THE ENTERTAINMENT ZONE WITH COURTNEY MAC
Busy Signal
Busy Signal has done what few Jamaican dancehall acts have managed to do, attain over 20 million views for a video on youtube. Four months after the release of watch out for This (Bumaye), it has managed to rack up close to 20.5 million views. The Major Lazer song which features the vocals of Busy Signal over an infectious beat is one of the more popular international songs from a Jamaican artiste for 2013.It is included on the Free
The Universe album by Major Lazer and features Busy Signal, The Flexican and FS Green and was released on Diplo’s Mad Decent label and the French Because Music label. The song is a vocal version of the song Bumaye by The Flexican and FS Green from The Flexican’s 2011 mixtape Yours Truly.
An appealing music video for the song was filmed in Kingston by Jay Will of Game Over Films.
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland are just some of the places where the song has charted. This is not Busy Signal’s first time working with the Major Lazer group as they also produced his Push and Shove collaboration with No Doubt.
Twerking
“Twerking,” the raunchy dance move performed by Miley Cyrus at the MTV VMAs is among the new words added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford Dictionaries Online said the word, borrowed from hip hop culture, had become increasingly visible in the past 12 months. Katherine Connor Martin from Oxford Dictionaries said the word “twerk” had been known colloquially in US hip hop culture for around 20 years. Cyrus’s dance routine at the MTV VMA’s recently saw her dance suggestively with singer Robin Thicke to his hit song, Blurred Lines. The performance drew complaints from several quarters, including a parenting pressure group in the US. On average around 1000 new entries are added to Oxford Dictionaries Online every year.
Toots
Grammy-winning reggae musician Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert is suing several organisations after he was injured during a May concert in Richmond. Hibbert has filed the $20 million lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court against Venture Richmond and Metropolitan Richmond Sports Backers Inc. The suit also names security provider Regional Marketing Concepts Inc. and another company that provided concessions for the concert. The leader of Toots and the Maytals was struck in the head with a tossed vodka bottle while he performed on Brown’s Island in the James River. After suffering a deep head cut, Hibbert canceled the remaining dates on his tour and returned to Jamaica. The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that Venture Richmond objected on Monday to the allegation of negligence, saying the teen charged is solely responsible.
Vybz Kartel’s Album
Dancehall icon Adidja “Vybz Kartel” Palmer returns with his latest studio effort, Kartel Forever: Trilogy, available physically and digitally worldwide on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, from Tad’s Record. Hailed as the undisputed World Boss of the dancehall genre, this marks a highly-anticipated, full-length, physical album and international release from the controversial artist, who remains incarcerated in his homeland Jamaica. Celebrated and polarized for his stimulating lyrics and provocative ploys on and off stage, there is no doubt Vybz Kartel is a defining thread in the fabric of dancehall and indeed, this massive collection proves to be dancehall music in its ultimate form. Kartel Forever: Trilogy boasts 60 tracks on the three-disc album, including previously unreleased singles and numerous hits from recent years. Kartel is determined to stay atop his dancehall throne and keep his fans satisfied until his inevitable return to the studio to make music for the masses. “I want to thank all my supporters for your love and unfailing support throughout these trying times,” says Kartel. “Even though I am incarcerated, I am still up to the time. This album shows that I get stronger with each passing second. Tad’s plus Adidjaheim Records is a sick formula and the result is Kartel Forever: Trilogy. Worl’ Boss fullstop!” With the slew of songs Kartel currently has on the streets in Jamaica and on reggae specialty programming worldwide, Kartel Forever: Trilogy provides a vivid kaleidoscope of his continued evolution as an extraordinary artist. Despite the geographic limitations of the artist, his music speaks volumes, as is evident from his continued surge in popularity, especially over the past two years.
Chaka Demus
The song, the lead single from his just-released album, Second Coming, popped up on the Mixx 102 New York Foundation Radio Network Top 30 music chart last week, jumping to number 29.
“I was kinda surprised when I got the news, but I had been getting a lot of positive feedback regarding the song from radio stations all over the world. So this shows that the song is connecting with international audiences,” he said. Chaka Demus donned his producer’s hat for this solo-release project, so he feels a great degree of pride for the project’s success.
“Well, with this project, I was definitely in control. Nobody could tell yuh to do what yuh don’t want to do, everything work off my vibes, so the positive feedback gives me a lot of satisfaction,” he said. Being in control of Second Coming allowed Demus to select an all-starcast of first-rate musicians. It was not all smooth sailing during production on Second Coming which began three years ago. At one point, Demus dropped eight of the tracks because he was not satisfied with their quality. Chaka Demus gets “things right” with standout tracks such as Miserable Woman, featuring Pliers and the lover’s rock classic Baby Come Back, tracks that make this album a must have for dancehall fans.
Mavado
Mavado does combination with hip hop superstar Nicki Minaj. Word on the street is that Mavado a.k.a The Gully Gadd will release a combination song with Nicki Minaj this weekend which is expected to rock the world.
Jimmy Cliff
International Grammy award winning entertainer Jimmy Cliff is giving back to children in and around Somerton District, St James. The legendary singer who hails from the parish has organized a back to school treat set to take place on Sunday, September 1 and is inviting parents and their children. Jimmy Cliff who was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Promoters and Entertainers
Promoters and Entertainers have pull up their socks since September 1, 2013 as government’s plan to formalize the entertainment industry. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Registry will certify and register local entertainment practitioners and will be maintained by the Ministry. State Minister with responsibility for entertainment Damion Crawford, who first announced the move to establish the registry, at a public consultation in Kingston in May, explained at the time that the registry will assist artistes when they apply for work permits and visas for overseas engagements. Minister Crawford further states that when operational, the registry will provide a central portal for listing Jamaican entertainment services and companies, including their key profile and contact information; legitimise the entertainment industry for greater economic benefit; facilitate efficiency and transparency within the entertainment industry; and provide for the free movement of creative skills internationally and across the region. Promoters of entertainment events will be required to have their events rated effective September 1, 2013. Minister Crawford says the events will be rated based on a matrix provided; indicating what utterances, actions and types of activities can be promoted at these events.
E Zone International
Sean Kingston will have to face a judge for an alleged sexual assault. The plaintiff filed a multi-million dollar civil suit claiming that she was gang raped in Kingston’s hotel room by him, his bodyguard and a member of his band. According to Capeloto, 22, she was invited for a meet and greet with the “Party All Night” singer following a Justin Bieber concert in 2010. Kingston, 23, had also performed that night. When she arrived at his hotel room, he was in bed. The bodyguard forced her onto Kingston, and he, Kingston and a band member had sex with her while she was “obviously intoxicated, incapable of consent.” She had consumed 7-10 shots of vodka.
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