Nicki Cannon film “King of the Dancehall” was a huge hit at the Toronto Film Festival during the summer. But one key piece of detail that we didn’t know was how instrumental Vybz Kartel was in the creation of the movie. Last year Cannon traveled to Kingston, Jamaica to spend a few weeks to write and shoot the movie purely based on hardcore dancehall culture. What better place to shoot a film about... »
In perhaps the most blistering attack on the reggae Grammys to date, Jamaican reggae icon and veteran singer Freddie McGregor has lashed out at the 59-year-old American institution, calling the reggae arm of the organisation that typically awards excellence in the music industry, “an embarrassment of indescribable magnitude to reggae music”. This week, McGregor became the latest voice ... »
Despite last year’s mishap, Steve Harvey will be returning to the Miss Universe stage as host of the show in 2017. The competition, which will air on Fox on January 29, will take place in The Philippines, and model Ashley Graham has been announced as the backstage host. Viewers of last year’s pageant may remember Harvey’s slip-up in mistakenly announcing the first runner-up, Miss... »
Sting promoters have officially announced that they have canceled the 2016 staging of the concert. Vybz Kartel‘s incarceration has a big role to play in the demise of the show. Supreme Promotions principals Isaiah Laing and Heavy D sat down for an interview with Winford Williams where they break down why the show was axed this year. “Headline artists… The last two three years the headline acts jus... »
OMG! We hope he’s ok! Many were sent into a state of panic after a video surfaced online showing singer Cee Lo Green being knocked unconscious by an explosion caused by his mobile phone. The incident occurred while Green was in a recording studio earlier today. While the “Crazy” singer was having a chat on his phone, it apparently malfunctioned and exploded sending him flying to the ground into an... »
Dancehall superstar Macka Diamond injured her ankle during a stampede during the Ghetto Splash show at the Waterhouse mini-stadium in Olympic Gardens, St Andrew. She plans to do x-rays on the ankle on Thursday because the swelling hasn’t gone down. “I am in a lot of pain, I hardly could sleep last night. I twisted my ankle running from a stampede after shots were fired at the Ghetto Sp... »
After 25 years, the St Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival is no more. Prime Minister Allan Chastenet, in making the announcement, said a Summer Festival will now replace the Jazz and will include music, Carnival and the Creole and Heritage Festival in November It will start with a Jazz Week in May and will end with the Creole Festival which will be broadened to include food, arts and music. The St Lucia... »
Reports of plastic or fake rice entering the local market have captured news headlines since the beginning of the week. Ministry of Agriculture, Karl Samuda, has responded to the controversy, saying that there is no evidence of plastic in the samples of rice tested by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ). So what’s the deal with plastic rice? Rumours surrounding plastic rice have been making the ... »
Ninja Man says he is in fear of his life and its all because of his fallout with Sting promoter Isaiah Laing. But will he meet the same fate as Vybz Kartel? The dancehall legend says there are enough evidence to suggest that Laing is behind Vybz Kartel controversial murder trial that put him behind bars for life. The Gorgon, who has a pending murder case , says he is in fear that he too could be s... »
Kalado opening up about his battle with depression and suicidal thoughts saying that he is in a better place now and is getting help. The dancehall deejay recently broke the news in an interview but says most of it is blown out of proportion. During a sit down with Winford Williams, Kalado says he is now in a good place. “Its just an interview I did and you know how some people can focus only on t... »
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer writer A LIVE album by Bob Marley and The Wailers is number one on this week’s Billboard Reggae Album Chart. The Legend Live: Santa Barbara County Bowl, November 25th 1979, was released November 25 on CD/DVD by Trojan Records. The 21-track set is the 11th Marley title to top the chart. The others are: Legend Remixed; Live Forever: September 23, 1980 Stanley Theatre Pittsb... »
The Customs department has announced it’s temporarily ceasing the clearance of rice at all ports of entry following reports of so called plastic rice on the market. As news circulate about the possibility of ‘plastic’ rice being in the Jamaican market, Jamaicans are also being urged to be vigilant when purchasing meat for consumption. The warning comes from head of Veterinary Services at the Minis... »
50 Cent and Gully Bop are working on some big, according to D-Teck. Could be some new music or could be a cameo in the new season of Power. Earlier this week the dancehall artist and the hip hop mogul sat down for a meeting at his New York office. There were a lot of chatters when a photo of the two surfaced, with some folks questioning the authenticity. Yesterday a PR rep for Bop confirmed that t... »
Could Damian “Junior Gong” Marley be heading to Roc Nation? It’s still not yet clear but his longtime manager Dan Dalton just signed a deal with the imprint. Dalton’s company Dalton Entertainment Group and Roc Nation have been in talks for months before both sides signed the new deal. Now what does this mean for artists that he managed, that is not yet known. But both sides confirmed the deal with... »
Buju Banton daughter run for political officer ended in defeat in Jamaica’s local government election this week. Jodian Myrie ran on a JLP ticket for counselor for the Hagley Park Division in Kingston where she lost to PNP’s Nenna Wilson by a mere 107 votes. Myrie says that defeat will not end her political ambition. We first learned about her political plans last month which made her one of the y... »
Dancehall entertainers are reacting to harsh criticism from the church community about the 2017 cover of the Jamaica Yellow Pages phone book. Yes some folks still used phone books in 2017. The cover of the YP features a dancehall themed artwork and that seems to angered some members of the church. But some local entertainers are calling the church reaction hypocrisy. “These people are idiots and h... »
Dancer Marvin strikes again. The infamous dancer snatches a girl wig while dancing with her in a nightclub. The video has since went viral on social media and was posted on Worldstarhiphop. Perhaps the biggest winner in all of this is Kalado whose hit song “Sex Slave” was being played. About halfway into the video you can see Marvin snatching the female’s wig. She then run off to go hide in the ba... »
Dancehall artists are uniting against crime and violence in Jamaica this festive season using the hashtag #CrimeFreeChristmas. A number of local artists are taking part in an initiative against an outbreak of violence across the island particularly in Montego Bay, St. James. Among the artists who are making their voices heard includes Konshens, Busy Signal, I-Octane, Aidonia and more. “Let’s take ... »
Former Cuban President and leader of the Communist Revolution Fidel Castro died on Friday night. The news came via Cuban state television by his brother and current Prime Minister, Raul Castro. No details have been released as to the cause of death. His last public appearance was in August of this year. As the world’s longest serving dictator, he ruled Cuba for almost 50 years before handi... »
BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter Queen Ifrica is buzzing following a listening party in New York for her upcoming album, Climb, set for release on January 20with VP Records distributing. The project originally contained 15 tracks produced by Donovan Germain, Patrick “Tony Rebel” Barrett, Clive Hunt, and Rick Warren. But the artiste told Splash there are last-minute plans to include a bo... »
Vybz Kartel promises his fans that he will still be dropping new music despite being transfer to confinement at GP. The “Dancehall Hero” deejay was abruptly transferred from the Horizon Remand Center to the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. Authorities have yet to provide a reason for his transfer but sources are saying that he is being investigated for allegedly recording music in prison. ... »
Bounty Killer stopped midway his set at last weekend’s Jamrock Reggae Cruise to take a few shots at Foota Hype. The dancehall legend performed a well received set on the show but during his set he paused to shout out to several dancehall personality most of whom he has been friends with for many years including Baby Cham, Elephant Man, Harry Toddler and even Tony Matterhorn and Firelinks. “The lis... »
Kanye West has been hospitalized after having a mental breakdown over the weekend over his issues with Beyonce and Jay Z. TMZ reported that around 1:20 PM PT on Monday, cops were called to Kanye trainer’s home in Los Angeles. His trainer, Harley Pasternak, told the dispatcher that the rapper is acting erratically. Cops called in the fire department but when paramedics arrived Ye already calm down.... »
Vybz Kartel has been dominating the news over the past few weeks with his beef with Mavado and his sudden prison relocation. The Gaza boss was moved last week from the Horizon Remand Center to the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, also known as GP for General Penitentiary. The move came just a few days after dancehall artist Flexx, a former member of T.O.K., spoke out against the incarcerate... »
