Popccan Pleads guilty for using Hennessy bottle to hit police officer in the face

Dancehall star Andre 'Popcaan' Sutherland was yesterday fined for assaulting a police officer at the Norman Manley International Airport in 2013.

The artiste, who is also known as 'Poppi', was fined $25,000 or six months' imprisonment, after pleading guilty to the charge in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court. Popcaan was represented by Bert Samuels.

Samuels had asked the court for the charge not to be a part of his client's permanent record or it may affect his ability to travel.

"The court was told that we wish to go to mediation on the matter. The police officer was asked if he wished to mediate and he agreed," Samuels told THE WEEKEND STAR.

He noted that mediation was one of the ways to avoid a person getting a record against their name.

Allegations were that on November 24, 2013, Popcaan was preparing to leave the island when he was stopped by the police who requested a search of his luggage. The entertainer refused to be searched and became boisterous, using expletives to the officers.

During the dispute, the 'unruly' deejay was accused of using a Hennessy bottle to hit one of the policemen in the face, causing a wound. The deejay was later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Source: THE WEEKEND STAR

Mojo Morgan says thanks for Grammy

 Gramps, Una, Mojo, Lukes and Peetah 

While Gramps, Peetah and Lukes travelled to the Grammys, and ultimately collected the award for Best Reggae Album, Mr Mojo was relaxing in Kenya, absorbing the good news that Morgan Heritage are Grammy winners.

Later this week, he joins his siblings for a tour of the USA, taking in New York, the Carolinas, Boston and other areas, after which the band returns to Africa for performances in Kenya, Zimbabwe (hopefully), Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Senegal and other countries.

Until then, Mojo says he is just relaxing and enjoying the announcement. "It's more glory to the Most High, His grace and mercy allow us to be here," he told THE STAR. "We are glad for the opportunity to do music and to uplift the culture and uplift Rastafari. We are proud Jamaicans and proud Rastafarians."

His list of thank you was overwhelming. "We thank our families for their love and support, it's their sacrifice that keeps us going; the fans who come to our concerts and buy our music; the people behind the music who make fans aware of our music, people like Contractor, Roach, Yasmin Peru, Ray Alexander, Malica from MPR Consultants, Naheesha from Urban Relations, general manager Wendy Morgan."

Mojo also said thanks to radio disc jockeys in Jamaica and abroad, fellow musicians, the media and others who may have impacted their career somehow.

"All of the reggae fraternity, locally and internationally, we give thanks. It's not a one-man show, it's all of us as musicians and we feel very proud at this time to be part of such a bunch of musicians promoting love, unity, equality and justice."

source: THE STAR

MUSIC VIDEO: I-OCTANE – ONE LIFE

Lady Saw returns promoters' money - Keeps promise made after becoming a Christian

Keeps promise made after becoming a Christian

Former dancehall artiste Lady Saw has begun reimbursing promoters who had contracted her to perform prior to her conversion to Christianity.

Following her decision to become a Christian, Saw, whose real name is Marion Hall, also announced that she would be ceasing her performances as a dancehall artiste.

"I have spoken, every promoter that I was supposed to work with in the future and started the process to repay them," explained Saw.

According to the artiste, dubbed the Queen of Dancehall, she has begun repaying several promoters since her conversion more than a week ago.

"I have been doing transfers daily to promoters, but I haven't been able to repay everyone yet because there is a limit to the sum that I can use daily," she added.

deposit paid

One promoter, Jermaine Blake, who had been contemplating legal action against Hall because she had not contacted him initially since her conversion, told THE STAR that he and the former dancehall had reached an agreement.

"We have spoken and she had agreed to repay both the deposit and promotional cost so we are good now," said Blake.

In a prior interview, the event promoter had said he paid over $300,000 for promotions in addition to the deposit paid to Saw for his St Thomas show, Rumbar Glow, but he had not been contacted by the deejay since her baptism.

The promoter of Yush, Phillip Palmer, which Saw was set to perform on tomorrow, told THE STAR that they are trusting the former deejay to keep her word that she will be repaying the deposit they had paid.

"She has promised to refund all deposits. We have not gotten the money back as yet, but we are holding on to her word in good faith."

The 43-year-old veteran dancehall icon said she will be able to complete the process of reimbursement in short order.

"I am just working on finishing this as soon as possible so I can focus fully on being a servant of the Lord, and the promoters have been very understanding so far," said Saw.

Source: Jamaica Star

I-Octane kicks off new brand ambassador role

Left - I-Octane and right - marketing manager for golden eagle Peter Plummer

Kingston, JAMAICA: - When you see reggae/dancehall star Byiome ‘I-Octane’ Muir these days, chances are he’ll be wearing a pair of spanking new, Italian-made, Golden Eagle shoes.  That’s because the in-demand, multi-award winning entertainer recently signed a deal as the official ambassador for the trendy footwear brand.

The signing which took place Wednesday, November 18 at Sunset Beach in Montego Bay, was a private affair attended by all the key players, including marketing agent Peter Plummer, along with I-Octane and his manager, Ray Alexander. Man of the moment, I-Octane was like a child in a candy store as he indulged himself by trying  on several different pairs of Golden Eagle shoes in an effort to decide which pair to wear for the signing.

“I feel really good about endorsing this shoe brand,” stated a beaming I-Octane, who is also the brand ambassador for Digicel and Busta.

The shoes, which I-Octane emphasized “are the ultimate in comfort, fashion and style” are available island-wide and although relatively new to Jamaica, the brand has stamped its name throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas as a brand to contend with in men’s fashion, since its inception in the mid-1980s

“Golden Eagle selected some of the best fashion designers out of France and some world renowned shoe designers  and shoe engineers out of Italy to create and design our foot wear to ensure style, safety, and durability,” marketing agent Peter Plummer explained.

Golden Eagle, which was introduced to Jamaica in 2009, has its main store and headquarters at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay.  Over the years, the management has been approached by various agents of athletes and entertainer from the music fraternity negotiating endorsements deals. One was never negotiated until now.

Meanwhile, I-Octane who recently returned from a successful tour of Europe, is literally working hard in the studio. His latest dream project sees him building his own recording studio, Conquer The Globe, which, incidentally, is also the name of his personal backing band.

“Over the years, I have worked with various producers and at different studios, but the time eventually comes when you want your own. I am not saying that I won’t be working with other producers in the business, because that would be arrogant, but having my own studio will enhance my creativity and give me more flexibility. Team I-Octane is ready to conquer the globe,” he emphasised. 

JAH CURE, WIFE SPLIT?

Despite a beautiful wedding ceremony in 2011 at the luxurious Tryall Club in Hanover, it

seems reggae singer Jah Cure and his media personality wife, Kamila McDonald, are now separated.

The two wedded in August 2011, two years after meeting along Constant Spring Road, St Andrew. After what seemed like a blissful marriage that bore a daughter, things no longer seem as peachy between the two, THE WEEKEND STAR understands.

A close family friend recently confirmed the split, stating that Kamila has moved out of the home she shared with Jah Cure.

"She moved out of the marital home and back into her family home over a month now. So by the looks of it, it seems to be over," the anonymous source said.

The source also told THE WEEKEND STAR that neither party has been wearing their wedding rings for months.

Speculations were also ripe earlier this week when Kamila posted a picture showing off her nails on her Instagram page. Many persons had questions about the state of the marriage because her wedding ring was not seen on her finger.

"Wedding ring off? Time to slide thru da DM (direct message)," one person commented.

However, other persons were quite defensive of the couple, saying that they doubt that there is any trouble in the marriage.

As for her Instagram page, Kamila has not made any posts with Jah Cure in over nine weeks. Similarly, the last time Jah Cure mentioned her on his Instagram page was eight weeks ago.

Despite several efforts, THE WEEKEND STAR was unable to get a comment from the two.

Source: THE WEEKEND STAR 

I-Octane ignites Europe

Judging from the daily updates on Facebook and Instagram, it’s safe to say that Reggae

dancehall star, I-Octane, is enjoying every second of his European tour, as he keeps his fans happy both on and off the stage, while keeping in touch with life in Jamaica.

The Digicel/Busta brand ambassador, who has been roaming courtesy of the “bigger, better network”, has officially been on tour since Friday October 9, when he kick-started the schedule with a trio of sold-out concerts that weekend. He performed for a throng of enthusiastic fans in Paris, France, on Friday, then went across the border to Mannheim in Germany on Saturday and returned to France on Sunday for a performance at Le Satynis in Toulon, leaving a trail of intense satisfaction and solid promises to return next year.

“It’s just more life,” an ecstatic I-Octane declared after his mega successful first weekend. “When I came to Europe in 2014, it was for the big festivals, now I am headlining concerts which give me a great opportunity to get up close with my fans. Even when we don’t speak the same language I can feel the love … and the energy is just awesome. I had a dream of this happening in Europe and it’s a great feeling when dreams really come true,” the I L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. singer said.

With 12 of the 19 shows already ticked off his hectic itinerary, the artiste is nowhere near ready to wind down. A string of shows saw him performing in a different German city each night between October 13 and 17. He had concerts in Osnanbruck, Nuremburg, Berlin – the German capital – and Hamburg, after which he travelled to Austria, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland, where he treated fans to awesome performances. An upbeat I-Octane, who noted in one Facebook post that “Pam big son out in the world doing big things”, says his stamina seems to be increasing, even as the European massives get more demanding.

“Europe is not a place where you can give a 45-minute performance. Once you mention an European performance, you are talking about nothing less than two hours. So you know that we have to keep up the exercise regimen, eat right, get lots of rest and stay focused. The road is grueling, but the enjoyment of entertaining my people and the appreciation from fans can make an eight-hour journey from one country to another feel like half an hour,” said the artiste, whose Prison Life video recently had it premier to rave reviews.

He noted that one of the greatest joys on the road was meeting up and performing alongside other Jamaican artistes.

“Sasco and I did a show in Austria on Sunday and it was siiiiick,” he said of the much-talked-about concert entitled ‘Champions In Action’ held at the Reigen in Vienna.

After a few days break,, I-Octane resumes touring on October 29 at the Deluxe Club in Munich, Germany. The curtains close on the tour on November 8 at Club Empire in Rotterdam, Netherlands.