Vybz Katel before and after Alkaline is the latest dancehall artiste to bleach his skin and he is feeling a lot of heat for it on social media. The above photo collage of the dancehall deejay before and after has been making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter. Alkaline before and after One of the pic show Alkaline from his high school days at Ardenne High. The other photo is more recent sho... »
Popular Jamaican roots plat actor Cleve Warren, more popularly known as Chu Chu, is dead. Sources connected with the actor told Urban Islandz that he passed away on Thursday afternoon at the St Ann’s Bay Hospital. “He was complaining about feeling sick and feeling dizzy and was taken to the hospital to getchecked on, but his illness got worst quickly,” the source told us. Warren died while undergo... »
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Britain is providing assistance to five Eastern Caribbean countries “to help them return to economic growth while managing the risks from external shocks”. The Department for International Development (DFID) Caribbean says it will work closely with Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica under the new programme that runs until... »
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — A top police official says what appear to be the bodies of Miss Honduras 2014 and her sister have been found buried near the spa where they disappeared six days ago. National Police director, General Ramon Sabillon says authorities are awaiting confirmation from forensic officials that the bodies are Maria Jose Alvarado, 19, and her sister, Sofia, 23. He said early Wed... »
Joe Bogdanovich says Vybz Kartel is one of the biggest influence in dancehall so he work hard to get his new prodigy on a riddim that the incarcerated deejay is featured on. “The whole Kartel thing is really unusual and it’s really good to see how great of an artistKartel really is being in the minds of the pubic for so many year,” the Downsound Records CEO told Zip. “TJ did a record with Vybz Kar... »
Natalie Holt-Conde (left), daughter of the late reggae singer John Holt, consoles her mother Merle (Holt’s widow) during yesterday’s funeral service for the veteran reggae act. The service, which was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown Kingston, saw a strong turnout from members of the music fraternity. Holt, who was known for hits including Ali Baba, Memories By the Score, ... »
Corey Todd and Konshens have parted ways leaving the Konz876 shoeline in limbo. Todd, who manages dancehall deejay Masicka, has also split from the label Subkonshus Records. “It’s not personal. Masicka is a hard-core dancehall artiste and he is concerned the image he is building will be damaged by being a part of Subkonshus; and as for me, the business part of the association was not working out, ... »
BET’s music countdown show 106 & Park got canceled after being on the air for 14 years. This means that Bow Wow, aka Shad Moss, and Keshia Chanté will be out of a job. But there is still a chance to save the show that has been dwindling in ratings. In a statement released by BET, the network says they will be moving 106 & Park to a all digital format on BET.com come December 19. “It’s been... »
Seh Calaz and Soul Jah Love ZIMBABWE police are warning their local dancehall artistes that if they engage in violence, they will feel the full force of the law. The warning came about as a result of an onstage altercation between Zimbabwe dancehall acts Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz on stage during at Dancehall Gig-Sting 2014 at the Harare City Sports Centre, recently. According to The Herald, poli... »
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An investigative judge in Argentina is summoning Justin Bieber for questioning. Bieber has been accused of sending bodyguards to attack a photographer outside a Buenos Aires nightclub during a South American tour last year. Judge Facundo Cubas asked Interpol on Thursday to use all “necessary means” to notify the singer that he has 60 days to appear before... »
The fusion of the authentic Jamaican Christmas drink with the island’s signature lager is being hailed as a first for the alcoholic beverage industry in Jamaica and will introduce “an unexpected combination of beer, sorrel and ginger extracts, infused with exotic spices to deliver an unforgettable taste experience”, Red Stripe Brand Manager Erin Mitchell told the Jamaica Observer... »
SEVERAL new strains of marijuana (ganja) bearing the name of Julian Marley will become available in the American market in the next few months. According to www.streetinsider.com, Marley — son of reggae king Bob Marley — has partnered with company Drop Leaf to launch Julian Marley JUJU Royal Premium Marijuana. “I am happy to speak out in favour of decriminalisation and I salute Drop Leaf as ... »
RADIO disc jock and self-proclaimed Vibes Master Jerry D has parted company with RJR 94FM. Jerry D — whose given name is Jerry Davy and host of Vibes 360 — confirmed the separation, which occurred last week Friday. “There was a difference in perspectives. Like any family, we saw things differently and they had to make a judgement call, and I respect the decision. There is no acrimony between... »
Arguably one of the hottest tickets in the Reggae and Dancehall space presently, red hot deejay Demarco is having one of the best years of his career with a noticeable increase in presence and demand on the entertainment circuit. Aside from serving up some of this years’ biggest hits such as ‘Puppy Tail’, ‘Good Book’, ‘Ride’, ‘Lazy Body’, ‘Apartment’, ‘Bun Up Road’, ‘Loyal’, ‘Bad Gyal Anthem’ and ... »
BY BRIAN BONITTO Associate Editor A NEW date and venue have been set for the funeral of rocksteady/ reggae singer John Holt. This follows a request by the late singer’s wife, Merl. “We want to bury my dad in a nice and honourable way,” Carol Holt, daughter of the late singer, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. “This is what my mother wishes. The service will be at the Hol... »
Jamaican born reggae singer Anita Antoinette continues to make her way up the ranks on The Voice 7. Last night Antoinette wowed the audience and judges when she performed Meghan Trainor viral single “All About That Bass.” This is her third performance on The Voice but her first one live and she killed it. Although she has yet to make the impact of Tessanne Chin on season 5 of The Voice, Anita is h... »
Sean Paul is now an independent artist after he and Atlantic Records ties this summer. For weeks there were rumors that the label has dropped the dancehall star after a 12-year relationship went sour. For the first time Sean Paul is opening up on the circumstances that lead to him leaving thelabel. Speaking with Billboard, SP says he felt like Atlantic staffs were too inexperience to work with. “I... »
ST ANN, Jamaica — A St Ann business man and a female employee of the Cool Oasis petrol company are facing multiple charges in a $100-million fuel racket in St Ann. The two were charged by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-corruption Agency (MOCA) on Friday and will be taken before the court next Tuesday, November 11. Thirty-nine-year-old Hansley Berry the operator of a service station in Mo... »
Vybz Kartel will be behind bars for a very long time but could a new dancehall act take his place? A new breed of dancehall artists are popping that are changing up their images to look strikingly similar to the Worl’Boss. In recent weeks artists such as Alkaline and Gage are being accused of bootlegging Kartel’s look. But some artists are even pushing the controversy boundary even further in thei... »
ENTERTAINER Ninja Man, his son, and two other men will now have to wait until April 13, 2015 to be tried in Kingston’s Home Circuit Court for murder. The date was set when they appeared in court yesterday. The artiste, whose real name is Desmond Ballentyne, and son Janiel, are to be tried along with Seymour Samuels and Dennis Clayton. The four are facing the court for the March 16, 2009 gun ... »
Been a while since we’ve heard from dancehall veteran Spragga Benz, but he is back on the scene with a new video. Spragga Benz isn’t afraid of duppy or vampires in the video for his single “Duppy Nuh Frighten Vampire,” off his album Shotta Culture. The gritty dancehall single was produced by BoomTunes, Red Square and Jah Snowcone. Spragga Benz head the label Red Square. The dancehall icon was inst... »
Even from behind prison walls Vybz Kartel is still the hottest topic in dancehall. But there is a new rise of new dancehall acts that are altering their image to look like the incarcerated dancehall star. Gage is the latest deejay to change up his physical appearance to look like Vybz Kartel. Dancehall fans have been bashing the deejay on social media since he uploaded severalphotos on his Instagr... »
Dr. Myles Munroe, the internationally renown Bible teacher, author and leader of Bahamas Faith Ministries, died along with his wife and daughter when the plane on which they were passengers crashed in Grand Bahama on Sunday. The Department of Civil Aviation in the Bahamas reported that the Lear 36executive jet departed Lynden Pindling International Airport for Grand Bahama International airport at... »
JAMAICANS have loved Dionne Warwick since the 1960s when she broke through with a number of classy songs for songwriters Burt Bacharach and David Lloyd. The singer recently released her latest album, Feels So Good, a 14-track set that hears her teaming with her contemporary Gladys Knight, as well as an all-star cast that includes Cyndi Lauper, Jamie Foxx, CeeLo Green, Ruben Studdart and Ziggy Mar... »
Entertainer Harry Belafonte, was among four cinematic veterans honoured on Saturday at the Governor’s Awards in Los Angeles, California. The others are: Maureen O’Hara, Hayao Miyazak and Jean-Claude Carriere. Belafonte was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his activism. The 87-year-old was a prominent civil rights campaigner and friend of Martin Luther King Jr, who he su... »
