Patrick Roberts says that he owns Shocking Vibes. Beenie Man says he owns Shocking Vibes. As of January 1st, 2007, the two ah dem ah go part ways permanently. There will be a big press conference next week fi announce the changes and how the new-look Shocking Vibes will function. Nuff things ah go reveal and we ah go de de fi report it to you.

PAULA AND SPICE: Portmore Artistes at War

It seems like di box weh Spice get lead har to call and threaten Queen Paula pon Christmas Day? And how she nah tek on Queen Paula when Paula ah walk and ah tell the world say her tings "big like We Are the World'. Wah Spice feel like? She waan call up people name and nobody nuffi call up fi har name. Everybody tun dictator inna the business now.

ANGEL GETS HER RANGE ROVER

Angel ah the real woman inna the business. Is a Range Rover she ah drive now, she gone roun everybody, ah 12 million dollar fi dem, and only Anthony B mi can memba as artiste who drive one. She is a real downtown girl living an uptown life. Ah now dem a go hate har. Anso!

ONE-DROP QUESTIONS

How Lutan Fyah blaze such a wicked fire ova Jamworld? The man surprise me when him a bun out the pervert dem

Who is Denise Smith from Topline Entertainment?

Why Black-er throw a stone inna Kip Rich BMW?

Who shot the fifteen year old boy over Sting pon Boxing Day?

Ah true say 'Border Clash' ah return fi big up all the Spanish Town deejays dem?

Wha ah go happen with the Alliance album next year?

When Yeshemabeth ah go tek it to dem? She have some wicked song mi hear pon the radio, but me nah see no street promotion. What a gwaan?

How Busy Signal, Elephant and Capleton just flop so at Sting 2006?

Why Twins of Twins neva perform? It come in like Laing violate dem wicked star.

Deejay Erup, whose hit song 'Say Dem a Gangster', is arguably the most popular song at the high-adrenaline dancehall sessions across the country. This is what Erup has to say about deejay Spice's version - not a counteraction.

"Is a two-fold ting, she a promote it to a level when she is on stage shows and doing it, and mi woulden want to stop from doing that because is promotion, but the thing is, she doan know me like that, and the negativity, mix up and controversy she ah bring to my song again, that ah something fi look pon. It reach the fact that she ah get box over my song, so while I have no problem with her using my song, she need fi talk to me because she doan know me like that," he told YardFlex.com

Erup, who hails from Rockfort in east Kingston, is a member of Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardner's 'Heart of Love' camp which also includes Taru and Management.

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New York, Miami, Portmore, Spanish Town, Mobay, what a gwaan inna the business? Crazy mix-up, who ah sexually harass who? Who ah beat up dem baby mother? Who doan buy dem kids no Xmas present? Yu nuh hear Buju say 'mi have a Cable and Wireless phone and a Digicel chip...' and mi nah stop burn up dem up fi chat 'bout oonu dutty life inna the 2007. Happy New Years anyway.

Sources close to Bounty Killer's camp have suggested that Bounty Killer is planning to ambush Beenie Man on New Year's Eve at either the family fun day event, Reggae Campfire or at roots rock festival 'Original Dancehall Jam Jam', two decidedly Rastafarian shows.

Beenie Man is booked for Reggae Campfire, and had invited Killer for a clash at that event. However, Bounty Killer is not booked for that show, and has publicly declined said invitation. However, Bounty Killer will be at Original Dancehall Jam Jam, raising questions of a possible impromptu face off between the bitter rivals. The Reggae Campfire promoter have already thrown cold water over the idea. And now, the promoters of Original Dancehall Jam Jam have followed suit

"No clash caan come ah my ting," promoter Coco Tea told YardFlex.com." That's not the idea behind my show."

Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Mi de ah the show and watch Beenie ah retreat from the clash wid Bounty but if dem did clash wid the entourage them close by, and so much animosity, there woulda be a fight ponstage. Memba how the bredda dem hate each other. Look pon Alliance, dem claim say dem a friend and yet the whole ah dem have fistfight ponstage at Mavado's Birthday Bash, so what woulda happen between Beenie and Bounty. If the clash did gwaan, it woulda be a calamity inna the crowd.

Physical Clash at Stadium

This is a psychological victory fi Killa 'cause Beenie ah tease him and give it to him the whole year, but the fans dem get robbed. Mi have the solution though, we fi get Don King fi come in and promote a fight between the two of them and call the promotion 'YardFlex Face Off' (we waan some money outta it too) and keep it ah National Stadium, a lyrical clash caan resolve 13 years of animosity, dem need a physical clash. On another note, if something no gwaan this weekend between the two ah dem, mi ah go call the two ah dem clown, dem anno real gangsta, dem have too much fi lose right now.

Both Beenie and Bounty ah punk, dem just a trick the people so dem can stifle everybody else and stay pon top, memba ah Bounty dem a tease 'bout BUSH IT, BUSH IT, and now Beenie ah pull off a Bounty Run.

Dem no fool me. The real artiste dem a man like Buju, I-Wayne (who get one of the biggest forward dem a Sting), Sizzla Kalonji, Chuck Fenda and man like all Gyptian and Lutan Fyah. Dem man de ah real artiste, everybody else ah tomatis.

The original Abyssinians are slated to return to Jamaica after a 28 year hiatus. This is the first time the original group will appear in Jamaica since being backed by Burning Spears' band and sharing the same stage as Bob Marley on Reggae Sunsplash 1978.

This year's show honors Joseph 'Culture' Hill and will introduce his son, Kenyatta, to the Rebel Salute audience in continuation of Hill's legacy.

The Tru Juice Rebel Salute 2007 roster features foundation artists Errol Dunkley, John Holt and Gregory Isaacs alongside I Wayne, Chuck Fenda and Gentlemen. Other performers include Tony Rebel, Richie Spice, Queen Ifrica and Jah Mason. You can expect gourmet ital goods and a family friendly stage show environment.

Gates open at 6 p.m., showtime will be 8 p.m. The show will take place at the Port Kaiser Sports Complex in St. Elizabeth. This is the 14th staging of the popular concert by Flames Productions. Typically over 30,000 attend the annual concert which is known for its positive vibrations.

Hype TV Top 20 Singles Chart

Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

TW LW WOC Artiste Name - Song Title - Record Label

01 03 06 Buju Banton - Driver - Gargamel - 1 wk @ #1
02 01 13 Mr. Vegas - Hot Wuk - In The Streets - 4wks@ #1
03 02 15 J.Gong/S.Marely/Buju - Traffic Jam - Ghetto Youths-Peak@#2
04 05 12 Movado - Mine How You Dis - Yellow Moon
05 07 09 Chuck Fenda/Cherine-Coming Over Tonight - Berchill
06 04 16 Sean Paul/Keysha Cole-Give It Up To Me-Atlantic/VP - Peak@#3
07 08 08 Elephant Man - Hot Love - Stainless Records
08 06 10 Turbulence - Silly Girl - Tads Records - Peak @ #6
09 10 08 Morgan Heritage - Brooklyn & Jamaica - Juke Box
10 09 20 I Wayne - Life Seeds - Loyal Soldiers - 1 wk @#1

11 13 05 Da'Ville - This Time I Promise - Fashozy
12 11 27 Tanya Stephens - These Streets - Tarantula - 5wks@#1
13 15 04 Degree - Turn U On - Pot Of Gold
14 12 16 Capleton-Fourty Sup'em-Blaque Warriaz/Trendsette-Peak@#3
15 14 13 Elephant Man - Ready Fi The Video - Natural Bridge-Peak@#9
16 19 03 Rass Ptah - Life so Hard - Amplex Records
17 16 21 Tony Matterhorn - Goodas Fi Dem - Natural Bridge - 3wks@1
18 17 19 Cham - Rude Boy Pledge - Mad House - Peak @ #6 19 20 02 Tessanne Chin - Hide Away - Klariti Productions
20 18 30 Da'ville - On My Mind - Fashozy - 5wks@#1

JAMAICA'S WEEKLY TOP 30 (SINGLES) HIT LIST
By Richie B, host - "HOT MIX" on Hot 102FM

TW LW WC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 13 Coming Over-Chuck Fender/Cherine Anderson–Birch Hill Records (1wk@#1) U-1
02 3 5 Driver-Buju Banton-Gargamel U-1
03 1 10 Hot Wuk-Mr. Vegas feat Opal & Hotta Ball-In The Streets (2wks@#1) D-2
04 7 8 Full Clip-Mavado/Busy Signal-Daseca U-3
05 8 16 Loco Amor-Nanko-Downsound Records U-3
06 4 22 Blazer-Ras Myrhdak-Blaque Warriahs/Trendsetta Ent. (3wks@#1) D-2
07 9 8 Beyonce Wine-Vybz Cartel-Jam 2 U-2
08 6 15 Let's Dance-Voice Mail-Don Corleon (1wk@#1) D-2
09 5 11 Sikka Sitten-Lion Cub-Downsound Records D-4
10 11 9 Come Around-Collie Buddz-Sony Urban/Epic U-1
11 13 5 Brooklyn & Jamaica-Morgan Heritage-Juke Boxx U-2
12 16 8 No Way-Sizzla-Daseca U-4
13 10 24 Forty Sup'em-Capleton-Blaque Warriahs/Trendsetta Ent (1wk@#1) D-3
14 15 6 My Fadah Seh-Gyptian-Real Lyfe U-1
15 17 5 Hideaway-Tessanne Chin-Klariti Productions U-2

16 12 15 Traffic Jam-Stephen Marley feat Jnr Gong & Buju Banton - Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths D-4
17 19 7 I Know-Dilgin-Wall Street U-2
18 20 7 As Long As I Live - Jah Cure-Reflection U-2
19 21 5 Last Night - Mavado - TJ's Records U-2
20 14 10 Better Living-Vybz Kartel-Downsound Records (pp#14) D-6
21 25 2 Reggae Vibes - Shaggy-Big Yard U-4
22 23 7 This Time I Promise-Daville-Fashozy U-1
23 26 3 Tell Everybody-Ras Ptah aka Galaxy P Black Warriahs /Trendsetta Ent. U-3
24 18 26 These Streets-Tanya Stevens-Tarantula Records (2wks@#1) (pp#9) D-6
25 28 4 Love Jah-Noddy Virtue - Reflection U-3
26 27 4 Joe Grind-Kiprich feat Delicious- Big Yard U-1
27 30 2 Hot F... - Vybz Kartel - S.S.M.G.U-3
28 24 11 Why - Bonafide-Broad Yard D-4
29 - New Wrong Address-Etana-5th Element
30 22 17 Wah Dis, Wah Dis-Capleton-Don Corleon (pp#4) D-8

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By: Jigga Mattic
Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Bounty Killer is firmly convinced that Beenie Man is a coward and that he is running from a lyrical clash with him.

"Bounty tired ah the whole ting, and win or lose, him ah go challenge Beenie, Beenie ah antagonize him fi years, mek we do it and dun it so everybody can, other people ah get involve, Mavado and Spice, the whole heap a chain reaction, him did prepare fi finish it, him plan fi settle and Beenie run," Michael Lunan, a spokeperson for Bounty Killer, told YardFlex.com.

"Bounty inna the bus, we listen when Busy de pon stage and Idonia ah perform. I was in the parking lot ah listen to Kartel, and when Beenie go onstage, me outside ah talk to Sharon, and then me see Rodney and entourage ah move towards the stage, Rodney start run towards the side gate, and we run wid him and buss it open and him bounce upon the stage, the man did well want the challenge."

Beenie, in an interview yesterday, claimed that both Mavado and Busy Signal had microphones in their hand, when they rushed the stage along with Bounty Killer.

"Tristan and the police dem a war...him up inna Bounty Face, it could have been an ugly situation so mi leave, mi neva get pay fi no clash," Beenie Man said.

Lunan also denied that Busy Signal and Mavado were there.

"Signal was backstage by himself, and Mavado, neither anybody from Mavado's entourage was in the stage area, just Bounty entourage, and him did tell everybody else ease off, mek him alone go stage front. When Bounty appears, Beenie ran."

Lunan also suggested that Beenie Man control members of his entourage, especially a man called 'Tristan'.

"Tristan should never go up inna Bounty face, Tristan is a common thug, no business inna Beenie and Bounty affair, him is not a deejay, better him come inna one of Bounty entourage face. How fi go impertinent fi go up in the icon face? When Tristan come up inna him face, Bounty fold him arm, and yu know how Bounty aggressive, him woulda normally get ignorant, but him cool and ah deal wid diplomacy, him no waan no melee so him can get blame and Beenie still fled."

"We give him space, the business no get no justice, Beenie tek Ruff Kut, Beenie tek Angel, Bounty have him son, and look how Beenie try get close to Kartel, him tired of the provocation, so him try fi settle it in a non-violent way."

There were several standout performances at Sting including Buju Banton, Lutan Fyah, Chuck Fender, Gyptian, Erup, Mavado, and Idonia. Bounty Killer was his brilliant best earning several forwards as he called out Beenie Man to a clash, and I-Wayne was amazing earning forwards for almost every single drawn, including 'Life Seeds'. One of the night's biggest ovations was for Buju Banton hit the stage singing 'Me and Oonu' on the Wipeout rhythm, and the crowd almost lost its collective mind. He earned an encore and delivered his monster hit, 'Driva' with the crowd singing almost every word.

Both Beenie and Bounty got booed from fans during their performances, showing how deeply partisan the crowd was, but were able to sing tunes that drowned out the dissent of their detractors

Will Beenie and Bounty clash at Original Jam Jam or at Reggae Campfire this weekend? Will it be resolved once and for all? This weekend will answer all those questions. Stay logged onto YardFlex.com for the next episode.

Ackee and Saltfish, the Japanese deejay duo, offered important culinary tips with the line, 'haffi get the nookie, but me nah taste'. Bugle had the firepower in terms of patrons setting off rockets to herald his arrival, but the crowd soon 'bugled' its disapproval of him and he was forced to exit stage right. Watching Martina perform was like watching a bucket of cement harden on a lazy Sunday afternoon, while Stacious earned a big forward with an obscure reference to Beenie Man's wedding band. The Nah Switch crew from Olympic Way, heroes of the Moneygram TV ads, were amusing at best, while Taru asserted that 'police and soldiers get the most gun' to a smattering of applause.

Bescenta sparkled with his hit, 'The World is in Trouble' and wowed the audience with his crisp clear vocals. A subdued Deva Brat, probably acting on strict orders not to diss I-d-d-d-onia, worked hard to elicit a forward, but other than a wisecrack to a girl that he would "soon sort out her crotches morning', he failed to spark the slumbering crowd. AT 11:40 p.m., Nanko, doing his second stint at Sting 2006, turned up to register a pleasant surprise for the audience, showing that he has grown in stature and confidence as an entertainer. The Downsound Recording artiste rocked the crowd with his monster hit, 'Lucky You' and then followed up with an even bigger ovation for his present top ten hit, 'Loco Amore', the crowd singing along with the first line: '...maybe baby girl I should take you to Bahamas...'

Queen Paula introduced the first bit of raw passa passa into the night's proceedings when she made offcolour remarks regarding the size, depth and width of deejay Spice’s sexual cavities. Her exacts words were "Spice p---y big like We are the World'.

She revealed to the concert that Spice had threatened her with a phone call that she reported began "hey gal, hope yu nah go ah Sting go call up mi name. After that, mi get another phone call say if yu call Spice name, yu ah go dead."

Paula then told the Sting audience, 'nobody caan threaten me', and deejayed 'tell a dutty gal nuh start nuh war, Paula no buss water gun', and asked Laing: 'yu nuh have nutten roun de fi mi kill?'.

After that descent into vulgarity, Etana was a welcome change at midnight ushering in feel-good Cinderella vibes with 'Killing the Yutes Dem Slowly', a nod to Roberta Flack's 'Killing Them Softly'. But this Cinderella had bite on Sting night because her sharp social commentary offered on 'Wrong Address' highlighted the social struggles of the average ghetto person in finding employment in Jamaica's deeply stratified society.

Natasha from Denmark worked hard but failed to make an impact while DJ Face was a ho-hum yawn, to put it kindly. The arrival of Natural Bridges recording artiste Mr. Peppa got an immediate response from the crowd and his 'Gangsta Guerilla' hit earned him a big forward. He introduced G Maffiah, who although he has stage presence and charisma, failed to move the audience with his single, 'Bag a Noise'. Afterwards, Mr. Peppa showed off his polished banter in between songs and introduced his biggest hit to date, 'Hypocrite a Talk' to an enthusiastic crowd.

After Mr. Peppa's exit, Danielle, wearing a tight red outfit that gripped her ample assets like a second skin, amused with her 'pretty pink pepper light' descriptions of her genitalia, very suggestive given her choice of attire that night. She however was hampered by the lame play of the band on the stand which insisted on playing the rhythms without leads or phrases, leaving the artistes essentially without the vibes to deliver their material.

Still, Warrior King was in awesome form belting out hits ‘Never Go Where the Pagans Go’ and 'Virtuous Woman' before making way for Little Hero to reminisce about 'Down in the Ghetto', to yearn for 'King Solomon's World' before finally admitting 'I Don't Know What to Do'.

Then the stage was set for the arrival of the Gargamel, Buju Banton, who hit the stage at about 12:45 a.m., one hour later than the advertised start of his set.

STING ENDS IN LIGHT CHAOS - COPS ARRESTED AIDONIA
Beenie apologises to Spice for box

By: Jigga Mattic
Photos by: Carlington Wilmot

Sting 2006 came to an anti-climactic end this morning after deejay Bounty Killer was prevented from going onstage to challenge Beenie Man by security personnel and a prominent member of Beenie Man's entourage.

Although the situation was quickly defused, anxious patrons began to file for the exits after both deejays, Vybz Kartel and Beenie Man left the stage after a minor tussle. At least two bottles were thrown at the stage, and a YardFlex.com reporter spotted a patron being subjected to an efficiently executed beating to the face at the hands of uniformed police officers. Some disgruntled fans, obviously mistaking the backstage area for some lopsided Israeli-Palestinian turf war, threw large stones at heavily armed cops 'roughing up' the young man. Luckily, no one was injured by the stones and no guns were discharged in the brief face-off betweens fans and the cops.

Before Bounty Killer attempted to go onstage, the show had been going admirably well. Vybz Kartel got major forwards from his hometown audience for hit songs such as 'Beyonce Wine', 'Tick Tock' and 'I Neva', before calling on Beenie Man. Beenie performed 'Roll Deep' and even apologized to Spice for the altercation which resulted in her being 'boxed' at GT Taylor's Magnum Xtravaganza on Christmas Day.

"Spice, if anything happen, mi apologise, it tek a real man fi say sorry," he told the crowd to a mixture of loud cheers and boos.

He took a swipe at Bounty Killer when he deejayed the line which suggested that Angel ended her relationship with Bounty when she "find out that mouth water coulden breed har'. This remark was greeted with laughter and cheers. However, there were scattered attempts at boos, but the cheers and jubilant rag-waving soon drowned out the dissent, especially when Beenie Man instructed 'mek me see the hands of mi fans dem'.

Then Vybz Kartel deejayed 'Bad From', and then prefaced the song 'Dis Bad Man Yu Get Gunshot' with the comment that he was neutral in the war between the long-time archrivals.

Earlier Killer was his usual imposing self. Dressed in full black, he appeared to be the incarnation of a 'lyrical Grim Reaper' as he delivered old war tunes such as 'Lodge' and 'War', as well as new hits, 'Bryco'. He earned crazy forwards from the Sting crowd which was rabid for a clash but Beenie Man failed to show when Killer called him out. Killer made a case for Beenie Man as the continued antagonist in their now-ancient feud.

"Ruff Kut was my band and him tek it, Angel was my girl, and him tek har too," he said.

Killer performed after a scintillating, hit-studded performance by Mavado during which the rising Alliance superstar earned massive forwards from the 35,000 strong crowd at Jamworld Portmore.

Second time Sting performer Idonia gave a good performance which was better than last year's set. Even though in between his set a few patrons decided to clap him off, but that didn't last for long because majority of the audience gave him several encores. He however was booed when he dissed 'Skatta'.

Idonia was later arrested and charged for using indecent language during his performance.

FULL STING COVERAGE

Check back later for the full coverage when we will give the lowdown on Idonia's performance, and his arrest, plus we will answer the questions: Did Beenie Man really run from the clash? Would Bounty Killer have killed him lyrically if he had been given a microphone? Did Buju Banton give the performance of the night? Or was it I-Wayne? How did Mavado do, did he prove he was the hottest artiste on Sting? Did Busy Signal, Ele and Capleton really flop at Sting 2006? What was Erup's first Sting performance like?

As you all know, Shaggy is one of the most well known Dancehall artists bout to date. Some people forget that when it comes to free-styling pon a riddim, Shaggy is a master with crazy wit. When it comes to lyrics, Shaggy can roll with the best of them. Sometimes people need reminders.

Well, the 'Dancehall' Shaggy is here again...raw as ever, just the way we want him. After setting and breaking records, what else is left to do?

Mr Boombastic's been around the world numerous times and back...bringing dancehall music international.
He's no stranger to controversy, this new hit of his...Church Heathen' have some people frowning...while some in stitches.
TRUTH. The dj a talk the truth.

WATCH THE VIDEO: PLAY VIDEO

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People, mi tell you, any place inna Central Jamaica belong to Beenie Man, and the people dem tired ah the foolishness wid Bounty Killer now. How him fi go pon Island Xplosion up a Leiba Esso Tiger Mart pon big big Xmas Day and ah violate him ex-girl? Especially when Angel probably de home ah tek care of her baby and him come pon the big big holiday and ah diss har.

Dem deejay ya no real, dem no have no heart? People, him get a boo to the infinity power, is a boo that is 20 times the intensity of the fat boo weh Mavado get last week because the man all refuse fi come offa the stage. Dem boo him till him weak and have to retreat.

Still, the people dem ah give it to dem, Beenie get boo at Asylum and Blazay Blazay, Mavado get fi him own, and now is just Killa time fi feel the disdain of the Jamaican people.

Ah Christmas and Jamaica people nuh inna the negativity, and the dwelling pon a bag of #$%, Killa ah joker, him ah veteran, him come pon stage, even big up kartel and then turn round and ah diss the man unda style and ah call him 'ungrateful', then him start diss up Angel. People, mi see it fi miself, a propa boo for the propa-ganda. After Killa get boo, Beenie Man and Kartel run on and lock the show. Kartel work first, then him call out Beenie Man and dem just dun the place tune-fi-tune.

Even when emcee Nuffy go pon stage and say big up Killa, the people dem boo him again. How big bad Killa come to this? Wha really ah go gwaan pon Guinness Sting tomorrow? Him really ah go try lyrically kill Beenie ah Sting this year?

LEXUS AND TUNYA AGAIN?

Well, the two ah dem come in like they were meant to be. We spot Lex and Tunya together at Welcome to Jamrock and we see Lex ah drive up Tunya fat Benz, so wha happen? The divorce no final yet? Oonu fi just stay married and done, oonu match.

MAVADO AND BEENIE

Bwoy Mavado ah go hard inna the war thing. Yu hear him lyrics, yu a call up mi name/mine gunshot call up yu brain…murder yu lickle bredda ah the funeral gate, cut the newborn throat 'cause yu know mi no play...reverse the ting, yu a freak...yu inna bulletproof vest, mi have bulletproof cutter...buss one-pop, well ah tall up mi aim...The tension ah go high ah Sting 2006.

QUESTION TIME

Why Zabric and Deva Brat buss a big fight wha day ya? Mi hear seh Zabric buss up Deva head, and Deva punch him inna him mouth?

Who is Cindy Breakspeare daughter-in-law? YardFlex always have the realest information, none ah dem media nuh bad like we.

BIG UP

Big up Nicey, Shawna, and the Tek Set Girls, Out and Bad Tash, Strawberry Girls, Golba and Mama Bird. Big up Buju Fabulous, Pinky Fabulous, Anna Matterhorn, Gillian. Big up dancers like Kadillac, Colo Colo, Black Bling, Short Man, Sample 6, D & G, Overmars Shelly Belly, Terry Fire, Strength, Bonecrusher, and Never Scared

Well, it had to come down to this. Bounty Killer caan govern this war. Ah long time Busy and Idonia nuh like each other, and from Killer welcome him into the Alliance, ah pure friction. But weh happen ah Mavado Birthday Splash just show say something haffi gwaan f--k, fight or funeral.

Idonia memba the ratchet-pulling ting, and Busy know that J.O.P ah go de de ah represent. Mi nuh haffi wear black fi bad, mi inna all white. Mad tings!

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Season's greetings to all our readers. It is that time of year, the season of good cheer. We'd like to thank all our readers who made this website such as a screaming success in 2006, and hope that you continue to log on for the latest updates, gossip and juice from the Jamaican music industry, we'd like to big up Deborah Cole, our 'bosslady', our managing director who has really rejuvenated the writing staff here on our toes, and bringing Xmas cheer to Jigga Mattic, Warlington and even the irascible Claude Mills and our hard working photo editor and website admin Carlington Wilmot. Special thanx to Janice Dayle from Canada and Bridget Anderson from yard. Keep on reading. Have yourself a very Merry Xmas. Holla!

We also want to say merry xmas to our message board moderators, Sweet T, Mafia, DJ LITE, RubyRed, Sallo and our newly moderator Kedra.

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Photos by: Carlington Wilmot

By: Secret Agent
Photos by: Carlington Wilmot

Welcome To Jamrock was a show for the stars.
From the blistering few minutes Sean Paul spent on stage, to the extended sessions by Tanya Stephens and Luciano, the performers had a good night at the Constant Spring Football field on Friday night.
They got the chance to relax and perform, talk to the audience and burst into laughter every now and again, as the concert's atmosphere was a different cut from the traditional pumped up and often charged mood of shows within the Christmas period.

The audience, which included the cream of the political, business, legal, and music community, watched and lapped up everything.
Tanya Stephens hit high notes with the audience with her growing catalogue of tunes. She touched tracks from the 1990s, mixed them with those from 2005's Gangsta Blues album, and blended more with tracks from the 2006 gem, 'Rebelution'.

She was not flying around on stage, but kept the attention in between tracks using witty anecdotes and mannerisms.

Luciano, well known for his extended sets, gave a credible and energetic session, laced with some of his most potent tunes over the years. He also mixed the old with the new, and kept the session spiffy and entertaining, even breaking out into prayer briefly.
Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley stepped put and gave his usual credible performance, and introduced a few of his "guests" while he was performing.

Among these was 14-year-old Javaughn Genius, who although brief, gave an encourageable representation of himself. Breaking out into another round of his tracks, Damian then introduced Sean Paul as his next guest. Mr Dutty raced on to the stage to give a short yet spicy rendition of his more popular tracks before leaving suddenly.

Following this, Stephen Marley joined the Junior Gong on stage and took the show into its closing stages.

The event as a package was admirable.
Although the VIP section seemed more crowded than the general admissions section at times, the show flowed smoothly, with timely band changes, and good behavior from patrons.
Will it take the crown as the best Christmas show?
You decide.

Jigga Mattic
Freelance Writer

Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killer set aside their personal differences to perform together at the annual Dela Vega Splash show in St. Catherine.

"I worked alongside Killa and Ele at Dela Splash...it was all good...Alliance is good, and Kartel is great," he announced during an interview with hosts Simon Croskill and Neville 'Bertis' Bell of TVJ on Morning Time.

The two had become embroiled in a bitter 'war of words' in recent weeks following Vybz Kartel's decision to walk away from The Alliance, a move that Bounty Killer construed as a direct betrayal. Killer will be appearing on CVM TV's 'Onstage' to offer his choice words on the devolving friendship between the two men. During the interview, Busy Signal and Idonia reportedly shook hands as well, setting the stage for a truce that could reflect Sting's chosen theme this year, 'Love and Happiness'. But the consensus of most fans is that despite the temporary respite, the theme will be (as always) 'Ah War, Bullet-bullet-bullet!'.

Still, this sudden reprieve from the bitter vitriol and lyrical disses, was welcome especially at this time, the Yuletide season of love and joy. The residents of De la Vega City were in for a surprise.

As dawn colours began to creep into the sky, Vybz Kartel a.k.a Addi di Techa called on deejay Bounty Killer. Elephant Man joined them as well.
Several other artistes also performed. See the full report later on this website.

Deejay Skullman is seeking international expertise in the area of copyright law before moving ahead in the case where he feels his copyrighted work, 'Stop' was infringed upon with a soundtrack song called 'Jump and Move' from the hit movie, 'Happy Feet'.

Since the story broke, I have been getting a lot of calls from a number of international copyright agencies, some of whom feel that because I come from a Third World country, people feel they can take
advantage of me, and they are willing to defend me with their resources," he said.

"Right now, I am weighing my options, to decide who I will chose to represent me. My team will choose the one which is the most professional and understands the nuances of international copyright law," Skullman said.

When it was released, the song 'Stop' peaked at #2 on the New York reggae charts, and was a monster hit in several Caribbean islands including Trinidad where it was #1 for several weeks on the reggae charts.

During the interview, Skullman hinted that his publisher, Gussie Clarke of Anchor Media Products and Services, had been dragging
his feet on the issue.

However, Mr. Clarke vehemently denied this allegation.

He explained: "Skullman came to us and asked if we were aware of the situation, we told him we were not, I asked if he had seen the movie to ascertain? He said no so No, I suggested he go and see the movie, I
cannot act on hearsay. So I called him a week after and said, O.K, send us a copy of lyrics and an audio copy of the original lyrics. To date, he has not done that, and he is slowing up things."

"I cannot get international people to jump up and get on the ball unless you provide me with the basic information, the support and tools. In the business and copyright world, it goes down to documentation in order for action to be taken. We've sent him three
emails and he has failed to respond. In the meantime, we have taken the initiative without assistance from him, On the 12th, we went online and purchased the version of the song that is in the movie, then I went on my own and researched the song, and found it on a
1992 CD released by VP Records," Mr. Clarke explained

The lyrics of Skullman's original song have also been written "We are in process of sending it on the legal department who can deal with the matter but we are waiting on Skullman to come in and confirm that
the lyrics are correct," Mr. Clarke explained.

"He has an obligation in this matter, but he has not supplied any of the required documents or physical proof, irrespective of countless emails we've sent him. We cannot act on hearsay."

"It is going to boil down to proof. It can be a protracted case, and we need the appropriate support and documentation to act efficiently and effectively. This is why the process has not moved faster than this, the lack of assistance from Skullman," Mr. Clarke
explained.

Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Even though he is still in his teens, Fyakin is creating a wicked vibe in the dancehall with a number of songs including 'They Don't Know' for the Fifth Element label, and at least three songs for Fearless Records: 'I Know You Love Me', 'Free the Rasta' and 'Yodding in the Streets'. A video was shot for 'I Know You Love Me' which is getting love from radio disc jockeys across the island.

Fyakin has lived in the community of Portmore since 2003, and has developed a growing fan base in that community, even while he has been able to grow closer to his mother who was absent from his life for several years.

"It feel joyful more time to be with her certain way, we ah uplift her certain way, and ah try ease off the pressure offa her," he told YardFlex.com.

Fyakin has performed at a number of stage shows include Blazay Blazay, Kulcha Shock, Calabar Career Day, Gaynestead Career Day, the annual Garverymeade Barbecue, the Village Cafe, the annual Stone Love Anniversary dance, and the Cooyah launch in Annotto Bay.

Fyakin is not your garden variety singer with delusions of grandeur bubbling up in the stem of his brain. Here is a young man, a true firebrand who believes in walking the path of righteousness and spreading a positive message to the human race.

"Is just righteousness me ah defend and the upliftment of black people, each and every one. I believe that love and unity can conquer all things, so we just ah save who we can save," he said.

Born Nicholas Levy, he attended the Tarrant High School in the 1990s, but was forced to drop out because of financial problems being experienced by his family at that time. Undaunted by that early setback, he has returned to school via the Horizon Institute of Business where he is going to take CSEC exams in the areas of Mathematics, English, P.O.B and Biology, even as he pursues a career in music.

"I took the decision to go back to school, and get these subjects so that later, there is no need to do that when I am a successful artiste in the business, I am laying the foundation from now," the 19 year-old said.

He basically grew up on his own, living with members of his extended family, as both his father and mother lived and worked in different locales, so he did not grow up in a tight family setting.

He got turned onto music through his elder brother, Neumowatt, who taught him the fundamentals of how to write songs, and then, after that, how to tackle the live performance aspect of the business - stage shows. It was a lot to digest at 15 but Fyakin was an eager and apt pupil.

"Neumowatt showed me how to set the thing, and it helped me a lot in those early years," he said. "The bible say you must call up on the young ones because they are strong, and if I stay true to rastafari, and do all that is pure, and not dwell in the wrong, then which force raised against I can stop me?"

Sizzla is one of Reggae's most prolific artists. For more than 10 years, he's consistently dropped socially conscious Dancehall albums, without shying away from his Rastafarian beliefs.

So, when he decided to pair up with Hip-Hop's Damon Dash Group, people might have thought he lost his way. But Sizzla says it was a perfect union.

"Well, Damon is of a different culture, but we're from the same nation and the same nation has been through slavery and servitude so it's just we must get an overstanding and know what we're doing now," he explains.

"I'm not changing, Sizzla remains the same, you know what I mean? It's like having Damon there just pulling the links same way with people he had known for a long time, introducing them to Sizzla, introducing Sizzla to them it helps, you know what I mean? You never know what you could get out of the pipeline."

The word "overstanding" means to understand something to the highest degree. Not coincidentally, Sizzla's new album is called The Overstanding.

"The youths were there and they were saying, 'Dada, you should try get a link with Puffy, you should try get a link with Jay-Z,' and they say, 'Dada when I'm in prison, I listen to your song and your song teaches me a whole lot, it let me overstand what life is,' you know what I mean? So, I say this album is The Overstanding."

Don't let Sizzla's gentle vocals on the album's lead single, Take Myself Away, fool you - the lyrics remain as powerful as ever: "You're still taking what's not yours/You're greedy though you got more... Thought you were my friend I give a helping hand/You proved to be my enemy/I can't even truss anyone/I got to take myself away."

"It's just showing you that you're doing good, but you have haters also, and you're still helping them and they're still bringing you down," Sizzla says. "If you try to retaliate with ignorance or some brute force it could end you up in prison. So the best thing is just to step away from it."

Sizzla concludes that he works well with Dash because it's all the same music, "just a different pattern."

"I could still freestyle praises to Jah man on a hip-hop beat; there's something inside it, you know," he says.

"If we could just blend the two music, get the culture together, educate the youths of the world and let them know to step forth man, don't hold back... We're here to teach Damon and them, you know what I mean? It makes no sense, Bob come sing, come unite, Africa unite and we not united. We need to start somewhere, you know what I mean? So I step out and start somewhere. I'm not doing anything bad."

Source: chartattack.com

Review of Assassin European tour

The Assassin European Tour 2006 was very successful and was well attended at all venues. Although this was his first European tour as the headlining act, Assassin's performances were outstanding. He was backed by Jevon "Bones" Bailey with the instant replay machine.

Also on tour with Assassin was UK's Silver Star sound system that provided music for patrons.

There was somewhat of a riot in Vienna, Austria when the promoter delayed in taking Assassin to the venue and he (the promoter) was physically attacked by patrons who believed that the promotion was a hoax and Assassin might not show. Things got so ugly that Silver Star crew who were already at the venue had to leave in fear of their safety. When Assassin arrived at the venue there were loud cheers as fans crowded the vehicle just to get a glimpse of him.

The other shows were incident free and on several of the shows the crowd was so impressed that Assassin had to extend his set.

The tour dates are listed below.

11/30/2006 - Club Brancaleone - Rome, Italy
12/01/2006 - After Dark - Leicester, UK
12/02/2006 - Silverspoon - London UK
12/02/2006 - Penthouse Night Club - Hitchin, UK
12/03/2006 - Stratford Rex London, UK
12/04/2006 - Diskothek Volksgarten Vienna, Austria
12/05/2006 - Brasil Bar - Amsterdam, Netherlands
12/06/2006 - Link - Bolonga, Italy
12/08/2006 - Orange - Uppsala, Sweden
12/09/2006 - Otten Night Club - Norrkoping, Sweden
12/10/2006 - Oxford Night Club - Oxford, UK

Say when mi look up ina mi life its plain to see. That it's never gonna be the same. Take another step on towards my destiny. But the memories still remain." With reflective lyrics like these, recent AMA and Grammy award winner, Sean Paul, sets a more conscious tone on his new single, Never Gonna Be The Same. Known for his upbeat party anthems, Sean adds more dimension and emotion for the ears and souls of his listeners on this latest release from his critically-acclaimed, platinum album, The Trinity.

Sean Paul Following the blazing tunes, 'We Be Burnin', and 'Give It Up To Me' and his third number one Billboard smash, 'Temperature', 'Never Gonna Be The Same', the new single off The Trinity, is just beginning to hit the streets. Sean's steady vibe single has already caught the ears of deejays in Europe and the Caribbean and is now starting to impact the United States.

The video, which has been running the streets and burning up local video shows like NYC's Ralph McDaniel's Video Music Box, Ghetto Video, Plush TV, Rockers TV and Video Mixx, is building momentum on major media outlets and has recently been added to MTV Jams, BETJ, MTV Tempo, VH1 Soul, and mtvU. The single continues to build at radio and its attention has earned an exclusive feature on www.vibe.com. The song is currently enjoying early reggae and hip hop mix show airplay at radio and has just been added to regular rotation on WZMX in Hartford.

This powerful tune features Sean's heartfelt sentiments over the Seasons riddim, produced by Donovan 'Vendetta' Bennett aka Don Corleon, one of Jamaica's hottest young producers and a key contributor to The Trinity album. NGBTS, a sentimental ode lamenting lost loved ones was inspired by the personal loss of his longtime friend and mentor, Daddigon. "Wish I could rewind back all the hands of time and bring back Daddigon a great breadrin of mine, I..." Daddigon, Sean Paul's long time friend and mentor and founding father of the Dutty Cup Crew was innocently gunned down on January 27 th, 2005. Sean soulfully expresses his feelings of personal loss when he cries "Still cannot believe they took your life away, but those who pulled the trigger cannot take away. The covenant the righteous have with Jah Jah. So I know I'll see you again my brother." Daddigon also worked on other musical projects, including Damian Marley's Halfway Tree album and was also signed to the Marley's Universal distributed Ghetto Youth label. The reggae community will sorely miss what was once a promising talent, now immortalized through Sean's poignant lyrics on Never Gonna Be the Same.

This video, the first major Sean Paul video filmed in Sean's homeland of Jamaica, was Co- directed by A-List music video director Jesse Terrero, whose previous credits include 50 cent's Candy Shop and Lloyd Bank's Hands Up, and Jamaican superstar director Ras Kassa, director of Damian Marley's Welcome To Jamrock.

JAMAICA'S WEEKLY TOP 30 (SINGLES) HIT LIST
By Richie B, host - "HOT MIX" on Hot 102FM
December 22, 2006

TW LW WC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 1 9 Hot Wuk-Mr. Vegas feat Opal & Hotta Ball-In The Streets (2wks@#1) NM
02 2 12 Coming Over-Chuck Fender/Cherine Anderson–Birch Hill Records NM
03 5 4 Driver-Buju Banton-Gargamel U-2
04 4 21 Blazer-Ras Myrhdak-Blaque Warriahs/Trendsetta Entertainment (3wks@#1) NM
05 6 10 Sikka Sitten-Lion Cub-Downsound Records U-1
06 3 14 Let's Dance-Voice Mail-Don Corleon (1wk@#1) D-3
07 8 7 Full Clip-Mavado/Busy Signal-Daseca U-1
08 10 15 Loco Amor-Nanko-Downsound Records U-2
09 12 7 Beyonce Wine-Vybz Cartel-Jam 2 U-3
10 9 23 Forty Sup'em-Capleton-Blaque Warriahs/Trendsetta Ent (1wk@#1) D-1
11 13 8 Come Around-Collie Buddz-Sony Urban/Epic U-2
12 7 14 Traffic Jam-Stephen Marley feat Jnr Gong & Buju - Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths D-5
13 19 4 Brooklyn & Jamaica-Morgan Heritage-Juke Boxx U-6
14 15 9 Better Living-Vybz Kartel-Downsound Records U-1
15 17 5 My Fadah Seh-Gyptian-Real Lyfe U-2

16 18 7 No Way-Sizzla-Daseca U-2
17 21 4 Hideaway-Tessanne Chin-Klariti Productions U-4
18 11 25 These Streets-Tanya Stevens-Tarantula Records (2wks@#1) D-7
19 22 6 I Know-Dilgin-Wall Street U-3
20 23 6 As Long As I Live-Jah Cure-Reflection U-3
21 25 4 Last Night-Mavado-TJ's Records U-4
22 16 16 Wah Dis, Wah Dis-Capleton-Don Corleon (pp#4) D-6
23 26 6 This Time I Promise-Daville-Fashowzy U-3
24 20 10 Why - Bonafide-Broad Yard D-4
25 - New Reggae Music - Shaggy-Big Yard
26 30 2 Tell Everybody-Ras Ptah aka Galaxy P Black Warriahs /Trendsetta Ent. U-4
27 28 3 Joe Grind-Kiprich feat Delicious- Big Yard U-1
28 29 3 Love Jah-Noddy Virtue-Reflection U-1
29 14 20 Life Seeds-I-Wayne-Loyal Soldiers (1wk@#1) D-15
30 - New Hot F...-Vybz Kartel - S.S.M.G.

Poignant "visions" of social ills, undoubtedly one of Dennis Brown's best studio albums recorded at Joe Gibbs Recording Studio, Jamaica. One of the classic reggae albums of the 1970s, 'Visions of Dennis Brown' is one of the pinnacles of his amazingly fecund and prolific era with the legendary Joe Gibbs.

These songs, simply recorded but full of near-apocalyptic dread and spirited exhortations, are Brown at his most powerful. Through his lyrics, he seeks to eradicate the corrupt self and the tribulations in existence when he searches for the sense in hidden brutality through the assassination of "Malcolm X", the frustration and depression in "Oh Mother" and the suffering of his people as "Concrete Castles King". Songs as direct as "Deliverance Will Come" or as elliptical and knotty as "Milk and Honey" all benefit from Brown's remarkable voice, truly one of the finest instruments the style has ever known.

Dennis also engages in some straight preaching, castigating rumormongers in the sneering "Say What You Say" and adopting a wise but never patronizing tone in the anti-runaway "Stay At Home. The musicians: "The Professionals", featuring Gibbs' usual suspects, is tight and groove-oriented throughout.

On Tuesday, December 26, 2006 Supreme Promotions presents "Guinness Sting 2006" with this years' theme being "Love & happiness", at Jamworld in Portmore. This EVENT is billed as a MUSIC FEAST as they are bringing to you some of the most prolific and conscious dancehall music ambassadors that are filling the hearts, minds and souls of reggae music lovers all over the world.

Gates will open at 5:00pm; showtime at 7:00pm. The Promoters are advising that patrons come out early to avoid disappointment.

Mark Myrie a.k.a BUJU BANTON - the man who gave you the latest hit tune "DRIVER" will be appearing on the Guinness Sting stage at 11:45pm. Sharp. Our Title Sponsor Guinness will be giving away FREE Guinness until midnight.

At this years' Guinness Sting there will be easier access to venue as entrances are being doubled; the back gate has been widened and multiple car parks have been added.

Strict security measures will be in place to ensure a peaceful concert as patrons' safety and security is a primary concern for the promoters.

In addition, the Ministry of National Security through their National Peace and Safety Initiatives will have their roving peace mobile booth at Guinness Sting. The booth will focus on opportunities for citizens to participate in building peace in their communities as well as social services to assist in achieving personal growth.

Gyptian was detained at Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday, but no one seems to be able to say why.

The 23-year-old was returning from St Vincent where he performed, en route to Jamaica, when Immigration held him and five other members of his party. Gyptian performed in Barbados last Saturday night to a packed gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

According to the Daily Nation Gyptian said "They dealt with me like I was a criminal. Me nah know what me get held for, for about two hours they have me in a room like I am a criminal. But I know I am not a criminal, and I don't sing bad songs. I went to St Vincent, played well, came back, my flight was delayed until tomorrow (today), and they had me in a room like I am some thief," he said, adding the bad experience would not deter him from returning to Barbados.

"I won't make them mash up my good vibrations with Barbados. Bajan people are lovely. Everyone here showed me love," he said.

Meantime when the Acting Chief Immigration Officer, Airport, Rodney Farrell, was contacted to clarify the incident, he said he was too busy to come to the phone.

Source: islandevents.com

Deejay Vybz Kartel a.k.a Addi di Techa has inked a booking deal with the Topline Entertainment agency as the deejay seeks to consolidate his business affairs as he breaks from The Alliance.

"I admit that in the past I did not have a proper business management structure in terms of my booking, and that may have caused some confusion in creating the perception that I am a no-show artiste as some people have said. But there was also a lot of propaganda being circulated by certain parties who did not want me to succeed. I have cut all ties with those people and I am working hard to change that perception of me," Kartel told YardFlex.com.

Last year, the deejay got married and made a concerted attempt to change his image by cutting his hair and limiting his association with . However, controversy has continued to dog him especially with all the acrimony surrounding his break with the Bounty Killer-led Alliance .

"I am looking forward to a productive 2007 with Topline. This is the first booking contract that I have put my signature on, so this represents a major step forward for me, and I will do my part to make this partnership a success," Kartel, whose socially conscious 'Emergency' hit was one of the biggest songs of 2005, said.

This year, he has followed up with hits such as 'Tick Tock' and 'Pon Di Battle Field' on the Battle Field Riddim produced by Skatta. He has also been working with producer Stephen McGregor and one of those songs, 'Imagine' is getting a lot of airplay on FM radio.

Denise Smith, head of Topline Entertainment Agency, sees the move as a positive one for her company, which also handles bookings for TO-ISIS, Delly Ranx, Heather Cummings and the Uprising band.

"Vybz Kartel approached Topline Entertainment because he feels that his new image will fit in with the profile of the company and with my reputation in the music business as a honest, hardworking person. I know that I will do an excellent job in organising his bookings both here and overseas because he is one of the most talented artistes I have ever had the pleasure to meet," Ms. Smith said

"I met with him and found him to be an intelligent, charming young man who knows what he wants and where he wants to go. Whatever happened in the past is the past, and entertainment is about hard work and dedication, and we are going to arrange things in a proper structure. We have already been getting requests for shows in Canada, Europe and North America. He is presently dealing with his work permit to facilitate his travel to these countries," she said.

Addi di Techa will be appearing on the Guinness Sting 2006 concert which will be held at Jamworld in Portmore.

Beyonce Knowles has admitted she wants to marry Jay-Z.

The singer-and-actress, who has been dating the rapper for around four years, has been inspired to tie the knot by her parents, Matthew and Tina, who have been happily married for 27 years.

As well as getting married, Beyonce also wants to have a baby with Jay-Z. She told Parade magazine: "Of course I want to get married.

"My parents have been married for 27 years, and they're still in love. That's a great example for me. I know it's possible. I think about the future, I want to have a family. I want to be happy."

The 25-year-old star, who was wrongly reported to be planning to wed Jay-Z on a yacht in the Caribbean earlier this month, also insists family and friends are the most important thing in her life, not fame and money.

She added: "I know what happiness is. It's family and friends, love, focusing on the positive things and appreciating how wonderful life is. I'll always have that even if everything else, my films and music, went away. I know how blessed I am."

Source: tonight.co.za

The lyrics to Ghetto Story, a haunting tale of growing up poor in the vividly violent streets of a Jamaican ghetto, were written from a surprising place: the grassy knoll of a lake deep in the suburbs of Southwest Miami-Dade, where ducks waddle by and the water laps softly against the grass.

It is a sweet irony not lost on Dameon ''Baby Cham'' Beckett, the popular Jamaican dancehall star whose searingly gritty song leapt from smash hit on the island a year ago to international acclaim with the help of remixes from R&B princess Alicia Keys and rapper Akon. The song and the remix with Keys earned Cham two nominations at last week's BET music awards.

This is my story. Real ghetto story. I remember those days when hell was my home. When me and mama bed was a big piece of foam. And mi never like bathe and mi hair never comb. When mama go a work me go street go roam.

It is indeed his story: Of growing up poor in the Kingston enclave of Sherlock Crescent. Of not having a father around. Of watching his mother work every day to support five kids. Of seeing his best friend murdered when he was 12. Of dodging bullets and waging war on behalf of the politicians who controlled the neighborhood.

''The story is real. Seventy percent of it is my personal life. The things I grew up seeing around me,'' he says.

Cham, as he prefers to be called these days, has been plotting his escape from that neighborhood since the fateful murder of that childhood friend.

He decided to become a pilot.

''I researched everything about the profession. How much it paid, how long it would take to learn. I wanted to fly [my mother] out of Sherlock,'' he said.
But his mother was already supporting two children in college. His pilot dreams would only add to the financial burden.

And so he did what young men do. He went to a local dance and fell in love.
''I saw how the crowd reacted to Super Cat, to John Wayne and I loved it. They were getting so much attention.''

By age 16 he'd earned the respect of producer Dave Kelly, who had told him years before to return to his studio when he had a high school diploma in hand. So he did: ''It was the best thing he could have done for me,'' Cham said.

The two have been inseparable since producing several hits by Kelly's Madhouse Label including: Gallang Ya Gal, Hands off My Property, Middle Fingers and Vitamin S. The label's studio is based in South Dade.
Then along came Ghetto Story in November 2005.

Source: The Miami Herald

By: Janice Dayle
YardFlex Reporter

With a whole slew of songs under his belt Kevin Lyttle walked away from Atlantic Records in January 2006 and is in search of a new record deal. His globally charted 2003 hit "Turn Me On" went gold in the US, dazzled airwaves and was most requested video in major European and Asian regions. Since then Kevin has been not only basking in the satisfaction of his one hit to date, but also strategizing on bringing out his best once again.

"Atlantic shelved my talent," Kevin said, explaining why he felt forced to break away from that company to which he had been signed during the "Turn Me On" craze. He went on to say that despite the success of "Turn Me On", the record company failed to recognize his being musically multifaceted and without having produced an album, coupled with a flop follow up single "Drive Me Crazy," he felt as if Atlantic put him up to gather dust.

Perseverance however has always been Kevin's mainstay and he is not about to let this whirlwind of an experience as a number one hit maker, remain stagnant. Having been raised in St Vincent by three generations of women who fostered his tenacity, Kevin stated, "Woman has been good to me." He described growing up in a galvanized inner city house where neighbours hurled rocks on the hot "tin" roof to quieten his disturbing the peace with loud soca, reggae and R&B singing. After emerging from Boys Grammar School successfully and earning an Electronic Engineering degree he went on to work as a customs officer. During all this time his passion for singing and dramatic arts kindled. Although he dabbled in the music industry since the age of 18, Kevin went wholeheartedly into it after a year and a half in customs.

Now he is thankful to people like Benjie Cottle who, among a host of thoughtful deeds, initially connected Kevin to Headline Entertainment’s Allison Hunt. This was Kevin’s first decision to initiate changes in his career path, as it meant a switch from manger, Keith Boyea. As he enters this upcoming phase in the music business, Kevin is steadfast in keeping his eyes on the prize while they simultaneously gazes in search of corporate backing.

YARDFLEX GIRL OF THE WEEK

Beautiful and smart, certainly not enough to define who is Nicole. If there were to be any other unique word that could perfectly describe her, then that word is still in the making.

Apart from being beautiful this 21 year-old college student of Palm Beach College in Boca Raton is strong in mind and vision knowingly that she's one of the great grand nieces of the great Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

After completing Palm Beach College, she then plans to pursue a masters degree in Criminal Justice/homeland Securities and Psychology at Florida Atlantic University.

"I started showing interest in firearms and forensic investigation at a very young age so I definitely knew that criminal justice was going to be my major when I got to college, I love everything about my career choice from the crime scene investigating, to patrolling," She said.
Yes some people would say that it's a dangerous job for a female to get into but as long as you have god by your side you have nothing to worry about.

Her inspirations: My mother she has taught me so much and she's always there to supported me in whatever decision that I make in life. My mom is the true definition of a strong black woman and she's the most beautiful person in the world to me.

Her philosophies are: "if you have no confidence in your self, you are twice as defeated in the race of life, with confidence you have won even before you have started" - quoted by the one and only Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

QUESTION TIME
Mi hear dat them boo Mavado a Stars in Action, someone tell me if it go so?

How the artiste dem so mix up and love the passa passa so?

When Mavado say him a go murder the new born, who him ah talk, Marco Dean?

Wha really a gwaan between Roach and Kartel now? Mi hear say dem nah talk.

WHO IS ERUP?

How Erup just a blow up so? Mi go one dance rounda Spanish Town and when him tune, 'Dem Gal Ah Run Mi Head' draw, the place mash up, but mi realize say some man inna the dance nah gi him no props, but mi know say ah true him step pon dem corn.

LA LEWIS Crashes RE Tour

L.A Lewis feel say him is an artiste trou him write up him name all over the Corporate Area. Wah him feel like? Him fi just give up and go chuck off outta wharf because him will never buss Earlier this week, him crash the people dem high school tour at Jose Marti. Him spend 30 minutes pon the stage ah sing him boring, half-dead songs and the stage manager dem coulden tek him off. Why LA Lewis no find a real job as a garbage man or something, worse like how ah bear garbage come outta him mouth more time, it woulda fit him.

Beenie Man Leave Virgin or a Virgin Left him?

Beenie forget seh him caan lef Shocking Vibes and be with Virgin? Is not Mafia House him sign through, oooooohhh Beenie might have forgot that, and ah just chat off him mouth as he usually does just for the public to remember him during all of this so called war them artist betta stop it before if get out ah hand but u got to give it up to Moses he's one artist going up against how many different artist damm beenie u back really broad but really and truly them need fi regulate the violence in the music before the bigger heads step in (goverment) and regulate it for them I mean like no one can't enjoy themselves any more at any party just the other dat stone love ann was in jeopardy of not happening due to the fact of all this tension in the dancehall is wah them artist really ah do to we music?

Remember ganja and reggae is all Jamaica have as far as export is wah these little artist that ain't even selling ah mess up di ting and ah spoil it for other artist fi come look how long it took new artist fi come pon di scene it was the dancehall fraternity people like fire links mighty mike Liquid GT ect who helped buss artist like Iwayne ect so them artist who are force ripe need fi calm themselves and make them thing grow little bit more before them start the foolishness cause trust me it aint goin no where fast look at all the artist weh ah war any one of them selling any major units?

Big ups:
Big up Candice from CVM, you hot up Day Dreams party - you always looking in, looking out, and most of all you looking even betta than nuff gal.
It sad fi know seh dem run inna you car back afta di party, but give God thanx - Just hurry up and get well.

Tunia yuh large, yuh a goodas fi dem, hot from yuh born.

Big up radio personalities like Big A, GT Taylor, Digital Chriss, Jonny Kool, Ice, Richie B, yeah mi affi big them up because mi soon tun artiste.

Jamaican Reggae artistes are now getting very creative when it comes to marketing their music. Fahrenheit's songs will now be available on the very popular iTunes, including a preview of Port Antonio Virgin.

This artiste has been performing and recording reggae, soul and R&B around the world for over ten years. He can currently be seen on stage and in videos with dancehall superstar Sean Paul, as his back up singer. Traveling around the world on gigs with Sean has gotten him tons of exposure and has helped him to develop a vast network of musicians and producers to record with. Look for big things from this very talented artiste.

.

Preparing new album for 2007!

Legendary reggae band Inner Circle, creators of the COPS theme song "Bad Boys," and the mega hit "Sweat (A La La La La Song)," are back on the airwaves once again with two brand new singles "Smoke" and "Big Shotta" and a new dual acoustic/electric album 'State of the World' scheduled for release in 2007!

The new single from the group, "Big Shotta" recently added to heavy rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio, features a remix with guest vocals from none other than 'One Blood' Junior Reid. This former Black Uhuru front man has been making impressive moves recently on hip hop collaborations with legendary producer Dr Dre with his protege The Game on "Its Okay (One Blood)" along with rising star Mimms with "This is Why I'm Hot." The song touches a chord on multiple levels and the sentiment can be felt during these serious times when phrases like "Too much blood a run, blood a run..." seem to have an even deeper meaning.

Meanwhile, the band's first single "Smoke" featuring Damien and Stephen Marley has been impacting radio and the internet and is starting to show up on the charts and station play lists. The song, which happens to be a blinded by love story, has resonated well within the reggae community with the hook"Smoke gets in my eyes...just gotta have it!" To listen to the song go to www.myspace.com/badboysofreggae.

Although the group may have been out of the spotlight for the past six years, they haven't taken a break from the music. With a consistent touring schedule and the establishment of a world class recording facility Circle House Studios, the band has been carefully calculating the release of their latest project 'State of the World' due in Spring of 2007. Fans will be glad to know that the new album will feature the classic pop reggae sound that has made Inner Circle one of the most successful bands in music; the collection will also showcase politically and spiritually charged songs that reflect on the reality of the world we live in.

Having recently acquired a large majority of the group's back catalog, establishing their own management company, Sound Bwoy Entertainment, and the day to day activities of running a multi-dimensional recording facility, one could think they might be overwhelmed. But this seems all in a day's work for a band that has transformed their chart topping success to a regional musical empire, and are looking to expand their horizons even further. In recent years much of the groups time has been dedicated to the development of their phenomenal recording facilities Circle House Studios. The studio of choice for today's top recording artists, Circle House has pumped out countless chart topping hits in Hip Hop, R&B, and Pop. On any given day the studio could chart toppers like Beyonce, P Diddy, Lil' Jon, and 50 Cent who are all regular clients. Along with industry superstars, the compound also opens its doors for local artists in Miami and are always scouting new talent to develop in the studio.

One of the reggae industry's best kept secrets, Inner Circle, first hit the scene in Jamaica with singer Jacob 'Killer' Miller in the 70's. With hits like "Tenement Yard," and the focal point of a feature length movie "Rockers," the group became the most popular group in Jamaica, possibly even more popular at home than their friends Bob Marley and the Wailers who were experiencing increased international recognition at the time. Soon after this initial success, tragedy struck the band when their lead singer passed away, and the band entered a phase of reconstruction which eventually led to a new recipe for success, and the biggest hit of their career, the infamous "Bad Boys."

Possibly one of the most recognizable theme songs in all of television, "Bad Boys" continues to be synonymous with COPS on FOX Network. However, this tremendous notoriety has been both a blessing and a curse for the band. The infamous song, recorded in '87 but grew in popularity in the early 90's, propelling the band to their first ever platinum success. The stigma of the song's success has overshadowed the group's long history as one of the pioneers in reggae music and innovators in the music industry. Although they have embraced the label Bad Boys of Reggae, they continue to be humble about the songs influence. The chart topping success and mainstream exposure have always been a topic of conversation for the band. Bassist and guitarist and founding members, brother's Ian and Roger Lewis, the group's core, seem to play it off with a sense of ease and complacency of true professionals. They are happy for their previous success, but optimistic that the best is yet to come.

The group is currently on the road promoting "Smoke" and "Big Shotta", and have recently returned from several dates in Hawaii. For updates on Inner Circle and their upcoming album "State of The World" go to the band's official web site www.innercircle-reggae.com

By: Janice Dayle
YardFlex Reporter

Basil Wallace spoke candidly and with unassuming grace about his artistic journey, fickle Hollywood and his latest movie "Blood Diamonds" in which he plays a major supporting role. Possibly best known for his breakthrough appearance as Screwface - Stephen Segal's ruthless co-star in "Marked for Death," Wallace embraced his part in the "Blood Diamonds" tale of glitter and gore with a sense of responsibility for facilitating the re-enactment and hence awareness of harsh realities facing Africa's diamond mining industry. "Historically Africa has been a hotbed of exploitation of not only resources but also the manpower of indigenous people who live there...this is a gloomy and unfortunate past, but at the same time the world is hopefully becoming more aware," Wallace said.

Likening the writers of "Blood Diamonds" to traditional story tellers such as those who perpetuated African and Caribbean folklore like Anancy stories, Wallace had words of admiration for the their polished methods that held true to a common quest. "It was the writing that I enjoyed upon introduction to this movie," Wallace affirmed, explaining that like many others, these storytellers' mission is to teach especially children valuable moral lessons. "I think the cold, greed moral of the "Blood Diamonds" story that director Ed Zwick pursues is as honest as can be while it still remains a tale," Wallace explained. Although not a true story, a compilation of real issues shaped the characters of the film set on a backdrop of the 1990's civil war in Sierra Leone.

South Africa became Wallace's home for seven weeks as his scenes were all shot there. He said, "Africa was full of hope from my vantage point - I am very proud of the transition there." Wallace conveyed immense optimism, saying while the past remains indelible in the young, rocky nation, South Africa is moving forward towards a brilliant upcoming generation.

This sentiment defines a view that has gained Wallace the distinction of being bestowed with an honorary doctorate. His penchant for imparting knowledge gained through decades of experience in theatre and film led Wallace through intensive experiences of not only personally sharing with students of film craft, but also developing a curriculum. "The doctorate came from that exchange with United Negro College fund and other historically black institutions in Texas where young minds are working with people who look like themselves." Wallace thinks it is an excellent opportunity to make himself available for questions and answers in this way.

"I can only give back, since this was done for me," Wallace explained as he praised his life long teachers starting with his parents and grandparents - and going on to describe the invaluable lessons taught by friend and former co-star Sidney Poitier. "It has been a good passing of the torch process. As my generation's dad, Mr. Poitier is the man who set the tone for the bar we all try to reach," Wallace said. Thrilled at Poitier's willingness to share and his successful longevity that withstood tough times, Wallace stated, "He was able to keep his head on his shoulders, his wits about him and his sense of humour. Those were tough times - because Hollywood does not always invite us to the party, we have to make sure that we are not left out of the party."

Born in Kingston, Wallace lived near Spanish Town until leaving Jamaica as a child. Returning often, he once taught at Jamaica's School of Drama. In reflecting on his decades as a performing artist, Wallace explained how his natural dramatic intelligency was unearthed, when forced to perform a believable piece as a child, trying to avert harsh punishment after being naughty. Wallace, who plays Benjamin in "Blood Diamonds" most recently appeared in the family comedy "Like Mike." After his 1987 feature film debut in Robert Townsend's "Eddie Murphy Raw," he amassed film credits to include, John Dahl's "Joy Ride" and Dwight H. Little's Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home." On the small screen Wallace has had guest roles on numerous series like, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "The West Wing," "ER," "Judging Amy" and "NYPD Blue."

By Dr. Carlton Fraser

The power to reduce our risks of developing colon cancer is in our hands. Here are some steps to lowering your risk of colorectal cancer:

* Regular screening (colorectal) test from age 50 onwards are recommended.
* Eat a healthy diet high in fiber and low in fat; eat most colorful fresh fruit and vegetables (which may contain chemopreventive agents; vitamins, minerals and fibers). Include, vegetables (prepared leafy green veggies); cruciferous vegetables e.g. okra (OKRA has insoluble fiber that helps keep the intestinal tract healthy decreasing risk of colon cancer) broccoli and Brussels sprouts are especially important; whole grains from breads, cereals (wheat bran supplements may help inhibit polyp formation), nuts and beans. Also a source of calcium with low fat milk. Fibers in natural foods (fruits and vegetables) are more effective for cancer prevention. Vegetable fat is not a risk factor. Research suggests that up to 35 percent of cancers are related to poor diet.

* Ca (calcium) may help by regulating cell overgrowth. Take 1200-2000mg of calcium daily in leafy greens and reduce colorectal cell growth, especially if polyp already present. Stool ph (acidity) and effect of bile, fatty acids on the lining of the colon (mucosa), may contribute to colorectal cancer depending on ph. Calcium may help regulate the cancer promoting role of bile and fatty acids.

* Monitor your red and processed meat consumption. There is a two and a half times normal risk of colon cancer when red meat is eaten daily (animal fats) rather than a few times per month. High consumption of red and processed meat over a long period of time is associated with an increased risk for a certain type of colon cancer, according to a study in the January 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

* No tobacco is recommended throughout your lifestyle.

* Exercise. A minimum of 30 minutes a day, no less than 3 times a week. Moderate exercise is defined as activity that burns 150 calories of energy a day or 1000 a week. Try walking, yard work or recreational games like tennis or basketball.

* Take multivitamins daily. Vitamins and minerals may regulate cellular growth rate of the cells that line the colon.

* Maintain a healthy weight.

* Protect yourself from the sun especially between 10am and 4pm.

* Bi-Digital 'O' Ring Testing is recommended.

* Aspirin protects against colon cancer and a study proved that in patients with a history of colorectal cancer there was a 35% lower risk of polyps in those taking 325mg of aspirin. Aspirin offers protection against cancer through its effects on the COX (cyclooxygenase enzymes) which are responsible for the production of the hormone like substances called prostaglandins and thromboxanes. COX-1 produces thromboxanes that support platelet (clothing) functions and COX-2 enzyme produces prostaglandins that protect the stomach lining. Prostaglandins may also contribute to inflammation and cancer. Long-term aspirin therapy is not appropriate for everyone: most people do not have the same elevated risk for developing colorectal cancer as the people in these trials, and aspirin, like many drugs, can have side effects.

* Talk to your doctor about medicines that may prevent cancer.

According to MD Anderson of the Cancer Center at the University of Texas, "approximately 2/3rds of all cancer cases could be prevented if people acted on everything known about cancer prevention.

Colon cancers (adenocarcinoma) grow slowly and may be present for several years before symptoms appear; although asymptomatic they may be detected by the presence of fecal occult blood. Chronic blood loss from right sided colonic cancers may cause iron deficiency, anemia. Left sided colon (descending) may develop with colicky abdominal pains and change in bowel habits constipation or paradoxical diarrhea (diarrhea resulting from fecal matter forcing past obstruction(s)).

To investigate, seek evidence of anemia, elevated liver function (metastasis) and especially in post surgical, CEA (Carcino Embryonic Antigen) should remain normal after complete resection of tumor (if surgery has been done). Persistent elevated levels after a normal post surgical period indicates recurrence. Surgical resection is thought to be the treatment of choice in virtually all patients who can tolerate general anesthesia.

The following and other symptoms may also be caused by colon cancer or by other conditions. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur.

* Stools, those narrower than usual.
* General abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps).
* Weight loss with no known reason.
* Constant tiredness.
* Vomiting.

Different types of treatment are available for patients with colon cancer. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options such as the following:

* The stage of the cancer (whether the cancer is in the inner lining of the colon only, involves the whole colon, or has spread to other places in the body).
* Whether the cancer has blocked or created a hole in the colon.
* The blood levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; a substance in the blood that may be increased when cancer is present) before treatment begins.
* Whether the cancer has recurred.
* The patient's general health.

Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care team.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death due to malignancy in the United States; in the U.K., it is the third most common cancer in males after prostate and lung, and in women the second most common after breast. Approximately 6% of Americans will develop colorectal cancer. According to a study done by Mayberry et al at Emery University in Atlanta, after adjustments for age, sex and geographic area, the black to white mortality hazard ratio (HR) was 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2-1.9) indicating that the risk of death among black patients was 50% higher than that among white patients. An estimated 160,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths occur annually. According to the American Cancer Society, diet and lack of adequate exercise are implicated in approximately 1/3rd of all adult cancer cases. Colon and recto-sigmoid junction cancer patients tended to have eaten foods with at least 5% saturated fat on a consistent basis. Colon cancer patients practice a high saturated fat foods-low fibrous foods eating as opposed to a low saturated fat food-high fibrous food diet.

Statistics indicated that prolonged cigar (tobacco) smoking in men and null parity (no pregnancy) in women were noted increased risk factors. There are also factors called inhibitions (e.g. certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients found in fruits and vegetables) that are believed to slow the process while other factors called promoters such as smoking or eating a high fat diet (as above) can speed up the process.

Mounting pre-clinical and clinical evidence indicate that indole-3-carbinol, a key bioactive component in cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts), has multiple anticarcinogenic and antitumorgenic properties gamma-Tocopherol (Vitamin E) that can shield colon cells through a mechanism that enhances the expression of genetic factors that protect against cancerous growth. A healthier lifestyle will not guarantee you a cancer free life but it will reduce your risk.

By: Secret Agent
YardFlex Reporter

There seems to be no end in sight for the robust debates surrounding both the "Dutty Wine" song and the dance from which the tune was made.
YardFlex.com understands that the Government of the British Virgin Islands has banned a ''Dutty Wine'' show which should have featured the smooth talking selector-turned-deejay/performer Tony Matterhorn.

The show was scheduled for this weekend, but reports out of the country say the Chief Minister Dr. Orlando Smith, said the many complaints about the event forced their hand, and caused them to shut it down.

Local Radio reports indicate that the Government has been swamped with several phone calls because they allowed the show there in the first place.

According to the reports, they have been "inundated" with calls from "concerned citizens" who they describe as both young and old.

Reports are that Dr. Smith said the government would not allow the weekend performance of that show and that decision came after meetings between the promoters and the Chief Minister's Office.
According to Dr. Smith, the government required application process to hold the show was incomplete and he was also concerned about the life-threatening consequences associated with this dance. As a result the decision was made to ban the show.

Ironically, the Tony Matterhorn tune which launched the controversial dance move into the spotlight is known as a big hit in that country. Similarly, the opposition to the tune and the dance itself seems just as powerful, especially among the conservative church community.

Expectedly, residents there are not pleased, while others are calling it a victory.
On the local website bviplatinum.com, several vented their disgust at what they perceive as the Government's decision to prevent them from enjoying their God given right to attend any event they choose.
"Tell the churches get their act together before judging others! Nobody said it was mandatory to attend the show this weekend. If you don't like it, STAY THE HELL HOME!" quips one blogger.

Another declares:
"Here is the story about the death allegedly caused by the Dutty Wine. I say ban this filth! The priests are here to protect us and they always know best."

Time alone will tell what is to become of this now heated debate. It ties into the point of view that some aspects of Jamaican culture are just too loud and expressive for others.

Rihanna has just signed on to be the face of CoverGirl Cosmetics.

The R&B singer will be shooting a series of ads for the company, joining the ranks of celebrity models like Queen Latifah and Brandy.

Rihanna said in a statement, "I've loved makeup and dreamed of being a CoverGirl since I was a little girl. Growing up, my mother was a makeup artist and I was fascinated watching her apply lipcolor, blush and mascara. Now I get to be surrounded by all of my favorites from CoverGirl!"

The campaign is set to launch summer of next year.

Source: Net Music Countdown

Yes, people, mi de pon dem case like the Anopheles mosquito weh a terrorise the whole ah de ghetto dem inna Kingston. Me ah de real Mckoy, dem ah just the imitation. Kingston, New York, Miami, Toronto, mi have a story fi tell yu about one of my girlfriend dem and yu nah go believe, but mi ah go tel yu anyway. She have her good good husband ah Jamaica, but she a creep pon the side wid this wutless bwoy who have up him wife and nah lef her either. So yu know ain't nothing wrong with a little bump and grind as secret lovers and all that, but the bwoy go tek it to a next level.

Imagine now, she decide fi go Jamaica go check her husband, but the bwoy no stop hunt her down. It get so bad, she lock off her phone and ah chill over her man when all of a sudden, her husband phone ring, and him pass the phone to her and say 'your call'. When she go pon the phone, nuh the wutless bwoy pon the phone, so the husband lef her alone fi a second and my girl just tek out the chip and mash it up and put it back. WHen the husband come back, him realize say the phone nah work, and my girl just look innocent and say ah so she get it.

Anyway, a day pass and she de home wid her husband when the phone ring and she answer it, and him say, 'yu neva know say me have the home number too?'. This worse than Fatal Attraction, but better story, mi a wonder what my girl give him mek him so obsessed with her. It deep, people, it deep, but some ah dem careless man who have dem wife and nuh have nothing fi offer financially fi just low out dem woman ya who have a life and stop mash up dem ting. Ah lie me a tell, people?If you don't have anything better to offer the woman dem, doan offer dem nothing atall, just tek some p--- and gwaan bout yu business!

Article and Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Jamaica's newest gangsta singjay Mavado who is easily recognized to the public by his signature phrase 'Gangsta For Life' is currently riding on a high on the Hot R&B/ Hip Hop charts. The song titled 'Weh Dem A Do', produced by another dancehall deejay Delly Ranx on the RedBull & Guinness rhythm is happily placed at #27, up 11 spots, on the HOT R&B/HIP HOP charts. This is a great achievement for any artiste to be charted internationally in the beginning stage of a young and promising career.

Mavado first burst onto the dancehall scene, in 2005 with the hit joint 'Real Mckoy', on the Anger Management rhythm. The single quickly becomes an anthem among the rude boys in the dancehall, but after going back into the studio to do an edited version, the song then enjoyed its full amount of success. Other artistes on the Anger Management rhythm includes the likes of Vybz Kartel A.K.A. 'Addi Di Techa', Bounty Killer, Beenie Man alongside Martina, and Elephant Man to name a few.

Inserts from 'Weh Dem A Do'

chorus:2x
weh dem a do weh dem a try
marrow wi flyyyyy into di sky
gun mi nuh barrow mi money buy
a bowy wi die
(marrow wi fly)

verse:1
anyway mi nuh tek talk sen bwoie body to di grave pawk
dem bwoie deh nuh have nuh brave hawt
dem and dem girl have di same hawt
dem a cry like a bitch wen di war stawt
dem a run like a witch wen wi get wrawt
man guh murda dem bl**dclawt
gangsta fi life wi nuh tek talk

You can read the entire lyrics at this link YardLyrics

Mavado and Busy Signal vibing at Daseca Studio in Kingston Jamaica

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Rihanna and Sean Paul are steadily climbing the charts with their song, Break It Off. It was produced by our very own Don Corleone. It first appeared on the Pop 100 and Pop 100 Airplay charts but have spread onto the Hot 100 and Hot 100 Airplay.

Cham and Beenie Man keep the Caribbean vibe on the charts as they too hold strong and move up the charts. Check out the track listings below!

The Trinity and Give It Up To Me continue to climb the charts.

* The album is #2 on the Reggae album charts.

Give It Up To Me (featuring Keyshia Cole)

* #60 on the Pop 100 chart.
* #36 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart.

Welcome To Jamrock is holding steady on the charts. Check it out.

* It is #4 on the Reggae album charts.

Baby Cham's Ghetto Story holds on. Check it out.

* It is #12 on the Top Reggae album chart.

Rihanna is also doing outstandingly well with her second album, A Girl Like Me and her new single, Break It Off, which features Sean Paul.

* A Girl Like Me is #183 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
* A Girl Like Me is #72 on the Top R&B/ Hip Hop album chart.

Break It Off

* #71 on the Hot 100 chart.
* #37 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.
* #35 on the Pop 100 chart.
* #22 on the Pop 100 Airplay chart.

So, people, keep supporting the music by voting and requesting Jamaica whenever and wherever possible! Remember nothing is impossible!

Source: www.billboard.com

Unity of class and race has always been one of the tenets of Reggae and Welcome to Jamrock: The Concert has that in mind from the ground up, literally. According to the show's producer Rupert Bent of BentSpeare Entertainment, the grounds of the Constant Spring Football field were selected because it provides a space where both uptowners and downtowners can rock and jam in comfort.

Unless one is an avid fan of football, the football field is one of those spaces that one quickly drives past without noticing. However, owner of the grounds and CEO of the Constant Spring Football Club, Danny Lyn, assures that the 5 acre property is a little known oasis in Kingston.

According to Mr. Lyn the already picturesque space is being further transformed in anticipation for the show. With the beautiful St. Andrew Hills forming a backdrop, majestic guango trees on the grounds and a sea of green grass as the concert area the place is ideal for a massive concert of international caliber. The concert area takes up approximately, 100 square yards (that is about twice the size of Mass Camp). VIP guests will also have the football stadium stands at their disposal.

"Beyond those walls is really a lovely, lovely field," says Mr. Bent. But he notes that the decision to use the football field was aided by more than its aesthetic appeal. He explains that the grounds are ideally suited to breakdown "psychological barriers" about class in a venue that welcomes both. So, although the Constant Spring Golf club (which is just across the road from the football field) is much more well-known as a concert venue, the golf club as it name suggests, appeals to a specific social class and as such does not suit the philosophy guiding the show.

"We're trying to cater to Damian's [Marley] wish in that," Mr. Bent explains. Anyone familiar with Marley's sophomore project aptly titled Half-Way-Tree, which declares him a hybrid of uptown and downtown cultures will easily understand what Mr. Bent means.

So, the Constant Spring venue will in a way work as the new Half Way Tree, the meeting place of uptown and downtown in a beautiful medley of cultures as the refined and the raw brush up against each other in the spirit celebrated by Reggae, which treats one love as much more than a catch phrase.

Welcome to Jamrock: The Concert takes place on Friday, December 22, 2006, with show time at 9:00 p.m. sharp, gates will be open at 6:00 p.m. The stellar line up features Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, from whose Welcome to Jamrock album the concert takes its name along with his older brother Stephen Marley. The rebellutionary one Tanya Stephens, the soulful Luciano, the rocking Tessanne Chin, and the unstoppable TOK are also slated to perform.

Ticket prices for Jamrockers are $1,200 pre-sold and $1,500 at the gate while VIP tickets are $3,000 pre-sold and $3,500 at the gate. Tickets are available at CWJ Head Office (HWT), Petcom Gas Station (Portmore), Jamrock Sports Bar, Hilton Kingston, Xtra (Manor Park) LG Texaco (Dunrobin), what's On Café (Devon House), Esso Tigermart (Liguanea).

By: Secret Agent
YardFlex Reporter

The clips are loaded, the guns are cranked, and the trigger fingers are trembling to squeeze.
The war is on.
Lyrical war that is...
Dancehall is on a calamitous edge right now with the current tension gripping the Alliance, a formerly tightly knit unit of Bounty Killer's closest friends, business partners and associates. The Dancehall community has been jolted by news of the bitter split in ranks between Vybz Kartel and his former mentor Bounty Killer.

Within the space of one week, both print and electronic media have aired and published rants from the two outspoken and flamboyant figures. The ferocity of these rants make the script for a Blockbuster Action thriller seem like peanuts, and the Dancehall community remains cautious and edgy about the endless possibilities this feud can lead to, especially to the extent at which their verbal assaults have become personal.

In one newspaper tabloid this week, Vybz Kartel gave shocking accounts of Bounty Killer's alleged dealings with a spiritualist in regards to his former girlfriend D'Angel.
Killer also spit back with criticisms of Kartel's manhood, his reported "two faced" nature, and charges of him being broke.
With heated words being thrown from side to side, who is to benefit from this?

Who will reap rewards?

Reports have already started swirling that Supreme Promotions Kingpin Isaiah Laing, is the only one who will benefit, seeing the two are billed for his Boxing Day stage show STING.
Not so says Laing.
"Actually, this one was quite unexpected for me and everybody.” He told YardFlex.com.
"It took us unaware, because I was looking for a Beenie Bounty thing this year but not this between him and Kartel."
Laing was at pains to explain that bloodthirsty fans looking for drama on stage will only get it in words, as Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killer will never touch the stage together. He explained that with their new security measures implemented this year, no form of confrontations at the venue will ever take place.
"We have a meeting set for next week where we'll talk to all the artistes. We're going to discuss the behavior and their contracts, and the sanctions when they breach it. There will be no physical clash, I can assure you that. There can be no physical clashes for this year's show."

If the promoter of the biggest one night show says he will not benefit from the boiling tension, in the end who will?
The disc jockeys? The Selectors? Dancehall Music?
Who will lose?

By: Secret Agent
YardFlex Reporter

After five years, Dancehall deejay Assassin and Penthouse Records have split.

Assassin will no longer be managed by the powerhouse production outfit that he has become so closely associated with, since his rapid rise in 2001.

Reports about the split surfaced only this week, even though it reportedly happened about a month ago. The deejay commented about it on local radio saying he did not want it to blow out of proportion.

Penthouse CEO Donovan Germain confirmed the split, and explained to YardFlex.com that the parting of ways was mutual, as he will be focusing more now on developing the Penthouse Brand.

"I'm going more into production now," he explained.
"All this time I have been looking after several artistes career and not really building up more on Penthouse, now is the time to do that," he added."
"I have just completed a new studio, we built it from scratch, and we will be doing more recordings from there, more production, more tunes."

The Penthouse name is branded in Jamaica as synonymous with memorable gems and sturdy dancehall anthems that have stood the test of time, and that still rock dancehalls today. Added to that, the names that have developed under the banner have stamped their place in Reggae History Books, from both the artist and producer standpoints.

Buju Banton, Tony Rebel, Wayne Wonder, Dave Kelly, Tony Kelly are only a few of the leading dancehall gorgons that have worked there at one point or another.

With edgy lyrics and powerful puns, Assassin under the Penthouse banner had blossomed into a dancehall general. Despite this, his management turned him into a media darling. Several media practitioners have commented on his ability to be punctual and polite when conducting interviews, and yet transform to a lyrical monster when on the stage and in the studio.

All good things it seems must come to an end. Donovan Germain explained that that's just how the wheels of life turn, and people go in different directions. Penthouse he said, is now more on the musical road.

"We're not going to go so much on the road with the artistes, going up and down overseas all the time, we'll spend more time building up the music...We'll still have artistes yes, but the focus is on music."

The music industry was hit by another quake earlier this week that could signal a vital shift in the balance of power equation in the dancehall universe given Beenie Man's unexpected move of leaving the
Shocking Vibes camp.

"Beenie Man is going to do his own thing as of January 1, 2007," D'Angel said.

In the meantime, Patrick Roberts, Beenie Man's manager for over two decades, seemed a bit disturbed by the whole situation when contacted but nevertheless issued an upbeat statement.

"We wish him all the best, if he wants to leave, he can leave, he is his owna big man, he is married now, he can do anything he wants to do. We just wish him all the best," Mr. Roberts told YardFlex.com.

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Yes yes, people mi nearly pop up when mi hear that Bounty Killer and Kartel are at it again. Yes, war! People the amount of secrets Vybz Kartel A.K.A 'Addi Di Techa' revealed to the media is more than a cup full. All mi a hear pon the lips of people in the street is: Did the Killer really send him bredda a that likkle man where we Jamaicans love to go and waste money during our time of trials and tribulation?

Enough wid di wriggle mi dis and that thing. Mi chile, Kartel buss out secret like him a spit out lyrics in an interview with a local tabloid revealing that the Killer try fi obeah Beenie Man's wife D'Angel. Mi never know that gangsta believe in dem things deh.

What is really going on? The last time mi hear seh Bounty Killer a still Addi Daddy, but it seems as if Addi wants to move out left daddy.

What a hell and powder house ago pop a Sting, even though a lot of people believe that this feud between Kartel and Bounty is a plan thing. But guess what, mi nuh care, rain or shine mi naah mis sting, even if bottle ago fling.

People before mi go here are some burning issues:

Do you think this unbelievable war between Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killer is a fake war?

Will Kartel and Idonia remains close friends even though Idonia is still apart of the Alliance?

Did D'Angel really tie Bounty Killer according to the obeah man from St.Thomas

Will this be the end of Vybz Kartel booming career?

Anyway, me not saying anything more, because mi nuh want dem obeah my finger dat mi caan type nuh more suss.

P.S. Light a candle, sing a sankey and find your way back home.

There is a ghost of a scar on her right arm but the tangle of tattooed roses that decorate her arm hide it.

"I got the scar from a beating from my father when mi lickle, him dead now, so mi can talk. Some people have keloid skin, but mine sometimish having a tattoo, mi woulda swell up. I tried to cover it with like a half-sleeve of roses, and then I did the whole arm. I love it, my mom loved roses, she is also not here anymore, so I just say this is for my mother," she told YardFlex.com.

Her biological mom passed away five years ago.
She has a symbol tattooed in the middle of her forehead which means 'love yourself', as well as angel wings on her shoulder blades. She was inspired by her experience in India to get the 'love yourself' tattoo.

"In 1998, I went on a tour in India, and I was wowing, my mother's wide is Indian, so I was very touched, the spirituality, the philosophies, Hindu, Moslem, Buddhist, I just pick and choose, it changed me in many ways. I looked at what made them happy, and many people think that it is a big house, big car, will make you happy when it is the furthest thing from the truth," she said.

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JAMAICA'S WEEKLY TOP 30 (SINGLES) HIT LIST
By Richie B, host - "HOT MIX" on Hot 102FM

Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

TW LW WC TITLE/ARTISTE/LABEL

01 2 12 Let's Dance-Voice Mail-Don Corleon (1wk@#1) U-1
02 3 7 Hot Wuk-Mr. Vegas-In The Streets U-1
03 1 19 Blazer-Ras Myrhdak-Blaque Warriahs/Trendsetta Ent.(3wks@#1) D-2
04 4 10 Coming Over-Chuck Fender/Cherine Anderson–Birch Hill Records NM
05 7 12 Traffic Jam-Stephen Marley feat Jnr Gong & Buju Banton - Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths U-2
06 5 18 Life Seeds-I-Wayne-Loyal Soldiers (1wk@#1) D-1
07 6 14 Wah Dis, Wah Dis-Capleton-Don Corleon D-1
08 10 8 Sikka Sitten-Lion Cub-Downsound Records U-2
09 8 21 Forty Sup'em-Capleton-Blaque Warriahs/Trendsetta Ent (1wk@#1) D-1
10 9 23 These Streets-Tanya Stevens-Tarantula Records (2wks@#1) D-1

11 12 13 Loco Amor-Nanko-Downsound Records U-1
12 17 5 Full Clip-Mavado/Busy Signal-Daseca U-5
13 18 5 Beyonce Wine-Vybz Cartel-Jam 2 U-5
14 15 6 Come Around-Collie Buddz-Sony Urban/Epic U-1
15 20 2 Driver-Buju Banton-Gargamel U-5
16 16 7 Better Living-Vybz Kartel-Downsound Records NM
17 13 18 Goodas Fi Dem-Tony Matterhorn-Natural Bridge (2wks@#1)
D-4
18 19 8 Why - Bonafide-Broad Yard U-1
19 21 5 No Way-Sizzla-Daseca U-2
20 11 15 Rude Boy Pledge-Cham-(pp#7) Mad House D-9
21 24 2 Brooklyn & Jamaica-Morgan Heritage-Juke Boxx U-3
22 26 3 Fadah Seh-Gyptian-Real Lyfe U-4
23 25 4 I Know-Dilgin-Wall Street U-2
24 27 2 Hideaway-Tessanne Chin-Klariti Productions U-3
25 28 4 As Long As I Live-Jah Cure-Reflection U-3
26 14 24 Nothing with Them-Buju Banton-(pp#4)Gargamel D-12
27 30 2 Last Night-Mavado-TJ's Records U-3
28 29 4 This Time I Promise-Daville-Fashowzy U-1
29 - New Joe Grind-Kiprich feat Delicious- Big Yard
30 - New Love Jah-Noddy Virtue-Reflection

Kingston, JA/New York, NY - Dec 11, 2006 Legendary Reggae musicians Sly & Robbie have been nominated for a Grammy Award for the Best Reggae Album of 2006 with their critically-acclaimed Rhythm Doubles.

Released in September, Rhythm Doubles is the 45th album from the award winning duo. Sly & Robbie received their first golden gramophone in 1984, in the then newly created Best Reggae Recording category, as part of Black Uhuru for Anthem. The pair scored their second win with Friends in 1998. The "Riddim Twins" are also recognized on Buju Banton's 2006 Grammy nominated album Too Bad for their production work on the smash single "Driver A."

Sly & Robbie Spanning over three decades, the partnership of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare has been the ultimate musical marriage, birthing an estimated 200,000 tracks.

They have done musical and production work for just about every Jamaican artist imaginable including legends Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, Black Uhuru, Gregory Issacs, Dennis Brown, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man and Sean Paul, in addition to working with pop music icons Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker, Sting, Carlos Santana, Sinead O'Connor, Herbie Hancock, Robert Palmer, and many more. .

Rhythm Doubles singles "Bounce" and "El Cumbanchero" are currently in rotation on radio stations around the globe.

TAFARI's career is consistently developing into something mega; he is one artiste to watch for year 2007. The 25 Jamaican Rapper has reinvented himself blending Hip-Hop with Dancehall and Roots Rock Reggae, blending it with his culture to create a fusion between Hip-Hop and Dancehall. One would probably say, it has been done before, but for TAFARI, it's not the same.

What makes him different? He's got style, image, wit and lip and he is the story, the real story. TAFARI launched his "Rude Bwoy Warning" video recently and it is obvious that he is ready to take on the world. Here he introduces himself to the public as a rude boy to eradicate any doubts regarding his destiny, he's here to stay. The video, produced by Jay "Game Over" Will, one of the most outstanding video producers in Jamaica who can also be accredited for the "new image" he brought into the production of Dancehall videos, are on the lips of everyone who saw it for the very first time.

Too many up and coming Jamaican artistes have given up on their dreams to pursue a career in another genre of music other than Dancehall or Reggae. Even though it really gets tough at times, TAFARI is determined to fulfill his dream of making it big in HIP-HOP. He says, "the journey gets harder when it seem to be getting better but the light at the end of the tunnel shines brighter" and is encouraging. And so, the "New Image" of Hip-Hop/Dancehall music "TAFARI" pushes on.....

"Can't Sey Mi Neva did A Warn You"

After the sensational tour of Jay-Z and Osibisa's MOGO show in Accra, another thriller of a musical concert will hit Accra this weekend with the 2004 Grammy Award winner Sean Paul, in the thick of it.

Akon, the sweet American singer, has been touted as the MC for the occassion with Rap Heavyweight Lord Kenya and MOBO Award winner, Batman Samini, constituting a Ghanaian force to take on the American invasion.

As the fever of the ensuing extravaganza spreads through the capital and beyond, its ripples are being felt far and wide with the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) demanding a level playing field on behalf of its members.

In a statement released in Accra in connection with the coming of Sean Paul and signed by the union's PRO, MUSIGA entreated the organisers to endeavour to go by the agreed regulations.

Sean Paul, winner of the 2004 Grammy Award for reggae and one of America's most wanted artistes is to lead the pack intended to shake the Accra International Conference Centre this Saturday.

It will be Paul's first ever concert in Ghana and it brings him face to face with some of Ghana's best exponents of contemporary rap.

The collaboration is expected to be mutually beneficial and give patrons value for money. If the performances of these two top local artistes in recent times is anything to go by, then something will happen on Saturday.

Showbiz had a pre-event interview with Cox Tamakloe of Joy FM, Co-organisers of the show who said all was set for one of the best ever events to be witnessed by Ghanaians.

"The eyes of the world goes on Sean Paul when he travels so you can imagine that it's not going to be a child's play," were the words of the optimistic Cox.

For more go to graphicghana.info

After his song "Herbalist" got banned by local radio stations and the nevertheless great success of the single, Alborosie is back with a new single and accompanying video, which was shot by MTV Italy. The new single "Call Up Jah" of his forthcoming album "Soul Pirate" enjoys a lot of local and international airplay and will pave the way to another single release in early January and then the album release in February 2007.

Alborosie, who can already look back on a long and successful career has also made an impact locally as a producer with the very popular "XXL"-rhythm.

The artiste just returned to Jamaica from a tour in Europe including shows in Rome and London. In December he is scheduled to perform at two major stage shows: Guinness Sting at Jam World in Portmore and East Fest.

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Carlington Wilmot Photo

The 2006 nominees in the reggae category are 'Too Bad' by Buju Banton, Ziggy Marley's 'Love Is My Religion', 'Youth' by Jewish reggae chanter Matisyahu, Sly & Robbie's 'Rhythm & Doubles' and 'Who You Fighting For' by UB40.

The Marley legacy continues with Ziggy Marley's nomination. Ziggy's previous win in the Best Reggae Album category was in 1997 for Fallen Is Babylon by Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers. Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers also picked up the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Recording in 1998 for Conscious Party and in 1989 for One Bright Day.

According to the Billboard Reggae chart at the end of November, Matisyahu's album, 'Youth' sold 497, 256 copies and was released on the Epic imprint, while controversial deejay Buju Banton sold over 10,000 copies of 'Too Bad'. Banton's previous nomination was for his 1997 disc, 'Inner Heights'. Dub revolutionaries Sly and Robbie last won for their 1998 classic, 'Friends'. This latest Sly and Robbie album, 'Rhythm and Doubles' features work by Lady Saw, a Bounty Killer-Wyclef Jean combination, Beres Hammond, Elephant Man, Sugah Roy and Conrad Crystal, Yellowman, former ARP member Mitch teams up with Santana, as well as UB40'S Ali Campbell and Luciano.

The 49th Grammy Awards are scheduled to air live on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 11. Tanya Stephens, whose Rebelution album was widely hailed by critics and music lovers alike, is not among the nominees. Her previous album, 'Gangsta Blues' was also snubbed. Beenie Man's 'Undisputed' did not receive a Reggae Grammy nod either year.

Colin Levy aka Iley Dread will be performing on the GT Taylor Magnum Reggae Extravaganza returning to Independence Park Black River, St. Elizabeth on Monday, Christmas Day. Colin Levy by no means a debutant appearing on the annual event anticipates an irie showcase.

"Yes it will be an event to remember, brother GT Taylor went all out to deliver a good package and I myself and others will be there to represent what the show is all about, good music" Iley Dread said in a release.

With new releases 'Good News' currently in the process of being shot for music video release and his blaring radio-land hit 'A Draw From West', a Ron in the morning favorite, Mr. Levy should be a part of the diversity of the showcase. Others include Sean Paul, Beenie Man, King Capleton and the Godfather of deejay, the immortal U Roy, Stone Love sound among many others.

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Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

The highly anticipated Jah Selah 'Lonely Girl' video could hit TV screens in the next two weeks as production wrapped on the video last week. The video, shot for a single that is getting a lot of advance buzz in Atlanta, Georgia and in the clubs in Toronto, Canada, is expected to catapult Jah Selah into the roots rock reggae market in a big way.

"The video was shot on the beach in St. Thomas. The scenes featured yachts, a BMW convertible and is centered around a storyline of your typical bored lonely rich girl who is the daughter from a powerful family. One scene which stood out in my mind was when she is surrounded by bodyguards and Selah, who the family dislikes, is trying to get to her but the bodyguards hold him back," manager Kee Kee Williams of P & L said.

"MTV Tempo is already waiting for the video given the kind of response Selah's previous video, 'Think About It' got in certain Caribbean countries like St. Lucia and Barbados," Ms. Williams added.

The 'Lonely Girl' single is presently #5 on the RE TV Reggae charts, and is in the top 20 of the St. Lucia reggae charts.

When the video finally airs, you might recognize a few of the bodyguards in the production as they are employees of the Asylum and Quad nightclubs. Carlene Samuels of Jay Will films produced the shoot while Tarik Kiddo of Zawdi Entertainment directed the project. Lenny Hype of P & L also played a bit role in the production.

Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Dancehall fans have been curious about the origins of the feud between dancehall singer Mavado and deejay Beenie Man which has translated into a couple of diss songs. Rumours suggest that the problem stems from rumours that Mavado had done a song which intimated he had a hand in the death of Beenie Man's brother.

However, deejay Bounty Killer has denied that allegation.

"The song that mentioned 'baby Brian' was on the Red Bull and Guinness riddim, which was released before Beenie Man's brother was killed, he was just making a rhyme. That rumour is not true," Bounty Killer told Yardflex.com in an interview earlier this week.

However, there is clear animosity between Mavado, who has had a meteoric rise to fame this year on the heels of an armada of hit songs, and one of dancehall's greatest icons. One of those Mavado songs is the 'Full Clip' combination with Busy Signal which has a highly provocative line which reads: 'come hype pon we wid a gal weh we dun out...'.

Interestingly, Beenie Man did not respond in kind until after his brother, Brian Smith's death at the hands of gunmen in mid-October. Sources say he took umbrage with the 'baby Brian' reference in one of Mavado's songs which seemed to presage Brian Smith's death.

In a song simply called the Jamaican curse word, 'B---c---th', Beenie Man comes out blazing, singing that he is a 'foundation bad man' from 'nineteen oh-long'.
A snippet of the lyrics goes:

Hey you, mek mi tell yu dis b---c---t
New 9 mm fi swell up yu b-c---t
'Gangster For Life', bad oonu b---c---t
War Oonu want, well, mi ready fi thump it off

Since Mavado nuh bad like me b—c—t Tims
Bounty nuh value a donkey cart rims
Nor Marco Dean blings
It's a ultimate sin fi kill dumb animal like Ring Ting Ting

Mavado, gwaan sing and low big man ting
Mek Bounty gwaan mad 'cause Angel leave him

Beenie Man also has another song where he threatens to leave 'Cassava' 'inna piece, an overt reference to Mavado's hometown, a garrison community called Cassava Piece in St. Andrew.
Mavado, whose street credibility is at all-time high in the run up to the annual Sting show, responds on a song where he claims 'some bwoy just chat too much', and gives a reason 'why marrow paste pon ceiling inna middle evening'.

Talk which piece over Cassava?
Waan run outta the place like Asafa
Lass, knife, me yu a chop offa?
Yu body, get yu dutty head chop offa

What will happen between the two at this year's Sting 2006 remains to be seen. But given all the hostilities and shifting alliances in dancehall today, it is clear there will be a multi-dimensional conflict which will be fought on a number of fronts at this year end battleground concert, Sting 2006.

Photos by: Carlington Wilmot

Name: Petol --- Height: 5'7 --- Weight: 128 --- Colour eyes: dark brown

Petol can be consider as one of Jamaica's top female video models who has more than twenty video appearances under her belt. Such as Beenie man latest video, 'Reverse Di Thing', Tanto Metro & Devonte 'Any Weh She Deh' medley, Blacker, 'Lack Like', to name a few.

Petol is so caught up in the world of entertainment; she even writes songs that she will never able to perform because she's not an entertainer. Even though at times she wishes she was born with the talent of becoming an entertainer.

In her spare time: Whenever she's not busy designing, she loves to hangout with her friends at some of Kingston Jamaica hot spots such as the Quad, Asylum and Escape.

Petol first fell in love with modeling when she was introduced to Celebrity Model Agency by a close friend. After spending a few months there, she then tentatively decided to manage her own career, because she strongly believes in the motto 'Life is what you make it'.

What she looks for in a guy: I will always like a guy who is not too fussy, easy going, not too jealous, one who has a good sense of reasoning ability.

"And guys money is not all, but you got to be ambitious," she told YardFlex.com.

Money O! is the latest chance promotion from Supreme Ventures and who better to endorse it than the DJ who made that slang a household name Macka Diamond herself.

Macka Diamond has been signed to a one-year endorsement deal with Supreme Ventures promoting the Money O! game of chance. Lucky persons can win $70,000 every month for a year…well you just have to check that one out.

However, there is no chance when it comes to Macka consistency in finding winners. Her latest song 'Hula Hoop' is mashing up the place. The song is receiving some crazy rotation on the stations. Not just in Jamaica but all over the Caribbean.

In her recent performances in Bahamas, St. Vincent and St. Martin fans are going crazy over the 'Hula Hoop'. In fact, Macka has been 'forbidden' to DJ this one as she dances it so well!

The video which started airing two weeks ago has been receiving favourable responses from viewers. On the recent Courts all island promotion Macka Diamond send fans crazy doing the dance.

This Christmas season there will be lots of times to take in the very popular female DJ as she has a very busy calendar. December 22, she will be in MoBay, Christmas eve, 24 she moves on to Esso Tiger Mart.

Christmas Day Macka heads for St. Elizabeth where she will be in action on GT Taylor's Magnum Christmas Extravaganza the following day, Boxing Day, December

26 she is exclusively booked to appear on Teensplash at James Bond Beach. Macka will put a cap on the season on Richie Stephen's Unity Splash on January 1 in Westmoreland.

By Dr. Carlton Fraser

The word Cancer has many origins; Middle English from Old English 'cancer', from the Old French 'cancre', both from Latin 'cancer' meaning crab or malignant disease. Cancer essentially defines abnormal cellular regeneration. It results from genetic change or destruction of the chromosomal material of the cell i.e. from mutation.

Every normal cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes which consist of the double spiral DNA molecule; that dictates the genetic characteristics in the chromosomes inherited. Within the chromosomes are 'millions' of genes that determine our growth, function and behaviour patterns.

Cells influenced by mutation disregard the clinically defined limits of growth or regeneration, exhibiting bizarre cellular behaviour. The hallmarks of (cellular) regeneration, disciplined growth/duplication and spatial limitation, are ignored. The original genetic code is no longer the determining factor for cellular development and cellular 'maturity' is now more influenced by other insidious factors. All human (cellular) elements are susceptible and the familiar tumor is a usual representation of pathological growth.

In above fashion the development of cancer of the colon will occur and we must be thankful of the North Africans (Egyptians) who developed anatomy, most cogently at the Medical School of Alexandria in Egypt under Macedonian rule (after 334 B.C.) during the time of Erasistrato, as today we know that the colon or large intestines is approximately 1.80 meters long (about 5ft.).

It extends from the termination of the small intestines (the ileum) communicating by the ileocecal valve. The colon is approximately 1/5th the entire length of the large intestines, which commences in the 'right iliac fossa' in a dilation of considerable size, the caecum. It ascends to the undersurface of the liver, passes transversely (transverse colon) across the abdomen to the confines of the naval region to the left area in proximity to the spleen, then descends (descending colon) through the left lumbar region where it becomes convoluted and the forms the sigmoid flexure, finally entering the pelvis as it descends along its posterior surface to the anus. The large intestines reabsorbs water from the liquid mass (chyle) entering from the ileum (small intestines) and excretes waste products by peristalsis (muscular movement). Here fermentation and purification occurs. Within the rectum, absorption of water ends and faeces accumulate.

Bowel cancer usually grows in the large bowel; it is rare in the small bowel. Bowel cancer includes cancer of the proximal colon (large bowel), cancer of the distal colon rectum (the back passage), and cancer of the anus (the exit from the back passage). Colorectal cancers are almost all adenocarcinoma. Carcinoma of the colon takes various forms such as mass that is beginning to fungate in the caecum and ascending colon; a hard infiltrating mass in the transverse, descending and sigmoid colon; flat ulcer in the rectum. It is strongly believed that the majority of colorectal cancers arise from malignant transformation of adenomatous polyps. Familial adenomatous polyposis is an autosomal dominant condition that results in the development of hundreds of thousand of adenomas in the colon which begin to appear between ages 10-35. The defect has been localized to the APC gene chromosome 5Q²1. The chain of events that leads to cancer is very complex and each individual body reacts differently. Colon cancer for example is among the cancers believed to be directly inhibited by cruciferous vegetables.

A number of factors increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. A few of these factors are:

* Age 50 or older. Colorectal cancers incidence rises sharply after age 40 which corresponds to the reduction in immune (resistance) function. 90% of the cases occur in persons over 50.
* A family history of cancer of the colon or rectum. A family history of colorectal cancer is present in 25% of patients with colon cancer. A person with one family member (1st degree relative) has a two fold or three fold increased risk and if the affected family member was under age 45 years old at the time of diagnosis, the risk is much greater.
* A personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, endometrium, or breast. A history of adenomatous polyps especially if multiple or larger than 1cm, will increase an individuals risk of developing colon cancer.
* Familial Polyposis Syndrome; these autosomal dominant conditions dramatically increase the risk of developing cancer but they account for less than 1% of causes of colon cancer.
* Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC-Lynch Syndrome); two autosomal conditions have been described with increased risk of developing colon cancer. These patients have few or no (adenomatous) polyps. A thorough family history is vital.
* Inflammatory Bowel Disease; the risk of adenocarcinoma of the colon begins to rise approx. 7-10 after disease onset in patients with ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the lining of the large intestine) or Crohn's disease.
* An unhealthy diet. Unhealthy eating patterns, including regular consumption of red meat, will increase ones risk of colon cancer.

By Melton Williams

The Jamaica football programme received a major boost, this time around from corporate giants Red Stripe who has pumped in $100 million as the exclusive alcohol sponsor for the 2010 World Cup qualifier campaign. The campaign is dubbed 'Back To Africa.'

The contract which was signed this week will see Red Stripe Beer paying $100 million over the next three years based on the success of the team during the qualifiers. In addition, the brand will stage exhibition games between the national senior team and international teams in conjunction with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
The deal represents the biggest sponsorship package to the football programme by Red Stripe. On the 'Road to France' campaign, the company had sponsored goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence and added to that a $75 million injection into the programme during the 'Red Stripe Journey to Germany, Buy A Beer For the Boys' campaign.

In addition to the sponsorship, the company, which has rebranded its title under the new slogan 'Live Red' will also turn its attention to patrons at the National Stadium in an attempt to bring the excitement back to the game. From entrance to exit, pre-game to half-time show, Red Stripe beer will be a part of the fan's experience.
Wayne Lawrence, marketing director at Red Stripe, said that the support further shows his company's commitment to develop the football programme.

He said: "We are passionate about football and as the number one fan we have been faithful in our commitment over the years to the development of Jamaica's football programs. By involving ourselves from the beginning of this journey, we 'Don't Just Live, we Live Red.' We will bring the passion and pride back to the World Cup campaign. Part of living red is reminding Jamaicans that creating and inspiring passion in everything that we do is important."

According to Carlo Redwood, marketing manager for Red Stripe, "our Live Red events are just an indication of what's in store for the stadium. We know that our consumers are vitalized by dynamite entertainment, invigorated by a thrilling competition and feel satisfaction when our boyz win. Our involvement further embodies that Living Red means, it's about ambition, determination, courage, optimism and zeal, all qualities that the Reggae Boyz need to get them to Africa in 2010 and we will be there to see it."

Crenston Boxhill, president of the JFF, believes that the involvement of Red Stripe comes at a good time.
Boxhill said: "The Red Stripe sponsorship is a major boost for the Federation and the national programme and comes at the perfect time. The Federation is particularly excited about the high energy approach being taken by Red Stripe in building fan participation and support for the 'Back To Africa Campaign'. With this sponsorship all stakeholders in the programme can expect an exciting and positive period for football."

He further added that "it continues a strong partnership that has spanned the previous World Cup qualifications, the Red Stripe Champions Cup and the Red Stripe Light Beach football competition."

Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Singer Da'Ville was recently crowned at the Bourbon Beach in Negril at a well-attended event put on by Money Cologne and Jah Freedom Production.

Several other artistes were featured on the show, but it was Da'Ville who had the ladies falling 'head over heals' during his very entertaining performance. Toasting the ladies in a seductive tone of voice, the singer feted them with his popular hits singles such as 'Can't Get Over You', 'Hey Baby', 'Gallis', 'Tell Me Again', 'In Heaven', On My Mind', 'This Time I Promise' and his yet to be release song 'So I'll Wait For You'. The response was overwhelming.

After his performance, several patrons flocked him asking for autographs and the opportunity to take pictures with him.

Apart from appearing on several community events for the holidays, Da'Ville leaves the island to perform in Bahamas on December 8 &9; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands on December 16, then return to Jamaica for Boxing Day, December 26, he will perform at James Bond Beach in St.

Mary at Teens Splash and on December 31 at Original Dancehall Jam Jam in Clarendon.

The singer continues his musical sojourn into the New Year when he performs at Unity Splash in Westmoreland on January 1.

YardFlex Florida team caught up with Buju Banton last weekend in Brooklyn promoting his new release "Too Bad at VP Records Brooklyn location. People came out in support of the new release and to see Gargamel himself, his new single "Driver A" is currently burning up the airwaves on Brooklyn radio stations and no doubt the single has become an anthem on the lips of the public both locally and internationally.

Donovan Williams distribution rep for VP Records had this to say about the successful 'Too Bad' album signing. "Buju stayed for more than 4 hours, signing every single autograph requested, he was entertaining the crowd, while the dollar vans outside were blasting his hit single "Driver A," and everybody who came left with the CD," he told YardFlex.com.

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All offices of the United States Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, with the exception of USAID and Peace Corps, will be moving the week of December 11-15, from their current locations at 2 and 16 Oxford Road, to the new U.S. Embassy building at 142 Old Hope Road in Liguanea. The Embassy plans to re-open for normal operations Monday, Dec. 18, with the important changes below.

Consular Services Notice
During the week of December 11, the American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) will only be open for routine services on Wednesday and Thursday, December 13 and 14 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. ACS will remain available for emergency services throughout the move. American citizens requiring emergency assistance during this period should contact the Embassy at (876) 935-6000. ACS will reopen permanently on Monday, December 18 with new public hours from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., Monday to Friday. As always, all consular offices are closed to the public on U.S. and Jamaican holidays.

Important Visa Processing Changes

As a result of the move, effective December 8, 2006, no walk-in visa services of any kind will be provided. All persons seeking visa services, including non immigrant visa renewals and immigrant visa information, must have an appointment, without exception.

All visa services will be temporarily suspended beginning at noon on Friday, December 8. Limited visa services will resume on Wednesday, December 13. All available non immigrant visa appointments will be posted online and applicants should check the Embassy's website at kingston.usembassy.gov for available appointment times.

Persons requesting emergency non immigrant visa services should follow the guidance on the website and send a request to kingstonvisas@state.gov. Only a limited number of emergency appointments will be available from December 13 to December 15. We plan to reopen for normal visa services on the morning of Monday, December 18.

Information regarding pending immigrant visa cases will now be provided by appointment only. Persons requiring these services should check the Embassy's website for guidance and submit a request for an appointment to KingstonIVInfo@state.gov.

Access and Security Requirements for Visitors to the U.S. Embassy
All visitors to the Consular section, including all visa applicants and U.S. citizens, must enter the new facilities via a dedicated consular entrance on Old Hope Road. All visitors to the Embassy are required to undergo a security check. Electronic items, including cell phones, beepers, and pagers, are prohibited on the Embassy compound and should be secured elsewhere before entering the Embassy. The Embassy reserves the right to limit the entry of possessions, and does not have the means to store these items.

On WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29th from 8am - 9pm at BROOKLYN DAYLIGHT STUDIOS in Green Point Brooklyn, Richie Spice and members of the 5th Element crew shot the video for Brown Skin, the video was directed by No Frames LLC, who was recently acquired by Little X's production house FM Rocks. The video features a variety of beautiful Brown Skin ladies and captures the essence of the heartfelt loving message in the song. Brian Greenspoon, product manager at VP Records said "This video is a career changing video and features Richie Spice as you have never seen him before."

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In the year 2003, Judy Mowatt was led by God to stage her birthday celebration with the people of Bath, St. Thomas in the form of a health fair Christmas treat. In addition, to culminate with a grand gospel concert with the most current, anointed ministers in the industry.

The directive from God was specific, but not having a family member or friend from the area, sister Judy had to seek advice from key people in the community. She recalls her only link to the town of Bath,

"The hot spring situated above the Bath Fountain Hotel has medicinal and healing properties and it is also one of my cooling out spots."

Walking by faith and obedience to God, you're able to produce and fulfill the purpose.

This project is entitled, "JUDY MOWATT'S BIRTHDAY BASH."

This now annual event is an all day - early night celebration. This calendar year it will be staged at its "original" birth place, BATH PRIMARY and JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL on December 20th 2006.

The day activities begin with a Health Fair, preceded by an opening ceremony. The Jamaican Information Service (JIS) will be there to offer media coverage. Several generous doctors and nurses from various medical institutions and practices (private & public) will be on hand to render their services "FREE OF COST."

The St. Thomas medical team will offer FREE HIV TESTING and COUNSELLINGS. One of the main focus is combating the spread of this deadly disease in the parish.
The lions' Club, the Diabetic Association will offer blood pressure checks, eye screening etc. There will be a live chat room with a professional counselor for troubled teens. Activities will be provided for the little ones.

Grooming for the elderly by professional make-up artistes and manicurists will be available "FREE OF COST." Special talks of a healthy life-style will be had. Special entertainment and food for all.

A project of this magnitude would be impossible had it not been for the labour of love given by our faith partners and corporate entities. We are expecting to cater to five hundred (500) adults and six hundred (600) children. Help us put a genuine smile on the faces of our brothers and sisters of Bath this coming festive season.

Remember the "fortunate few" are responsible for the "unfortunate many."

We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the following;
Dr. Michael Pitter and his team,
Our Father Music Business (OFMB)
Digicel, Super Plus, Food For The Poor, Juicy Patties, Burkes Transport, D&G, T. Geddes Grant, Shanachie Records, Bob Marley Foundation,
Carib Promotions, YardFlex Jamaican Entertainment Magazine...

To those whose names were not mentioned, you are not forgotten and always in our prayers, thank you to all.

We have not yet met our target budget, if there is anyone who feels led to contribute, we ill be most appreciated for your support towards this worthy cause. May God continue to bless you all.

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INTRO

A GOT TO TELL DI YUTE DEM THESE DAYS WAR IS NOT DI ANSA
AMUNRA PTAH

CHORUS

COME FI TELL EVERYBODY SEH A LOVE AND UNITY ANNU LOVEAND UNITY UNNU BOUND AGO SORRY
DI ONE GO SO, FIRE, FIRE,FIRE, FIRE AFFI BUN
HIGHAH, HIGHAH.HIGHA, HIGHAH CAAN DUN

VERSE 1

WEN MI CHECK LIFE SUM LIKKLE DIBBI DIBBI WAANCOME TEK LIFE INNA BRAWLING DAYLIGHT.
SOME COME TUN COKE HEAD
SHANGO LIKE A BALL
A BEG YUH KID WEH DI POPE HEAD
INNA WI PROKEDS
TO MUCH BLOOD SHEDS
UNDER THE BUSH SHED
LOOK HOW DEM SICK WI
LOOK WAH DEM DUN TO POOR PEOPLE PICKNEY
POLITICIAN AND DEM FRIEND DEM WAAN TRICK WI

CHORUS

COME FI TELL EVERYBODY SEH A LOVE AND UNITY AND IF ANNU LOVE AND UNITY
UNNU BOUND AGO SORRY.
DI ONE GO SO FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, FIRE AFFI BUN
HIGHAH, HIGHAH, HIGHAH,HIGHAH CAAN DUN

VERSE 2

WI PUT DEM IN DI FERNESS LAVA DI FIRE MI COME FI BURN IT
SHANGO TEACH WE SO MI READY FI LEARN IT
SO WI A BURN IT
TIAD FI SEE THE FUNERAL
TIAD FISEE THE HURSE
TIAD FI SEE DI BODYDEM A GO UNDER EARTH
A WONDER WHY DI YUTE DEM NOW A DAYS SO BLOOD THIRST
AND PUT DI ALMIGHTY FIRST

FIRE, FIRE, FIRE,FIRE AFFI BUN
MI AGO SO HIGHAH,HIGHAH,HIGHAH,HIGHAH CAAN DUN

REPEAT VERSE ONE

REPEAT CHORUS

Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Intro:
I waan yuh carry this round di road fah mi
And don't tek nuh talk from nobody
Just do weh mi tell yuh fi do seen star
And mek sure everyting work according to how man seh everyting fi work seen
Tek back yuhself and bring back yuhself inna one peace
Mek sure seh yuh reach, hear mi
Lawd a mercy, hey, lawd a miss mercy, lawd a mercy

Chorus:
Driver, don't stop at all, drop this Arizona round a Albermarle
Driver, don't even hitch, collect dat likkle food deh yah and come back quick
Driver, just rememba di damn speed limit
Cau if yuh, run in di Feds my friend dat is it

Verse 1:
I got a nextel phone and cingular chip
Any problem yuh can reach mi pon this
A pounds dem a buy when a tons dem a ship
Green like grass brown like chocolate
Fed Ex or UPS a mek several trips
All mi life savings a ride pon this
Yuh can, drink a beer but don't yuh dare bun a spliff
Di scent a di marijuana mek yuh life uplift
Even though it compress and tie inna plastic
Don't deliver it a go end up drastic
A barrel gun mi buss and mi yuh know it caan stick
Mi waan change Mi waan change mi zinc and put up decromastic
Tired fi sip Red Bull a straight Hypnotic

Chorus:
So driver, don't stop at all, mi seh drop this Arizona round a Albermarle
Driver, mi seh don't even hitch, collect dat likkle food deh yah and come back quick
Driver, just rememba di damn speed limit
Cau if yuh, run in di Feds my friend dat is it

Verse 2:
A beef this man a run mi nuh inna it but nor because
My gal waan wear Victoria Secret draws
Some nuh love day so yuh fi put it pon pause
Billy a informa wid federal charge
Memba, don't carry nuh body a mi yard
Soldier mi love and mi nuh respect coward
I deh pon a mission man hustlin hard
No ghetto yute should ever suffer and starve
Hustlin ability we learn dat a yard
Nuh feel yuh brain big, nuh bodda draw card
Di last bwoy weh try dat dead like dog
Sell off!!! Weh yuh have a mek we set new record

Chorus:
Mi seh driver, don't stop at all, mi seh drop this Arizona round a Albermarle
Driver, mi seh don't even hitch, collect dat likkle penny and come back quick
Driver, just rememba di damn speed limit
Cau if yuh, run in di cops my friend dat is it

Outro:
Action packed why some bwoy a pure lip
Go deh Buju Banton cau yuh know yuh caan slip
Reach upon di bridge fi mek dem tun and dip
Watch it mek di rudebwoy show dem how we do it
When yuh a drive, mek sure yuh maintain speed limit, to.........

Sean Miller
Yardflex Writer

Quick, kids. Pop quiz. Who is Courtney John? Is he the same person as Yogi of 'I go Crazy' fame? Or is this another textbook case of 'identity theft'?

No, says Courtney 'Yogi' John, "we are the same persona."
But who can blame the public for being a little confused after seeing the reggae-pop singer in the snarky new video, 'Hey', where he changes his sound, looks way more dapper, gets up close and personal with Jovi, and in the stunning climax, where they both take a running jump into a pool. Yogi wouldn't have done any of that stuff.

The new persona appears to be generating a lot of buzz for this new incarnation of Yogi.

"Girls see me and ah call me all Junior Gong. But I am not Junior Gong, I am Courtney John, but I am happy that the young people are really into the Courtney John thing and because of the video and the song, I have a new set of fans," he said.

Interviewer: Who is Courtney John? And what are the streets saying about the new you?

"The street always love anything that ah gwaan. The Courtney John ting is a different vibe where I can integrate younger energies. He is the I-don't-give-a-f&&^ yute who don't care what people want to say while Yogi is the one who is worried about people, worried about balance, but CJ know say food haffi eat. One or two man will mek up dem face, or screw because dem ah say inna dem heart 'yu first me to that'. Mi just did want to step out of the pigeonhole and do other things, and look with a kind of peripheral vision at the world around me."

He explained the process behind the creation of the 'Hey' song.

"The song came about in an interesting way, we never plan to have a combination, we were just playing around, Jovi put a demo down, that introduction where she is making the moaning sound, that was the demo, and Vegas come and say, 'do a combination', and ah so it happen...we have some other moaning whe' the public no hear, that will be on the DVD Uncut version," he quipped.

Asked what he thought about people who felt about this new persona, he responded:

"It is selling out, selling secords, things haffi sell out. But I am not going to sell my soul...there's no space for soul in the business unless it's soul music...you have to separate self from business. People were saying 'mind the bobo dem bun yu up', but the Bobo dem no pay my mortgage. Mi just know mi nah dehumanize women, or over-sexualise women...I am going to push the envelope and be comfortable just being a creative person."

ABOUT THE VIDEO

The video, with its offbeat sense of humour and stylish shots of limos and private jets, has set tongues wagging from here to Negril.

"The video was my concept, we wanted to go out of the box a little. So when we got the first reactions from people who say it wicked after it was released on radio, I called Jovi, and we planned it. I told her limo driver, private jet, the works, and she began laughing and say me smoke some bad weed; she even call Dessa and say 'something wrong with Courtney'. And then she got into the idea, and said she was going to create her own alter ego, Veronica, and go for a Jackie O look, and source a dress.If you notice, the video end on a 'to be continued...." We don't know yet where we go after, maybe Jovi pregnant...I am not at liberty to discuss that, maybe she strip down, and dry off under one towel."

Interviewer: What about rumours that you and Jovi are "involved"?

His eyebrows shoot up mischievously at this statement, and he blurts out: "Yes, we de....musically."

Courtney John's phones have been ringing off the hook for shows both her and in the Caribbean and as a consequence of that, he has had to take off his producing hat for a while.

"If the price is right, I will do it. But I want to do something with Tanya Stephens, call me, I want to do something. Tanya showed all of us that we can come and just be artistes, and not care what people think. Tesanne sings good songs, I like Etana as well, and people in the business into them ting fi real"

Courtney John's album, 'Unselfish' is due out next year and a follow-up single, 'Sometimes', written by accomplished songwriter Jovi, is creating waves on commercial radio overseas.

Step aside Yogi. Courtney John is here to stay.

Did Busy Try to Stab Idonia? - "How him ah move so? Him tek this more than lyrical" - Member of J.O.P

The question on everyone's lips over the weekend is: did Busy Signal really try to stab Idonia while both artistes were onstage at Mavado's Birthday Bash?

During the reported onstage melee at the show, there was clear evidence of shoving and pushing between the artiste Busy Signal and Idonia's entourage, but no one knew the real reason behind the ruckus. Sources close to the J.O.P camp say that the fist-flinging fracas started when deejay Busy Signal moved towards Idonia with an "open ratchet", and they were forced to prevent him from approaching the deejay in such a menacing manner.

The incident happened at 'Gangsta 4 Life', Mavado's Birthday Bash over the weekend.

"We were just protecting the deejay, that's all, we figure say him mean Idonia harm because him start push hard through Idonia's entourage with him open ratchet and we couldn't allow him fi just step to the deejay like that...we never know him intentions and ah so the pushing start," the source told YardFlex.com.

"How him ah move so as an artiste? Like him de pon coke or something? Him ah open and close him ratchet pon stage like him jumpy or something the whole time Idonia de pon stage."

The source explained that Idonia was called onstage by a stage manager. When Idonia got onstage, Mavado passed the microphone to him and he deejayed 'Bushkash'. Then Bounty Killer walked on and started to talk, and Idonia and the other artistes stepped back.

"Then Busy back out him ratchet, go to the front of the stage and then lock it back, then him circle. At that time, Idonia have one of the microphones and then we see Busy ah push towards him and we see the knife and we react to that," the source said.

A member of Idonia's entourage also got into a tussle with a well-known member of Mavado's entourage.

"Idonia and Busy is not...friend, and is like Busy tek this more than lyrical, this gone way past lyrics now," the source said.

The source also denied that the recent dust-up had affected the relationship between Idonia and Bounty Killer.

"We and Killa no have nothing, Idonia and Bounty stand up and ah talk the whole night, we good," the source said.

Nas's baby mother, Carmen Bryan has dished the dirt on the rap star in a tell-all book chronicling her exploits with the Queensbridge rapper and Jay-Z among others.

Carmen claims that it was her affair with Jay-Z whilst she was still with Nas that instigated their infamous feud in 2001. In the revealing book, Its No Secret, the former Def Jam and Capitol Records employee goes onto talk about her different experiences with numerous other celebrities including basketball player Allen Iverson and P. Diddy.

She also claims that Nas repeatedly abused her, cheated on her and once invited her to have a threesome with Kelis before they got married. During their tumultuous relationship, she claimed to have once "pulled out my pepper spray from my back pocket and sprayed Nas down like he was some rabid pit bull," when she first found out about his infidelity.

Proving that hell hath no fury like a baby mother scorned the book goes onto claim that Kelis doesn't wear deodorant and that Nas once turned down a date with Beyonce because, he said, "to be honest, I can't take her breath."

Words by Emmanuel Boywonder Ezugwu
Source: rwdmag.com

Los Angeles, CA- November, 2006 – Teen R&B sensations 2 Much are preparing to hit the road on the BET Scream Tour, where they will join Omarion to perform "Fire." The group is the newest addition to the Music World Music family, which includes J Xavier, Solange Knowles, Sunshine Anderson, Mic Little and others. Currently in the studio recording their debut album We 2 Much with super-producer Sean Garrett, the group is experiencing the success of their first single "Fire," written and produced by Chris Stokes and David Awogboro, which is already burning up MTV Hits, MTV Jams and BET. We 2 Much is set to drop in the spring of 2007.

"We are thrilled to welcome 2 Much into the Music World Music family," said Music World Entertainment CEO Mathew Knowles who manages the group with Max Gousse and Chris and Monyee Stokes. "They have supreme talent, charm and determination - all the makings of a super star act."

The dynamic foursome - Chris Cheeks, Myles Cleveland, Milo Stokes and Marcel Wildy - has been working together for years fusing such musical influences as the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye and Jay Z, plus classic soul. The group is also slated to embark on the MX2 national teen tour with fellow Music World Music star J. Xavier and Def Jam Recording artist Mic Little in the spring of 2007.

2 Much is currently working with the highly successful singer Omarion, who signed them to his O Records. This will be the label's first release through a joint venture between T.U.G. (The Ultimate Group) and Music World Music. Omarion says I know this might be a big cliche, but they're like B2K, a different version—a better version!"

Famed producer and manager, Chris Stokes, the guiding force behind multi-platinum music acts B2K and Immature/ IMX is responsible for bringing 2 Much to the forefront of music. Stokes is currently CEO of the successful music and entertainment group, TUG that is home to such artists as Omarion, Marques Houston, Mila J, as well as many more upcoming acts.

Chris Stokes declares, "2 Much are all about Hip-hop and vocals. They're like the new Jackson Five. I see something special that I've never seen in a young boys' group before."

By: Claude Mills
Photos by: Carlington Wilmot

A fist fight broke out onstage during Mavado's Birthday Splash at Arizon Inn, Portmore this morning as members of Idonia and Kartel's entourage threw punches at other members of the Alliance.

Eyewitness reports say that the internal friction within The Alliance triggered a situation where the entertainers were at 'daggers drawn' and punches were thrown, while several patrons, their hearts pounding, ran helter-skelter all over the confines of the Arizon Inn, abruptly ending the event.

But for all the confusion, one thing was clear at 6:40 a.m. on December 3, 2006: deejay Vybz Kartel's association with the Alliance is all but over. All that is left are the ugly details.

The melee was caused when Idonia and his entourage went onstage, and things got tense. One member of Mavado's entourage got into a scuffle with Idonia's entourage, and knives were reportedly drawn. The small crowd, not more than 500 people at best, began to get antsy as the fracas continued onstage.

"Is like a movie, mi coulden believe say ah the Alliance that, the man dem inna the same crew, and ah just pure knife draw, man ah throw punch, and pure vibes, mi see one rass and ah next man ah get into it. Bwoy, the way mi scared, mi nearly dead, first of all, the production wasn't well put together. About 6:25 a.m, they were onstage, setting up a screen, dem not even finish that when all of a sudden, dem call on Munga, then Ras Myrdhak come and blaze a fire, Capleton do a few songs, and after that, they called on Mavado, the birthday boy," one female patron explained to YardFlex.com.

"Busy joined him onstage and they did 'Full Clip' and then Mavado did 'Gangsta For Life', then Idonia went up and did one song, 'Bookam Bookam', and then the man dem start fight onstage. While the fighting ah gwaan, Busy went offstage, and give Bounty the mike, and him do 'Bulletproof Vest', and come onstage but the fighting still ah gwaan, like dem no respect the Killer," she said. "Even Mendez ah try keep the peace and nobody nah pay him no mind."

"Then things just get confusing, mi hear 'No Bling Dawg no' like someone ah say Bling Dawg nuffi get involved, and den Vybz Kartel rounda the gate like him ah come inna the venue, and fi him boys dem ah hold on pon him. Then mi hear Mavado say 'go fi the ting, weh the ting de', and that's when people start run, all Nuffy ah run....then Bounty say 'no no no, keep the peace'. And Mavado say 'look how this man come mash up di ting, mi ah bad man', and Bounty shut him up by saying 'Mi no waan no man say nothing, me alone fi talk pon this' and Mavado shut up. Then Bounty continue: 'me say man fi dead, me say gun no stick, wah do some bwoy? Dem wi dead, dem wi ded, dem wided!" and then him drop the mike and left the stage and everybody lef after him," she told YardFlex.com

Two weeks ago, the XNews announced 'Split in the Alliance!" and on Friday, the Weekend Star followed up that mushrooming conflict when it reiterated on its front page that 'Kartel, not Bounty's boy' and then the final denouement -- this morning's altercation, fist-throwing and promises of deadly violence.

"After the artistes dem leave, people scared to go outside, because dem think gun outside, and to what Mavado had been saying, everybody scared...when mi leave, people ah race inna dem car towards the toll booth, it was unreal...mi no know what dancehall ah come to, but this friction nah done fi now," she said.

The question on everyone's lips given the controversy swirling around the Alliance is: 'If Kartel is no longer a member of the Alliance, why did he come to the event this morning?'.

"Yo, the bwoy dem violate star...mi go deh and lef and den mi come back because mi no fraida nobody...but ah dem violate star," Kartel said this morning when contacted.

Vybz Kartel said other things which, while useful, cannot be printed in this account.

It is clear that as one dancehall critic put it, "Kartel is a god among insects" in the dancehall industry because of his unique style that merges shrewd thuggishness with razor-sharp wit and brilliant wordplay. He has recanted on his promise to renege on his deal with Greensleeves, and has been working with whiz kid Stephen McGregor on a number of tracks including 'Imagine', a five minute magnus opus of a song that discusses world affairs, history and politics, and which will appear on his upcoming album, 'Vybz Kartel Presents Addi the Techa'. Kartel dominated the dancehall last year, earning the 'Deejay of the Year' accolade as he scored numerous chart-topping hit singles such as 'I Neva' and 'Emergency'. He has scored other hits such as 'Breast Specialist', 'Tek Him', Why You Doing It', 'New Millennium' and 'Picture You and Me'. His hit-making has continued with 'Better Living' and 'Tick Tock' this year. In the meantime, Idonia has emerged as Vybz Kartel's protege during the past year, and under Kartel's guidance, joined The Alliance, even though he had had issues with Busy Signal for a number of years. Now, it appears that the negative vibes between Busy-Idonia, Kartel-Busy-Mavado and now Kartel-Killer has translated into a multi-dimensional conflict that could irrevocably split the Alliance forever.

It appears that a seismic shift in reggae dancehall is unfolding before our eyes, and that there is a new chapter emerging in dancehall. How it will end is anybody's guess.

YardFlex Photo Editor Carlington Wilmot was there to capture the moment of the group's awesome performance at the National Indoor Sports Centre, held on Saturday December 2, 2006.

When Donald Fyffe a.k.a Erasto got fired from one of his chef jobs a few years ago, he did not hang his head in despair. No, that would not fit the fighting spirit of this young warrior, he pressed on with his life, until eventually finding the path towards music, his first true love.

"My baby mother Roxanne has been very supportive, she strengthen me, and encourage me to get into the music business if I loved it so much," he said.

Born on the 7th day of February 1976, in the parish of St. Mary Janaica W.I at the Annotto Bay Hospital, this young man was re-christened Erasto by a female admirer who thought it best represented his personality. The word, African in origin, means "Man of Peace".

"I'm a peaceful and humble person. Music has always been a major influence on me from my younger years in school listening to artistes such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Dennis Brown. As of late, Sizzla and Richie Spice have also lent me their musical influences".

"During the many times that I listened to these artistes, I've had a keen interest in becoming a musician myself." says the self-effacing singer. "I started to attend Donovan Coal's music class to develop my musical skills. That is where I met my mentor and friend, Ras Handsome. Ras Handsome had his own record label, Donsome Records, Ltd. He encouraged me to start my own record label as well." Erasto's first recording was done at Black Scorpio Recording Studio on the "Life Journey" riddim under BoBo Productions/Donsome Records. That song was entitled "Future of Tomorrow".

"My main inspiration is to make music that the whole world can rock to; music is my biggest love, and I know that rastafari is the way because my main inspiration was always Bob Marley. I couldn't rass when I was younger because of my parents, and because I realize I had to uplift myself before I say it owing to the pressure on rasta and all that. But ah rastafari mi a say now," he said.

Artistes such as Jado, Jah Mason and Ras Handsome feat. Dr. Marshall is also featured on the riddim. There is also a medley video (Life Journey Medley) which includes all of these artistes. The Life Journey Medley video is presently enjoying rotation on television channels such as CVM-TV, RE-TV, Plush TV and others.

"One of my greatest experiences was on my second project at Tuff Gong Recording Studio. Why? It was a great pleasure to work with such legends as Dean Fraser and Sly Dunbar where they created a live riddim around my song." Erasto states.

The rhythm is named "Hard Rock" and song is entitled "Tek away". "Tek Away" was produced by Ras Handsome.

Recent accomplishments for Erasto have included several radio station interviews, including the world-renowned Baby Ace Radio station with DJ SKS. In October 2006, Erasto has also achieved the coveted status of "Artist of the Week" on Jamaica's Zip 103FM.

Big things are destined for Erasto in 2007, who is now working his own record label, "D-Rock Productions" under "Donsome Records Ltd".

"Ah just honour and respect me ah experience from the people, I feel good because now mi a live up for something. It can only get better, we intend to grow," he said.

You can check out Erasto, up close and personal at MySpace.com/Erasto3.

Busy Signal (nee Reanno Gordon) is one of dancehall's brightest new stars; his song Step Out has propelled him to international stardom almost overnight. But Busy is no one hit wonder; his debut album, Step Out (Greensleeves), has garnered much acclaim from dancehall critics, and his smooth-banter style of dancehall seems to be favored by the masses as well. Vibe.com reached out to (a very busy) Busy in Jamaica and, amongst other things, got his thoughts on his newfound fame.

VIBE.com: Your song Step Out is a bona fide hit here in the United States. Can you tell me how that song came together?
Busy Signal: They actually brought the riddim to me on a computer! From there, we were just vibing [with the riddim]; it was just the right vibe.

Describe your sound. What separates you from other DJs?
Busy Signal: Really, for me, it's all about [my] flow and my creativity. I'm way different than most other artists. We're all artists on a day-to-day basis, but I try to flow different and create something that stands out and sounds different from everybody. That's the thing with my work.

Source: Vibe

Fans of the annual Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival are in for a major treat from the Grammy line-up of international acts set to take the stage over the three days of the Rose Hall festival, Jan. 25-27, 2007.

Musical icons Kenny Rogers, Michael Bolton and Christopher Cross are among the Grammy-winning acts set to rock the 10th Annual Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival: 'The Art of Music,' at the Aqueduct on Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers has a career that's spanned six decades, more than 70 hit singles and three Grammys. His new album and title single, 'I Can't Unlove You,' continues to heat up the Country Music Charts, while old time favorites likes 'Lady,' and 'Lucille,' continues to thrill fans. January will mark his second time performing at the festival, where he’s a major hit with Jamaican fans.

Bolton, born Michael Bolotin found his biggest success in the mid-eighties and early nineties as a solo vocalist, selling 53 million albums and two Grammys.

Cross, born Christopher Geppert, is perhaps best known for composing the theme for the film 'Arthur,' titled ‘Best That You Can Do.' The song won an Oscar in 1981 but it was his self-titled debut album, 'Christopher Cross,' that won him five Grammys in 1979.
Other performances on the bill to date include Roy Ayers, Chuck Mangione, Pieces of a Dream and ABBA The Tribute, Robert Cray, NEYO, Monty Alexander, the 'new' Stylistics, NEWA (featuring Arturo Tappin), and Anthony Hamilton.

Meanwhile, all U.S. fans are urged by Jazz Fest officials to secure their U.S. passport or certify that the passport of their foreign country is valid before traveling to the festival next year.

The call comes as the countdown to the US' Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or 'passport rule,' begins ahead of the extended January 23, 2007 deadline, which will require all air travelers to present a passport to re-enter the United States.

U.S. passports may be obtained through the U.S. Postal Service while Caribbean and other greencard holder can obtain passports from their local consulates. U.S. passport fee are US$67 plus an execution fee of $30 and a photo fee of $15 Fees for children under age 16 are $52 plus the additional photo and execution fees.

Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is a Turn Key Production and has been running continuously for the past ten years. It began in October 1996 on the lawns of the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, with some 3,000 persons but now caters to some 40,000 music fans. International acts that have been featured over the past decade include John Legend, Bo Diddley, George Benson, Air Supply, Patti Labelle, Al Jarreau, Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Mary J Blige, James Ingram and Nancy Wilson. This year it moves to a new venue - the Aqueduct - on the beach side of the Rose Hall main road, near the Wyndham Rose Hall resort.

Sponsors include Air Jamaica, The Jamaica Tourist Board and American Express.

By: Jigga Mattic
Photo by: Carlington Wilmot

Word is that Buju Banton's vocals were removed from the 'Traffic Jam' hit with Stephen and 'Junior Gong' Marley. The video was shot in Florida earlier this week, but Buju was not in attendance at the shoot. Instead, Spragga Benz 'pinch-hit' in Buju's role. Curious as ever, YardFlex.com made an enquiry of Tracii McGregor of Gargamel Music who sent us an email saying that "...in a nutshell, we simply failed to find common ground with the Marleys on the contract they sent over. Their deadline to turn in the album was looming so I imagine they chose to remove Buju's parts from the song to protect themselves legally."

"We feel no way. It's the business of music," the email concluded.

Anyway, Buju well alright because Driva gone. It mad ah foreign and yard.

RETURN OF YOLANDE

Yolande Rattray Wright is back, and The Wright Agency is putting the heat behind 'Stars in Action' which will be held at Kirkvine Sports Club in Williamsfield, Manchester on December 16, 2006. The show will feature acts such as Beenie Man, Capleton, Bounty Killer, Ninja Man, Mavado, Ken Boothe, Coco Tea, Yellowman, Busy Signal, I-Wayne and a host of others. Music will be provided by Black Kat, and the artistes will be backed by Step by Step, Prophecy and Ruff Kut. The emcees are Richie B, Elise Kelly and Sugar Wayne.

Big up Yolande, welcome back to the game.

MESSAGE BOARD

What's the deal with Beenie Man's album sales? There has been a lot of debate about the sales of Beenie Man's album especially since last week when we reported on the website that Beenie Man claimed his album had sold over 300,000 copies. Well, our checks reveal that he may have shipped that amount, but to date, according to the Nielson Soundscan figures reported by the Billboard Reggae charts, he has sold 52,507 copies of 'Undisputed'

Sean Paul leads the pack of reggae artistes on the Billboard chart with impressive sales of 1,228,148 of his 'Trinity' set while Damian Marley has sold 596,946 copies of 'Welcome to Jamrock'. Matisyahu's 'Youth' album has sold 497,256 copies and his 'Live at Stubbs, Austin, Texas' set has sold a muscular 616,623. Dancehall act Baby Cham has sold 46,914 OF 'Ghetto Story' while Buju Banton has sold 10,081 copies of 'Too Bad'. Bounty Killer's 'Nah No Mercy - Warlord Scrolls' sold 862 copies after three weeks of release.

After 13 weeks, Beenie Man's 50,000 plus sales mark has not set the world on fire. His previous albums fared much better. 2002's "Tropical Storm," which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart and No. 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally, spawned the hit "Feel It Boy" featuring Janet Jackson, and moved 272,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. 'Art And Life', widely considered a commercial disappointment for executives at Virgin Records, did not move mega units even after Beenie Man teamed up with then-pop sensation Mya (on Girls Dem Sugar) and Wyclef Jean (on Love Me Now). It sold 386,000 copies in the United States, again according to sales tracker SoundScan.

Remember that Beenie Man broke through in the US market in 1998 with the 'Many Moods Of Moses' set for VP Records which contained the hit dance song, Who Am I, which had a strong run on the Billboard Rap chart and leading urban radio stations like Hot 97 in New York City. That album and song actually gave Virgin administrators the impetus to sign him in 2000.

MESSAGE BOARD

Challenges in securing a proper venue has forced organizers to move the 'Appleton Welcome to Jamrock' show from Cinema II to the Constant Spring Football Field for this year's event on Friday, December 22.
The show will feature the talents of TOK, Tanya Stephens, Luciano, Tessane Chin, Stephen Marley, Sean Paul and Damian Marley. Stone Love Movements will provide music.

The organizers have designated parking in an open lot located below the Constant Spring Football Field. Permission has also been granted to use the post office's grounds and negotiations are under way to use the tax office's facilities. The show begins at 9:00 p.m. sharp and is slated to end exactly at 2:00 a.m. The show will be produced by the team of Rupert Bent and former Ms. World, Cindy Breakespeare.

Zachary Harding of the Wisynco Group, and David Walton, brand manager of Appleton Jamaica Rum were present at the launch which was held at the Hilton New Kingston hotel.

Championing the genre, 'progressive reggae', the band Gullibanque stepped into the breach this week in a bid to push reggae to new frontiers worldwide. The launch of their new CD, held in the bowels of the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston was attended by small group of media, friends, fellow musicians and other well-wishers. The group, formed by Paul Campbell, in 1988 has displayed its artistry and bugled its message-driven brand of reggae all across Jamaica for several years winning an IRAWMA award for Best Band, Best Female Vocalist and Best Bass Player.

Recent additions Nigel Shaw and Orlando Johnson, along with Courtland White, have earned their chops playing with the biggest names in reggae such as Black Uhuru, the Abyssinians, Ini Kamoze and Junior Kelly, just to name a few.

The lead vocalist is the full-figured, syrupy-voiced Merle Gayle, while Christopher Nicholson plays bass guitar, Richard Nicholson plays drums, Courtland White plays rhythm guitar, while Nigel Shaw and Orlando Johnson handle keyboards.
During the launch, the music video, 'We Are' was shown. Paul Campbell introduced the band, and Raymond Roxbugh was the guest speaker.