SIZZLA vs the Gays

FRENCH SIZZLA CONCERT CANCELLED OVER GAY CONCERNS

The GARRANCE REGGAE FESTIVAL in Paris has been cancelled after of a flood of complaints about singer SIZZLA's anti-gay lyrics. The festival, which was due to take place on Saturday (02JUL05), was called off because of "risk of public disorder", event organisers say. French gay rights groups complain Sizzla's lyrics incite violence towards homosexuals after OutRage, a British gay rights group, translated Jamaican patois lyrics from Sizzla's PUMP UP song as, "Burn the men who have sex with men." The singer, real name MIGUEL COLLINS, defends his lyrics with his religious beliefs. He argues, "They can't ask me to apologise. They've got to apologise to God because they break God's law."
29/06/2005 05:55

taken from: http://www.contactmusic.com/

Dancehall Documentary's first ever received press release

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:

Septakahn, Vybez Cartel, Ce’cile, Yammi Bolo, Chino, T.O.K

Feature On Icy Cold Records II “Tsunami” CD

New York, NY– July 1, 2005 – O’Neil Gray PKA Septakhan, CEO of Icy Cold Records II and Janhoi Cole, Founder and CEO of Icy Cold Entertainment, announce today the Street Date Release of the long awaited “Tsunami” (Icy Cold Records II) CD Album, which will be distributed worldwide by K.E.S. Distribution from July 19, 2005. In the vein of classic Jamaican Dancehall with a Black Eyed Peas and Gwen Stefani feel, the Tsunami CD is set to be a summer smash.

The ground breaking reggae mix CD features the single “My Bell” by the multi-talented Septakahn, son of reggae royalty’s Judy Mowatt and featuring Shema [Yeshemabeth], daughter of reggae superstar icon Freddie McGregor. The Tsunami CD also features up coming reggae star Hawkman, and dancehall star Vybez Cartel, together with Ce’cile, Chino [son of Freddie McGregor], T.O.K, Yammi Bolo, Major Damage, Danny English and others.

The Tsunami CD will receive full market coverage with video and radio promotions, P.O.P, In-Store promotions and worldwide tour, together with college tour, through a deal inked with K.E.S. Distribution’s independent music and video resource support team NMAP [National Marketing Advertising & Promotion, LLC]. The K.E.S. distribution network stretches to over 80,000 retail outlets across the USA, and key overseas markets. With a vast distribution network that consists of such major chains such as Tower, Wherehouse, Virgin, Blockbuster, Wal-Mart, K-mart, Fye, and Barnes & Nobles, to name a few. K.E.S. also provides products to drug & food chains & (AAFES) Military outlets.

Fully versed in what it takes to create a hit tune; O’Neil Gray, was born into reggae royalty, being the oldest son of reggae icon Judy Mowatt, who is best known for her solo work “Black Woman,” “Working Wonders,” and “Love is Overdue” amongst others, as well as being a member of Bob Marley’s highly regarded backing group “I-Threes” together with Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths. Gray’s father Junior Gray was a giant in the industry, being the producer for such artist as Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, the Ska and Soca legend, as well as Dennis Brown, Cynthia Schloss, Boris Gardner and Arrow to name a few.

Icy Cold Entertainment founder, Janhoi Cole is also blessed with reggae’s royal blood lineage, being the younger brother of Gray; he is also the youngest son of Judy Mowatt, his father being Alan “Skills” Cole, who was Bob Marley’s business manger and personal friend. His astute business acumen dreamt up the Icy Cold concept, and he is currently investing in the artist Hawkman with the intention of releasing the album “Fulfillment” later this year on his Icy Cold Records I label.

The New York based music entertainment group which comprise three labels under the umbrella [Icy Cold Records I, II and III] have a series of releases ready to be unleashed on the market; Icy Cold Records II, will release the brother’s sister Yeshemabeth’s album “A New State of Mind” later this year, as well as new artist Alki Beulan and Judy Mowatt “Live” amongst others. Visit: http://icycoldentertainment.com for biographies and further information.

Media Contact:

ACM PR: A.C. McLean

TEL: 312 373 1778 (USA)

TEL: 0207 078 4335 (UK)

Electronic Mail: acm@acmpr.com

URL: http://www.acmpr.com

BUJU a buss the place again...

by Kevin Jackson for Eurweb

*International Reggae Star Buju Banton's Blazing "Magic City" Video Blows Up On World Wide Web

Gargamel Music, Inc. has announced that the breathtaking new video for “Magic City,” the lead single from Buju Banton’s highly anticipated album “Rasta Got Soul,” has been added into online rotation at AOLMUSIC.COM, MTV.COM, LAUNCH.COM and BLASTRO.COM, making the fervently sought-after clip available for immediate viewing by Buju’s fans in Africa, Asia, Europe and other parts of the Caribbean.

“I am extremely thankful to have such prestigious media outlets supporting me on my independent musical trod,” says Gargamel Music, Inc. CEO and artist, Buju Banton a.k.a. Gargamel. “It means so much to be able to deliver Jah works to my fans around the world.”

The “Magic City” 7” was released last month on Gargamel Music, Inc. (distributed by Fat Beats - www.fatbeats.com) and has received rave reviews from The Source and The Beat, which gave the single 5 out of 5 stars. The UK’s Touch magazine also gave the song 5 stars and called Buju’s Rasta Got Soul “the most exciting and enticing project in years.”

Meanwhile, the Banton has a steady slew of hits charting in Jamaica, Miami and New York, including “Haffi Get A Beating” featuring the legendary, late Peter Tosh and “Too Bloody” featuring singer Anthony Cruz. Both songs will be on the new album, due later on this year.

Catch Buju Banton performing live at the International Reggae Superstars Concert (internationalreggaesuperstars.com) in Toronto on June 26, the 8th Annual Reggae Carifest (reggaecarifest.com) in New York on July 10, Reggae on the River (reggaeontheriver.com) in Northern California on August 6 and Jamaican Gold (lareggaeclubs.com) in Los Angeles on August 7.

AKON @ SUMFEST

Akon Not Lonely On Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CVM Communications Group) - "Ghetto", "Locked Up" and now "Lonely" heralded the arrival of hip hip's newest "it" boy, Akon on the radio airwaves around the world. In Jamaica, his music has rocked the dancehall and moved the masses like few others before him.

Akon is therefore, a natural choice for Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest slated for July 17 - 23 in Montego Bay. With the support of leading sponsors, Red Stripe, b Mobile and Wata, the week long festival offers a variety of events and three venues in the resort city of Montego Bay.

READ THE REST AT: http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=15951

SIZZLA & ANTHONY B

July12 June 28

WELCOME TO JAMROCK

Junior Gong ties father's record Entertainment

By Kevin Jackson Observer writer Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Junior Gong's Welcome To Jamrock single is spending its 14th week at number one on the New York Reggae chart. What is interesting about his accomplishment is that Gong's father, the late reggae icon Bob Marley, spent 14 weeks at number one on the same chart in 1980 with Could You Be Loved.

Junior Gong

Welcome To Jamrock which samples Ini Kamoze's 1984 hit World A Reggae Music, moves up to number 48 on this week's Billboard R&B Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

On that chart, the senior Marley peaked at number 19 with Exodus, the year before Jr Gong was born, 1977.

READ IT AT THE JAMAICA OBSERVER

Dancehall INNA Suriname too

Popular dancehall artiste gunned down in Suriname

by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent

Monday, June 13, 2005

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Suriname’s most popular dancehall singer/performer ‘Papa Touwtjie’ (Johan Touwslager) was shot dead last week in an altercation with his two brothers.

The tragedy took place in Geyersvlijt on the outskirts of the capital Paramaribo.

It is alleged that the two elder brothers got involved in a quarrel with a younger sibling, which escalated and resulted in the shooting. According to eyewitnesses, the elder brothers chased after the younger one, when one of them, a security officer, fell to the ground and in a brawl lost his service revolver to the younger brother, who fired a couple of rounds at his assailants.

Both men sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospital. On arrival at the hospital, Papa Touwtjie was pronounced dead. His brother, who sustained gunshot wounds to the leg, was treated and warded at the medical facility.

So far no arrests have been made. The suspect fled the scene with the gun still in his possession.

In 1994, the now deceased artiste rose to fame with a cover version of Jamaica’s Terror Fabulous’ hit song ‘Gangster’, after serving time for petty crimes. He subsequently became a dancehall/reggae icon in Suriname and influenced a lot of young artist in the dancehall/reggae scene.

Some three weeks ago he released his latest CD and cemented an exclusive deal with a local retailer, reportedly the best contract any Surinamese artiste had ever closed with a reseller.

‘Papa T’, as he called himself lately, was extremely popular among the youth and underprivileged people in the Surinamese society. In his songs he took a stand against poverty, other social problems, the hardship in jail and real life and the judicial system, which he characterized as unjust and unfair to poor people.

The late artiste was often the centre of controversy with his protest songs, strong language and lyrics against the political establishment.

After the news of his death broke, scores of friends and fans came out to his home for a vigil.

Papa Touwtjie’s dream was to perform at Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica.

JAMAICAN CULTURE IN THE REST OF THE CARIBBEAN

An extract from a Trinidad newspaper article on in fighting in Trinidad and small island complexes etc.

Trinis talking down Trinis

Keith Smith

Tuesday, June 28th 2005

Now, as a man with a Grenadian father and, as a result, having grown up with any number of Grenadian foster-fathers-successful men, to boot-I should tell you that I don't know how "Grenadian" became a term of derision but you'd know that I'd be posturing, you knowing as well as I that that is another seta Trinidadian stupidness engendered, I suppose, by some mistaken sense of superiority over the "small islands" as if we big and, as if we don't work ourselves up into a curry goat stew fuming over how Jamaicans feel they better than us, more than ever now that their "culture" is well and truly in place here, half the youth at least into dancehall and things Rastafarian and, since the police sure to be listening, we'd better not go on 'bout the "happy herb" that ganja, supposedly-only supposedly, mind you-is.

read the article in its entirety at: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_opinion?id=85835068

{In the words of the immortal Sizzla Kalonji... "Rasta taking ova, and we got nuttin to fear..."}

Some stale but decent and somewhat interesting news out of TRINIDAD

Kelly is 'Dancehall Queen' 2005 Wayne Bowman Monday, May 23rd 2005

Kelly-Ann Simon dances her way to the title of Dancehall Queen of Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday at MOBS2, Chaguaramas, at the local leg of the international competition. Simon earned more than $10,000 in cash and prizes as well as a place in the Interna Kelly-Ann Simon of Morvant is the 2005 Dancehall Queen of Trinidad and Tobago. She beat five other competitors on Saturday at MOBS2, Chaguaramas to win the tile and more than $10,000 in cash and prizes as well as a place in the International Dancehall Queen competition in Montego Bay, Jamaica, later this year. Simon took the championship after three rounds of dancing during which the starting six were whittled down to two-Simon and Sapphire Thomas who was a favourite for the title. Read the rest here: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=79206056

Bob Marley as Forbes Billionaire

Bob Marley, Lee Chin on Forbes billionaires list

By YOLANDE GYLES, Freelance Writer

WHAT DO MICHAEL Lee Chin and Bob Marley have in common? Well, aside from the obvious - both are prominent Jamaican men - they have also both made leading business magazine, Forbes lists.

Lee Chin is currently ranked at number 243 among the richest persons in the world, while Marley is ninth on the list of top earning dead celebrities.

The 2005 list of the world's 691 billionaires on which Lee Chin is named was published by the magazine this week. Lee Chin's list is topped by Bill Gates, founder of computing software conglomerate Microsoft.

Meanwhile reggae legend Marley's ranking comes from 2004; the 2005 list is yet to be released.

Lee Chin ­ owner of local finance conglomerate National Commercial Bank (NCB), Trinidad and Tobago based Total Finance bank and one of Canada's leading mutual fund companies' AIC ­ is said by the magazine to have a total net worth of US $2.5 billion.

On the 2004 list he was ranked at number 216 with US$2.4 billion. He first entered the Forbes' World's Richest List in 2001 ranked at number 490 with a net worth of US$1 billion. In 2002, he jumped to number 413, with a net worth of US$ 1.1 billion and leapt again the following year to number 303 with a net worth of US$1.4 billion.

Meanwhile, Marley, 23 years after his death earned some US$7 million through the continued marketing of products bearing his image, sale of his music and endorsements. The list with Marley was topped by rock and roll musician Elvis Presley.

In 2003, Marley's estate made him significantly more money with US$9 million but his rank remained the same at number nine. In 2002, the second time the list was published, Marley was at number eight with earnings of US$10 million, while in 2001 he was two places higher at sixth with the same US$10 million in earnings.

Taken from The Star

Skyjuice

'Big Belly Skyjuice' draws big crowds as he selects us again

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WALTER'S WORLD by WALTER BROWN

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IT has been more than a quarter of a century and Skyjuice shows no sign of slowing down.
After a sold-out performance at the Crawl Club and the Somerset Cricket Club last Friday and Saturday nights respectively, "Big Belly Skyjuice", as his fans know him, is on top of his game.
"I love Bermuda and this is my fourth time here. I'm always touring and the only time I'm home is for special events like my birthday or other big events in Jamaica," he exclaimed.
During his whistle-stop visit, the veteran selector 'juggled' alongside sons of the soil After Dark on Friday and Magnum the following night.

Magnum's co-manager Kuane Smith hailed the event a resounding success and added: "The people weren't disappointed and we managed to appeal to the large cross-section of attendees on both nights. From the younger partygoers to the more mature crowd, everyone was happy and the feedback was most positive."

Touring hasn't jaded Metro Media's veteran selector, who has performed in venues ranging from 250 to 25,000.

"When I first started (performing) I was making ten (Jamaican) dollars a night, but I loved reggae music and have been doing it for 25 years now," he added.

When asked how he managed to carve his niche in dancehall, Skyjuice wasn't at a loss for words.
"I used to be a good dancer when I first started out and as time went on I started to play when it used to be just one turntable.

read rest here: Royal Gazette

Portmore Awards come to ... Daylight end

Portmore Awards come to ... Daylight end
published: Monday | June 20, 2005

Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

CHAM

WESTERN BUREAU:

TERROR FABULOUS returned in good, if not outstanding, form at the 2005 staging of the Portmore Awards.

The show held at the Caymanas Football Field in Portmore, St. Catherine, also saw awards being handed out to Macka Diamond, Professor Nuts and Gregory Isaacs. Billed headliners Sizzla, Anthony B and Beenie Man did not perform, but the 'unbilled' Baby Cham sparkled and two of an abbreviated 'Magnificent 7', Turbulence and Ghandi, were also in especially good form.

The show ended with a command from MC Nuffy to "pull up" at 5:20 a.m. yesterday morning, as an audience that had stuck through a long programme drifted away.

The event pulled out enough people to fill a little over a third of the football field, with some choosing to stand a bit back from the bulk of the crowd. And it pulled out pride from Nuffy who was also the promoter.

"Look pon me nice, decent show. Me feel nice yu know. A de firs' time me a put on a band show," he said. The band for the entire show was Live Wya.

In the relatively early going, Trapper John with his encouragement to work ("how it a go when you an' Mista Lazy a par"), Mikeylous ("it sticky ova farin an' it sticky dung a yard"), Benito with his searing description of "where I live" and Derrick Parker's Bus De Appeal were among those who hit the right note with the audience.

Read the rest at the Gleaner: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050620/ent/ent1.html

Excellent Article on reggae from Village Voice

Reggae's Return to Roots
Just in time for summer, the Jamaican crossover pendulum swings consciously back
by Baz Dreisinger
May 26th, 2005 4:03 PM

For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. As it is in physics, so it goes in Jamaica—where songs ever oscillate from the joys of Jah to the pleasures of pum-pum. Reggae's recent Billboard strides—i.e., dancehall ambassadors Sean Paul, Elephant Man, and Wayne Wonder—have privileged the latter. The task fell on their lockless heads: Make it known that contemporary reggae need not look or sound like your father's reggae; we can even steep in sexy, electronic vibrations more than acoustic, Rastaman ones.

But the pendulum has swung back. This summer's sound—old stereotypes about reggae as beach music, not fit for the less-than-irie winter months, make reggae crossover a warm-weather sport—is looking like a return to roots. It began in Jamaica last year: A Rastafarian-reggae renaissance led by a spate of young, conscious artists turned the dancehall into a tuneful house of worship, where the songs earning the most forwards were brimming with righteous indignation or sweet and nice as fresh cane.

Two such tunes have migrated to our airwaves; the artists behind them are front-runners for the poster child post that Sean Paul has momentarily abdicated. Damian "Junior Gong" Marley's "Welcome to Jamrock," off his much anticipated album due in August, suggests that the youngest Marley might be the best one yet. Over a haunting sample of Ini Kamoze's "World-a-Music," Marley unleashes stunningly incisive lyrics about the hardcore Jamaica that Sandals-loving tourists, "on di beach wid a few club sodas," never see. Never mind that this Marley grew up far from his father's tenement yard; his tune is a brilliant marriage of old-school music and new-school vocals, a roots ethos and a dancehall vibe—which is just what Junior Gong represents: not a simulation of his father's sound but a vibrant updating of it.

rest at: http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0522,dreisinger,64433,22.html

Buju fighting to have ganja convictions overturned

Buju fighting to have ganja convictions overturned

By BARBARA GAYLE, Staff Reporter

POPULAR ENTERTAINER MARK 'Buju Banton' Myrie is pursuing his legal battle in the Court of Appeal to have his convictions for possession of ganja and cultivating ganja overturned.

He was convicted in the Corporate Area Criminal Court on March 26. Resident Magistrate Kissock Laing fined Myrie $3,000 for possession of ganja and $6, 000 for cultivating ganja or 30 days imprisonment.

Attorney-at-law Christopher Dunkley, who represented Myrie at the trial had asked RM Laing not to record the convictions because they could affect Myrie's travel arrangements. He said then that Myrie had certain contracts to fulfill abroad.

Dunkley even cited an instance where another popular reggae entertainer, Jepther 'Luciano' McClymoth was fined for ganja but no conviction was recorded.

However, RM Laing said while he knew Myrie to make significant contributions to the reggae industry, until the decriminalisation of ganja, the court's hands were tied. He added that the court had to take into consideration the amount of drugs involved.

read rest at:The Star

Foxy Brown and SIZZLA KALONJI

"The last album, Broken Silence, I did the reggae and hip-hop," she recalled. "My parents are Trinidadian, and that's my culture. I wanted to incorporate dancehall, reggae and soca into hip-hop. The powers that be at Def Jam weren't having it. I said, 'Screw y'all, I'm doing it anyway.' I did ['Oh Yeah']. [For this album] Jay said, 'You're the only one that can do that, let's stick with that.' "

Fox's first single is called "Come Fly With Me" and features dancehall legend Sizzla.

"I wanted to go to the left," Brown said. "Everybody expected a radio-friendly record, or a pop record, or a gutter record. ['Come Fly With Me'], it's rock, dancehall, hip-hop — you can't classify this record. Sizzla is one of my best friends, and he's the hottest artist in Jamaica right now. My brother did the beat. When I first heard the beat, I didn't understand it because there were so many things going on. And Sizzla just started 'Come flyyy with me.' I was like, 'That's it. Go in the studio, go do it.' I came with 'Nana got a new drop top. Come ride with me.' "

Black Roses is due August 23.

read the full story here: http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1503703/20050607/foxy_brown.jhtml?headlines=true

I wonder if the Black Roses song is a cover of Barrington Levy's Black Roses???

Reggae Duality and Dichotomy

Lloyd Parks in demand to do 'specials' for sounds in Europe His 1970-2004 collection officially on the market

Basil Walters, Observer staff reporter Friday, June 17, 2005

PArks. normally an artiste would hang around studios looking for a job to do specials. they come to me

An interesting paradox in the music business is that on the one hand, many name-brand acts in Jamaica are not prominent in Europe, long regarded as reggae's biggest market. On the other hand, there are scores of home-grown reggae artistes about whom very little is heard here at home, but who in Europe are regarded as icons.

How does one explain that in Jamaica, recording "specials" (exclusive records for sound clashes), are dominated by the hardcore dancehall acts, while a Lloyd Parks of old-school vintage is one of the most sought after Jamaican artistes when it comes to the recording of "specials" in Europe?

"What's been happening to me now, I find that a lot of sound systems from France, Germany and all over the place have been coming to me to do specials," Parks told Splash.

"What probably triggered it off is that I did a special for a sound named Sound Quake, the top sound in Germany and they used it to win a sound clash," said the veteran bandleader, singer, and songwriter.

Read rest at: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/
20050616T210000-0500_82509_OBS_LLOYD_PARKS_IN_DEMAND_TO_DO__
SPECIALS__FOR_SOUNDS_IN_EUROPE_.asp

MTV ready to take on Caribbean Music

OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

MTV to launch Caribbean music network
CARIBBEAN MUSIC MAY be about to get another big break on the international scene, as Tempo, a new cable television network dedicated to Caribbean music and culture, will be launched by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom Inc.
taken from THE STAR(Jamaica Local Tabloid)
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Here ladies and gentlemen is another example of Caribbean insecurity, the Caribbean rejoices while another multinational whores us out. We need North American initiatives for us to believe or pursuits are warranted and relevant. I was quite fine with REtv, HypeTV, Music+, but noooooo we had to add this, I long for the day when a Caribbean initiative makes it on its own, why couldn't we "boots up"(boost) our own local stations instead of now possibly casting them into oblivion. My prayers to all local Tv I hope they can stave off the foreigners...

Dancehall underpressure

iTunes exec wants nothing to do with J'can musicians

Written by jamaica-gleaner.com

June 08, 2005

Britain's popular black newspaper, The Voice, recently broke news about a manager at Apple's iTunes online music retail shop who admitted that he wants nothing to do with Jamaican musicians. His response to an email from dancehall deejay Buju Banton's public relations team was blunt and to the point as he stated "Please remove me from any list having to do with this artist or any Jamaican artist actually." Many in Jamaica's music industry are naturally angered by this statement, as it comes from an individual who should be unbiased and objective given the position he holds. Email forwards about this incident are making their way all over the Web, so there may be more to come yet. Check The Voice online at http://www.voice-online.net/. http://www.voice-online.net/content.php?show=6788&type=1 http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050608/business/business6.html