Damian Junior Gong and I-Octane bat for the ladies

• I-Octane goes deep in My Story

The late great Bob Marley showed that when it came on to powerful love lyrics Rasta has sure got soul. Fast forward to today’s upcoming stars who have taken their Nazarene vow and love verses are still flowing.
Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley and Byron I-Octane’ Muir are pouring out their souls through their music.

Affairs of the Heart from Junior Gong and L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. from I-Octane are currently holding dominant positions on the airwaves, the video and singles charts and is a favourite in the dances. They may be on the opposite side of the telecommunication fence, when it comes on to sponsorship, but the two are certainly not divided regarding the impact their music are having on fans.

In an interview with 1xtra’s Tim Westwood young Marley gave his seal of approval to I-Octane at the interviewer’s question on who are some of the bright upcoming stars in his opinion. “Yuh have a new youth I-Octane whey a gwaan wid some tings really,” he said. And his respect is reciprocated by the Clarendon born singjay “He is truly his father’s son, I really rate his music,’ I-Octane commented.

Rasta’s also got heart as expressed in I-Octane’s latest musical offering My Story. The song zones in on the hardships of struggling folks trying to make a living whichever honest way they can. In it the singjay shows great empathy for the windshield wiper, street peddlers a side that will see his music gaining new fans.
The video, which is expected to be shot next Tuesday, April 3, should effectively capture the sentiments being expressed in the song under the expert direction of Scorpio 21. Saturday April 7, will also see I-Octane shooting yet another video – Jiggle Fi Mi another song set to create a buzz on the music scene.

Affairs of The Heart & L.O.V.E. Y.O.U - Two of The Hottest Love Songs

KG EAGER TO MAKE HER GUYANA DEBUT

Kingston, Jamaica - Gospel singer, Kereen Gregory, aka KG, is just about ready to exhale.

She confesses that she has been holding her breath, waiting for that call which would signal the official launch of her career internationally, and that moment has finally come.

The rising gospel artiste has been invited to perform in Guyana over the Easter, a period considered by Christians as the holiest of seasons. As Kereen explained, it's not that she has never performed overseas before, it's just that this time she is being recognised on her own merit. KG notes that she is therefore embracing the opportunity to step forward in her designated space and spread the message in song.

"To God be the glory," a bubbly KG said of the upcoming event. "Prior to now, I have gone abroad as a back-up singer, complementing a main gospel act. Don't get me wrong, I am truly grateful for the experiences and I have learnt so much while those journeys. However, there is a different feeling when a promoters asks for you, specifically. I feel like I am growing as an artiste and that the efforts of my team to put me out there are bearing fruit," KG said, with a huge smile.

Kereen, whose singles have been generating much feedback from both the gospel and secular arenas, is scheduled for back-to-back performacnes on the mainland territory of Guyana. The first concert takes place on April 8 at the Kwakwani venue. Entitled Rhema Praise, the concert will also feature a line-up of the best gospel acts in Guyana.

The following day, April 9, KG will again minister in song, this time in Guyana's capital city, the historic Georgetown. That event is billed as The Real Easter Praise and will be held at the Malteneous Sports Club.

Armed with songs such as Ride Out Your Storm, Highly Favoured and Blessed, God Alone. Lifting Up Praise, Lord Do Mi Again and the controversial Who Me, You Mad, KG is eagerly anticipating two glorious nights of praise and worship with fans in Guyana.

"Of course, all of this takes on an extra special meaning because it's happening during Easter and as Christians there is no better time to reflect and give praise to God. I just know that it will be awesome," KG said emotionally.

NEW VIDEO - CE'CILE - BAD GYAL MEDLEY (OFFICIAL HD VIDEO)

VYBZ KARTEL GRANTED BAIL IN SUM OF $3 MILLION

KINGSTON JAMAICA - Vybz Kartel was granted bail in the sum of $3 million when he appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday.
He was granted bail on the murder charge relating to the death of Barrington 'Bossie' Bryan who was shot dead while standing among a group of persons in Gregory Park, St Catherine in July last year. Kartel will however, remain behind bars as he faces another murder charge in relation the death of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. He will return to court on April 13.

I-OCTANE TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH DIDDY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Reggae super star I-Octane will join a whole host of international stars such as Diddy and Chipmunk for the One Love Peace Festival, the UK’s number one urban music festival, which returns in spectacular fashion on July 15th. The festival will have a stellar line-up across two massive stages that are set to transform East London’s Mabley Green into a tropical fairground on Sunday 15th July 2012.

I-OCTANE'S ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE ON MTV IGGY'S

NEW MUSIC VIDEO - CECILE FEAT. AGENT SASCO - HEY

HEY BY CECILE FEAT. AGENT SASCO

CE’CILE REPS THE FEMALES WITH 'CHEATER'S REVENGE

Kingston Jamaica - Sassy songbird Cecile has never shied away from tackling controversial topics that are considered taboo in the Jamaican society. And her latest foray into the dynamic of sexual power in relationships center’s around the single, 'Cheater's Prayer the Female Refix (Cheater's Revenge)' a counteraction to Chris Martin's worldwide reggae hit of the same name where she declares outright that she is considering cheating on her boyfriend, whom she suspects is having an affair with another girl.
Produced by ZJ Chrome, the single has been in heavy rotation on local FM radio but is also generating considerable buzz in countries such as Bahamas, Belize, St Lucia, Kenya and is often played right after Chris Martin's 'Cheater's Prayer'.
"Chris had asked me to do it initially but I didn't want to do it, and then when I saw the reaction to the song in the clubs, I had to do it," Cecile said in a release.
"Another song on the same riddim, 'If You' is an answer but not a direct answer to Cheater's Prayer because there had to be a female side to this lover's dilemma, and then I ended up doing a dub for Chrome called Cheater's Revenge. And surprise surprise, it is the dubplate which got big and because of the demand, and so we put that out as a song, it is not even recorded properly, but there was such a great demand for it, especially in the Caribbean, with disc jockeys wanting to play it back to back with Chris' song, that it had to go out fast," she said, laughing.
Cecile said that music insiders soon realized that disc jockeys and selectors were actually recording the song off the radio, and dropping it on reggae mixes with the name of the disc jockey embedded in the song. So a decision was made to release the song as a single with Chrome's name edited.
"People were recording it off the radio with Chrome's name in it, it was crazy. In St. Lucia, a lot of females called the disc jocks over there and told them that there was another version, and asked why it wasn't being played. They actually felt slighted that it wasn't being played, and then they got their wish," she said.
Cecile has performed the song several times locally on stage shows, most notably at a PNP end-of-campaigning concert, the day before the national elections.
"The song got a big forward there, both man and woman love it, it is just one of those relationship songs which strikes a chord with people," she said.
The lyrics go:

Wait till him lef the yard/is ah next man ah come in ya/just wait till him lef the yard/a wah da bwoy ya tek mi fa

A good woman dont want want fi cheat

But some ah dem man ya ah over do it

Gal after gal after gal pon the street

We choose to be real but anno like we caan do it

Well, we anno fool, caan tek we fi fool

Disrespect we no tek, we can gi yu bun too

Yu waan play games, yo, yu wicked and rude

But I got a big surprise for you

The song has become a big favorite in local dances because it is an anthem for empowered females. And nobody can represent that particular segment of the population quite like Cecile.

KG impresses at Kitson Town gospel concert

Kingston Jamaica - It's not easy for a relatively new artiste to stand out at a concert featuring gospel heavyweight such as Minister Carlene Davis, Goddy Goddy and Kingdom Soldiers, but rising gospel singer Kereen 'KG' Gregory did just that at a concert in Kitson Town recently.

The event was entitled Ash Wednesday Praise and proved to be a rousing praise and worship session in the parish of St Catherine. It was KG's very first time in Kitson Town and she kept her promise to make her performance memorable.

From the moment she hit the stage, KG connected with the audience and steadily built up a momentum with smart selections and verbal interactions with the crowd. Her naturally bubbly personality and her strong love for Christ shone brightly as she ministered in song. KG's 30 minutes seemed all too short and she surely left the crowd wanting more.

Among her selections were Ride Out Your Storm, Highly Favoured and Blessed, God Alone. Lifting Up Praise and Lord Do Mi Again. And the fans showed their appreciation, especially on numbers such as the dancehall gospel flavoured Lord Do Mi Again and Ride Out The Storm.

"I would rate this as one of my best performances ever," a tired but very upbeat KG declared after the show. "I could feel the energy from the crowd and the love was amazing. As to Sister Carlene (Davis), she was just awesome. I would really like to thank the organisers for giving me the opportunity to perform on this event and I look forward to next year's Ash Wednesday Praise," KG said with a big smile.

Then KG was off to sign more autographs and share in hugs from the children who just couldn't seem to get enough of this rising gospel artiste whose stagecraft and musical creativity have definitely improved since she made her official public outing four years ago as a finalist in the JCDC gospel competition.

In between performances, KG, who also sang at the launch of gospel radio station 91.7 FM in Mandeville on February 25, is busy putting the final touches on her soon-to-be-released debut album.

"As we get closer to completing the project, things just get more intense, but we know that God is the driver and all of our work is to give praise and glory to Him. I am working with a great team and I can't wait to share this album with the world," KG declared.