Here's the latest on the case of the Toni Braxton impersonator stuck in a Suriname jail:

An examining judge in Suriname on Monday again refused to release an American singer who has been jailed on the CARICOM nation since February while the promoter who hired her remains on the lam. CWNN has learnt that the judge granted the Public Prosecutor's request to detain Trina Johnson Finn for yet another 30 days as they build a case. The singer has been detained since February 29th. Johnson-Finn was hired as a Toni Braxton impersonator for a February 28th concert by Angel Ventura promotions, according to a copy of a contract obtained by CWNN. But Ventura, according to reports, promoted the concert as a Toni Braxton performance, leading to riots and looting by concert goers who shelled out for the event. Ray Finn, Johnson Finn`s husband, was also jailed for two weeks but subsequently released. He says his wife is being `scapegoated` by Suriname authorities while the real culprits remain free. `Over the month Trina has been sitting in a Suriname jail, not one single local citizen has been questioned, detained or taken into custody by the local authorities,` said Finn. `We are talking about people who promoted, advertised, sold tickets to the event for over a month before my wife's arrival in Suriname. We are talking about people who provided government sponsored permits to the promoter to secure a public facility, to secure permission to sell alcohol at a public facility, to secure armed private security for a public facility, etc. We are talking people who have later admitted having previous business and personal relationships with the promoter and his girlfriend. This stinks of local corruption and payoff!` Finn is now organizing a protest march for later this month on the Suriname embassies in D.C. and Miami and on Capitol Hill. `These coordinated marches are being held in association with INTAAP (International Network of Talent Agents and Producers) and many from the Tribute Artist / Celebrity Impersonator industry as well as many family, friends and members of our extended network,` he told CWNN by email last night. A tentative trial date has been set for May 7, 2009.

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Through the newly-formed Carlisle Foundation (named in honor of his slain son Carlton Grant Jr), Spragga Benz will give scholarships to Jamaican students. Of course the students will go through a selection process, and upon receipt of the scholarship will have to met certain criteria to keep it.



Funding for the foundation will be coming from the upcoming Life Fest: Peace and Love Concert, scheduled to be held on Carlisle’s birthday, May 2 at Backyard, Constant Spring Road. It will feature performances from some of Spragga’s friends including Stephen and Damian Marley, Wayne Wonder, Sizzla, Queen Ifrica, Tanya Stephens, Jah Cure and Chino along with Spragga himself.

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Well at least I will tell you that it's Mel B performing in Vegas Bayybeeee!!

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Singer Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon celebrated her 40th b'day in Barbados

Boy doh hurt yuh waist eh!!

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The couple flew to the island by private jet and stayed at one of it's most exclusive West Coast (better known as Gold Coast) villas which supposedly goes for $15 grand a night is a celeb magnet.

Lenny Kravitz covers this months Vogue Russia (along with model Carmen Kass (but who's really looking at her, no offence) ...

He shows of his photography skills in the mag. See below. For more pics click HERE




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Looks like a star-studded affair!!!!

lankb

Anthony David Moses better known as Beenie Man is rumored to star in his own reality show a la The Bachelor, Flava of Love,Real Chance at Love, For the Love of Ray J, Rock of Love...uhh you get the picture.

Supposedly a reality show is in the works to find "love" for the King of the Dancehall. He will live in a house with about 20 females from various countries and background, who will all compete to be his i don't know what.....we all know how these things generally end.

Beenie Man and Barbee shooting video for"Paddy Cake"

Of recent he has been linked to singer Barbee with whom he has collaborated musically. They both denied reports of romance. He was previously married to fellow Dancehall artist and former model D'Angel.

Sources say that Kevin Barton, owner of Lascelles Film Limited who is behind the project,wants the show to have an international appeal, and plan to pitch it to several high profile stations including BET, MTV and VH1 with the hopes of landing a deal.

The show will be called Girls Dem Suga.



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Check out this Nigerian Condom Ad....Brilliant!!!! Click HERE to see what!!!!!!!!!!

Reggae artiste, Collie Buddz, has been dropped from Columbia Records after two years. Born Colin Harper, in New Orleans, the artist grew up in Bermuda.



He shot to fame in 2007 with his self-titled debut album which sold 10,825 copies within the first week and was 68 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Among the hits the album generated were "Come Around" (the video directed by Ras Kassa which was shot in Jamaica), "Mamacita" and the Black Chiney produced "Blind to You."

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So the RETV MVP Music Video Awards finally came and went. Over 5000 viewers voted for their favorites. The top three voting countries wer Jamaica,Belize and Antigua.



Here are the winners:

Shaggy: Best Reggae Video and Video of the Year- Bad Man Don’t Cry
Jason ‘Jay Will’ Williams: Best Video Director
Global Bob aka Sponge Bob: Best Dancer in a Video
Prodigal Son: Best Gospel Video – Head Cyaan Hot So
Terro 3000: Best New Artiste in a Video- In My Life
Sugar Roy and Conrad Crystal Featuring Gyptian: Best Video by a Duo/Group- Jah Jah See Them a Come
KK Alese: Best Caribbean Video- Move (Catchy song, she reminds me of Nadia Batson)
Tifa: Best Music Video Female- Bottom of the Barrel (love it bad!!!!)
I Octane: Best Music Video Male- Different Page (great message!)
Busy Signal: Best Dancehall Video- Tic Toc (sooo sexy!)
Trevor Baillie: RETV MVP Icon Award for contribution to the local music video industry

The made-for TV production was hosted by Miss Kitty and featured performances from the likes of Mr Vegas, Tifa, Timberlee, Natalie Storm, Chino, gospel artiste Omari and Bramma. Among the award presenters were Sleepy Hollow Tips, Mr Vegas, Timeka Marshall, Dexter Pottinger, and RETV VJs Flava and RJ.

ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) will honor Wyclef Jean and Santigold , with the Creative Voice Award and Vanguard award respectively, at its 26th Annual Pop Music Awards on April 22, 2009 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California.



The ASCAP Creative Voice Award is bestowed upon an ASCAP member or group whose significant career achievements are equally informed by their creative spirit and by their contributions to the role that a creator can play in their community. Metallica and Green Day received this honor in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

The ASCAP Vanguard Award is given in recognition of the impact of musical genres that help shape the future of American music. Previous honorees include The All-American Rejects, The Arcade Fire, Sara Bareilles, Bat For Lashes, Beck, Modest Mouse, the Strokes, Built to Spill, the Mars Volta, Joseph Arthur and Jack Johnson.


The 26th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards is part of "ASCAP I Create Music Week" -- an entire week of events being held in Los Angeles to celebrate the voice of the music creator.


About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 340,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com

So I was on my facebook page and my boy Alwyn from Twice Clothing had this video up and I took a look and all I could say was GatDayum!!!!! What's so crazy is I never really paid attention to the damn song, but cuz of these girls, esp Ms. White Pants, I watched (and listened to) the entire thing!!!! Click HERE to see video!!!!!

So Estelle is on MySpace fashion site www.myspace.com/thefit and she takes viewers with her shopping around NYC. Every ting was cool till she made a comment about another celebrity's dressing.

MySpace Presents: The Fit with Estelle


I love you eh Estelle, I love you fuh true. But you should ask yourself that very question before you go out. Or god-forbid, if you have a stylist ask her/him.


Now if she had said something like I hate how all these actors/actresses want to sing or something like that, it wouldn't have been so bad. (Cause sister can Saaaangggg!) But homegirl is shoe-in for an episode of What Not To Wear.

Oh chile, people in glass houses Estelle....go look it up.

The Lime has reported on two incidents that Jepther McClymont AKA Luciano AKA Jah Messenjah has been involved in of recent. Click HERE and HERE to catch up. He has issued a statement concerning his most recent incident. See below:

On Wednesday, March 25, 2009, a most unfortunate and regrettable incident took place at one of my properties which doubles as a home and studio. In their search for a person, three policemen were shot and injured and the person killed. I totally abhor such a gruesome and deadly act that occurred at my place, which is revered as a holy sanctuary. I extend mydeepest sympathies to all the families connected and deeply affected by this tragedy.

The incident has created great pain and discomfort for me personally, my family, friends and my fans, all over the world that have supported me as a conscious reggae artist over the years. I have always condemned violence and the use of force by anyone, and through my songs, I have always sought to promote peace, unity and social consciousness.

I will not be discussing the details of the case which is now before the courts because I do not wish to prejudice the case in one way or the other. I have a team of lawyers dealing with the matter and I have complete confidence in their ability to provide me with the best legal representation.

However, there are a few points which have unfortunately surfaced in the press that I would like to address.

1. I have never employed nor have I ever had any security detail around me. Like most reggae artist in Jamaica, and indeed in other places in the world, artistes have to deal with, a number of persons on a daily basis, some invited, others uninvited, who gather by one’s place of residence, recording studios, and/or performance centres. This is a challenge which most artistes are required to deal with and I am one of such.

2. I have never hired anyone ‘to watch my head back’ as have been reported. This is not only a figment of imagination of the perpetrators of this smear on my credibility, but is a total lie.

3.I have never in all my years in or outside of the music fraternity, knowingly harboured anyone involved in, or wanted by the security forces for crimes committed in or out of Jamaica.

4. At no point in time did I know that anyone visiting my home/studio had with
him or her, an illegal firearm or ammunition. I have always had an open door policy to people, whether I know them or not. Based on my recent experience, the danger of this open door policy has not escaped my attention.

5. The police never had to search for me. I went to them voluntarily. I have cooperated with the police every step of the way and only when my lawyers figured that my civil liberties were being violated that they did what they had to do to secure my release from detention. I have always cooperated with the police and will continue to do so.

6. I will continue to subject myself to the wishes of the court, and in this, I have been and will continue to be ably guided by my lawyers.

I wish to say a few words about the performance contractual commitments which I have coming up locally and internationally. I can understand the anxiety and concern of promoters and other persons who are involved in these promotional arrangements. My lawyers have informed me, that the allegation against me ought not to prevent me from being able to fulfill these obligations.

Brothers and sisters, the past few days have been extremely difficult and challenging for my family and me, particularly my children. This challenge is not over as the matter is now before the courts. With the guidance of my lawyers I will be doing everything duly required of me by the courts in my quest to prove my innocence. May the spirit of the Most High continue to guide and protect I and I. And I pray that the Lord will give me strength to face, another day, to make it along life’s road and carry my heavy load.

Jah Bless us all.

Love always
Your MessenJah

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There you go...straight from the man himself.

Though it won't bring the beloved Reggae star back, Lucky Dube's family and fans can be comforted by the lifetime sentence doled out on Tuesday to the three men who killed him in 2007.

Judge Seun Moshidi of the South Gauteng High Court, convicted Sifiso Mhlanga, 34 (the shooter), Julius Ngxowa, 32, and Mbuti Mabe, 31, on charges of murder, attempted robbery and other crimes. Hours before the verdict was announced, Mabe and Mhlanga assaulted police officers in a foiled bid to escape from the court.

The judge on Thursday also handed down 15-year jail sentences on the three for the hijack attempt, and 18-year sentences for robbing another person of his car two days later. Mabe was sentenced to 18 years for stealing the getaway car.

Thokozani Dube, who was in the car when his father was shot, broke into tears as the sentences were announced and was comforted by his mother. Later, family members and their supporters gathered outside the courthouse and sang South Africa's national anthem.

Life imprisonment is the maximum sentence that can be imposed in South Africa. The new constitution negotiated after liberation in 1994 outlawed the death penalty, which until then had mostly been imposed on black South Africans without enough money to pay for their own defence.

Dube, who launched his career in the 1980s with criticism of the apartheid regime, went on to become a huge international star. He recorded more than 20 albums and shared stages with the likes of Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Ziggy Marley and Sting

I was fortunate to meet him when he came to Houston for the Reggaefest and later that same year for a reschedule of the said concert. So of course it was a shock to hear that a month later he was murdered. I was so nervous to interview him, I had been told that he did not give interviews and be very prepared. But it was awesome and I am so glad that I had this moment as someone in the media field and as a fan. I am glad that these guys are in jail what makes this whole story sad yet amazing at the same time is the killers did not know who the had slain (that's the bad part-like regular people don't deserve a chance at life), and Luky Dube's life was a study in humility (that's the amazing part, he saw himself as a regular guy).

God BlessYou Lucky!