News

(AP) Cedric Brooks, a Jamaican saxophone player and influential roots reggae musician, has died. He was 70. One of Brooks' sisters, Paulette Keise, said he died Friday of cardiac arrest at New York Hospital Queens. She said Saturday that he suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes and fell ill several years ago, losing his ability to speak. Brooks began his music career in the late 1960s as a studio musician, playing in songs such as Burning Spear's "Door Peep." He also had hits with trumpet player David Madden including "Money Maker" and "Mystic Mood." Brooks also was a member of the Jamaican ska band The Skatalites. He is survived by seven children and four sisters.

Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill has been sentenced to three months in prison for failing to pay about $1 million in taxes. Hill pleaded guilty last year to three counts of failing to file tax returns on more than $1.8 million between 2005 and 2007. Before the sentencing, her attorney had said Hill had paid more than $970,000 to satisfy the state and federal tax liabilities. Hill had faced a maximum sentence of one year each on three counts. Her attorney had sought probation. Hill must also pay penalties and taxes still owed, a $60,000 fine, serve a year on probation and possibly three months of home confinement. She's to report to prison July 8. It's not clear where she'll serve her sentence.

New York Hot 97 DJ and producer Calvin "Mr. Cee" LeBrun was arrested last night in a prostitution sting. The 46-year-old Hot 97 employee was taken into custody in Brooklyn after trying to solicit an undercover police officer who was posing as a male prostitute. This is the DJ’s third time being arrested on prostitution related charges in the last three years. Mr Cee was busted on loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution on October 8, 2010 in Lower Manhatten. He pled guilty to those charges a month later. He was arrested in March 2011 after police observed him getting oral sex from a male prostitute in a parked car. Mr. Cee pled guilty to a charge of loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense in June...

The older brother of Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was held up, beaten and stabbed at his business early Thursday morning, May 2 2013. Vincent Simpson, who is 71 years old, is the managing director of Simpson's Dollar Saver clothing and dry goods store in the heart of volatile downtown Kingston. He was attacked shortly after he showed up to open the store around 4 a.m. Police stated that the robbers took about J$30,000 (US$310), a television set, a pistol and other items from Simpson. Vincent Simpson was taken to the hospital and is expected to be ok. No suspects have been identified by the police.

Chris Kelly, one-half of the 1990s rap duo Kris Kross, died Wednesday of an apparent drug overdose. . He was 34. Police was called to Kelly's home at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was transported to the south campus of the Atlanta Medical Center. "It appears it may have been a possible drug overdose," said Cpl. Kay Lester, a spokeswoman for the Fulton County police. Their first, and by far most successful song, was "Jump." The hit, off their multi platinum 1992 debut album "Totally Krossed Out," featured the two trading versus and rapping the refrain, the song's title. The duo had surprising maturity in their rap delivery, though the song was written by Jermaine Dupri. It would become a No. 1 smash in the United States and...

NBA legend Michael Jordan tied the knot with Yvette Prieto in a star-studded, extravagant wedding ceremony in Palm Beach, Fla. on Saturday, Apr. 27, 2013. Jordan, 50, and the Cuban-American model Yvette, 34, got married at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea and then headed to a lavish reception, coordinated by star wedding planner Sharon Sacks, in a large tent at Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida. It's Reported that the couple's wedding cost an estimated $10 million. Wow

Intuit Concepts in association with Ocean Spray Flavour Splash, has partnered to give away two Black Entertainment Television (BET ) Experience tickets to two lucky Jamaicans. Flavour Splash will also ensure that the BET Experience winner and their guest get the full celebrity treatment. The lucky winner will be pampered with limo transfer to and from their house to the airport in Jamaica, airline tickets, a weekend chaperone, US$1,000 spending money, and a four-night stay at the JW Marriott. The BET Experience, will feature several concerts, 106 & Park Live, BET Fan Fest, Film Screenings, BET Revealed Seminars, BET Grammy Museum exhibit, and various social and celebrity events. The weekend highlights include The 'Sold Out' Beyoncé...

A New York family court judge issued a warrant for the immediate arrest of Mr. Vegas baby mother, Shellian McBayne. The Family Court of New York, Bronx County issued the warrant following Shellian’s non-appearance in court on April 23, 2013. It is said that Mr. Vegas hasn’t seen his young daughter in eight months.

Please have a little patience with the ReggaeMe family as we are in the process of completing a major upgrade and changing of site platform. The site should be back to normal within a week or two. Thanks Mark

The House of Representatives in Jamaica has passed a bill calling for tougher prosecution of those involved in multimillion-dollar lottery scams that mostly have targeted elderly Americans. The governor general of Jamaica is expected to sign the bill, which the Senate also passed on March 21, 2013. The bill targets advanced fee fraud, identity theft, the use of technology for illegally accessing financial accounts and makes the possession of paraphernalia involved in scamming an offense. The bill also prohibits making threats and coercing victims over the phone. Those found guilty could face up to 20 years in prison.

Beyonce kicks off a massive global tour last night that covers twenty cities in Europe and twenty in North America. The North American leg will commence on June 28th in Los Angeles. We’re talking about the ‘The Mrs. Carter Show’ World Tour. Here’s the complete program - EUROPE April 15 – Belgrade, Serbi – Kombank Arena April 17 – Zagreb, Croatia – Arena Zagreb April 19 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Slovnaft Arena April 22 – Amsterdam, Holland – Ziggo Dome April 24 – Paris, France – Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy April 25 – Paris, France – Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy April 26 – Birmingham, UK – LG Arena April 29 – London, UK – The O2 April 30 – London, UK – The O2 May 1 – London, UK – The O2 May 3 – London, UK – The...

International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Jamaica representative Gene Leon said on Sunday, Over-consumption is the main reason that's leading Jamaican government current economic woes. Addressing a forum on promoting Jamaica's small- and medium-sized business, Gene Leon said the country has been consuming far more than it has been able to earn, which leads to the dire unbalance of its Balance of Payment to IMF. Jamaica used $6.5 billion to import goods, while only earning 1.7 billion from exports in 2012, according to figures released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica. He underscored the need for all of the Jamaica's stakeholders to collectively address the issue in order to improve the country's economy strangled by debts...

(AP) The International Monetary Fund says debt-swamped Jamaica could receive up to $958 million in a four-year package. The IMF says it will recommend this new program to its executive board, which should consider approving it at a meeting later this month. In a Monday statement, the IMF says Jamaica has successfully met mandated prior actions. It says the success of a new deal depends on strengthening public finances, approving a set of reforms, and debt sustainability. Overall, Jamaica's debt is over 140 percent of gross domestic product. Roughly 55 percent of government spending goes to paying it. In February, Jamaica launched a debt-swap program to satisfy conditions to forge a new pact with the IMF and halt what the prime...

By: Shannon Shields The Honorable and Amply Honored Bounty Killer live, up close and personal backed by the Legendary Ruff Kutt Band all at the soon to be legendary Usian Bolt's Tracks and Records Sport Bar. Wow. Sounds awesome? Well, it was and it all took place last night Tuesday the 2nd of April as all the Solid Agency family were all out to support their stablemate Bounty Killer. Bounty Killer's fans were also all out in their numbers to support one of the longest running top entertainers in Jamaica. The hostess with the most assets Stacious did a wonderful job as did Mr. Shaggy himself who gave Killer's fans small taste of what people can expect from Shaggy this Friday when he and Machel Montano perform for all the soca...

Standard & Poor's removed Jamaica from "default" status on its debt Wednesday after the country completed a new debt restructuring, while Moody's downgraded the country, saying its fiscal challenges remained deep. S&P put Jamaica's sovereign rating at a low CCC+, still "junk" level but no longer "selective default," the grade assigned after the government announced in February it would launch a crucial domestic debt swap. Prior to rating the country in default, S&P had given Jamaica a higher B- grade. Moody's placed Jamaica on review when the debt swap was announced. In the aftermath, on Wednesday it cut Jamaica's rating to Caa3 from B3, calling its debt burden "among the highest of all rated sovereigns."

Digital music subscription services have brought us the ability to stream millions of songs on our smartphones, but generally the good ones cost of at least $9.99 a month. A new alternative lets you do the same, without paying any cash. No monies needed for Music Tube, an app available for iOS devices, which lets you listen to and watch music videos from YouTube's huge swath of content. The app also works on the iPad. Search by genre, create playlists and see what songs make the top lists in various countries. Songs can even be cached on your device for quicker access the next go around.

Jimmy Cliff has won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for the album Rebirth. He beat four other nominees in the category to win his second Grammy. The Grammy award took place February 10th in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. He went up against The Original Wailers (Miracle); Sean Paul (Tomahawk Technique); Sly & Robbie & The Jam Masters (New Legend — Jamaica 50th Edition) and Toots and the Maytals (Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged on Strawberry Hill). Jimmy Cliff has been nominated for a Best Reggae Album Grammy six times. His other nominations were Reggae Nights (1985), Club Paradise (1987), Hanging Fire (1989), Breakout (1993), and Black Magic (2005).

On March 1, 2013, USCIS will permanently close its field office in Kingston, Jamaica and the USCIS Field Office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic will assume Kingston’s former jurisdiction. The Kingston Field Office had jurisdiction over Jamaica, Anguilla, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Guantanamo Bay Naval Station. After March 1, 2013, individuals requiring information on USCIS services in Jamaica, Anguilla, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Guantanamo Bay Naval Station may contact the USCIS Santo Domingo Field Office. USCIS Santo Domingo, Dominican...

Dancehall's duo RDX are the latest to withstand accusation of plagiarism or 'stealing' of musical material. They are being accused by Syndicate Records and their recording artiste Princz Charmin who claim thet RDX stole the concept of their single 'Kotch It Deh Soh'. According to the label, RDX heard the preview of their song and copied both the instrumental and concept without their consent, with Princz Charmin claiming that RDX's single even has a similar name to his. RDX team responded with <object width="400" height="150"><param name="movie"...

The nominees for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards have been handed down, and this years Grammy nominees for best reggae album are; Sean Paul - Tomahawk Technique Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth Toots And The Maytals - Reggae Got Soul: Unplugged On Strawberry Hill Sly & Robbie & The Jam Masters - New Legend - Jamaica 50th Edition The Original Wailers - Miracle The 55rd Annual Grammy Awards will take place in Los Angeles at Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, and will air live on the CBS Television Network from 8–11:30 p.m.