Archive for the ‘Music News’ Category

Often times talented dancehall/reggae group West Bank has been compared to the likes of Hip Hop super group the Fugees, because of their ability to successfully fuse various genres of music such as R&B, Jazz and Hip Hop with Reggae and Dancehall. When you hear a West Bank track you will be blown away by the group’s unique vocal styling and their melodic musical arrangements. The members of West Bank describe the group as a musical bank of talent that represents the West Indies as well as the whole Western hemisphere.

The group is on a mission to create a whole new sound with a Reggae flavor. Lead band member Joe West says that the each member of the group has a genuine love for music. “We all have a genuine love for reggae music. Growing up, we all were drawn to music by reggae icons like Black Uhuru, Burning Spear and Toots Hibbert but we also draw influence from more current artistes like Black Eyed Peas and Morgan Heritage.” Read the rest of this entry »

by: Ralston Barrett

Dancehall artist Donovan Lawrence aka Mad Dog would like his fans, relatives and friends to know that he is alive and well. Mad Dog says he has been receiving a lot of phone calls from fans, relatives and friends inquiring about his well being, since news surfaced in the media yesterday that man known as Mad Dog was killed in a stabbing incident in the parish of St. Ann.

“Mi phone a ring off like crazy, people a call mi from all over asking me if I am alright. Everybody telling me they heard it on the news that a man identified as Mad Dog got killed in St. Ann, thank God its not me, said Mad Dog who is known for popular recordings such as Early Morning and Bounce Pon It.

A spokes person from Tori Shae’s Productions the company that handles Mad Dog’s public relations also stated, that their offices have been flooded with phone calls since yesterday regarding the artist’s well being. As a lot of people heard the news story yesterday and thought it was the artist that was killed in St. Ann.

by: Raymond ‘Shadow’ Small

Kingston Jamaica: Next Saturday, March 20th the Best Dressed Fun in the Son gospel festival will see the unveiling of an impressive cadre of local and international acts gracing the stage at the 2010 renewal of the island’s most successful gospel showcase.

The concert to be staged on the grounds of Jamaica College boasts an impressive line-up featuring U.S based Multi-platinum and four-time Grammy, Stellar and Dove award winner Kirk Franklin alongside local top flight entertainers such as the very dynamic and inspirational overseas based gospel DJ Papa San, 2010 Youth View Awards –Gospel Artiste of the Year DJ Nicholas, Omari, the fast-rhyming Goddy Goddy, Ja Bez, the very energetic Sister Scully, Kimiela Issacs, Three The Lord’s Way, J Lee, Sons of The Prophet, Karen Gregory, Ryan Berry, Praise Academy of Dance among others. The word will be brought by International Evangelist Andrew Palau. Emcees: Che Cowan and Nadine Blair. Admission is absolutely FREE! Read the rest of this entry »

by: Sophia McKay

In our update this week Reggae artist Nesbeth, who’s Drive By single has been riding various charts locally and internationally for several weeks, debuts the UK base Silverfox Dance Club (SFDC) Radio last week at #9, the single since then has now moved two places up the chart sitting at #7. Still a strong contender on Richie B’s Jamaica Music Countdown Charts, ascending two places from #9 to #7, Drive By which peaked at #4 is now #9 on Out A Road Top Ten Chart, #3 on Stampede Street Chart, #9 on Hot A Road street chart.

Reggae singer I-Octane “Lose a Friend” single continues its chart topping behavior moving up to the #1 spot on CVM Reggae Hitlist and Hype TV Top 20 Charts respectively after 16 weeks on Hype TV chart. Lose a friend is #24 on the New York Top 30 Reggae Singles Chart, #7 on Stampede Street Chart, #11 on Jamaica Music Countdown Chart and #5 on Out A Road Chart.

Texas born Reggae duo Roots Revealers single “Sweetie” and collaboration with Chaka Demus is ranked at #5 on Hype TV Top 20 Chart after 15 weeks.

“Gimmie that good love” by Sophia Brown is the hot pick on Hype TV Top 20 Chart this week while it moves one place down to #2 after claiming the top spot for three consecutive weeks on CVM Hitlist. In other news, Brown’s “Weak To You” hit single continues to hold firm at #14 on Stampede Street Chart. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Raymond ‘Shadow’ Small

Showing just the right amount of lyrical versatility and delivery, dancehall recording artiste Fabian Wilson better known as Boom Steppa’s latest single ‘Naaw Stay Poor’ has already broken into the top 5 on the CVM Television Hitlist Video Countdown in only its first week.

The single currently position at No.4 on the Top 5 Reggae Chart, tell a riveting tale of the everyday perils face by the less fortunate in our society and one man’s determination to break that cycle of poverty.

The single written and produced by Wilson continues to gain momentum on the local airwaves and has also attracted attention from several major industry players across CARICOM including Caribbean entertainment tycoon TEMPO.

The video shot throughout the thoroughfares of Kingston and St. Catherine was directed by Wayne Benjamin of Fabrikated ProjeX.

In 2008 Boom Steppa released the thought provoking “Protect The Children” produced by PayDay Music during what could be described as a tragic period in Jamaica’s history when a shocking number of children fell victim to heinous crimes ranging from Kidnapping, Murder to Rape. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Raymond ‘Shadow’ Small

“Plea my cause oh Jah Jah, weh dem a fight me for, for those who fight against me, Jesus walks Jah Jah walks with me, them bad mind, me know them can’t stop me with powder obeah, inna me head no bwoy can’t put hole inna, poison food from dem don’t take no dinner, watch over me nuh Jehovah”

– Jehovah (Watch Over Me), Aidonia

Jag one Production (J.O.P) recording artiste Sheldon ‘Aidonia’ Lawrence recently released yet another masterfully crafted single that is poised to dominate the airwaves. The song titled ‘Jehovah’ (Watch Over Me) produced by Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor is a conscious ballad that sees the high riding deejay asking the heavenly powers up above for guidance and protection against those with devious intents.

‘Jehovah’ is just one of several singles the J.O.P head honco has recorded for the Big Ship label since the start of the year. He is also featured on Stephen’s – ‘Bad People Riddim’ with a song of a similar title currently enjoying premium airplay of the radio waves. Read the rest of this entry »

By Ra-Umi Alkebu-lan

With a good performance at Follow Di Arrow show held recently at James Bond Beach in Oracabessa, St. Mary, Jamaica. Lutan Fyah not only gave an electrifying performance, but ignited the place as the audience lit their lighters and blazed their aerosol spray cans. Lutan Fyah set the pace for what can be expected of him in 2010.

The singer had to dig deep in his musical arsenal to entertain the vociferous dancehall enthusiasts who were in their element. Lutan Fyah entered the stage at 2:40am dressed in a green army jacket, blue jean pants, black turban and Black Sneakers. The audience roared with approval from the “get go” has he sang “Whole heap dem caan believe man say Rastafari now”, He did a tight and spicey set which included hit songs such as Rasta Still De Bout, St Jago De la Vega, Save The Juvenile, Falling For You, Informer, Mightier Than Them All and the recently release Jail. Read the rest of this entry »

Deejay Popcaan

Deejay Popcaan of the Vybz kartel led Portmore Empire, was one of several men reportedly detained yesterday afternoon during a police operation at a studio in Havendale, St Andrew.

Sources from the St Andrew North police told THE WEEKEND STAR that the operation was carried out by members of the Mobile Reserve and Joint Taskforce.

THE WEEKEND STAR did not gather much information about the raid as several high-ranking members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force including Head of Operations, Deputy Commissioner Glenmore Hines, said they were unaware of the operation.

CIB Head, Assistant Commissioner Les Green, said he had heard of the raid but could not speak to it.

THE WEEKEND STAR was also informed that yesterday in a separate incident, Vybz Kartel visited the Constant Spring Police Station where he spoke with officers about undisclosed matters.

“The studio at Kirk Avenue was raided and some men were detained, about five of them including an artiste … We also called in Vybz Kartel and spoke to him,” a high-ranking officer from the St Andrew North police said when contacted last night. Read the rest of this entry »

Kingston, Jamaica — “Few month gone inna di year and ovah 30-odd dead and counting. And by di time deh tune yah drop it cudda double, nuh go roun’ ting. People blood a splash inna di streets jus’ like a fowl ting…”

- In Di Streets, Chino.

Dancehall artiste Chino recently released yet another single, making it circa his sixth one since the start of the year. The song, In Di Streets on the Stephen McGregor-produced “Bad People Riddim” is a conscious heavy-hitter about the island’s crime rate. Read the rest of this entry »

Kingston, Jamaica — Dancehall and Reggae artiste G-Whizz is among the first set of artistes to be confirmed for this year’s Best of the Best concert slated to take place on May 30 in Bicentennial Park, Miami.

The concert which rakes in more than 40, 000 people annually, as the name suggests, will this year also feature some of the Dancehall and Rap industry’s best performers, including: Chino, Shaggy, Mavado, Serani, Gucci Mane, Bounty Killer, Baby Cham, Tony Matterhorn, Demarco, Gyptian and more.

G-Whizz says, “Last year was an incredible one. I received a some awards but more importantly, I got to really show fans what G-Whizz is made of and I’m happy that this goes for fans not only in Jamaica but also in the neighbouring islands and the USA. It’s a lot of hard work but I gotta keep pushing because it’s what I love to do and the performance at Best of the Best is going to be crazy.” Read the rest of this entry »