August 31st marks the big day when Spragga Benz digitally releases one of his greatest creations, “SHOTTA CULTURE” on iTunes. Some may wonder, what is ‘Shotta Culture’? So we went straight to the source for answers. Spragga Benz stated, “It is the culture that I live, the culture that I’m from. I call my album Shotta Culture because it represents freedom of expression, quality, and standing up for what you believe in.”
Spragga Benz has already created a strong buzz throughout the reggae circuit by teasing his fans with 11 high quality music videos and a full length documentary to compliment this 17 track album. Shotta Culture also features a multitude of collaborations with artists like Stephen Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Swizz Beats, Jazmine Sullivan, Nas, Wayne Wonder, Sizzla Kalonji, Queen Ifrica and so much more.
The Star of Jamaica’s #1 Dancehall Film, “Shottas” Spent The Past 10 Years Mastering His Masterpiece. “This album that I’m putting out right now is geared towards enhancing, protecting and preserving my dancehall culture so the beats that we use go back to the foundation of dancehall during the developmental stages. Shotta Culture is geared to take dancehall reggae back to the foundation of reggae music, back to the real sound of authentic reggae.”
With the help of super producer, Salaam Remi, and directors Fatima Curry and Cess Silvera, this release is undeniable one filled with innovation & flair and is destined to be a classic, just like the movie, “Shottas”!!
ZJ Liquid returns on air this week after more than a month-long suspension.
According to a source, Liquid returns to ZIP FM this week after he was suspended in July for playing an expletive on air.
ZJ Liquid, whose real name is Michael Brissett, played an unedited version of Andrew and Wada Blood's Beggy Beggy on his 'Fresh 2 Death' segment. The ZJ immediately covered up the blunder by switching to another song, but not before it was noticed by a number of listeners.
Playing an expletive on air is in direct violation of the Broadcasting Commission's rules and regulations. This was the ZJ's second offence since the start of the year. In February, Liquid was suspended indefinitely for playing an unedited version of Aidonia's Love It. The ZJ returned to air a month later. A Facebook group, 'Put Zj Liquid back on air' was formed shortly after. The page currently has over 8,000 fans.
On the page, a number of persons were awaiting confirmation as to when and if the Zip Jock would be back on air. One person commented, "Jah know me radio all a ketch dust, it nuh tun on back from Liquid stop play pon Zip!" Another person said, "Zip nuh good again without Liquid ... what happen to 'Fresh to Death Wednesday'... how we ago hear di fresh tunes, bossy, bus di youth! We need fi hear Liquid."
Tax Administration enforcers seized two luxury vehicles belonging to popular dancehall artiste, Bounty Killer.
The vehicles, a Range Rover and Totoya Land Cruiser, were said to have been seized because the deejay, whose real name is Rodney Pryce, owes the tax department millions of dollars in taxes.
Officials visited the deejay's Constant Spring Road apartment early yesterday morning and first confiscated his white Range Rover, while residents stood by watching. Sometime after, his Land Cruiser was also placed on a wrecker and taken away.
Communications director at the Tax Administration Department, Merris Haughton, would not give details, but confirmed that other entertainers are among several categories of persons being eyed.
"There is a serious problem with delinquency right across the board - entertainers, business persons and professionals," Haughton stressed.
She made it clear that she was not singling out entertainers, but indicated that a number of them are in arrears.
His lawyer, Linda Wright, said that her client will be meeting with a chartered accountant today to review the matter.
She said that the deejay did file his annual returns, and paid monies to the tax department.
Wright further said that the tax department assessed Bounty for much more than he had paid and the artiste objected.
Last month, the Tax Department also seized a Mercedes Benz motorcar from the home of dancehall star 'Elephant Man' whose real name is Oneil Bryan.
Grammy award-winning deejay, 'Beenie Man', whose real name is Moses Davis, was also hauled before the tax court in 2008 for allegedly owing millions of dollars in taxes.
Fresh off a successful 10-show European tour where he "tore it up proper", Lutan Fyah is revealing he is mulling over producing yet another album.
The singer, who was born in Thompson Pen, St Catherine, and who describes himself as a 'singaholic', who is always in the studio, believes time is drawing nigh for a new body of work.
"I am thinking about putting an album together but we want to create a new vibe, so we a meds how we can come up with it," he said.
Thoughts of a new album have been inspired in part because of the way his music has impacted on the younger generation in Europe.
"When we go to the (music) festivals, we see 16-year-olds, 10-year-olds, the majority are the youth. The youth love the music," he said.
"When they organize dub-plate sessions, a some little boys you go see who own the sound systems, so I give thanks to know that the children gravitate to Lutan Fyah music."
Lutan Fyah recorded his first songs on Buju Banton's Gargamel Records and his first two albums were released by Lustre Kings and Minor 7 Flat 5. Early 2008, San Francisco's 2B1 Records released Africa, a double disc, 30-song album by the prolific singer.
The album included songs like St Jago De La Vega, Save the Juvenile and Outa Line, which are largely familiar to the sound-system audience around the world. It was released three years after Phantom War, a compilation of songs distributed by Britain's Greensleeves Records.
The former footballer-turned-singer is down to perform in California, Dominica and Suriname in the coming weeks and just recently performed in Canada.
Hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean has a new song blasting Haitian officials for rejecting his presidential bid.
It's the latest step in the Haitian-born musician's campaign to be allowed to run in the November election. The 40-year-old posted the song on his blog and was promoting it Thursday via Twitter.
The song is called "Prison for the CEP," referring to the electoral commission, whose decision he wants to overturn in court.
Jean also chides President Rene Preval as he sings in Creole, the French-derived language spoken by most Haitians.
It's not the first time his music has taken on political themes. He previously recorded a song called "If I were president."
Deejay I-Octane is looking forward to even better and greater things for his career in the music business.
The young lyrically conscious artiste has been on a recent high after years of trying to break into music.
When THE STAR caught up with I-Octane yesterday the artiste was busy in studio working on more singles to be released soon.
Born Byiome Muir and hailing from Clarendon, I-Octane is poised to take his career to another level with hits under his belt such as Stab A Vampire, Lose A Friend, My Life, Mama,among others. The artiste wowed on last month's Reggae Sumfest show, where he performed as one of the faces of Digicel's Next Generation artiste - along with deejay Assassin.
Octane commented, "it feels great to know all the work I've put in has paid off. The works that I've accomplished have been recognised and nuff more great things are in store. I plan to reach much farther than this, I know my music is gonna get there."
The artiste parted ways with Arrows Studio earlier this year - Arrows has been managing him almost since the start of his career. Since the split, however, I-Octane says he has been managing quite well.
"It's been fantastic, I'm not currently being managed by anyone but get the support from knowledgeable people in the business," he said. According to the singer persons can look out for his record label, which he plans to start soon.
In the meantime, persons can look out for new singles including Everytime You Touch Me for DASECA Records. He is also planning to shoot a video shortly for his song No More.
Persons can witness the rising star's immense stage presence at THE STAR's 'Stars on the Rise' concert to be held on Saturday September 4 at the offices of The Gleaner company.
The concert will also feature the Top-5 Rising Stars contestants along with some of the past competitors such as Natel.
There also will be special guest artistes such as Khago and Wasp. Music will be provided by Coppershot, DJ Liquid and Boom Boom. Emcee will be FAME FM's DJ Nicco and Kool 97's Jody-Ann Grey. To be admitted, bring a copy of all THE STAR newspapers from August 30 to September 3.
Khago's debut single Cyaan Cool, is proving to be more than just words to a song, but a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the heat of this summer, Khago blazes with the very popular Nah Sell out Mi Friend.
In July the artiste made his debut Reggae Sumfest performance followed up with appearances on stage at A St Mary Mi Come From and Manchester Fiesta on Independence weekend.
As it relates to performances this summer, Khago says he finds it hard to single out a memorable one. He says performing on Reggae Sumfest was extremely special since he had desired this for years in his mind plus hearing Khago dubplates at Fully Loaded recently was a high point for him.
He also said, " I was shocked at the crowd reaction at St Mary Mi Come From and Manchester Fiesta. Mi couldn't believe how people know the song them... even the not so popular one dem. Mi did shock!"
Describing his upward move in the business as a dream turned reality, Khago is enjoying every moment of his thrust in the limelight. He says he aims to produce music that will last. "At the end of the day hype nah last, people will want good music cause good music timeless."
For the future Khago says he hopes to keep burning up the air waves and has no intention of burning out anytime soon.
OTTAWA — The Ottawa Reggae Festival was cancelled Sunday after a financial meltdown forced organizers to axe the remaining finale line-up.
The festival took a hit Saturday after headliner Ky-mani Marley bailed and police and law enforcement officers stormed the gate for money owed by court order.
An official statement was released Sunday night announcing the cancellation and placing blame on festival founder and president Benjamin Williams.
“In his role of festival president, Mr. Williams’ youth and inexperience caused him to make decisions that were ambitious, and ill advised. His financial decisions were made without consultation, and ended up costing the festival its’ reputation, and put him in ‘over his head,’” the release said.
On Saturday, an enforcement officer, flanked by police and touting a court judgement against Williams, seized cash from the gate and beer tent.
The order was for $14,000 in cash owed to former chief financial officer A. Raoul Nembhard, who said he was never reimbursed after footing the bill for last year’s beer supply. In all, the officers collected less than $500 in the round-up.
But the financial trouble didn’t end there.
According to the statement, Sean Paul, who was also scheduled to perform, never even arrived in the city. After the deadline for deposit was extended, Paul’s booking agency, Headline Entertainment, apparently didn’t feel the $50,000 performance fee would be met.
In 2009, Nembhard said Shaggy refused to take the stage at the last minute when the festival came up short on his $44,000 fee.
Vendors from this and previous years had also begun contacting organizers for payments owed, the release said.
Though he performed at Capleton's St Mary Mi Come From show just hours earlier, singer Stevie Face showed no signs of fatigue when he strolled into The Gleaner Company's North Street office last Friday.
These are good times for the St Thomas-born Face.
His second album, Tell It Like It Is, released in late 2009, was a hit with reggae lovers in Europe and renewed interest in a singer who seemed destined for the big time when he emerged in the 1990s.
The title track, a cover of Aaron Neville's 1960s soul smash and Face's reggae take on Mike and the Mechanics' In The Living Years, did well on ethnic charts in England.
The dreadlocked vocalist admitted surprise with the enthusiastic response.
"To know it didn't come out on a major label but outsold many of the big albums that came out of Jamaica is very gratifying," he said.
Tell It Like It Is is distributed in Europe by Black Arrow, and in Canada and the United States by VP Records.
It was produced by Paul 'Computer Paul' Henton, best known for his work with Jimmy Cliff on I Can See Clearly Now, a massive seller from the Cool Runnings soundtrack.
Face's career had been threatened by two tragic incidents. The first took place in 2002 when he sustained extensive back injuries in a Florida auto accident that took him more than three years to recover from.
Shortly after returning to the music business in 2006, his mentor Phillip Linton of Arrows International Records, was murdered. Five years earlier, Linton had produced I'm In Love, Face's biggest hit.
"He was like a father to me. every decision I made in life, it was Mr Linton. At the time, I seriously thought about leaving the business," he said.
Face (given name Anwar Hanchard) hooked up with Arrows in 2001, after recording for producers like Mikey Bennett, Dean Fraser and Vasco Carney.
The latter produced his debut album, Coming At You.
Last year, Face began working with Henton's Bootcamp Records. The sessions resulted in Tell It Like It Is, a 16-track album that included six covers and 10 originals.
Face says he and Henton banked on the covers to make a statement.
"It's easier to break a cover not only in Jamaica but internationally," he explained.
"When people start looking at you they start listening to your own songs."
The cover route has done wonders for singers since the early days of Jamaica's popular music. Alton Ellis, John Holt and Delroy Wilson all made their names in the 1960s reworking songs by obscure American rhythm and blues groups. Sanchez followed suit in the late 1980s and enjoyed considerable success.
Face says the format will be the same for his follow-up album which is scheduled to be released in early 2011.
Rwanda's not a nation typically recognized for its music scene. But if you spend a little time there you'll find a selection of talented musicians ready to emerge.
One of the country's up-and-coming bands, Jah Doves, offer listeners modern-day reggae mixed with traditional Rwandan beats.
The six-man band is especially known for its bold lyrics. Every song has a meaning that conveys a positive message. It's the reason they call themselves Jah Doves. Doves symbolize peace and harmony, both traits the band wants to emulate in their song writing.
"We all like the kind of music which has the good message," bass player Ras Patrick told CNN, "which is not about shooting each other, which is building not destroying."
Jah Doves started off as a group of friends who used music as a way to deal with the trauma of Rwanda's 1994 genocide. They practiced with broken instruments at home or in any free rooms they could access for a few hours. The group often played just for fun, hoping to land gigs at events or parties around the country.
In 2008 Jah Doves were spotted by Dickens Marshall, a musician and music producer from the UK who had a special interest in the African music scene. He heard the group practicing in Kigali, and couldn't walk away.
"The first time I saw Jah Doves they were loud -- really, really loud," Marshall told CNN. "But they had a really nice interaction between the different members.
"So the sound was terrible and they weren't particularly in tune but their energy and the singing was fantastic," he said. "I think that's what really hit me, and I just knew, okay, I want to work with these guys."
Jah Doves weren't the only Rwandan artists Marshall noticed with lots of talent and no tools to make it grow. There were no professional studios in Kigali, no trustworthy record labels, and none of the musicians worked under contract.
"There is a lot of talent being exploited in one way or another -- you know, not being paid, many people plagiarizing many people's work," he said. "There is also a real lack of structure in terms of royalty collection. There is none."
Marshall saw an opportunity to protect Rwanda's musicians and do business at the same time. He built two studios and set up set up the Rafiki Records label, where musicians are entitled to take home 50 percent of profits they earn -- much higher than most labels offer.
"My ultimate goal for the label is for the artist to be able to have a sustainable career and the label to be able to grow, and the ethic behind the label to be a concept that people can trust and that people can expand on," he said.
This is good news for groups like Jah Doves. They are trying to take their talent to bigger and better places, and these days the group is busy recording their second album. One of the songs on the album is a mellow tune called "Agate."
"Agate in the Rwandan language means piece of wood," explained Patrick. "So this song is a small story about all the musicians who used to play with the old instruments and they found themselves in a new world where there are new keyboards and guitars that are amplified.
"The song we composed says if you want to make music you can make it -- doesn't matter if you're using old things or new instruments."
One of the old-style musicians Jah Doves refer to in this song is Sophie Nzayisenga. She's another up-and-coming singer who works under Marshall's Rafiki Records. And her music offers a traditional twist.
Nzayisenga plays an instrument called the inanga. It's a traditional Rwandan guitar -- a long piece of wood with one string wrapped around it 12 times.
"My father played it, my mother was played it and everyone in the family plays inanga," she told CNN.
"I learned the inanga when I was very young. I liked it then and still like it today."
Her lyrics are never about love; instead she chooses to use her music to sing about nature and good governance.
Nzayisenga is one of the few musicians left in Rwanda who can play the inanga and she is the only woman who plays professionally.
With a little exposure via the Rafiki Records website and contacts in the music industry, Marshall hopes to bring Rwanda's love for traditional instruments back to life.
"People don't know about the instrumentation that is here and the fact that the art of playing those instruments is dying," Marshall said.
And it might just be working. Nzayisenga has recently been picked up by some of Rwanda's mainstream radio stations. Interviews and live singing sessions with the musician have been broadcast live around the country's airwaves.
Marshall has high hopes for all his musicians. He says the one thing they have in common is music with meaning.
"Now we work with R & B artists, we work with hip-hop artists, Jah Doves, the Sophie's, but it's more about how they work together to create something different, and carrying a message that maybe hasn't come across before."
A message he hopes Rafiki Records will take around the world.
Allegations are that dancehall artiste Popcaan is among three persons arrested by the Bahamian police on Monday, after being involved in a fight at the airport.
Reports surfaced on the internet on Monday that Popcaan was arrested in the Bahamas for being involved in a brawl at the airport but no further details were given.
An article published in the The Bahama Journal titled 'Airport Brawl', alleged that "Vybz Kartel and nine members of his party reportedly attacked a Bahamian Spirit Airlines first officer in the Lynden Pindling International Airport. Vybz Kartel allegedly denied any involvement in the incident."
Vybz Kartel and the Portmore Empire went to the Bahamas on the weekend to perform at 'Sebas Birthday Bash' that was scheduled to be held in Nassau.
It was reported that some men were in the men's restroom with two women and would not allow anyone to enter. After being denied entry, it is alleged that the pilot called the airport authorities but was attacked by the entourage soon after.
The article stated that the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Marvin Dames, confirmed the incident, noting that it occurred shortly after 2 p.m. on Monday
The article further stated that three of the men were arrested, while the rest of the entourage were allowed to board the plane.
When asked about the incident, a source close to the Portmore Empire said he was not aware. But he did confirm that Popcaan was among those from the group who left for the show in the Bahamas.
"A today dem did fi forward," the source said yesterday.
Wyclef Jean is in hiding after receiving death threats over his campaign to become president of Haiti, while an electoral commission is postponing a ruling on who will be allowed to run for the position in a November election, leaving the hip hop artist's candidacy in limbo, the Associated Press says.
Jean, a native of the country and one of the first celebrities to offer it aid after the devastating January earthquake, filed formal paperwork at an electoral office in Port-Au-Prince, the country's capital, on August 5 to become one of some 30 candidates vying for the presidency.
Jean disclosed the death threats in a series of e-mails to the Associated Press and said he had received a phone call telling him to get out of Haiti.
The electoral commission's decision to postpone an announcement of the list of approved candidates until the end of the week sparked small protests throughout Port-au-Prince. Scores of men marched and sang in the rain, while a main road to the city was blocked by burning tires.
Haiti's Constitution says candidates should have lived in the country for the five consecutive years before the election. Jean says a 2007 appointment as a roving ambassador marked an exemption.
"We await the CEP decision but the laws of the Haitian Constitution must be respected," he said, later writing in an email to the Associated Press one word: "Hope!"
Jean became famous in the 1990s when he was a member of the R&B and reggae group The Fugees, which released hits such as "Ready or Not" and a cover of the song "Killing Me Softly". He has since concentrated on a solo career and his charity the Yele Foundation, which provides support to survivors of the Haiti earthquake.
Meanwhile, Jean’s former Fugees bandmate, Pras, has endorsed Jean’s opponent Michel Martell, calling him "the most competent candidate for the job."
After making several public appearances together in recent times, D'Angel says she has forgiven her husband Beenie Man and plans to leave their marriage in God's hands.
The two were recently spotted at the Guinness premiere of The Expendables at the Carib theatre on Friday night. They hugged and walked closely, taking pictures for their fans, and the media, at intervals.
And it was just last month that the couple performed together at Reggae Sumfest.
Despite what was a very bitter, public break-up in 2007, after getting married in 2006, the two seem to be on good terms and D'Angel says she has forgiven him for what transpired between them.
"Most definitely! 'Cause, if God has forgiven us for our sins, who am I not to forgive him. I am stronger now and I am very focused. I have moved on from the past and I have forgiven him," she told THE STAR.
She added, "If I forgive him, that don't make me a stupid woman. I have learnt from it and I am stronger. I have overcome. I can battle any weather. I am like the Rock of Gibraltar."
As for working on their marriage, D'Angel was reluctant to say much.
"Where our personal life is concerned, I would rather not comment. Where the marriage is concerned, we leave that in God's hands. Marriages always have ups and downs," she told THE STAR.
"Regardless of what happened in the past, we have to look beyond that. Me and Moses as husband and wife is something that we have to work on outside of the media," she added.
And not only do they share a marriage, but D'Angel said they also share a child, who she wants to set an example for. In addition, she says she is a role model to many teenagers and women.
"At the end of the day, we entertain and we do music. So we have to set examples," she said, noting that she has to live up to the brands that she represents like Coke Zero, Digicel and Access Financial Services.
D'Angel also noted that they have been making public appearances since 2008. However, she said: "Being with Moses in public, I am not doing it for recognition or hype. I am not looking for no success or fame as a result of this. If every artiste a call peace now, why can't we?"
In the meantime, she said You Are My First, which she did with Beenie Man is doing well. So, too, is her other single Come Over. D'Angel is also set to release another track called Yes Mi Know, which features Beenie Man, in the near future.
Reggae crooner Andy Livingston is very upbeat about the current state of his career and he has very good reasons to be. The hard-working singer is now finally enjoying mainstream success locally with his latest single, My Promise.
The single, which is his first number one, is currently sitting in the pole position on The Jamaica Music Countdown Top 25 Reggae Singles Chart after 19 weeks on the chart. The single is also number eight on the HYPE TV Top 20 singles chart.
Livingston, who was not surprised that the song is doing so well said, "My team and I are not surprised at all about the success of the song because we know it's a good tune."
Since Livingston began his singing career in the late 1990s, the talented singer has carved a niche for himself on the reggae scene both locally and abroad. Over the years he has enjoyed some amount of success with radio and underground hits such as Searching For Love, Good People and Youth Uprising which was done in tandem with Daddy Rings and Too Late (Apologize).
Andy Livingston is currently preparing for upcoming shows in Europe and the Caribbean.
"I have been wanting to do a video for a long time, but I knew my first video had to be for the right single, and Summer Love is it!" the elated songbird exclaimed.
Jade Lee, the singer's manager, expressed that she herself was proud and thrilled about Summer Love, adding that she is optimistic about the song's potential.
"Well it does have that crossover feel and we are definitely looking at it on an international level. Denyque is a very hard-working and talented artiste, so we don't have to worry about quality and appeal of her music," Lee said.
Denyque says the idea came to her when she and friend and co-writer Charli Spence sat down after producer Neil Mitchell sent her the track.
"I got the track from Neil Mitchell, I vibed to it a little bit trying to figure out concepts. I knew I wanted to do something about summer and maybe intertwine it with something else whether it was partying or love.
"For me, Summer Love is just what it is - summer love. Finding some sort of comfort zone in your heart; mind or body during the summer season. Every girl, and sometimes guys, actually look forward to the idea of finding someone in summer to just chill and be with. It might last, it might not but it'll always be remembered as Summer Love"
It was then that Denyque and Spence co-wrote the catchy tune, and the rest is history. She says that working with Mitchell was amazing and shooting her first video was "incredible". Showering kudos on the team that worked on the project, Denyque said the set was fun-filled, and the entire crew was supportive.
At 20 years old, this singer/songwriter has reached a level of musical maturity that is far beyond her years with a distinctive and innate talent that promises to be one of Jamaica's finest and Denyque is determined to take her place in music history.
Since leaving the Portmore Empire in February of this year, Ryno Di Stinger has been working steadily on his music career, as he is determined to prove that he is still the dancehall stinger that he proclaimed himself to be.
Many wondered if the young artiste was going to make it on his own after the departure from the controversial Vybz Kartel-led Portmore Empire, but with the release of singles such as Mi Lef produced by Supa Blunt and Wine And Dip produced by Chimney Records, it became apparent that Blak Ryno still had venom in his sting.
Ryno also released Polo Shorts/Style, a song done in response to Kartel and Popcaan's Clarks. That song was also produced by Supa Blunt.
In the song Ryno says "winter pass wey dem a run guh inna jeans and Clarks watch mi inna mi Nike and mi new polo shorts."The song has since achieved significant popularity on mix tapes and on some radio stations.
The artiste, who now acts as his own booking agent since terminating his contract with Vybz Kartel's label, says he has a list of shows lined up for the summer, both locally and internationally in places like Trinidad, Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angeles.
The former Gaza artiste says his career is shaping up well, so far, and he is working with several established producers including Seanizzle, Jordan, Cash Flow and Supa Blunt.
Ryno says that he also has a lot of singles coming out for the summer: "I have a song called Gal Carpenter, produced by Cash Flow Records, Sting and Dun, produced by Seanizzle and Come a Mi Yaad,produced by Jordan.
"Right now mi just focus pan mi music and mi artiste dem, suh look out fi Supa Blunt, mi engineer and Kaliba, mi artiste."
Ryno Di Stinger severed ties with Vybz Kartel and the Portmore Empire in February 2010, and has since been working on his musical development as well as with other young artistes, since the separation.
Despite rumours that ZJ Liquid has been fired from ZIP FM, officials for the radio station have been tight lipped on the matter.
When THE STAR contacted Chad Young of IRIE FM, parent company of ZIP FM, Young could not give any confirmation as to whether Liquid was still with the station. A few weeks ago, the ZJ, real name Michael Brissett, got in trouble once again after an incident that took place during his Wednesday 'Fresh 2 Death' segment.
The ZIP FM disc jock played an unedited version of Andrew and Wada Blood's new song BeggyBeggy in which an expletive was aired. The ZJ immediately covered up the blunder by switching to another song but not before it was noticed by a number of listeners.
Playing an expletive on air is in direct violation of the Broadcasting Commission's rules and regulations. Since the incident, the radio station has been playing apologies, not naming which programme it happened on.
Since the incident took place, the ZJ has not resumed his regular set on air. This was Liquid's second blunder since the start of the year. In February, Liquid was suspended indefinitely for playing an unedited version of Aidonia's Love It on his show. The ZJ returned to air a month later.
During his absence from radio, a 'Put ZJ Liquid back on air' group was formed on social networking site Facebook.com to protest his absence. Since its start in February the page has gained over 7,000 fans. One fan commented since week, "seriously ZJ Liquid, nah lie, dem need fi free up di thing and put you back on air, NY massive nah do well without you ... keep your head up and hold the faith. We a wait on your return."
Liquid released his first official music video for the song Party Haad last week.
Dancehall Queen, Lady Saw (Marion Hall), has announced the release of her first album since 2007, My Way, which is expected to be released within the next month — September 7, 2010 through a new partnership with Toasting Music, alongside her label Diva Records, distributed by Fontana/Universal. The lead single, Party Till December, is available digitally as of next Tuesday — August 10.
With the release of My Way, Saw brings back her famous Dancehall beats and gritty lyrics that first gained her acclaim and widespread popularity at Dancehall shows. The album features fourteen tracks including lead single, Party Till December, which will also feature a music video due out in late August. Other tracks include He Is At My House (featuring Eve), Every Way Mi Go, and I Can't Wait (featuring Ding Dong).
"Lady Saw exudes a strength and determination in her music both lyrically and melodically that resonates with her fans. My Way continues that sound, and will likely permeate through not just the dancehall and reggae communities, but to Hip Hop and Dance fans as well. That makes her a perfect fit for Toasting Music," says Steven Weber, President of Toasting Music.
Lady Saw will be playing a number of shows throughout the late summer and early fall, including appearances at Montreal Reggae Festival August 8, Hot 97's On the Reggae Tip in New York on September 3, and at Miami Carnival on October 9.
Lady Saw was the first female DJ to win a Grammy Award, and the first female to be certified triple platinum as a result of her work on No Doubt's Underneath It All in 2003 after reaching #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Saw also received gold certification for her work Smile with Vitamin C. Previous releases Give Me A Reason, and Passion, paved the way for her best-selling album, Raw, the Best of Lady Saw in 1998.
For reggae singer Windel Edwards, more popularly known as Gyptian, the past few months have been extremely hectic and currently show no signs of slowing down.
Cristy Barber, vice-president of marketing and promotions at VP Records, yesterday told THE WEEKEND STAR that the singer would begin touring with Nas and Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley come the end of the August on their Distant Relatives Tour.
The news broke yesterday while on set of his video for his second single Nah Let You Go, but the STAR of the month is not at all daunted by his growing schedule. Instead, the singer said he was happy for his success despite everything that has happened.
"Well you know it's all good. I'm giving thanks and praises for life. Very happy about the tour coming up, naturally it's all about music, so we haffi endorse it," he said, adding that his focus right now was to get the album out.
On June 7, Gyptian was involved in a motorbike accident along Molynes Road in St Andrew, in which he sustained minor head and shoulder injuries. He released his fourth studio album Hold You a little over two weeks ago.
The album's lead single of the same name entered the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop charts on March 27 at No 78 and has risen steadily. According to Billboard.com, the single currently sits at No 41, and has the greatest airplay and sales gain this week. So far, the song has peaked at number Four on Billboard's 'Heatseekers songs' chart which maps this week's most popular songs across all formats by new or developing artistes.
"Ey yo Sean, you Mr. Kingston," Nicki Minaj calls out in the intro of Sean Kingston's dancehall jam "Letting Go (Dutty Love)", before the 20-year-old Kingston begins flirtatiously professing his love for his rap companion.
"Baby girl, will you be mine... I'm not gonna lie, girl I must be in love," he spits in his Caribbean drawl atop Jamaican steel drums and a heavy bassline while barely-dressed women and men gyrate about to the beat down a party line.
"I ain't like them other bitches that be acting loosely, now you getting hyped, I know you wanna get up in it / but I just want to think about it for another minute," Nicki the Harajuku Barbie raps on the Stargate production while sporting a Bee-inspired, yellow and black polka dot unitard with a leather tutu and leather booties.
Still, Kingston isn't giving up, kicking his game up a notch. "What if you would just come right out those clothes, you can finally feel the way it goes / Don't be scared to be free, to let go, show it off," he tries to convince.
In the end, it's unclear if Kingston gets Nicki Minaj's goodies, but he definitely get's an "A" for effort.
NEW YORK, United States – Internationally-acclaimed pop star, Wyclef Jean, will tomorrow announce his candidacy to contest the presidential elections in Haiti later this year.
“If not for the earthquake, I probably would have waited another 10 years before doing this,” the Haitian-born superstar told reporters, adding “the quake drove home to me that Haiti can't wait another 10 years for us to bring it into the 21st century”.
The earthquake on January 12 killed more than 300,000 people and left more than one million others homeless. It also destroyed a number of buildings in the French speaking Caricom country.
Jean, 37, who had been in the forefront of relief efforts, said he was convinced that now is the best time for him to seek to become president of one of the poorest countries in the world.
“If I can't take five years out to serve my country as president, then everything I've been singing about, like equal rights, doesn't mean anything,” said the popular hip hop artist, who was raised in Brooklyn, New York.
Jean shot to fame in the mid-1990s as a member of The Fugees, a US-based hip-hop and reggae group. But he now performs as a solo artist.
In 2007, President Rene Preval, who is prohibited by Haiti’s constitution from seeking a third consecutive term, named Jean a Haitian ambassador-at-large.
Jean had supported Preval in his 2006 re-election bid.
Jean's uncle, Raymond Joseph, Haiti's current ambassador to the US, is also expected to be among the candidates for the November 28 presidential and general elections.
Deejay Bounty Killer says his performance alongside long-time musical foe, Beenie Man, on Sunday in Negril, Westmoreland, was not planned.
On Sunday, Bounty brought a memorable end to the Guinness Summer Eclipse at The Jungle, when he invited Beenie onstage.
"It was nothing planned. I was booked and was doing my thing an' a do some counteraction to some Beenie songs. Den mi stop an' sey mi a leggo off a da vibe dey an mi big up Beenie. But mi neva know sey Beenie was in di house," said Bounty when contacted by THE STAR yesterday.
The deejay said, at that point, Beenie Man made it known that he was present and the crowd urged him to call 'The Doc' onstage.
"The crowd was indicating for me to call him up, an' true a me sey unity it was only right that wi put wi differences aside. Is a good ting and is the honourable thing to do, lead by example an' use di music to uplift the people," he said
"Weh di Docta deh?" Bounty had quizzed during his performance on Sunday, shortly after Beenie had arrived in the venue. Patrons then erupted as Beenie Man came onstage and shared a brief embrace with Bounty.
The two then went into a medley of their old favourites, reminiscent of their 1993 Sting appearance.
The performance was a rare dancehall moment by two of the genres most endearing artistes. Despite the many public spats over the past 18 years, their performance signified that both were appreciative of each other's musical greatness.
During yesterday's interview, Bounty who was still in good spirits after Sunday's performance, said that "Di vibe was tremendous an di people dem love every moment of it," he said.
The deejay said the onstage performance between him and Beenie is something he hopes to repeat.
"It is something we should do again, cause mi know sey Kingston an all ova waan see dat. And I think it will set di precedence for the Gully-Gaza conflict. Suh even if dem waan sen Kartel, a guh be di same vibe. Anything fi uplift di people, I'm for it."
He, however, made sure to point out that, "the difference wid me an Beenie neva died, it jus put aside."
Before Beenie Man's cameo on Sunday, Bounty had been in peak form with songs from his vast catalogue from 'Look into my eyes' to 'Mama she's not in a good mood' to 'This is how we do it'.
He was commanding, strong in his delivery and also philosophical. Bounty spoke on several social issues and said that after voicing his support for the police at Reggae Sumfest, he was disappointed to see a news report of two officers shooting an unarmed man last Friday.
Also performing at the event were Agent Sasco, also known as Assassin, who connected with 'Same Ting Again', 'Hand to Mouth' and 'EeediatTing Dat', Wayne Marshall, Ikaya, Chi Ching Ching and the Big Ship family of Chino, Laden, Bramma and Di Genius.
The Guinness Summer Eclipse was a two-night event of superb performances, featuring dancehall's hottest artistes.
After the event, commenting on the Bounty and Beenie performance, Guinness brand manager Gary Dixon said; "This was a truly great moment. Two of dancehall's most enduring and significant artistes sharing a rare moment together onstage."
