It's the music of the moment. Some call it Island Pop, some say it's Island R&B. Nicky B dubs it R&D- Rhythm & Dancehall. It's a sound he has been perfecting for the last eight years. Let's get his take on his journey to the top and the success of his sound R&D.

1. What does success mean to you?
Finally being able to pay the bills (lol) No, umm, success just means all the hard work paying off you know? I’ve been at this since 2002- in the studio, working hard on my craft just trying to be the best artist and the best individual I could possibly be. So success shows that all the hard work is worth it.


2. What do you want to achieve in your field?
I think I’ve achieved it. I spent 6-7 years working on a sound and developing a craft that I see different individuals using right now. When I went in the studio and was developing the sound called R&D (Rhythm & Dancehall) never in my wildest imagination would I know that two years later there was going to be a guy from Jamaica that moved to Miami named Sean Kingston that was going to do the same exact thing. (Which they call Dancehall Pop) Yea, it’s called Dancehall pop but it’s the same thing which is highlighting our culture while at the same time using Pop influences. You have people from the VI (Rock City, Iyaz), Christopher Martin, Natel, (Duane Howard), Ricky Blaze…. I feel good knowing that I’ve been doing this for a minute even though its coming out now, but that’s the nature of the game.


3. What is the greatest sacrifice you have made so far in your career?
Stopping school. My house burnt down in 2002 and I was at a crossroad whether or not I was gonna go back to school (at Quality Academics to take courses for entrance to culinary arts school) or spend a year and just do music. After taking a year off from school I was stuck with another choice of going back to school or continuing with the music. When you’re a year in the business it’s like nothing, I’ve been doing this for so long and it is finally getting to a point where people understand that I am a true talent and writer and singer. So my big sacrifice was not earning any money, not gaining recognition and still deciding to leave school alone and keep at it.

4. Though you already have a loyal following, do you ever fear that you won’t make it big?
They say fear is of the devil, you know. I wouldn’t go as far as saying fear. You know, there’s that concern that what if this don’t work out-because you make a sacrifice and this is what’s paying the bills. So if one day it stops, do I start allover? Do I go back to school? But I believe in putting out a certain type of energy in the Universe to have it come back to me, so at the end of the day I just know I’m going to make it and I leave no room for failure.


5. What makes you stand out in your field?
Skibby-di-boom-bam-beng…(laugh) Yeah. You hear that and you know who coming around the corner man. You not looking for any tall dark guy, or a short rastaman…You know is the coolie boy with the curly hair and the glasses.

6. What is the best piece of advice you have been given and who was it from?
The best piece of advice I was given when I first started in the business was from my father Mikey Bennett.I was doing straight R&B music. His advice was very short, but hurtful at the same time ( Your parents are the ones that usually give it to you straight) Yeah, but you don’t want to hear that. He was like “Yow, all dem songs you a do; dead fi hungry music dat. Dat nah go noweh. You need to highlight Jamaica.” He went on to say “ so many artists out of the country are so proud of Jamaica that when dem come here dem always go back home and do something Jamaican” So basically his advice was not to be afraid to highlight that I am from this country. It was great advice.


7. What advice do you have for anyone trying to make it in your field?
Go look another wuk (laught) Ah joke…. Be very very patient. You doh waan hear that but you have to be patient in this business and leave your feelings somewhere else because when feelings get involved you don’t handle constructive criticisms or the negative stuff.You may make enemies or become bitter. You don’t want that. And, just work, work on your craft. Constantly try to develop it. Never, ever feel like you are bigger than the business either cause you’ll be very surprised to learn that you aren’t.

Click HERE to get to know Nicky even better!!! and tune in to his music...Skibidi-boom-bang-beng!! Luv it !!!

Mrs. Obama spent about an hour taking queries from children of executive office employees who visited the White House for Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

U.S First Lady Michelle Obama taking questions from children at the White House's Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day event.
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The children asked Mrs. Obama about life in the White House, her campaign against childhood obesity, the White House garden - and whether she could make school recesses longer. She dodged that last one.

One detail she shared: The playlist on her iPod includes songs by Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Beyonce, Usher and Sting.

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With two new tracks and a three-continent tour for April, Jamaican dancehall superstar Sean Paul is keeping quite busy these days. Sean Paul, who returned from performances in Africa recently, is also toasting the success of his single with British-born pop sensation Jay Sean, Do You Remember, which is featured on the iconic pop music compilation Now That’s What I Call Music.

Excited fans checking out Sean Paul at a Bogota Mall...he was in Australia last week!

Sean Paul’s two newest singles, "Fire Brigade" and "Down The Line," are destined as sure-fire club pleasers. "Down The Line", produced by Jeremy Harding, is a reggae-flavoured slow-melody love song which is featured on his popular mixtape The Oddessy. The Don Corleone-produced "Fire Brigade", however, is an unmistakable dancehall tune with all the up-tempo energy party lovers clamour for and that which Sean Paul has become famous for.

Sean Paul is rearing to hit the road and promote these two new tracks. “Working with Don and Jeremy is just amazing. They are creative people and good at what they do. I know anytime I go in the studio with them I leave with a good song. Down The Line is getting good reviews so far and so is Fire Brigade so its time to kick the promotion for these singles into high gear,” Sean Paul said.

He added that the singles will soon be available on iTunes, and that the producers were two of the producers who did tracks for his album Imperial Blaze. The album, his fourth, went on to make history on the charts as it became the first dancehall album to top the Billboard Rap/Hip Hop charts.

His newly released singles aside, the Grammy-winning megastar has been racking up the frequent flyer miles and performance hours. Sean Paul has performed in more than 80 countries in North, Central, and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Paul will return to the dancehall-loving nation of Japan, where Imperial Blaze debuted at #1 selling over 50,000 copies in its first week. He has a string of appearances in Japan, before he heads to engagements in Columbia and Australia. These are hectic times for the artiste, who now sports a trendy Mohawk.

Sean Paul is a multi-platinum selling deejay many times over, and the most successful Jamaican artiste on the international charts. He’s had three #1 singles, five top ten hits, and even more chart entries over four worldwide best-selling albums, which have sold more than tens of millions of copies worldwide. In 2009, he copped the MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act, as well as, Best Reggae Artiste award at the Soul Train Awards. He adds those trophies to an impressive collection of awards that includes a Grammy, MTV Music Video Award, Billboard Music Award, American Music Award, MTV Europe Music Award, MOBO, BET Award and others.

check out Sean Paul freestyleing with EVE and Jay Sean...


Keep up with Sean Paul by visiting AllSeanPaul.com

You mean to tell me Alicia Keys not hot in that outfit????? Well then again, she probably was in an AC car and going into an AC building....what's a couple minutes in the sunlight, huh???



check out more celebs On The Scene by clicking HERE

Reggae singer, Jah Cure (real name Siccaturie Alcock), was taken into custody by the police yesterday, after he was observed smoking a ganja spliff in his car.



He was arrested and taken to the Constant Spring police station, where he was charged with smoking ganja. He was granted $5,000 station bail, and is scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Monday (April 26).

Dang didn't Rihanna just hurt her rib on Monday night??? Well in Lyons last night she fell but my girl Riri played it off man....check it

Gosh, iFest, for years I've been praying for a Caribbean theme, I went to iFest when it was Ireland (2001), when it was India (2005), when it was Jamaica (2006) when it was China (2007), when it was Africa (2008) and how many other countries between 2001 and 2008 praying each year, that the next would focus on the region I love. 1998 was the last time the Houston International Festival had a "Caribbean" theme. So those of you in Houston please enjoy the last weekend of iFest which has as its the theme this year "Spotlighting the Caribbean."




If you go on Saturday, make sure to check out St. Lucian Reggae artist Taj Weekes on the Bud Light World Stage. He was featured in the Houston Chronicle- Here's an excerpt:

When Sunday morning comes down in St. Lucia, one might hear Johnny Cash on the radio, according to Taj Weekes, a reggae superstar from the Caribbean island.

Weekes said a typical morning might include songs by Jim Reeves, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. The radio isn't formatted, so there's also calypso, some classical pieces and maybe some Elton John.

“I think it's healthier for us, rather than having one genre on a station every day of the year,” he says. “It leaves you feeling refreshed, and you get this rich musical education.”

Such a varied education is at least partially responsible for Weekes' status as the most interesting roots reggae singer to come along in a generation. There are no gimmicks in Weekes' music: no hip-hop, no party anthems, no visual shtick, crutches that have made dancehall a profitable, if shallow, permutation of reggae's history. Weekes sings in a high, brittle and otherworldly voice. But he's a songwriter first. His songs play out vibrantly with a band, but strip them down to just voice and guitar and they remain smart and melodic.

Weekes bristles at the notion that reggae must come from Jamaica. Though he heard a lot of calypso growing up, reggae is what carried his attention.

“But they're similar,” he says, “both followed the same tradition of telling stories. That's where dancehall has let us down; it's like they've forgotten about the message and the music. It's about affluence and things that don't matter. It moved away from telling a story into being about material things along the way.”

Weekes is less interested in the acquired things that make us different, which is why he titled his new album Deidem, which translates “all of us.”

“I think we're more alike than we are different,” he says. “We really need to pay attention to this, only way to truly understand each other is to sit and talk. We're too caught up in preconceived ideas about who people are and what they are. At the end of the day, I've never seen anybody with three feet and four eyes.”

For all of Weekes' one-world talk, Deidem actually started with a period of self-involved contemplation. Both of his parents had recently died and Weekes wrote seven songs “about my sorrowful state of mind.”

To read the rest of the article click HERE

My girls and guys from Stamina band will be in their costumes on Saturday. Of course Taj Weekes will perform. George Clinton performs on the same stage as Taj Weekes. On Sunday there will be moko jumbie dancers from Puerto Rico, and Steele Pulse, Baaba Maal from Senegal...OMG The Dominicans are representing with Dance (I hope Dominica and not Dominican Republic- you know I would be licking dem with some serious bele if I was in H-Town), who else??? Oh, steel pan from TnT and Haitian drummers ....it's a long list ya'll click HERE to see remaining artists. And I have to mention Kyra Noons -The Neutral Sister who performed with Blacc Sheep and Yard Band..Nuff respect guys and Big up my girl Karina Nistal!!!!


To go to iFest official site click HERE

To go to iFest official after party, get info on JugglersUnited.com

When my mom visited me at school earlier this year, the one thing I implored her not to forget was my bitters. I put it in juice and I drink it with warm water for a tummy ache. I've been trying to convince my flatmates of the wonders of bitters but so far no success. Any ways it's good to know there are lots of people who share my love of bitters and who would be crushed at the thought of a bitters shortage. Check out this interesting story about Rachel Maddows bitters scare:




She speaks with Giselle Laronde-West (1986 Miss Eorld Winner)who is Communications Manager at Angostura and Genevieve Jodhan Executive Manager of Export Sales and Business Development. The ladies oth went on the Rachel Maddow show to clear up the International Angostura bitters shortage issue and declare it over!!!! Yay!!!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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And by the way if you want to know why the label looks that way, click HERE.

Nas and Damian Marley shot the video for "As We Enter" in LA over the weekend.

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Click HERE to see the pics!

Look, it's Zoe Saldana and her abuelita :-)


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Click HERE to see more pics, of your fav. stars out and about!

I know I am in the media, but I am also an entertainer and sometimes it's a fine line that one has to walk with two roles that more often than not cross paths, so when I saw on TMZ the headline "Naomi Campell Strikes over "Diamond" probe, I was curious as to who she "attacked" during an interview with ABC....



Hmmm, attack??? Seriously??? Although the story says that prosecutors in a special UN -backed court believe Campbell may have information that could prove Taylor used "blood diamonds" to fuel a campaign of terror in Sierra Leone between 1997 and 2001.
It's just funny to me the degree to which it implied her rage was out of control. She really was trying to hold it together...lol....I think they can count themselves lucky. Good thing she didn't have a cell phone in her hand.

Guys, as residents of Planet Earth, we have an obligation to be good to her, to protect her and in return reap the benefits of breathing clean air, swimming in pristine oceans, and eating the froots from healthy and fertile lands...There are many ways we can do this. I am glad to say that my flatmates and I recycle plastic and thanks to intiatives of UWI Mona campus so can other students at the university. Even things like turning off appliances all play a role. Making sacrifices like buying a Suzuki Swift instead of a Toyota Prado are all ways to contribute to a less polluted earth.



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Visit the official Earth Day site by clicking HERE and find out how else you can contribute!!!

And here is a very fitting song for such a day, "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson. Enjoy and Reflect!

Last night Alicia Keys performed "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready) and "Empire State of Mind Part II (Broken Down)" on the show.

Idol gives back is Idol Gives Back, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration has raised more than $140 million to benefit charities around the world and across the United States. Beneficiaries for this year's event include Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children's U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.





Alicia Keys has her own charity she founded called Keep A Child Alive.
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I had such a fun time interviewing Mamayashi for my Stars on the Rise Feature. Look out for it on the 20 Questions Tab real soon!


Meantime, check out some more pics of celebs out and about by clicking HERE!

Check it out!!!

Here is Trina's latest single, "Dang A Lang" from her new album "Amazin" which drops on May 4th! Is this the new female anthem of 2010??? Ladies can you be that detached????



Click HERE to check it out!

Dancehall/reggae singer, Christopher (Chris) Martin, has reportedly signed a deal with Japan-based Rockers Island, for the distribution of his upcoming, still-unnamed, 18 track album.



The album is aimed at the Japanese market, and will feature a mix of previously released and unreleased tracks, including collaborations with Busy Signal, Ce’Cile and Shaggy. Look out for it; in stores soon.

Alicia Keys will perform her latest release "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" on American Idol's Idols Give Back show tonight. Here is Alicia performing this song on AOL Live Sessions




Below is the official single cover:



She also filmed the video for the song. Here are two pics she tweeted from the set:

The soundtrack for the much-anticipated Sex and the City 2 will be released on May 25 and features Leona Lewis in a duet with Jennifer Hudson called "Love is your colour". Alicia Keys has two songs on the album: her rendition of the Blondie classic "rapture" and "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down".

Liza Minelli is doing her version of Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)...that I would definitely want to hear!

The soundtrack also features the stars of SATC2 Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, performing the Helen Reddy classic “I Am Woman.”




1. Alicia Keys – “Rapture”
2. Dido – “Everything to Lose”
3. Cee-Lo – “Language of Love”
4. Erykah Badu – “Window Seat”
5. Natacha Atlas – “Kidda”
6. Michael McGregor – “Euphrates Dream”
7. Liza Minnelli – “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”
8. Ricki-Lee – “Can’t Touch It”
9. Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down”
10. Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis – “Love Is Your Color”
11. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon – “I Am Woman”
12. Sex and the City Men’s Choir – “If Ever I Would Leave You”
13. Sex and the City Men’s Choir – “Sunrise, Sunset”
14. Sex and the City Men’s Choir – “Till There Was You”
15. Shayna Steele, Jordan Ballard, Kamilah Marshall – “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”
16. Liza Minnelli with Billy Stritch – “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”
17. Aaron Zigman – “Divas and Dunes”

Atlanta rapper B.o.B will bounce Rihanna from the top slot of the Hot 100 to be released on Thursday morning (Apr. 22), as his "Nothin' On You," featuring Bruno Mars, will jump 2-1 while Rihanna's "Rude Boy" drops to the runner-up slot.


"Nothin' On You" also rises to the top of Digital Songs, moving 184,000 downloads according to Nielsen SoundScan. Last week's top-seller, Train's "Hey, Soul Sister," dips to No. 2 with 159,000.


B.o.B also has the Hot 100's top debut as "Airplanes," featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore, will land at No. 12 upon the chart's official release. The track sells 138,000 in its initial week of availability and arrives at No. 5 on Digital Songs. His debut album "B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray" hits retail this coming Tuesday (April 27).



To check the charts log on to Billboard.com for all the info!!!!

The Nas and Damian Marley show in London has been canceled as a result of the shutdown on flights in the U.K.



However, travel restrictions have been lifted and flights began landing again in the U.K. on Tuesday night (April 20). The volcanic ash from Iceland closed U.K. airspace for six days, and across Europe more than 95,000 flights were canceled.

The TCO-promoted Nas and Damian Marley Show at the Electric Ballroom has been canceled, though. They have collaborated on the "Distant Relatives" (Island) album, out May 17. Tickets will be valid for the July 20 London Hammersmith show.

Melissa Auf der Maur had to cancel shows last weekend in Oslo and London, where she had a sold-out date at Cargo. But she has been traveling across sea and land to make a newly-booked date at London Jazz Café today (April 21). There is also an April 21 screening of the film accompanying the new album, "Out Of Our Minds" (Roadrunner), and a Q&A at London's ICA.

LCD Soundsystem had to pull its Dublin dates but the act said on Twitter "we will make it to London." They traveled from L.A. to Spain and will continue to the U.K. for April 23 at Brixton Academy.

Other acts have been unable to make shows in Europe. Swedish act Nina Kinert and U.K. band Delphic both canceled French shows, and Bobby McFerrin pulled his April 18 Paris gig, which is rescheduled for May 3.

U.K. singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner has been stuck in Hong Kong. His April 21 Paris show has been postponed to June 14.

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The Brooklyn district attorney's office is helping in the Haiti earthquake relief effort by donating counterfeit knockoff clothing to the country. According to CNN:

Haiti's children will benefit from the new clothes

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Seven truckloads of confiscated counterfeit designer duds and shoes -- Ed Hardy, Nike and Diesel among the imitation brands -- are headed to earthquake victims in Haiti.

The 125,000 tons of clothing and shoes, valued at $10 million, were seized by New York police and would normally be destroyed, but in this case, the contraband will go to good use.

"Permission was obtained from manufacturers, including Nike, Timberland, Antik Denim Jeans, Black Label and Christian Audigier, to allow the knockoffs to be donated to charity," Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes told CNN affiliate WPIX.

Hynes' office came up the idea. It was decided the goods, warehoused for a while, would come to better use in Haiti.

The

Publish Post

powerful January 12 earthquake rendered more than 1 million people homeless in the Caribbean nation. Many are eking out a meager existence, living in tents and underneath tarps.

The international charity World Vision has agreed to deliver the items donated by the Brooklyn authorities.

But there's one catch: All brand identifiers like labels and logos will be removed in order to avoid trademark issues.

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Rihannawas rushed to the hospital after performing in Switzerland on Monday night and of course that had everyone wondering what the heck had happened to her?

Rihanna performing in Zurich

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It seems after performing at the concert in Zurich, she was rushed to the ER in a black Mercedes accompanied by a camp of bodyguards, drivers and assistants.

In a recent update on People.com the 22 year old singer's rep says she"had an injured rib and went to have it looked at to be sure it was nothing serious, and it wasn't,"

Rihanna continued the European leg of her "Last Girl on Earth" tour Tuesday night with a concert in Lyon, France, and is expected to play in Marseille on Wednesday.

Digicel Rising Stars auditions in Ocho Rios was a smash with amazing talent and several interesting characters gracing the stage. The fourth auditions for this the 7th season of Digicel Rising Stars was held at he Hibiscus lodge in Ocho Rios on April 18. With almost two hundred contestant turning out despite the constant threat of rain there is the distinct possibility that the 2010 Digicel Rising Star might come from St Ann.

This rastaman brought his guitar but not much talent.jpg This rastaman brought his guitar but not much talent.

Series producer for the hit series, Sharon Schroeter, says St Ann was a confidence booster for the show’s organisers: “The talent here was plenty, we saw many contestants who have what it takes to be on the Digicel Rising Stars main stage. What is also true is that there were some talent that just needed a little bit more time to hone their craft and this augers well for the future of Digicel Rising Stars as we have told them to come back when they are ready”

Rising Stars host hopeful Julie Malcolm is serenaded by a contestant in Ocho Rios

Julie Malcolm who is vying for the position of host of Digicel Rising Stars 2010 was at the audition interacting with the contestants: “It was an exciting experience for me as I met some very interesting characters and saw some good talent. The Digicel Rising Stars' family were also extremely professional and very supportive of me. I had some real fun, I learnt a lot and I hope to land the position so that I can be a part of this great competition”.


Talented 19 year old Chrystal Rhoden was asked to hone her skills a bit more and try again next year


Judges Anthony Miller, Nadine Sutherland and Clyde McKenzie were treated to a good combination of what the garden parish had to offer. Throughout the day contestants came with Dancehall, R&B, Gospel and Reggae, with a large majority of contestants choosing to do renditions of old but loved R&B songs from the likes of Witney Houston, Mariah Carey, Jagged Edge and other acts from the 90’s and 80’s.

Digicel Rising Stars' auditions continue this Saturday (April 24) at the Girl Guides Headquarters in Kingston. Auditions begin at 8am and end at 3pm!

Miss Earth Jamaica 2009,Miss Jamaica Caribbean World 2008 and Miss Teen Florida Caribbean 2005, Jenaae Jackson will be a guest model at the Annual “A Fashion Affair” Fashion Show in Atlanta on “Mother’s Day” Sunday May 9 , 2010.




This annual Caribbean event is organised by event by Norma Jean Martin (event director), Christine Newton (event coordinator) and Peaches Pennycooke (marketing & sales) who dubbed it "Exotica"

DATE: Sunday May 9th

TIME: 3:00 PM

VENUE:Trinity Grand Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Select located at 4386 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta GA 30341

COST:general admission from $40.00 to $50.00 and the VIP seating from $50.00 to $65.00.


PARTICIPATING DESIGNERS
*Uzuri International, designers to Miss World pageant
*Pablo Palair menswear designer (Mo-Bay Jamaica)
* Mushroom Swimwear
*Mutamba collection (Kingston Jamaica)
* T.K. Design featuring Palini Couture (Sandy Springs Atlanta)
*K & G Super Store menswear Stone Mountain
Private boutiques and specialty collections.


ENTERTAINMENT
*dance performance by an Atlanta dance ensamble, choreographed by Chelsea Dixon & T’ka Martin.
*Comedy by Sophie Nichols out South Florida now stationed in Louisiana


SPECIAL GUESTS
* WestonHaughton (production director to Miss Jamaica World pageant)Miss Jamaica World 2005 andGeneral Manager of Spartan Health Club
*Dr. Terri Karelle Reid Miss Jamaica world 2006
*Miss World Caribbean 2006, Sara Lawrence
top Caribbean male model and Mr. Manhunt,Tafawah Thompson
Models Latrece, Javon, Karla, and Donicca, Leonard, Michael,Roxene, Roz and Natalie.

For more information, please call 404 316 0397

Guys, log on to PlanetPit.com and you can get a free download of his latest mix-tape Mr. Worldwide!

I love this article on Grace Jones written by Simon Hattenstone for Gardian UK. It's fun quirky, honest and gives (me any way) a fascinating look at the beast and woman that is Grace Jones. She gave some very direct responses to his questions from her sex life, to musical collaborations.

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Asked if Lady Gaga and other acts asked to collaborate with her:

"I just don't play with other acts as a rule," she says, with rare discretion.

What does she think of her? "I really don't think of her at all. I go about my business."

Has she copied her? "Well, you know, I've seen some things she's worn that I've worn, and that does kind of piss me off."

Is she talented? "I wouldn't go to see her."

So, did she ask to play with her? "Yes, she did, but I said no. I'd just prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not copying me, actually."

Of what is she most proud? "My son," she says instantly. Paolo is a member of her band, and the product of her relationship with Goude.-

Has she had relationships only with men? "I love women, but I've never had a relationship with a woman. Having a threesome is fun, but never a relationship. I like to experiment, and as an actress I always thought it's good to be open about a lot of things."

Did her mother and father ever tell her they were proud? "Yes. It took a while. The thing is, as leaders in the church, they were pressured by everyone else to shun me........My dad had become a bishop, and I found out he was carrying pictures of me in his wallet, showing off quietly.

It's a really good piece...please read by clicking HERE!

Idris Elba talks to the New York Time's Dan Kois about his new movie The Losers, as well as his BBC Series Luther set to air next spring. He also talks about past works such as Obsessed and The Wire.

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Click HERE to read the interview.

Here's Toi Gichie at a recent interview in FL

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Click HERE to see more stars out and about!

Drake talks to Birdman about his recent trip to Jamaica where he shot the video for his latest single "Find Your Love".


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"We went to Kingston," Drake said. "We went to this 'hood. They call it the 'gully' side. It's bad out there, real bad. They had 'Young Money' sprayed on the gates, 'Drake and Wayne,' 'cause I came to shoot the video out there. I'm talking about you drive by people's homes, they had 'Drake,' 'Young Money,' 'Drake, Welcome Here,' 'Drake We Love You' — crazy sh--, man. It was so crazy. This dude was like, 'Original Weezy tha God! You tha boss! Weezy tha God!' It's crazy. They love us, 'cause we show love out there."



The Kanye West-produced "Find Your Love," will be on his EP Thank Me Later set for a June 19 release.

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Rapper Guru (gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) has died at the age of 43 after a long battle with cancer, according to a statement released by his friend and producer Solar. The New York MC - whose real name was Keith Elam - suffered cardiac arrest on March 2 and had been in a coma.



The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip-hop icons of all-time --my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru," reads the statement. "Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius."

Accompanying the statement was a letter, apparently written by Guru before his death and passed on to Solar, that would appear to maintain a beef Guru had with DJ Premier. Premier and Guru made up the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, which released six albums between 1989 and 2003.

"I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease," the letter reads.

"I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this," continues the letter. "I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ."

In addition to his work with Gang Starr, Guru released an acclaimed series of "Jazzmatazz" albums that fused hip-hop with jazz and featured collaborations with Cortney Pine, Roy Ayers and Kool Keith.
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What I like about Gang Starr's songs is the story telling... you know, you just listen to the lyrics, coupled with the beats and you just progress with the story man, plus the diction is clear and the lyrics are thought provoking....Here are a couple of my fav. Gang Starr songs. R.I.P Guru.


This one is called "Ex-Girl to the Next Girl"



"DWYCK" Gang Starr feat Nice and Smooth.



The song Jazz Thing the theme from the motion picture Mo' Better Blues, features Brandford Marsalis & Terence Blanchard.



Click HERE to see what MTV lists as their top 10 Gang Starr tracks!

With just over a month left to showtime, the Best of the Best International Music Festival (BOTB) gets even bigger and promoters are promising there will be more artists to come! Hip-hop heavyweights Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj join Caribbean icons Capleton, Barrington Levy and Cocoa Tea, plus dancehall thriller group T.O.K., as some of the latest artists added to the show's lineup, which boasts the hottest names in urban music today. Music mogul Diddy is set to host the annual blockbuster concert event, taking place during Memorial Day weekend, on May 30 at Bicentennial Park in Miami, Florida.



Rick Ross returns to BOTB from his smash performance last year, and will once again showcase his Maybach Music dancehall artist, Magazeen. Fans can expect classic Rick Ross hits as well as an unveiling of his new tunes, as "the boss" will be promoting the release of his new album, Teflon Don, due in stores on June 29.
New rap sensation Nicki Minaj will see this as her first major performance in South Florida for the year. The Young Money artist has been making waves since she hit the scene as Lil Wayne's proteje, and recently scored major points with the Caribbean audience by jumping on the remix for "Hold Yuh" by reggae crooner Gyptian, who is also appearing on BOTB. The remix is currently receiving massive airplay on urban radio across the nation and keeps Gyptian on Billboard's Hip-Hop/R&B chart.

BOTB's official host, Diddy, is also hitting the stage to promote his upcoming album, Last Train to Paris, and will be bringing his friends in tow to hit the holiday audience that will be packed into Bicentennial Park come May 30. As fans know, no one is more dynamic when it comes to promotion than the 'Bad Boy' of hip-hop so patrons will be in store for a very special treat. DJ Khaled will also bring his 'special' friends to help promote his current album, Victory, which is now in stores and features everyone from Usher and Ludacris to Mavado and Buju Banton.
The newest additions also include dancehall's most successful male-group, T.O.K, who will see this BOTB performance as one of their biggest since releasing their latest album, Our World, last year. They will be joined by newcomers Richie Loops, who is enjoying sweet success in the dancehalls with his current hit, "My Cup," singer Romain Virgo, and dancehall's newest princess, Tiana, who will debut her hit single, "Skippin' Feelin,'" to the BOTB crowd.

Hip-hop rockstar Gucci Mane rounds out the BOTB cast, which also features Serani, Mr. Vegas, Baby Cham, Machel Montano, Lady Saw, Anthony B, Ding Dong, Demarco, Tony Matterhorn, Pinchers, G. Whizz, Chino, R.D.X., Sammi Starr and the New Kingston Band. The concert is just part of the four-day festival, which runs from Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31. See details at http://www.bestofthebestconcert.com/.Best of the Best takes place at Bicentennial Park, located at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. Park gates open at 1:00 pm and show time is set for 1:30pm sharp. For further information on each event and to purchase tickets, log on to http://www.bestofthebestconcert.com/ or call 1-305-438-9488, or also visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

St. Lucia has become the latest Caribbean Community (Caricom) country to place a ban on Jamaican dancehall singer, Vybz Kartel, who had been scheduled to perform here at the end of the month.



A statement from the St Lucian government today noted that in deciding whether or not to grant a work permit to the singer, the government had deliberately refrained from rushing to a judgement by establishing an adhoc committee to discuss the request from the promoters.

It said that the committee was required to look at a number of factors, including a comprehensive research of the history of the artiste, solicit views and opinions of key institutions and organisations in the country and determine the general impact of the artiste’s performance on the population, particularly the youth.


“Having looked carefully at the significant amount of information presented, and considering the views and opinions of the many individuals and institutions as well as available options, the Government of St Lucia through the Ministry of Labour, Information and Broadcasting has decided not to grant a work permits to Mr Adidja Azim Palmer otherwise known as Vybz Kartel for performances at the Hot FM promoted Supreme Weekend show scheduled for April 30 and May 1, 2010.
“In light of the foregoing, and in order to ensure consistency and to avoid discrimination, Government has decided that in going forward, it is essential to establish a permanent committee to review applications for artistes seeking permits to perform in St Lucia,” the statement added.

Read more about it HERE.

Source

I am all for protecting the youth, but I think all this banning is going a little too far. If you blame Vybz Kartel for youth violence then what's to stop beer companies for being blamed for teenage pregnancies? There are surveys done which link underage drinking with increase in sexual behaviour among teens. Who is taking responsibility for that??? Which Caribbean governments are stepping up to the plate and holding people accountable??? What about prominent leaders who are involved in the drug trade??? I am in no way making excuses for Kartel, but artists have a right to creative freedom and expression and I just wonder how much of this is really about protecting our young???

Think about it? How many school age children will go to the event ??? I'm sure some will, but by and large I expect the majority would be working adults. Moreover, these teenagers that the government wants to protect know Kartel's music from Internet downloads, or listening to them on the radio. In Dominica Mavado performed a while back and there was so much hoopla about whether he should be banned or not. He came did his thing, made his money and that was that. There was no major incident, that I am aware of.Young people listen to him, and they listen to other acts including Vegas and Bounty Killer. But they listen to Miley Cyrus too and Rihanna (who sings about suicide and making her "Rude Boy" get it up) and MFR and Triple Kay.

I am saying all this to say basically I feel that who wants to go to Kartel show go and who don't want to go stay home. It's not everything he sings I like, it's not everything he sings I don't like. I mostly listen to clean versions of his songs. I know every one is not me, ray-ray ray-rah-rah-rah, but as an artist too I just have to wonder, how do we weigh who's rights matter more?

Distant Relatives is the title of Nas and Damian Marley's hotly anticipated upcoming album. Already we have mentioned the powerful tune "The Strong Will Continue" on this site. Well another song has been leaked. It's called "Land of Promise" and features the Prince of Reggae the late Dennis Brown.

Click HERE to listen!

And we continue our Stars on the Rise theme with a young man, making moves in the RnB/Pop world. His name is Duane Stephenson a New-Yorker with Jamaican roots. He is one of innovative young island artists fusing American Pop and RnB with island influences like Reggae and Dancehall. Please read on to see what success means to Duane.




1. What does success mean to you?
Personally to me success is fulfillment within one's self. I feel that if you're doing what your heart desires then you're successful. That's just my outlook on things.


2. What do you want to achieve in your field?
I have a few goals: I want to have a multi-platinum Grammy-nominated album; I want to evolve music with my sound; I want my sound to have a world-wide impact. My goals are pretty much milestones and I'm working towards them and I'm moving at a great pace.


3. What is the greatest sacrifice you have made so far in your career?
I used to play organized American football (which was my first love) for most of my life. I put football on the back burner and here I am banging out these hits in the studio. Iit was hard for me to stop playing, but music took my heart away.


4. Though you already have a loyal following, do you ever fear that you won’t make it big?
Nope I never fear that. I'm doing what I love to do so I don’t worry about that. I have touched many lives, and my music is special to many people so I feel big already.


5. What makes you stand out in your field?
I feel like I stand out because I sound like Duane Howard. Whatever I sing or write comes straight from my thoughts of creativity. I live my music. So when people hear it, they gravitate to it. I feel like I'm standing alone in my field of work.


6. What is the best piece of advice you have been given and who was it from?
I won't say this is the best piece of advice because a lot of words that I have received are as meaningful, but the other day someone told me that I'm at the right age to learn humility, and remember that respect can take your through life without a dollar so stay humble and respectful and you’ll be all right. Those words were given to me by my Producer Carl James.


7. What advice do you have for anyone trying to make it in your field?
All I can say is that the only people that don’t make it is those that give up/quit. You have to have patience because I believe that if you take pride in your work then you will get a shot. So just make sure that your work is of high quality and make sure you put 100% of yourself in your work and hold the faith.

Click HERE to go part two of the interview, where Duane answers our 20 Questions!

Jamaican acts Sean Paul, Sean Kingston and Alicia Keys as well as Bajan-born Rihanna and Leona Lewis who is of Guyanese heritage (technically so is Rihanna as her mom is Guyanese) are up for awards in various categories for this years MTV Japan's Video Music Awards (VMA's).

Alicia Keys and Rihanna up for nods at 2010 Japan VMAs!
Photo source

The categories are:

BEST MALE VIDEO
Sean Paul- "So Fine"
Rihanna- "Russian Roulette"

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alicia Keys- "Doesn't Mean Anything"

BEST POP VIDEO
Leona Lewis- "Happy"

BEST REGGAE
Sean Kingston- "Fire Burning"
Sean Paul- "So Fine"

BEST VIDEO FROM FILM
Leona Lewis - "I See You" from Avatar

BEST COLLABORATION
Jay-z and Alicia Keys- "Empire State of Mind"




Of course in every category there are Japanese nominees. It is interesting that to date the Reggae category (which was introduced in 2006) has only been won by Japanese artists. apart from Sean Paul (nominated in 2006 for We Be Burnin, in 2007 for Temperature) and Kingston (nominated in 2008 for Beautiful Girls) only 2 other Jamaican aritsts have been nominated in this category. Mavado in 2008 with his song "Dreaming" and Kardinall Offishall (who was born in Canada to Jamaican parents) with "Dangerous" (his duo with Akon) in 2009.

The show will be held on May 29th.

Click HERE for the official site!

Chris Brown will headline and host a benefit concert in Virginia next month.

"Virginia Stand Up! A Call to Action" will be held May 15 at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Performers will include Trey Songz, Keri Hilson, T-Pain, Mario and Ryan Leslie.


Chris Brown singing his heart out for Haiti at the BET SOS Help for Haiti concert earlier this year.
Photo source

The 20-year-old R&B singer said in a statement Monday he wanted to personally contribute to the Haitian relief effort and support an organization that helps people in his home state. Proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross and the Central Virginia Foodbank.

Source

Nicki Minaj, recently fired her manager and I guess she now has one in none other than Sean "Diddy" Combs who as word has it, is co-managing Rick Ross as well. Peep this snippet from Nicki's interview with Details Magazine where she speaks on females in the rap game, her bisexuality, signing women's breasts, being a role model and lots more:

Nicki Minaj escorts Justin Dior Combs to his "Sweet Sixteenth birthday party. They are flanked by his parents Sean "Diddy" Combs and Misa Hylton-Brim.
Photo source

Details: Your father set fire to your home when you were a kid in Queens, New York. What happened?

Nicki Minaj: He drank a lot and did drugs, and he would get violent when he did. When he set fire to the house, he was attempting to kill my mother. She got out before it burned all the way down. I’ve always had this female-empowerment thing in the back of my mind—because I wanted my mother to be stronger, and she couldn’t be. I thought, “If I’m successful, I can change her life.”

Details: What can women get away with in hip-hop that men can’t?

Nicki Minaj: I have a lot of freedom to be crazy. I can rap in a London accent, make weird faces, wear spandex, wigs, and black lipstick. I can be more creative than the average male rapper. And I can show my boobs. Guys can’t do that.

Details: As an openly bisexual rapper, do you think hip-hop is getting more gay-friendly?

Nicki Minaj: I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it’s harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced. People view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we’ll see one in my lifetime.

Details: As younger and younger fans come to your shows, do you feel pressure to tone down the racier elements of your persona?

Nicki Minaj: I do. I’m a role model now. I didn’t know I was gonna have 13-year-old fans, so I’ve tried to change a few things here and there. But I also know that the girls don’t want me to be Miley Cyrus, either.

Role model, huh? That's opening up herself to a lot of criticisms. I guess we can give a kudo or two for at least even making some small effort. I must say though, she is definitely growing on me.
Click HERE for full interview.