Archive for December, 2009

Contributing Writer: Sophia McKay – New Image Promotions

Ruffi-ann

Ruff-Ann known on STING over the years as one of the ‘war’ artistes pleasantly surprised her audience at STING 2009 when she launched into a set free of war type tunes.

Ruff-Ann found herself in the midst of what was a “female onslaught” segment of the event but refused to return to the old “war mumma” vybe and opened her set with a Christmas Carol built specially for her performance and to downplay any war vibe, she then drew her hit tune, “Save the Juvenile” and was well rewarded for her efforts, she ended her segment with lyrics from “lyrical War” a single soon to be released before exiting the stage.

Roots Revealers are on the island and of course making their rounds, they got a chance to performance their current single at March Out 2009 in Clarendon on Christmas Day and the performance was well received.

Stanpipe who is also on the island has been doing his share of promotion he was last week “Artiste of the Week” on Stampede Street Chart and also performed at March Out 09 in Clarendon.  Stanpipe who has a splitting resemblance of Reggae veteran Brigadeer Jerry is passionate about his music and yearning to make his mark in the local industry, he gave a very good perform on Jamaica Live last evening.  His singles Cut It Off featuring Natty Remo and Thank You featuring D’Angel are the main focus of his promotional campaign at this time.

Young DJ Currency, Bitta and Christina Starz have done well for themselves towards the ending of the year.  Christina has matured tremendously from the many performances on the Claro and Nationwide Road shows and a number stage shows throughout Kingston.  These are the up and coming entertainers in our camp and this is as good as anytime ever to start following their careers under the guidance of New Image Promotions.

Christmas has come and gone and it was indeed a festive season.  New Image Promotions has had one of its best year since inception and this could not have been possible without the support of the many media houses locally and internationally that have supported us.  We would like to thank you all and wish you all the best that 2010 has to offer.  “The courage to speak must be matched by the wisdom to listen”

God bless

Contributing Writer: Sophia McKay – New Image Promotions

Bramma

One local newspaper has rated Bramma among the top 10 best young acts on STING 2009.  Fresh from his tour in Europe where he visited over 5 countries, Bramma had little time to plan a performance for STING.  His set was understandably short but he too benefitted from the late start of the show.  He performed at approximately 2:30am entering the stage with his “It’s Wat Eva” track which earned him his first major forward on his first major show.

Like a pro, Bramma handled his self well on stage when the band had seem to forget his set and asked for accapella to introduce “Some People” another of his popular songs featuring Steven McGregor again to thunderous applause then launched into his “Badman Town” single which sealed his set and saw him leaving the stage a happy camper with a bravado performance.

Contributing Writer: Sophia McKay – New Image Promotions

Cush Hunta

One of the Promoter’s pick in the promising Reggae artistes segment for the highly anticipated STING 2009 event was Cush Hunta and he too did not disappoint his audience.  Cush’s powerful performance unleashed humongous cheers and applause from the huge STING crowd.

His well thought out but short set proves that even though this was his debut STING performance, Cush Hunta is indeed a veteran at live performances and cannot be considered a youngster in the industry.

Leading up to the event Cush was privileged to be apart of the Claro Road shows that took him through Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny and Montego Bay promoting his musc.  He also performed on Nationwide outside broadcast promotional event held at the Ward Theatre parking lot Downtown Kingston and the Holy Childhood Bar-B-Que.

Cush Hunta appeared on Hype TV Up and Live interview programme and did a live interview with Ras Firebones on Riddim Radio base in the UK, he performed at Excelsior High School concert, StoneLove Anniversary and I-Octane Community event held in Portmore St. Catherine.  ‘Cush Hunta’ has certainly set the pace for a promising future in 2010.

Contributing Writer: Sophia McKay – New Image Promotions

Reggae artiste Nesbeth creates music that upon reflection is good for New Year resolutions.  His current releases, “A nuh so me waan live” and ‘Question’ are perfect selections at this time of year and has been getting much props from several radio jocks locally and internationally.  A nuh so me waan live is already a big hit in Kenya, a market that Nesbeth seems to be making an impact since late last year.

The artiste STING 2009 performance resolute his place among the list of outstanding Reggae artistes last season and in the near future.  He like many other artistes who performed at STING 2009 had his scheduled time of performance readjusted due to the show’s late start, creating the opportunity to perform before a full house of over 30,000 patrons in attendance to whom would have settled and hyped for the night’s proceeding.  Nesbeth did not disappoint and received a grand welcome upon entering the stage and from there could do no wrong as he received thunderous cheers delivering his hits singles Boardhouse, Drive By, Guns Out and Friend Killa.

Interestingly Nesbeth did not perform one of the two singles released this month, “A Nuh Suh Mi Waan Live” but instead he introduced his most current “Question” produced to by Pink Panther and that too received thunderous applause.  Like I-Octane, Nesbeth is hopeful that 2010 is the year for conscious Reggae artistes in to shine in Jamaica.

Contributing Writer: Sophia McKay – New Image Promotions

I-Octane

They came, they saw and they conquered. Words in the streets are that despite the highly anticipated performances by the Gully and Gaza kings Vybz Kartel and Mavado, Reggae artiste I-Octane, gave one of the most memorable performances at STING 2009.

Octane’s controversial entry on stage at STING sparked much media blitz but I-Octane’s explanation for his comments were that his remarks had to do with some commotion that occurred backstage which brought about a disgruntled feeling on his path and this had to do with unsettled matters with the promoters and so upon entering the stage, “I was beckoning to the media to get ready for what will be an headline performance by me”. Read the rest of this entry »

The hit song “Wrong Address” haunts the community of Flanker in St. James despite efforts to change the image and stigma, says Marilyn Nash, head of the Flanker Peace and Justice Centre in St. James.

According to Ms. Nash “Flanker is deemed in most sectors as the place where violence and murders continue to be the order of the day. That is so far from the truth and despite the efforts to remove the stigma and image, the task gets harder every day. However the work continues”.

Making reference to the manner in which the name Flanker is plastered across the front pages of newspapers and on television screens in Jamaica, Ms. Nash said, “We have had so many positive things taking place here and yet what is featured are the few issues among a few members of the community. We have trained mediators, we have had parenting workshops, life skill seminars, offered scholarships to students, send students t o sit CXC and a host of others, but all we see are banner headlines such as From Peace to pieces”.

Ms. Nash said up to November 2007 there were 31 murders in Flanker and due to the efforts of a number of organizations; the figure has been reduced drastically to only 4 so far for 2009. She said the 4 murders for 2009 were committed not by residents of Flanker, but by persons who (from outside) the community. “We have community watch groups which have assisted greatly in reducing the number of conflicts in the area and yet there is very little mention of this in most areas of the media…we are really fed up and tired of the treatment we have been getting and we are calling for a change.” Read the rest of this entry »

(Kingston, Jamaica) — Dancehall artiste Spice yesterday recorded a new single called Draw Me Out. The song which lyrically slashes Lisa Hype to pieces after Lisa herself released Sting Aftermath, has a number of saucy and mouth-dropping lines including: “Sting stan’ up pon yuh stiffa dan di d**k inna yuh mout’…” and “Lisa Hype use har dildo tongue and beat inna Nuffy b**y like ah congo drum…”

Spice says, “This is music. The fact that I gave a comment on the matter is ok, but she said something via a song, so I am showing her what it means to do a real song. Lisa Swipe is out of her league and there is no real competition. There won’t be a Spice/Lisa Hype war, so people shouldn’t expect that.”

“It would be a waste of my time. This song was just to remind her to know her place on the Dancehall ladder. She is now out of the Empire, so she has stepped into the real world and this is how we do it. She and Spice are not in the same league. I won’t be doing anymore clash songs with her. Her 5 minutes of fame are over, sorry. I wish her all the best.”

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Source: AP

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — This year has been one of the worst on record for the deliberate killing of reporters and media staff, an international journalists’ association said Thursday.

A total of 133 journalists and media personnel were killed in 2009, according to the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists.

It said 109 were singled out because of their profession and 24 died accidentally.

The 109 “targeted killings” was one of the highest ever recorded, said the IFJ. It listed the Philippines, Mexico and Somalia as the most dangerous countries for journalists this year.

The total 2009 death toll of 133 compares with an IFJ tally of 109 and 175 in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

“Last year’s drop in the murder rate of journalists has been short-lived,” IFJ President Jim Boumelha said in the statement.

“The devastating massacre of 31 journalists and media staff in the Philippines in November and fresh violence against colleagues in Mexico and Somalia have made this a year of terrible bloodshed for media.”

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries. Its death tally covers all people employed by media organisations who died in the line of duty, including not only journalists but also interpreters and drivers.

Iraq — the most dangerous country for media workers during much of the past decade — saw five media deaths in 2009, down from 16 in 2008, according to the IFJ.

It said the “most shocking statistics” of 2009 point to the Philippines where 38 journalists and media staff were killed in 2009 — most of them victims of a massacre in Maguindano province on November 23.

The IFJ said this “unprecedented attack and continued violence against media in other hot spots is a challenge to governments which in 2006 were told by the United Nations Security Council to take steps to protect journalists and media in conflict zones”.

The IFJ listed these other countries with high numbers of media fatalities: Mexico (13), Somalia (nine); Pakistan (seven) and Russia (six).

Born in Manchester (Jamaica) on April 28, Degree often had to hide as a child from his strict christian parents in order to get a taste of what was happening on the airwaves. It was only a few years later in his early 20’s, that Degree was hitting those same airwaves with his brilliant imitation of a grandmother in his first number one hit ‘Granny’- his first recording for Main Street producer Danny Browne. ‘Granny’ reigned in the dances and charts for one year straight, and that humorous vine has thrived throughout Degree’s career and is a component he naturally possesses.

Degree’s impressive parade of number one hits continued both at home and abroad, and lends great credence to the fact that he certainly does know what he’s talking about. Tunes such as ‘Granny, Brinks, Mr Dweet Nice, Bodyguard, Papa Lover, Hold Yuh Tonight, Spark plug and countless others have had fans skanking .

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Congratulations Usain Bolt on all your achievements in 2009. You are professional, outstanding and humorous, and that is what has drawn you to our hearts. For that reason you will continue to be loved and honored by us.

All the best on and off the tracks in 2010 and beyond, and congrats on being named NY magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’.

BROOKLYN, New York (CMC) — Popular United States-based Caribbean publication Everybody’s Magazine has named Jamaica’s sprint superstar Usain Bolt as its “Person of the Year.”

Bolt, 23, superbly sustained his label in 2009 as the world’s premier sprinter with awesome world record times in the 100 and 200 metres at the IAAF World Championship in Germany four months ago.

“People around the globe, who follow major sporting events, most likely will consider our choice a no-brainer,” said the Brooklyn-based Everybody’s Magazine, the oldest Caribbean magazine in the US, whose publisher is Grenadian Herman Hall.

“No other athlete in 2009, or, for that matter the last decade, impacted the world as Usain Bolt,” it added. Read the rest of this entry »