Reggae
Range Rover and Land Cruiser seized from Bounty Killer
A Range Rover and Land Cruiser were both seized from dancehall legend Bounty Killer due to millions of Jamaican dollars owed in taxes to the Tax Administration in Jamaica. Efforts to reach Bounty Killer, aka Rodney Pryce, were unsuccessful, however his lawyer Linda Wright said that he would be meeting with his chartered accountant today to review details of the claim. Efforts to contact Bounty Killer were unsuccessful.
Elephant Man assets seized for unpaid taxes
Assets, including a red Mercedes Benz convertible have been seized from dancehall superstar Elephant Man. Elephant Man, real name, O'Neil Bryan, according to his lawyer Roderick Gordon, "He (Elephant Man) was really shocked this morning. He's telling me police nearly hit down his door. He wasn't sure what's going on, they knocked it hard, something to do with tax obligation they say he owes." The raid was conducted by the Special Enforcement Team at Jamaica Inland Revenue.
Lincoln Sugar Minott dead at 64
Legendary singer, producer and sound owner Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott is dead at age 64. Sugar Minott, who was born Lincoln Barrington Minott on May 25, 1956, earned himself the title Godfather of Dancehall. Sugar is credited with being the pioneer, by laying vocal tracks over the original tapes from the 1960's, rather than using a live band, as was the norm in those days, caused a revolution in the sound that brought a new style to Reggae music known as dancehall.
Vybz Kartel to remain in jail and will miss Sumfest 2010
Reggae danchehall artistes Vybz Kartel will have to spend another 30 days behind bars after Jamaican authorities extended his five-day detention order. When Vybz Kartel turned in himself last week, his original detention was extended from 24 hours to five days. Kartel was detained last week Friday and underwent intense questioning after turning himself to the Greater Portmore Police Station, some three days after the police named him and five other men as major persons of interest.
Vybz Kartel a person of interest by Jamaica police
Adidja Palmer know affectionately as Vybz Kartel, is among six persons listed by the St Catherine South police in Jamaica as major persons of interest. The other persons of interest are Omar Lawrence, Seymour Johnson, Paul Smith, Oneil Myurrie and Damion Perry. Having not kept the date to meet with police yesterday, there is word again that Vybz Kartel will show up at a station in Portmore, Jamaica today.
Beenie, Bounty, Mavado, Trooper US visas canceled
The United States Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica have reportedly canceled the visas of four dancehall artistes and one selector. The artistes are Aidonia, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Mavado. The lone selector is Ricky Trooper of Kilimanjaro and Sound Trooper fame. The Minister of National Security for Jamaica Dwight Nelson however could not confirm the visa cancellations.
No to Kartel and Mavado in Barbados
Although Mavado and Vybz Kartel have made peace, the Commissioner of Police in Barbados, Darwin Dottin, is objecting to their joint performance in that country on March 27. Dottin said the force was concerned about the negativity associated with both entertainers. Dottin also said that the force did not have the authority to ban artistes wishing to perform in Barbados, given the provisions of the CARICOM Treaty on freedom of movement, but he urged the organisers to look again.
Mavado manager robbed over website in Canada
Julian Jones-Griffith, manager for dancehall ace Mavado, was robbed over the weekend of his cellular phone and laptop. Mavado, Stacious and Jones-Griffith were in Toronto last weekend for a number of appearances in the Ontario mecca. Rumours began surfacing on the Toronto Star website claiming Mavado was robbed outside a recording studio while on tour in Toronto, Canada.
Buju Banton held in Miami on cocaine charges
Buju Banton is in custody in Miami, where he is expected to be charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine. Drug Enforcement Administration agents say Buju Banton, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in custody since Thursday and will soon be transferred to Tampa where the charges are expected to be laid.
Sting 2009 promises clash then peace
Sting 2009 promises an all out clash between Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel, and also a ceasefire between Mavado and Vybz Kartel as well. According to Isaiah Laing, Sting 2009 promoter, he is not worried claiming that Sting is the best place to get rid of the Gully/Gaza conflict once and for all, adding that both Vybz Kartel and Mavado will be call out early in the morning to diffuse the tensions.
Elephant Man vs Flippa Mafia at Sting 2009
Since the feud between Flippa Mafia and Elephant Man erupted since the middle of this year, there has been much talk to a clash at Sting 2009. Elephant Man is making it clear he is up for a clash, but only if the money is right, which will for him will definitely run into the millions similar to other top dancehall artists. Flippa Mafia is the upcoming artist who is looking to take a stripe off of the Energy God, Elephant Man.
No Kartel or Mavado at Sting 2009
Sting 2009 will be without Vybz Kartel and Mavado unless both dancehall giants appear together vowing to agree and maintain a peace agreement. The Gully and Gaza supporters, Mavado and Kartel respectively, have been blamed for an upsurge of violence in Jamaica recently. Police sources have indicated that nothing has been agreed to but the ban would include other events as well as Sting 2009.
Beenie Man Big Day Out protests in New Zealand
The organizers of Big Day Out 2010 concert in New Zealand, are under heavy pressure from gay rights activists groups to axe reggae dancehall king Beenie Man from the lineup of artists slated to perform. Since then gay rights groups in New Zealand have been heavily protesting the inclusion of Beenie Man in the lineup going as far as creating a Facebook group and threatening a mass boycott of Big Day Out 2010.
Jah Cure denies Trinidad arrest
SoBe Entertainment/Danger Zone Recording artiste Jah Cure has just returned from performing at the concert dubbed “It’s Cure Again” in Trinidad and Tobago. Jah Cure’s trip to Trinidad and Tobago was not without incident however, as an unscrupulous promoter, Handel Anthony, made efforts to prevent him from performing at the concert on Saturday night.
Jah Cure released in Trinidad and Tobago after paying US$19,993
Tobago concert promoter Handel Anthony, recouped US$19,993, that was owed to him by Jah Cure on Saturday. Justice Sebastien Ventour agreed with Anthony that the Jamaican reggae superstar breached his contract with Anthony, by headlining the “It’s Jah Cure Again” concert in Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad later that night.
Jah Cure arrested in Trinidad and Tobago
Jah Cure, aka Siccature Alcock, Jamaican reggae singer, was arrested in Trinidad and Tobago last night at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad Hotel. The reason for the charge is failure to pay a local business man money owed in the amount of US$ 19,993. The court order was issued by Justice Sebastian Ventor. Jah Cure was recently released from prison in Jamaica after serving time for rape.
Mavado and Vybz Kartel top Peter Tosh in Google
Dancehall stars Vybz Kartel and Mavado have since April 2009, usurped the great reggae legend Peter Tosh in terms of Internet searches, a measure of online popularity. In previous years Peter Tosh was more popular in internet searches that any dancehall artist. Currently, for every 100 searches for Vybz Kartel there were 63 for Tosh. Google Trends was used to compile the figures.
Marleys wage war on trademark piracy
The Marleys, heirs of the Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley taking up the fight against the global trademark pirates, wanting to enforce their exclusive rights to Bob Marley’s image that has grown steadily in scope and appeal since the reggae superstar died of brain cancer in 1981 at the young age of 36. The Marley name, look and sound are estimated to generate an estimated $600 million a year in sales of pirated items.
Machel Montano and Beenie Man - friends for life
Beenie Man and Machel Montano were on stage together in Miami recently to dispel rumours that the two were at odds over a supposed altercation at a recent concert in Miami. Rumours were swirling that Machel Montano and his band sabotaged Beenie Man and his band while they were performing, causing Beenie Man’s microphone to continually malfunction.
Edward Seaga does not like dancehall reggae
Bounty Killer charged with ganja possession
Bounty Killer denied entry into Trinidad
Serani making moves in US - combo with Latifah
Singjay Serani is making big moves overseas. Not only is Serani bubbling up the Billboard charts with She Loves Me, but he also has some hot collaborations that should soon be heating up the airwaves. The DASECA producer, turned singjay has been collaborating with mainstream American rappers such as Queen Latifah, DJ Webstar and the Making the Band winners Day 26.