jack Swing style), and their repertoire includes other notably dancy tunes such as “Can’t Let Her Go” it’s the ballads that have won the group renown and

Particularly it was their cover of G C Cameron’s Motown classic “So Hard to Say Goodbye To Yesterday” (from the 1975 movie Cooley High, a title which in fact inspired the title of their debut album, “Cooley High Harmony”). Three of the group’s number 1 hits, “End of the Road”, “I’ll Make Love To You”, and “One Sweet Day” (with Mariah Carey), all ballads, set and exceeded records for the longest period of time a single remained scored at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Their latest project, entitled simply “Love” is a covers album, but one which Wanya says, has some unexpected directions for the group. Instead of the stock R&B soul classics, the project features pop/rock hits by such artistes as Cyndi Lauper (‘Time After Time”), Chicago (“If You leave Me Now”) Goo Goo Dolls (“Iris”), Journey (‘Open Arms”) and others. Production was handled by Randy Jackson , of American Idol fame, who also worked with the group on previous cover project, “Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA”.

When brought up to speed on what the Shaggy & Friends show is about, Morris was quick to endorse the cause. “We’re definitely in support of anything that’s going to make a positive change in people’s lives, especially for the children.”

The group, now a trio ( a reunion featuring retired member Mike McCrary may be in the works) continues to record and to tour worldwide. Wanya has a special appreciation for Jamaica. “The people here really show us a lot of love, everybody’s warm and the vibe on our last appearances here has been just tremendous.”

Boyz II Men found fame as a quartet, with members Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris on Motown Records during the early 1990s. In 2003, Michael McCary left the group due to chronic back problems resulting from scoliosis. As of 2009, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Nathan Morris continue to tour and record as a trio.

Based on sales, Boyz II Men is the most successful R&B male vocal group of all time. They recorded five number 1 R&B successes between 1992 and 1997 and have sold more than 60 million albums. Although “On Bended Knee” did not exceed any records, it was still a very popular song that reached number 1 and made Boyz II Men only the third act (behind The Beatles and Elvis) to replace themselves at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Their other hits include “Uuh Ahh”, “Four Seasons of Loneliness” “A Song For Mama” and “I Will Get There” (from the “Prince of Egypt” soundtrack).

DIAGEO & SHAGGY TIE A ‘RED BOW’ FOR CHARITY

2009-12-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

He may have had a successful CD titled “Clothes Drop”, but Shaggy and the producers of the Dare to Care 2010 also know the value of keeping a fabulous dress on, hence a scintillating partnership with Diageo/Red Stripe to present the Red Bow Dress as part of the Charity Auction at the Dare to Care concert on January 2

Louise Fletcher creating the model of the now world famous red bow dress designed by “Sex & The City” designer Patricia Field and worn by actress and “Sex & The City” star, Kim Cattrall. The stunning red dress with an oversized bow was made to match the holiday bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream, part of the Diageo family of drinks, which has its own red bow.

Just as the original was auctioned for a charitable cause (The Clothes off Our Back Foundation, which routinely hosts charity auctions of the latest and hottest celebrity attire to benefit children’s causes) so too, will the Jamaican version of the dress be auctioned – this time to support the work of the Bustamante Hospital for Children, to continue to assist the one-of-a-kind medical facility to care for the nation’s children.

Kim Lee of Diageo Jamaica said that the local project had been officially endorsed by both Bailey’s and by Kim Cattrall herself, albeit by telephone form location filming on the forthcoming “Sex & The City” movie sequel, reportedly due to hit theatres in May 2010 (from IMDB).

“We’re so glad to be given the opportunity to replicate this fantastic venture in Jamaica,” Lee said, “and also to support a truly vital and welcome initiative in the form of the Shaggy & Friends show.”

She added that Jamaica was the only one of Diageo’s Latin American/Caribbean territories doing this particular outreach. “We are supporting Dare to Care both through sponsorship and our own presence, with the full backing of our managing director Alan Barnes and the entire team. We’re looking forward to an awesome evening of entertainment, fellowship and style, with Bailey’s Smirnoff, Red Stripe and our range of premium drinks.”

TANYA STEPHENS – PERFECTLY HUMAN

2009-12-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

With a slew of hits including “Yu Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet” “It’s A Pity” What A Day” and These Streets” Tanya Stephens hasn’t done any wrong musically thus far, and her fans worldwide may well be prepared to accord her the “infallible” status implied (even if its tongue-in-cheek) on her upcoming new album.

The singer-songwriter is preparing to release “Infallible”, her seventh album (her previous effort was “Rebelution” in 2006) and in typical style, she spoke to the questions raised by its title. “Well, what I’m actually saying is that I’m not infallible. I know in terms of what I do musically, I look at my work as unbeatable, but in terms of my humanity, I’m very much fallible and that’s keeps me grounded and working harder to put out better and better work.”

Stephens has also recently branched out as an entertainment entrepreneur, opening the H2O restaurant/lounge in Ocho Rios. The spot has been holding its own since opening in January, she says and its weekend live music sessions have witnessed the likes of Marcia Griffiths, Tinga Stewart (“everybody still ask me when him comin’ back”) Kris Kelly, Diana Rutherford and Rising Stars winners Chris Martin and Brown Sugar.

She has not been seen on a Jamaican stage for a while and fans are no doubt as anxious to hear the new material as they are to hear her reprise the staple songs. Stephens did not attend the previous Shaggy & Friends show, nor did she but none of that prevented her from saying yes to appearing on the lineup for the renewal of the show come Janaury 2nd at Jamaica House

Regarding her own performing schedule otherwise, Stephens says she’ll be heading “wherever promotion takes me. The album will be out, so I’ll be doing all I can to keep it out there.” In between, she’ll continue to scale the new business owner learning curve (“there have been some surprises, but if there were none, then I would be surprised”) and perfecting her songcraft.

“At he end of the day, it’s a great cause, its for the kids,” she said in a telephone interview. “So it’s not that I even need to have any great familiarity with the show or the format or anything like that.

Since announcing her presence as part of producer Barry O Hare’s Farther East compilation in 1993, Stephens has steadily traveled her own path amidst a Jamaican music industry that too often relies on lyrical and sonic ‘trend-following’. Exposed early – and often- to a diversity of musical styles at home (where she was the second youngest of seven children), she developed her own kind of eclecticism, one anchored in the pulse of dancehall, but not restricted in its subject matter. “Do You Still Care?” one of the stronger tracks on the Rebelution CD, tackles both racism and homophobia, addressed as it is to a dying man who has to face the fact that his life may be saved by a black person or a homosexual.

Magnum Goes long @ Weddy Weddy

2009-12-11T12:06:00.000-08:00

Amid the flowing Magnum, the cannabis-filled air and the pulsating sounds of the "World Immortal" Stone Love, media reps joined artistes and other celebs as well as patrons at Stone Love HQ on Dumbarton Avenue on Wednesday as part of the tonic wine brand's 10th anniversary bashment, under the theme "Ten Long Ten Strong". The nite also served as a warm-up for the champion sound's 37th anniversary celebration set for this Saturday at the Mas Camp. The 'official' part of the proceedings had moved seamlessly into the full juggling by the time E-Square arrived and the place was soon filled to capacity, giving legendary video-man Jack Sowah plenty of opportunities for clips.

DING DONG ‘skips’ onto success

2009-12-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

Even though he has one of the most instantly recognized and popiular hits of the year (“Holiday” with Chevaughn Clayton), has performed in many countries (including Japan and Brazil), and is now set to show his stuff on the upcoming Shaggy Dare to Care 2010 edition, come January 2, Ding Dong still insists on billing himself as “a dancer.”

“Is dancin’ bring me to the point where people round the world know me” said the founder of the Ravers Clavers crew, now some 18 members strong. “An’ no matter what else me do, dancin’ nah stop Me dance every night.”

Which must make for a very hectic schedule as that ‘what else’ has grown to embrace not only recording artiste, but also producer (his most recent riddim project is the “Giants”) and entertainment mogul. His Nannyville Enterrprise has been signing and developing new talent at an expansive clip, and Ding Dong now seems to be on the crest of a surge greater than that of the Iraq War.

But the “dancer” is nothing if not focused, and humble. Of his call-up for the upcoming Dare to Care show he says, “it’s a tremendous, big opportunity for me, seeing as many of the people on this bill is people who influence me, so I now have the opportunity to be an influencer.”

Beyond the bright lights – Ding Dong sees his presence on the bill as a contribution to the cause. Specifically, he believes he can attract a younger audience not only to the show, but more importantly to the cause of giving. “Its not a matter of a lot of money, but you give what you have, cause this is something that benefit everybody, so me in my position can get the young people to understand that them can play a part too.”

And his influence grows, what with the success of “Holiday” and the hot dance of the moment, Skip To My Lu, otherwise Summer Swing (“people keep askin’ me if is two different dance, but is really the same thing”). His touring schedule looks even more hectic for the end of this year and into 2010, and he’s already followed up “Holiday” with the new single and video “Responsible Parents”.

“My song, me just take them from life and things that me consider.” he explains. “We keep away from all war and negativity. “My children mus’ able to listen to my tune and my mother mus’ can listen to it too.”

Jamaica Jazz and Blues Band Quest goes online - JamaicaObserver.com

2009-11-16T03:30:00.000-08:00

Jamaica Jazz and Blues Band Quest goes online - JamaicaObserver.com

aspiring artists can go to jamaicajazzandblues.com

Coming Soon: Royal Afrikan Soldiers Resurge

2009-11-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

Look out for the remegnece of Royal Afrikan Soldiers. The group, which now comprises Neto Meeks and Ginsu (Takura has gone off to pursue solo interests) is coming with a multi-pronged media attack over the comming months. Already out is the single "The Real Jamaica Jamaica" (feat Ginsu) and th duo will also be releasing their video package, "Sharpshootas".

Return of the Blackburns

2009-09-28T11:20:00.001-07:00

Palm productions on Sunday presented the a preview of the new season of its Royal Palm "spinoff" - "The Blackburns of Royal Palm Estate" at the conference room of Jamaica trade & Invest (JTI)

Palm honcho Lennie Little-White said the producers had "listened to the public" and brought the focus of the show more toward romance and intrigue as well as struggles for the control of the estate, and away from the violence of previous years.

he also said that despite the addition of several new faces (including a youngster out of Chicago who will play Ted Jr, the last of patriarch Ted Blackburn's progeny), the foundation members of the Royal Palm Estate show were not forgotten ad would be making appearances at various times.

media and other guests were shown highlight reels from the new season, while co-sponsors Taboo/Mandingo presented samples of their tonic wine/energy drink

the charts - "Hindu Vybz"

2009-09-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 9 Completely- Vybz Kartel Feat Hindu – Big Ship (1wk@#1)U-1
02 1 17 Think Bout Mi - Macka Diamond & Unicorn – Notice (1wk@#1) D-1
03 4 7 Mockingbird – Mavado – Firelinks U-1
04 3 21 Ugly – Kiprich & Black-er – Fresh Ear(2wks@#1) D-1
05 6 10 My Life- Gee Whizz – TJ Records U-1
06 9 5 Couple Up – TOK – Fresh Ear U-3
07 5 19 Unfinished House – Flippa Mafia-Liv-Up Records(2wks@#1) D-2
08 7 22 Hallelujah – Elephant Man –Very Huge Records (2wks@#1) D-1
09 8 14 From Mawning (Never Change)- Chino – Big Ship (pp#6) D-1
10 11 8 No Man Room – Ding Dong – Fresh Ear U-1
11 12 7 Dollar Sign – Black Ryno – Adidjaheim/Not Nice U-1
12 13 3 Something A Go Happen - Vybz Kartel – Firelinks U-1
13 14 5 Ever Clean – Beenie Man - Young Blood U-1
14 10 13 Spell It Out – Tifa – Ward 21 (pp#7) D-4
15 16 4 Unfair Officer – WASP – WMP U-1
16 20 2 Love Dem - Vybz Kartel - Heart of Love U-4
17 18 3 Hustle – Iyara – Rescue Production U-1
18 19 3 Back Broke – Junior Pinchers – Sloppishizzle Records U-1
19 15 12 The Good Life – Stacious - Liv-Up Records (pp#9) D-4
20 23 2 Versitility – Vybz Kartel – Head Concussion U-3
21 22 2 Blame Life – Bugle – TJ Records U-1
22 24 2 So Fine – Sean Paul – VP Records/Atlantic U-2
23 17 24 Mind Pon Mi Money – Vybz Kartel –Liv-Up Records (4wks@#1) D-6
24 25 2 Hurt Mi – Spragga Benz/I-Octane – Arrows Recording U-1
25 21 18 High Unda-Mavado- Liv-Up Records (pp#5) D-4

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 14 Pressuring The Poor-Spring-I & Ras Shiloh-Tren-setta Productions (2wks@#1) NM
02 2 13 Talk It Over – Lt Brooksie – Sounie Productions NM
03 4 15 Wanna Go Home-Romaine Virgo-Vikings & Peat Music U-1
04 3 17 You’ll Never Find - Jah Cure – Don Corleon (2wks@#1) D-1
05 5 13 I’m Free – Jahranimo feat Jah Cure – Lighting Ball Production NM
06 6 12 Talk If You Talking – Cherine Anderson – Taxi NM
07 8 11 Street Life – Richie Spice – Sons of Spoon U-1
08 9 10 I Wanna Wake Up With You –Stevie Face – Boot Camp U-1
09 12 8 Fuss Nor Fight – Stream – House of Hits U-3
10 11 7 Weak To You – Sophia Brown – Music Mecca/321 Strong U-1
11 13 6 Caan Cool – Khago – Pot of Gold U-2
12 7 24 Too Late – Junior Kelly & Queen Ifrica – AL.TA.FA.AN (1wk@#1) D-5
13 14 7 Sold Out – Bonafide – Broad Yard Records U-1
14 15 6 All About You – Wayne Wonder – Big Ship U-1
15 17 10 Heart of Stone – Taddy P feat Tanya Stephens – Bass Inna Yu Face Records U-2
16 19 3 Mama You Alone – I-Octane – Arrows Recording U-3
17 18 4 Melody to My Song – Christopher Martin – Baby G U-1
18 10 25 Under My Skin- Anthony Red Roze –Taxi (1wk@#1) D-8
19 21 2 Lioness on the Rise – Queen Ifrica – Penthouse U-2
20 22 2 Rastaman – Macka Diamond – U-2
21 23 2 Wash The Tears – Gramps Morgan – Dada Son Ent. U-2
22 24 2 Always on my Mind – George Nooks – Tads Records U-2
23 25 2 Secrets – Petah Morgan – Juke Boxx U-2
24 - New Ghetto Vibes –Lady G – House of Hits
25 - New Try Jah Love – Josie Mel & Smokey Benz – Minor 7, Flat 5

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 15 The Hit List-Various Artistes- Tads Int’l Records (2wks@#1) NM
02 3 11 Reggae Gold – Various Artistes – VP Records U-1
03 2 12 Montego Bay – Queen Ifrica – VP Records (2wks@#1) D-1
04 6 8 A Better Man – Terry Linen – Tad’s Int’l Records U-2
05 7 6 Contagious – Tarrus Riley – VP Records U-2
06 4 23 Universal Cure – Jah Cure – SOBE/Danger Zone (5wks@#1) D-2
07 8 5 2 Sides of My Heart – Gramps Morgan – Dada Son U-1
08 5 10 Made In Jamaica – Courtney John – FiWi Music D-3
09 10 3 Family Time – Ziggy Marley – Tuff Gong U-1
10 - New Our World – TOK – VP Records

Pop-Jazz Fusion, NeatltyTied With Strings

2009-09-01T05:06:00.000-07:00

Jazz in the Gardens

The Intermittent rain played a bit of a trick o nthe organizers of Jazz in the Gardens Sunday last. No sooner had the decision been taken to move the proceedings inside the Pegasus ballroom than the rain essentially eased for good.

Not to worry. If patrons forget couldn't see the stars come out, they saw - heard - quite a few on the inside, established and rising.

Oneo f the night's finds, Locksley Dixon, opened the show, that is right after Deis Jones, Dale Haslam and Chris McDonald got the audience warmed up. Joined by two 'back-singers' Dixon let his guitar do the singing and scored well on the 1st Michael Jackson tribute of the night, "Will You Be There"

The night's other find, Negril-based guitarist Lincoln Thomas, also channeled Jackson in "Gone Too Soon" and also showed his deft touch on pop gems like John Legend's "Ordinary People" and James Ingram's "One Hundred Ways"

Special guest Sherry Winston, a flautist form the US, opened with Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" and took the audience on a funk-filled journey that included MJ's "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough"

In between those were commanding performances from the likes of Rupert Bent Snr ("Concierto de Aranjuez" segueing neatly inro Chick Corea's "Spain") Seretse Small and Maurice Gordon (who tutored Gordon as well as Haslam at various periods)

All made for a very intersting "Conversation" repped by guitars. the series contiunes October 25

Your Name is My Game!

2009-08-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

ARTISTES!
MANAGERS!
PROMOTERS!

What's in a nmae? Plenty. A name that sticks i nthe minds of your public can be worth more than gold - or can lead to gold (as in gold-level sales).

just send me background on artiste(solo or gorup), album, concert or event to liveplug@yahoo.com or liveplug22@gmail.com and I'll set up a consultation.

Put yourself or your project out there with a name that will stick like glue, and never wear out

contact me today

KOTE 2k9 OPENING NIGHT SHOW

2009-06-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

"TABLE-TOP DeVices" & GAS MONEY GET UP TO SPEED

So much happening wtis wekend into next week, can barely catch my breath, so just some quick thoughts on Friday night's opener:

From alt-rockers Gas Money, there was no "Smooth Criminal" butthere was something arguably better, a great cover of Black Uhuru's "If I Should Leave Babylon" that started in a rootsy (almost ROotz Underground) vein before kicking up to speed in typical GM style. "Inner Voice" and "Wooden Doll" were also standouts from cherubic vocal front man Fabian Pinkney.
An even better vocal performance came from Michael Sean Harris who romped through an atlas of styilistic territory aided by the seven-piece (plus three back-up singers)combo De Vices. Harris himself chipped in on violin, engaging the other violinist, Mijanne Webster in several terrific call-and-response strings sequences on "Live and Let Die" a favourite in his repertoire.
Another favourite for this writer is Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" which in Harris' capabale hands engenrdered much singing along, but the highlight of the evening was the gorgeous, lilting ballad "Take It Or Leave It" written by Harris' former Berklee colleague Ann Chandler.

have to mention the audio quality which was poor and indeed poor sound seems to be par for the course for too many of our live venues and shows. It was noticebale, especially during Gas Money's set, and in the case of Harris' would have been glaring ifa lesser talent had been involved.

Nonetheless, the performances capped a great opening night, and with saxophone star Jacques Schwarz-Bart and local hero Tony Green to look forward to over the next 48 hours, the musical base of KOTE is well covered.

Chuckleberry, Vegas "Blessed" with the "Good Life" on top

2009-05-29T04:49:00.000-07:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN

By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

MAY 29, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 11 I Am Blessed-Mr. Vegas-Liv-Up (2wks@#1) NM

02 2 12 Mama-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records (2wks@#1)

NM

03 4 10 Mind Pon Mi Money – Vybz Kartel –Liv-Up Records U-1

04 5 10 Hustler For Life (La La La) –Andrew & Wada Blood-Notice U-1

05 7 9 Watch Your Friends-Javinchi-Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records U-2

06 8 8 Hallelujah – Elephant Man –Very Huge Records U-2

07 3 18 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion (pp#3) D-4

08 6 23 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship(1wk@#1) D-2

09 12 7 Ugly – Kiprich & Black-er –Fresh Ear U-3

10 11 12 Bad 2 Da Bone-Brick & Lace-Birchill Records U-1

11 9 23 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship (3wks@#1) D-2

12 14 5 Unfinished House – Flippa Mafia- Liv-Up Records U-2

13 10 17 Head Caan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records(2wks@#1) D-3

14 16 4 High Unda-Mavado- Liv-Up Records U-2

15 17 4 Good Girl, Gone Bad-Tarrus Riley feat Konshens-Head Concussion U-2

16 18 3 Rich This Year-Charley Blacks – Copper Shot U-2

17 19 3 Think Bout Mi - Macka Diamond & Unicorn – Notice U-2

18 13 21 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship (2wks@#1) D-5

19 15 11 Man A Galis-Ding Dong-Notice (pp#9) D-4

20 - New Never Gonna Cry -Daville-Fashozy

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 13 Good Life-Chuckle Berry-Taxi (3wks@#1) NM

02 2 13 Call On Me- Jah Cure feat Phyllisia -SOBE/Dangerzone NM

03 3 15 A Thousand Miles Away-Ras Penco-Uprize Music (3wks@#1)

NM
04 4 12 Head Above The Water – Capleton – Downsound Records NM

05 5 18 Jah Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records NM

06 9 8 So In Love –Hezron – Tads Int’l Records U-3

07 6 23 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashozy (2wks@#1) D-1

08 8 16 Cassava – Andrew Mistiq aka P. Zed –Inspire NM

09 10 11 Under My Skin- Anthony Red Roze –Taxi U-1

10 7 16 Save The Juvenile-Ruffian-Get Up Yute Records (pp#7) D-3

11 12 7 Pray Fi Dem – Harry Toddler-Downsound U-1

12 13 10 Too Late – Junior Kelly & Queen Ifrica – AL.TA.FA.AN U-1

13 14 6 Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing-Anthony Cruz-Footsteps U-1

14 16 4 Baby Mama Drama -Kiprich-House-A-Star U-2

15 15 5 Human Nature-Tarrus Riley-Rhythm of Life NM

16 11 23 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection (pp#4) D-5

17 19 3 You’ll Never Find - Jah Cure – Don Corleon U-2

18 18 4 Far Away-Queen Ifrica – Flames Productions NM

19 20 2 Dumpling Shop-Lloyd Lovindeer/Mama Tia-TSOJ U-1

20 - New Wanna Go Home-Romaine Virgo-Vikings & Peat Music

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 5 Rasta Got Soul- Buju Banton-Gargamel (1wk@#1) U-1

02 1 16 Pull Up Selector-Jimmy Riley-Taxi (1wk@#1) D-1

03 3 8 Universal Cure – Jah Cure – SOBE/Danger Zone NM

04 4 10 Mr. Brooks – A Better Tomorrow – Mavado - VP Records (4wks@#1) NM

05 6 8 Brand New Me – Gregory Isaacs –Tads Int’l Records U-1

06 7 4 Ghetto Youth-ology – Sizzla – Firehouse U-1

07 5 18 Waiting – Cecile – Danger Zone (2wks@#1) D-2

08 8 8 The Very Best of Elephant Man-Elephant Man – VP Records NM

09 10 2 Spotlight – Sophia Brown – Music Mecca/321 Strong U-1

10 9 20 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Int’l Records (3wks@#1) D-1

____________________NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.

Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover

VC & Co. @ Christopher's - look out for pics

2009-05-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

AN AWARD-WORTHY PERFORMANCE

When word came that the nightclub-turned live music hotspot had won the award for Coolest Watering Hole - again - atthe Observer Table Talk Food Awards, the large audience at Christopher's jazz Cafe was appreciative, yet anxious to rreturn their focus to the night's entertainment, which was itself more than worthy of an award

The evening started off with keyboardist Richie Foulks,RUpert bent Jr on guitar (the elder Bent would take the axe later in the night), O'Neil Walters on drums and Shurwayne Thomspon on bass, threadingtheir way somewhat cuatiously through a number of show tunes.

But as the crowd numbers grew along withthe anticipation, the band members quickly came into their own, and when featured act VC opened with Bobby Caldwell's standby, "Waht You Wont Do (You'll Do For Love)" a vibe was estabished that would be sustained through the night. He delivered "Roll It" Gwaan" and "Judgement Day to rousing cheers, mixing in covers like Beres Hammond's "What One Dance Can Do" "Now That We've Found Love" (the O'Jays via Third World) and others which all found favour.

And he got more than a little help from his friends. Dub poet Charlie Bobus, Canada-bound on an extended stint, delivered a typically high energy burst of "motivational dub poetry, stepping confidently and eenrgetically onto the paths trod by the likes opf Mikey Smith, Oku Onoura, Mutabaruka and others before him. Thereafter DJ Royale endeared himself to the women i nthe audience with his ribald variations on the likes of "Driver" and a near-faithful rendering of Shaggy's "Boombastic" (the latter upon a shouted request.

Women were also involved - separately - in a couple of the show's brightest moments. For his wife, he sang Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much" (an interesting arrangement - this cover could be a hit) while she teased, cavorted and 'wined' on him with playful abandon. That was followed by an original "Made For I" and then, accompanied only keyboard and guitar, his affections shifted to his son, for whom "Joshua[Sweet Child Of Mine] was written.

The other great moment saw Cindy Breakspeare Bent singing "Waiting In Vain" as Rupert Bent Sr accompanied her on guitar, and Jana Bent, who had also supported VC on several numbers, also added her vocals.

Of course the musical vibe was so infectios that even guitarist Wayne McGregor (Black Zebra) could not resit ditching his day-job suit to get in o the action, even contributing a vocal on Bob Marley's "War"

The scheduled end time flew past with crowd in no mood to let either the singer or musicians go, and after another'benefit' performance by Charlie Bobus, VC and his "All-Stars" ended the night pretty much as the band had started, essentially jamming free-form, to everyone';s delight.

It may have been his Christopher's debut, but the now seasoned pefromer. songwriter and recording artiste (he has also graced the Rebel Salute and Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues stages; an album is on the way) demonstrated yet again that there is far more to him than "By His Deeds" (which he dropped towards the end of the night) and that he is parcticing his craft way above the ordinary.

To these ears, he already sounds like a Grammy winner.

-Live Plug

Livin the Good life at the top of the charts and more

2009-05-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN

By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

MAY 15, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 10 Mama-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records (2wks@#1)

NM

02 3 9 I Am Blessed-Mr. Vegas-Liv-Up U-1

03 5 16 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion U-2

04 2 21 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship(1wk@#1) D-2

05 6 8 Mind Pon Mi Money – Vybz Kartel –Liv-Up Records U-1

06 4 15 Head Caan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records (2wks@#1) D-2

07 8 8 Hustler For Life (La La La) –Andrew & Wada Blood-Notice U-1

08 7 21 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship (3wks@#1) D-1

09 12 6 Hallelujah – Elephant Man –Very Huge Records U-3

10 13 7 Watch Your Friends-Javinchi-Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records U-3

11 9 19 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship (2wks@#1) D-2

12 14 10 Bad 2 Da Bone-Brick & Lace-Birchill Records U-2

13 15 5 Ugly – Kiprich & Black-er –Fresh Ear U-2

14 10 9 Man A Galis-Ding Dong-Notice (pp#9) D-4

15 11 11 Nuh Daggera -Spice-Equinoxx (pp#8) D-4

16 17 3 Unfinished House – Flippa Mafia- Liv-Up Records U-1

17 19 2 High Unda-Mavado- Liv-Up Records U-2

18 20 2 Good Girl, Gone Bad-Tarrus Riley feat Konshens-Head Concussion U-2

19 - New Rich This Year-Charley Blacks – Copper Shot

20 - New Think Bout Mi - Macka Diamond & Unicorn - Notice

Look for Chuckleberry song samples on E-Square

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN

By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

MAY 15, 2009

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 11 Good Life-Chuckle Berry -Taxi (1wk@#1) U-1

02 1 13 A Thousand Miles Away-Ras Penco-Uprize Music (3wks@#1)

D-1

03 3 11 Call On Me- Jah Cure feat Phyllisia -SOBE/Dangerzone NM

04 5 10 Head Above The Water – Capleton – Downsound Records U-1

05 4 21 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy (2wks@#1) D-1

06 7 16 Jah Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records U-1

07 6 21 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection (pp#4) D-1

08 8 14 Save The Juvenile-Ruffian-Get Up Yute Records NM

09 10 14 Cassava – Andrew Mistiq aka P. Zed –Inspire U-1

10 11 9 Under My Skin- Anthony Red Roze –Taxi U-1

11 12 6 So In Love –Hezron – Tads Int’l Records U-1

12 9 22 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records (2wks@#1) D-3

13 14 5 Pray Fi Dem – Harry Toddler-Downsound U-1

14 15 8 Too Late – Junior Kelly & Queen Ifrica – AL.TA.FA.AN U-1

15 16 4 Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing-Anthony Cruz-Footsteps U-1

16 17 3 Human Nature-Tarrus Riley-Rhythm of Life U-1

17 13 16 Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx (pp#6) D-4

18 19 2 Baby Mama Drama -Kiprich-House-A-Star U-1

19 20 2 Far Away-Queen Ifrica – Flames Productions U-1

20 - New You’ll Never Find - Jah Cure – Don Corleon

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 8 Mr. Brooks – A Better Tomorrow – Mavado - VP Records (4wks@#1) NM

02 3 14 Pull Up Selector-Jimmy Riley-Taxi U-1

03 2 16 Waiting – Cecile – Danger Zone (2wks@#1) D-1

04 5 6 Universal Cure – Jah Cure – SOBE/Danger Zone U-1

05 8 3 Rasta Got Soul- Buju Banton-Gargamel U-3

06 4 6 The Very Best of Elephant Man-Elephant Man – VP Records D-2

07 7 6 Brand New Me – Gregory Isaacs –Tads Int’l Records NM

08 10 2 Ghetto Youth-ology – Sizzla – Firehouse U-2

09 9 18 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Int’l Records (3wks@#1) NM

10 6 18 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves (2wks@#1) D-4

_____________________NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.

Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover

TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position

Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play

ALL SOUND SYSTEMS, SELECTORS, RECORD SHOPS, NIGHT CLUBS & RADIO DJS WHO WISH TO ASSIST US AS WE COMPILE OUR WEEKLY CHARTS, PLEASE FURNISH US WITH ONLY CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS. CALL: 968-5817 NOW!!!

Reggae Book this Tuesday

2009-05-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Jérémie KROUBO DAGNINI

Will launch his book (written in french) :

"Les origines du reggae: retour aux sources. Mento, ska, rocksteady, early reggae"
" The origins of reggae: back to the sources. Mento, ska, rocksteady, early reggae"

At the Alliance Française de la Jamaïque,
Tuesday June 2nd, 2009, at 7.00pm

You are all invited to come...

Copies of the book will be available for sale.

Presentation of the Author:
Jérémie Kroubo Dagnini is a PhD candidate at the University Michel de Montaigne Bordeaux 3 (France), doing research on the history of Jamaican popular music in the 20th century.
For more information, click on the link: www.myspace.com/jeremiekroubodagnini

Presentation of the Book:
The book goes back over the origins of reggae, from Africa to Jamaica, from the era of slavery to the post-colonial period. In other words, it shows how the history of Jamaica (slavery, Evangelism, colonial and post-colonial politics, migration phenomena, urbanization, Americanization of Jamaican society...) has contributed to the development of Jamaican music. The author analyzes the socio-historico-cultural dynamics which resulted in the birth of reggae in the late 60's as well as the origins and evolutions of mento, ska and rocksteady, the main popular musical genres prior to reggae. The book contains rare and unpublished interviews and pictures of The Jolly Boys, Edward Seaga, Derrick Morgan, Toots, Alpha Boys' School, Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, Byron Lee, Prince Buster, The Kingstonians etc. The diversity within the book will delight all fans of Jamaican music/ culture.
For more information, click on the link:http://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=livre&no=26984

When Giants Dance - two ATIs are One again

2009-05-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

After a three-year hiatus "exploring different paths" according to the official line, (perhaps hastened by the economic climate) ATI is again one aprty series, with Appleton as title sponsor.

Last night's launch at the trendy Truck Stop on W Kings House saw media, fans, execs and others gather to enjoy Appleton & Coke, shoot the breeze, move to some music (Rennaissance was in the house) and hear the principals address the new dispensation

The now nine-year old Temptation Isle event has proven itself a winner for Independence/Eancipation weekend, with partygoers from across the island as well as across the seas - London, Miami, NYC, Baltimore and TO among other foreign cities coming in for the vibes, the sun and sand, and of course the libations

The "season" this year runs Aug 5- 9 and includes the following events:

Welcome Party
Hop-Hop Jouvert
Tempted "Glow"
Pretty in Pink on the Beach
Rhythm & Booze
Stages
ATI Toga Party
Colours
Wild Sides
Fusion

for more detial contact Rashaabbott56@aol.com

A Reggae-Rap Memorial Day

2009-05-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

While the literati will be saoking up the Calabash Treasure beach Vibe, its rap & reggae up North:

Memorial Day weekend in Miami is touted as being even bigger than Superbowl weekend. From sunrise to sunset, the steamy action and activity-filled hot spot has become the nation's top destination for this holiday weekend. And BEST OF THE BEST, the superbowl of concert events, is just another reason why. The 10 hours of non-stop performances will take place this Sunday, May 24 at Bicentennial Park in Miami, Florida.

The City of Miami is looking forward to the thousands of visitors who abound for this major tourist attraction, now in its third year. "The City of Miami welcomes our Memorial Weekend visitors for the Best of the Best Concert, and we look forward to a fun, safe and music-filled weekend," states the Mayor of Miami, Manuel Diaz.

Boasting a star-studded lineup that includes the best reggae, dancehall and soca acts alongside the top names in hip-hop, rap and R&B, BEST OF THE BEST is living up to its creed of being the best Caribbean show in North America, and is sure to have the 45,000 capacity venue filled as local and international fans vie to see the stars live in action.

This musical marathon features Rick Ross, T-Pain, Jeezy, DJ Khaled, Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Mavado, Bounty Killer, Serani, Wayne Wonder, Capleton, Destra, Tony Matterhorn, Spice, Kip Rich, Flippa Mafia, Christopher Martin, Cocoa Tea, Ras Penco, Ce'Cile and The Stones.

Gates open at 1pm and the action kicks off at 1:30pm sharp at Bicentennial Park, located at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. After the show is the official Best of the Best After Party, at Bongos Nightclub (located behind the American Airlines Arena), immediately following the show.

BAY-C of TOK Goes for the "BombRush"

2009-05-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

With the impending release of “Our World” on the horizon, T.O.K’s Roshaun Clarke is steadily showcasing his prowess on the music scene under another capacity – as Producer.

For the past year, Bay-C (as he is better known) has been making waves locally and overseas with the production of hit singles such as “Miss World”, featuring TOK and Beenie Man, and riddims like Black Rain, Gargoyle and Money Tree. Despite what people may think, this artiste-turned-producer is not new to the production game. Already his work has been featured on Assassin’s debut album “Infiltrate” as well as Bounty Killer’s “Art of War – Mystery”. Now finally, he has emerged with his own album.

“Bombrush Hour” was released on April 22, 2009 through JVC, Japan, which has been home to several other heavy-hitters on the reggae/dancehall scene – Mavado, Elephant Man, Mighty Crown and T.O.K all fall on their roster.

Since its release, the album has steadily been climbing in sales, both in record stores as well as on the digital market. Most popular on the album are “Trapped” by T.O.K featuring Beenie man, the Rick James/Smoky Robinson cover of “Ebony Eyes” with Alex and Flexx of T.O.K, and the club-banger “Wave” which features Bay-C himself, alongside Tony Matterhorn, Sami-T of Mighty Crown and Cutty of Coppershot. All three songs have somehow pushed themselves into the Top 20 on Japan’s biggest downloading site Reggae Zion, a feat which many albums almost never achieve.

Also included on the album are tracks featuring soca heavyweight Machel Montano, dancehall’s Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel and promising Bombrush artiste Sleepy Hallowtips.

Bay-C will do promotion for “Bombrush Hour” when T.O.K visits Japan to participate in the annual BMI Music Festival in June. While there, “Bombrush Hour” and “Our World” will be promoted simultaneously.

Tifa "S-P-E-L-Ls It Out" in new video

2009-04-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

Latifa Brown, more popularly known simply as TIFA, is slowly changing the dancehall game with her hit single “Spell It Out”.

“Spell It Out”, was released in mid-March and is already creating a frenzy in dancehall circles. The single was produced by hit-makers Ward 21 and truly showcases the diverse artist that Tifa has become. The track is currently mashing up the airwaves locally as well as, popular radio stations in North America, and Canada.

“I’m very happy, the video is finally going to be done, the song has surpassed many of my expectations, hopefully the video will do the same,” stated Tifa when asked about the current success of the single.

Tifa has teamed up once again with Dexter “3D” Pottinger to direct the music video for “Spell It Out” which will be shot on location in Kingston and in the studio this Sunday. Dexter Pottinger was also responsible for Tifa’s “Bottom of the Barrel” music video, which won the RETV MVP Award for Best Music Video Female last month.

“The video will have a Disney’s High School Musical feel to it, but with a yardie twist … I don’t want to give out too much information, just make sure you check out the video as soon as it drops, it will definitely not be one to be missed,” stated and excited Tifa when asked about the concept of the video.

Apart from organizing the video shoot for “Spell It Out ”, Tifa has been spending most her time for the last month in the recording studio. Fans can look out for two new hot singles, “Single” which is featured on the Kabba Kabba riddim, produced by Equinoxx and “Without Warning”, which was produced by Esco for 111 Productions. TNT aka Badda Badda Gang, which includes Tifa, Natalie Storm and Timberlee, are also slated to do some very important recordings overseas during the month of May.

Tifa is also slated to perform at the Federation Sound 10th Anniversary celebrations in Manhattan on May 19, 2009, which will feature a host of Dancehall’s finest including, Sean Paul, Leftside aka Dr. Evil, Chino and Laden, as well as, some of the leading sound systems in the industry.

-Garrick Communications

Apple Sez Thanks a billion....but stops the Baby Shaker

2009-04-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

Dwonloading juggernaut Apple is either closing in on a billion downnloaded apps, or has already passed that mark, accordingto monitoring site tech Crunch (see below).
Meanwhile, it has pulleda controversial app, dubbed Baby Shaker, which allowed users to shake an aimageof a crying baby until red Xs come over its eyes.

"all know that Apple is closing in on a billion app downloads in the App Store. Currently, the counter on the main Apple.com claims it’s about 10 million away from the major number. But, Apple apparently already knows when the billion mark is going to be passed, because the billion celebration page is ready to go and can easily be accessed, right now.

And we know the exact time Apple is predicting when it will cross the mark — at least, right now (more below): 1:24:06 AM PST on April 23. Simply go to your system settings and set the date and time to anytime after that mark, and reload the main Apple page. You’ll be greeted by big picture on the landing page reading, “Thanks a billion. Over a billion downloads in just nine months. Only on the App Store.”

And actually, if you change to a before the mark Apple has set, you can see the counter advance closer and closer towards the billion mark.

Of course, this means that the number is at least somewhat tied (update below) to your computer’s clock rather than an actual billion app sales mark being triggered. Not that it’s all that surprising. After all, with so many apps being sold every second, can you really expect Apple to do anything other than estimate? This would be an issue though if said it was giving away a prize to the person who specifically downloaded the billionth app (it’s not)."

Dancehall A Go Pon Tour

2009-04-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

“NEXT GENERATION” DANCEHALL TOUR GENERATING TREMENDOUS VIBES UP NORTH

With little over a week to go before the big Next Generation Dancehall Vibes - Part One Tour kicks off in North America, both the artistes - Spice, Kiprich, Konshens and Laden and their growing legion of fans are already stoked up with anticipation for the events.

The tour which begins in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Prince Hall, on Friday, May 01, continues the following night, Saturday May 02 at West Indian Social Club in Hartford, Connecticut and winds up in Washington DC at the Cross Roads Night Club on Sunday May 03.

With the continued popularity of Spice’s Romping Shop song,done in collaboration with Vybz Kartel as well as other past hits like Done Out, A Nuh My Fault, Whoa, Hotta, Inna di Light and the more recent Daggera she is expected to have the crowds eating out of the palm of her hands.

Kiprich, who has emerged as "The Clash Captain" having come out victorious at both Sting 08 and Follow Di Arrow will also be bringing a "full clip" of hit tunes for the fans.

Probably the best known of the artistes on the bill, having repeatedly passed through these territories several times in previous years, Kippo would be aware of the popularity of songs like Telephone Ting and Leggo Di Bwoy and should put his more recent hits including Coward, Me Nuh Fraid, Gangster, Baby Mama Drama and Ugly So (with Black-er) to good use during his performances.

The show will also feature Best New Artist (2008) ‘Winner’, Konshens, for whom anticipation is very high and not to be outdone, Big Ship camper Laden who is generating tremendous buzz on the strength of his positivty smash hit, “Time To Shine".

Meanwhile, Spice speaking on behalf of the other artistes said “we are all looking forward to these shows, to satisfy our loyal fans and to make new ones as well”.
Top radio jock Richie B (HOT 102 FM, Ja.) who will take the trip to guide the proceedings as emcee is also ‘in high anticipation mode’ pointing out that ‘all the artistes billed for the tour have earned their spot on this line-up’ and predicts that ‘each of them,with continued hard work, has the potential to become a much greater force to be reckoned with in the Dancehall arena in ensuing years’

The Charts: Prodigal, "A Thousand Miles" out front

2009-04-23T04:31:00.000-07:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN

By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

APRIL 24, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 12 Head Caan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records (2wks@#1) NM

02 2 18 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship NM

03 4 13 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion U-1

04 7 7 Mama-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records U-3

05 3 16 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship(2wks@#1) D-2

06 9 6 I Am Blessed-Mr. Vegas-Liv-Up U-3

07 5 13 Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel – Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records (2wks@#1) D-2

08 6 18 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship (3wks@#1) D-2

09 8 8 Nuh Daggera -Spice-Equinoxx (pp#8)D-1

10 12 5 Mind Pon Mi Money – Vybz Kartel –Live-Up Records U-2

11 13 6 Man A Galis-Ding Dong-Notice U-2

12 10 12 Get Wild-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records (pp#6) D-2

13 14 7 Bad 2 Da Bone-Brick & Lace-Birchill Records U-1

14 15 5 Hustler For Life (La La La) –Andrew & Wada Blood-Notice U-1

15 17 3 Hallelujah – Elephant Man –Very Huge Records U-2

16 18 4 Watch Your Friends-Javinchi-Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records U-2

17 11 8 Stamma-Busy Signal- Big Ship (pp#6) D-6

18 20 2 Ugly – Kiprich & Black-er –Fresh Ear U-2

19 16 16 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice(2wks@#1) D-3

20 19 13 Ben Ova - RDX- (pp#6) D-1

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 10 A Thousand Miles Away-Ras Penco-Uprize Music (1wk@#1)U-1

02 1 18 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy (2wks@#1) D-1

03 5 8 Call On Me- Jah Cure feat Phyllisia -SOBE/Dangerzone U-2

04 3 19 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records (2wks@#1) D-1

05 4 18 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection (pp#4) D-1

06 8 8 Good Life-Chuckle Berry-Taxi U-2

07 6 13 Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx (pp#6) D-1

08 9 13 Jah Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records U-1

09 10 11 Save The Juvenile-Ruffian-Get Up Yute Records U-1

10 12 7 Head Above The Water – Capleton – Downsound Records U-2

11 11 11 Cassava – Andrew Mistiq aka P. Zed –Inspire NM

12 13 6 Under My Skin- Anthony Red Roze –Taxi U-1

13 7 13 Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music (pp#3) D-6

14 14 25 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records(pp#4) NM

15 17 5 Too Late – Junior Kelly & Queen Ifrica – AL.TA.FA.AN U-2

16 18 3 So In Love –Hezron – Tads Int’l Records U-2

17 15 22 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball (2wks@#1) D-2

18 20 2 Pray Fi Dem – Harry Toddler-Downsound U-2

19 - New Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing-Anthony Cruz-Footprint

20 16 25 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records (2wks@#1) D-4

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 5 Mr. Brooks – A Better Tomorrow – Mavado - VP Records (1wk@#1) U-1

02 1 13 Waiting – Cecile – Danger Zone (2wks@#1) D-1

03 3 11 Pull Up Selector-Jimmy Riley-Taxi NM

04 4 15 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves (2wks@#1) NM

05 5 15 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Int’l Records (3wks@#1) NM

06 7 3 The Very Best of Elephant Man-Elephant Man – VP Records U-1

07 8 3 Universal Cure – Jah Cure – SOBE/Danger Zone U-1

08 9 3 Brand New Me – Gregory Isaacs –Tads Int’l Records U-1

09 6 5 Ragga Ragga Ragga 2009 - Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l Records(2wks@#1) D-3

10 10 25 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon (2wks@#1)

NM

____________________NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.

Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover

TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position

Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play

The 'Jury' Is In: Veteran Candian Music Publisher for Emancipation Park

2009-04-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

The public, musicians, composers, students and all composers of musical works and other intellectual property are invited to come listen to, talk with, make links and learn about music publishing from a prominent Canadian Publisher, Jury Krytiuk this Friday April 24th, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Emancipation Park. He will be doing a presentation on the whole business of publishing and how composers of musical works should be treated and taken care of by their publishers as a part of IP week being put on by JIPO.

Mr. Krytiuk is a forty year veteran of the music publishing industry. He maintains offices in Canada , the United States and the United Kingdom and has a network of representatives in all other territories of the world. During his career Mr. Krytiuk has represented such world renowned clients as ABBA, Johnny Cash, Lawrence Welk and the Zomba Corporation (Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Justin Timberlake). In 2007 he stepped up his activities in the Caribbean by purchasing the publishing companies formerly owned by Federal Records. He is on a Caribbean business trip and I have asked him to come make a presentation to inform Jamaican musicians about "how publishing should really be" His mission is to see that Caribbean composers receive their fair share of and get the best exploitation benefits for and from their works. Please pass the word around and send your friends, musicians, composers, students and artists to the support and learn from this man and the event. Thank you,

This list thing.....it's catching :-D

2009-04-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

SYMPOSIUM TO SELECT TOP 100 BEST JAMAICAN SONGS BETWEEN 1957 AND 2007

News Release

The Department of Government at the University of the West Indies invites the public to attend and participate in a symposium on the top 100 best Jamaican songs between 1957 and 2007. This symposium takes place at the Undercroft, the University of the West Indies, Mona, on Thursday April 16th, 2009, beginning at 5:30pm.

A panel including Dr. Omar Davies, former Finance Minister and Opposition spokesman on Finance, who has an immense cultural and intellectual interest in Jamaican popular music; Mr. Bunny Goodison, founder of the Soul Shack Disco and creator and host of the popular radio show, Rhythms; Mr. Frankie Campbell of the Fab 5 Band and president of the Jamaica Vintage Artistes Association; Mr. Francois St. Juste, radio personality and General Manager for Radio at R.J.R.; and Mr. Wayne Chen, businessman, patron of the arts , author and Chairman of the National Gallery of Jamaica, will be presenting a set of criteria and arguments for selecting/recommending the songs/instrumentals that should be included in the top 100. However, members of the public attending the symposium are being asked to participate in the deliberations to shape the criteria and arguments for the selection, as well as to vote on the compositions to be included in the top 100. Come also to listen and to enjoy some of Jamaica’s best songs which will be played at the symposium.

Since the last half of the 20th century, Jamaica has become a power house of global popular music. Its impact on the aesthetic and ontological development and expression of global popular music is phenomenal. Jamaican lyricists, singers, players of instruments, sound technologists and producers have created and recreated some of the best songs/instrumentals in the last 50 years. By so doing, they have created a range of global soundscapes rooted in the rhythmic, linguistic, poetic language and imaginative culture and ritualized artistic movements of the Jamaican body to inspire the world.

This symposium opens another path to the expansion of the intellectual bases, scholarship and knowledge of Jamaican popular music, to celebrate excellence, as well as to strengthen the basis for its economic enhancement.

Contact
Clinton Hutton
Lecturer
869-7591/977-5935
tarharka@yahoo.com

1979...It's Dancin' Time! @ the Pegasus

2009-04-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

Greetings Friends!

The "JAVAA 2009 Caravan of Quality Shows" moves into higher gear towards its next stop, the ever-popular "JAVAA Relives Motown".....this time "Motown 79".

Set for Saturday, 2nd May 2009, once again in The Gardens, Jamaica Pegasus, it is our strong determination to surpass even the dizzying heights that we achieved with last year's show.

Having "brought down the house" at last year's edition, returning to the scene are Fab Five Band as "THE BARKAYS", Wayne Armond as "LIONEL RITCHIE", Andrew Cassanova as "AL GREEN", Ossie D as "JAMES BROWN", Boris Gardner as "JOHNNY ACE", Elaine "T" Peart as "DELLA REECE", Ken Bob as "SMOKEY ROBINSON", Christopher McDonald as "STEVIE WONDER", and the irrepressible MC Don Topping as "himself", given that the scene of the show is set at the Jamaica Pegasus in the Summer of 1979.

Exciting additions to the cast this year are Angel (of Royal Palm fame), as "DIANA ROSS", Mary Isaacs as "MARY WELLS", Gem Myers as "ARETHA FRANKLYN", and Hopeton James as "SAM COOKE".

One would be well advised to take extra precaution with this one;....whether recession, precession or no. This is one flight where it will be prudent to get your tickets early...........The seats will all be "First Class"!

Mavado's "Blessed" atop Easter Charts

2009-04-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

APRIL 10, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 14 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship (2wks@#1) NM
02 4 10 Head Caan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records U-2
03 2 11 Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel – Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records (2wks@#1) D-1
04 7 16 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship(pp#3) U-3
05 5 11 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion NM
06 3 16 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship (3wks@#1) D-3
07 6 10 Get Wild-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records (pp#6) D-1
08 8 6 Stamma-Busy Signal- Big Ship NM
09 9 5 Mama-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records NM
10 11 6 Nuh Daggera -Spice-Equinoxx U-1
11 10 14 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice(2wks@#1) D-1
12 14 4 I Am Blessed-Mr. Vegas-Liv-Up U-2
13 12 11 Ben Ova - RDX- (pp#6) D-1
14 15 5 Bad 2 Da Bone-Brick & Lace-Birchill Records U-1
15 16 3 Mind Pon Mi Money – Vybz Kartel –Live-Up Records U-1
16 17 4 Man A Galis-Ding Dong-Notice U-1
17 19 3 Hustler For Life (La La La) –Andrew & Wada Blood-Notice U-2
18 13 27 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II (pp#3) D-5
19 20 2 Watch Your Friends-Javinchi-Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records U-1
20 - New Hallelujah – Elephant Man –Very Huge Records

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 16 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy (1wk@#1)U-1
02 1 17 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records (2wks@#1) D-1
03 6 8 A Thousand Miles Away-Ras Penco-Uprize Music U-3
04 5 16 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-1
05 3 11 Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music (pp#3) D-2
06 10 6 Call On Me- Jah Cure feat Phyllisia -SOBE/Dangerzone U-4
07 7 11 Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx NM
08 9 6 Good Life-Chuckle Berry-Taxi U-1
09 4 20 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball (2wks@#1) D-5
10 11 11 Jah Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records U-1
11 8 23 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records(pp#4) D-3
12 13 9 Cassava – Andrew Mistiq aka P. Zed –Inspire U-1
13 14 9 Save The Juvenile-Ruffian-Get Up Yute Records U-1
14 15 5 Head Above The Water – Capleton – Downsound Records U-1
15 16 4 Under My Skin- Anthony Red Roze –Taxi U-1
16 12 23 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records (2wks@#1) D-4
17 17 13 Another Bill Again-Tony Rebel-Penthouse (pp#6) NM
18 19 3 Too Late – Junior Kelly & Queen Ifrica – AL.TA.FA.AN U-1
19 18 18 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records (pp#8) D-1
20 - New So In Love –Hezron – Tads Int’l Records

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 3 11 Waiting – Cecile – Dangerzone (1wk@#1) U-2
02 1 13 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves (2wks@#1) D-1
03 5 3 Mr. Brooks – A Better Tomorrow – Mavado - VP Records U-2
04 4 9 Pull Up Selector-Jimmy Riley-Taxi NM
05 2 13 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Int’l Records (3wks@#1) D-3
06 8 3 Ragga Ragga Ragga 2009 - Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l Records(2wks@#1) U-2
07 6 23 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon (2wks@#1)
D-1
08 7 18 Yes We Can-Cocoa Tea - Roaring Lion/Tads Int’l (3wks@#1) D-1
09 - New The Very Best of Elephant Man-Elephant Man – VP Records
10 - New Brand New Me – Gregory Isaacs –Tads Int’l Records

_____________________NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.
Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover
TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position
Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play

ROOTZ SHARE THE FRUITS @ RED BONES

2009-04-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

Teb years in the evolution of any orgnaiztion is significant, particulalry a group like Rootz Underground in Jamaica.
In a recorded and live music soundscape mined with banalities (whether dancehall's callous profanity and materialism or the by-the-numbers wailing of some 'conscious' reggae pretenders0, the group have consistently honed and moulded their sound, proud exponents of a sort of progressive roots music that - like jazz - embraces many other musical flavours without losing its own distinctive bite.

Last Friday's show at red bones the Blues Cafe (one of their formative stomping grounds) offered an oppportunity to share that evolutionary growth with a sizeable and enthusiastic audience, who cameto hear the 'old' favourites as well as to willingly participate in the road testing of new material from their forthcoming sophomore disc, Gravity.

Furhter proof of the evolutionary quest came i nthe addiiton of the excellent young horn man tafane (on soprano and tenor) and a percusiionist whom I beleieve was introduced only as "Allan".

Added to the already rock-solid lineup, the Red Bones combo weaved some interesting textures into Rootz trademark densely layered yet joyous brand of rock-reggae, enlivening numbers like "Herb Field" (there's something to be said for a band that can make a 'weed' song appealing to a non-smoker) and "Time Is An Illusion". There were great new material from the Gravity album as well, including love song's such as "Waiting For You" Jeffrey Moss-Solomon's tribute to wife Gail.
And there was a heavy dose of the familiar - the radio hit (backed by an excellent video that somehow got slept on in the awards rush) "Hammer" which segued directly into the familiar staccato drum-and-bass figures that introduced "Victims of the System"

Rootz, which is already making a name for itself on both US coasts and will also head to Europe this summer, demonstrated emphatically that maturation does not mean stillness nor corrosion - the music and the attitude of those playing was as fresh and free of hang-ups as when they first started.

The fruits are in the Rootz, and on Friday night, they made for sweet music indeed.

Jah Cure goes "Universal" Apr 7

2009-04-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Roots singer Jah Cure (Siccature Allicock) will hold a release party for his next album, titled "The Universal Cure" on Apr 7 aththe C&W Golf Academy, beginning at 7:00pm
Since his release from prison last year, Cure has been busy with both recordings and performances, anda new round of shows is expected to accompany the new album.

Follow this link

2009-03-25T05:39:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7kmTGhkB-w

Great video from the Island Stylee folks

Check the dude in the orange polo shirt

Charlie Bobus keeps busy B4 Canada tour

2009-03-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Before going on tour to Canada you can still see charlie Bobus live in concert at these locations across Jamaica.

After performing at the Mini Miss Port Antonio in Portland on Sunday charlie Bobus will be going around the island spreading his motivatiom

Today Charlie Bobus will be at a Video Shoot with Jay Will - Game Over Finishing up the finishing touch to Mr Vegas - I am Blessed - Liv Up Records produced single where he played a leading role, acting as a thug chasing Vegas throught the video but unable to catch him, ending up all the way in a church.

He will be Performing at Spring Break Cultural Showcase@Travellers beach Resort Negril Tuesday March 23rd@1PM &

Red Bones Blues cafe - New Kingston -Evening of Contemporary literature - Wednesday March 24th 2009

University of West Idies Poetry Club - Thursday March 25th

Portmore Poetry & Reggae Fridays Cocktail fanta-C- Destiny Mall Portmore - Friday March 26th

@ Reggae in The Valley - St Elizabeth March 28th Appleton Estate Sports Complex - St. Elizabeth - Siloah, Jamaica
plus check out charlie Bobus live @

TIFA MAKES POSITIVE 'STATEMENT' IN THE T.O.

2009-03-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2009, Kingston, Jamaica:- Fast rising Dancehall sensation Latifa Brown, more popularly know as TIFA, has left quite an impression on dancehall enthusiasts in Canada.

After recently performing at Statement, a charity event recently held in Toronto, Canada, with part proceeds in aid of the Bustamante Children’s Hospital, Tifa was requested to do several interviews for local radio stations including, CHRY 105.5 fm, as well as, interviews for Lyric DVD Magazine, L3 Magazine, Elite Magazine and, http://lovethevibes.com/

Tifa gave a stellar performance to her Canadian fans, as she belted out crowd favourites at the show including “Crawny Gal” and “Bottom of the Barrel,” which fans were able to sing line by line.

Spell It Out and Tick It Like A Clock
Tifa has recently released two blazing tracks that are currently receiving high rotation across the local airwaves. “Spell It Out” is an uptempo dancehall track produced by Ward 21, in which Tifa showcases her lyrical talents and versatility in a style never heard before on the dancehall scene. Fans can look out for the video for this hot single in April 09.

“With the recent bans from the Broadcast Commission, artists now have to become more creative with their material. “Spell It Out” is a song which truly shows my versatility and talent as a writer,” stated Tifa.

Tifa’s “Tick It Like A Clock” is featured on Stephen Mcgreggor’s latest project, the Boasty Riddim. The riddim also includes artists such as, Beenie Man, Laden, Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man and more. Tifa has also recently released “God Blessed” produced by Equiknoxx, which is already receiving rave reviews in both print and electronic media.

Tifa Wins RETV MVP Award for Best Music Video (Female)
Tifa wins big at the first Annual RETV MVP (Music Video Pic) Awards. Tifa’s chart topping music video for her hit single “Bottom of the Barrel” has won the award for Best Music Video (Female) - the video was directed by Dexter ‘3D’ Pottinger. The winners were announced on RETV on Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Touch Di Road
Tifa is certainly making the rounds across the island promoting her music and also endorsing various causes. She recently completed the all-island RJR Cross Country Invasion, and is now making her way to several schools promoting Abstinence Awareness on the RETV School Tour, which kicked off last week at the Edith Dalton James High School. Tifa was also on board the Digi Road Show, which also features Christopher Martin. Her next International performance will be in Orlando on April 4, 2009.

-Garrick Comm.

Prince sets out to take L.A.

2009-03-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles will be saturated with Prince this week as he promotes the March 29th release of his albums "LOtUSFLOW3R" and "MPLSoUND."

In addition to the previously-announced three-night stand on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" from Wednesday through Friday (March 25-27), Prince is scheduled to perform three full-length concerts on Saturday, March 28, at separate venues within Los Angeles' $2.5 billion L.A. Live sports and entertainment complex.

Doors for the first show, at Nokia Theater L.A. Live will open at 5:30 p.m.; doors at the Conga Room open at 8 p.m.; and doors at Club Nokia will open at 11:30 p.m.

Fans will be required to purchase separate tickets for each concert. Tickets went on sale as of yesterday (March 22) via ticketmaster.com

Kartel, Crystal & Co. clear at # 1

2009-03-20T05:56:00.000-07:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

MARCH 20, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 8 Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel – Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records(1wk@#1) U-1

02 1 13 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship (3wks@#1) D-1

03 4 11 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship U-1

04 3 11 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice(2wks@#1) D-1

05 9 7 Head Caan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records U-4

06 8 8 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion U-2

07 6 8 Ben Ova - RDX- (pp#6) D-1

08 10 7 Get Wild-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice U-2

09 5 24 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II (pp#3) D-4

10 7 13 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship(pp#3) D-3

11 11 14 Flying Dagger (100 Stab)- Idonia- Equinoxx (pp#6) NM

12 12 7 Bubble-Charly Blacks-Fresh Ear NM

13 14 3 Stamma-Busy Signal- Big Ship U-1

14 16 3 Nuh Daggera -Spice-Equinoxx U-2

15 18 2 Mama-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice/Adidjaheim Records U-3

16 19 2 Bad 2 Da Bone-Brick & Lace-Birchill Records U-3

17 - New I Am Blessed-Mr. Vegas-Live-Up

18 13 27 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab (2wks@#1) D-5

19 - New Man A Galis-Ding Dong-Notice

20 17 22 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings (3wks@#1) D-3

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 17 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball (2wks@#1) NM

02 2 14 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records NM

03 5 8 Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music U-2

04 4 20 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records NM

05 6 13 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy U-1

06 7 13 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-1

07 8 20 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records (2wks@#1) U-1

08 3 21 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Uplifting Music Int’l (2wks@#1) D-5

09 9 10 Another Bill Again-Tony Rebel-Penthouse NM

10 10 8 Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx NM

11 13 5 A Thousand Miles Away-Ras Penco-Uprize Music U-2

12 12 8 Jah Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records NM

13 17 3 Good Life-Chuckle Berry-Taxi U-4

14 15 6 Cassava – Andrew Mistiq aka P. Zed –Inspire U-1

15 16 6 Save The Juvenile-Ruffian-Get Up Yute Records U-1

16 18 3 Call On Me- Jah Cure feat K. Cole -SOBE/Dangerzone U-2

17 11 10 You’re My Inspiration –LUST- Born Music (pp#10) D-6

18 19 2 Head Above The Water – Capleton – Downsound Records U-1

19 14 15 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records (pp#8) D-5

20 - New Under My Skin- Anthony Red Roze -Taxi

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 10 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Record Int’l (3wks@#1) NM

02 2 10 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves NM

03 4 8 Waiting – Cecile – Dangerzone U-1

04 3 20 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon (2wks@#1)

D-1
05 6 6 Pull Up Selector-Jimmy Riley-Taxi U-1

06 5 15 Yes We Can-Cocoa Tea - Roaring Lion/Tads Int’l (3wks@1) D-1

07 7 17 Greatest Reggae One Drop Anthems-Various Artistes-Greensleeves NM

08 8 18 A Moment In Time -Beres Hammond -VP Records (4wks@#1) NM

09 9 21 Riddim Ruler- Drop It – Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l (2wks@#1) NM

10 10 22 Loaded-Busy Signal-VP Records (1wk@#1) NM

_____________________NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.

Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover

TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position

Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play

Could You Win a MEFFY?

2009-03-17T06:11:00.001-07:00

The Mobile Entertainment Forum has announced the call for entries for the sixth international Meffys Mobile Entertainment Awards, which span the entire mobile entertainment industry, from games to technology innovation.

The Meffys are a unique platform which recognise outstanding achievements from across the mobile entertainment value chain around the globe. The entries will be judged by leading journalists, analysts and VCs.

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director, commented: “From the heightened participation of handset manufacturers and the proliferation of widgets and app stores, to the emergence of multi-platform services and the meteoric rise of mobile social networking, over the last year the industry has risen to the challenge of revamping its business models and setting a new standard for mobile entertainment. The Meffys present an ideal idea opportunity for the visionaries and leaders driving this remarkable evolution to showcase successes and compete to be recognised as the industry's best.”

This year's Meffys 2009 introduces a new award category 'The Business Intelligence Award' that will recognise the industry's continued need for comprehensive data and definitive metrics. It rewards companies who are helping the mobile media industry to better track, quantify and analyse data to support continued investment.

The Meffys also feature the unique consumer-judged 'Quality of Experience Award' celebrating projects that provide the most intuitive and engaging consumer experience. Judged by end-users themselves, the judging process for this Award will be run by we are: London, an innovative user centred design agency who are experts in multivariate testing and behavioural targeting.

In addition, the MEF board will once again present the 'Outstanding Contribution Award' to a talented individual whose work has had a seminal impact on the growth of the mobile entertainment industry. Previous winners of this coveted award include: Vesa-Matti Paananen who won the inaugural prize in 2004 for his pioneering work commercialising the ringtone; Taneli Armanto who received the accolade in 2005 for bringing the game 'Snake' to the mobile phone; Jim Brailean in 2006 for his ground-breaking work to make mobile TV a reality; the trio Alain Rossman, Chuck Parrish and Bruce Martin, creators of the mobile internet in 2007 and Greg Clayman, Gordon Gould and Alex LeVine (founders of “Upoc”) in 2008 for the creation of the first mobile communities.

Companies wishing to enter should visit: http://www.m-e-f.org/ and submit the entries by 17th April 2009.

But Vinyl Still Vital, says the NY Times

2009-03-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

In Austin, Vinyl Is Still Vital
Ben Sklar for The New York Times

Published: March 8, 2009

STANDING on the wrong side of "full capacity" didn't discourage the dozens
of
Andrew Bird fans gathered outside the singer's show at Waterloo Records in
Austin last month.

Clustered around doors opened onto the parking lot, they listened as Mr.
Bird's
voice soared over his signature string-enhanced compositions. Some were
blissed
out, eyes closed, while others craned to see past the open doors; one woman
pressed a camera phone between posters of Cruiserweight and Conor Oberst,
straining for a good shot.

As the annual South by Southwest festival takes over Austin - this year,
from
March 13 to 22 - music lovers will flock to the city, partly to take in all
that
live music, but also to indulge in that increasingly rare sight: stores that
still sell records.

It's this synergistic relationship between Austin's record dealers and the
dedicated hordes still willing to pay for limited-edition vinyl that makes
the
city a destination for record lovers.

"Many years of great live music and clubs have created an atmosphere of
musical
awareness that interprets into music collecting in many ways," said Doug
Hanners, creator of the Austin Record Convention (www.austinrecords.com), a
twice annual, vinyl-centric event that claims to be the largest sale of
recorded
music in the country. "Many of the musicians are also collectors, also work
at
record stores."

Waterloo Records and Video (600A North Lamar Street; 512-474-2500;
www.waterloorecords.com) is the flagship of Austin's record-collecting
culture.
The store's aisles overflow with treasures both timely (Sigur Ros's "Med sud
i
eyrum vid spilum endalaust," $18.99), and obscure ("Sleep's Holy Mountain"
on
sought-after picture disc, $27.99).

Across the river in South Austin, End of an Ear (2209 South First Street;
512-462-6008; www.endofanear.com) features a healthy mix of limited-edition
vinyl and used classics - as well as live performances. The store's two
owners,
Dan Plunkett and Blake Carlisle, said their 2009 festival lineup is as
packed as
any previous year's.

At Sound On Sound (106 East North Loop Boulevard.; 512-371-9980;
www.soundonsoundrecords.com) a large selection of CD's is supplemented by a
record selection that emphasizes experimental sounds like the music of the
acid-folk pioneer Karen Dalton.

>From Sound On Sound, a 10-minute drive through the Hyde Park neighborhood
brings
you to Antone's Record Shop (2928 Guadalupe Street; 512-322-0660;
www.antonesrecordshop.com), situated on the University of Texas's main drag.

"We're actually the only record store still standing in the campus area,"
noted
Mike Buck, a co-owner of the store. "The place has always operated on a
shoestring. I think our strength is vinyl, and a faithful clientele."

Opened in 1987 by the late Austin music impresario Clifford Antone, the
store
specializes in roots music and boasts a strong selection of jazz. Willie
Nelson
records command a whole row and a half, while Cannonball Adderley's
hard-to-find
LP "Alabama/Africa" was recently on sale for a very reasonable $9.99.

At Cheapo Discs (914 North Lamar Street; 512-477-4499; www.cheapotexas.com),
vast quantities of used music and great finds abound: $12.93 will buy you a
vinyl copy of the "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" and the new EP by the Austin
soul
screamer Black Joe Lewis. And, if you're lucky, you might stumble into a
live
performance by a local band like Bear and the Essentials.

The Power of the 'Fruit': Apple is THE force in music

2009-03-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

Apple: The traditional labels — and everyone else — keep trying, but no one has dented iTunes’ supremacy. In 2008, Apple surpassed Wal-Mart as the world’s largest music retailer.
Warner Music Group: Digital sales were up 39%, thanks in part to a ramped-up MP3 effort in 2008. WMG also partnered with Nokia on an all-access music channel that lives on your phone.
Imeem: After buying up Anywhere.fm and Snocap, Imeem found itself one of the top social networks of 2008, according to Nielsen.
Pandora: The music-discovery machine of the 21st century has taken the serendipity out of finding new music that fits your tastes. Just one step ahead of competitor Last.fm.
Last.fm: Later to the party than Pandora, but a growing force that includes info on concerts and artists, plus video.
South by Southwest: The Austin-based music-and-media festival attracts more than 1,800 acts and 150,000 attendees. Despite a grassroots approach, a standout showing can make an artist.
MTV Music Group: A slew of new digital initiatives are one part of president Van Toffler’s remaking. Another: the $175 million purchase of Rock Band game maker Harmonix.
Radiohead: The band that spawned direct-to-fans releases made two songs available for remix — and let users vote for the winner on its site. Amateurs and professionals alike joined in.
Live Nation: The concert promoter continued to sign A-list artists to distribution deals and further increased its live-events footprint.
Pitchfork Media: The popular and wildly influential music blog recently added video and inked a deal with Fader Media for integrated advertising and sponsorship across all platforms.

-from Silicon Caribe

Another musical 'Rebelution'

2009-03-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

"The Rebelution Continues..."

Host: Michael Sean Harris Music

Start Time: Wednesday, March 25 at 8:30pm

Where: Limelight Entertainment Center (At the (Oakton Park entertainment complex, Half Way Tree - right by the Portmore Bus Stop, as you pass York Plaza)

Laden, Bescenta Shine Calm on the charts

2009-03-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

MARCH 6, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 11 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship(2wks@#1) NM
02 2 9 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice(2wks@#1) NM
03 4 22 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II U-1
04 5 6 Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel – U-1
05 6 9 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship U-1
06 3 11 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship(pp#3) D-3
07 10 6 Ben Ova - RDX- U-3
08 8 12 Flying Dagger (100 Stab)- Idonia- Equinoxx (pp#6) NM
09 12 6 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion U-3
10 11 5 Head Caan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records U-1
11 13 5 Get Wild-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice U-2
12 7 25 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab (2wks@#1) D-5
13 15 5 Bubble-Charly Blacks-Fresh Ear U-2
14 9 24 Move-KK Alese- Ruby Sarah Music (pp#7) D-5
15 14 28 Rolling Deep-Flippa Mafia-T J Records (pp#5) D-1
16 16 20 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings (3wks@#1) NM
17 - New Stamma-Busy Signal- Big Ship
18 17 16 Million By A Mawning-Vybz Kartel-Don Corleon (3wks@#1 D-1
19 - New Nuh Daggera -Spice-Equinoxx
20 18 18 Yuh Know Fi Wine-Beenie Man- 357 Records (pp#7) D-2

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 19 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Uplifting Music Int’l (2wks@#1) NM
02 2 15 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball NM
03 4 12 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records U-1
04 3 18 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records (2wks@#1) D-1
05 6 18 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records (pp#5)U-1
06 7 11 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy U-1
07 9 11 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-2
08 11 6 Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music U-3
09 8 13 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records(pp#8) D-1
10 10 8 You’re My Inspiration –LUST- Born Music NM
11 12 8 Another Bill Again-Tony Rebel-Penthouse U-1
12 13 6 Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx U-1
13 16 6 Jah Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records U-3
14 5 24 Nothing Change (Love Reigns)- Bugle/Tarrus Riley -Sons of Spoon Music(2wks@#1) D-9
15 19 3 A Thousand Miles Away-Ras Penco-Uprize Music U-4
16 17 4 Cassava – Andrew Mistiq aka P. Zed –Inspire U-1
17 18 4 Save The Juvenile-Ruffian-Get Up Yute Records U-1
18 15 7 Music – Konshens – Tads Int’l (pp#15) D-3
19 - New Good Life-Chuckle Berry-Taxi
20 - New Call On Me-Jah Cure-SOBE/Dangerzone

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 8 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Record Int’l (1wk@#1)U-1
02 1 18 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon (2wks@#1)
D-1
03 4 8 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves U-1
04 3 13 Yes We Can-Cocoa Tea - Roaring Lion/Tads Int’l (3wks@1) D-1
05 5 6 Waiting – Cecile – Dangerzone NM
06 6 15 Greatest Reggae One Drop Anthems-Various Artistes-Greensleeves NM
07 8 4 Pull Up Selector-Jimmy Riley-Taxi U-1
08 9 16 A Moment In Time -Beres Hammond -VP Records (4wks@#1) U-1
09 7 19 Riddim Ruler- Drop It – Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l (2wks@#1) D-2
10 10 20 Loaded-Busy Signal-VP Records (1wk@#1) NM

_____________________NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.
Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover
TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position
Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play

Right on target

2009-03-01T07:05:00.000-08:00

As much as I think "Rampin' Shop" "Hundred Stab" and others of that ilk are garbnage, I have to agree withthe following:

“Censorship in Paradise”
Statement
by
William O’Shaughnessy
President, Whitney Media
Editorial Director, WVOX and WVIP

The new “rules” announced on Saturday by the Jamaican Broadcast Commission to ban songs and music videos in that magnificent island nation is ill-advised. And dangerous.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding is a man of great intelligence and character who does not need to be reminded about the wisdom of our First Amendment which has served America so well for so many years. It is thus to be urgently hoped th at the Prime Minister will “crack down” on his own government regulators who are trying to stifle free expression.
The broadcasters of Jamaica are “permittees” and “trustees,” with a fiduciary relationship to the airwaves which rightly and properly belong to the people of their country. Many, most of them, believe that a radio station achieves its highest calling when it resembles a platform, a soapbox.
Someone has to tell the Jamaican Broadcast Commission in no uncertain terms that the popular songs of the day deserve protection – no matter how gross, raucous, raunchy, vulgar, outrageous or “explicit.”
Like we said in the attached piece: Some of it ain’t so pretty … but all of it needs to be protected.
A song is like an eyewitness report. The writers of those songs write of the daily life in Jamaica, the daily passions of their countrymen, the milieu in which they live. They write in the vernacular and with the currency of the day.
In any society there’s a fine line of taste that constantly changes. The populace redraws it every season and government can’t stop it.
People have been making songs to reflect their environment since the beginning of time.
Jamaica has given wonderful gifts to the world from the collective genius of Bob Marley, Byron Lee, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tesh, Desmond Dekker and Bunny Wailer. They wrote and sang in the vernacular and with the currency of their day.
Nothing “encourages” people to sin or change history. Songs are signs, banners: they do not make history.
Restricting language is only possible in a totalitarian atmosphere. It was possible in Germany, in Bulgaria, in Cuba. It is possible where only one mode of communication dominates. So, no, you can’t sing an off-color song in Bulgaria. But even without such songs, they have drunkenness, adultery and suicide – but not on the radio.
Apparently the Jamaican Broadcast Commission wants a world that is uncomplicated, without pain for their children, not obscene, not profane. But it is a great mistake to blame songwriters, musical performers and broadcasters for the coarsening of the culture which is occurring worldwide.
John Updike writes that “popular” composers, from generation to generation, “if they do not teach us how to love, do lend our romances a certain accent and give our courting rites and their milieu … a background of communal experience.”

It should never be left to government to decide what is “worthy” or meritorious, even one as wise and prescient as the one presided over by Prime Minister Golding who, after only one year, seems so well begun in the hearts of his countrymen and in the eyes of the world. Nor should it be the province of a regulatory authority to decide what isnot.
Let the people of Jamaica exercise the only permissible form of censorship – by tuning out offensive material.
Jamaica should get out of the business of censorship and stick to the vital business of hospitality and tourism for which it is so justly renown.

Last Chart for Feb - Laden, Bescenta on Top

2009-02-28T05:05:00.000-08:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

FEBRUARY 27, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 10 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship(1wk@#1) U-1
02 1 8 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice(2wks@#1) D-1
03 3 10 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship NM
04 4 21 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II NM
05 8 5 Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel – U-3
06 7 8 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship U-1
07 5 24 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab (2wks@#1) D-2
08 6 11 Flying Dagger (100 Stab)- Idonia- Equinoxx (pp#6) D-2
09 9 23 Move-KK Alese- Ruby Sarah Music (pp#7) NM
10 12 5 Ben Ova - RDX- U-2
11 13 4 Head Caan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records U-2
12 14 5 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion U-2
13 15 4 Get Wild-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice U-2
14 10 27 Rolling Deep-Flippa Mafia-T J Records (pp#5) D-4
15 16 4 Bubble-Charly Blacks-Fresh Ear U-1
16 11 19 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings (3wks@#1) D-5
17 17 15 Million By A Mawning-Vybz Kartel-Don Corleon (3wks@#1 NM
18 18 17 Yuh Know Fi Wine-Beenie Man- 357 Records (pp#7) NM
19 19 22 No Games-Serani- TJ Records (pp#2) NM
20 20 10 No Chorus (Real Killer)-Mavado-Big Ship(pp#16) NM

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 18 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Uplifting Music Int’l (2wks@#1) U-1
02 3 14 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball U-1
03 1 17 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records (2wks@#1) D-2
04 5 11 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records U-1
05 4 23 Nothing Change (Love Reigns)- Bugle/Tarrus Riley -Sons of Spoon Music(2wks@#1) D-1
06 6 17 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records (pp#5) NM
07 7 10 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy NM
08 9 12 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records U-1
09 10 10 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-1
10 11 7 You’re My Inspiration –LUST- Born Music U-1
11 12 5 Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music U-1
12 14 7 Another Bill Again-Tony Rebel-Penthouse U-2
13 15 5 Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx U-2
14 8 27 A Better Man-Terry Linen-Uplifting Music Int’l Camp (2wks@#1) D-6
15 16 6 Music – Konshens – Tads Int’l U-1
16 17 5 Jah Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records U-1
17 18 3 Cassava – Andrew Mistiq aka P. Zed –Inspire U-1
18 19 3 Save The Juvenile-Ruffian-Get Up Yute Records U-1
19 20 2 A Thousand Miles Away-Ras Penco-Uprize Music U-1
20 13 23 Tell It Like It Is-Stevie Face-Boot Camp (4wks@#1) D-7

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 17 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon (2wks@#1)
NM
02 3 7 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Record Int’l U-1
03 2 12 Yes We Can-Cocoa Tea - Roaring Lion/Tads Int’l (3wks@1) D-1
04 5 7 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves U-1
05 6 5 Waiting – Cecile – Dangerzone U-1
06 4 14 Greatest Reggae One Drop Anthems-Various Artistes-Greensleeves D-2
07 7 18 Riddim Ruler- Drop It – Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l (2wks@#1) NM
08 9 3 Pull Up Selector-Jimmy Riley-Taxi U-1
09 8 15 A Moment In Time -Beres Hammond -VP Records (4wks@#1) D-1
10 10 19 Loaded-Busy Signal-VP Records (1wk@#1) NM

Good music still Counts

2009-02-28T04:48:00.000-08:00

Count Ossie receives Lifetime Achievement Award from JARIA

Kingston; Jamaica: The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association will present the inaugural JARIA Lifetime Achievement award to veteran musician Count Osie on Sunday March 1, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. This as the stars gather for the first ever Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA) Honours Awards set to recognize eleven pioneers in the local music industry.

Facilitated by the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, JARIA, a non-governmental, non-profit organisation was formed by industry players who met over several weeks to plan reggae month 2009. As part of the celebrations during reggae month, JARIA will be presenting the following awards to eleven individuals: the JARIA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Count Osie and The Mystic Revelations, the JARIA Engineers Honours Awards will go to Sylvan Morris and Sid Bucknor. The JARIA Producers Honour Awards recognizes Lesley Kong and Sonia Pottinger, the JARIA Sound Systems Honour Awards will be given to King Tubby and Jah Love, the JARIA Musicians Honour Awards to Lennie Hibbert and Ansel Collins and the JARIA Artistes Honour Awards will honour Dennis Brown and Pam Hall.

According to Junior Lincoln, of JARIA’s Honour Awards planning committee, all honourees have been pioneers in the music industry and have built the stepping stones for Jamaican music today. The Honour Awards Committee also comprises of Jackie Lynch Stewart, Steve Golding, Freddie McGregor, Paul “Computer Paul” Henton, Desi Young and Dwight “Heavy D” Myers.

Lincoln elaborated on some of the awardees, “Count Osie, he was an original niabinghi drummer who played a very important part in the early establishment of Jamaican music, he performed on the recording Oh Carolina, and was the anchor of the song when it was created. Count Osie is a member of the The Mystic Revelations of Rastafari who are still going strong after over fifty years. Sid Bucknor, was the engineer of many of the hits of the Skalities, the Maytals and other early Jamaican songs. He also played an integral role in the production of early studio one music. Sylvan Morris took over from Sid Bucknor at Studio One, he was then responsible for the reggae compilations at Studio One, Sid Bucknor was like the daddy and Sylvan Morris followed him.” he said.

Lesley Kong was an early producer who was responsible for music from the legendary Jimmy Cliff and Desmond Decker. Lincoln elaborates, “Our theme this year is ‘to the world’. Lesley Kong was responsible for international hits from Desmond Decker like Israelites, he was one of the first producers in the 1960s to have an international hit. The second awardee Sonia Pottinger was the lady of Jamaican music; she was the lady and still is the lady of Jamaican record producers.”

King Tubby, an early 1960s sound system operator was a pioneer when it came to dubs in the dancehall and can easily be referred to as the ‘dubmaster’ of Jamaican music while Jah Love was considered to be the first the Rasta sound system. Musician Lenny Hibbert is known for his contributions to the Alpha Boys School where he assisted countless boys to pursue careers in the music industry. Ainsley Collins is perhaps best known for the smash hit Double Barrel which helped bring Jamaican music to the world.

When it comes to pioneering male and female singers the names Dennis Brown and Pan Hall, the ‘crown prince of reggae music’ are often at the top of the list. Junior Lincoln describes, “Pam Hall, has been around since the seventies. Pam started as a backup singer, the good thing about her is she has been involved in every part of the industry, in the music and the well fare of Jamaican artistes. Dennis Brown, crown prince of reggae is in my view the greatest singer Jamaica has ever known.”

The Awards Ceremony will be streamed live on the JIS website as well as televised for later broadcasts

More E! for FREE

2009-02-26T06:22:00.000-08:00

MUSIC UNITES!

in association with the Edna Manley College

cordially invites you to the

FREE Concert & Launch of the Jamaica Arts Endowment Fund
Monday, March 2 @ 7:30pm

Venue: School of Drama's Amphitheatre

Featuring: School of Music Jazz Ensemble, NEXUS & E- PARK BAND

Crack-Up Cross de Water Again!

2009-02-25T07:03:00.000-08:00

MORE LAUGHTER COMING AS “PORTMORE CRACK-UP” CONTINUES

Mirth and madness continues across the causeway with the next staging of “Portmore Crack-Up” on Sunday, March 1, 2009. Doors open for a Taboo-sponsored, pre-show Cocktail Party at 5:00pm; and the joke-filled engagement will start promptly at 7:00pm at Klub Klymaxx (on the roof – Portmore Pines Plaza).

Lighting the fire of humour will be experienced A-list stand-up comic and popular actor, Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley; the consistently exciting and irreverent Apache Chief & Sarge; high-riding, young, comic star Leighton Smith; and the innovative comedic-medic Michael Abrahams. The proceedings will be ably guided and audience interaction facilitated by Portmore’s prince, Pretty Boy Floyd; and the energetic, bubbly, and vivacious Miss Kitty.

Spot prizes, surprise cameo appearances; and giveaways will also be in store for the audience, courtesy of Courts Jamaica Limited.

“Portmore Crack-Up” promises gales of laughter in the ‘Sunshine City’ on the last Sunday of each month. Produced by Ellis International, the series is endorsed by the Portmore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Patrons can enjoy the extra-special, free, ticket delivery service from Nice & Easy Tours by calling 898-6500 or 456-0505. At a cost of $1,000.00/each, pre-sold tickets are also available at: Western Sports, Liguanea; The Card Centre, 78 Slipe Road, Cross Roads; Genus Pharmacy, Shop # 25, Portmore Plaza; and Fuel Fashion, Shop# 64, Portmore Pines Plaza. At-the-door price will be $1,200.00/each.

“Portmore Crack-Up” is rated M for Mature. Sponsors are: Klub Klymaxx; FAME 95FM; HYPE TV; 876Radio.com; Courts Jamaica; Dr. Lushus; and Taboo.

No 'ifa' for Tifa: 2K9 is her year

2009-02-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

2009 is off to a busy start for one of Dancehall's most promising young artiste, Latifa Brown, more popularly known as "Tifa". She has already kick started the year by being nominated for a total 5 awards in this years award season, namely, the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME), Youth View Awards and the RETV MVP Awards.

"It was an honour within itself to be nominated, even though I did not win any awards this year, it was still good to know that my work is being recognized within the industry and also by my fans," stated Tifa when asked about her recent nominations.

Although Tifa did not win the award for "Young, Hot and Hype Female", the dancehall diva gave a stellar performance at the 2009 Youth View Awards, which displayed not only her vocal talent, but also her skill in choreography. Tifa also recently performed to a sold out concert in Belize with the TNT crew, which consists of Tifa, Natalie Storm and Timberlee.

Tifa will be onboard a series of tours both Locally and Internationally and is currently going from parish-to-parish with RJR Cross Country Invasion, which will make it's final stop in Montego Bay at the end of the month. Other artists on the Cross Country Invasion include Konshens, Stacious, Cameal Davis, Chino, Laden, Romain Virgo, Sophia Squire, Kip Rich, Goddy Goddy and Nesbeth.

The dancehall artist will also be a part of the 2009 RETV School Tour, which is an Abstinence Awareness tour, which will visit 6 schools across the island over a 6-week period.

"I am thankful to the RJR Communications Group and RETV for giving me the opportunity to shine and spread my music to my existing fans and this also allows me to meet some new ones. The RJR Cross Country Invasion has been an amazing experience, and I expect that the RETV School Tour will be the same."

Tifa will be performing at the Dancehall Cares concert being held in Canada, which is a benefit concert in aid of the Bustamante Children's Hospital. Dancehall artist, Aidonia is also booked to perform at this charity event. After the concert, Tifa will also be performing at another show in Toronto. She has also been working on several projects for various producers that will be released next month.

-from Garrick Communications

"E is so very, very Extraordinary"

2009-02-22T22:21:00.000-08:00

Not that we’re carrying a brief for the folks at the National Housing Trust (there was, after all, that statue, but that’s another debate), but they’ve made some fairly astute and beneficial choices in the way of culture.

One such was Emancipation Park, which revitalized the former ‘dust bowl inking the two major midtown thoroughfares (Oxford Road and Knutsford Boulevard). The other was commissioning composer-arranger-musician Peter Ashbourne to put together a large ensemble to play a Christmas concert in the aforementioned Emancipation Park, shortened, for practical purposes, to E-Park.

The band thus dubbed the E-Park Band, has proved itself to be nothing short of an absolute musical gift to the Jmaaican people (and other nationalities who may hear it), and Ashbourne & Co again vindicated themselves at Sunday evening’s Jazz in the Gardens, the first in the bi-monthly live series for 2009, at its familiar home in the Gardens of the Pegasus, a stone’s throw from the Park of the Band’s its conception.

That the programme was essentially a reprise of that performed in the Second City during the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival last month made it in no way less enjoyable. The high level of musicianship and –more importantly – the sheer joy amongst the 13-member ensemble and the instant rapport with the audience fuelled a great hopefulness for a return to the days when such bands were commonplace. This in spite of Ashbourne’s typically deadpan admission that “this is not an economic proposition; it’s a labour of love.”

the loving laboured and romped (yes, we’ll use that word) through a varied repertoire encompassing pop, reggae, the Great American Songbook, and a “dancehall instrumental piece, incorporating the sampled voice of a lady begging on the street among other things.

They were preceded by a group of which one hopes the market will also make room for, and which might be thought of as their successors, even at this relatively early stage. The Edna Manley Ensemble, comprising recent graduates –and one teacher – at the former Cultural Training Centre offered a similarly diverse repertoire delivered with no small measure of verve.

They started with a competent, if somewhat tentative “Autumn Leaves”. Violin soloist Rafiq Williams was hampered by indifferent sound levels (thankfully, the overall sound was much improved from previous Jazz in the gardens outings), with only bassist Alves Dean showing any noticeable assurance on his instrument.

The addition of two sparkling female vocalists changed that for the better. First Some Thomas who did a creditable job covering “Love Me Forever” by the late great Cynthia Schloss before taking things up a notch with vintage Jimmy Cliff – “The Lion Say.” Immediately following her, Abby Gaye Dallas confirmed that her fine showing at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Talent Stage was no fluke, putting her sultry vocals – and a neatly restrained sensuality – to good effect on “St Louis Blues” and “Night In Tunisia” (the latter employing lyrics improvised by Chaka Khan to fit the Dizzy Gillespie original). Courtney Fadlin, no stranger to the Pegasus faithful blew sweet and mellow on the smooth jazz classic, Grover Washington’s “Just The Two Of Us”

In an era when even established players are being made subservient to technology and even the art of selecting records for play has been steadily dehumanized, the sight - and sound - of a six-man horn section, complemented by guitar, bass, drums and two keyboards is truly a refreshing change, not to mention the truly exemplary vocal stylings of Karen Smith, Michael Sean Harris and the aforementioned EMC grads.

Sunday’s jazz in the Gardens offered, amid economic downturn and potential political upheaval, a genuine sign of hope. Let’s see where it leads.

Blues & more @ Hope Gardens

2009-02-19T09:53:00.001-08:00

“Blues on the Green”
U.S. Embassy hosts annual free concert

Feel the power of Blues on the Green on Friday, February 27, during the United States Embassy’s free concert featuring American blues singer and guitarist Deborah Coleman at Hope Gardens in Kingston.

The concert comes courtesy of the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section and many distinguished sponsors in celebration of African American History Month.

Deborah Coleman has been described by USA Today as “one of blues music’s most exciting young talents.” Along with a discography that spans a decade, she gives knockout live performances that have made her one of the hottest acts on the contemporary blues scene. Meticulous and focused in the studio and highly charismatic onstage, Coleman has developed a guitar style that reflects the influences of Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, Freddie King, Albert Collins and Larry Carlton. Her vocal inspirations are as often found in the singing of Chrissie Hynde and Patti Smith as in the recordings of Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin, Memphis Minnie and Alberta Hunter.

The free concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. and include The Maurice Gordon Group, headed by talented Jamaican guitarist Maurice Gordon, and local jazz and blues singer Myrna Hague.

Parking will be provided at both the Jamaica College parking lot and Gibson Avenue, Hope Pastures entrance to Hope Gardens. Starting at 5:30 p.m., shuttle buses will transport patrons from both parking lots to the concert venue. Patrons are encouraged to carpool to avoid inconvenienc

A Light Comedy Lyme

2009-02-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

Last evening presented a rare opportunity, even among the current burgeoning comedy scene: several of Jamaica's best comics, all in one spot, just shooting the breeze, ribbing each other - for the audience's benefit - and riffing comedically on various aspects of life.
Call it 'holdin' a medz' comedy style, but it made for a refreshing evening's entertainment at the LimeLight entertainment centre in Half Way Tree (with the Portmore buses plying their trade outside).
The event is intended to be a monthly one (3rd Wednesday) as Limelight looks to take on the midweek entertainment demand, with -alternately -poetry, gospel, comedy and live music.
Sounds good to us.

Brayhan Art makes big play with 'Murda'

2009-02-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

With not one, but two remixes kicking up a ruckus on airwaves (and terminals) across the globe, Brayhan Art is making a big and bold play for some well-deserved recognition with Murda Dem A Play.

The song addresses the seemingly entrenched problem of violent crime but not from the usual angle. Brayhan doesn't preach but still lays out the situation starkly, and in a manner that most listeners can easily relate.
"To how we see the situation." he remarked to this writer some time ago, when the re-mixes were still a thought and the original 'Murda' was burning up the charts, "it seems those guys almost tek the ting like a game, like how you woulda play gun as a kid, but is jsu dis is the real ting, an' people gettin' hurt and killed."

'Murda's' success is opening up even more doors for the lanky singer, with requests coming from as far afield as Japan and Germany for the singles. Meanwhile, work is continuing apace on his debut full-length CD, "Everybody Wanna Live" which should be commanding retail space and the media's attention in a couple months at most.

Born Bryan Grant in St. Ann, Jamaica, Brahyhan Art (Bryan Grant), his keen interest in music was inspired by his eldest brother, a recording artist known as Ray Grant. However, it was his mother who taught him his first three primary chords on which he’d improvise for the next couple of years. During Brahyhan's early teens, the guitar became secondary until years later when he began practicing for a college entry audition. Between teaching and singing, he also wrote songs for artistes such as George Nooks, Singing Melody, Bushman, Luciano, etc.
Today, devoted to his singing career the, Best New Artist for the year 2002 By; ER (Entertainment Report) TVJ, 2003, has done splendidly on many major shows including “Rebel Salute,” - on repeated occasions, “ATI,” “Fully Loaded,” “St. Mary Mi Come From” and “Unity Splash”, among others.
His international appearances include an extensive tour of the United States and Canada. Art sees himself as furthering and building on the marks set by the crooners who came before him, including the likes of Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond, and Toots Hibbert.

VP, Golden Krust seek Carib stars

2009-02-17T05:20:00.000-08:00

The premier dancehall/reggae record label has teamed up with the popular Caribbean food franchise for Reggae’s Golden Krust Caribbean Star Search competition, giving musicians 18 years and older who are residents in the US, a place to showcase their talent.

Contestants simply need to upload a one-minute minimum performance video onto www.youtube.com/vprecords.

Winners will be chosen by the most votes received and the VP Records and Golden Krust “star” will have the selected song recorded by one of Jamaica’s top producers. The song will be featured on VP’ s Reggae Gold 2009, the genre’s most popular CD compilation worldwide known for the biggest hits of the year in reggae/dancehall.

This year’s Reggae Gold comes at a very important time — marking VP Records 30 Year Anniversary. In addition to Golden Krust, VP Records joins forces with JTI (Jamaica Trade & Invest), JTB (Jamaica Tourist Board) & Catch-A-Fire Clothing/Zionrootswear to celebrate this moment in history with their most successful annual album series.

Reggae’s Golden Krust Caribbean Star Search is an integral component to this multi-faceted marketing venture.

“All of us at VP Records are very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of such a great campaign with Golden Krust”, states Cristy Barber VP of Marketing & Promotions for VP Records. “It’s always a pleasure to see other successful Caribbean companies wanting to help introduce new talent into our genre. This campaign will give musical hopefuls their time to shine,” she adds.

“Golden Krust is proud to be able to give young people an opportunity for musical stardom” commented, Lowell Hawthorne, president of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill. “Music is universal and this contest will afford some budding singers and songwriters a chance at success.”

The contest kicked off February 1, 2009 and continues through March 27, 2009. The emerging “Reggae Star” will be announced on VP Records YouTube channel, April 1.

For more information, email reggaegold@goldenkrustbakery.com or call 347.266.9759.

-From Reggae Wire News Network www.riddimjamaica.com

Beenie, Cruz for Belize

2009-02-14T11:02:00.000-08:00

Beenie Man is headed to Central America next month to inaugurate the Belize Reggae Fest Series, 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 7th, King 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 from 'Yaad' (Yard) and 'abraad' (abroad) as Jamaica's favorite "Attitude Gyal" Dyema shows off Dancehall's latest fancy foot and hip 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.

A Quieter [Natalie] Storm?

2009-02-12T11:19:00.001-08:00

"I Bruise Easily" the latest single being released by dancehall fashionista and singjay, Natalie Storm, speaks to the fact that there is much more to love than just sex.

On the heels of recent "daggering" debates that have created censorship and confusion in the dancehall, Natalie has released a single that shows a complex and more intimate side of being in love and the act of lovemaking.

Natalie Storm who has been known for her hardcore dancehall flavour on hit tracks such as "Back It Up" on Ward 21's Tear Up Jeans riddim, which became a dancehall anthem , "Talk Di Tings", and, "A Nuh My Fault" , showcases her eminent versatility on the single "I Bruise Easily" and also gives fans an opportunity to see and hear a softer side of the artist.

The track which is a Prodigal Entertainment production and also a cover from International Artist, Natasha Bedingfield is already set to be a clear Lovers Rock Anthem, which features all live musicians in a classic, reggae style. A treatment for the music video is currently being done by an Internationally acclaimed video director.

"The song is actually a cover from Natasha Bedingfield, and from the first time that I heard the single I really liked the song. I think that all women will be able to identify with this single," stated Natalie when asked why she chose to voice this particular song.

"A lot of people know that I could sing from before and have actually asked me to sing more … I think I'm gonna start doing some more of that (singing) and I think it will also help to broaden my horizons as and artist. I sing, Dj, write and now I'm also getting into the production element of the industry."

Storm was recently nominated in the 2009 EME Awards for Best New Artist (Female) and Singjay of the Year (Female), and has also received a nomination for Best Female Music Video – Back It Up, which was directed by Dexter Pottinger in the upcoming RETV MVP Awards.

She is also branching into production and is currently working on her debut riddim, Firestorm that will feature artists such as, Tifa, Timberlee and Ward 21 among others. She is also completing projects for Ward 21 and Swatch International, as well as global producers, Enur, Max Glazer and Ultra Records. Natalie Storm is also a part of the Swatch International and Passa Passa family.

The Charts Resume

2009-02-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

FEBRUARY 6, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 21 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab (2wks@#1) NM
02 4 7 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship U-2
03 8 5 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice U-5
04 5 7 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship U-1
05 2 24 Rolling Deep-Flippa Mafia-T J Records D-3
06 6 18 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II NM
07 3 12 Million By A Mawning-Vybz Kartel-Don Corleon (3wks@#1 D-4
08 9 20 Move-KK Alese- Ruby Sarah Music U-1
09 11 8 Flying Dagger (100 Stab)- Idonia- Equinoxx U-2
10 7 16 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings (3wks@#1) D-3
11 13 5 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship U-2
12 10 14 Yuh Know Fi Wine-Beenie Man- 357 Records(pp#7) D-2
13 16 2 Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel – U-3
14 12 19 No Games-Serani- TJ Records (pp#2) D-2
15 18 2 Ben Ova - RDX- U-3
16 14 7 No Chorus (Real Killer)-Mavado-Big Ship D-2
17 20 2 This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion U-3
18 - New Head Cyaan Hot So- Prodigal Son-Main Street Records
19 - New Bubble-Charly Blacks-Fresh Ear
20 - New Get wild-Vybz Kartel- Not Nice

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 20 Nothing Change (Love Reigns)- Bugle/Tarrus Riley -Sons of Spoon Music(2wks@#1) NM
02 3 14 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Uplifting Music Int’l U-1
03 4 14 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records U-1
04 5 11 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball U-1
05 6 14 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records U-1
06 2 24 A Better Man-Terry Linen-Uplifting Music Int’l Camp (2wks@#1) D-4
07 8 8 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records U-1
08 11 7 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy U-3
09 7 20 Tell It Like It Is-Stevie Face-Boot Camp (4wks@#1) D-2
10 10 9 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records NM
11 12 7 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-1
12 9 23 Stronger-D’Angel-Sons of Spoon (3wks@#1) D-3
13 15 4 You’re My Inspiration –LUST- Born Music U-2
14 16 4 Another Bill Again-Tony Rebel-Penthouse U-2
15 17 2 Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music U-2
16 18 3 Music – Konshens – Tads Int’l U-2
17 20 2 Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx U-3
18 19 3 Street Life – Richie Spice –Sons of Spoon U-1
19 14 19 Barak Obama-Cocoa Tea-Roaring Lion (2wks@1) D-5
20 13 16 I Feel Good – Beres Hammond – Penthouse (pp#2) D-7

Blues Rockin' Robin to Return

2009-02-12T10:26:00.000-08:00

Canadian-born, texas-raised, honorary Jamaican rocker/songbird Robin Banks is setto return to Christopher's - the site of many of her greatest exploits - as the Mo' Muzyk Live series continues. Robin is scheduled to perform on April 23.

before that, Mary Isaacs will perform along with PON Fyah, come February 17. Other dates will be announced as they are confirmed.

Pull Up! Lil' Jon

2009-02-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

Lil Jon is known to the hip-hop world as the "King of Crunk," a superstar rapper and producer. What they probably don't know is he started out as a dancehall selecta or deejay, as a member of the Four Seasons Sound System during the '90s, in his hometown of Atlanta. Now the entertainer, formally known as Jonathan Smith, is coming full circle, flirting with his love of Caribbean music by injecting his unique crunk flavor into this year's Carnival festivities in Trinidad.

Jon will not only be performing, but he has actually produced a beat for a collaboration between him, Latin hip-hop star Pitbull, and soca artist Machel Montano, called "Floor On Fire." The success of the production has evolved the track into a full-fledged riddim, with numerous Caribbean stars voicing on it, including Kevin Lyttle and Mr. Vegas. As a result, a new breed of soca is being introduced and will see its debut on soca's most prolific stage - Trinidad Carnival.

This is not the first major stage on which Jon has displayed his flair for island beats. He first appeared alongside Pitbull and Machel Montano at soca's other big festival, Crop Over in Barbados, last August. He was also in Trinidad recently to kick off Carnival, performing with Montano at the annual WASA Fete on January 31.

-from RHONA FOX

Music 2.0: Are You ready?

2009-02-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

The following, from Ingrid Riley's tech monitor Silicon Caribe, I found compelling enough to share with the E-Square fam:

On Feb 5th, I entered the Globe Lobby of the Los Angeles Times Building in downtown Los Angeles as the only Caribbean representative at the 2nd annual EconMusic Conference, organized by UK based ContentNext Media. This year’s conference focused on the key strategic issues surrounding the economics of the digital music industry.

By the end of the first panel discussion which featured Courtney Holt (President, Myspace Music), David Ring (EVP, eLabs, Universal Music Group), Cory Ondrejka (SVP, Digital Strategy, EMI Music), Michael Spiegelman (Head of Yahoo! Music) and Chris Stephenson (GM, Global Marketing, Entertainment Business, Microsoft) I had to wonder whether Jamaica and by extension the Caribbean region was ready for the technologically driven strategies that industry players are implementing in order to remain competitive in the global music industry.

MUSIC 2.0?
Technology and music are much more intertwined than ever before and to become or remain competitive in the marketplace, ALL industry players MUST experiment with new technologies, new business models, and take on partnerships with providers of music hardware and software in order to satisfy the call for “ubiquity of music.”

The term “Music 2.0” (coined by Gerd Leonhard) correctly describes the nature of today’s music business, driven by digital, web-based strategies that allow consumers to access, acquire and interact with music in ways not previously available.

NEW BUSINESS MODELS
The Music 2.0 landscape has acted as a category 5 hurricane in the music business because it has allowed for the introduction of new players such as Live Nation (the largest booking agency for live shows in the world) and thousands of independent labels utilizing digital distribution strategies and forcing major labels to revisit their outdated business models.

David Ring from Universal Music Group and EMI executive Cory Ondrejka discussed the relevance of any single business model that could satisfy the needs of artists, labels, publishers and consumer. But the discussion proved that even the members of the “Big 4” (Sony, UMG, WMG and EMI) have no exact answer for a “best business model” and they are unable to predict with any level of certainty what type of model would stabilize the industry and technology in which form would rule supreme.

Major labels at this point have simply preferred to take on a slight experimental approach (allowing themselves just enough wiggle room to hold on to their massive 75% dominance in the music industry). Their only suggestion was that any player in the music industry must try to ADAPT to the dynamic changes.

Are players in the Caribbean ready to adapt? Or will we simply follow the lead of foreign entities and try to make their strategies work in our region and for our music? This may be much more than detrimental than we think.

Fred Croshal founder and CEO of Croshal Entertainment Group (www.croshalgroup.com) and former executive at SonyBMG and Maverick Music was a refreshing addition to the conference introducing his alternative business model, what he calls, the VIRTUAL RECORD LABEL. According to Croshal, who has been involved with the sale of over 100 million albums over his 30 year span in the music business “…the structure of the label gives the artist 100% ownership of their masters and allows for faster reaction time, lower costs and better results for the artist.” Croshal’s label provides the same services an artist would receive at a major label: sales, marketing, song placement, internet, publicity, budget management but there are no costly overheads to recoup. Could this model be the way of the future?

Croshal represents American Idol winner Rubben Studdard, RnB star Yamin Elliot, Jupiter Rising, Jackson Browne and numerous other hugely successful American acts.

Will Jamaican artists continue to look to the “Big 4” for deals when most major acts like Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jay Z, Nickelback, and Bruce Springsteen are moving away from them driven by a desire to actually “own” their music?

MYSPACE MUSIC AHEAD OF THE GAME
Courtney Holt, newly appointed President of Myspace Music and former EVP of Digital Music & Media at MTV Networks, delved into developments at the new arm from Myspace. Privately funded and driven by advertising revenue, and sponsorship, Myspace Music is an expansion of the different ways that members of the Myspace community can interact with artists and discover new music. They have come out ahead of the pack in terms of exploiting the social networking model to expand the reach and popularity of an artist and their music.

Myspace Music has several Jamaican artists listed under their Reggae category but so far none have been a featured artist or offered a deal for “secret shows” such as those received by 23-year-old British artist, Lilly Allen (3 secret shows on 3 continents). According to Holt, these “secret shows” have driven record sales for these artists in the hundreds of thousands. MySpace Music launched the Secret Shows franchise in January 2006 and has since hosted such acts as Rilo Kiley, Moby, Maroon 5, the Killers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tenacious D, Ice Cube, James Blunt and Neil Diamond in cities around the world.

MOBILE MUSIC DEVELOPMENTS |SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Even before XM and Sirius radio entered the market, several companies such as Yahoo! Music and Rhapsody had experimented with subscription offers for music consumers. All that have trekked this road have later on abandoned the idea. When I pressed Chris Stephenson from Microsoft about the need for change in consumer perception as it relates to music as a product, he agreed that there is a need to shift consumer perception from “ownership of music” to “access to music.”
If consumers continue to view music as a product to be physically owned, there will always be resistance to paying a monthly service charge to access music.

TICKETING
In Japan today, music lovers are able to purchase concert tickets directly from their mobile phones. I directed this question to members of the Mobile Music panel: Jeff Annison (Founder & CEO, Underground Labs), Daniel Cohen (VP, Business Development, Dada Entertainment) and Tom Conrad (CTO, Pandora) who all agreed that very soon mobile phone companies in the US will be following suit to possibly partner with event promoters or ticketing agencies such as TicketMaster and Live Nation, as this is a viable option in the market of bringing artists closer to their fanbase.

Jamaica has Island Stubs (www.islandstubs.com) is this a viable option for us as well? Have their executives started negotiations with entities in the mobile arena to possibly provide such a service?

THE DEATH OF THE CD
Currently, Microsoft is heading into a deal with BestBuy to offer preloaded ZUNES based on music that consumers like. Do we foresee any of these ZUNES being preloaded with Reggae/Jamaican/Caribbean music?

At this point the deal is being inked between Microsoft and the major labels, with Universal being a big fan of the idea. This move is a reflection of an effort on the part of record labels to utilize “recommendation technology” and “play catch up” to what other entities like Amazon and iTunes have been doing for years to better understand the needs of consumers. In addition to the massive 45% decline in CD sales since 2000, this ZUNE agreement signals the ever-nearing “death of the CD.”

Is VP Records and local acts who are still thinking of “pressing a CD” ready for this move? What plans does Record Plaza, Music Mart, Derek Harriott, CD Centre, Music Fair, and others have in store for Jamaican music consumers when the CD is out of the picture?

During the conference there was mention of many who stand to benefit from this new dynamism and the falling of old business models but is the Caribbean region technologically ready?

By the end of all the presentations I left the LA Times Building feeling that without the necessary technological infrastructure Jamaica and the Caribbean will most definitely be left behind in the shift to MUSIC 2.0

The '09 Grammys: HUH?? WTF??

2009-02-09T05:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems after plucking Herbie Hancock's tribute to Joni Mitchell out of left field last year, the Grammy people have mebarked on a programme of rotating genres for the epotlight.
how else does one explain the choice of musical odd couple Robert Plant and Aliison Krauss for Song and Album of the Year (as well as three othe trophies).
Of course, both artistes' credentials are well established - Plant as former Led Zep front man and "Sea of Love" solo artiste and Krauss as the reigning queen of bluegrass, but this showering of praise just doesn't add up for me (not evne with the gifted if laconic T-Bone Burnett as producer)
Ah well, amybe this means reggae is next in the rotation so 2010 might be our year.

Yeaahhh, riiiight!

EMEs....the full 100 - or so

2009-02-07T11:51:00.001-08:00

Controversy over his Rampin Shop collabo with Spice certainly hasn't hurt Vybz Kartel (or spice for that matter. Both the Gaza man and his recording partner picked the coveted DJ of the Year awards in their respective divisions at Thursday nite's EME awards - in front of a capacity crowd of invitees at the Pegasus Gardens.

Following the full list of nominees and eventual winners:

1. DJ OF THE YEAR (MALE)

(for a solo vocal performance)

VYBZ KARTEL

BEENIEMAN

ELEPHANT MAN

BUSY SIGNAL

ASSASSIN

BUJU BANTON

WINNER……………VYBZ KARTEL

2) DJ OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

(for a solo vocal performance)

MACKA DIAMOND

STACIOUS

TIFA

LADY SAW

SPICE

TIMBERLEE

WINNER………………SPICE

3)VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (MALE)

(for a solo vocal performance)

BERES HAMMOND

COCO TEA

TERRY LINEN

TARRUS RILEY

RICHIE SPICE

GEORGE NOOKS

COURTNEY JOHN

WINNER…………..TARRUS RILEY

4)VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

(for a solo vocal performance)

ETANA

JODI-ANN PANTRY

TESSANNE CHIN

CHERINE ANDERSON

BARBEE

MISS TRINITI

WINNER…………..ETANA

5)PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (DANCE HALL)

(overall best charting record producer in this category in the eligibility year)

S & A LOCKE TRUCK BACK

STEPHEN MCGREGOR BIG SHIP

D. & C. HARRINSINGH, C. MARSH DASECA

LINTON ‘TJ’ WHITE TJ RECORDS

SEAN SEANIZZLE’ REID SEANIZZLE

DONOVAN BENNETT DON CORLEON

TREVOR ‘Baby G’ JAMES BABY G

LLOYD JAMES Jnr JAM II

WINNER………..STEPHEN McGREGOR

6)PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

(overall best charting record producer in this category in the eligibility year)

KEMAR’DJ Flava’ Mc GREGOR – NO DOUBT REC

DELMAR ‘Della’ DRUMMOND – DANGER ZONE

DAMION ALLEN – UPLIFTING MUSIC INT’L.

DONOVAN BENNETT – DON CORLEON LABEL

KURT RILEY - AMG RECORDS

LLOYD AND MICHELLE CAMPBELL – JOE FRASER

WINNER…….KEMAR ‘DJ FLAVA’ McGREGOR

7)BEST NEW ARTIST (MALE)

(award to an artist whose release(s) during the eligibility year establishes his public identity)

BLACK RYNO

KONSHENS

BRAGGA

DEVA BRAT

CHARLY BLACK

LADEN

D – MAJOR

WINNER………….KONSHENS

8)BEST NEW ARTIST (FEMALE)

(award to an artist whose release(s) during the eligibility year establishes his public identity)

STACIOUS

TIFA

ALIBRA

SOPHIA BROWN

KK ALESE

PAMPUTAE

NATALEE STORM

WINNER………..STACIOUS

9)DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR

(for vocal performance(s) by established duos or groups)

MONSTER EMPIRE

RDX

LUST

MORGAN HERITAGE

ANDREW & WADA BLOOD

BLACK JUDAH

VOICEMAIL

WINNER……………..RDX

10) BIGGEST COMEBACK ARTIST

(award to an artist whose release(s) in the eligilibility year marked his/her ‘return’ to the charts after a long break)

HOPETON LINDO

LEROY SMART

MYKAL ROSE

HARRY TODDLER

COURTNEY MELODY

JIMMY RILEY

WINNER…………HARRY TODDLER

11. SONG OF THE YEAR (DANCE HALL)

(award to the artist and producer who score the biggest charting song in this category during the eligibility year)

ON THE ROCK

GULLY CREEPA

THE MISSION

GIMMI LIKKLE

WINE GYAL

I’M SO SPECIAL

TRAILER LOAD OF MONEY

WINNER

WINNER…………I’M SO SPECIAL

12. SONG OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

(award to the artist and producer who score the biggest charting song in this category during the eligibility year)

JUST AS I AM

MOOD FOR LOVE

DI PLANE LAND

DIFFERENT PAGE

NOTHING TO SMILE BOUT

BARAK OBAMA

WARRIOR LOVE

WINNER……………..JUST AS I AM

13. ALBUM OF THE YEAR

(award to artist(s) and producer(s) if different from artist(s))

MISSION IN PROGRESS – MORGAN HERITAGE

THE STRONG ONE – ETANA

INTOXICATION – SHAGGY

LET’S GET PHYSICAL – ELEPHANT MAN

DIAMOND SERIES ‘GOLD’ – GEORGE NOOKS

LOADED – BUSY SIGNAL

WINNER………ETANA

14) RECORDING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

(award to the artist with the most charting hits in the eligibility year)

VYBZ KARTEL

MAVADO

BEENIE MAN

ELEPHANT MAN

ETANA

ASSASSIN

SERANI

WINNER…………….MAVADO

15) CULTURAL /POSITIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

(award to artist with the best cultural/positive recording(s) in the eligibility year)

TARRUS RILEY

QUEEN IFRICA

RICHIE SPICE

MORGAN HERITAGE

I – OCTANE

KONSHENS

ETANA

WINNER…………….QUEEN IFRICA

16) BREAKTHRU ARTIST OF THE YEAR

(award to artist whose work attracted local and international attention, and who is getting the attention of a record label….or one who started work on, or released an album on said label)

ERUP

I – OCTANE

SHANE-O

PATRIOT

FLIPPA MAFIA

SERANI

D’ANGEL

WINNER………….SERANI

17) SONG WRITER/ LYRICIST OF THE YEAR

(award to artist whose writing skills on all charting songs were of a consistently high standard )

VYBZ KARTEL

BUJU BANTON

BUSY SIGNAL

FLIPPA MAFIA

MAVADO

BUGLE

KONSHENS

WINNER………………VYBZ KARTEL

18) SINGJAY OF THE YEAR (MALE)

(award to the artist with the best overall chart success in this category in the eligilibility year)

MAVADO

MR VEGAS

SERANI

BUGLE

DEMARCO

I – OCTANE

WINNER………….MAVADO

19) SINGJAY OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

(award to the artist with the best overall chart success in this category in the eligibility year)

CECILE

D’ANGEL

QUEEN IFRICA

MBC

NATALEE STORM

WINNER………………..D’ANGEL

20) COLLABO OF THE YEAR (DANCE HALL)

(for a collaborative vocal performance by artists who do not normally perform together)

THE MISSION – DAMIAN & STEPHEN MARLEY

BURNIN, BURNIN – MISS TRINITI & BEENIE MAN

SHAKE THAT BODY – PI FEAT. ELEPHANT MAN

DOH – SERANI & BUGLE

REAL JAMAICANS-MYKAL ROSE & BUSY SIGNAL

WINNER………..THE MISSION – DAMIAN & STEPHEN MARLEY

21) COLLABO OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

(for a collaborative vocal performance by artists who do not normally perform together)

BED OF ROSES = NODDY & JODI-ANN

PAIN – CAPLETON/BOBO ZARRO/CONTRACTOR

MERCY PLEASE – BLACK JUDAH & WARRIOR KING

WANT TEK LIFE – JNR. REID/ANDREW & WADA BLOOD

PULL UP SELECTA – TARRUS & JIMMY RILEY

WINNER………….BED OF ROSES – NODDY VIRTUE & JODIANN PANTRY

22) RHYTHM OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

(award to the producer)

RUB-A-DUB

JOURNEY

CHI CHI BUD

GOLDEN GATE

CHEMISTRY

SECRETS

WINNER………..RUB-A-DUB

23) RHYTHM OF THED YEAR (DANCE HALL)

(award to the producer)

UNFINISHED BIZNIZ

LOOK GAL

CHINEY – K

MISSION

SHOOT OUT

WORK OUT

GEAR BOX

WINNER………UNFINISHED BIZNIZ

24) REGGAE // DANCE HALL COMPILATION OF THE YEAR – VARIOUS ARTISTES

(award to the distributor // licensor)

REGGAE GOLD 2008

THE ULTIMATE REGGAE/DANCEHALL X-PERIENCE

JAMROCK CLASSICS

RIDDIM RULER – DROP IT

GREATEST REGGAE ONE DROP ANTHEMS (2008)

WINNER…………THE ULTIMATE REGGAE/ DANCEHALL X-PERIENCE

25) MOST IMPROVED ARTIST

(award to artist whose career improves dramatically in all areas over the eligilibility year)

D’ANGEL

I-OCTANE

ANDREW & WADA BLOOD

NODDY VIRTUE

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
BUGLE

FLIPPA MAFIA

WINNER………………I-OCTANE

26) GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

(award to artist adjudged the most popular in this category in the eligibility year)

GODDY GODDY

PRODIGAL SON

DJ NICHOLAS

OMARI

JUDITH GAYLE

MOSES

RYAN MARK

WINNER…………..PRODIGAL SON

HONOUR AWARDS:

27) VIDEO OF THE YEAR (REGGAE)

BAD MAN DON’T CRY – SHAGGY (ARTIST)

BAD MAN DON’T CRY – JAY WILL

28. VIDEO OF THE YEAR (DANCEHALL)

TIC TOC – BUSY SIGNAL (ARTIST)

TIC TOC – RAS KASSA (DIRECTOR)

29. PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

BEENIE MAN @ REGGAE SUMFEST ‘08

30. GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR

CHAKA CHI CHI

31. BEST DRESSED ARTIST

MOSES ‘BEENIE MAN’ DAVIS

32. SHOW OF THE YEAR

A MOMENT IN TIME

33. DANCHALL TRENDSETTER OF THE YEAR

FLIPPA MAFIA

34. BEST ORIGINAL DANCE SONG/ MOVE OF THE YEAR

GULLY CREEPER – ELEPHANT MAN

GULLY CREEPER – CREATED BY ICE

35. ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR AWARDEES:

SONIA POTTINGER

FREDDIE McGREGOR

LLOYD ‘King Jammy’ JAMES

36) INTERNATIONAL FRIEND OF REGGAE

( Int’l. Super Stars will each receive these Awards for their continued support of Reggae)….

MISSY ELLIOTT

JASMIN SULLIVAN

JOHN LEGEND

ESTELLE

The Charts resume

2009-01-29T06:19:00.000-08:00

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN

By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM
JANUARY 30, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 3 20 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab (1wk@#1) U-2

02 2 23 Rolling Deep-Flippa Mafia-T J Records NM

03 1 11 Million By A Mawning-Vybz Kartel-Don Corleon (3wks@#1 D-2

04 10 6 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship U-6

05 11 6 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship U-6

06 8 17 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II U-2

07 4 15 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings (3wks@#1) D-3

08 14 4 Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice U-6

09 9 19 Move-KK Alese- Ruby Sarah Music NM

10 7 13 Yuh Know Fi Wine-Beenie Man- 357 Records(pp#7) D-3

11 13 7 Flying Dagger (100 Stab)- Idonia- Equinoxx U-2

12 6 18 No Games-Serani- TJ Records (pp#2) D-6

13 16 4 I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship U-3

14 17 6 No Chorus (Real Killer)-Mavado-Big Ship U-3

15 12 26 I'm So Special-Mavado-TJ Records (4wks@#1) D-3

16 - New Last Man Standing-Vybz Kartel -

17 15 29 More Money-Harry Toddler-Downsound Records(3wks@#1) D-2

18 - New Ben Ova - RDX-

19 18 27 Trailer Load of Money-Vybz Kartel- Adidjaheim Records/ Chimney Records (2wks@#1) D-1

20 - New This Means Money – Konshens – Head Concussion

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 19 Nothing Change (Love Reigns)- Bugle/Tarrus Riley -Sons of Spoon Music(1wk@#1) U-1

02 1 23 A Better Man-Terry Linen-Uplifting Music Int’l Camp (2wks@#1) D-1

03 4 13 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Uplifting Music Int’l U-1

04 5 13 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records U-1

05 6 10 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal & Gyptian – Fireball U-1

06 7 13 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records U-1

07 3 19 Tell It Like It Is-Stevie Face-Boot Camp (4wks@#1) D-4

08 10 7 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records U-2

09 8 22 Stronger-D’Angel-Sons of Spoon (3wks@#1) D-1

10 11 8 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records U-1

11 13 6 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy U-2

12 14 6 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-2

13 9 15 I Feel Good – Beres Hammond – Penthouse (pp#2) D-4

14 12 18 Barak Obama-Cocoa Tea-Roaring Lion (2wks@1) D-2

15 17 3 You’re My Inspiration –LUST- Born Music U-2

16 18 3 Another Bill Again-Tony Rebel-Penthouse U-2

17 - New Bad Man Don’t Cry-Shaggy-Big Yard Music

18 19 2 Music – Konshens – Tads Int’l U-1

19 20 2 Street Life – Richie Spice –Sons of Spoon U-1

20 - New Start Anew-Tarrus Riley-Juke Boxx

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART
TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 3 8 Yes We Can-Cocoa Tea - Roaring Lion/Tads International (1wk@#1)U-2

02 2 13 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon NM

03 1 14 Riddim Ruler- Drop It – Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l (2wks@#1) D-2

04 5 10 Greatest Reggae One Drop Anthems-Various Artistes-Greensleeves U-1

05 7 3 Reggae Jammin Vol. 1-Various Artistes- Tads Record Int’l U-2

06 4 11 A Moment In Time -Beres Hammond -VP Records (4wks@#1) D-2

07 6 15 Loaded-Busy Signal-VP Records (1wk@#1) D-1

08 9 3 Stronger – Fantan Mojah–Greensleeves U-1

09 - New Waiting – Cecile - Dangerzone

10 8 21 The Diamond Series - Blue-George Nooks-Tads International (3wks@#1) D-2

NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.

Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover

TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position

Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play

ALL SOUND SYSTEMS, SELECTORS, RECORD SHOPS, NIGHT CLUBS & RADIO DJS WHO WISH TO ASSIST US AS WE COMPILE OUR WEEKLY CHARTS, PLEASE FURNISH US WITH ONLY CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS. CALL: 968-5817 NOW!!!

SP's next thing is...well, The Next Thing

2009-01-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

Its been a couple of years since his last release The Trinity, though Sean paul has kept fairly busy with single releases in the interim.
From the e-blast of publicist Rhona Fox, (rhonafox.com) comes word that the next CD from the "Dutty Rocker" will bear the title The Next Thing.
No word yet on even a possible release date, even as the collabo with Setelle, "Come On Over" continues to gather steam. The two performed recently at NYC's CLub Element, and of course, visitors tothe Jamaica Jazz & Blues fest, would have seen and heard her deliver the number - sans Sean - among others during her Tursday night stint in Montego Bay.

Final Nite Falls short, But E-Park comes up strong

2009-01-25T18:00:00.000-08:00

Jamaica Jazz & Blues: Nite 3
"Everybody has their own favourite song, but some favourites mean more than others."
With that paraphrase of Orwell ("All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others"), I sadly pronounce an overall negative judgement on Saturday's closing night of the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Montego Bay

It started out quite the opposite. In fact, in the persons of pianist Kamla Hamilton, and the personel of the E-Park abnd which immediately followed her, the audience got arguably its most sustained sequence of authentic musical improvisation (Reunion Quartet and Alto Reed Entourage notwithstanding) for the entire weekend. Not enough, mind you, to justify retaining the title, but a delightful passage nonetheless.

Hamilton & Co went htrough some modern fusion tracks (Watermelon Man and others) with a cool confidence - solos were garnished with just the right touches, but never extravagant.

Featuring the vocal talents of Michael Sean Harris and Karen Smith, as well as a six-man horn line, bass and lead guitar, drummer Desi Jones and a dual keyboard line of Othneil Lewis and music director Peter Ashbourne, the E-Park (named for Kingston's Emancipation Park, for whom they were first commissioned) Band romped through several indigenous and external pop classics, including snippets of the Studio One catalog, Ashbourne's whimsicla yet biting Half Way Tree (from his album, Blind Man Swimming). Harris belted out Paul Simon's Latin-tinged hopper "Late in the Evening" and Smith gave voice to COle Porter's "De-Lovely" The two then combined on "Because You Knew Me" from the Broadway production, "Wicked"

Thereafter, Atlantic Starr -a new fornt vocal line in place - never quite got to the intensity of their "Secret Lovers-Masterpeice" heyday (although both those tunes were delivered. The key really was the absence of star female vocalist Barbara Weathers, the definitive voice, along withthe founding Lewis brothers, behind many of those hits. "Message In A Bottle" and "Always" prompted cheek-to-cheek dancing i nthe open night air and the group would have left feeling somewhat satisfied, but I just din't get there.

The Ojays hit the ground running, with "BackStabbers", "Love Train" and
"Let Me Make Love To You" coming in quick succession. All throughout the nattily dressed trio (white jackets and trousers emblazoned with floral applique) twirled and sidestepped and sang their way into the crowd's hearts...... and then - two critical missteps. First, a cover of NewBirth's classic "Wild FLower" was dragged on longer than it should have been, and then the big faux pas - no "Brandy" arguably the song that more Jmaaicans associate withte OJays than any other. They just lewftthe stage and ignored the calls for encore. Methinks something was amiss but I'll have to get confirmation.
Chicago came out with lots of enthusiasm, but baffling sound set up meant that the vocals were sacrificed for the horn section. Things improved gradually, and the crowd warmed to material such as "You're The Inspiration" and "Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry" but, unfortunately, the damage tothe crowd's psyche had been done. It wasn't anywhere last year's debacle with Mizzz Ross (some might substitute an "a") but the show did not end on a high.

TOmoroow, I'll havea special wrap and some thoughts o nthe "real" festival the Talent stage (what's populalry known as the small stage).

Lionel does hits right

2009-01-24T11:16:00.000-08:00

Jamaica Jazz & Blues Fest Nite 2

I've made no secret of my general disdain for what I term "hits-driven performances" you know, where an act just comes and unloads their catalog and thinks that that is good eough.

Thankfully, Lionel RIchie understands - as he demonstrated on Firday night at the Aqueduct - that live music is supposed to move people, and not just to dance, but to feel more alive and also to feel collectively part of a bigger experience than they would as individuals.

In a set that ran well over a hour and a half, he and his band took the jazz & Blues fest to a party, the large crowd being swept up almost in unison into a massive pulsating sing-along (and dancealong). They went with him not only because they knew the songs, but because he maanged to make it feel as if they were being heard for the first time (no easy feat for a 30-year veteran). The Commodoores stuff like "Lady(You Bring Me Up)" "Easy Like Sunday Morning" and "Sail On" were there as well as the solo ballads like "Penny Lover" and "Hello" and even the cheesy "Dancin' On the Ceiling" were simply devoured by an anudience that could easily have stood for another hour. Fittingly Lionel eneded his conquest with the uptempo "All Night Long" all of which made life tough for former Foreigner front man Lou Gramm who had the grave misfortune of being the closing act (similar to Matisyahu on Thurs night).

Elsewhere on the night, indigenous vocal talent shined bright in the early going. Roslyn, a regal (and Francophone) Diana Rutherford and Ricardo Suave all gave good accounts of themselves, but the temperature didn't really pick up until L.U.S.T. took the stage. Exemplifying casual elegance, and withtheir voices in very good form, the quartet breezed through a compact yet diverse set, including their smash cover of Air Supply's "Just As I Am"

In a return engagement from last year, Canadian Nikki Yanofsky showed maturity and was confident enough to tackle 'big people stuff' like Stevie Wonder's "Love's In Need of Love" but unfortunately she spent a little too long on stage and also was upstaged by the Western Jamaica combined Choir (have to check that name), who she invited on as special guests in rendering "A Little Help From My Friends"

Patrons would no doubt have left the venue satisfied i nthe early hours of Saturday morning, and with considerably high expectations of first-timers Chicago and the Mighty OJays, who are among tonight's headliners.

Solid Couple, Thicke, With Hits, Estelle Shines

2009-01-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival: Nite 1
Transport delays (memo to self: when not driving and relying on point-to-point transportation, factor in xtra time) meant that my arrival at the Aqueduct on Thursday night was in time to hear the last couple of selections from British import & Jon Legend protege Estelle. Seemd pleasant enough, but als ocame off as if she was trying (a bit) too hard. Definite potential as an artiste however, and i look forward to her growth.

Call me "Mr Mid-life" but Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson were the pick of the nite's acts - polished, but not stiff, voices perfectly on point and in key, and total rapport withthe audience - even when Ashford too ksome time after doing a rousing version of "Let's Go Get Stoned" to talk about their breakthrough at motown in the 60s. That preceded a medley of the hits form that era including "Ain't Nothin Like the real Thing (marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrelle) and Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross), all of which flowed from the duo's golden pens.

Simpson, confidently sporting a revealing dress (slit thigh-high) in contrasting shades of green, also did great justice to another composiiton - "I'm Every Woman" (Chaka Khan, then Whitney houston) and they als odid "Any Street Corner" and a few more before exiting - certainly prematurely for this writer.

Robin Thicke came to please and from the get-go, the modern-day blue-eyed soul man had the jazz fest ladies eating out of his hand. I naddiiton to the smash "Lost Without You" and "Complicated" from his breakthrough CD, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" he also laid down the funk in covering D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" and the soul, with Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" Thicke closed with a snippet of his latest hit "Magic" before exiting, bathed in sweat.

Also entertaining - albeit in a more stripped-down, slower mode - was Morgan heritage lead vocal Gramps, earning kudos from the crowd.

headliner Matisyahu seemed genuinely eager to give a good account on his maiden Jamaican outing, but his edgy stew of roots reggae, dub, rock and chants, while sonically engaging, did not connect withthe crowd and the Orthodox singer found himslef singing to a vastly dwindled crowd even before his final selection.

Overall, a good night's entertainment. Let's see what Lionel & Co. can come with tonite

- Michael A Edwards

www.jazzofonik1.blogspot.com
www.100greatestrecords.blogspot.com

EMEs TO AID RIO GRANDE TRUCK CRASH VICTIMS

2009-01-19T07:29:00.001-08:00

The dependents and survivors of the accident on the Rio Grande Valley road which claimed 14 lives in December will receive addiitonal support through an initiative of the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards.

Come awards night, February 5, attendnees to the event, at the Gargens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston are being asked to take a donation to be added to the special account established on behalf of the victims’ families. A donation will also be made directly from the EMEs.

Chairman and Founder of the EMEs, Richard "Richie B" Burgess stated that he felt compelled to support the cause, not only as a concerned Jamaican and a public figure, but as a native of the parish of Portland. "We in the EME family feel very strongly about giving back, and this cause in particular really merits the effort, as no doubt the families are facing some very difficult circumstances in addition to the burden of grief at their loss."

Minister of State, Project Implementation and Service Delivery and Member of Parliament, Daryl Vaz, commended Burgess and the EME team for using his platform in the media and entertainment fileds to achieve a greater good. The Minister will also be a special guest at the awards show.

“It is very generous of you to use the Awards function to raise funds for the dependents of the victims of the Rio Grande Valley tragedy. This is the kind of initiative that we encourage and we hope that others, inspired by your action, will respond in a similar manner."

Persons wishing to addd their support can send donations to :

A Helping Hand for the Children of Portland's Rio Grande Valley

National Commercial Bank Account No.: 351 077 328

The EME Awards grew out of an in-studio presentation on Richie B's popular Hot Mix afternoon radio show to become a staple on the entertainment calendar. The top names in Jamaican entertainment will vie for and present awards.

Rebel Review coming

2009-01-18T17:59:00.000-08:00

My review, as well as pics from Saturday Night's (into Sunday morning's) 16th Rebel Salute at the Kaiser Sports field in St Elizabeth - coming tomorrow.

And the Best Video Is....

2009-01-14T09:56:00.001-08:00

RETV STAGES THE FIRST MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS IN THE REGION

January 14, 2009, Kingston, Jamaica - Reggae Entertainment Television is pleased to announce the first staging of the RETV MVP (My Video Pic) Awards. This will be the first Music Video Awards of it's kind to be staged in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The RETV MVP Awards was developed as a spin off from one of RETV's Flagship Programmes, MVP (My Video Pic) which has reinvented a timeless favourite, viewer’s choice ranking. Today’s audience wants to control their programming and what better way to do that than through an audience selected, top 10 video countdown TV programme in viewers have an opportunity to “text” using their mobile phones the videos which they want to see in the MVP Countdown.

"RETV has always been first to market with flagship programmes, such as, In The Streets, Di Show and REview, and signature events such as the RETV High School Tour; so it was an obvious fit for RETV to be the first Entertainment Channel in the Caribbean to stage a Music Video Awards. We are in the business of showcasing local and regional talent across the globe through our channel, and our team thought this would be a great way to recognize the efforts of these artists as well, as the people behind the scenes that make it happen," stated Naomi Garrick, RETV's Marketing & Sales Manager.

The RETV MVP Awards consists of 11 Categories:

Best Gospel Video
Best Director
Best Dancer in a Video
Best Reggae Video
Best Music Video (Male)
Best Music Video (Female)
Best Video by Group/Duo
Best Caribbean Video
Best Dancehall Video
Best Video From A New Artist
Video of the Year

The RETV MVP Awards will also be including an RETV MVP ICON AWARD in which the "ICON" will be recognized for his/her contribution to the Jamaican music video industry. This person should have allocated a large catalogue of production that is of credible substance. His/Her work should also be consistent and of high quality.

The winners of the other 11 Categories will be determined by the public who will vote by sending emails with their choices, to mvp@reggaetelevision.com Viewers will email the category that they are voting for along with the number assigned to the video in that particular category. A panel will also have the final decision in the selection of the winners in each category.

Voting is now open and closes on February 12, 2009. Winners will be announced in a LIVE presentation on RETV in February.

Beenie Man book set to go worldwide

2009-01-14T08:05:00.001-08:00

Following on a high-octane media/celebrity launch in Jamaica, Who Am I? The Untold Story of Beenie Man, the sensational new book on the life of dancehall king Beenie Man will be coming full force to American shores early in the new year.

Billed as the first ever dancehall biography, the book, already available on Amazon as well as vprecords.com, will be available – in response to audience requests – in several major North American markets. Author Milton Wray will be touring several US destinations during the annual Black History Month observances in February, signing copies and doing interviews about the book and its renowned subject.

The culmination of eleven years of work, Who Am I? The Untold Story of Beenie Man documents the hitmaking toaster’s tabloid-rich life and career as they unfolded, encompassing more than four hundred pages of intrigue, eye-opening revelations and never-before-seen colour photographs. Wray, a former entertainment writer for the Jamaica Observer among other publications, first contacted the artiste in 1994. He eventually took a sabbatical from journalism to live in New York City, where he conducted interviews and collected vast amounts of information on Beenie Man and his impact on the international music business. While writing the book in Jamaica, Wray did in-depth research by interviewing a host of persons including relatives, friends, associates, music business personnel, rivals and, of course, the girlfriends of the reggae/dancehall icon.

Who Am I? is published by Jamaican publishers Great House OmniMedia The book will also be distributed in the European Union, the CARICOM region and Japan within short order. For its Asian release, Who Am I? will be translated into Japanese. the bulk of North American and European markets will be serviced by A&B Books in New York City. A distributor in Barbados will oversee the availability of the book in the CARICOM region, wile a reggae promotions company will manage the production and sales of Who Am I? in Japan.

Reviews from the entertainment press have thus far been very positive. Billboard magazine’s Pat Meschino wrote : “ Milton Wray colourfully details Beenie Man’s life, professional triumphs and tragedies” while VIBE magazine’s Rob Kenner said it presented “ a complex and compelling Jamaican superstar with the proper critical context.”

The Charts

2009-01-09T05:05:00.000-08:00

AAs part of our coverage of the upcoming EME Awards (Feb 5), we reume publication of the Richie B Countdown of the Top 20 Dancehall and reggae Tracks each week. Look out also for my commentary on the chart movements, beginning Monday

JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN

By Richie B, host – “HOT MIX” on Hot 102FM

JANUARY 9, 2009

TOP 20 DANCE HALL SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 8 Million By A Mawning-Vybz Kartel-Don Corleon (1wk@#1) U-1

02 1 12 Sweep-Elephant Man-Scatta Productions/Kings of Kings (3wks@#1) D-1

03 3 20 Rolling Deep-Flippa Mafia-T J Records NM

04 5 17 Burnin, Burnin- Miss Triniti feat. Beenie Man-Unseen Lab U-1

05 7 5 Weh Dem A Go-Vybz Kartel feat. Jahvinchi-Big Ship U-2

06 4 15 No Games-Serani- TJ Records(pp#2) D-2

07 6 26 More Money-Harry Toddler-Downsound Records(3wks@#1) D-1

08 9 10 Yuh Know Fi Wine-Beenie Man- 357 Records U-1

09 11 14 Ghetto Prayer – Shane-O-Jam II U-2

10 8 23 I'm So Special-Mavado-TJ Records (4wks@#1) D-2

11 12 16 Move-KK Alese- Ruby Sarah Music (pp#12) U-1

12 10 24 Trailer Load of Money-Vybz Kartel- Adidjaheim Records/ Chimney Records (2wks@#1) D-2

13 15 3 Time To Shine-Laden-Big Ship U-2

14 16 4 Flying Dagger (100 Stab)- Idonia- Equinoxx U-2

15 17 3 Dip Again- Elephant Man feat. Ding Dong – Big Ship U-2

16 13 9 Daggering - RDX-Apt 19 (pp#13) D-3

17 18 3 No Chorus (Real Killer)-Mavado-Big Ship U-1

18 14 6 Mama Hungry-Serani-Daseca (pp#14) D-4

19 - New Romping Shop-Vybz Kartel feat Spice-Adidjaheim Records/NotNice

20 - New I’m So Blessed - Mavado – Big Ship

TOP 20 REGGAE SINGLES

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 16 Tell It Like It Is-Stevie Face-Boot Camp (4wks@#1) NM

02 2 20 A Better Man-Terry Linen-Uplifting Music Int’l NM

03 4 16 Nothing Change (Love Reigns)- Bugle/Tarrus Riley -Sons of Spoon Music U-1

04 3 12 I Feel Good – Beres Hammond – Penthouse (pp#2) D-1

05 5 19 Stronger-D’Angel-Sons of Spoon (3wks@#1) NM

06 6 10 Calm Down Yuh Nerves-Bescenta-Uplifting Music Int’l NM

07 8 10 I Love You Anyway-Barbee-It’s Not A Game Records U-1

08 9 10 My Jamaican Girl-Prince Pankhi-Otis Riddim Records U-1

09 7 15 Barak Obama-Cocoa Tea-Roaring Lion (2wks@1) D-2

10 11 7 Jah Jah See Dem A Come-Sugar Roy/Conrad Crystal and Gyptian – Fireball U-1

11 10 24 Keep It To Yourself-Queen Ifrica-Don Corleon (2wks@#1) D-1

12 14 5 Good Morning Beautiful-Mark Ice-Big Lawd Records U-2

13 15 4 Can’t Sleep-Romaine Virgo-Penthouse Records U-2

14 12 13 One More Try-MBC-Boot Camp (pp#8) D-2

15 13 16 Muss Come A Road- Mr. Vegas – A-Team (pp#6) D-2

16 18 3 Missing You Right Now-Daville-Fashowzy U-2

17 16 17 I Surrender –Beres Hammond -No Doubt Records (pp#6) D-1

18 19 3 You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling-Noddy Virtue/Jodi-Ann Pantry-Reflection U-1

19 - New Jah Blessing –Etana feat Alborosie–Forward Records

20 17 24 Rest Your Love on Me-George Nooks-Tad's Int'l (2wks@#1) D-3

TOP TEN ALBUMS/CD CHART

TW LW WOC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 8 A Moment In Time-Beres Hammond-VP Records (4wks@#1) NM

02 2 11 Riddim Ruler- Drop It – Various Artistes-No Doubt Records/Tads Int’l NM

03 4 10 I Can Feel Your Pain- Gyptian-VP Records/Cannon U-1

04 5 7 Greatest Reggae One drop Anthems-Various Artistes-Greensleeves U-1

05 6 5 Yes We Can-Cocoa Tea - Roaring Lion/Tads International U-1

06 3 12 Loaded-Busy Signal-VP Records (1wk@#1) D-3

07 8 18 The Diamond Series - Blue-George Nooks-Tads International (3wks@#1) U-1

08 7 15 Just Believe-Noddy Virtue- Reflection (1wk@#1) D-1

09 9 17 Come To Jamaica-Richie Stephens-Pot of Gold (2wks@#1) NM

10 10 28 The Ultimate Reggae/Dancehall X-perience - Various Artistes–Tads International (4wks@#1) NM

_____________________NOTES_____________________________________

Numbers in bracket indicate the number of weeks at the No. 1 Spot.

Key: U – Upward, D – Down, NM – Non-Mover

TW – This Week, LW – Last Week, WC Weeks on Chart, PP in bracket – Peak Position

Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play

ALL SOUND SYSTEMS, SELECTORS, RECORD SHOPS, NIGHT CLUBS & RADIO DJS WHO WISH TO ASSIST US AS WE COMPILE OUR WEEKLY CHARTS, PLEASE FURNISH US WITH ONLY CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS. CALL: 968-5817 NOW!!!

Shaggy 'grows feathers' & speaks to kids

2009-01-08T11:09:00.001-08:00

Wednesday saw the official presentation of the book/CD pak "Shaggy parrot & the Reggae band" at the tom Redcam library in Kingston.
Assembled were envrionmental,educational and entertainment interests who heard from various contributors (including the multi-platinum DJ himself and music director Rupert bent III) who spoke of their experiences in putting the product together.

'Shaggy Parrot' is available in all bookstores and other retail outlets aswell as from the website of the publishers, www.reggaepickney.com

Countdown to EMEs

2009-01-08T11:04:00.001-08:00

ITS TIME FOR THE EMEs

Come February Entertainment interests will again donverge on the Gardens of the jamaica Pegasus hotel for the 2009 renewal of the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards.

Dubbed "the red carpet gala event of the entertainment calendar" THIS venture,NOW IN IT'S FIFTH YEAR, takes on added significance IN 2009 given the renewal of the Reggae Month observances in February.

Conceptualizer and organizer of the EMEs, HOT 102 FM's host Richard "Richie B" Burgess, said the venture was born out of a need to stimulate growth and improvement in the Jamaican music and entertainment fields by recognizing the best of the annual output. "We have a vested interest in this industry, and so we want to be a part of positive developments in the entertainment business and encourage our entertainers to greater effort, especially as we seek to keep Jamaican music and entertainment visible and impactful in the global marketplace."

Burgess added that this year, The public will for the first time be allowed to influence winners as text votes as well as votes via the Internet - through the newly constructed website WWW.EMEAWARDS.COM - will be accepted. This in addition to the points gained based on performance of the nominees in the weekly Jamaica Music Countdown.
The list of performers at this gala red carpet event and the full list of nominees in over 30 categories will be made public in a few days time and voting will be allowed until the cut-off date of Saturday, January 31.

Burgess further advised that with increased anticipation, the preparations for the awards is intensifying, and that the organizers are making every effort to put on on an awards show of the highest standard.

A special Friend of Reggae award will be conferred on R&B superstar John Legend and hip-hop ace, Missy Elliott this year. Last year's big overall winners included 'dancehall king' Beenie Man and Tarrus Riley.

EME come Again!!

2009-01-06T11:56:00.001-08:00

Look out for my regular coverage of the countdown to the EME (Excellence in Music & Entertainment)2008, beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) and go to www.emeawards.com for details asalways

Ele got Physical (well, a little) @ Jamaica House

2009-01-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

Soon have pics from the actual show (this is a Newsday file), but apart from Shaggy, I thought Elelphant Man was the most engaging performer on the night.

Quick Thoughts on Shaggy & Friends

2009-01-04T06:55:00.000-08:00

Based on the attnednace at Saturday night's event, if one ticket = one life as the tag line claimed, then the hospital should just about be cleared out right now.

Great crowd turned out at Jamaica House and they got a good (sometimes very good) but not great entertainment package headlined by "Mr Boombastic" and featuring more acts than most telethons

Highs:

* Ele, what with his patently pathetic singing of "We Are The World" and otherwise engaging set;

* Overall production (except sound - see below) - the event flowed very smoothly, a minor miracle given the bulk and extent of the lineup

* Food & Amenities - another great job by jacqui Tyson & Co as well as the onsite providers (Old Macdonald, Wallenford Coffee, CPJ, Monster Bars to Go etc);

Lows:

* too many acts - none performed poorly, in my estimation, but withthat diversity of artistes on a one-night show, theenergy invariably flags and wanes;

* Audio - generally sub-par to the occasion (if I'm paying 5 -20 Grand, I should get flawless sound), and in some cases, especially on lead vocals, simply horrible;

* 1/2 - The opening emcee pair. Milk acquitted herself well and tried to carry her co-host along, but let's face it folks - three Olympic victories and three world records does not mean that Usain Bolt can do it all. Photo ops: yes; onstage banter and connecting to a large crowd: no!

Ity & Fancy Cat

2008-12-29T12:20:00.001-08:00

Comedy duo has matured and honedtheir craft, both individually and collectively, as witnessed by their performance at Christmas Comedy Cook-Up recently.

Trinidas & Co 'cook up' mixed bag @ Comedy fest

2008-12-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

There was the proaspect of serious words being thrown several miles southward in Portmore, but at Backyaad on Constant Spring Road on Boxing Day night, the words elicited howls and peals of laughter.
Trini-born, Candaian resident Alex Trinidad used the natural gift of his larger than usual ears (accentuated by a shaved head and light complexion0asa great ice breaker and proceeded to deliver in my book, the best routine of the early going of the ELlis Int'l Comedy fest. Alongthe way, he skewered Jamaicans, Guyanaese and "non-Caribbean white people" to good effect.
Lovindeer - the natural parodist- created the usual stir, with his term-bending ditties("Bun-Bow-Cloth") but really sparked when joined by DJ lady G for the brilliant "You Cook"
Song also playeda part in curtain raiser Michaal Abrahams' routine, which suggested - among other things - replacing synchronized swimming as an Olympic sport with "synchronized sexing". Ity 7 Fancy Cat got the biggest laughs ogf the night for their reneactment of the country's oLympic glory and the recent shoe-throwing incident (in which they substituted current prime minister Bruce Golding and former PMs PJ Patterson & Portia Simpson-Miller for the outgoing US president).