Which was more strange, a promoter in Trinidad saying that he doesn't want to make money or Clive Pantin, community activist asking the likes of hard-core Jamaican dancehall artiste Bounty Killer to go to church, one couldn't decide.

Barely one week after having their nominations by the Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) withdrawn, Ele and Kartel have grabbed nominations again, but this time from the Source Hip Hop Awards. Beenie, who was not even considered for a MOBO Award this year, grabbed nominations in two categories.

A Jamaican dancehall artist accused of homophobia has been yanked from the lineup of the human rights gig "Reggae in the Park" next month after protests from the gay community.

As the world bows yet again to reflect on the September 11, 2001 bloodletting in America, one cannot help but stray to remember Jamaican musician Peter Tosh for a number of reasons.

Two homophobic reggae stars have been booted off off the British Mobo Awards because of their inflammatory anti-gay lyrics.

Reggae artists are often stereotyped as a bunch of dirty, mop-headed Rastas, smoking on herb while they waste their lives away in the slums of Jamaica.

When MTV dropped Jamaican deejay Beenie Man from its pre-awards concert last month after gay-rights groups threatened to protest over his anti-gay lyrics, it may have seemed as if the dancehall reggae artist had simply run afoul of Miami's strong gay lobby.

Jamaican reggae has sprung a nasty little offshoot called, by its detractors, "murder music". It has been allowed to flourish in a blind spot of white middle-class liberalism. And it has taken gays, who are the prime targets of this new breed of Jamaican dancehall music (reggae with a rock bass beat), to blow the whistle.

A concert by a controversial reggae star has been cancelled at a Birmingham nightclub following claims that he incites violence against homosexuals.

International reggae artist Shaggy will sing at two major concerts in India in October. The concerts will be held Oct 1 in New Delhi and Oct 3 in Mumbai and feature THE STAR's new tracks like "Hotshot", "Luv Me" and "Get My Party On".