ELIZABETH, N.J. — Eight demonstrators tied themselves to one another wrist-to-wrist in the falling snow Tuesday morning, and lay down across the road in a human chain, blocking access to an immigration detention center in Elizabeth, N.J. Detention officers on their way to work waited in a line of cars stretching down the street. For nearly a minute, the steady blast of a car horn drowned out the sound of the protesters’ chants. By the time … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell— The Jamaica Observer celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Its entertainment section looks back at some major events the newspaper covered during that period. Today we look at the passing of reggae singer Dennis Brown. REGGAE has produced many great singers. Dennis Brown, dubbed the Crown Prince of Reggae, is arguably the greatest. Reggae artist Dennis Brown When he died on July 1, 1999 at age 42 from respiratory failure, music producer Mikey Bennett said Brown … Read entire article »

Snoop Lion was left starstruck after one of his idols, Eddie Murphy, asked the rapper to collaborate with him on a track for his new album. The Beverly Hills Cop star returned to his music roots earlier this year and recorded his first studio album in 20 years, and he enlisted the help of rapper-turned-reggae artist Snoop Lion. And in an interview with Queen Latifah on her talk show, Snoop revealed that Murphy’s request to work with … Read entire article »

  Tessanne Chin was the first contestant to advance to the final round of NBC’s The Voice competition Tuesday night. Chin’s passionate rendition of ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ Monday night maintained the top spot on the iTune’s music chart throughout Tuesday fuelling speculations that she would have made it through. Several media reports have now named Chin as this season’s favourite to win the competition . The three finalists in The Voice season five are: Tessanne Chin (Team Adam) Jacqui Lee … Read entire article »

  Professor Trevor Munroe, executive director, National Integrity Action, greets Zaila McCalla, chief justice, at the National Integrity Action second anniversary gathering to commemorate International Anti-Curruption Day at the Jamaica Conference Centre yesterday. – Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer—   By Gary Spaulding– “Vote corrupt politicians out!” was the rallying call of a leading international anti-corruption campaigner as Jamaica yesterday joined the world in commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day. At the same time, the Portia Simpson Miller administration was subjected to severe criticism … Read entire article »

Catch A Fire, Burnin’, Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, Exodus, Kaya, Survival, Uprising, Confrontation, Live!, Babylon By Bus Bob Marley is one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th century. Today, Bob Marley’s incredible body of work continues its impact and influence on the new, digital age as his complete Island Records recordings have been Mastered For iTunes. With state-of-the-art fidelity, Mastered For iTunes makes it possible for the listener to enjoy the music of Bob Marley in a whole new way, capturing … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell—- ROGER Steffens, who headed the Grammy Awards Reggae Committee for 27 years, says it would be a travesty if American rapper Snoop Lion won the Best Reggae Album category at next month’s show. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Steffens described Snoop as a “pretentious wanna-be”. He is also not impressed with nominees for Best Reggae Album who were announced last Friday in Los Angeles. Top: Snoop Lion Bottom: Roger Steffens “I think it would … Read entire article »

Tessanne Chin performing on The Voice. – NBC photo After a heart-warming and mind-blowing rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water #TeamTessanne fans turned their campaigning up and propelled Tessanne into the top ten of the iTunes USA top 100 charts. With parties revving into full gear across the Corporate Area and some parts of the United States, the Jamaican songbird belted out what many thought was her best performance of the competition. When voting was open Tessanne inched one step … Read entire article »

  By Abu-Baker Mulumba— Busy Signal on stage last Friday— Glendale Goshia Gordon aka Busy Signal proved he is one of the few Jamaicans you would die to watch on stage over and over. The singer on Friday took to the Lugogo cricket oval stage at 11pm with his hit single, Jail Again, which fired the show that had started at a slow pace. His first one hour was a non-stop sample of some of his less known songs. But when … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell— THE journeyman performer has helped keep reggae’s pulse beating for over 30 years. Artists like singer Admiral Tibet may not have big hits, but clocking thousands of tour miles have ensured them long careers. Tibet, 53, returns to the local stage on December 25 for the GT Taylor Christmas Reggae Extravaganza in Black River, St Elizabeth. Admiral Tibet The St Mary-born Tibet says this year has been a busy one show-wise, with most of his dates … Read entire article »