REGGAE & DANCEHALL NEWS 2007-IV
all items of the fourth trimester of 2007 (October, November & December)
Old News
Entertainer Bascom X was arrested on 22 December 2007 in Hellshire, St. Catherine for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He did not get bail and will spend new year's eve in jail. Please read the full Radio Jamaica article here, or read the story about the arrest from the Jamaica Observer here.
Please read the full Reuters article here.
Kingston will host a Reggae Film Festival next February. Please read the full Jamaicans.com article here.
After openly criticising it's president Abdoulaye Wade at a concert in Dakar, Senegal, Tiken Jah Fakoly has been officially banned from the country. Please read the full Reuters Africa article here.
After having lived in exile in Mali for the last five years, Tiken Jah Fakoly has returned to his motherland Ivory Coast. With a peace treaty signed by both parties in the Ivorian conflict and Tiken's safety garuenteed by both parties as well the very popular singer celebrates his return with two concerts. Please read the full Reuters Africa article here.
For the 50th annual Grammy Awards, the nominations in the category Best Reggae Album (Vocal or Instrumental) are; The Burning Spear Experience by Burning Spear, Mind Control by Stephen Marley, The End Of An American Dream by Lee Perry, Anniversary by Sly & Robbie And The Taxi Gang and Light Your Light by Toots & The Maytals. Also nominated is Daddy Yankee for Best Latin Urban Album. Please check the full details at Grammy.com.
Tyrone Taylor died from prostate cancer Saturday December 1, in Kingston, aged 50. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
US superstar Sean Kingston will visit Jamaica to perform there for the first time. His show in Ocho Rios will be spiced up by Fantan Mojah, D'Angel and Busy Signal. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
At the recent American Music Awards Alicia Keys surprised the audience with guest performances from Beenie Man, Jr. Reid and Chaka Demus & Pliers . Please check out the full YouTube video here.
70-year-old Lee Perry has recorded an album together with metal producer Andrew W.K. Entitled Repentance the album will hit the streets in May 2008. Please read the full Billboard article here.
In a one hour television special called Xpress, a coproduction between UNICEF and MTV, Tanya Stephens, Ce'cile and video director Kassa comment on gender roles, homophobia, HIV and Aids in dancehall culture. The program also focusses on Brazillian favela's and Mexican Juarez. Please read the full Jamaica Observer article here.
Dutch dancehall act Brooklan, from Surinam descent, died mondaynight after he was stabbed in the stomach in downtown Amsterdam on Saturday night. The ever upcoming badman of Dutch dancehall was just stepping forward in his career with recordings for Jamaican producers. Please read the full Dutch De Telegraaf article here.
Half Pint and his manager Loyal Haylett have struck a unique deal with Essential Media Group LLC. The deal includes publishing and distribution by major international label Universal. Please read the full Jamaica Observer article here.
Ky-Mani Marley has been very busy recently. After releasing his new album Radio after a six year hiatus and while still touring with rock group Van Halen he now also stars in his own reality soap Livin' The Life Of Marley. Check the link and click on Video to check several clips of the BET show.
Although Luciano is gererally known for his kind and sensitive utterances, the Jamaican superstar has gotten himself and others in trouble. He recently visited Zimbabwe for a performance and he openly supported Mugabes land reform policies. Mugabe and his policies are seen by most, including the people of Zimbabwe, as the root of the Zimbabwean downfall of the last years and it's complete economical chaos. A reporter who interviewed Luciano on his statements saw his videotape of the conversation confiscated by state agents. Please read the full All Africa article here.
Beenie Man has been arrested for failing to appear in court on tax fraud charges. After returning to Jamaica from a US tour the artist turned himself in and was soon after released on a bail of US$21,140. He is scheduled to appear in court December 3. Please read the full Heartbeatnews article here.
The first ever Academy Awards show to be hosted on Jamaica will be held next February 24. The Reggae Academy has been established through the initiative of the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJam). So far 34 different categories have been proposed. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
Mikey Dread has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy in North Carolina (US). Please read the full Bad Gals Radio article here. Linked to Google discussion groups since the original Bad Gals Radio site can be pretty impossible.
After failing to appear in court to sort out overdue income-tax payments of about $ 47.000.000, Jamaican courts issued a warrant for Beenie Man's arrest. Please read the full Jamaica Observer article here, or the CBC article here.
South African police have arrested five suspects in the Lucky Dube murder case in Spruitview, near Johannesburg. They found two unregistered firearms and four cars including the blue VW Polo believed to have been used during Lucky Dube's murder. Friends of Dube told the police they suspect the artist has been subject of a contract-killing. Please read the full Africasia article here, or the New York Times article here.
South-African reggaestar Lucky Dube has been killed during a car hijacking in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, yesterday. He was dropping off his son at a relative's house when the attack took place. He died on the scene. Dube's son, who witnessed the whole ordeal, is too traumatised to provide police with any information. The killers are still at large. Please read the full AFP article here.
Dutch reggae and ska outfit Luie Hond quits and has planned their farewell concert. On the twentysecond of December (Leeuwarden) is the last chance to check this sure to become legendary band at work. Please check the Luie Hond website for details.
Still an orthodox Jew Matisyahu says he is "searching for freedom from a pronounced identification with one specific group". Please read the full JTA article here.
Jah Cure was supposed to tour the United Kingdom but has been barred from the country over his rape conviction. Please read the full Daily Mail article here, or read about the build-up from the Guardian here.
www.rootsmusic.nl is not allowed in China and cannot be found on the heavily censored Chinese version of the internet. Check the availability of any wesite at the Great Firewall Of China website.
TOK has become one of the first reggae acts to sign an international merchandise deal. the Realvibez company will first release a string of posters and more will be added next year. Please read the full top40-charts article here.
