REGGAE & DANCEHALL NEWS 2009-IV
all items of the fourth trimester of 2009 (October, November & December)
Old News
Popular Dutch reggae artist Smiley has released another videoclip. The name of the song is Distance, it was released on the Tek A Train riddim by German Rootdown Records November 20th, the video was released earlier today. Please check the full Distance videoclip right here.
Top lawyer in high profile drug cases Davis Oskar Markus, known for representing Panama's Manuel Noriega in 1992, will become the legal aid for Buju Banton according to a representative of his Gargamel label. Please read the full BET.com article here.
For a fairly complete picture of Buju Banton's arrest, please read the full HeraldTribune.com article here.
Popular nineties deejay Zebra was arrested again and will spend Christmas in jail. He was already convicted on a rape charge in 2002 and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. He was released in 2008. Now he has been arrested for sexually molesting a thirteen year-old girl twice, he is due back in court on January 18. Please read the full RadioJamaica.com article here.
The National Geographic debate (see 2009.11.19 news entry) on the links between reggae, hip-hop and African music was held Saturday. Nas and Damian Marley headlined the event and Rakim, Kool Herc and Red Alert all showed up. U-Roy and King Jammy were supposed to attend but the were replaced by Big Youth and Stephen Marley. Please read the rather loose impression in a Washington City Paper blog here.
For some more background on Buju Banton's arrest, please read the full Associated Press article here.
Controversial reggae star and recent Grammy nominee Buju Banton was arrested last thursday on possession of 11 pounds of cocaine, he is expected to be charged and persecuted federally for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute the drugs. Buju is being detained in Miami. Please read the full Associated Press article here.
Bruce Golding, Jamaica's Prime Minister is meeting with the Gaza vs Gully principals Vybz Kartell and Mavado to see if they can put an end to this nonsense which has held the Jamaican dancehall scene hostage for more than three years. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
All nominations including those in the Reggae category were announced December 2. The Reggae nominations shortlist is as follows;
Rasta Got Soul - Buju Banton [Gargamel Music, Inc],
Brand New Me - Gregory Isaacs [Tad's Records],
Awake - Julian Marley [Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic],
Mind Control - Acoustic - Stephen Marley [Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic] and
Imperial Blaze - Sean Paul [VP/Atlantic].
Also nominated is Family Time by Ziggy Marley [Tuff Gong Worldwide] in the Best Musical Album For Children category. The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards show will be held January 31. For more details please visit the Grammy Awards website here.
Europe's biggest reggae festival, the annual Italian Rototom festival will relocate to Osoppo, Spain, due to threats of persecution on facilitating charges. A recent Italian law makes it a crime to facilitate the use of drugs. Other reggae events in Italy will probably become impossible to organise as well. Italian singer Alborosie has released a song titled 'Free Rototom' in support of the festival. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
Bob marley's 1973 song Catch A Fire will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2010. The song will become one of 851 recordings and the second reggae tune to be inducted. In 1999 Bob Marley's Get Up Stand Up received the same honour. Please read the full Los Angeles Times article here.
African superstar Youssou N'Dour is recording his first full out reggae album, recorded at Tuff Gong Studio. Personnel includes Tyrone Downie, Mark Samson, Mikey Fletcher and China Smith. Please read the full Financial Times article here.
Awards of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Peace Ambassador were given to Alpha Blondy and the legendary Jimmy Cliff. Please read the full Vanguard article here.
US rapper Nas and Damian Marley have been invited by National Geographic to front a debate on the links between reggae, hip-hop and African music, based on their album Distant Relatives. Other invitees are Rakim, Kool Herc, Red Alert, U-Roy and King Jammy. The debate will be filmed for an upcoming documentary. Please read the full The Boombox article here.
The Gaza vs Gully feud has reached an all time low. The pupils of two schools on Trinidad got into a fight over the Gaza/Gully deejay feud, the schools were closed for the remainder of the day. Please read the full Trinidad & Tobago Express 6 article here.
The trial facing both Bounty Killer and former policeman Calis Bowen (see also 2009.07.09 entry) has been delayed until March 24. This morning at the start of the trial that could possibly put Bounty behind bars for fifteen years, it turned out that Bowen was not legally represented and that a witness was not present. Please read the full Go-Jamaica article here.
Bob Marley's heirs have hired Toronto-based Hilco Consumer Capital to protect their rights to the Bob Marley brand. Marley items have been estimated to generate an estimated $600 million a year in sales of unlicensed wares. This turnover figure is expected to rise up to one billion in a few years with better protection of the trademark. Please read the full Associated Press article here.
On Sunday November 1st the Mighty Diamonds will receive a United States Congressional Award in recognition of the group's 40 year musical career. The ceremony will be held during Reggae Culture Salute in East Flatbush, New York City. Please read the full CaribWorldNews article here.
After a brawl with a former lover on the streets of London Maxi Priest was arrested. He was bailed after having spent one night in custody. Please read the full Contactmusic.com article here.
Florida (Miami, USA) American Civil Liberties Union says censorship of reggae artists is Wrong and short-sighted. They state that they oppose all sorts of censorship because fighting prejudice and hate requires more speech, not enforced silence. Please read the full South Florida Caribbean News article here.
Through a supreme court ruling on October 21 Sonia Pottinger has won a legal battle over the late Duke Reid's Treasure Isle record catalogue. According to the court it was sufficiantly established that Reid sold Treasure Isle to Pottinger shortly before his death in 1974. Reid’s son Anthony, along with other producers, have contested the sale for decades. Please read the full Jamaica Observer article here.
Some Jamaican church leaders have come out in support of Jamaica's dancehall fraternity while condemning the actions of international gay rights groups that are placing immense pressure on many local artistes. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
Last Friday October 16th, dancehall artist Mr Lex (aka Lexxus in the late 1990's) was arrested and charged with rape in New York, USA. The woman who reported him was allegedly raped by Lex on Thursday night in her Queens hotel room. Mr Lex is now out on bail and has to appear in court November 2nd. Please read the full Jamaica Star article here.
An agreement to use Ce'Cile's music on several US reality shows has been reached. The most notable of these shows is E!:Entertainment Television's show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, but her music will also spice up some of MTV's programs. Please read the full CaribWorldNews article here.
Bounty Killer was arrested on October 4th after being spotted by police while he was smoking a spliff standing along Granada Way, New Kingston. He was searched and some weed was found on him. He was in court today and has to return November 19th. Please read the full radiojamaica.com article here.
Yesterday Buju Banton sat down in San Francisco to meet with lesbian and gay activists. Please read the full SF Weekly.com article here.
Late 1980's reggae star Major Mackerel was attacked by his neighbour using a samurai sword in his New York Brooklyn East Flatbush apartment. The neighbour accused Mackerel of flirting with his wife and attacked him in the foyer of the building on Sunday morning. Mackerel was taken to the Hospital and released some hours later after having been stitched in several places including his head and left hand. The neighbour was arrested quickly. Please read the full NYDailyNews.com article here.
Jamaican DJ Bounty Killer was denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago last Friday night. He was scheduled to perform at the 'Cease Fire' concert in Port-Of-Spain alongside his musical nemesis Vybz Kartell to promote unity. The popular DJ spent some twelve hours at Piarco airport before he returned to Jamaica early Saturday morning. No official reason was given for entry denial. Please read the full T&T Newsday article here.
Sean Paul won the Reggae award last night at the MOBO Awards show in London. He topped fellow nominees Mavado, Tarrus Riley, Vybz Kartell and Serani. Please read the full CaribWorldNews article here.
