Kartel Addresses Oral Sex Controversy

Chipmunk: 'I want to be called a genius'

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It is a warm Saturday afternoon in Jamaica and I am in a large beach-fronted villa with Chipmunk and 20 bikini-clad, oiled beauty queens. The British grime star is filming a music video and the models are gathered in a circle, their heads bowed in prayer. "We're praying the Lord watches over us on the shoot," one model explains, "and that we make it to the finals of Miss Jamaica." Chipmunk, 6ft tall and dressed in a plain black vest and blue jeans, paces around the room, readying himself for his close-up.

It is two years since Chipmunk, then still studying for his A-levels, released his debut album, I Am Chipmunk, and established himself as one of Britain's most talented grime stars. On his follow-up, Transition, released next week, the rapper makes an audacious bid for global stardom. "Champion", his collaboration with R&B star Chris Brown (the man whose violent assault on his then girlfriend Rihanna led him to being sentenced to five years' probation), has already been a huge hit. "Every Gyal" – the video of which is being filmed right now – sees Chipmunk working with controversial Jamaican dancehall singer Mavado, who is in another part of the villa surrounded by a large entourage rolling gigantic joints. The storyline of the video is that Chipmunk and Mavado, who wears two diamond-encrusted watches, are hanging out, partying with girls and messing about on jet skis. If we are living in a new age of austerity, no one told these guys.

While the directors prepare their next shot, Chipmunk and I retreat to his dressing room. He is 20 and looks it; with large eyes and babyish features, he would be more convincing in a boyband than as a bad-boy rapper. But he isn't lacking in confidence. "I didn't think I would be gifted enough to make an album like this until I was 23," he says. "I want whoever buys this record to think I'm a genius. I want my lyrics to touch you like poetry."

Beneath the brashness, however, Chipmunk reveals himself to be a thoughtful, articulate commentator on his life, and the lyrics on Transition are often reflective. "Being successful, that's a gift and a curse," he raps on the title track, "being paid and being broke – I know what's worse."

The video for "Chip Diddy Chip", his first hit single, cost £10,000 and was filmed at his old school in Tottenham; the video for "Every Gyal" is being shot in Jamaica with two jet skis and a helicopter. But Chipmunk denies he has strayed from his roots. "It's impossible to forget where I came from. I don't live in the area I grew up in any more but when I'm back there cars beep, preachers stop me, teachers stop me, gangsters stop me, everyone stops me and is proud of what I have done. I'm an asset to my community now and that is bigger than my career to me."

Chipmunk's rise is a hip-hop fairytale. He was born Jahmaal Noel Fyffe to Jamaican parents, who later separated, and grew up in a tough housing estate in Tottenham, north London. He was nicknamed Chipmunk on account of being "short and chubby, with big teeth", by a friend who later died in a stabbing. Listening to Dizzee Rascal on pirate radio stations inspired him to start rapping and by 13 he was producing his own CDs. "Me and my friend would go to a studio in Finsbury Park you could hire for £20 an hour," he recalls. "I'd spit out three or four tracks and we'd burn up 100 blank CDs and use my mum's printer to make the covers. Then we'd hit the record shops and try to sell them."

He has a reputation as one of the most lyrically dexterous of British rappers, but his love of words did not come from books. "I hate reading," he tells me. "As a kid, reading was a penalty for when I was bad. I got my diction from good rappers."

What motivated him to be so industrious? "There is a drive that hits young black boys from my social background at the age of 11 to 14, fuelled by the need for money," he explains. "The cars, the girls, the designer clothes: you see these things in your neighbourhood and you want them and you have to get it yourself. Some people get it by crime; others pick a talent and go for it."

Chipmunk went for it and eventually caught the attention of Wiley, the godfather of grime, who had brought Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder to the mainstream. With Wiley's help, Chipmunk secured a record deal with Sony, which led to the debut album and the hit singles. But that was three years ago, and in today's musical landscape three years is an age. "In music, people gravitate to what is new," Chipmunk says, "but I'm not new any more. If you can't reinvent yourself, you are fucked."

Reinventing Chipmunk from cheeky grime star to global celebrity is the barely hidden aim of Transition. It is a slickly produced album with a US-friendly R&B sound, shorn of the rapid percussive beats and harsh rapping that characterise grime. Such a reinvention carries risks. Is there a danger that by trying to appeal to an international audience he could lose his distinctiveness? "Global appeal is about representing your culture," he replies, sounding more like an advertising executive than a hip-hop star. "I am the marketing source and it is my job to make the music acceptable in other territories."

Chipmunk is facing criticisms that he is changing in search of greater commercial success. When I asked him if he felt he had left grime behind, he started referring to himself in the third person. "Chipmunk is a musician who does what the hell he wants," he replies testily. "If I want to do a pop song, or a reggae song, I will do it."

There is a knock on the door – Chipmunk is needed on set. It must be disorientating, I say before he leaves, to have tasted great success at such a young age. "I appreciate every moment of what I have," he says. "I know there is a lifespan for what I do. I am never going to be spoken of as a has-been: the second I'm not current in one profession, I am going to hop into another. I don't want people saying Chipmunk was dope when he was in his prime." He stands up and shakes my hand. As Chipmunk heads back out to join the models, I notice the tattoos inked into his arms; on one the word "achieve" and on the other "believe".

Barrington Levy To Release Final Album

Having had several albums to his name, Barrington Levy says that his latest project will be his last.

The album, which is to be titled It's About Time, will be available for purchase this Fall.

Levy said, "It's my final album that I'll be putting out. I'll still be touring, I'll be singing and putting out singles, but I don't think I'm going to put out any album."

The album will feature several collaborations with local and international artistes such as Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss.

Levy also recently teamed with Vybz Kartel and Khago on the track Gangsters, which is the soundtrack for an upcoming movie Gangstas in which he plays a lead role.

He spoke of how the collaboration came about saying, "I did the song in Philadelphia and after I finished my hook, then I said, who we going have on the song? we said Kartel, and Khago is showing that he's a good artiste, so they were perfect."

A remix for Gangsters is also being done with another overseas artiste.

He said he will continue to work with the younger generations of artistes as he thinks they have a lot of potential.

"I don't look at myself as no veteran artiste, I see myself as a singer in the business who love what I do. All these times you say you not hearing from Barrington Levy, is not like I'm not doing nothing because I've been voicing a lot. Believe you me, see the next generation of artistes after Kartel, if I'm up and healthy, I'm going to do something with them because there is no boundary," he said.

According to Levy, the song has been getting better reception overseas than in Jamaica as it has been receiving a lot of airplay on Hot 97, among other radio stations throughout areas such as Boston, Philadelphia and New York.

"People have been calling in and requesting the song on the radio over there a lot. We not talking about the average Jamaican person, we're talking white people," said Levy.

He also hinted that because the song is fairly new to Jamaican listeners they are not yet accustomed to it. It has been doing well in the Jamaican streets, however, and they have also been busy promoting the song.

The filming of Gangstas is scheduled to begin in May, and Levy is excited.

"The movie is coming along quite fine. I'm actually looking forward to start shooting the movie," he said.

He went on to say that this is his first movie venture and he is very excited about it because he has wanted to do a movie for quite a while.

"I'm definitely looking forward to this," said Levy.
'The movie is coming along quite fine. I'm actually looking forward to start shooting the movie'

'Never Had To Wake' single receives good rotation

Reggae artiste Nazine has high hopes for his latest Neva Haffi Wake single and video. The video which was shot in Red Hills was recently premiered on Hype TV and has been receiving good rotation since.

He will also be doing a photoshoot to promote the single tomorrow.

Among Nazine's other recent songs include Take Your Pain and Zion Call which has been enjoying good rotation on local radio stations such as Zip and Hitz FM.

He has local shows coming up in St Mary, St Catherine and in Clarendon where he will perform alongside dancehall heavyweights such as Mavado and Macka Diamond.

Since his exit from the Magnum Kings and Queens competition, Nazine took some time off from his career to develop his musical skills and is now working closely with popular producer, Jah Snow Cone.

"Leaving the competition mi neva really in full gear to be a musician, I had to develop the artiste himself which is me as an individual. Mi do voice training and the works. The competition acted as the first step then," said Nazine.

He continued, "I was also searching for the right producer to work with and that came in the form of Snow Cone. He said he was really interested but he told me to wait and I did wait for a year. During that time, I went through a lot of growth and development in my writing skills."

For the remainder of the year, Nazine promised fans quality music and entertainment. "By now and summer, you can be looking forward to hearing a lot more from Nazine on your radio, TV, all bout," he said.

Popular Selector, Maestro Leaves Swatch International

After 18 years with Swatch International, popular selector Maestro yesterday announced a split from the sound system.

Maestro, who was one of the frontmen for Swatch International, disclosed that he had left the sound system via a broadcast message on BlackBerry messenger.

In the message, he said, "it's now official Hotta Maestro is no longer a part of Swatch Int'l sound system. From now on, I will be happily doing my own thing and conducting my own business earning my own profits and building my own career."

He continued, "it's been a glorious 18 years working and building Swatch International and I'm very grateful for the time I spent with this entity and wish them all the best. As for my fans all over the world, I'll be out and bad, bigger and better. Thank you all for understanding."

When contacted for a comment, Maestro said he was not ready to say anything about the matter, but confirmed that he had sent out the broadcast message.

"It is what it is. I did send out the broadcast. Maybe at a later date, I will be able to give you some info."

The west Kingston-based Swatch International was started by O'neil Miles in 1991. After playing at various locations around Jamaica, it got even more popular when Miles started Passa Passa in 2003. With the sale of Passa Passa CDs and DVDs, the sound system also gained notoriety.

Swatch International has played in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and the Caribbean.

Dancehall Reggae Icon Shabba Ranks added to lineup for Best of the Best Weekend in Miami

The legendary Shabba Ranks has officially been added to the long list of artists who will converge on the City of Miami May 26th-30th for Best Of The Best Weekend 2011. Ranks joins an already stellar list of performers scheduled for the back-to-back blockbuster concerts jumping off on Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th at Bicentennial Park (1075 Biscayne Blvd).

The Jamaican music icon will perform on day two, alongside some of the top acts in Reggae, Hip-Hop, Dancehall and Soca, such as Stephen and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, DJ Khaled, Vybz Kartel (who will appear with his band live via satellite from Jamaica), Tarrus Riley, Alison Hinds, Trina, Assassin, Etana, Sanchez, I-Octane, Ace Hood, Stephen McGregor, Chino, Richie Loop, Demarco, Gappy Ranks, Romain Virgo, Big AC and ZJ Liquid.

Day one, dubbed Spring Fest, will feature the best of the best in contemporary R&B, including Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Lloyd, Jeremih, Miguel and Marsha Ambrosius (formerly of the duo Floetry) and Travis Porter. Nationally syndicated radio host and comedian Rickey Smiley will host with Jabba of Massive B.

Tickets for the Best Of The Weekend 2011 concerts can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com and www.BestOfTheBestConcert.com (Combo tickets for both days are only available online at www.BestOfTheBestConcert.com)