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Download Since the 1960s, the Rastafarian way of life has provided the cultural depth that makes reggae unlike any other popular music. Rastafarians have expressed their adherence to a disciplined diet, allegiance to an African homeland and especially the exaltation of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. But the Rastafarian female voice is rarely heard in reggae and even scarcer is the Rastafarian female artist who possesses a repertoire of hits appealing to traditional reggae fans and dancehall devotees alike. Staking her claim towards obliterating Jamaican music’s proverbial glass ceiling is Queen Ifrica whose stirring mix of spiritually empowering anthems, lover’s rock tunes and searing social commentaries have become a...

Jamaica reported its first cases of H1N1 yesterday, making it the fourth Caribbean island to confirm the virus' presence. A 4-year-old girl from Linstead in St. Catherine has reportedly tested positive for the Influenza A H-1-N-1 virus popularly known as swine flu. Health Ministry spokeswoman Marion Bullock-Ducasse says lab tests show that two Jamaicans apparently contracted the H1N1 virus during recent visits to New York City and have since recovered Cases of Influenza A H1N1, formally called swine flu, were detected first in April of this year with cases in Mexico then the United States. The World Health Organization has to date confirmed over 17,000 cases world wide of which it says 119 persons have died from the...

The doors to what was once New Kingston's 'maddest' night spot, Asylum, have been slammed shut. Nite Time Promotions, owners and operators of the club, say the popular venue officially closed its doors on Tuesday. Chung, a pioneer in night time entertainment, successfully ran the Cactus night club in Portmore for what was considered eight glorious years, before opening Asylum, which many felt led to the ultimate demise of Cactus. But for Chung, the story didn't read quite like that. "All great night clubs have a life cycle. Cactus did eight exciting years after which it was time to close. Its successor, Asylum surpassed, that. This closing makes way for the management of the club to take advantage of new and exciting opportunities...

New York City has settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the family of a Jamaican psychiatric patient who died last summer on a hospital floor in Brooklyn for US$2 million. The settlement was signed yesterday in Brooklyn Supreme Court before Justice Allen Hurkin-Torres. It comes 11 months after Esmin Green, 49, collapsed and died at the sprawling Kings County Hospital Centre. Green had migrated from Jamaica in the late 1990s to earn money for her six children back home. A devout churchgoer, she had worked caring for the elderly and helping at a day care centre for children, before she lost her job. She then suffered from depression. Green’s death was captured on video, showing that hospital staffers ignored her for hours...

As rocksteady, reggae and dancehall music came together on one stage at the Jamalco Sports Club in Clarendon on Saturday night when Big Ship presented 'Rocksteady Meets Reggae and Dancehall,' it was obvious that rocksteady and reggae were not a thing of the past, as they held their own with dancehall. By far, it was singer Beres Hammond and deejay Beenie Man who stole the show. John Holt, Marcia Griffiths, Ernie Smith, Tarrus Riley and Freddie McGregor also gave excellent performances. Periodic rainfall, a disorganised, stage line-up, lengthy band changes, and a small crowd were the drawbacks to an otherwise inventive event. A band change from Lloyd Parkes and We The People Band to dancehall outfit Ruff Kutt was announced at...

GARFIELD SPENCE known musically as Konshens, has surfaced his solo career on the music scene in 2008 and in one year has recorded approximately thirty tracks, and has had several hits on the local charts such as “Winner”, “This Means Money”, with underground favorites such as “Ghetto Youths afi Buss”, “Rasta Imposter”, “Don’t waste you Talent and “Mi Madda” …just to name a few. Konshens has accomplished a feet, with which only a selected few new artist can pride themselves, that of being nominated for various awards such as best song, best video, best new artist and best lyricist/ most conscious artist of the year (2008) by bodies such as Stone Love Awards, The Star, The Excellence in Music an Entertainment (EME’s) awards, HYPE TV...

Dancehall artiste Assassin is certainly more mature and has even developed into 'Agent Sasco'. The artiste, whose real name is Jeffrey Campbell, said Agent Sasco is a "more spiritually aware, socially conscious" version of himself. Assassin said he started the Agent Sasco movement with songs like Same Thing Again and Give Thanks. His other straight dancehall songs like Pree Dis and Almighty Protect Me, he said, he will leave to the interpretation of his listeners. While the Agent Sasco persona will release more socially aware songs, Assassin said it is not an alter ego. "It may be similar but not entirely an alter ego 'cause that is usually outside your normal character. This has always been a part of my work, I'm just...

Check out his new album soon available on Greensleeves Records. Whereas his first solo album Soul Pirate was only available as a limited edition, Alborosie strikes hard for his second. Puppa Albo has teamed up with the famous label Greensleeves Records for a 16 track set called Escape From Babylon, produced by Alborosie himself and C. ‘Specialist’ Dillon. Roots and modern roots fans should enjoy this new effort, where Alborosie pays his respect to his « Reggae heroes » (Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse and Bob Marley), offering quality tracks (America, Money, Mama She Don’t Like You or I Rusalem) - including a collaboration with Gramps from Morgan Heritage). Note that Alborosie will be in Europe this summer, with a...

United States-based artiste Flippa Mafia yesterday put to rest rumours that he was referring to Bounty Killer in his single, Unfinished House. In the song, he did not call any names. However, he said people have been saying that he is throwing words at Bounty Killer. The songs says: "Mi vehicle caan dearer than mi house/ Mi rims caan dearer than mi house/ Nuff bwoy a hype over unfinished house/ an mi madda nuh waan lef Waterhouse ... Nuff bwoy out a road nuh have no sense/ a run down the hype and dem still a pay rent." In a telephone interview with THE STAR, Flippa Mafia said: "Mi talk the things and anybody weh waan pick it up, pick it up. Mi hear seh Killer start work back pon him house and a talk all kind a things 'bout...

Reinventing yourself is the only way to stay on top in this game. You have to try new things and show different sides of yourself or else the people will get bored. It seems like no one understands this better than West Coast repper Snoop Dogg. He has never been afraid to try new sounds and styles and usually the people eat it up. I mean think about it, what other artist can go from “Murder Was The Case” to “Sensual Seduction” and nobody even blink an eye? just when you thought we had seen it all from the man, word is coming from the Dogg’s house that he is about to flip the game again. Fresh off his country debut I am now hearing that Snoop is about to release an all reggae album! Apparently Snoop has been laying down...

Up-and-coming rapper Dolla was shot dead Monday outside an upscale mall, and a suspect was arrested a short time later, Los Angeles police said on Tuesday. The Atlanta-based Dolla, 21, a protege of rapper Akon, was shot in the head while waiting with fellow rapper D.J. Shabazz outside the Beverly Center. Dolla was later pronounced dead at hospital. On Monday night, police arrested Aubrey Louis Berry, 23, of Georgia, at Los Angeles International Airport in connection with the shooting. Police say they recovered a gun. Berry's bail is set at $1 million, according to police. Dolla, who was born Roderick Anthony Burton II, was a member of Da Razkalz Cru, and was dropped from record label Elektra after the group's unsuccessful...

Minister of Finance and the Public Service Audley Shaw is challenging private-sector leaders who have expressed a view that the introduction of a new $5,000 note only symbolises the dismal state of the Jamaican economy to become more productive. Speaking at the soft launch of the new high-value note at the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) yesterday, it was a spirited Shaw who argued that opponents to the note are missing the real point. "The truth is, whether we had a $5,000 note or not, the Jamaican dollar has been losing its strength," Shaw stated as he began his discourse on what he called 'Jamaica's Day of Reckoning'. The new high security note will be introduced into circulation in September of this year. The note will bear the image...

It was not just fans standing yards from the world's fastest man who were banking on a burst of adrenaline from yesterday's 150m "street sprint" in Manchester, which Usain Bolt completed in a world record 14.35 seconds. In the event, the triple Olympic gold-medallist Bolt did not disappoint, cruising to victory in the fastest time run over 150m, breaking the world record of 14.8 seconds which has stood since 1983. In the lead up to the race, Usain Bolt spoke of the importance of street athletics in spurring young people to take up athletics: "It's unique, something new for the sport and it will help attract youngsters into athletics. I like to please the crowd and show them the person I am. I'm just going to go out there and...

The abduction and rape of a four year old girl allegedly by a 53 year old man in St Ann, has sparked anger and grief among residents in sections of the parish. The man, a farmer from Dunnsville, St Ann remains in police custody and is expected to be charged. The incident happened Friday night but investigators have reportedly been tight-lipped about the matter. Its reported that the girl was snatched from Ocho Rios sometime after 7p.m. on Friday. She was later seen by a motorist walking naked along the Dunnsville main road, near 11:00 p.m. and was taken to hospital and the police notified. Inspector Howard Simmonds of the Ocho Rios police said the child’s mother left her and an infant with a male family friend and went to...

American singer Rihanna is the latest to become embroiled in a nude photo scandal with images of the star leaked on the internet. Of the photos, only two show the singer's face. The others reveal her naked body and backside but her face is hidden from view. The photos were reportedly taken at The London West Hollywood hotel, where Rihanna once stayed with her former boyfriend Chris Brown. Some are floating the rumor that Chris Brown leaked the Rihanna nude photos that hit the net the other day. The theory is sparked by one of the photos which features a message written by Rihanna on a hotel room mirror. Brown, through his spokesperson, has denied leaking the photos.

It was certainly a statement-making entry for Ziggy Marley, eldest son of reggae icon Bob, this week, when his newest release entered at pole position on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Chart. Family Time, Marley's disc which is on the Tuff Gong imprint, toppled Easy All Stars, Easy Stars Lonely Hearts Band, sending it to the number two position formerly held by deejay Buju Banton, with his just-released Rasta Got Soul. Banton, who made his debut at number two, peaked in that position and now sits at number 3. Family Time was produced by Don Was and features members of the Marley family including Rita, Cedella and his daughter Judah alongside other international acts including Paul Simon, Jack Johnson and Willie Nelson as well as...

Sean Kingston has returned to the Billboard Chart, this time with the single, Fire Burning. Kingston had the second highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100 this week as his new single Fire Burning made its debut at number 29. The 19-year-old has previously scored top 20s hits with Me Love and Take You There, a number one with his signature, Beautiful Girls and his collaboration on Natasha Bedingfield's smash Love Like This, which topped Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. A rhythmic dance song, its fast tempo allows producer RedOne to blend the infectious hook with heavy synthesisers and a variety of percussive sounds that made Lady GaGa's Poker Face so striking. RedOne is becoming a go-to collaborator for this kind of beat...

The artiste Einstein has now officially changed his name to Stein. Chimney Records Presents Stein - the promo album produced by Jordan McClure and David 'Hizzle' Hayle. Now available for Download Here

TW means This Week, LW means Last Week and WOC means Weeks on Chart TW - LW - WOC Artiste Name ----- Song Title ---- Record Label 01 - 01 - (09) Vybz Kartel 'Get Wild' - Adidjaheim/NotNice Records (2wks@#1) 02 - 02 - (10) Mavado - 'Again & Again' 03 - 04 - (08) Elephant Man - 'Alli-Lu-Ya' - Very Huge (Chester) 04 - 03 - (11) Mavado 'I'm So Blessed' - Big Ship - (2wks@#1) 05 - 06 - (05) Vybz Kartel Mind Pon Mi Money' - Liv Up Records 06 - 05 - (10) Vybz Kartel - 'Last Man Standing' - Not-Nice - (2wks@#1) 07 - 07 - (16) Andrew & Wadda Blood - Money Mi Seh La La La – Notice - (Peak@#2) 08 - 10 - (06) Charly Blacks - 'Rich Dis Year' 09 - 08 - (16) Laden - 'Really Like You' - Big Ship - (1wk@#1) 10 - 13 - (04)...

Singer Alaine Laughton is denying that she had anything to do with clearing the 2007 BMW 530i motor car for which she has been fined by the Jamaica Customs Department. In a release sent out by the Jamaica Customs Department yesterday, it was reported that last year, Alaine imported a damaged 2007 BMW 530i motor car with a declared value of US$8,915.00 FOB (freight on board). The release stated, "The Customs Department subsequently carried out investigations which revealed that the value was understated. As a result, the vehicle was seized and a penalty of three times the duties avoided was imposed, that is JA$1,388,000.00, for breaching Sections 209 and 210 of the Customs Act." It further stated: "Ms Laughton has since paid...