‘The Truth’ is the theme that the organisers of this year’s 29th
staging of Sting have chosen. Supreme Promotions and their major partner
this year, Downsound Records, say this year’s Sting boasts a stellar
package that they advocate will pull thousands to Jam World come
December 26.
Launched last evening at the Wyndham hotel, the stakeholders,
artistes and media were out in numbers to see first hand what the
greatest one night reggae show on earth would bring to the table for
2012.
Though things got off to a late start, if one were a tourist to the
happenings at Sting 2012 launch, you would easily mistake last night’s
encounter for the actual Boxing Day event, due to the large gathering
that filled the hotel ballroom.
The show is divided into six categories, comprising – 12 Disciples of
Dancehall, Best of Reggae, Independent Ladies, The Fantastic Four,
Three the Hard Way and Next Generation.
The 12 disciples include the likes of Tommy Lee Sparta, Sizzla, Busy
Signal, Ninja Man, Aidonia and Mavado. In the Best of Reggae, patrons
will see Romain Virgo, Gyptian, Etana and Lutan Fyah.
Sting is a premier event produced by Supreme Promotions Limited, a
company in the Caribbean. Supreme Promotions assists promoters/producers
by providing idea implementation services to optimize their promoting
strategies. Our business has been built on our ability to provide first
class services for event enhancement in the quest for an ideal
promotion. We are recognized for our integrated approach to event
production.
Reggae artiste Fantan Mojah has been kicked off the Sting line-up for this year. Downsound Records (DSR) producer Skatta Burrell confirmed to The WEEKEND STAR that an executive decision was made by CEO Jo Bogdanovich to drop him from the line-up.
Rumours had been circulating that Fantan Mojah had disrespected Bogdanovich at the Sting launch on Wednesday night. Fantan has however, denied these allegations.
"I was invited to the Sting launch and just as I was about to begin my songs I said "Big up Downsound Records and big up Joe Bogdanovich, a unuh buss me to Jamaica and the world. A mi a di biggest ting buss from Downsound Records from that time till dis time." Mi never even get fi finish mi speech, but mi never say nutten wrong," he told The WEEKEND STAR.
On the other hand, Skatta stated that what Fantan Mojah said was not only disrespectful to Bogdanovich but also to the other artistes who are signed to the company.
"DSR invested in Fantan Mojah's career. They took a chance and made his career what it is today. Regardless of what happened, DSR has never tried to stop Fantan Mojah from making a living for himself. On numerous occasions he has been saying ill things about the company and we have ignored it because we realise that he is a mouthpiece and maybe he is emotionally hurt that he is no longer a part of this company," he stated.
Skatta also stated that DSR will not tolerate disrespect and that Fantan Mojah is a true example of being ungrateful and bitter.
"If Fantan Mojah was paid a deposit then he can keep it. We wish him all the best but anything DSR is a part of, Fantan Mojah cannot be a part of. Fans can check out DSR members Nature, Specialist and Ishawna at Sting," he said.
Fantan Mojah is however, undeterred by all the negativity. "Dem never pay me no deposit. Dem never give me a cent, so if dem take me off the show it nuh make no difference. Mi a go continue do good songs. Mi nuh have nutten 'gainst them. A dem buss me to the world but a me buss dem to. A me buss dem mek Jamaica know say a company name so. Nuff love to DSR, nuff love to Joe and nuff love to Skatta whe a fight me round deh wid him negative self."
Tommy Lee Sparta seems to really be having an having an impact on
Jamaica—even dancehall divas Tifa and Spice, known more for being sexy
than sinister, have gone the horror movie route with their latest video.
Except their “Why You Mad?” clip is more like one of the Wayans
Brothers’ Scary Movie flicks than one of Lee’s genuinely creepy videos.
The Linda Blair-in-The-Exorcist type chick rolling around in a
hospital bed in “Why You Mad” got that way, apparently, because she
couldn’t take Tifa and Spice being hotter than her, and the jealousy
just drove her crazy. The lesson? Don’t badmind Tifa and Spice or you’ll
end up in a mental hospital where Tifa, Spice and their hot nurse
outfits will just drive you more crazy. OK.
Some of you may remember Karl Williams as the guy who played the unnamed, right-wing, anti-communist politician in the highly-regarded Jamaican film Better Mus’ Come. Well, Williams, a veteran actor whose theater acting credits in New York includes Pecong at The National Black Theater and Antony and Cleopatra at The Poets Den Theater, is about to impress New Yorkers again with his three-character drama, Not About Eve. It has already won the 2005 International Theater Institute Actor Boy Award for Best New Jamaican play, and the script was a 2011 A-List selection for the Readers’ Theater Series at the National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina. This play will be onstage in NYC for four days, premiering on November 29, at the Stage II Theatre in Times Square, just off Broadway.
Not About Eve is set in the middle-class home of the Shields family in Kingston, Jamaica. The household’s three women are at a crossroads in their lives, confronted by a changing society around them and the secrets in their own lives. The religious Mrs. Rochester clings to old-school values and is distressed when her fiercely independent granddaughter, Kimberley, a visual artist who represents a new generation seeking to define itself culturally and socially, begins to assert herself within the home. Meanwhile, the upwardly mobile Katherine, a sexually adventurous entrepreneur and widow, is literally caught in the middle, even as she herself struggles with the mistakes of her own past.
The cast of the New York production is comprised of Sharon Tsahai King as Mama Rochester, Ilana Warner as Katherine Shields, and Stacy Ann Brissett as Kimberly Shields, and is directed by Daphne Sicre.
The brother of former Portmore Empire deejay Romaine 'Black Ryno' Anderson was shot and killed metres away from him on the weekend, THE STAR understands.
Reports are that sometime after 3 a.m. on Sunday, Black Ryno and a group left a dance in the Maxfield Avenue area and were on their way home when they decided to stop and speak with friends along Waltham Park Road.
The deejay's brother, Kurtis 'Tatty' Bucker, stood some metres away while the entertainer was talking to a group of friends.
Our news team gathered that two unknown assailants approached Bucker and brandished a firearm before opening fire hitting him several times before he fell to the ground.
Dwayne Cole, Ryno's road manager, gave THE STAR this account.
He said, "When the shot dem fire, some people run and some just get flat - when dem come back on the scene, di deejay see him bredda a lay inna blood, so dem tek him up and on dem way to the hospital he died."
Sources close to the entertainer have since disclosed that rumours have been circulating that Bucker was killed in a case of mistaken identity.
The Mi Lef deejay is still in shock and traumatised about the entire incident.
Cole expressed, "Di artiste is human yu know. Tatty was a part of Ryno's street team, he's still in shock since the incident, talking to himself. He needed time to meditate, so as you may have noticed him turn off his phones."
The road manager continued, "Whenever I speak to him he constantly ask why me? Why my family?"
He further said that the deejay would be taking a break in an effort to recover from his loss.
Sources at the Hunts Bay police confirmed reports of the fatal shooting and advised our news team that an investigation is ongoing.
Black Ryno also lost another brother to violence about two years ago.
The deejay has upcoming performances in Antigua next month along with a host of local shows and appearances including Sting on Boxing Day.
During his expected brief time-out from the scene, fans of the entertainer are being encouraged to listen out for his releases.
These include multiple tracks for Markus Records including Wine Me and Bare Gyal and soon-to-be released tracks from Seanizzle Records.
Two recently released videos, Lawless and Stripper Pose showcase the versatility of veteran deejay Cham who continues to inject his own brand of energy into the dancehall industry.
Lawless, produced by Cham's long-standing creative partner - producer Dave Kelly on the Mad House Records Label, shows off the deejay's hardcore and hard-hitting dancehall flavour.
The video was officially released in October and was directed by newcomer Dennis Brown of V.S.M.P.
Like the song, the video is a gritty rendition of life in the streets and was shot on Molynes Road and Mountain View with a cameo appearance from Shizzle of the Sherlock Crew.
According to Cham, the aim of the two videos is to give the fans a fun and creative product to enjoy for the remainder of the year.
"The idea was to make videos that are fun and creative at the same time. So for Lawless we went for a movie-like treatment and Stripper Pose is like a beach party vibe," said Cham.
Stripper Pose, another song produced by Kelly, is all about the girls in its content and in the video. The video, directed by Xxtreme of Cashflow and edited by Dennis Brown of V.S.M.P., was shot at Waves Beach in Portmore to capture an authentic party vibe.
Making a cameo at the end of the video is Cham's up-and-coming deejay wife, O.
Additionally, Cham also has his Portmore Anthem song out, which is getting rotation on airwaves as well.
With these videos and songs out, Cham feels he has satisfied his fans. "Anything else would be too much," joked the deejay.
For the remainder of the year, the deejay will be making a number of appearances, which include shows in New York, Florida, Georgia, Antigua, Guyana and Panama.
The murder trial of jailed deejay Vybz Kartel and two co-accused has been postponed until December 3.
The trial was set to start in the Home Circuit on Monday but was rescheduled to December as the prosecution said it was not ready.
The men are represented by attorneys Tom and Chris Tavares-Finson and Michael Deans.
They were scheduled to go on trial today in relation to the murder of a St Catherine man last year July.
Kartel, who has been in custody since last year September following his arrest in a Corporate Area hotel, is to be tried along with Nigel Thompson and Lenburgh McDonald for the shooting death of Barrington 'Bossie' Bryan.
Bryan was shot to death in his community of Gregory Park, St Catherine by men in a motor car.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is on $3 million bail in relation to that charge but he's been held in custody as he is facing another charge of murder for which he is to be tried in November.
Others to be tried with Kartel for the August 2011 beating death of Clive 'Lizard' Williams in Havendale, St Andrew are Calvin Hay, entertainer Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Andre St John, Kahira Jones and Shane Williams.
Williams was reportedly killed over a missing gun.
Meanwhile, the controversial artiste, along with Vanessa ‘Gaza Slim’ Saddler and Andre ‘Pim-Pim’ Henry are to be tried in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on November 12 on a charge of perverting the course of justice in relation to the Williams murder.
Kartel is also facing a ganja possession charge.
How many time now dem ago postponed the teacha trial KMT free! mi DJ Vybz Kartel (W.B)
After airing his personal life on social media, artiste Mr Vegas has decided to put his version of the experience on wax.
Mr Vegas publicly accused his ex-lover of cheating on him in his home and has decided to chronicle the incident in two new songs titled Bare Tingz and Rise Again.
In Bare Tingz he sings:
This yah gal a gwaan wid bare tingz/ Turn mi house inna Days Inn/ Gone wid mi life savings/ This yah gal a gwaan wid bare tings/ Mi say when you a fall in lovemake sure yuh nuh fall too deep/ The gal have man a bruk it dung inna mi bed, all now mi caan sleep.
With the release of the song, fans have rallied around the artiste and have offered him their support.
Mr Vegas stated, "I always use music to express myself, I write about things that are happening around me. Based on a personal experience, I went into the studio and recorded Rise Again & Bare Tingz.
The song Rise Again alludes to the blistering heartbreak in which Mr Vegas tells his former lover that although he is hurt, he is better off without her and will rise again.
Both songs have been gaining momentum both locally and internationally and have already began creating a buzz on social media sites.
In September, Mr Vegas and the mother of his child had a public fall out when the artiste accused her of having sexual intercourse in front of their one year old child.
Pictures of her romp were also posted online with fans lashing her for the incident.
YouTube has been blowing up, literally, with varying comments about Flava Don's controversial single 'Fuck And Fret', which was produced by Classic Ash Records.
The song, featured on the Heat Wave rhythm, was released in March and has since become a hot topic in many dancehall circles as well as popular social media websites.
Varying comments have been made about the song from viewers. some of these comments include: "This is not even amusing ... it sends the wrong message and these artistes must be more mindful that are very influential. Not even sure if it is anti or pro HIV" and "People listen well to the message because a nuff people right now need to hear this."
The young deejay, who resides in Spanish Town, St Catherine, has said he never envisioned the song gathering this amount of attention in such a short period of time but went on to address comments which pars the song as an advocate for unsafe sex.
"The song has a very clear message and that is unsafe sex is not good for you in no way possible until you know your partner's status and vice versa," Flava Don said.
"We (artistes) have to sing about reality. I am not surprised by those who think the song is endorsing unprotected sex. But, I am certain that is not the message," the deejay continued.
Since its release, Fuck And Fret has received close to 500,000 views on YouTube. Flava Don also said that there are plans in place to shoot a music video for the single.
Photos from a surveillance camera
have surfaced via JamaicaGroupiemet of Mr Vegas girlfriend “Shellian”
having sex in his house with another man. The stills clearly shows the
time frame at which they were having sex, baby left alone in play area
and walks into the room. Check out photos below:
baby playing in bed
baby led into the play area..while man waits in bed with his clothes off
Jamaican dancehall star Mr. Vegas is embroiled in a cheating scandal involving his common law wife's indiscretions, which took place in the couple's own home. Allegedly, the encounters even occurred in front of their 1-year-old daughter. The dancehall artist is so distraught that he took to social media and posted what some might call ill-advised emotional content.
Fans have had diverse reactions to the singer's tearful admissions, some posting their sympathies while others have advised him to take his pain elsewhere, or warned that he'll regret the posts. His wife, Shellian McBayne, was allegedly found by Vegas having unprotected sex in the couple's own bed.
Mr. Vegas revealed that he discovered the cheating by watching security cameras that his wife had installed in their home. The international reggae superstar is currently promoting his new album Sweet Jamaica, and sat down with New York radio station Hot 97 morning show hosts Cipha Sounds, Peter Rosenberg and K. Foxx to talk about the album and his family drama.
The guy is clearly heartbroken, he nearly starts crying on camera when the interviewers probe him for more information about the cheating. What bothers him the most is that his daughter was in the house while all this was going on.
Fans of embattled dancehall/reggae musician Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie have unearthed another avenue in their desperate attempt to have the entertainer released from bondage.
Organisers of the new campaign to have Buju released are calling on 50,000 of the artistes diehard fans, family and friends to make direct contact with the home and office of US President Barrack Obama, The White House.
The new worldwide campaign is being launched on the basis of what they call an unjust incarceration, alluding to an entrapment by a US Government informant.
It is expected of the participants to call, email, or write the White House before Buju is resentenced in Tampa on October 30, 2012.
The organisers, @freebujunow, following an announcement on Monday, steadfastly refuse to let the embattled reggae star spend more time in prison.
When Buju faces the court later this month, he could face five additional years behind bars in relation to his ongoing drug case.
"I have heard a little of the new campaign, I have done it and will continue to urge my friends to as well ... anything to support the cause even though I am not sure who started it," Buju's son, Marcus, said.
When asked how he thought the outcome may be, he reasoned, "I am not sure how it will affect the case ...".
Meanwhile, the charge on the White House by Banton's apparent loyalists, follows on the heels of a failed appeal filed by his legal representation this past summer in which the 'Gargamel' was refused a possible reversal of his initial conviction and subsequent 10-year sentence on drug-related charges in 2011.
An attempt, which followed for a new trial, also fell through the roof as the judge upheld the prosecution belief that there was enough evidence for his conviction on the drug charges, and as such, it made lawful the reinstatement of a gun-related charge which was originally thrown out during the February ruling.
Banton reportedly fired his lawyer David Oscar Markus shortly afterwards, and hired the services of Mississippi human-rights attorney Chokwe Lumumba.
After releasing several singles with much favorable response, Keida has now compiled her very first mixtape ‘Wickedest Ting’. Wickedest Ting, which is also the name of one of the featured tracks, comprises of 28 singles, most of which are already released with the exception of four new songs. Featured are also several collaborations with artistes such as Protoje, Erup, Shurwayne Winchester and French deejay Valley. Production wise, she has worked with Don Carleon, Jam 2, Chimney Record, Great Whyte Entertainment and Damn Rude Records among others to complete the mixtape. Wickedest Ting is hosted by Yaardcore and is a mixture of Reggae, Dancehall, R&B and even some Dubstep. The artiste known best for the song ‘Jamaican boy’ releases the mixtape in the heights of celebration for her birthday on September 10th. She has also completed the videos for songs on the mixtape ‘Another Level’ and ’75′ which fans can look out for very soon.
International reggae artiste Tafari has signed a distribution deal for his upcoming album with VP Record's VPAL, which is the renowned music firm's associated label group.
Tafari's new album, Rud3 Lov3, will be released later this year via VPAL distribution.
The album is expected to boast 16 tracks and will be produced by Noah Mason, Kamron Houf, Jason Gilbert and Tafari's Florida-based Rud3 Music Records. No details of the deal were disclosed, but it is understood that the deal surpasses a year.
One of the singles, Money In My Pocket, that will be on the album is already creating a buzz on iTunes and on several local and international radio stations. The deejay, who is the son of reggae legend Big Youth, said he's very optimistic about the success of the deal.
"I am very pleased that VP acknowledges my independent efforts in the world of reggae and has given me the opportunity to catapult these project miles ahead in reggae music. I am really looking forward to enjoying much success," he said.
An official message was also released by the company in light of the deal. It reads: "It's official!! An emerging reggae artiste Tafari has signed with VP Records' distribution department VPAL (VP Associated Label Group) for his upcoming album.
"It is our pleasure that we can distribute music of this generation talented reggae artiste. We will keep posting his latest information, and check out his Facebook and Twitter as well."
Tafari is also known for the single Fire, a major hit in several European countries.
Mavado recently released Take It featuring Jamaica-born R&B act Karian Sangas.
Producer Troyton Hinds of Troyton Music said Mavado wanted to do a collab track with Karian.
"Within a few days we had a beat and vocals. The energy and creativity is evidenced in the result. It has a great sound and the response has been fantastic," he said. "The song definitely has a wide range appeal and will appease local and international audiences. They are great artistes and there is a lot of buzz surrounding them both."
Dancehall star Aidonia and his gorgeous fiance Kimberly Megan are expect their first child.
Megan tweeted a few pics of her growing baby bump this week. The couple has been receiving many well wishes from fans and members of the music industry.
“Congratulations to @AIDONIAJOP and @princessmegan1 on their engagement!!!!!! Welcome to the club lol,” JOP member Deablo tweeted.
Aidonia popped the question earlier this year and Megan said yes to his proposal. According to sources close to the deejay, the two are planning a private ceremony later this year in Jamaica.
Alkaline is a recent graduate of the Ardenne high school. The young artiste has been the topic of discussion on social networks such as facebook and twitter over the past two weeks due to the content of his x-rated music video for Not A Slack Song.
The video has been greeted with mixed reactions from viewers because of its strong sexual content. In one scene, a female wearing extremely thin underwear removes her bra and poses topless for the camera. She also acrobatically bends her body in acute position, giving viewers a full view of her partially nude posterior.
However, Alkaline believes the song is not slack. According to the 18-year-old deejay, being tight-lipped about sex only makes it more attractive to teens.
"My song in no way can be viewed as slack when all it describes is the beginning of our existence. Sex is a beautiful ting, and a full time now we move wey from di backward mentality that sex is forbidden because all that does is makes it more alluring, especially to our teens, zeen," Alkaline said.
Since its upload, the video has, however, been age restricted by YouTube.com due to its lewd content. Despite not having the full advantage of sharing the footage with the wider YouTube audience, Alkaline shows no remorse, only suggesting that minors watch the Disney channel for more child-appropriate content.
"I wouldn't say that I am a bad example for kids, but at the end of the day, I am an entertainer, and there must be space for adult material in dancehall. So the kids can just watch some Disney, or so," he laughed.
Not A Slack Song was produced by Smokeshop productions. Alkaline implores dancehall fans to be on the lookout for more entertaining tracks and videos from him such as Ugly Truth, produced by Sartout/Kimichi Records.
The dancehall video that started the nude trend was Psycho by Tommy Lee, which featured scantily attired females exposing parts of their body. Konshens and Leftside later pushed the envelope further with their video Clap That, which portrayed females in a strip club performing in the nude.
Dancehall artiste Charly Black's Wine Up (Dig Out) is currently one of the 'hottest' songs in Trinidad, according to two of the island's prominent promoters.
The popular 'Country boy', real name Desmond Mendize, recently ended a very successful two-week tour of the island with the single, which was produced by Gesta Music Records on the Motivation rhythm.
He also enjoyed ample success with the European-hit song Claaaty Again, which was released early this year. The 'proud' Trelawny citizen also made his debut appearance in Tobago and received a warm welcome, much to his surprise.
The deejay said he feels the same way as in 2007 when he was a prominent sound systems operator gaining increased recognition as recording artiste.
"The way how the people them a Trinidad receive me, it feel like 2007 when Charly Black buss pon the scene. Right now, everybody a say Charly Black have the hottest song in Trinidad. Even Grenada just confirmed with me that the song is the hottest song over there," he said.
According to Verne Extavor, boss of Antix Promotion, the song has become a must-play in several Trini parties, and the females love it.
"Wine Up slap weh. Word! The song is a must-play right now. Everybody loves it," he said.
His sentiments were also echoed by Nigel Wilson, from Swagger Promotion. He said; "Charly B got the hottest tune in TT for the summer. He got the girls going on bad 'oh gosh' ... the girls are begging for more."
Charly Black has also released the video for Claaaty Again on his YouTube fan page. It will premiere this month on all the major local televisions. The deejay is also getting ready to head to French Guyana and Suriname early next month. He is also planning a Canadian tour commencing in November.
The deejay is also getting ready to release his debut album come February, 2013.
Reggae/dancehall musician Sizzla Kalonji has launched a musical onslaught against several dancehall acts in his recent Hurry Come Up song.
In the song, he speaks of recent happenings in the dancehall which he did not approve of.
He tackles the Nah Sell Out deejay Khago in the song's first verse with:
'Come a tell di ghetto yutes seh him anuh rasta/ After yuh trick di yutes dem impostor/ Weh di judgement yuh guh grow yuh locks fa/ Di money an di bling an young gal distract yuh/... Bout yuh waan threesome inna di blue movie show/ Have two gal an a suck off di next one toe.'
In May, the dreadlocked Khago dropped a bombshell on the dancehall by stating that he never said he was a Rastarfarian.
Sizzla also went on to address the once dreadlocked, Natural Black who reportedly cut his locks after realising he was living an unbalanced life, which also prevented him from doing hardcore dancehall music.
"Di next one cut him locks bout him gone a dancehall/ Nuh waan Rasta blessing see di vanity and want all/ A gallivant but wait til yuh start fall/ A straight up a Rasta him aguh run an start bawl," Sizzla deejays.
He even makes what appears to be reference to Beenie Man's recent comments about the gay community with: Next one guh bow an a mess up mi culture/ Apologise to who yuh worse than a vulture/ Bun babylon dem coulda big like monster/ Mi nah bow dung just fi get nuh sponsor.
Shortly after the release of Sizzla's song, Khago took to the studio to voice his counteraction titled Nutten.
In his song, Khago deejays:
'Mi will send a bad gyal come a judgement yard come shell every pig and dog.../ Dem a try get back them visa like a me name US Embassy/It better you go trim you locks or go raise some hogs/You come a cuss like you name Mumma Lashy.'
Khago stated that he expected Sizzla, as a veteran artiste in the industry, to take up his phone and call him about the song instead of doing a recording.
"Wha hurt me a when mi hear big Rasta whe lose fi him way inna music how long a do dis song. Mi do a collab wid him two years ago and him nuh put it out, him never buss a yute round ya," Khago said.
He went on to say that if Sizzla wanted a war, then he would get a suicide war.
"Mi will strap on a bomb round me neck and drive mi car inna Sizzla Chevrolet. If Sizzla box me, mi a call the media fi come a di clock a Half Way Tree cause mi a cut off mi locks. Him fi just keep it musical cause a him fuss diss me," Khago said.
With the release of Khago's counteraction, Sizzla followed up with a second song titled Dash Whe Di Boy.
According to a member of Sizzla's team, "Khago did a collab with Sizzla, but it wasn't for us, it was for Daseca. They however, didn't like Khago's part of the song and took him off it. A music we say. We nah deal wid no violence. Khago a deal wid it the wrong way. Sizzla have over 68 albums, Khago don't even have half of an album. Him just a look a hype. Him just waan say him go up against a great in the business."
The source went on to say that Khago was sending the wrong message and even went as far as to disrespect their engineer.
"We nah push no violence still. We just a bun a little fire and do a little ting cause we a Rasta and we haffi defend Rasta. If Khago want a musical war then we will clash him pon a stage show because he's no competition," the source from Sizzla's camp said.
"Khago made some derogatory speech towards Sizzla and him hear it back. Khago a bring down enemy pon himself. Sizzla nah even look pon him cause him nah drop him standard. A music we say, so if anything do him, we nuh response fi him," the source said.
Khago stated that he did not appreciate people taking him for a 'weak fence' because he is from the country.
"Mi a big up every true Rasta man but mi bun every reggae dread," Khago said.
Jamaican Olympic champion Usain Bolt was involved in a minor accident in Half Way Tree, St. Andrew this morning at about 5:15 am. He was, however, left unhurt.
The global sprinting star was on his way home from a popular party when he met in the accident. Asafa Powell was also at the scene of the accident, but he was in another motor vehicle.
Bolt and Powell both competed at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo Norway on Thursday and are preparing for the National Trials at the end of June.
This is the second accident in recent years that Bolt has been involved in. In 2009 he crashed his BMW M3 into a ditch in the vicinity of the Vineyards Toll Plaza along Highway 2000. The car flipped a few times before landing upside down, but the Olympic and world Championships star suffered only minor injuries to his feet.
The trial of embattled Deejay Vybz Kartel and Vanessa Bling has been put off until August 29. Both are charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. When they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, their attorneys were not present and the trial was postponed.The prosecution alleges that Vanesa Bling, whose real name is Vanessa Saddler and Kartel, real name Adijah Palmer, conspired to falsify evidence in relation to the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams, who was allegedly bludgeoned to death by a group of men including Kartel at a house in Havendale, St Andrew last year. His body has not yet been found.Saddler was charged when she reported to the Constant Spring Police that she had been robbed by Williams after Kartel was arrested for his murder.Kartel and four of his Portmore Empire cronies are currently on trial in the High Court in relation to Williams' murder.Kartel will be returned to the custody of the state, while Saddler had her bail extended.
Elected lawmakers in five states have a message for the federal government: Don't interfere with state medical marijuana laws.
In an open letter to the federal government, lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle called on the government to stop using scarce law enforcement resources on taking pot away from medical marijuana patients.
"States with medical marijuana laws have chosen to embrace an approach that is based on science, reason, and compassion. We are lawmakers from these states," the lawmakers explained in their letter.
"Our state medical marijuana laws differ from one another in their details, such as which patients qualify for medical use; how much marijuana patients may possess; whether patients and caregivers may grow marijuana; and whether regulated entities may grow and sell marijuana to patients. Each of our laws, however, is motivated by a desire to protect seriously ill patients from criminal penalties under state law."
The letter -- signed by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-Calif.), Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Wash.), Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-N.M.), Sen. Cisco McSorley (D-N.M.), Assemblyman Chris Norby (R-Calif.), Rep. Deborah Sanderson (R-Maine) and Sen. Pat Steadman (D-Colo.) -- comes directly on the heels of a federal raid in the heart of California's pot legalization movement: medical marijuana training school Oaksterdam University in downtown Oakland, where U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials on Monday blocked off doors with yellow tape and carried off trash bags full of unknown substances to a nearby van. An IRS spokeswoman could not comment on the raid except to say the agents had a federal search warrant.
The lawmakers called on President Obama to live up to his campaign promise to leave the regulation of medical marijuana to the states, adding raids would only "force patients underground" into the illegal drug market.
The president as a candidate promised to maintain a hands-off approach toward pot clinics that adhere to state law. At a 2007 town hall meeting in Manchester, N.H., Obama said raiding patients who use marijuana for medicinal purposes "makes no sense." At another town hall in Nashua, N.H., he said the Justice Department's prosecution of medical marijuana users was "not a good use of our resources." Yet the number of Justice Department raids on marijuana dispensaries has continued to rise.
Haiti’s premier reggae band was born on Haiti’s football fields, where Alain Moraille would play in what he calls the sport’s “school of life.”
The same friends with whom Moraille competed on Port-au-Prince’s fields eventually became his collaborators in JahNesta, a reggae band which continues to make its mark on the increasingly global reggae scene.
“Before playing music, we were playing ball,” he says.
Despite a dearth of Haiti-sourced reggae to date, the music is broadly appreciated in the country, according to Moraille.
Modern Haitian reggae largely began with Port-au-Prince native Bigga Haitian, who rose to prominence in the 1990s after spending his formative years in Brooklyn.
While Moraille is quick to say JahNesta did not invent Haitian reggae, his group has certainly brought it to the forefront.
“People tend to say JahNesta is the first reggae band in Haiti,” he says. “But I’ll be the first one to say no. Because I was influenced by other artists — at the time, they were doing another type of music, but they would have one reggae song on their album. So it already started there.”
Reggae’s popularity has only grown in the country, he says, though it has always been something of a force.
“It’s not like other types of music where it’s a fashion trend,” he says. “Reggae was already there. When you go into the ghetto, for example, people really listen to reggae music. That’s why it was natural for me to do reggae music in Creole. Because I always knew that people would identify themselves with the music.”
The music resonates in Haiti, he says, because of its message.
“Coming from a third world country, or any country, I think reggae is a music that deals with reality, what people are living,” he says. “As Bob Marley would put it, reggae is ‘news.’ There’s no fiction in roots reggae. It’s real — it’s something that people are living.”
JahNesta, which has grown to include members from Jamaica, Brazil and South Africa, is expanding its portfolio to include songs in English and French, in order to concentrate on the international market — although Moraille said the group would merely change the lyrics — not the message.
“The content is something that is very important to me,” he says. “The more people can dig and understand the message, the better it is. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop doing music in Creole — that’s where we come from. It’s just to have a broader perspective.”
JahNesta continues to tour, though its membership has seen turnover through the years. A number of players, after touring in the US and Canada, chose to stay abroad, as the political situation got “heavy” in Haiti.
Not much has changed today — and as the domestic political situation continues to face uncertainty, it’s on the mind of Moraille, who says music can be crucial in helping to harmonize the country.
“Music is a big tool — an important to tool,” he says. “I feel that unless we really, deeply change our mindset, our conscience, no politics will be able to change.”
And reggae may even be the solution.
“I would invite the politicians to listen more to reggae,” he says. “Maybe they would be better politicians!”
Singer Cocoa Tea says his latest album, Wey Di Reggae Dey, was inspired by a question he has been asked regularly on recent tours. “Dem sey, ‘how no reggae coming outa Jamaica?’, a jus’ pure dancehall,” Cocoa Tea told the Jamaica Observer. “Wi want to address dat.”
Cocoa Tea recorded most of Wey Di Reggae Dey at his studio in Hayes, Clarendon, with additional recording taking place at Tuff Gong and producer Bobby ‘Bobby Digital’ Dixon’s studio. The new set is scheduled to be released this month by Cocoa Tea’s Roaring Lion Productions. Already two songs, A Love Like Yours And Mine and Inna Di Red, have been released.
Responding to frustrated fans, Cocoa Tea says he went mainly for original music and recorded most of the songs live. Drummer Kirk Bennett, keyboardist Bowie McLaughlin and saxophonist Dean Fraser played on Wey Di Reggae Dey which is Cocoa Tea’s most ambitious studio project since the much-hailed Barack Obama three years ago.
That song paid homage to the popular United States senator who became president, the first Black man to hold that office. Interestingly, the dancehall genre that has been criticised for promoting unsocial behaviour has been good to Cocoa Tea.
Born Calvin Scott in Rocky Point, Clarendon, he is one of the movement’s elder statesmen, having recorded his first song in 1974 at age 13. It would be another 10 years before he broke through with Rocking Dolly, produced by Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes. Along with Yellowman and Barrington Levy, Cocoa Tea was a key member of the flamboyant Lawes’ Volcano Camp, releasing follow-up hits like Lost My Sonia and Kingston. After Lawes moved to the United States, Cocoa Tea linked with producer Lloyd ‘King Jammys’ James with whom he enjoyed another good run. The Cocoa Tea/Jammys tandem produced some of the dancehall’s biggest hits of the 1990s, such as Tune In, 18 And Over and Come Again. Now, Cocoa Tea is doing things on his own, acting as producer and distributor for Wey Di Reggae Dey which he says is not just intended for the charts. “The important thing is fi mek music dat the youth dem can appreciate,” he said. “Dat’s what Beres (Hammond) do an’ look how the youth dem love him.”
A source close to the high-profile case against embattled dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel has revealed that the artiste's 2010 S-Class Mercedes-Benz among other assets, have been released to his family.
The assets were released to the artiste's family by the police last month. In 2010, the deejay had made the talk of the town with his luxury motor vehicle.
In an interview that same year, Kartel said, "no deejay eva own a S-Class Benz. This Benz is the flagship of the Benz's line, meaning dis a di top, top Benz." He further said, "It do everything except fly, the body can raise, it just have the whole driving experience, is like yuh a drive pon air."
However, last year, it was reported that the deejay's S-Class Mercedes-Benz which is said to value over $12 million along with documentation regarding properties he owns were seized.
The items were being stored at the Police Commissioner's office in St Andrew.
According to the credible source yesterday, the deejay's S-Class Benz is with his family, "I can confirm that the assets were released to his family. I have seen the vehicle (S-Class Mercedes-Benz)," the source told THE STAR yesterday.
The source also said that some of the other items that were returned include the deejay's passport and computer. Kartel was recently granted $3 million bail in the Home Circuit Court in relation to the murder case of businessman Barrington 'Bossy' Burton. However, he remains in custody in connection with the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.
Williams was reportedly beaten and stabbed in Havendale, St Andrew, on August 16, but the police are yet to locate his body.
In the meantime, Kartel, who has been in custody since October 1 last year is to return to court on April 13.
There is a rumor spreading through the streets of Jamaica like a brush fire on the Serengeti in the middle of Summer. It appears that young deejay Sharrie, who is known for the singles, Can You Manage? featuring Elephant Man and Why Mr. Officer with Vybz Kartel, is now pregnant with the World Boss' baby. Kartel has been incarcerated since October last year so that only adds to the intrigue. Is this a publicity stunt? Well, Sharrie also has a single out on the Ruff Neck Riddim, Belly A Show Now (40 Questions), calling up Shorty's name and Lisa Hyper's name so one wonders if this is a publicity stunt.
Dancehall deejay Ninja Man and his son were granted bail today in the sum of $2 million each.
Both are charged with the March 16, 2009 murder of Ricardo 'Ricky Trooper' Johnson.
Two other men who have been accused of the murder, Dennis Clayton and Seymour Samuels, are already on bail.
Ninja man, whose real name is Desmond Ballentine, and his son Janiel, are to report to the police on a daily basis and were ordered to return to court for trial on July 16.
Dancehall artiste, Serani, has been blazing a trail on his European tour and has no intention of slowing down.
The singer, who is known for his popular hits including, Doh, No Games, She Loves Me, says the reception he has garnered thus far has been phenomenal.
“All the fans have been very receptive to me generally. They love to dance to Skip To Ma Luu a lot, and No Games, which was also produced by me, is among the favorites here. Another song they enjoy is Romance, which was produced by Chimney Records. They scream and sing that song a lot,” says Serani.
He continued, “That came as a big surprise because I’m performing to crossover crowds. These are not dancehall crowds and the song was never on MTV and never got much play on Hip Hop stations in the States, so the reception for the song was great and surprising.”
Most of the singer’s exciting performances will be in Germany, and thus far some of his favorite stops have been Bremen, Cologne and Bremerhafen.
“These performances had the hypest and loudest crowds. Germany is huge and they love reggae music, so that’s a bonus. It’s a great country to push reggae music in.”
Amid the gloom of mourning the death of Whitney Houston, Stephen Marley stood tall, winning his 10th Grammy for the album 'Revelation Pt 1: The Root of Life'.
Marley's victory, while another feather in the cap for Jamaican music, came while Jamaicans, and those at Harlem's Apollo Theater tried to make sense of the death of one of music's greatest achievers.
This is the 10th time the Marley is holding on to the Grammy, also winning five times as part of Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers and twice with his brother Junior Gong. He stood on the podium as a solo artiste in 2007 and 2009 for Mind Control and Mind Control Acoustic, respectively.
Contacted last night, Stephen said he was elated to have won his 10th Grammy. He said the win is very special for him because he was chosen from a group of great reggae acts including his older brother Ziggy, and to come away with a win shows that he is growing from strength to strength. "We grateful for that (the win). We give thanks and a just so it go," he said. So happy is the reggae superstar that a celebration party is being held tonight. Stephen thanked his fans who have continued to support him and his music. "I want to tell my fans that I appreciate what they are doing for me," he said. They are my strength and inspiration and I have a special love for all of them." Marley got the better of Monty Alexander (Harlem-Kingston Express Live!), Israel Vibration (Reggae Knights), Ziggy Marley (Wild and Free), and Shaggy (Summer In Kingston).
On December 8, 2009, reggae singer Buju Banton slipped on his swim trunks, pulled a pair of jeans over them, and, along with two friends — a female companion and his longtime driver and pal, Ian Thomas — jumped into his silver Land Rover with a "Jah One" vanity plate. They left his modest duplex in suburban Tamarac and began the drive to the Gulf Coast for a day of fun in the sun.
As the exit sign for Naples came into view, Buju called a man they were to meet named Junior to give him a heads-up they would soon arrive. But Junior said plans had changed. They needed to drive to Sarasota and meet him at a restaurant. From there they would grab keys for a friend's boat. Buju agreed.
In Sarasota, the three men sipped margaritas at a restaurant while the lady friend sat in the car. A short while later, the trio headed for a dimly lit warehouse, where someone closed and locked the shutter door behind them. Inside, a stranger who was lurking in the corner began speaking to Junior in Spanish, leaving Buju clueless. There was no boat or keys in sight.
With his long dreadlocks pulled into a ponytail, Buju paced and swayed, his lanky frame oozing nervousness. He asked to use the bathroom but was told the toilet was broken.
"Let me go do it outside," he said.
Junior and the stranger avoided answering him. Then the stranger walked over to a parked car and opened a hidden compartment in the trunk to reveal 20 plastic-wrapped kilos of cocaine.
"I felt my stomach turn," Buju testified months later. "I tried to play it down and be calm. I keep telling myself... be cool, be cool, it's gonna be, just be cool."
Buju's friend Thomas was cool. He plucked a kilo from the pile and plopped it onto a workbench. Buju followed closely behind, peeking over his friend's shoulder as he made a small incision in the packaging. Thomas dabbed a fingertip of the powder on his tongue and proffered the blade to Buju, who followed suit.
After tasting the cocaine, Buju sank into a chair in the corner. He fiddled and tried to occupy himself while Thomas pulled out a phone and negotiated prices with an apparent buyer in Georgia.
"Yo, find out how much he wants," Buju murmured. He later claimed he had no idea who was on the line and that his remark was just an attempt to appear legitimate, to play it cool. Thomas carried on without pausing.
When the warehouse door screeched open, the men exchanged phone numbers. Buju claims he spent the long drive back to Tamarac throwing up from a combination of stress and margaritas. Later that night, Junior phoned the singer twice. Buju avoided the calls.
The next day, Thomas drove back to Sarasota alone and met Junior at an Applebee's for a round of negotiations. Junior pushed to get Buju involved in that day's antics. "He does not want to do nothing, man," Thomas responded. "That's not him, you know? Music, eat, sleep, shit every day." Junior agreed to sell five kilos to Thomas's connection in Georgia, then left the restaurant, called his supervisor at the Drug Enforcement Agency, and said it was a "miracle" that he held onto the deal.
On the morning of December 10, 2009, authorities busted Thomas and a guy from Georgia named James Mack at the Sarasota warehouse, where the two were caught with a gun and $135,000 in cash while trying to buy several kilos. Cops then pulled Buju from his Tamarac home and placed him under arrest on two charges: conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense — even though the firearm at issue was carried by Mack, not Buju.
Emerging Dancehall superstar, Popcaan has continued his meteoric rise to fame in 2012 as one of his biggest songs in 2011 has garnered him strong international exposure.
The Portmore Empire deejay’s number one hit, Only Man She Want recently copped a spot on American radio; earning regular rotation on the playlist of HOT 97 in New York City. Popcaan joins the likes of Beenie Man, Khago and long-time mentor, Vybz Kartel who have been added to the prominent radio station’s playlist.
Johnny Wonder, vice president of digital distribution company, 21st-Hapilos, which helps push some of Popcaan’s material, believes that the Ravin’ deejay has the potential to both launch himself on the international market as well as Dancehall in general.
“I am also happy with Popcaan's growing success, both locally and in the international market. The fact is that, the more artistes we can get showcased internationally, the better it will be for our music and the easier it will become for international record labels to invest in our music because they see that there is a market for it," Wonder said.
Meanwhile, Popcaan will unveil the visuals for his hit single, Party Shot on Friday night. The video will premiere on Television Jamaica’s (TVJ) Entertainment Report and online through his newly launched website, www.popcaanmusic.com.
Popcaan will also be at the Youth View Awards on Saturday, where he’s nominated for five awards including Favourite Dancehall Artiste and Favourite Local Artiste amongst others.
Furthermore debut his upcoming mixtape, Popcaan Yiy Change on February 11; co-produced by TJ Records and Chromatic Sound. This will be his second career mixtape as he previously released the Chromatic produced Hot Skull, Fry Yiy, Boil Brainz in the summer of 2010.
Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel was again remanded until May 8, when he will go to trial to answer to the charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Kartel is also before the court on two murder charges.
The date was scheduled this morning, when Kartel appeared before Senior RM Judith Pusey in the Half-Way Tree Resident Magistrate's Court.
Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is charged jointly with fellow Portmore Empire artiste Vanessa Saddler, more popularly known as 'Gaza Slim' and his associate Andre Henry also known as 'Pim Pim'.
It is the first time that all three accused were appearing before the court at the same time, because co-accused Pim Pim could not be located by the police.
Both Kartel's co-accused are also to go on trial on May 8. The duo also had their bails extended.
Pim Pim, however, had the condition of surrendering his travel documents removed, because his passport cannot be located.
The charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice arose after it was alleged that Kartel and Gaza Slim, were a part of a plot to undermine a police investigation into the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.
Kartel is accused of killing Williams.
Saddler had filed a report with the police claiming that Williams assaulted her during a robbery in Havendale, St. Andrew.
She claimed that the incident occurred on October 29, five days after Kartel was charged with William’s murder.
It is alleged that Saddler and others fabricated the story to help Kartel with his defence.
