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... »
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... »
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... »
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... »
MACHEL Montano won the Soul Train Award for Best International Performance at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas Friday evening. The diminutive singer won for Ministry of Road, making him the second Trinidadian to win the award in consecutive years. Singer Bunji Garlin won the 2013 award with Differentology. It was the third nomination for 39-year-old Montano who has been a dominant figure in soca mus... »
JAMAICA-BORN contestant in The Voice, Anita Antoinette has soared to the top of the iTunes reggae 100 chart with Rude (The Voice Performance). The singer’s rendition of Magic!’s Rude surpassed the sales of UB40’s Red Red Wine, who holds the number two spot. In the number three spot is One Day by Matisyahu. Occupying positions four and five are Three Little Birds and Is This Love ... »
DANCEHALL artiste Kalado returned to the island earlier this week after being detained in a Florida jail for roughly two weeks. The entertainer, whose given name is Eton Gordon, was being held on suspicion of immigration fraud. “I have not gotten a chance to speak with him as yet, but I can confirm that he has returned to Jamaica. I am supposed to meet with him today [Friday] so I may have m... »
Richie Stephens continues to benefit internationally from the success of his latest project ‘Everybody Dance,’ which had its world premier on WorldStarHipHop earlier this month. The singer will headline the inaugural One Caribbean Festival, slated for Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill, Florida on December 13, alongside, Jamaican Sean Paul, Bunji Garlin, Fayann Lyons and Maxi Pr... »
MAVADO is featured on two songs for the soundtrack to the movie Beyond the Lights which is scheduled for release by the Relativity Music Group on November 11. The singjay collaborates with Trinidad-born born rapper Nicki Minaj on both tracks — Give it All to Me and C’mon Boy. Released last year, Give it All to Me is produced by JA Productions. It was a hit locally and did well on Carib... »
STRICTLY The Best, possibly the longest running compilation album in reggae, marks a milestone on November 25. VP Records will release Volumes 50 and 51 of the series. As usual, it showcases some of the most popular dancehall songs of the year as well as classic hits from the Queens, New York label’s vaults. Strictly The Best was first released in 1990. Volumes 1 and 2 featured hits from Fox... »
Mariah Carey has been confirmed as headline act for the 19th staging of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival, set for Januray 29-31 at Trelawny Stadium near Falmouth. This will mark Mariah’s first time performing in the Caribbean. Festival producer Walter Elmore noted that “welcoming Mariah Carey to Jamaica’s shores is truly exciting!” The Jazz and Blues Festival is the first festival i... »
