Bounty ‘working with the people’ for Sting

The Warlord, Bounty Killer, says that despite rumours that Vybz Kartel is organising to have people present to boo him at Sting, this year he’s “working with the people”.

“Whatever the people want, I will give it to them. I am going to do my set and then ask the people what they want me to do to Kartel. If they say ‘leave him’ I will, but if the people tell me to kill him, I will have no choice,” Bounty told Splash, in reference to Kartel’s lyrical death. “Truth is, I am confused by this peace thing. When peace was really being declared at West Kingston Jamboree, Kartel wouldn’t come on stage until Bounty left the stage. So what is that saying?” quizzed Killer.

Interview: Jovi Rockwell Talks Psycho Therapy Mixtape & More

This week, we’re getting to know Jovi Rockwell, a self-described “rebel love goddess” straight outta Jamdown, who recently dropped her reggae-pop-soul mixtape Psycho Therapy. Featuring musical heavy hitters Will.I.Am and Akon alongside dancehall kings like Anthony B and Mr. Vegas (and semi-produced by whiz kid Diplo), the mixtape blends Jovi’s released singles over the past few years with new tracks that are definitely ipod worthy.

Probe into AA crash continues

A probe to find out what caused American Airlines Flight 331 to plough through the perimeter fence at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Tuesday night and crash land close to the sea, will continue over the next few days as local and international investigators continue to comb the wreckage for clues.

A team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington is assisting Jamaican authorities in Kingston with the investigations.

Three Dollar Bill

Three years ago Time Magazine called the sun-splashed island nation of Jamaica the “most homophobic place on Earth.”

That is until this month, when Uganda’s parliament tabled its new Anti-Homosexual Bill which, if passed, will authorize the execution of all gay people, and imprison for seven years all heterosexuals who don’t report their homo neighbours to authorities.

Gambia: Luciano Thumbs Up President Jammeh

Luciano aka Kabalaman, one of Jamaica’s most influential reggae artists in recent years, has described The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh as a champion of peace and called on youth to embrace his leadership qualities for the development of the country.

Passenger upset about emergency response to crash

AFP: Passengers survive horror crash landing in Jamaica

An American Airlines jet overshot the runway at a Jamaican airport and ended up in a mangled mess on a beach, but all 154 passengers and crew survived with 91 mainly minor injuries, officials said.

Flight AA 331 from Miami arrived in heavy rain at Kingston airport late Tuesday.

“The aircraft totally overshot the runway and ended up over the road in the sand,” said Paul Hall, senior vice president of operations at Norman Manley International Airport.

American Airlines
Flight 311 Overshoots Runway in Jamaica, Dozens Injured

The Boeing 737-800, filled to capacity with 148 passengers and a crew of six, came down in heavy rain and overshot the runway at Norman Manley International Airport. After its landing gear collapsed and the plane started to break up, it finally slid to a stop less than 10 feet from the Caribbean Sea, The Associated Press reported.

“A passenger told me that the oxygen masks deployed when they heard the nose bang and they could see the fuselage breaking up,” said Milton Walker of Radio Jamaica, who rushed to the scene. “And then the chute deployed and persons managed to escape.”

Buju, bye bye?

Mark Anthony Myrie, aka Buju Banton, aka Gargamel, was last week remanded in Federal custody in Miami, Florida by Drug Enforcement Administration agents and charged by the US Attorney with conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, some five kilos of cocaine. Buju faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.

Naturally, through his lawyer, former Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Herbert E Walker III, he claims innocence, just like he did in 2004 when he was fined US$9,000 for drug possession and cultivation after two ganja plants were found growing at his studio. Buju’s defence was that he had just returned from a long tour and had found the plants there.

Buju’s online presence increases

Buju Banton’s arrest has not visibly increased his chart presence but his online presence has skyrocketed second to Bob Marley.

Banton’s latest album Rasta Got Soul has not been among the biggest jumpers or decliners this week on Billboard reggae charts. It would have been enough time for the news of his arrest to begin influencing sales. The top jump of the week was Mishka’s Guy With A Guitar which was an album that re-entered the charts due to its increased sales over the week. This has not occured with Buju’s album which was released in May this year and charted for 15 weeks.