Source: Jamaica Star

Reggae great Freddie McGregor has hit the New York charts with his latest track, ‘A House Is Not A Home’.

The classic which was made popular by Dionne Warwick and later Luther Vandross, was originally done by Burt Bacharach. However, producers Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Browne and Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson opted to do an updated reggae version – prior to Steely’s passing in 2009 – and since its release two months ago, the track has been steadily increasing in popularity both locally and overseas.

Not surprisingly, the single has hit the number eight spot on the New York Top-30 Reggae Chart. Freddie, who is known for his timeless hits, Just Don’t Wanna Be Lonely, I Was Born A Winner, Big Ship, Loving Pauper, and more, says, “We are happy with the response we have been getting about the video so far. Steely and Clevie did a great job with the musical arrangement and we are pleased to know that people both here and abroad have been receptive to it.”

A House Is Not A Home which is the first single from an upcoming Steely and Clevie- produced album, entitled,Memories, also has an accompanying video which was directed by Clevie.

In reference to the upcoming album Memories, Freddie, who is also the chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, explained, “The concept behind that was to highlight some of our reggae greats while showcasing some of the popular R&B hits of yester-year, but with a reggae twist. So that Steely and Clevie project is definitely something persons can look out for, in addition to my album which should be out later this year.”

Source: one876entertainment, reported by AKA

Dancehall artiste Mavado and his 20-strong entourage are in St. Ann’s Bay lockup right now after the police arrested him and his entourage after a bust-up at the Club Jamaica Jamaica show this morning.

“The entourage vandalized the club, and the police drove down the bus, stopped it and locked them up. It nuh look good at all, it come in like the police dem a go lock down any show with Mavado and Kartel,” one source told one876entertainment.com

Source: Jamaica Star, reported by Hasani Walters

Back in her heyday in the ’90s, Lady G was one of dancehall’s leading female artistes with her hard hittinglyrics which led to several hits like Nuff Respect, Samfi Lover, Legal Rights, Table Talk, Breeze Off, Me Or Di Gun and Thank Him.

Years later, the deejay has somewhat been out of the limelight, but now, she says, it’s time to return to her winning ways.

Through her recent release titled Comeback, Lady G deejays of having to re-enter the dancehall arena due to the inability of the current artistes to ‘run it’.

In the song she deejays, ‘A wah dem a do wid di music? Yow, right yah now is jus a declaration, Lady G a chat/ Afta mi gi dem it fi run it an mi gi dem it fi shot/ Seh dem nah do nutten mi affi tek it up back.

Weh dem did deh wen from di males we a draw fi mic/ Well tell dem listen to mi voice/ Lady G come back mi come back fi tek it up/ Seh mi come back mi come back fi rip it up/ If me an dancehall did vex well now wi meking up cause mi come back fi tek it up.’

“Mi neva really gone anyweh mi did still deh yah in spirit, but because of some family problems mi did kinda slow down on the recordings part of the business,” Lady G told The STAR.

She continued, “Plus mi neva really see any producer who could really get the best out of Lady G.”

She said that although she has been absent from the local scene she has been doing shows in places like Europe, France, Italy and Holland.

Upon her comeback, Lady G believes she will be warmly received.

“If I didn’t come back in it I know I would have a problem because people see me in the street nuff and a ask Lady G wah yah do, yuh need fi step back inna music, yuh space deh deh a wait pon yuh,” she said.

Lady G started deejaying in 1984 but only began getting recognition in 1987. After being booked on Sting in 1988, she said her career just took off.

She has been working on recent singles like Comeback, Mi Property, No Beating Stick and A Man Fi Miselfwhich are set for release soon.

Bookings for Lady G will be controlled by Isaiah Laing’s Supreme Promotions. Fans can also interact with her atwww.facebook.com/ladyg.fyffe.

Source: one876entertainment, reported Contributed

I-Octane’s busy summer continues as the artiste once again prepares to leave the island to travel the world with his music. This time he journeys to England where he will have two shows, one in Birmingham on Friday, May 20th and then again on Sunday, May 22nd in London.

The singer will then return to Jamaica for a few days before flying to Miami on May 29th for the much anticipated show “Best of the Best” of which he is one of the headliners.

In the interim, I-Octane continues to work on his debut album which is set to be released near the end of the summer. The first single “Crying to the nations” was released two weeks ago and is currently garnering heavy rotation worldwide. It was recorded at Tuff Gong studios with live instruments which contributes to it’s authentic reggae sound. The harmony was produced by Dean Fraser while the renowned Robert Livingston of Big Yard acts as executive producer.

I-Octane is set to have a blazing hot summer and he is excited for his fans to see all that he has in store for them.

Source: Jamaica Star, reported by Krista Henry

STAR of the Month Chino is often reserved, or as he says, moody. Today, we look on the fun side of the artiste, as he answers some crazy questions in five minutes with …

STAR: If you were a car, what kind would you be and why?

Chino: A Mercedes, cause only the best is good enough.

STAR: Tell us one of your worst habits or qualities.

Chino: I’m grumpy in the mornings (laughs).

STAR: What makes you angry?

Chino: Hypocrisy and just general bad vibes. Mi nuh like bad vibes round mi.

STAR: Do you speak any other language outside of English?

Chino: A likkle bit of Japanese from what I picked up from just being in Japan and being around a lot of Japanese. I also learnt some from the full length Japanese version I did of the song From Mawning.

STAR: If we came to your house and looked in your refrigerator, what would we find?

Chino: Healthy stuff, a lot of fruits, juices, soy milk, nuts and stuff like that.

STAR: What is your favourite food item and why?

Chino: I don’t think I have a preference but cashew I guess.

STAR: What is the last book you read?

Chino: The Bible

STAR: What was the last movie you went to see?

Chino: I dunno, I don’t really get that much time anymore to do the movie thing, my schedule won’t allow it.

STAR: If you could trade places with any person for a week, famous or not, living or dead, with whom would it be?

Chino: Stevie Wonder. I’d love to know what he sees, no pun intended. Just to get to know that brain behind the genius that he is, giving the fact that he is blind.

STAR: If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

Chino: Invisibility or flying powers. Who wouldn’t want to fly? Invisibility so you can get to hear what some people really have to say bout you when you’re not around.

STAR: If you had only six months to live, what would you do with the time?

Chino: Still making music, uplifting music same way. Try all the genres I haven’t tried, and talk bout all the things I’ve never spoken about in song before.

STAR: If you were to go on a vacation, where would it be?

Chino: St Thomas, Virgin Islands is nice, but dem have too much iguanas. So I think Atlantis, Bahamas.

The music of Jamaican-born, Miami-based singer Calibe presents a powerful fusion of electro beats and Caribbean influence targeted to a young adult audience. On Saturday, May 7th at the weekly Play Local Saturdays event hosted at Elle’s in Miramar, along with her production team BlackOut Movement she will premiere the music videos for her singles “Hey DJ” and “Like a Star”. The event will go from 10PM to 12 midnight and will feature a screening of both videos, live performance, A-list DJs, gift bags for media and general attendees, and a star-time dessert station. Like the songs themselves, the videos evoke feelings of celebration and good times, perfect for club-goers!

EXCLUSVELY ON CARIVIBEZ.TV

Immediately following the launch event, both music videos, ‘Hey DJ’ and ‘Like A Star’ will premiere exclusively on CariVibez TV ( http://carivibez.tv) at 11:59pm on Saturday, May 7th through Tuesday, May 10th.  With a strong foot print in North America and major European cities CariVibez is primed to deliver both music videos to its audience in more than ninety countries around the globe.
Both songs are written and performed by Calibe, and are currently available online. “Hey DJ”, a club banger produced by BlackOut Movement producer Damion Daniel, describes a girl in hot pursuit of a masterful DJ in action. The video was written, produced and directed by JNR Productions and is set against the Miami skyline and inside the V-Midtown Lounge. Viewers should be pleasantly surprised by the story’s ending. “Like a Star” is a European flavored dance track produced by Dutch DJ duo Bassanova and Moradzo. The comedic video was written by Calibe, and produced and directed by BlackOut Movement and Montoya Studios.

‘Hey DJ’ is a cool club vibe complimented by the video’s naughty storyline will certainly leave viewers gasping and wanting more.  When asked about the pending video releases, Calibe added “the record producer [Damion], was all up in it.  He has an off-the-chain vibe in person and on record. JNR Productions did a great job directing and putting the whole video together. Very professional!”

Other the other hand, producing the ‘Like a Star’ video was a personal triumph for Calibe.  She reflects, “I wrote the treatment, then co-directed and co-edited with the best video director I know, Mike Montoya. I’m very proud of the result. It’s meant to be an absolute comedy and I crack myself up every time I watch it. It was a challenge shooting and editing a video across 2 continents on an independent artist budget but along with the producers of that record – Bassanova and Moradzo from Holland, we made it happen.”
Calibe’s voice may be familiar to those who enjoyed the 2010 Miami radio hit single “It’s My Birthday”.  She boast a repertoire including recordings with producers Sly and Robbie, Salaam Remi and Kwame Holland, tours with artists such as Beenie Man, Kevin Lyttle and Kymani Marley, and songs with artists Mims, Elephant Man and Sizzla Kalonji.

FOR MORE ON CALIBE:

Official Website:  www.calibe.net Listen to Music: reverbnation/calibe myspace/calibe soundcloud/calibe last.fm/music/calibe
Follow: twitter.com/calibe facebook.com/misscalibe youtube.com/misscalibe

WATCH CALIBE:
‘Good Day’ music video on CariVibez.tv

Source: Jamaica Star

Veteran deejay Shabba Ranks has spoken. The release of his latest song, None of Dem, many speculate is taking lyrical aim at deejay Vybz Kartel.

A late addition to Stephen McGregor’s February released ‘Pepper’ rhythm, Shabba’s None A Dem was released last week. Since then the song has got over 10,000 views on youtube.com and has sparked numerous debates on who the veteran deejay is making reference to in his sharply worded song. According to numerous persons on the Internet, the song is making reference to Kartel’s Dancehall Hero which was released at the end of last year.

On youtube.com persons have been debating. One person commented, “Some bwoy pass dem place and Shabba just remind dem who a di real dancehall hero.” While another said, “Kartel need fi hol’ a seat.”

In Dancehall Hero, Kartel boldly refers to himself as the hero of the dancehall who everyone imitates. In the song, he explains that it is because of him persons have done combination songs, money songs and ‘freaky’ song. He deejays: “every style weh me mek dem want one, me a di dancehall Pele, di Jordan, di tall man, di smart one, di last don/everything we do dem follow.”

veterans

In None A Dem, Shabba takes aim at persons in the dancehall who have not respected the veterans who have inspired and motivated them. He explains that he has been in the business for 30 years and is still here. In the song he deejays, “How can you not rate who come before yuh/yuh a gwaan like a yuh come bout yah, come mek music big.”

He also deejays, “None of dem nuh bad like Shabba Ranking/none of dem nuh tough like di Ranking/stop dat one deh and ask him/ if him nuh imitate di great Shabba Ranking/unnu can stop dat fool deh and ask him/if him nuh imitate di great Shabba Ranking/cause dem a brag and boast/and is a shame/an dem nuh add up to wha dem proclaim/wid dem likkle house, dem likkle car, dem likkle, chain dem likkle name.”

Shabba was one of the most popular dancehall artistes of his generation. He was also one of the first Jamaican deejays to gain worldwide acceptance, and recognition for his ‘slack’ lyrics.

Since the 90s, however, Shabba has been seen less frequent on the dancehall scenes, not appearing on local shows, and hasn’t been heard on a new single for a while. None of Dem is the deejay’s first new single for 2011.

Kartel, has noted Shabba as one of his inspirations, having made his own remake of Twice My Age with his then protégé Gaza Kim, as well as Gaza Ting A Ling a remake of Shabba’s Ting A Ling.

In a broadcast message sent on Wednesday night, Kartel addressed persons who have been saying that None of Dem was aimed at him. The broadcast read, “Stop pinging me about Shabba’s song. Whether or not he is in fact talking about me, I couldn’t care less. Because I’m not focused on any artiste but Popskull, Popcaan and myself.”

Source: Jamaica Star

European fans of dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel will not be seeing him in the next few days as expected due to the cancellation of shows he was scheduled to appear on, as he did not receive a visa from the United Kingdom High Commission in Jamaica.

Vybz Kartel’s first scheduled show which was to be held last Saturday in Lahr, Germany, was cancelled and he also missed the Rotterdam Reggae Festival which took place on Easter Sunday at the Ahoy.

Among the other shows he will miss as a result include Rockers Rockers Rockers Festival which was to be held on April 28, at Theatre de Verdure in Nice, France, another show on April 29 at U-Club in Wuppertal, Germany, and another alongside Shawn Storm and Popcaan on April 30 at Livelloundiciottavi in Lecce, Italy.

According to reggae website reggaeville.com an official statement about the cancellation of the tour in Germany read:

‘Due to the fact that the artiste Vybz Kartel did not receive his visa from the UK High Commission in Jamaica, he won’t be in Europe again this week! We will try and reschedule his tour for June, 2011, when he will be touring both the UK and Europe. We are very sorry for this massive disappointment, and inconvenience to all dancehall fans, and most importantly, “Vybz Kartel” fans.’

In another of our “Powerful Women” series, eliteBUZZ this week features the dynamic Michelle Arthurton.

Michelle Arthurtorn, like Diana Ross, deserves to be referred to as “Miss Michelle Arthurton”, as she has earned the reputation of being a pillar in the music industry with over fifteen (15) unbroken years in the sector.

Based in New York, Miss Arthurton is making her mark in reggae music throughout the Caribbean Diaspora.  She presently has numerous responsibilities, wearing many hats in the industry. These responsibilities include, but not limited to; (1) President of E2 Recording, (2) an avid advocate for Autism awareness, (3) a voting member of the internationally acclaimed Grammy’s/National Academy of Recording Arts and Science, (4) Reggae Ambassadors Worldwide (member), (5) Reggae A.M.P.P.S (Artists, Musicians, Producers, Promoters & Songwriters), (6) Universal Music Benefit for Orphans around the world and (7) broadcast journalist.

A native of St. Kitts, who grew up in England and Switzerland, Ms. Arthurton completed her studies at St. Kitts Business College. She began her legal career in St. Thomas while working for the Honorable Judge Brenda Hollar when her duties began to turn from administrative to legal research. Once her interest was piqued, Michelle furthered her studies with a Paralegal specialization and BA in English and Literature at the University of the Virgin Islands. She also completed her studies in Music Business (Music Specialist) at Berklee College of Music.

With a love for the industry and her impressive qualifications, she initiated MEA Productions, a concert promotions company that also deals with booking artistes, music publishing, artiste royalties and copyrights.

Ms. Arthurton had been freelancing as a fashion model on the runways of St. Thomas as well as in television and print advertising in her spare time, she had developed a keen awareness of the specialized needs of performance artists. This experience would prove to be invaluable as she began to develop her expertise and clientele.

In 1994 Michelle’s background led her to a position as an on-air personality for the radio station WSTA. While there she interviewed international recording artists and further deepened her knowledge and access to industry insiders. The new millennium brought new frontiers for Ms. Arthurton with her relocation to the United States in 2000. She continued to work in the legal arena while maintaining a strong presence in the Caribbean music industry. As a member of B.E.S.L.A, the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, she made even bigger inroads. She met the late Johnny Cochran through this affiliation and subsequently became his personal liaison when he was in St. Thomas.

In 2003, her zeal and love for reggae music influenced her to start E2Recordings Inc. which has several subsidiaries: E2Recordings, E2 Studios, E2 Onair, E2Onair Radio (February 2010), E2 Bookings and Le 2 Music Publishing. She is also the only female to sit on the board of the Caribbean American Cultural Caucus, which is a testament to her dedicated to the growth of the entertainment industry across the Caribbean and other  regions.

Miss Arthurton has been asked about her involvement with the Grammy’s as a voting member. Humbly she has always explained that to be a voting member at the Grammy’s in the Reggae Category is something she takes seriously, because she believes those who are voting in the reggae category needs to clearly understand the genre; and that, to her, is where she’s needed.

Music aside, eliteBUZZ mentioned earlier that Miss Arthurton is an activist in Austism related initiatives; her son, EJ was born autistic, and Ms. Arthurton felt that there was more to be done for children who suffer from that which is seen as a challenge to many. She did much research on Autism and has made it a primary focus among her other professional endeavors. Under her leadership, E2onair radio has been mandated to air commercials, as well as explain fully, dealing with an Autistic child through radio interviews and writings. She explained that her advocacy will be accelerated soon, as she has various plans in the pipeline to raise awareness.

eliteBUZZ salutes Miss Michelle Arthurton. Next week we will once again highlight another “Powerful Woman” in New York, it may just be you.

Remember, this is not just a buzz, this is eliteBUZZ.

Angel Elite

Source: Jamaica Observer

RAPPER 50 Cent, may be the face on the cover of the current Vibe Magazine, Jamaica is represented both on the cover and within the pages of the magazine.

Cultural reggae act I-Octane is featured in the international April/May issue. The music and entertainment magazine which predominantly features R&B and hip-hop artistes, has featured top billing entertainers such as Mary J. Blige, the late Aaliyah, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Ciara, Eminem and a long list of others.

I-Octane remarks, “It feels good to know I am featured in a well known International magazine like Vibe. And I give thanks for Rob Kenner, who gave me the opportunity to introduce I-Octane to a wider editorial market.”

The article, titled Gassed Up delves into what the artiste thinks about his newfound fame, reggae music, Grammy Award and beefs.

Speaking about marketing, I-Octane notes in Vibe, “Bob Marley’s brand is bigger than the music. Everything comes in one package. Your attitude haffi be right. You haffi have an image that’s marketable. Not saying you sell out, but you haffi learn to adjust and adapt. And I don’t sign to nobody. Me waan bring my brand to a level”.

On feuding artistes, the singjay who hails from Clarendon stresses that over the years a lot of time has been lost on this matter, citing the Beenie Man/ Bounty Killer battles and more recently the “Gaza and Gully thing,” he noted that he remains focussed on his path.