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 dancehall’s biggest names.

‘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 with The Star yesterday said they suffered zero to minimal damage due to the passage of the hurricane.

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 Bye” advocates burning and shooting gay men; Bounty Killer’s song “Another Level” refers to drowning them.

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

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, Nasha and Sizzla make guest appearances as well.

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

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

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 touring with Ibo and his band, said he was asleep in the second row of seats when the vehicle left the road.

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 leave their homes to evacuate the most vulnerable areas along the southern coast.

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 walls.