May 26, 2012

Statement From Busy Signal - We not going down - God alone controls my destiny


KINGSTON JAMAICA - In this a time of reflection, I would like to thank my fans who have supported me through this difficult situation and who will continue to support me. Your messages and prayers via social networks and via members of my team are what have brought light to the darkness of my cell.
I have never admitted that I was involved in any drug deal or drug arrangement. I waived my rights to an extradition trial here in Jamaica, so that I can return to the US to face a charge of absconding bail ONLY. This incident took place ten (10) years ago before I even considered becoming an artiste.
As you can understand, this is a difficult time for me, however during my time away, my fans will not be left with a void - there are several unreleased tracks that will definitely keep you "busy" until my return. I recently released my album Reggae Music Again, which debuted at number 5 on the Billboard Reggae charts. On my recent tour of Amsterdam andParis, we shot elements for the video to the title track of the album. It features cameos from Marcia Griffiths, Queen Ifrica and Anthony B and that will be released in a couple of weeks.
For my fans overseas, my management team has been in dialogue with promoters who have all shown their support for me and my situation and for that I thank them.
For my family, you have stood by me through thick and thin and I know you will continue to do so. In my time away, I have made the necessary arrangements with my management team to have you taken care of until my return.
To my band. Hi-Voltage, you have toured the world with me and have been a tower of strength. Continue to make good music until I return, cause the mission will continue.
I know that my facebook page has been inactive for a while, but, starting this week, Shane Brown, head of Juke Boxx management team, will assume direct control of my twitter account - @busysignal_turf and my facebook page - www.facebook.com/OneBusySignal. I will be kept updated so please continue to send your love, support and prayers through these channels, as they keep me going.
To my legal team, KD Knight, Bert Samuels and Roxanne Mars, your positive words and unfailing belief and support in me and my case have made this situation a little easier to bear. Thank you very much.
Finally my friends, my fans and my family, thank you again from the depths of my heart. Please keep me in your prayers. "We not going down, cause God alone controls my destiny"

I-OCTANE DEVASTATED BERMUDA


JUST IN FROM BERMUDA: Fire marshals and police officers were forced to end an I-Octane concert!.
 Earlier this week after the 'My Life' singer delivered an incendiary performance that still has Bermudans talking. The patrons did not want the performance to end after a military-like 'shelling' that scorched the venue

May 25, 2012

DAVILLE KICKS OFF 10-SHOW TOUR OF GERMANY


Kingston Jamaica: Reggae singer, Da'Ville, who has firmly bounced back from a self-imposed break from music, is bursting with enthusiasm and ready to go wherever his career takes him.
After concluding a mini tour of the US East Coast and then hopping over to French Guyana in April, Da'Ville has now packed his bags again and this time he is heading to Europe, more specifically, Germany.
This will be the singer's opportunity to reconnect with his fans on that side of the globe and reclaim his space in the European market, which has always fully embraced him. 
Da'Ville, who departed the US for Germany on May 24, explained that so far there are ten confirmed dates, with the first show taking place on May 26 in Mannheim. Among the other German cities where he is scheduled to perform are Berlin, Stockholm, Vienna, Helsinki, Stuttgart, Zurich, Basel and Mechelen with back-to-back shows between June 1 and 6. This will mean a lot of driving every day to get to the venues and sound checks on time, but Da'Ville says he is ready, both physically and mentally, for this grueling run.
"This is my career...music is what we do and touring is an essential part of it. That's how artistes make money, but equally important is the connection with fans in various countries. And, Germany is fascinating. Here are people of a different culture, many of whom don't even speak your language, yet they know your songs and will pay their hard-earned money to see you. That alone is enough to make you want to leave from one venue to the next without complaining," the singer said. He added, "And, of course, I have been taking care of my body, getting myself ready for the road. As artistes, we have to pay keen attention to these things," Da'Ville said, laughing as he flexed his biceps.
Known for his lover's rock songs that have mass appeal, the Jamaican entertainer's popularity soared in 2007, when he made a huge breakthrough with the Fashozy Records-produced single, Always On My Mind. Shortly after that he took a break from the music scene, for personal reasons. 
Since 2011, Da'Ville has been easing himself back into the hearts of his huge female fan base and has been in studio with JA Productions, Penthouse, Sean 'Seanizzle' Reid and Cash Flow Records and has also inked a management and booking contract with Ray Alexander's Khool International.. 
Da'Ville's Germany tour runs from May 26 through to June 11.

May 24, 2012

Busy waives right to extradition hearing


Kingston Jamaica: ENTERTAINER Busy Signal has waived his rights to an extradition hearing in Jamaica and will go directly to the United States, his attorney KD Knight said this afternoon.
Busy will answer a charge of absconding bail.
Knight said that because no extradition papers have been sent, his client cannot be tried on drug charges.
Busy was arrested on a provisional warrant for absconding bail.
If he is tried on the drug charges, it would be a breach of the extradition treaty, Knight said.
The popular entertainer, real name Glendale Goshia Gordon, was arrested Monday by members of the Fugitive Apprehension Team at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston as he disembarked a flight after being deported from the United Kingdom.
The Americans have accused Busy, who was a resident alien, of fleeing that country in 2002 before he could be sentenced on a cocaine charge in October that year

Source: jamaicaobserver.com

May 23, 2012

Statement from Vybz Kartel About Disbanding the Portmore Empire


By Adidja Palmer
Adidjahiem Records would like to announce that the outfit known as the Portmore Empire is being disbanded, with the following statement from Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer:
Dancehall fans worldwide, it with great regret that I, Adidja Palmer have decided to disband the Portmore Empire. These artistes have been under the Adidjahiem leadership for years, where they have honed their craft and made their mark, and as such, are well on their way to becoming major forces in Dancehall. They have reached a level where they are more capable to take on their careers by themselves, and it would be unfair to them, based on the limited resources of Adidjahiem Records, and current legal woes of the Adidjahiem C.E.O. and team members.
I wish them the best and I am confident that they will live up to my expectations. In the future, Adidjahiem will continue to bring out new acts and groom them for stardom.
Thank You.
Former Portmore Empire members Vawnessa 'Gaza Slim' Saddler and Leroy 'Tommy Lee' Russell are moving on with a newly formed label named PG13.
"Right now, a PG13 di ting deh," states Gaza Slim.
"Look out for PG13," says Tommy Lee. "It soon work in."
.

May 21, 2012

Busy Signal Arrested On Extradition Warrant


Law enforcement agents have arrested another high profile figure from the West Kingston community, on an extradition warrant. 

Popular dancehall artiste, Busy Signal, whose real name is Glendale Gordon, was picked up at the Norman Manley International Airport, immediately after he stepped off a flight from the United Kingdom this afternoon. 

The Gleaner/Power 106 News understands that the entertainer was returning from a tour in Amsterdam. 

His arrest came months after The Gleaner broke the story that a prominent entertainer was under the radar of the United States to be extradited. 

According one of the law enforcement officers who spoke with The Gleaner, 'Busy' has been under investigation since 2002.
Source: The Gleaner 

May 18, 2012

'THIS GUY IS NO ONE' - BUSHMAN SAYS KHAGO HAS A LONG WAY TO GO


Reggae artiste Bushman has said artistes need to be more educated about the music industry.
According to him, individuals like Khago, who took offence to comments he made regarding the state of the business, need to focus on their career and their catalogue.
"It is really a situation where I see that this man (Khago) is getting outrageously crazy. A guy feel like sey because him hot in Jamaica, him hot everywhere. I apologised to him because the comment was not made to offend him. Nuff a dem a rise up because Pro Tool(s) make dem life easier," Bushman told THE WEEKEND STAR.
Mi a defend righteousness
Bushman further stated that he has seen comments on the Internet where Khago stated that he has never said he was a Rastafarian.
"Mi a defend righteousness and him a sing bout threesome. It's tough for us because of what happened in Coral Gardens. The Rastas that lost their lives, they did it for these guys. Him say me have one hit song, it mean say him nuh know nutten bout music. Mi have hits under my belt, him need fi focus on his career and his catalogue," Bushman said.
Him nah do nuh real music
The artiste went on to say that he has released 10 albums so far and that if artistes are not careful, reggae music will be taken over by others.
"Khago's two first tunes, the punch lines are not his. Him nah do nuh real music. Him go New York and feel like the world know him. Ask him if him ever go Belgium or Japan or dem place deh. Everyone can get their music free to download, people buy Bushman music. This guy is no one. He needs to work on getting publicity. He has a far way to go," he said.
Source: Jamaica Star

May 17, 2012

'I NEVER SAID I WAS A RASTA' - KHAGO: SAYS ASSASSIN 'A MOVE LIKE MUSIC POLICE'




  • After calling out Bushman for comments he made about him, artiste Khago is now taking lyrical shots at Assassin.

According to Khago, Assassin has released a song titled Bun Freaky Ras which he believes is directed at him.
Khago says that it is his newly released single called Three Sum, that Assassin is counteracting.
In the song Bun Freaky Ras Assassin deejays:
'Right now di ting a run slack,/the almshouse fi stop/How Ras a beg three sum? Mi bun freaky ras'
To this Khago replied, that he has never said he was a Rastafarian.
"Mi separate religion from music. Mi never tell nobody say mi a Rasta. Mi and nuh man never meet up a Bobo Hill. Dem a look a hype. Everybody can grow locks but a nuh every man a Rasta," Khago told THE STAR.
Khago says he is hurt by what he describes as Assassin's betrayal.
"The first time mi meet Assassin a bout two months ago when mi an him buck up inna airport and the flight delay and mi go sit down beside him and him a talk to me and him a say him see say dem a give me a fight in the industry and how mi fi just gwaan do the work. Him all give me him BB pin and say him want voice me pon a rhythm. Now as him hear mi song him a di first fi jump pon it," Khago said.


jump pon it
Khago says that he feels disrespected by Assassin.
"Him a move like music police. From Kartel rub out him career, him just sit down and wait till some artiste put out a tune and him jump pon it. A nuh me make Kartel gone a jail wid Assassin book and pen," a furious Khago said.
Since then, Khago has released a song titled Sumn Haffi Fishy Bout You which was produced by Cashflow Records. In it, Khago deejays:
'den a wha make the boy never tek the bribe, when the World Boss box him a Shocking Vibes/ Him spread out like catty wid a licence act/ A di carbon copy of Baby Cham dat ... everybody know say Sasco a pervert so the streets nah give you comfort...'
Khago further stated that when he heard Assassin's song, he sent him a message on his Blackberry, which he says Assassin has not responded to.
"Assassin don't have no melody. Him nuh call my name but mi a call dem name. Every year dem do dis song and call my name and try use me as guinea pig. Mi off a mute now, dem fi leave me mek mi do mi ting," Khago said
When contacted, a member of Assassin's management team said the artiste had no comment on the matter.
Source: Jamaica Star

BEENIEMAN ASKS GAYS FOR FORGIVENESS


Kingston Jamaica: DANCEHALL kingpin Beenie Man has apologised for his gay-bashing songs in a YouTube video, possibly bringing closure to over 10 years of acricmony with gay rights groups.
The video was posted yesterday on rototomsunsplash.com, website of the popular summer reggae festival. This year the Rototom Sunsplash will be held August 16- 22 in Spain
Beenie Man is scheduled to perform on the show. In the one minute, 35-second message, a remorseful Beenie Man pleads:
"Please I am begging you do not have me up for some songs I wrote a long time ago. I love each and every one and am just begging each and everyone to do the same," he said.
Beenie Man also expressed his respect for every human being "regardless of which race or creed, regardless of religious belief, regardless of which sexual preference you have including gay and lesbian."
His apology comes after years of intense pressure from the gay community, which caused many of his shows in North America and Europe to be cancelled.
Organisers of the Rototom Festival issued the following statement on its website:
"We have received and we are happy to publish a video message of Beenie Man in which he wishes to clear out any doubt about his position concerning homophobic lyrics appearing in some of his old songs. We would like to think that his words can put an end to all the controversies that the subject has generated."
Also posted on the site is a copy of the 2007 Reggae Compassionate Act signed by Moses Davis, the deejay's real name.
Other dancehall acts including Capleton and Buju Banton, allegedly signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, drafted by the organisers of Rototom to appease gay rights advocates.
Source: Jamaica observer

VIEW THE STAEMENT BELOW

GUYANA PROVIDES THE BACKDTOP FOR KG'S LATEST VIDEO


The video for gospel singer KG's latest single, Ride Out The Storm was shot during a recent trip to Guyana. And although some may question her patriotism, KG quickly dismisses any suggestion that she is anything but totally Jamaican.
"Actually, it was Guyana who chose me and, naturally I jumped at the opportunity," she explained. "Furthermore," KG added, "as an artiste, I am developing my fan base and with the love that I was shown by the Guyanese people on my recent trip there,  I feel honoured to have shot a video there."
According to KG, it was during a conversation with some newfound friends in Guyana that the subject pf her video for the single came up and an offer was made for her to do the video shoot there and then. In no time, she and the video director, Colin S.Edghill Telford, linked uo with his team to put together the storyboard and from there everything just flowed.
"I could feel God's hand guiding this project. They chose the location, Promenade Gardens, a beautiful place that was perfect for the message of the song. It felt as if I had worked with this team before, despite the fact that we hardly knew each other," KG stated.
The storyboard for Ride Out The Storm relates the experiences of a couple facing difficult times in their relationship and the way in which God turns around things for them through their storms.
The video is in the last stages of editing and is due to have its premiere by the end of May.
KG's singles Ride Out The Storm, Highly Favoured and Blessed, God Alone. Lifting Up Praise, Lord Do Mi Again and the controversial Who Me, You Mad, have been generating much feedback from both the gospel and secular arenas. 
Her debut album is almost completed and is due in stores by mid-year.

May 14, 2012

I-OCTANE ON SIX-WEEK TOUR


Top singjay I-Octane kicked off his six-week “Crying to the Nation” tour in Canada on
May 4 at Club G in London, Canada. He concluded his Canadian leg over the Mother’s Day weekend making stops in Mississauga, Hamilton and Montreal.
His song Mama received an overwhelming response as many embraced it to say thanks to their moms.

The Digicel Brand ambassador will now turn his attention to Europe where he’s expected to be among the headline acts on three festivals.
His first stop will be in Paris on Wednesday, May 16. The following day he turns his attention to the Amsterdam Reggae Festival at the Heineken Music Hall.
The singjay’s final European Stop will be on Saturday, May 19 at the Reggae Splash Festival in Toulousse, France.

The Caribbean will be his next stop — Bermuda to be exact on May 23 before winding down his tour in the United States. May 27 will see him sharing stage with some of the hottest reggae and hip hop artistes on the prestigious Best of the Best show in Miami.
Other stops in the United States will include Brooklyn, Massachusetts, California, Philadelphia and Hartford.

I-Octane who has delivered gems such as Lose A Friend, My Life and Puff It has maintained his track record with current hits such as My Story, L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. and Burn Dem Bridge.

The Stab Vampire singjay will perform on a major event in Jamaica on June 22 before closing out his tour at the St Kitts Music Festival on June 29.

CE'CILE PART OF US VIRGIN ISLANDS HUMANITARIAN EFFORT


Reggae/dancehall artiste Ce'Cile can now add humanitarian to her résumé.
The artiste recently participated in the Women Wise Conference in the US Virgin Islands. The aim of the conference was to provide young women in the territory with positive role models and outlets to share their concerns.
Ce'Cile was one of the panellists at the conference, which also included Virgin Island (VI) recording artiste Mada Nile, Deputy Marshall Ann-Marie Wong, VI author Marcy Heist and Caribbean Education Initiative (CEI) President Nicole Hutchins.
The 1st Annual Women Wise Conference was held at Charlotte Amalie High School in St Thomas, and at the St Croix Educational Complex.
The event is the brainchild of CEI vice-president and radio personality Rashidi 'Rash on the Radio' Clenance.
CEI was founded by NBA star Tim Duncan and is a non-profit organisation aimed at improving education opportunities for people in the Virgin Islands and also the Caribbean.
According to Ce'Cile, "I was very happy to be a part of Women Wise as I understand the need for persons seen as role models to help send positive messages to young women, and I'm aware that music doesn't necessarily do that," she told THE STAR.
Panel discussions included topics on health and wellness, positive body image, conflict resolution, building a future and community resources.
Ce'Cile also plans to focus her humanitarian efforts in Jamaica.
Source: THE STAR

May 07, 2012

Mavado Found Guilty


By Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer 

WESTERN BUREAU: 
Dancehall Hall star David ‘Mavado’ Brooks was this morning found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm and malicious destruction of property, when the case against him concluded in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court. 


The deejay was sentenced to pay a fine of $80,000 or six months in prison on the assault charge, and $20,000 or six months on the charge of destruction of property. 

The charge against Mavado stemmed from an incident on July 22, 2011 when he and members of his entourage reportedly attacked a St James man, identified as Henry Cunningham; and his son, Oshane Cunningham, in what was described as a case of road rage. 

During the altercation, the Cunninghams sustained multiple injuries and the vehicle in which they were travelling was damaged. 

Following the sentencing, a pitiful-looking Brooks, who had pleaded not guilty to the charges, was escorted from the courtroom by police officers and taken to an adjoining holding area.