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On January 19, 2010 with Greensleeves Records, reggae’s reigning King Sizzla Kalonji’s new album Crucial Times will be available. Sizzla reconnects with the great producer Homer Harris. Harris is credited with discovering and naming Sizzla. Crucial Times features the signature vocals that Sizzla is known for along with a variety of rhythms. This 13 track album brings the legendary singjay back to his essence – chanting truths, expressions of love and praises to Jah over Homer Harris produced rhythms. On his first single “Precious Gift”, Sizzla delivers positive messages from his Rastafarian beliefs; giving thanks to Jah for the life he is blessed with. On the track “Crucial Time” he reaches out to the downtrodden with the directive...

Associated Press: MIAMI (AP) -- Federal authorities say Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton attempted to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Florida. Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in U.S. federal custody in Miami since Thursday. He faces a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, Banton and two others contacted a police informant last week about buying cocaine in Sarasota. Drug Enforcement Administration agents say Banton negotiated the purchase and was observed inspecting cocaine offered by the undercover officer. The other men were arrested Thursday when they allegedly attempted to buy the drugs.

Born in the Land of sunny skies and birth place of the man who introduced Reggae to the world (Bob Marley), Jason was destined to sing, his mother jokes around that his cries sounded like a melody, so she didn't mind his wailing. He spend his school years joining every talent contest, every choir and chance to make his voice heard. As a young man he joined a trio "Impaq" that made some waves as they performed at stage shows and even dabbled in radio to take advantage and promote themselves. Life being what is it, they parted ways but to this day all remain friends. As a solo artists Jason Lyrics spread his wing and his music was soon heard on radio stations from New York to Japan, and so began his new musical journey. Jason...

Buju Banton was arrested and is in a federal lockup in Miami, facing drug conspiracy charges. Drug Enforcement Administration agents say Buju Banton, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in custody since Thursday and will soon be transferred to Tampa, where the U.S. Attorney is charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine. Buju Banton has homes both in Jamaica and Tamarac. Recently he encounter a firestorm of protest against him after the Grammys announced that his album "Rasta Got Soul", released earlier this year, was up for an award. Click Here to check Federal Bureau of Prison

Blessed was born in the small parish of St. Thomas,Jamaica. From an early age he exhibited musical talent, first for family and friends, soon followed by appearances in school sponsored musical dramas and the church choir. By the time blessed immigrated to Canada at the age of twelve, he was already writing his own songs. Shortly after commencing high school, Blessed was introduced to the sound system culture, and did his first recordings in the form of dud plates and DJ specials. In 2002, he received critical acclaim for his break-out international urban hit LOVE (African Woman), which earned him a JUNO for Best Reggae Recording. This single, produced by Firehouse Crew charted in the number one position in many key reggae markets...

There were no major surprises when the much-anticipated 2009 Sting poster was unveiled. The unveiling of the poster also confirmed that Beenie Man will be a no-show at the event, set for December 26 at Jamworld, in Portmore, St Catherine. The deejay, in a recent television interview, made it clear he wouldn't attend the 26-year old event, should Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel engage in a lyrical battle. Dancehall act KipRich has also been confirmed to perform but will not take part in a potential clash with General B. There are 22 female artistes billed for Sting this year. Line up Include: Bounty Killer Vybz Kartel Merciless Mavado KipRich General B Assassin Aidonia Anthony B Flippa Mafia Twins of Twins Charlie...

NEW YORK (AP) -- They gave us the most memorable music moment of 2009, so it's only fitting that Kanye West and Taylor Swift have been named the king and queen of the charts. Billboard magazine named Swift the top female artiste, while West was declared top male artist. But Swift trumps West overall. She was the top artist of the year, with Beyonce coming in second and Lady Gaga third. Swift has a sophomore CD, Fearless, that has sold more than 4.5 million copies. West and Swift provided one of the most talked-about episodes of the year when West hijacked her MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech. Billboard runs its full list of the year's chart-toppers on Friday, as well as the decade's.

Delroy Wilson was one of Jamaica's most soulful vocalists, and over a 40-year career the singer unleashed a flood of hits and a multitude of masterpieces. Born on October 5, 1948, in the Kingston neighborhood of Trenchtown, Wilson's phenomenal talent would be his ticket out of the ghetto, and his discovery by producer Coxsone Dodd in 1962 would change the path of Jamaican music. His first recording for Dodd, "If I Had a Beautiful Baby" did little, but the producer stuck by his prodigy, and his follow-up "Spit in the Sky," was a sound system smash. That number was Dodd's personally composed smack at rival Prince Buster, while Lee Perry penned Wilson's "Joe Liges" as a sharp rebuke aimed at Buster's "Bad Minded People." "Joe Liges"...

Chuck Fenda has changed his stage name to the 'Living Fire'. Chuck Fenda: "We transcend from Chuck Fenda to the Living Fire. We bun crime and violence, injustice and rape. To weh mi stand for and di type a song dem weh mi do over the years, mi decide seh a di 'Living Fire' name haffi go forward fi 2010." The new name is also the title of the album he released in 2007. The Gash Dem-artiste said he has been contemplating the name change for a few months. "Way back since the album a put together, to the vibing weh mi get, wi just haffi approach it with a 'Living Fire'," Chuck Fenda said. He said the new name is one which people will get use to easily because the phrase has always been part of his songs. Source: Jamaica Star

Adijah "Vybz Kartel" Palmer and David "Mavado" Brooks met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding to formally announce the end of their rivalry and plan of action to move forward in a better direction. For about three years, the Kartel - Mavado dispute has resulted in violent clashes in several inner-city communities.Earlier this year, men armed with knives and machetes clashed over the Gaza-Gully affair on Mannings Hill Road in the Corporate Area, leaving at least two persons nursing wounds. The rivalry also moved into schools, with students declaring their allegiance to Gaza or Gully. Hopefully the peace between the artiste will calm the deadly fued within the schools. They also plan to have a joint Christmas treat for...

Kevin Lloyd "Squingy" Bennett will be having Four public viewing first will be today December 08, 2009 St. Micheal's Funneral Chapel, 36 Top Road, Brown Stone St. Ann between 9am - 4pm. The second viewing will be held at St. Dacre Community Centre on Wednesday December 09, 2009 from 12noon - 4pm. The body will return to St. Micheal's Funneral Chapel on Thurday December 10 and Friday December 11, 2009 for viewing between 11am - 4pm. Kevin Lloyd "Squingy" Bennett will be laid to rest on Saturday December 12, 2009 at the Steer Town New Testament Church Of God at 1pm. There will be a motorcade in his honor leaving from Squingy home in alexandria St. Ann to the Steer Town New Testament Church Of God Starting at 10am Saturday December...

Despite reports that Vybz Kartel has rejected rival deejay Mavado’s olive branch by turning down his birthday party invitation, Kartel maintains that he is willing to put aside differences with his Gully musical rival to call for an end to violence associated with the Gaza/Gully feud. Vybz Kartel And Mavado made Peace last night Dec. 6 2009 at West Kingston Jamboree, when Mavado called up his arch-rival Vybz Kartel for an onstage declaration of unity. Part 1 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.reggaeme.com/mediaplayer/player.swf" width="425" height="362"><param name="movie" value="http://www.reggaeme.com/mediaplayer/player.swf" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="FlashVars"...

Police brought Usain Bolt’s 9.58 SuperParty at Richmond Estate in the parish of St. Ann to an abrupt end early Sunday morning. International entertainers The Dream and Ludacris, along with Elephant Man, Etana, Ding Dong, Voicemail, Cherine Anderson, Shady Squad among others gave the thousands that turned out a lot to shout and dance about. Immediately after Tony Matterhorn ended his performance, Richie B, the MC, advised patrons that the Police, who had maintained a strong presence throughout, had ordered that the event should be brought to an immediate end. When Richie B announced that they were advised to close the show, the crowd started to shout Gaza!!!, Gaza!!!, Gaza!!! … while feature artiste Vybz Kartel was backstage...

Dancehall icon Pliers of the famous dancehall duo Chaka Demus and Pliers recently recorded and released his second solo album titled Sex and Religion. The album was released early last month on his Bonner Production imprint, through Zojack World Wide and is available on leading internet download sites such as ITunes, Amazon and Raphsody it will be released on CD early next year. The fourteen track album features production work from Pliers, Sly and Robby, Mikey Bennett and Jack Stereo and features guest appearances from Richie Spice, Spanner Banner and Bascom X. The first single from the album titled Sweet Memories was released two weeks ago and is already receiving heavy rotation on radio stations such as IRIE FM, HITZ 92 FM and...

Deejay Bling Dawg is denying rumours that he was involved in a shooting incident which took place on Saturday night at the Greater Portmore High School in St Catherine. Police were hunting for a deejay following the shooting of two people at a stage show held at the school. Patrons attending the event had to run for cover when shots were fired following a disagreement between two deejays. Reports are that at about 4 am both entertainers were on stage when an argument developed between them. The police said during the confrontation one of the men pulled a firearm and fired several shots at the other who, along with patrons scampered for cover. The Portmore police have declined to release the name of the deejay being sought, as...

Rumor has it that Vybz Kartel, Bounty killa and Mavado's appearance on Sting may be in jeopardy unless the artistes make a public appearance together as a symbol of peace before December 26 Sting event. Factions linked to both artistes, Gully and Gaza, have been blamed for violence in the society and that was given as one of the reasons for Mavado's Birthday Bash not being granted a permit at Temple Hall Estate. The event has now been scaled down significantly and moved to The Building (formerly asylum) nightclub tomorrow night.

In late march 1999, Chris Shaw, Artist name Blaq Capone arrived in the U.S from Jamaica. Capone was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. His experience in the garrison can be heard through his music. His friends called him Capone because of his tenacity, willingness and ability to take the lead and be the best he can be in any arena. It was not long after he arrived in the US that he noticed a void/lack of local reggae talent, especially in the home state of Connecticut. Capone would take the next 10 years to grow as an artiste, while pursuing a college degree. In 2004, he graduated with the high honors and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology (BIT); that same year, he was sworn in as an American citizen. Capone...

Reggae crooner Ras Penco raises the bar this holiday season with the launch of his second single, its accompanying video, and takes off for Europe. "Be By My Side" is the follow-up to his massive hit "Thousand Miles," and the Uprize Music artist recently journeyed to Hollywood to film the romantic video. "It was a great experience being on the yacht out in the ocean," discloses Penco, on the Los Angeles movie-like scenario. "We were looking for a special feel and we came to Hollywood to get the appropriate look to fit the vibe of the song." "Be By My Side" was produced by Uprize Music and is currently enjoying great rotation in the Caribbean, especially in Jamaica, where it enters the top ten on the FIWI Reggae Singles Chart and...

Although General B is willing to clash with KipRich at Sting this year, Kiprich said he would not entertain the idea. When asked if he would face-off with General B, KipRich said, "Definitely not! Why would I do that again? Dat nuh mek no sense at all. Dat happen two time already. Weh mi a go wid this again? It boring now." He added: "Di man need fi go build him career and stop follow up my own. Mi nuh have time fi siddung and a mek song 'bout General B, a idle business dat." At Sting last December, KipRich delivered a lyrical assault at General B, Roundhead and Ghost, all from Monster Hemp Higher. The group got the same treatment again at Follow Di Arrow in February. Since then, General B has been itching to face-off with...

Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of Kingston in 1948, the youngest of seven children, and began singing in school. His recording career began in the late 1950s when he formed a duo with his neighbour Stranger Cole as 'Stranger & Ken', the first tracks released by them being "Hush Baby" on the B-side of Cole's Island Records single "Last Love", and the "Thick in Love" single on R&B Records, both in 1963. They released several more popular singles between 1963 and 1965, including "World's Fair", "Hush", and "Artibella". Boothe also recorded as a duo with Roy Shirley (as Roy & Ken), releasing the "Paradise" single in 1966. His first solo tracks were recorded in 1966 after Clement "Coxsone" Dodd had signed him to the Studio...