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... »
The police high command has moved to dispel an Internet rumour that former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke has committed suicide. The police, in a release Saturday, have rubbished the rumours, stating that this is false, as checks with JCF’s international law enforcement partners have “confirmed and assured us that there is no truth to this assertion”. The police are therefore ad... »
Vybz Kartel sudden transfer from one prison to another put the spotlight again on the Jamaican justice system and now the Ministry of National Security has called for a full report. The aced dancehall artiste was transferred from the Horizon Remand Center where he has been housed for the last five years to the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre aka GP in downtown Kingston. The move is as a res... »
Nick Gordon was ordered to pay $36 million to Bobbi Kristina Brown estate in a default judgement against him in a wrongful death lawsuit. Bobby Brown told a judge that his late daughter’s boyfriend helped take her life and she had unlimited earning potential prior to her untimely death, TMZ reported. Seems the judge agree and subsequently placed a high dollar value on that earning potential to th... »
Vybz Kartel is adamant that he is not recording music in prison despite coming under increased pressure from authority. On Tuesday, Jamaican law enforcement moved in and conducted a search of the dancehall deejay’s cell block where contraband was found. He was subsequently relocated to another prison and placed in confinement pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation. Speaking with Rolling S... »
The slew of new music coming from Vybz Kartel could come to a complete halt because Urban Islandz learned that authorities have moved in to investigate the dancehall deejay’s over some recent reports that he has been recording music in prison. A highly placed source inside the police department told us that they have been receiving phone calls asking if the “Round Corna” deejay is rec... »
Vybz Kartel found himself in some more legal troubles that could potentially affect his upcoming appeal case. Sources inside law enformcement confirmed with Urban Islandz that authorities launched an investigation into reports that he has been recording music in prison and found contraband inside of his cell. The nature of the banned items found in Vybz Kartel cell is not yet known, but sources co... »
Jah Cure breaks his silence on a viral video showing him getting knocked out during a fight in Bahamas over the weekend. The reggae singer took to Instagram last night to let his fans know that he is doing fine and also promises more updates in his next post. “Tell dem Im doing fine hypocrites stop spread rumors on my name; 242 is my town,” he wrote in the caption of a video of him walking through... »
A video has been circulating on social media of Jah Cure getting knocked out by another man in Bahamas over the weekend. This is what we’ve heard so far. Multiple sources are saying that the reggae crooner has been having an affair with a married woman in Bahamas and was on the island with her at a hotel over the weekend. The unknown female husband got wind of what was going on and went to the hot... »
Popcaan came out on top to win the 2016 MOBO award for Best Reggae Act. This marks the send straight win for the “Unruly Boss” deejay. This year it was Popcaan and Alkaline who were the two hot favorites to win the award. But Spice, Protoje and Kranium were also nominated in the category. Spice became the first female hardcore dancehall artist to receive a MOBO nomination and only the third woman ... »
Usain Bolt is testing the waters in music with a new single and music video “Gifted.” After announcing his retirement following the conclusion of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Usain Bolt is already looking for a new profession. Being from a country made of athletes and reggae music, it’s only natural that the sprint legend turn to music. So the big question is should Bolt quit his day job, I doubt h... »
Bounty Killer and Ninja Man are making it clear that they will not be going to Sting 2016 despite promoters announcement that they are among a handful of artists to be honored at the event. For a few years now both Bounty and Ninja have not performed at Sting due to a fallout with Isaiah Laing. Seems like those hatred runs deep because Killer is saying that he will not even go to the entrance of t... »
