Terry Linen’s turning point
Author: admin // Category: LADY D, Radio, entertainment suss, reggaeTerry Linen’s turning point
Despite having had successes in the past and subsequently building on them in the present, singer Terry Linen still possesses that elusiveness about him which translates into his music. Hopefully, this just-released CD, which proclaims to all and sundry that he is A Better Man, will be the bridge over any troubled waters.
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| Terry Linen’s album cover |
With three big tunes in 2008, all of which had the potential to be mega hits for the singer, it was only natural that a CD would be in the making for this act doing a comeback in a year when there was a yawning space for a singer of this calibre.
Terry Linen’s No Time To Linger, Mood For Love and the title track for the CD A Better Man, struck a responsive chord with fans, made their way on charts locally and overseas and heralded the return of Kiplin ‘Terry Linen’ Simpson. Well produced and utilising the creative writing talents of Fitz ‘Favourite’ Livermore, these singles passed the musical litmus test, and fortunately, the rest of songs on the CD have basically stuck to the formula.
A 16-track compilation, with a ‘bonus track’, Couldn’t Be The Girl For Me, A Better Man explores love - lost and otherwise - fidelity and spirituality. Perhaps the only discordant note is track 16, It Hurt Dem, which gives a too-loud voice to detractors on a CD which is otherwise chock-full of positivity.
Worthy of note is the fact that the large majority of the songs are all original tracks, many of which can stand on their own rather than fit into the mould ‘filler’.
Linen does a rather haunting remake of the Might Diamonds classic Have Mercy on which he further slows the tempo and plays around with his vocals. On this track, he steps a bit out of his comfort zone and it is this (of course, one can hardly go wrong with a Mighty Diamond song) that makes it such a good listen. The CD would have had a better flavour had he challenged himself a bit more on other songs
In addition to the ‘big three’ listed above, which appear on the CD as tracks number 1 (No Time To Linger), number three (A Better Man) and number five (Mood For Love), Now one See The Sun, track number four, and number seven At Least/Back To Atlanta have that first-listen appeal.
Although he has matured, his voice still possesses that Garnet Silk sound, and this is especially evident on track number 16, Praise Ye The Lord.
Among the musicians who worked on this project are Dean ‘Canon’ Fraser, Robbie Lyn, Fabian ‘Fish’ Smith, Daniel ‘Axeman’ Thompson, Joslyn
‘Speckle’ McKenzie, Leroy ‘Mafia’ Heywood and Denver Smith
Taking production credits are Clive Hunt, Sidney Mills, Dean Fraser, Damion Allen, Fitz Livermore and Upliftng Music.
Executive producers are Tad A Dawkins Senior and Junior and the CD is distributed by Tad’s Records.
- Yasmine Peru
Assassin is now ‘Agent Sasco’
Contributed-Assassin
Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter
Dancehall artiste Assassin is certainly more mature and has even developed into ‘Agent Sasco’.
The artiste, whose real name is Jeffrey Campbell, said Agent Sasco is a “more spiritually aware, socially conscious” version of himself.
“It’s just a new branch to the whole brand. As I get more mature I try to focus on music that is not only geared at entertainment,” Assassin told THE STAR.
“Agent Sasco is a mission and a movement that is giving people music that they can relate to, give them thought, create more social awareness and encourage people to think more,” he said.
Assassin said he started the Agent Sasco movement with songs like Same Thing Again and Give Thanks. His other straight dancehall songs like Pree Dis and Almighty Protect Me, he said, he will leave to the interpretation of his listeners.
“Sometimes you put songs out and people find deeper meaning in them,” he told THE STAR.
alter ego
While the Agent Sasco persona will release more socially aware songs, Assassin said it is not an alter ego.
“It may be similar but not entirely an alter ego ’cause that is usually outside your normal character. This has always been a part of my work
, I’m just fine-tuning it now,” Assassin said.
His new CD, Assassin Agent Sasco Dancehall Mixtape, was recently released and another onedrop CD is currently being manufactured for distribution soon. He also has new songs like Stimulus Package and Guinep Stain which are doing well.
Assassin, who is currently in the United States, will return to Jamaica on Wednesday after shows in Atlanta and Los Angeles. In June, he will have shows in the US Virgin Islands
and The Bahamas.
Konshens apologies to Fans in Mobay, after Accident on Video Shoot
While on the set, of his latest video ‘She’s Happy’ ft. Delus, Saturday morning, Konshens while performing a very physical stunt, (which included him being accosted by a police officer, played by his brother-Delus). However while the scene was being shot, Konshens was accidentally slammed into the front glass of Avery’s Beauty Concept at Bujon Plaza, Molynes Rd, causing the glass to shatter.
Luckily, he failed to receive any major injuries to his face, however due to the direct frontal impact; several small pieces of small glass had entered the cavity of his eyes. This resulted in a postponement of several scenes in the video, and cancellation of his scheduled performance in Montego Bay for Saturday Night. The decision came after a family doctor recommended he remained in Kingston, for observation, if irritation to the eyes continues into Sunday.
Konshens wishes to apologies, and inform his fans, that he is recovering well, and that he is in fact in dismay, as he was eagerly looking forward to see them, and as such at the earliest time possible, he will aim to make an appearance in Montego Bay.
Swizz Beatz Tells Wife To Shut Up
Alicia Keys the new girl
Swizz Beatz wants his soon to be ex-wife to shut the hell up. The hit rapper slash producer has requested a gag-order in the his divorce proceedings with the R&B singer, Mashonda. Since splitting up last year, rumors have gone around that the reason the couple broke up was the relationship between Swizzy and singer Alicia Keys.
Mashonda’s lawyer, Bernard Clair, said everything was “flying under the radar until Mr. Dean and Alicia Keys went public about their long-term affair and he released a song implying that he likes it when Alicia serves him breakfast naked. Now that Mr. Dean’s questionable conduct is being scrutinized, he suddenly wants a gag order and the media to be locked out?”
Source: rapbasement
T.I.’s Prison Appeal Turned Down
Rapper T.I. will report to prison on Tuesday (26May09) to begin his year-long sentence as scheduled - his request to have the date pushed back has been denied.
The Live Your Life hitmaker is due to turn himself in to authorities by noon on 26 May (09) to begin a 366-day jail term, which he was handed in March (09) following his 2007 arrest for illegal weapons possession.
There is nothing more we can do. We think he was scored the wrong way.
The hip-hop star - real name Clifford Harris, Jr. - filed papers on Thursday (21May09) asking to have the sentence delayed by ten days to give him more time to secure a cell in a minimum-security prison near his home in Atlanta, Georgia.
But on Friday afternoon (22May09) U.S. District Judge Charles A. Pannell Jr. ruled T.I. must report to authorities in Forrest City, Arkansas on Tuesday as planned.
T.I.’s lawyer Donald F. Samuel tells AllHipHop.com, “There is nothing more we can do. We think he was scored the wrong way.”
T.I. packs Atlanta arena before heading to prison
ATLANTA – Grammy-winning rapper T.I. told fans he would stay optimistic when he heads to prison on a federal weapons conviction. The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., performed for a packed audience Sunday night in Atlanta’s Philips Arena less than two days before he is to begin serving the sentence of a year and a day.
“I’m going to stand up tall, head up high,” he said. “Thank you for all of your support.”
Many in the packed crowd of about 16,000 people held up encouraging signs, like one reading “T.I. We Will Miss U!”
He must report by noon Tuesday to the Federal Correction Institution at Forrest City, Ark. He was arrested after prosecutors said he tried to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007.
During the concert, T.I. said he hoped that everyone learned from his mistakes. He brought his five children on stage, often holding one of them while he performed “No Matter What” — a single off the almost double-platinum album “Paper Trail.”
T.I., who won a Grammy for “Swagga Like Us,” also performed all his hits from “What You Know” to “Bring ‘Em Out” to his recent chart-topping singles “What Ever You Like” and “Live Your Life.” Teenage rapper Soulja Boy also joined him on stage.
“What I need y’all to do is pray for me while I’m gone,” he said. “I’ll see y’all in 366 days.”
Dolla Laid to Rest
Hundreds of mourners have paid their respects to slain rapper Dolla, who was buried in a traditional Muslim ceremony on Saturday (23May09).
The 21-year-old rising star, real name Roderick Anthony Burton II, was shot in the head outside L.A.’s Beverly Center mall on Monday (18May09). He died later that day in hospital.
Family, friends and fans gathered for the funeral at the Word of Faith Love Center in Dolla’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday afternoonto pay tribute to the late star, according to Allhiphop.
The traditional burial ceremony came after a small, private wake on Friday (22May09) which was held at a funeral home in the city and attended by stars including Dolla’s Konvict Muzik labelmate Ray Lavender and Smallville actor Sam Jones III.
Aubrey Berry, 23, from Atlanta, Georgia, has pleaded not guilty to the hip-hop star’s murder and remains in custody on $5 million bail.
source: outaroad.com, femalefirstuk., mediatakeout.com, jamaicaobserver.com, jamaicastar.com
Top entertainer and dancehall music star Mavado will be among the premier acts at the 13th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, 
The world’s greatest showcase of reggae music will take place from July 19-25 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The July 19 beach party and the ensuing three days of epic live performances (starting with Dancehall Night on Thursday, July 23) that make up the annual event, will captivate the thousands of tourists and Jamaicans alike who make the trek each year to this, the Mecca of reggae music festivals; Summerfest Productions is looking to make this years’ Reggae Sumfest, another ‘one to remember’.
