REGGAE & DANCEHALL NEWS 2011-II
all items of the second trimester of 2011 (April, May & June)
Old News
Buju Banton was convicted to 10 years inprisonment earlier this day. He is to serve his time at a federal prison in Florida. Please check the full Jamaica Observer article here.
Sean Kinston is currently in critical health in a Miami hospital following an accident with a jet-ski. Sean, accompanied by an undisclosed female, drove the jet-ski at full speed into a bridge and was rescued from the water by someone who saw the accident happen. Please check the full Daily Mail article here.
Dancehall entertainer Mavado spent a night behind bars following a conflict over payment for a show he performed. A skirmish at St. Ann's Jamaica Jamaica club followed and after the police chased down Mavado's tourbus, he and eight of his entourage were placed under arrest. Mavado has been offered bail and is booked for a court appearance June 9. Please check the full Examiner.com article here, or the follow-up article by the Jamaica Observer here.
The original drummer and founding memeber of the Skatalites Lloyd Knibb passed away last thursday after being transferred to the island of his birth. After being told he had only a few days left he asked to be flown back to Jamaica from the US to be with his loved ones. He passed the day after his arrival. Please check the full Jamaica Observer article here.
Because tomorrow will mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Bob Marley many celebrations of his life happen around the world. One of the best probaly is a week of tributes on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Each night someone will cover a Bob Marley song. Yesterday the least surprising contributor Ziggy Marley did 'Get Up, Stand Up' but also expect contributions by Lauryn Hill and Lenny Kravitz. Please check the full Music Mix article here and/or check out Ziggy's performance on YouTube here.
Vybz Kartell has issued a press release stating that he will no longer issue tunes with gun lyrics. This statement follows some heavy critisisms and the slicing (tinkering, cutting and putting back in different order) of some of his tunes.
Spragga Benz was named a person of interest by the police after a triple murder in Kingston on Friday night. He was asked to turn himself in for questioning but it turns out he is abroad on tour in the United States. Please check the full Jamaica Observer article here and the Jamaica Gleaner article here.
Justine Henzell, daughter of Perry Henzell († 2006) who wrote and directed the original movie in 1972, will produce the movie named Harder together with two other parties. The story will be set in Jamaica and London and it will be written by Chris Salewicz who co-wrote Third World Cop (1999). Please check the full Variety article here.
A new documentary by Hélène Lee on the man generally reffered to as the first Rasta, Leonard Howell, will premier on the 27th of Arpil in France. The documentary aptly named Le premier Rasta will be shown in cinemas in France only. The film is based on the 1999 book by the same name from the movie's director. An English version of the film on DVD is planned for the coming fall. Please check the French language Le premier Rasta website here.
