Buju Banton Wins Grammy; Goes On Trial For Drug Charges

(viaAllHipHop.com)

Buju Banton's retrial for federal drug trafficking charges started today, as jury selection began in Tampa, Florida this morning, just one day after the Reggae singer one a Grammy Award for his album Before The Dawn.

Buju is facing life in prison, after undercover detectives allegedly caught him on tape attempting to purchase five kilos of cocaine in December of 2009.

Twelve jurors were selected today (February 14th) and opening statements are slated to being later this afternoon in a Tampa courtroom.

Buju said he was extremely proud to win his first ever Grammy Award, since he spent most of 2010 behind bars, lacking the ability to promote the critically acclaimed
Before The Dawn, which features songs like "Innocent," "Battered & Bruised," "Struggle Together" "In The Air" and others.

"Winning this Grammy is an honor because it truly shows that my music has transcended a lot of borders and people are now paying attention to what I'm saying in-depth," Buju Banton said. "Music is an art form that cannot be denied by any living soul. Music is life. Many thanks to the Recording Academy for recognizing my work."

Buju Banton already went on trial for the charges in September of 2010, but a mistrial was declared after the jury became deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict.

If Buju Banton is convicted of drug trafficking, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

Bob Marley’s Birthday Celebrated By Musicians Around the World in Viral Video

In celebration of what would have been Bob Marley’s 66th birthday, band and foundation Playing for Change has teamed up with Marley’s estate to release a video that will premiere today on the musician’s Facebook Page.

The video — which will be featured on Playing For Change – Songs Around The World, Vol. 2 CD and DVD due out in May — contains a performance from The Wailers’s final European tour, as well as a click track utilizing Marley’s vocals. Marley’s son, Stephen, is also in the video. Keep an eye on Marley’s Facebook Page for its debut.

“This is the third Bob Marley song that we have done,” says Playing For Change founder Mark Johnson. The release of this particular video just happens to coincide with Marley’s birthday (February 6).

“Bob Marley is one of the greatest musicians in the world and has the great ability to inspire people in every race, culture and economic status. [The song is a] great way to inspire people to come together,” he says.

If you’re not familiar with Playing For Change, it’s a band and foundation created by Mark Johnson, who spent four years traveling and filming musicians from around the world (local and street musicians alike).

In 2008, he released a cover of the song “Stand By Me.” That video has garnered close to 30 million YouTube views, and it helped lead to a PBS documentary and CD series. The Playing For Change band was also born (and will soon be playing at Jazz Fest in New Orleans), as well as The Playing For Change Foundation, which seeks to support music education.

The Marley video is a little different than previous Playing For Change pieces; instead of just using local musicians and established (living) artists to recreate the jam, Johnson incorporated a performance from Marley’s final tour, which set the tone and tempo for the rest of the performers — including Marley’s son.

This video, like all of Playing For Change’s previous work, was filmed outdoors to echo the experience of seeing a particularly effective street performer. “You can walk by someone and they can change your life,” Johnson says.

The disc containing this song will be released in May 2011, and, like all other albums, the proceeds will go toward building music schools in places like Mali, Rwanda and South Africa.

Playing For Change makes an effort — especially with this album — to go into poorer communities in order to find performers, which serves a dual purpose: 1) To show the world the beauty and talent inherent in even the poorest of areas; and 2) To forge communities where music schools can later be built.

Johnson says that the foundation is also working on a video program (still in its infancy) that connects the schools, so kids can share in music-making, and those who donate to those schools can see the fruits of their charity.

Reggae Artist, J.O.E, Dies From A Brain Aneurysm

(via The Jamaica Star)

Another entertainer has passed. J.O.E., formerly Lil Joe, died yesterday morning and has left friends, family and well-wishers in a state of mourning.

His friend of many years, Gavin Blair, member of Equiknoxx Music, said J.O.E., whose real name is Alty George Nunes, died this morning after being rushed to the hospital. He said the 25-year-old artiste had a brain aneurysm, which is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.

"I really don't know what happened. They took him to the hospital this morning (Monday) and he didn't make it. It's really sad, I don't know what else to say. I've known him practically all my life. We went to the same high school. He's been one of my best friends," said Blair, his voice falling at intervals.

He is puzzled by the death, as J.O.E. performed at a show in Bull Bay the night before he died.

"He did a show last night (Sunday) in Bull Bay and he was in top form. He was perfect. He was fine so I don't understand how this," Blair told THE STAR.

He also explained that J.O.E. was doing well after being admitted in the University Hospital of the West Indies last year for three weeks because a blood vessel burst in his brain. His survival was described as a miracle, as persons with that condition would normally die or go into a vegetative state.

J.O.E. is the son of former NDTC dancer and choreographer Patricia Ricketts and brother of Digicel's sponsorships and events manager Tahnida Nunes. He had songs like Hey Yo, Crazy and Struggles. In 2005, he placed third in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Popular Song competition.

The news of his death has also hit hard for his other close friends like Tifa. The usually bubbly entertainer was at a total loss for words and even apologised for not being able to say much.

"Mi still inna disbelief. Mi nuh have nutten fi seh 'cause mi still nuh believe, sorry," Tifa said in a somber tone.

Ward 21's Suku was also surprised by the news of a friend he has known for about five years.

"Mi deh out pon di road but from mi hear the news mi just come in. It kinda mash up mi day. Mi feel a way bout it. Mi know seh him did sick some time ago but him did look healthy," he said.

As news of his death spread, people expressed their grief on social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter.

"R.I.P Lil Joe. Bredda fi life, condolences to da family, enoxx stay strong," Aidonia tweeted.

There were also tweets from other members of the entertainment fraternity like Wada Blood, Johnny Wonder, T'Nez, Crumbs from Liv Up Records, Bridgez, Wayne Marshall, Ishawna, Delly Ranx, Stampede, ZJ Wah Wa and Quizz.

Mavado a "Tump" the girls dem in 2011

Mavado has blessed the new year with an infectious new song, "Tump". Produced by veteran producer Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor, "Tump" is destined to be a club anthem for some time to come.

Jamaican women arrested in Trinidad for lewd dancing

Seven Jamaican women are now behind bars after they were charged for lewd and suggestive dancing in Trinidad recently.

They appeared in the Chaguanas Magistrate earlier this week alongside six other women from Dominican Republic, Peru and Colombia.

According to a report in the Trinidad Express, published on Wednesday, the women fined TT$250 (J$3,300) each and in default of payment will spend one week in prison. They were given one week to pay the fine.

The article further stated that "their attorney Joseph Honore told Third Court Magistrate Avason Quinlan that the women arrived in this country (Trinidad) two months ago and 'linked up' with the Tribe mas camp to learn the art of wire bending with the intention of returning to Jamaica to open their own mas band."

Reports are that the women were arrested Saturday morning during a raid at the Santa Maria Hotel at Chase Village, Chaguanas. It is said that a sergeant and two constables were on enquiries at the hotel, dressed in plain clothes, when the women were seen on stage dancing in a sexual and suggestive manner. They were arrested and taken to the Chaguanas Police Station and charged.

The women's lawyer, Honore, told the court that the women admitted that they were dancing suggestively but denied that they were naked on stage.

Serani - My Star

Entertainer Copper Cat Killed

Popular dancehall artist Copper Cat, was killed as he opened the gate to his Corporate Area home last night.

Copper cat, whose real name is Demar Graham, is the protege of singer Richie Stephens who mentored him since he was a 10-year-old seeking to make a name in the entertainment industry.

The Half-Way-Tree police report that Graham was approached by gunmen at the entrance to his Cassandra Avenue home in Kingston and robbed him of his blackberry cell phone.

The robbers then shot him before escaping.

He died on the spot.