Tony Rebel makes plea to cleanse dancehall

By Steven Jackson Observer writer

Germany’s Adolf Hitler, France and the US taught the world about violence and sex charged event organiser Tony Rebel in a plea to cleanse dancehall of explicit lyrics.

Explicit dancehall, his argument suggested was not marketable in Europe and contributed to poor US sales in 2009.

TONY REBEL…don’t apologise for endorsing and loving and support the realauthentic side of Jamaica music

“You can’t preach violence in music and expect the people of Germany to accept it. Because Hitler already show them what violence is. You cannot teach the French and the Americans about sex. A dem mek it,” Rebel who spoke at the recent launch of Rebel Salute stated.

The top deejays of 2009 were Mavado and Vybz Kartel whose explicit recordings and tribalised fans fuelled the ‘gully versus gaza’ divide. But Kartel and former mentor Bounty Killer also traded lyrical curses along with Flippa Mafia and Elephant Man. The music remained mainly underground but formed the subtext of poor sales in 2009: A year in which no dancehall artiste sold over 80,000 copies in the US market, according to Soundscan, the sales tracker of music and video products throughout North America. Last week rising deejay Ra Deal defended artistes and blamed record company mismanagement and negative publicity for the decline in the music industry.

Rebel added: “What they love about us, is when them going through hardship and terrible times dem hear ‘don’t worry about a ting’. That is what they want…don’t apologise for endorsing and loving and support the real authentic side of Jamaica music.”

International reggae charts continue to be dominated by non Jamaican reggae artistes. For instance iTunes reggae charts in Japan, Germany and New Zealand, on January 1, had only one Jamaican-born artiste — Bob Marley — in the top ten, signalling to some pundits that Jamaica is losing influence on reggae.

Top sellers in the US market were Sean Paul’s Imperial Blaze (Atlantic Records), Matisyahu’s Light (Epic Records) and Reggae Gold (VP Records), which sold some 69,700, 56,700 and 40,000 respectively in North America. Conscious reggae group Morgan Heritage and dancehall producer-turned-singer Serani, made first week sales of 300 and 1,200 units respectively, but were still able to chart on Billboard.

According to Rebel, the line-up of the 2010 staging of Rebel Salute includes the London-based Steel Pulse, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Capleton, Alaine, Marion Hall (aka Lady Saw), Sasco (aka Assassin), Richie Spice, I-Octane, Brown Sugar, Stream, Romain Virgo, Noddy Virtue, Hezron, Bugle, Ras Penco, I-Wayne, Gramps Morgan (from Morgan Heritage), Jah Mason, Stevie Face, Chevaughn and C Sharp, Freddie McGregor, Junior Murvin, Singing Melody, Leroy Gibbons, Daddy U-Roy, Pinchers, Peter Metro, Ronnie Davis of the Itals’ fame from which a member David Isaacs died recently, and many others.

Junior X set to drop music video for Gangster Life

By: Entertainment with Rollo

Revolutionary Entertainment recording artist Junior X recently shot a music video for his latest single titled Gangster Life, which is the second single from his soon to be released debut album. The music video was shot at various locations across Kingston such as Waterhouse, down town Kingston and Rae Town under the direction of ace music video director Asha McHail. The music video will be released before the end of January.

Since its release in December of last year Gangster Life has been receiving heavy rotation on radio stations such as IRIE FM, ZIP FM, FAME FM and HITZ 92 FM.

Junior X is also doing well on the charts with his controversial single titled The Pill which was released in the middle of 2009. It is currently sitting in the number four position on the RETV reggae chart and number eighteen on the Jamaica Music Countdown reggae chart. Junior X booked to perform on the Pepsi Rebel Salute stage show which will be held at Port Kaiser Sports Club in St. Elizabeth on Saturday the 16^th of January 2010.

(see video posted on January8th)

Jahsun teams up with Mr. Perfect and Stevie Culture to do good

by Entertainment with Rollo

California based reggae artist Jahsun has teamed up with Jamaican reggae acts Mr. Perfect and Stevie Culture to record his latest single titled Do Good.  This track was produced by French based production company Special Delivery. The song has a very positive uplifting theme as all three artists combine to deliver a message that implores people to do good to each other in the sight of Jah. The single is also accompanied by a very colorful music video that was shot at several locations in California under the guidance of music video director Tim Cash.

Although the single has not been officially released it has already began to receive rotation on radio stations throughout the US, Europe and Jamaica. Jahsun is also giving away free downloads of Do Good via his website www.jahsunmusic.com and his Reverbnation page www.reverbnation/jahsunmusic.

This is not the first collaboration that Jahsun has done with Jamaican acts. His debut album Height of Light which was released in 2006 also featured several collaborations with popular reggae acts such as Junior Reid, Luciano, Lutan Fyah and Yami Bolo. His sophomore album which was released last year featured appearances from Jamaican acts such as Norris Man and Chezedek.

Jahsun has gained a lot of recognition over the years as reggae artist in the California area. He has also gained attention outside of the reggae music arena as his music has not gone unnoticed by the mainstream markets in the US. After his nomination by the LA Music Awards in the Hip-Hop Single of the Year category in 2006, Jah Sun’s song Fyah Dance was also featured on the fall 2006 season premiere of MTV’s hit show, “Laguna Beach”. Another track from the Height of Light album, titled Nuff a Dem was included in FUEL TV’s “2007 Vans Downtown Showdown”. However song that gotten him the most international recognition is No Bonez No Blood as it has been played on radio stations world wide.

Since Jah Sun appeared on the California reggae music scene in 2006 it has been an awesome journey for him. He has been one of the fastest rising artists from the Northern California region. He has sold thousands of CD’s and has played almost all the major festivals on the US west coast such as Reggae Rising, Earthdance, Monterey Bay, Seattle Hempfest and Northwest World Reggae Festival. Jahsun continues to gain new fans every step of the way as his music appeals to people from all walks of life.

Barrington Levy Living Dangerously…charged with assault

(see follow-up below)

Veteran singer Barrington Levy has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, giving an already beleaguered reggae industry another black eye.

According to the CCN, the Living Dangerously singer was charged in connection with an incident that occurred on January 6 in Azan Lane, Christiana, Manchester. The case involves the beating of Levy’s 14 year-old daughter. He was arrested, charged and released on bail.

Barrington Levy wants the police to capture paedophile who violated his daughter

The publicity team of Barrington Levy has released a statement to the press questioning why the iconic reggae singer is being persecuted and not the paedophile who violated his fourteen year old daughter?

The release was issued through Platinum Camp Productions, which manages and books Mr. Levy.

According to the release, the Living Dangerously Barrington Levy was called to the police station on January 7th to be questioned. It is alleged that the singer’s fourteen year old daughter invited a man alleged to be Samara Cunningham aka ‘Russian’, a man in Mr Levy’s employ, over to her house while she was alone with a younger cousin.

The release said that Mr. Levy’s 14 year-old daughter sent her younger cousin away from the house in order to be alone with the 34 year-old male called Russian. However, the cousin reportedly became suspicious and returned to the house, and peaked through an open window and found the 14 year-old and the male in a compromising situation.

The release alleges that the 34 year old man known as ‘Russian’ then jumped through the bedroom window and has since disappeared from the area.
The teenager then fled to the police station and gave the police an erroneous story accusing another young man of the crime. This young man was brought to the police station and interrogated by the police, but denied the allegations declaring he did not know the girl’s address. It was later proved that the story she gave the police was in fact false, and that the man in question was actually Russian who has since disappeared from the community.

The irate father questioned the effectiveness of the police force.

“Why are the police not doing more to find this paedophile, who has not yet been brought to charge after three whole days. Why dem choose fi arrest me?” Levy said.

Jay-Z Leads Best of the Booth Awards

Jay-Z has cemented his status as a rap superstar after scooping six prizes at the 2009 Best of the Booth Awards.

The hip-hop mogul’s smash hit with Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind, earned him three prizes alone after being voted top by readers of Djbooth.net in the Best Crossover Record and Best Hip-Hop Record (Mainstream) categories, while website staff also selected the song as their Best Crossover track.

Djbooth.net readers and staff were also in agreement in their Emcee of the Year choices, awarding Jay-Z with the top title, while his latest release The Blueprint 3 was named Best Hip-Hop Album by fans.

Meanwhile, rap newcomer Drake earned double honours from readers and staff for Best Collaboration Record for his work with Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem on Forever, as well as being named their Best New Artist (Signed).

Other winners included The-Dream (Readers’ Best Remix Record for Rockin’ That Thang), Trey Songz (Readers’ Best R&B/Pop Record - Mainstream for I Need A Girl), Kid Cudi (Readers’ Best R&B/Pop Album for Man on the Moon) and Jay-Z’s protege J. Cole, who readers tipped as Breaking Through in 2010.

The Best of the Booth Awards are voted for by over 10,000 rap fans and DJs.

Authorities Complete Jackson Death Probe

Michael Jackson’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray is one step closer to hearing whether he will face charges relating to his superstar client’s death - authorities have completed their investigation into the tragedy.

Los Angeles Police Department (Lapd) officials and medical experts havebeen trawling through evidence gathered in the aftermath of Jackson’s sudden death in June (09) and the process has finally been completed.

exhaustive and extremely thorough

Murray, who provided the pop star with the anaesthetic propofol which led to Jackson suffering a fatal cardiac arrest, has been identified in search warrants as a suspect in a manslaughter investigation.

The Los Angeles county coroner’s office ruled Jackson’s death ahomicide, but Murray has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting he gave appropriate medical aid when he found Jackson in distress and not breathing.

Lapd officials concluded their investigation in late December (09) and will now hand over all findings to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether Murray should face criminal charges, reports Tmz.

A law enforcement source tells the website the investigation was “exhaustive” and “extremely thorough”.

source:  Entertainment reporter for The Lady D Show, one876entertainment.com, jamaicaobserver.com, femalefirstco.uk