Vybz Kartel was once the poster child for skin bleaching in Jamaican culture, but those days are long behind him. Prior to his incarceration, Vybz Kartel famously bleached his skin and even released a song, “Cake Soap,” about it in 2010. Back then, the dancehall legend sported his lighter skin tone and numerous tattoos proudly. However, he received mixed reactions from fans, with some folks blamin... »
Rumour has been circulating since last year that rapper Pardison ‘Pardi’ Fontaine and Dancehall artiste Jada Kingdom split. Neither spoke openly on the matter until this week. The Hip Hop artiste finally confirmed their breakup in an interview released on Tuesday. Speaking on #Respectfully The Justin Laboy Show, Pardi stated that he is single and is taking it easy as he focuses on himself. While h... »
Dancehall artist Squash was back in court on Wednesday, April 2, to answer gun charges. The Montego Bay deejay pleaded not guilty to firearm charges when he appeared in court and opted for a trial by jury. His next court hearing in Florida is set for April 7, when the judge will decide on a trial date for the artist. Squash, whose real name is Andre Whittaker, and another man, Zidanne George Presc... »
Despite pleading their innocence since being arrested in 2024, Rapper Sean Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, were found guilty on all counts in their federal wire fraud trial in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday. As per reports, the jury reached its verdict after a few hours of deliberation, convicting the pair of defrauding multiple luxury businesses, including a jewelry company, a high-e... »
6ix Boss aka Squash who has been in lockup since late February appeared in a Miami-Dade County court on Wednesday and as per reports, the deejay will return to court on April 2 to further discuss his fate. The court date, set for early next month, will be an arraignment hearing in which the Montego Bay native will be told the charges laid against him, and he’ll get the chance to enter a plea. Deta... »
Wednesday was day three of the trial, so far, jurors have heard testimony from witnesses, including Ariel Mateos, who claimed that Kingston failed to pay for a high-end television. Mateos testified that he sold Kingston a massive 232-inch TV worth $115,000. However, after receiving a $30,000 down payment, he installed the television but was never paid the remaining balance. He alleged that Kingsto... »
Bounty Killer back in the US: “God is the greatest all the times” Bounty Killer is back on U.S. soil after getting his visa reinstated after 15 years. The dancehall legend was among several Jamaican artists whose United States visas were revoked for unknown reasons two decades ago. Some artists lost their visas due to issues with gay rights groups, while others remained a mystery. Boun... »
Mavado’s hopes of returning home to Jamaica without facing possible prosecution remain doubtful. The dancehall singer’s attorney recently hinted that he could be returning to Jamaica soon following his son’s freedom. Mavado’s son, Dantay Brooks, was freed of a murder conviction by the Court of Appeal two weeks ago following his life sentence in 2021. The “So Special” singer celebrated the legal wi... »
Squash no longer in ICE custody in Florida Dancehall artist Squash seems to be no longer in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Reported last week that Squash, whose given name is Andre Whittaker, was taken into the custody of ICE agents in Florida on the same day he was granted bail for his firearm possession arrest. A check on the official ICE website on Friday ... »
Veteran reggae singer Cocoa Tea has died. The Jamaican music legend passed early Tuesday morning (March 11) at a hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. His wife, Malvia Scott, confirmed with the Gleaner that he passed away following a cardiac arrest. Cocoa Tea, whose real name is Colvin Scott, had been battling health issues for some time and was hospitalized last year following health complications... »
Dancehall deejay Squash is facing deportation to Jamaica following his recent arrest in Florida. Report on February 25 that Squash, whose real name is Andre Whittaker, was taken into custody and hit with firearm possession charges. Squash was charged with possession of a short-barrel shotgun, a rifle, possession of a machine gun, and possession of a concealed firearm. His court date was set for Ma... »
Mavado issued a lengthy statement condemning the Jamaican justice system for imprisoning his son for a crime he said was “concocted.” Report on Friday (March 7) that Mavado’s son, Dantay Brooks, and his co-accused, Andre Hinds, were freed by the Jamaica Court of Appeal four years after they were convicted and sentence life for the murder of Lorenzo Thomas. Police say Thomas was killed in a h... »
Dancehall artiste Squash, whose real name is Andre Maurice Whittaker is believed to be released from police custody after posting a $3,000 bond following his arrest in February on firearm-related charges in Miami, Florida. The 33-year-old entertainer is now set to appear in court on March 26 at 9:15 AM. Squash, a well-known figure in the Jamaican Dancehall scene, was arrested on February 24 after ... »
Dancehall artist Squash is currently in police custody in Florida following his arrest on firearm charges. The Montego Bay deejay was picked up by the Miami-Dade police on Tuesday (February 25). According to court documents obtained by Urban Islandz, Squash, whose real name is Andre Whittaker, was hot with charges of possession of a short-barrel shotgun, possession of a rifle, possession of a mach... »
Almost a month after the trial began, 36-year-old rapper Rakim Athelston Mayers whose real name is A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on Tuesday avoiding up to 24 years of prison time. In late 2024, Rocky pleaded not guilty and turned down a deal that would have resulted in him spending almost 6 months in jail. Over the past two weeks, Rihanna‘s attendance and support of her partner as been one of th... »
Dancehall artist Kiprich is wanted by police amid a flare-up of violence in St. Catherine. Kiprich, whose real name is Marlon Plunkett, was named among almost a dozen men as persons of interest in a bulletin released on Friday (February 7) by the St Catherine North police division. It’s unclear if the dancehall veteran has turned himself into the police yet. However, law enforcement officials are ... »
Sean Paul’s name was recently dragged into the story of two popular male Jamaicans who found out that they were victims of paternity fraud. Sean Paul is one of several other popular local names that were called by Jamaican TikToker 119. However, as per 119, the main suspected entertainer who got ‘jacket’ is Sean Paul, stating that one of his two children is “white”. “I know Sean Paul is not a whit... »
Vybz Kartel returns to the United States for the first time in 20 years after getting his visa reinstated. The Portmore deejay confirmed speculations he had his visa reinstated on Friday (January 1), some two decades after the US government revoked his permit to travel to that country. Vybz Kartel was among several reggae and dancehall artists to have their US visa revoked in 2005 at the height of... »
Dancehall icon Sister Nancy says she is more important than Jay-Z regardless of his status as a billionaire. The “Bam Bam” hitmaker recently premiered her new documentary Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story in Canada. The documentary tells the story of her legendary song, one of the most sampled songs in music’s history, and certainly a legendary record that helped shape reggae and dancehall music. “B... »
Foota Hype has once again issued a stern warning to Vybz Kartel, declaring his intention to take legal actions against the Dancehall artiste for using the slang “STR8,” which is used in the name of Kartel’s rum, STR8 Vybz. The outspoken selector claims that because of his influence, Kartel deliberately chose to use the term “STR8” which was created by him during the time of the deejay’s incarcerat... »
![Shaggy and Rik Rok’s Classic ‘It Wasn’t Me’ Surpass 1 Billion Spotify Streams [VIDEO]](https://iriedale.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Shaggy-443-200x150.jpg)
“This is a billion streams after it already sold millions” Shaggy and Rik Rok’s classic single “It Wasn’t Me” has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, and is now one of only a handful of reggae/dancehall songs reaching that milestone on the biggest music streaming platform in the world. This is also Shaggy’s first song to cross the billion stream mark. Released on November 7... »
Busy Signal says he is in disbelief after being denied a Canadian visa. The dancehall veteran shared the news via Instagram on Friday, telling his Canadian fans they won’t see him in concert anytime soon. The deejay called out the Canadian High Commission while asking the Jamaican government to help him with what he calls an “injustice.” Busy Signal also shared a screenshot of the denial letter he... »
Dancehall superstar Sean Paul has achieved another milestone, securing the 88th spot on Billboard’s prestigious ‘Top 100 Artistes of the 21st Century’ list. The list, which highlights the most successful artistes based on their performance on the Billboard 200 albums chart and Billboard Hot 100 songs chart from 2000 to 2024, was unveiled on January 8. Sean Paul, now 52 years old, joins an illustri... »
For its highly anticipated second staging, the Intimate 2025 concert by Reggae legends Beres Hammond and Buju Banton delivered an unforgettable night of music and excitement to a jam-packed crowd. The event was held on Saturday night at the Plantation Cove in St. Ann, showcasing some of Jamaica’s most iconic Reggae artistes. The impressive lineup included the Queen of Reggae, Marcia Griffiths, alo... »
Usually frequently seen alongside his fiancée, Sidem Öztürk, Vybz Kartel has sparked breakup rumours following several appearances with Dancehall artiste Sandra Rose. After being released from prison in August, Kartel and Sidem have been practically inseparable. He has also hinted that their wedding could be as soon as his birthday in January, with the deejay expressing fondness for a birthday wed... »
On Sunday, English Dancehall fans were treated to performances from Dancehall veterans Baby Cham, Beenie Man, and Bounty Killer.Advertisement The three iconic Dancehall performers took to the stage at the OVO Arena Wembley in London. The deejays were the featured artistes at Legends of Legends and can be seen in highlights performing in front of many delighted fans. King of the Dancehall, Beenie M... »
Vybz Kartel can rest assured that he will never be tried again for the murder case that landed him in prison for over a decade. The dancehall legend, real name Adidja Palmer, was released from prison on July 31, 2024, after being incarcerated for almost 13 years. Vybz Kartel and his co-accused, Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, Andre St. John, and Kahira Jones, were found guilty of the murder of Clive Willi... »
Buju Banton has set the record straight fifteen years after his release from prison for drug trafficking conviction. The dancehall legend is gearing up for his Intimate 2025 concert on January 4, 2025. The “Untold Story” singer will be sharing the stage with some other legends in Jamaican music, like Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, Romain Virgo, and Wayne Wonder. At the concert’s launch event in ... »
The Grammys announced five albums as nominees for Best Reggae Album, with Shenseea earning her first solo nomination and Vybz Kartel receiving his first Grammy nomination since being released from prison earlier this year. The albums that are nominated are Take It Easy by Collie Buddz, Never Gets Late Here by Shenseea, Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired by the Film (Deluxe) soundtrack album by ... »
Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Nadine Sutherland are the two newest recipients of the prestigious “Order Of Distinction” award in Jamaica, the nation’s sixth highest honor. The dancehall legends attended the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards on Monday, October 21, looking dapper. Beenie Man, real name Moses Davis, dressed in a black tuxedo and attended the awa... »
Vybz Kartel can rest assured that he will never be tried again for the murder case that landed him in prison for over a decade. The dancehall legend, real name Adidja Palmer, was released from prison on July 31, 2024, after being incarcerated for almost 13 years. Vybz Kartel and his co-accused, Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, Andre St. John, and Kahira Jones, were found guilty of the murder of Clive Willi... »
Beenie Man is the latest among a host of entertainers who have given back to students at the start of the new school term. Two weeks after classes resumed, the ‘King of the Dancehall’ is seen blessing 70 students at the Pembroke Hall High School located in St. Andrew. The initiative was carried out by The Beenie Man Foundation, a charitable organisation that is focused on Education, Entrepreneursh... »
The GoFundMe that was launched days ago for Lieutenant Stitchie, born Cleveland Laing has read 12% of its intended goal of $100, 000 US. On the other hand, the latest update regarding the entertainer’s health is that he’s still in a coma. The witty deejay who has deviated the latter part of his life to God suffered a severe brain haemorrhage that has left him unresponsive. The former Dancehall sta... »
Cardi B says she will not sit on the sidelines and allow people to make fun of Vybz Kartel’s physical appearance amid the Jamaican legend’s struggles with his health. Vybz Kartel found himself under the public’s microscope since his release from prison last month not just for his legal triumph, but also for his strikingly different physical appearance. Urban Islandz previously reported that ... »
On Sunday, Spice recounted the life-threatening ordeal that she went through over a year ago and the surgeries she had done over the past few years. According to Spice, her most recent of 6 surgeries was done in January of this year and she’s thankful for the blessings she has received from “Jesus”. Living what she classifies as her “second life”, the Queen of the Dancehall shared a video which ha... »
