Archive for August, 2007

Freddie McGregor preps new album with dancehall’s elite

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

Freddie McGregor preps new album with dancehall’s elite Caught up with veteran reggae crooner Freddie McGregor earlier this week while he was on his way to the funeral service for singer Craig Dennis. McGregor revealed that he is in the process of re-recording some of his more familiar material, with the assistance of some of [...]

‘Dean’ barely dents party places

Friday, August 24th, 2007

‘Dean’ barely dents party places While many Jamaicans are still dealing with the ravages of ‘Dean’, the dangerous category four hurricane that lashed the island on Sunday, it seems the only disaster for most entertainment venues is a lack of electricity. Most of the proprietors and representatives of popular party and hang-out venues that spoke [...]

Power 105 pulls Reggae Carifest sponsorship

Friday, August 24th, 2007

Power 105 pulls Reggae Carifest sponsorship Hip-hop radio station Power 105 withdrew its sponsorship of Saturday’s Reggae Carifest because two artists on the bill have used anti-gay language in their songs. The two dancehall reggae artists, Buju Banton and Bounty Killer, have both drawn fire for their lyrics over the years. Banton’s song “Boom Bye [...]

Lucky Dube: South African reggae singer hopeful

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

Lucky Dube: South African reggae singer hopeful After five best-selling albums in the early to mid-’80s, Lucky Dube was at the top of the musical heap in his native South Africa. Still, realizing he hadn’t reached all that lofty a perch, Dube cut a reggae disc — despite his record company.

Shaggy Teams With Akon, Sizzla On VP Debut

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

Shaggy Teams With Akon, Sizzla On VP Debut Dancehall superstar Shaggy will inaugurate a new joint venture with Big Yard and VP Records with his next album, “Intoxication.” Due Oct. 16, the set is led by the single “Bonafide Girl” featuring “It Wasn’t Me” collaborator Rik Rok and Tony Gold. Akon, Collie Budz, Kalonji, Mischieve, [...]

UK tourists take refuge from Dean

Tuesday, August 21st, 2007

UK tourists take refuge from Dean British tourists in Jamaica have been taking shelter from Hurricane Dean as it battered the island, ripping up trees and causing widespread damage. A state of emergency has been declared on the island, where some 5,000 Britons are believed to be holidaying.

Jamaicans wake up to Dean’s devastation

Tuesday, August 21st, 2007

Jamaicans wake up to Dean’s devastation Jamaicans woke up Monday morning to downed powerlines, overturned trees and signs scattered around the ground in the wake of Hurricane Dean’s fury, but there were no immediate reports of deaths. Police have confirmed three reports of looting.

Reggae band frontman critical after van crash

Tuesday, August 21st, 2007

Reggae band frontman critical after van crash One of Calgary’s best-known reggae musicians was critically hurt and members of his backing band seriously injured in a highway en route from a show in Regina to Calgary, where they were scheduled to play at the Calgary International Reggae Festival on Saturday night. Culture Brown, a vocalist [...]

Monster hurricane hits Jamaica

Tuesday, August 21st, 2007

Monster hurricane hits Jamaica HURRICANE Dean has unleashed the full force of its 230km/h winds on Jamaica after leaving a trail of destruction in the Caribbean where it killed at least five people. “Take this hurricane threat very seriously,” Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said in a national broadcast, trying to convince people refusing to [...]

Hurricane Dean begins lashing Jamaica

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

Hurricane Dean begins lashing Jamaica The prime minister made a last-minute plea for Jamaicans to abandon their homes Sunday as Hurricane Dean began lashing the island with heavy winds and torrential rains on its destructive and deadly march across the Caribbean. Many residents ignored the call, however, while tourists holed up in resorts with hurricane-proof [...]