BET J held their first ever BET J Virtual Awards this week. There was no live audience, no big auditorium or orchestra none of that. Just hosts Nia Long and Chris Spencer in friendly banter, along with various presenters, and the winners accepting their awards. It's a neat concept. The hosts were very entertaining and just so natural, great chemistry. I really would not mind seeing them hosting again next year.


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So how did our Caribbean artists do? Lets see:

The first award of the night (Rhapsody Song of the Year) was won by Estelle for her song "American Boy" which she performed. That was the only award that she won despite her nominations for Best Female Artist (won by Alicia Keys) and Best New Artist -Soul Approved (won by Chrisette Michele)

Best Caribbean Artist nominees were Machal Montano, Alison Hinds, Elephant Man, FayAnn, Morgan Heritage and Mavado. Machal was the winner. Interestingly enough I made a virtual vote (no, I'm not gonna say for who) and the results were as follows : Machel 7%, Alison Hinds and FayAnn tied for 13%, Morgan Heritage 11%, Mavado 12% and Elephant Man 44%. Good thing they had a disclaimer I guess.


Wyclef Jean and Common were both nominated for Best Male Artist but it was won by Raheem DeVaughn.Wyclef won the Virtual Video award with his song "Fast Car" (Common was nominated to for his song "driving Me Wild"). Clef performed a short medly from the Apple store in NYC: "Fast Car", "Hips Don't Lie" (his part--duh) and "Jaspora" Haiti Sak Passe!!! He was also nominated for Best Live Performance which he lost to The Roots.


Una Morgan of Morgan Heritage presented the award for Best Gospel won by Marvin Sapp.

And finally Common won the Journey award for his musical and philanthropic achievements over the years.

And here is Common feat Lauryn Hill in the song "Retrospect for Life". This guy is just on a whole other level when it comes to Hip-Hop. Award well deserved!

www.myspace.com/nicolalionfish

Nicola was born in the Bahamas to a Bahamian mother and German father. At a young age she ventured off to Germany on her own to see a new and different way of life. They journey there and back to the Bahamas where she currently lives has had its ups and downs. Which both uplifted and strengthed her. She is is like a diamond -beautiful to the eye but tough as ever. I guess her name LionFish says it best. So doh mess wid she, yes....

Check out the songs on her page: "Forgot To Tell You" * "Higher Heights" * "Melodic Fiyah" * "Universal Cry" * "Bonahfyahd"
Click on the music player below to listen to her latest release "Forgot to Tell You" (on the Burning Riddim) produced by MysticMan.

Nicola - Forgot to tell you mastered I.mp3

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Dancehall Superstar Shaggy will be premiering his "Bad Man Don't Cry" video at Mass Camp on Saturday November 29 2008, at Asylum’s 11th Anniversary party.
The video is directed by Jay Will and was shot on location in Jamaica. The storyline in a nutshell tells of a guy (Shaggy) who is seeking counseling because he is in love with the girl of a don but he is the Don's right hand man. The Don has a hunch and goes on a rampage trying to figure out whats up.

Lots of celebrities appear in the video in different roles to lend support to the story.

Jay Will says its one of his best videos so I am definitely looking forward to it!

After winning the Cannes Lions Grand Prix in 2008, UNIQLO will be producing an official T-shirt for the 2009 edition. They are inviting pretty much any and everyone who thinks they can, to design a T-shirt suitable for distribution at Cannes Lions 2009 awards through their Cannes Lions T-shirt Grand Prix competition.

The subject for this UNIQLO official T-shirt design competition must focus on the “lion”, the symbol of the Cannes International Advertising Festival. As long as the basic material involves the lion theme, the applicant is free to design the T-shirt however he/she wishes. 10 entries from among the submitted designs will be selected and the one entry to receive the Grand Prix. The Grand Prix winning design will be commercialized as a T-shirt for distribution to guests and members of the media at Cannes Lions 2009 next June. And, all of 10 entries will be sold in UNIQLO stores.

For submission info click here,

Strictly The Best 39 captures Jamaica's Olympic triumph on its cover which depicts a stadium with jubilant fans with athletes on the podium waving the Jamaican flag and sporting the gold of course. The VP Records comppilation features this years hottest Reggae acts including Elephant Man, Mavado, Mr. Vegas, Tarrus Rile, Etana and Demarco.

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Track Listing:

Nuh Linga – Elephant Man
Back It Up – Mr. Evil & Sean Paul
Playing Games – Serani
Gimme Likkle – Beenie Man
Sweep – Elephant Man
Mus Come A Road – Mr. Vegas
Overcome – Mavado
Winner - Konshens
Sort Dem Out – Demarco
I Am Not Afraid – Etana
Another Bill Again – Tony Rebel
Love Created I (Marcus Teaching) – Tarrus Riley
Just As I Am – L.U.S.T.
Love You Like That – Beres Hammond
Broken Melody – Tessanne Chin
Ride Or Die – Cecile
Tic Toc – Busy Signal

Who remeba dis: "Drink ah rum and a puncha crema/drink ah rum...."

Well, parang season is here again and Angostura is bringing this song back to life with a little twist. They are doing a promotional spot using the song this time replacing Lord Kitchener with his son, Kernel Roberts. Here is a still shot from the ad showing typical Christmas merriment in a Trinidadian household. Peep Machel in the background making a cameo.

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Taken from NewsDay Newspaper:

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT promoter Randy Glasgow is planning the first ever World Indian Music Festival scheduled to take place here in TT next August. Glasgow told Newsday the event will be bigger that the Plymouth Jazz Festival as several big names in the East Indian entertainment have agreed to perform here.
“Over three days Caribbean people will be treated to music created by Indian artistes from India and the North America. I am also looking at artistes from the Caribbean who have gained international status from their art,” he said.

Glasgow said that the musicians and singers to be featured in the inaugural festival will appeal to a wide cross-section of people. He said he has been aware of the influence of bhangra, a lively form of music and dance originating in India’s Punjab region which has enjoyed inceasing worldwide popularity over the last three decades, both in its traditional form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop and reggae. The folk music has become a pop sensation in the United Kingdom and North America.

He said he was also inspired by Indian pop music, better known as filmi, or songs from Indian musical films. India’s film industry has supported that country’s indigenous music, giving reverence to classical music while using the western orchestration to support Indian melodies.

Glasgow pointed out that mainstream hip-hop artistes have sampled songs from Bollywood movies and have collaborated with Indian artistes. Examples include Timbaland’s “Indian Flute”, Erick Sermon and Redman’s “React”, Slum Village’s “Disco”, and Truth Hurts’ hit song “Addictive”, which sampled a Lata Mangeshkar song. The Black Eyed Peas sampled Asha Bhosle’s “Yeh Mera Dil” in their hit single “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” and in 1997, the British band Cornershop paid tribute to Bhosle with their song “Brimful” of Asha, which became an international hit. British-born Indian artiste Panjabi MC also had a Bhangra hit in the US with “Mundian To Bach Ke” featuring rapper Jay-Z. Asian Dub Foundation are not huge mainstream stars, but their politically-charged rap and punk rock influenced sound has a multi-racial audience in their native UK. Recently international star Snoop Dogg appeared in a song in the hit film Singh Is Kinng.

A little input from moi: Ya Truth Hurts song "Addictive" with Rakim definitely lives up to it's name. It's one of those songs that just never gets old.


And here are The Black-Eyed Peas with "Don't Phunk With My Heart"


Glasgow has joined forces with a show coordinator from Mumbai, India, and two counterparts from New York and Florida in the United States, as well as two local promoters for the festival. He is anticipating that the event will attract a lot of foreigners to these shores.

“This is also going to boost tourism as music is one of the most powerful attractions in any country,” said Glasgow, who added that a huge food festival will be staged alongside the main event with chefs from Indonesia and India highlighting the best in Asian cooking. Approximately 100 different style of cooking will be featured.

The World Indian Music Festival is just one of several major musical events being organised by Randy Glasgow Productions. Also in the pipeline are Chutney Brass, Chutney Survivor, Chutney meets Rock, Ladies Night Out, the Political Monarch Competition, and the Learie Joseph Stress Reliever Tour in the upcoming weeks.

So here are some of your favorite celebrities out and about and On De Scene:

Rihanna is at the 2008 UNICEF Snowflake lighting in NYC. She is the face of Gucci's UNICEF campaign.
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Check out Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys performing at this years AMA's
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Beyonce or should I say Sascha Fierce is on the Today Show promoting her new album. Yeah I know she's an H-Town Chick, no Caribbean connection that I know of, but damn she's a hard worker. I admire her a lot. And she sho nuff is working that outfit!
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Her double disc album I Am...Sasha Fierce is her third straight No. 1 debut on The Billboard 200 with 482,000 copies.

Can somebody say Fierce....Indeed!!!!!
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Ok now in this pic latin bombshell Eva Mendes is neither out nor about..hmm on second though I'm sure there are those of you who would beg to differ.....She just oozzees sensuality. This is a shot of her in the lates issue of Spain's El Pais Semanal Magazine. Too see more pics from the shoot click HERE.

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Three police officers are set to be charged with the killing of the 17-year-old Carlton 'Carlisle' Grant Jr, son of Spragga Benz. He was shot on August 23rd 2008 by police on Church Street in downtown Kingston.

According to Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn, two policemen will be charged with murder and a third with assault.

The officers claimed that they were responding to a call of two armed men traveling by bicycle who had just robbed a female victim. When the signaled for them to stop one man pulled a gun and fired and they then returned fire.

Residents however, dispute that claim as Carlton was shot in cold blod after he had surrendered. Read my original post on the shooting HERE.

The Liguanae Club in Jamaica will be the venue for Buju Banton's only performance in Jamaica for 2008. On December 6th he will headline the Reggaeloution concert event.



Other artists to perform include Etana, Tarus Riley and Rootz Underground.

Organizers of Art Expo Miami (running December 2-7) will feature a collection of photographs of supermodel Naomi Campbell.

This is a momentous event as such top photographers as Authur Elgort, Albet Watson and Steven Meisel rarely exhibit their work together.

The retrospective will feature over 50 photographs and several illustrations of Campbell, all of which will be for sale. It is part of a larger exhibit called In Fashion Photo, which will display an additional 250 photographs.

I got a recent email from a friend with a link to Oddee Blog which features list of odd things such as 10 Weirdest People on Earth, 11 World's Weirdest Dresses and 15 Most Incredible Face Paintings. So this particular email was about the top ten most unusual lakes in the world. The Boiling Lake of Dominica (see below) made number two.

Plitvice Lake in Croatia topped the list. It is so majestic, No wonder!


Click HERE to see the rest of the list!

Haitian-born musician, Wyclef Jean, is among the latest Americans losing a home to the foreclosure crisis.
Jean`s unfinished Miami Beach mansion is set to be sold by Miami-Dade county on December 12 after the singer failed to pay the mortgage.
The Yele Haiti founder and goodwill ambassador of Haiti reportedly took out a $2 million mortgage from Home Equity Mortgage Corp. in 2004 to purchase the estate through a corporation he owns with several friends, according to The Palm Beach Post. Jean’s corporation now owes the bank $2.4 million.
But while the home was set to be renovated, it was left unfinished for more than two years because of a number of construction liens and $6,200 in fines from the city of Miami Beach.
Court documents show also that a lien was put on the property this year by the project’s architects, who have tried to collect $75,000 owed to them since 2004.
Jean has not yet commented on the case.
Source: Caribbean World News

Rapper and former Fugees producer John Forté was one of 14 people pardoned by President Bush on Monday, according to Reuters. He had been serving a sentence of 14 years in prison since 2001, after being found guilty of possession of 31 pounds of liquid cocaine with intent to distribute.
The presidential pardons, which were for offenses ranging from distribution of marijuana to unauthorized use of a pesticide, cannot be overruled and can help the recipients find jobs, live in public housing and vote. Bush has received more than 2,000 requests for pardons, which typically come fast and furious near the end of a president's term.
Forté - who studied violin at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire as a youth - co-wrote and produced two songs on the Fugees' Grammy-winning 1996 smash, The Score. Two years later, he released his debut, Poly Sci, on which Fugees member Wyclef Jean has an executive-producer credit.
Forté was arrested in 2000 at Newark International Airport after accepting a briefcase containing $1.4 million worth of cocaine. He released his confessional second album, 2002's I, John, while already serving his sentence at Pennsylvania's Lorreto Federal Penitentiary.
, C
Source: All Hip-Hop

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The recent sighting of a sea lion off the Northern coast of Dominica was enough to get hundreds of spectators flocking to the beach to view the unusual spectacle.

The California sea lions are not usually seen in the Atlantic Ocean preferring to reside in the cooler Pacific, so it was no wonder that the crowds came out.

The sea lion moved up and down the shoreline periodically coming up to the water’s edge where the crowd of onlookers attempted to interact with the creature and feed it with fish. It appeared to enjoy the attention and seemed untroubled by all the activity.

It was later learned that the sea lion was one of a few sea lions that escaped from the Marine World in St. Kitts during the passage of hurricane Omar in October.

Contact was quickly made with the management of the aquarium in St. Kitts and the onlookers were advised to feed the sea lion at least two pounds of fish. This was successfully done and the following day relieved workers from the aquarium went to Portsmouth to retrieve their prize possession.

Pyramid Entertainment Management out of Barbados is hard at work. This can be attested to by the hard work of their artists to bring great music to their fans and videos of a high caliber. Here are a few artist on the roster. See what they have been up to.



Verseewild, is a radio-jock now singer who's popularity has skyrocketed in the last year. I'm sure his song "Ahzam" has something to do with it. Well he recently released a video for the song and also has a sneak peak video for his track "Tek It Light".
The video was directed by Nicholas King, while production was done by the B.M.G.U. Production team.
It captures many picturesque Bajan scenes, it is bright and lively like the island itself. Of course this is a bajan ting so you know girls are there pelting waist and pushing back bumpa and ting. Interestingly enough, the video captures the two sides of Versee as in one scene he is shown on stage performing while talking to the DJ who happens to be him.

Check out the video below:


I recently saw Philip 7's video for "Beautiful Surprise" on Caribvision. Love it. He has a new song out. It's called "Who You Are".
The song is produced by one of Jamaica’s most long-standing and accomplished producers Richard 'Shams' Browne.

Though he is known for his alternative sound, he has definitely found something magical in this Reggae inspired music. Look out for another reggae themed track "Looking For" produced by Stephen McGregor,with the accompanying video directed by J Will. Additionally, he has also been working with another veteran producer Donovan Germaine of the Penthouse Label.

To round of this successful year, Philip 7 will perform at the Barbados version of A Moment In Time headlined by Beres Hammond. The concert is set for December 28, at the Sir Garfeild Sobers Gymnasium

I always knew Barbados had great musical talent. I remember going to gospelfests as a child on vacation with my aunts, and was always blown away by the awesome talent therein. So its no surprise to me that artists like Rupee, Rihanna, Shontelle and Levvi Franc have been signed to major record labels , Atlantic, Def Jam, Universal Mowtown, and Jive Records respectively. Well Hal Linton is gonna join not only Shontelle as a label mate but Lil Wayne, Nelly and Ashanti.




Hal, is not only a singing talent but a talented writer who penned the single "Cardiac Arrest". We are looking for only the best from him!!!!




Timeka Marshall just wrapped up the video fro her seductive new single "All Night" , directed by Jamaican Jay Will. The track was produced by Stephen McGregor. She was one of an exclusive group of artists chosen by KLAS radio station for a tour of high schools throughout Jamaica, where she spread positive messages to teens, sharing her story, giving advice, signing posters and CDs and of course performing.

She is also a nominee for this year's Guyana Music Awards to be held on November 30. She goes up against acts such as Adrian Dutchin, Jumo, Shelly G, Natural Black, and First Born.

Check out all the Pyramid Artists at www.pyramidartists.com

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On Monday night Rihanna won two American Music Awards those being Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist beating out Alicia Keys and Mary J Blige. She beat out Mary yall. I love me some Mary J... "oh, woh ho, oh woh ho, oh woh hoho, tubidoobidobidodo/I don't know what I would do/do without you/You bring me joy" that Mary. But you know homegirl was everywhere this year getting her hustle on, so kudos to her. These two awards make a total of three AMAs for RiRi who won her frist award last year for Favorite Female Artist.

The show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel featured 19 performances, including Alicia Keys’ ‘Superwoman’ with a surprise guest Queen Latifah, as well as show-stopping performances by Beyonce, Coldplay, Kanye West, Mariah Carey,Ne-Yo, New Kids on the Block, the Pussycat Dolls and of course Rihanna. She still in that Dominatrix phase: Check out the outfit below. Please note the blinging eye patch for a little twist on the very sexy outfit.

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The biggest winners of the night were Chris Brown who won three awards including Favorite Artist of the Year, along with Alicia Keys and Kanye West, each taking home two AMA trophies.

Another view of her outfit below: wonder if she got any hugs that night??? Check out the spikes on the bustier(Ouch!)


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Rihanna is up for four People's Choice Awards: Favorite Female Singer, Favorite R&B Song, Favorite Pop Song and Favorite Star 35 & Under. The 35th Annual People's Choice Awards will air on CBS on Wednesday Jan. 7th 2009 and will again be hosted by Queen Latifah.

Photo: HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Yelena Isinbayveva of Russia, Usain Bolt of Jamaica and IAAF Predident Lamine Diack (Getty Images)

The International Athletic Foundation (IAF) Honorary President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diake hosted the World Athletics Gala in the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d'Ete in Monte Carlo on Sunday November 23rd. Twenty-two yearl old Jamaican Usain Bolt and Russia's 26-year-old Yelena Isinbavevia (a pole vaulter)were donned the title of Male and Female World Atheletes of the Year 2008.

Bolt captured the world's attention by capturing three gold medals at this year's Olympic Games, winning the men's 100 and 200 metres as well as sprinting the third leg on the 4/100 relay. Aditionally, he clocked world record times in the 100 and 200 meter races, and in the relay as well.

His two individual world records were also nominated for Male Performance of The Year, but he lost it to Cuban Dayron Robles who broke the world record in the men's 110m hurdles in June when he clocked 12.87 a world record improvement of one hundreth of a second.

Vybz Kartel and female dancehall DJ Spice, recently teamed up for the photo shoot to promote their collaboration on the song “Rampin Shop" on the Miss Independent Riddim.
Now I see strategically placed Daggering Condoms and Vybez brand rum so I dont know how many things he is promoting at once. What I do know for sure is what I like and don't like and I am so not feeling these photos. It just yells "WE'RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET!!!!!!!!!"
(And exhale) I'm feeling her make up though. but that's about it. Lose the motel bed, lose the boring bedspread, eat a food Vybez Kartel, and maybe we could work with this....

For those of you who can't get enough of this interesting pair, check out this video below:

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Reggae Icon, Legend, Great, Talent, Bob Marley, musical ambassador for his native Jamaica, was listed at number 19 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Greatest Singers of All Time List.

Another Jamaican, Toots Hibbert also made the list at number 71.

They share the list with musical greats such as Ray Charles (no.2), Marvin Gaye (no.6), James Brown (no.10), Michael Jackson (no.25), Whitney Houston (no. 34), Luther Vandross (no.54), Mariah Carey (no.79) and Mary J. Blige (no. 100). The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, tops the list which was compiled by journalists, music-industry insiders and artistes including Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, B.B King, Norah Jones, Ozzy Osbourne and Iggy Pop.

Barrington Levy has joined forces with Busta Rhymes, Kardinal Offishall and Barack Obama in his latest international collaboration. The song "No War", a Platinum Camp production, apart from echoing the messages of tolerance of Barak Obama, seeks to promote his upcoming album of the same name. The song combines the genres of Hip-Hop and Reggae with excerpts from Obamas's speeches in the background. A video is in the making. You already know its gonna be here soon as it comes out!

Listen to the track HERE

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Robert Bogle, better known as "Bogle" to friends and family recently passed due to Sickle Celle disease. He was Reggae artist Daville's close friend, and road manager.
Sickle Cell is a disease which changes normal round red blood cells into a crescent shape. Sickled cells can get stuck in blood vessels and that can stop oxygen from flowing which is very painful. For more information about Sickle Cell Disease click here

Well here are some random pics from Dominica's Independence Reunion 2008 celebrations BTW its our 30th year of Independence.
Enjoy







www.dominicareunion.com

Convent High School, where Dominica's leaders are groomed, celebrated it's 150th anniversary this year. The school had a huge march with 500 plus students earlier in the year and organizers wanted to include some past students who may have missed it by having another march for the Independence / Reunion season, which also was in honor of Convent being awarded a Sisserou Award. Well honey, I got my cloth at Astaphan's and my mom made me a uniform and drove me to school. It was so much fun, marching in the parade. I marched along past teachers (some of whom are still there) and old friends. Take a look and see more at the schools website.

Did not get Press Credentials for this years fest, but I was a volunteer Liaison Officer for get this, The Press! Its cool, it got me backstage and I was able to meet all the performers as well as take these photos below. Overall it was a good event. There is room for improvement. As Ophelia said, she should not be the only female headlining the show. Suggestion: Emeline Michel. She is AWESOME. Umm sorry but I was not feeling Tabou Combo (seemed too monotonous) But then again some may beg to differ. I can say though if patrons did not like one artist they liked another. So Dancehall lovers got Sean Paul, Soca Madheads like me got Machel, Reggae Lovers got Nasio, Bouyon Fans got WCK, Triple Kay, MFR, African soukous lovers got Olivier N'Goma and his dancers --talk about snake oil!!! Of course it is the World CREOLE Music Festival so Belles Combo, Kassav, Carimi, Tabou Combo, Djakout Mizik, Julie Mourillon, Jeff Joseph, Midnight Groovers and Opehelia filled the gap. Oh and dont forget Calypso. Backed by Swinging Stars King Dice, Hunter, Lord Tokyo, Scrunter and Daddy Chess Rocked the Crowd. Gosh I hope I didnt forget anyone. Any artist that does not have a pic...I guess they could take it as a compliment cause I was probably rockin' out. And my French Press who I liaised for zor tay bon....mwen kay we'w anay prochain...of course my creole sucks I spell like it sounds...Im sure they'll get it.
BTW you can register at www.partyaccess.net to see more pics!

Friday October 31st




Saturday November 1st




Sunday November 2nd



Les Martiniquaises

Creole Day is celebrated on the last Friday in the month of October. On this day persons of Creole heritage celebrate and indulge in their culture by wearing traditional clothing such as the Wob Dwiyet or the Jupe, and eat local cuisine such as callaloo soup, cassava balls (with avocado), accra, sancoach, and local juices. Most importantly, everyone tries to speak creole. Even the news is read in Creole. Below are some pics from Creole Day Friday October 31st 2008. Enjoy. For more information on Creole Day click Here

Patrons at Creole In The Park, in addition to listening to local music and sampling local cuisine, from Thursday November 30th had the opportunity to check out local businesses as well as various government ministries at the National Expo also held at the Botanical Gardens. Expo participants included local beer manufacturing company Kubuli Beer, Bello Products, local crafts, Government bodies such as Dominica Export Import Agency (DEXIA), Drug Abuse Prevention Unit (DAPU) of the Ministry of Health and Discover Dominica.
Here are some pics below from the National Expo 2008:

Creole in the Park is an annual event organized by major sponsor Cable and Wireless. This year saw the 6th installment of the event which promoted local musicians, as well as local cuisine. The two dollar contribution was not bad either. Here are some pics from the event which lasted from Monday October 27th to Thursday October 30th. Official Site.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

,

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Jah Cure's new album The Universal Cure has November 17th as the official release day. I can't find an album cover or anything so I'll just list the songs on the 14 track album, some of which are on his MySpace page. So any updates I will keep you guys posted

1. Sticky
2. Hot Long Time
3. Reflections
4. Soon Come
5. Burning and Looting
6. My Life
7. Mr. Jailer
8. Freedom
9. Sufferation
10. Journey
11. Forever
12. You Believe In Me
13. The Universal Cure
14. Green Grass

Click here or here to listen to Foxy Brown's new track "Rikers Island" featuring Louie Rankin AKA Ox. Track is on Fiaaahh!!!

And she don't look too bad herself after all that jail time and court drama and what not. Here's a pic of her with Mavado after his recent performance in New York

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You can also here the song on her MySpace page.

On Wednesday November 19th D'Vybz band will debut their first release for St. Kitts Carnival on WINN FM's Killing Time Drive (KYD) with DJ GQ. The song is called "Get On So". It is the first single from their upcoming album All About the Music.

Their previous albums were 2007's Life and their debut album in 2006 No turning Back.

In that short space of time, D'Vybz has become one of St Kitts top musical acts.

What do you think of when you think of Cable and Wireless????? England, monopoly, ever-the-same, blue and white, more recently-- b-mobile, and now -- lime????? Can the company that has dominated the Caribbean telecommunications landscape for decades change it's image????? Well it's too early to tell but that is the hope of the company. So what is lime?


It stands for Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment. An initiative strictly for the Caribbean market. And Cables has come up with a 15 point plan outlining how LIME is going to improve the lives of its customers. Here are some of them:

• Calls to LIME’s customer service centres will be answered within one minute.
• No LIME customer will be without the ability to communicate, via at least one of LIME’s services, with their friends, family or colleagues, for more than one day.
• Customers (and potential customers) will not be sold services or products that they do not need – even if that means LIME loses money on a sale.
• LIME will ensure that every child, in the markets where LIME operates, will have access to a computer and the Internet to aid their education.
• LIME will invest $5m in local community initiatives – such as Carnival – every year.
• LIME will publish its financial results - making it clear how much it has invested in the region and how much Caribbean shareholders have gained from investing in LIME.
• LIME will operate a “Caribbean supplier first” policy, ensuring that it invests in the economic growth of the region.
• LIME will provide employment and promotion opportunities for Caribbean residents as a priority.
• LIME will reduce its paper wastage by 15%, as well as introducing a number of other environmental initiatives.
• LIME will commit the time of every colleague – from CEO to cleaner – to aiding recovery efforts in times of national crisis.

For more info about LIME go to www.time4lime.com

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Read her bio here.
According to Flavour Magazine, a Power List of the 50 Most Influential Black Men and the 50 Most Influential Black Women in the UK has been compiled to "dispel the myth that there are few savvy black movers and shakers in Britain."

The Power List, features exhaustively researched profiles of and interviews with black African and Caribbean men and women in the UK, who have attained a high level of success within their various professions (law, medicine, business, finance, and the media among others), and who also wield major influence above and beyond that.


Such is the power and influence of those on the list, that their accumulative wealth is estimated to exceed a staggering £1 billion. The annual publication can be downloaded as an ezine from www.powerlist2008.com.












he Men’s List: Top 10

1. Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder & Chairman, Mo Ibrahim Foundation

2. Tidjane Thiam, Group Finance Director, Prudential

3. Damon Buffini, Chairman, Permira

4. Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York

5. Trevor Phillips, Chairman CEHR

6. David Lammy, Skills Minister (DIUS)

7. Rio Ferdinand, Footballer, Manchester United and England

8. Kenneth Olisa, Director, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation

9. David Adjaye, Architect

10. Daniel Alexander QC, Barrister

Presenter and broadcaster Trisha GoddardThe Women’s List: Top 10

1. Baroness Scotland, Attorney General (Dominica in the house wot, wot!!!)

2. Claire Ighodaro, Independent Director

3. Michelle Ogundehin, Editor-in-Chief, Elle Decoration

4. Vivian Hunt, Director, McKinsey & Co

5. Pat McGrath, Global Cosmetics Design Director, Proctor & Gamble

6. Carol Lake, Managing Director: Head of Philanthropy, JPMorgan

7. Diane Abbott, Labour MP

8. Tandy Anderson, Co-founder/CEO Select Models

9. Sonita Alleyne, Director, Somethin’ Else

10. Abigail Blackburn, Editor, Now magazine

28-year-old, Estelle is up for five awards - Best Album 2008, Best Collaboration, Best Crossover Chart Act, Best R&B Act and Most Inspiring Act 2008.

Leona Lewis is up for two nominations. So is Sway. As far as I know his roots are African but I love his sound. Check out his MySpace.

And remember Craig David (Grenadian roots) he had that song ..."Met this girl on Monday/took her for a drink on Tuesday/we we making love by Wednesday/and on Thursday and Friday and Saturday/Chill on Sunday"...yeah him..... he is nominated for best album: Trust Me and Best RnB act along with Leona Lewis.

The music awards ceremony will be held on the 15th of November 2008 at the prestigious IndigO2 (at the O2 ) in London and will be attended by more than 5,000 artists, DJs, producers, promoters, record labels executives, celebrities from the world of music, radio, TV, sports and urban music fans from across the country.




The Urban Music Awards was born out of the need to build a worldwide and independent awards ceremony to recognize the achievement of 100% British based artists, producers, club nights, dj’s , radio stations, record labels and artist within British urban music scene.

The first Urban Music Awards were held in 2003 to recognize the achievements fo British -based artists, producers, DJs, radio stations, record labels and artists. The award show has grown internationally. On the 7th of July 2007 saw the launch of the Urban Music Awards USA in New York hosted by Foxy Brown & Spragga Benz whilst April 2008 saw the launch of the Caribbean Urban Music Awards in Jamaica.
Go to www.urbanmusicawards.net for all the 2008 nominees and more info on the Urban Music Awards.

Click on a magazine to go to it's site.

The OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) wants you to send them a demo. The music should be Caribbean and the lyrics should reflect the positive hopes and dreams of OECS people coming together!

If your entry is selected, the OECS Secretariat will have you professionally recorded and your song will become part of a regional collection for an upcoming promotional campaighn.

Send demos to :

OECS Promotional Song
c/o OECS Secretariat
P.O. Box 179
Castries
St. Lucia

DEADLINE: December 15th 2008

She recently canceled a concert which was to take place in Jakarta Indonesia. Pretty much due to an escalation in violence there. So the concert is postponed until January or February.

Her new song "Rehab" featuring Justin Timberlake will air on November 17th on MTV. Click here for a preview of the video.

And here are some still shots from the set:



photo source

Here's the flyer for ICM Fest (International Caribbean Music Fest) taking place in Miami.

photo source
I just want to know since when is Jamaica the Caribbean??? An explanation please......anyone, anyone???????