CLINTON LINDSAY

David “Ideology” Jackson While writing songs for what will be his first album, singer IDeology wanted to make a profound statement on world affairs, using an old Jamaican proverb. His latest song, Pumkin Belly, borrows from ‘How water go a pumpkin belly’, an oft-used Jamaican folk phrase made famous by dancehall icon Tenor Saw. Pumkin Belly is produced by Steven Ventura. “We have history to learn from but we cannot learn if we don’t remember history correctly. We see … Read entire article »

Cocoa Tea — Cocoa Tea is calling out corrupt politicians in soon-to-be released single Bax Dem Up . “I am not advocating violence against the politicians even though they have been advocating violence against us because they are stealing the legacy of our kids, robbing the quality of our lives, from Venezuela, Columbia, Africa, the corruption is everywhere, and that is why the song is so popular; everyone can relate to it,” Cocoa Tea told the Jamaica Observer. Bax Dem Up, which … Read entire article »

The former Gleaner western bureau building on King Street in Montego Bay, will now be the new home of the ‘Mello Media Centre’. – MELLO FM has moved to position itself as an even bigger player in the local media landscape by acquiring the building that formarly housed the Gleaner Western Bureau. The building, which is located at 9 King Street in Montego Bay, will be rebranded ‘The Mello Media Centre’. In a release sent to this newspaper on … Read entire article »

I“I am so proud to be Jamaican…I bow down to my lineage, to my heritage, to my history and to my belonging.”So said Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actress Kerry Washington who was recently honored with an ‘Artistic Achievement Award’ at Jamaica’s 57th Independence Black Tie Gala, held at the Hilton Westchester Hotel in Rye, New York. Kerry Washington In an emotional letter read by her Jamaican born mother, Dr Valerie Washington, the actress who received international … Read entire article »

BY KEVIN JACKSON–Observer writer– Morgan Heritage — Morgan Heritage earns its 10th entry on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, as Loyalty debuts at number three this week. Loyalty was released August 2 by CTBC Music Group/Membran 7 Empire and features collaborations with Esh Morgan (son of Morgan Heritage member Mojo), Patoranking, Stonebwoy, Popcaan and reggae bands Iration and Pepper. Shane Brown, Jerry Wonda, Jason “J Vibe” Farmer and Aston Barrett Jr are among the producers who worked on the … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell–Observer senior writer– Glen Simmonds — Glen Simmonds, founder of the Atlanta Caribbean Jerk Festival, died Monday in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 55. His wife, Cheriel, told the Jamaica Observer that they were planning for this year’s event when Simmonds suffered a heart attack at home. She said paramedics failed to revive him and he was pronounced dead at WellStar Cobb Hospital. During a 2013 interview with the Observer, St Ann-born Simmonds said he started the jerk festival in … Read entire article »

By Yasmine Peru and Kimberley Small – Gleaner Writers—t FKoriq— In a blistering message on social media last week, dancehall producer-turned-Christian, Danny Browne, threw out a challenge to ‘make dancehall great again’. Browne chastised the proponents of the genre for using knock-off hip hop beats and plastering over it a dancehall label. “Taking a hip hop beat and calling it dancehall does not make it dancehall,” he stated in his Instagram post. Danny Browne A passionate Browne, whose Main Street … Read entire article »