“I’ve learned to find happiness within myself,” she says. “I’ve also built a strong core. The past year was a big growing up process for me. I’m not saying I was immature before, but the past year, my eyes were opened to a lot of things.”
“I hope people can learn from my story,” Tran says. “I want to be remembered as someone who remained (more…)
Bunny Wailer – an original member of Bob Marley and the Wailers – tells TMZ he’s heated about the docu-film “Reincarnated” … which documented Snoop’s immersion in the Rasta culture as he recorded his first reggae album in Jamaica last year.
Wailer claims Snoop has engaged in “outright fraudulent use of Rastafari Community’s personalities and symbolism” — and has failed to meet “contractual, moral and verbal commitments.”
And it’s not just Bunny who feels burned — leaders of something called the Ethio-Africa Diaspora Union Millennium Council (aka Rastafari Millennium Council) — fired off a 7-page demand letter to Snoop.
In the docs they claim to have made it clear to Snoop that “smoking weed and loving Bob Marley and reggae music is not what defines the Rastafari Indigenous Culture!”
Bottom line … they want Snoop to stop using the name “Lion” … pay up the “financial and moral support” they claim he committed, and issue a public apology.
If Snoop refuses — FIRE WILL BUN FI HIM!! Or in layman’s terms … they’re gonna sue his ass. We called Snoop for comment, and so far no word back.
Veteran promoter Clarence Derby and CD Entertainment has secured the reggae night for Carnival 2013 and will stage what Derby has dubbed, even at this early stage, the biggest show of St. Maarten Carnival 2013. Derby, known for his record breaking Carnival concerts, will have as headliner Grammy Award winning reggae artist Damian Marley of the famed Marley family and looks to continue his well-established reputation as St. Maarten’s premier concert promoter.
Complimenting Marley as part of the reggae night lineup will be rising R&B singer Miguel and popular dancehall artist Busy Signal. The latter is very popular in the club and dancehall scenes whose music is described as “must dance” must, meaning you can’t stay still once Busy hits the stage.
Miguel, is an American recording artist, songwriter and producer. Signed to Jive Records in 2007, Miguel released his debut album, All I Want Is You, in November 2010. The album became a sleeper hit and helped Miguel garner commercial standing. After Jive’s dissolution in 2011, he moved to RCA Records and released his second album Kaleidoscope Dream in 2012 to critical acclaim.
Miguel identifies himself as part of the new wave of R&B artists that include Frank Ocean, the Weekend, and Elle Varner. About.com editor Mark Edward Nero characterizes his music as “eclectic, artsy R&B-pop”.
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley is a three-time Grammy Award winning Jamaican reggae artist. Damian, the youngest son of Bob Marley, has described his music as “dancehall and reggae.” “I’ve noticed people trying to separate the two of them. It’s Jamaican culture in general. I don’t try to classify or separate,” he is known for saying.
As for Derby, he said he has been out of Carnival for various reasons over the past few years but is looking forward to participating in Carnival 2013 with a high caliber, high quality show.
“When I do shows I deliver to the people of St. Maarten and to visitors a quality event that they’ve come to expect. Concert promotion is not easy, and it’s not inexpensive but I’ve always believed that with understanding and cooperation from the Carnival committee we could do great things for Carnival. I am looking forward being a part of this year’s festivities,” Derby said.
President of the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF)Mike Granger said the foundation is extremely happy to have one of its most veteran and respected promoters back in the fold. “We are especially happy that Clarence can announce his artists this early. It is something we’ve been urging promoters to do for years,” Granger said.
“It helps everyone prepare including persons from abroad who are looking to plan to come for Carnival. It also gives SCDF the opportunity to cross-promote the concerts early and build anticipation for Carnival. In the end, Carnival in general benefits. Clarence has a reputation of high caliber shows and we expect no different for Carnival 2013,” Granger added
“UNLESS the dancehall producers and artistes bring something new to the table and let go of the hip-hop style that they are readily embracing, the music will continue to be in the gutter,” is an ominous prediction from veteran music producer/manager Donovan Germain.
The head of Penthouse Records spoke to the Jamaica Observer amid reports from SoundScan (the American company that provides music sales data) that dancehall music floundered in 2012.
  Donovan Germain
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Germain believes the genre needs a dynamic leader like 15 years ago when dancehall music made inroads on international charts.
“The biggest part of dancehall was when Dave Kelly played a major part in it. Artistes are straying from being melodious, instead they are deejaying about their bottles of Hennessy, money and bad mind,” he said.
Kelly was an engineer at Germain’s studio before branching out with his Madhouse label. He conjured dance rhythms like the Pepperseed and Joyride which yielded hits such as Tanya Stephens’ Big Things a Gwaan and Sycamore Tree by Lady Saw.
Germain notes that songs on both beats were produced over 15 years ago and and are still popular in clubs and dances.
“This is the mindset that these nowadays artistes need to have — that is, to make lasting songs,” he said.
Germain challenged defenders of contemporary dancehall to prove him wrong.
“If dancehall is so hot and is being sought after, why aren’t the artistes touring and why isn’t their music selling?”
Does the man who produced classics like Buju Banton’s ‘Til Shiloh and Tempted to Touch by Beres Hammond, have any hope for dancehall music in 2013?
“Although reggae is not being recognised the way it should in Jamaica, the reggae acts are still touring and the music is still firm. The same can be done with dancehall once there is a turn-around of the musical content,” he said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Dancehall-slump_13339735#ixzz2HOdo1eOh
OCA superstar Machel Montano must quit his post of TT’s Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) or be fired from that post, because of his conviction by the courts on charges of assault and using obscene language.
This is the call being made by president of the International Radio Emergency Support Coalition (IRESC) Julien Mervyn Dedier. In a one-page letter dated January 1, addressed to UN Women Caribbean Sub-Regional Programme Director Roberta Clarke, in Barbados.
The letter stated: “Machel’s action is not in keeping with the United Nations’ theme on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.”
“Machel’s action and convictions, is enough for him to be removed as Goodwill UN Ambassador,” the letter added. Sentencing against Montano and Roberts is expected to be handed down on January 17.
John Hubertson of the UN’s public information department said that the secretariat office does not appoint Goodwill Ambassadors and it is up to UN agencies to appoint respective ambassadors.
Hubertson noted that the office had not yet received any correspondence regarding Montano. He was unable to find Montano’s name on the list of goodwill ambassadors worldwide and questioned whether the soca artiste’s title of UN Goodwill Ambassador was accurate.
MEANWHILE: Machel’s attorney Dana Seetahal, SC, stated yesterday that the Soca star has never been a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations (UN). As such, she added that there is no post for the soca superstar to quit.
“There is nothing for him to quit. Also, he has never held himself out to be TT’s Goodwill Ambassador to the UN. Obviously this person (Dedier) is ill informed whoever he is,” Seetahal said.
Montano, the reigning Power Soca Monarch and Road March King, was found guilty by Port-of-Spain Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor last month on four charges. The charges stemmed from a fracas outside the Zen nightclub, in Port-of-Spain, in April 2007. Three of the charges were for assaulting patrons Gerard Bowrin, Brandis Browne, Janelle Lee Chee and Russell Pollonais. The fourth charge against Montano was for using obscene language during the same incident.
Also charged with offences out of the same incident were Kernel Roberts, the son of legendary Calypso icon Lord Kitchener, Joel “Zan” Feveck, a member of Montano HD Family, and Rodney “Benjai” LeBlanc. Roberts was also found guilty on two charges of assault while LeBlanc and Feveck were found not guilty.
Jamaican dancehall star Popcaan literally “curtain- raised” for Zimbabwe’s dancehall king Winky D, who got a rapturous applause minutes before he took to the stage. Thousands of fans who thronged the Harare International Conference Centre threw missiles at Popcaan despite a near-sterling act.
Halfway through his performance, the Jamaican was hit by a can of beer and sustained a minor injury on his hand. One fan stormed the stage in protest and vented his anger on the diminutive chanter. Despite the mishap, Popcaan continued his act as if nothing had happened, telling his fans how much he loved Zimbabwe and his fans.
Born Andrea Sunderland, the 24-year-old artiste dished out some of his hits like “Fry Yiy”, “Badmind a Kill Dem,” “She A Gwaan Good”, “The System” and “Diss Mi Friend” among others. To show his love for the fans, Popcaan threw his jacket into the crowd and there was a mini-wrestling contest as everyone wanted a piece of it.
But it was Winky D aka the “Ninja President”, with the backing of a live band, who stole it from the Jamaican star as the “Diss Mi Friend” singer used backtracks.
Dressed in red pair of jeans and a matching jacket, Winky D made a grand appearance on stage after asking the engineer to turn the lights down low before blitzing on to the stage amid loud cheers from his adoring fans.
Winky D’s moment of magic came when he performed his self-praise song “Messi WeReggae” and Popcaan could not help but smile in appreciation. As an avid Barcelona Football Club fan, Popcaan knows very well how the great Lionel Messi terrorises defenders in the Spanish La Liga.
And Winky D was terrorising dancehall fans, albeit lyrically.
Earlier, Popcaan — better known as the Gaza Prefect in Jamaica — had singled out Ninja President as one of the most talented dancehall artistes in the country and Winky D complemented it with a top-drawer performance.
Mic Inity and his Hotta Fyah Band also thrilled fans with their act and also performed hits by Mavado and Busy Signal. There was more action in the crowd as revellers kept themselves entertained with firecrackers. Others were seen cuddling and kissing as they celebrated the New Year in style!
Rising singer Asfa closed 2012 in fine style by taking over the number one position on the Jamaica Top 25 Reggae Chart. After nineteen weeks on the survey the artists debut single Not The Life has finally hit the peak signaling the arrival of a brand new star in the making.
The very focussed Asfa a product of the Dread Heights community is fast becoming a name to be noticed as the song is also present on the New York Top 30 at number 8 and the Holland Reggae Top 20 at number 2. Reggaediscography a website in Italy has described him as one of the finds of 2012 and similar praises are being sung by many in all quarters of the music industry.
The momentum gained by these turn of events according to sources close to the artists will carry the artist into the new year with a brand new single Vanity set for release and an album Journeying is being readied to come to the market by summer 2013 on his own imprint Jecoliah Entertainment Production. An EP titled Take A Look will however, precede the albums release as a teaser as early as this month. In an online blog Asfa commenting on his achievement remarked “this is a great day in my life”.
Not The Life was produced by the artist along with Roger Grant and Patrick Dunn of the production house 619 Entertainment and is also found on the bestselling compilation Question Riddim being distributed by VP Records. The artist in a special message thanks all radio jocks , journalist and onliine sites who have contributed to his rise thus far and promises to not disappoint the people who are showing interest in his growing career.
Regardless of what you may think of Mr.Montano, just remember that everyone of us will make a mistake at some point in our lives. He is loved and disliked by many adoring and jealous fans but he remains the main draw for any Carnival or Soca show. So before you go and beat up on the man just keep mind that, just like you and me, he will make errors; we all do as some point in our lives. One should always be cognizant of that fact, and keep in mind, that to err is human but to forgive is divine. Happy New Year Everyone!
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Grammy-Award winning R&B singer Monica and Barbadian saxophonistArturo Tappin has just been added to the annual Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival taking place from January 24-26.
These newest additions will join the phenomenal headlining acts named so far for 2013 — John Legend, Michael Bolton and Mary J Blige.
A statement from promoters TurnKey Promotions said the 2013 event will see “more jazz back into it.”
Monica was among the flood of teen soul singers who sprung up in the United States during the early 1990s. One of her early hits was Just One of Those Days, from the album Miss Thang. Her famous hits include Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days), Before You Walk Out Of My Life, The Boy Is Mine and Angel of Mine.
Monica’s seventh studio album New Life was released on April 6, 2012. New Life debuted at number four on the USBillboard200, and at number two on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Monica is a mother of three and has also expanded her titles to include entrepreneur and actress, with her Regions of Rock clothing line and television hit series Still Standing.
Tappin also came to prominence in the 1990s, making a name on the growing Caribbean jazz festival circuit. He has toured and recorded with big-name performers like Roberta Flack, Monty Alexander and Luther Vandross.
Jamaica’s Jazz and Blues performer from this year’s festival included Celine Dion, Cee-Lo Green, Nicole Henry, Heads of State (featuring Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant), Jully Black, Earl Klugh, The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, Destra, and Tessanne Chin and Tami Chynn.
Walter Elmore, producer of the festival, encourages persons to take advantage of the online ticket system. “Tickets are available now online, and we encourage persons to avoid the rush and get their tickets early. You can even give family and friends the gift of an incredible musical experience as a Christmas gift,” he said.
Patrons can now purchase their tickets at www.ja
According to unconfirmed reports, Recording Artiste GWhizz and member(s) of his booking team GQ Fams House Music/Formula One met in an accident in St Kitts early this morning or late last night.
Though no official statement has been released yet, efforts by us to reach the artiste and members of his management teams proved unsuccessful. Its however known that emergency medical personnel was rushed to the scene but the severity of injuries arent known but no fatalities have been reported.
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