DAMIAN MARLEY (Gongzilla) – JUST AINT THE SAME

Produced by Baby G

Jurors evenly split on Buju’s fate

TAMPA, Florida — A jury foreman minutes ago told United States judge Jim Moody that they have not been able to reach a verdict in the drug case involving Jamaican Reggae star Buju Banton.

Jury selected for Buju Banton trial

TAMPA, United States — A 14 member panel of jurors was selected for the trial of Reggae singer Buju Banton in the Gibbons US Court in downtown Tampa this morning. The jury includes seven woman and only two African Americans.

Distant Relatives tops Billboard Reggae

The Marley names continues to dominate the Billboard Reggae Albums chart for this week.

The name accounts for three of the albums on this week’s top 10. Leading the list of Marleys is Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, whose collaboration, Distant Relatives, with US hip hop artiste, Nas, continues to hold on to the No 1 spot after 13 weeks on the chart. Distant Relatives is also charting on other Billboard charts. On the Top 200 it holds No 93; No 18 on the R&B /Hip Hop Album charts and No 11 on the Rap Albums charts.

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Sumfest was Mudfest…

Dancehall entertainer Mavado (left) performs with R&B singer Usher during the final night of Reggae Sumfest Saturday in Montego Bay, St James. – Photo by Janet Silvera

Reggae Sumfest may be forced to relocate to the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium if conditions at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC)-owned Catherine Hall complex in Montego Bay, St James, are not improved.

Sumfest would become the second major event forced to move from the tourism capital as a result of the absence of a suitable show venue. The first was the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.

Reggae Rising Festival cancellation to drain US$2M from economy

The popular Reggae Rising Festival, with headline acts The Mighty Diamonds and Third World was cancelled by US authorities this month and will result in the loss of some US$2 million (J$172 million) from the rural Californian community, noted producers.

The event was cancelled for 2010 as the producer, Dimmick Ranch LLC, failed to secure a permit for the annual festival patronised by roughly 14,000 people each year.

Third World was one of the headlined acts for Reggae Rising Festival

Junior Reid’s New Album ‘Living Legend’

Junior Reid

Junior Reid makes a bold claim with the title of his next album, due mid-August. It is Living Legend, a 16- to 18-track set of all-new songs, which includes Heat is On, Looking Out, Take it Easy (featuring Capleton), Where is the Love, I’m So Crazy (featuring Cassidy), and Real OG. With the songs all recorded and the artwork already done, Reid says he is now “listening back to see which mix can be better.”

He has a long list of legendary hits to draw upon, yet by going with a totally new song line-up, Reid is not resting his statement on what he has done in a very long and storied musical career.

Distant Relatives Drops Today…

Nas & Damian “Jr Gong” Marley are Distant Relatives – Album in Stores Today!

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley are proud to announce the release of their highly-anticipated collaborative studio album, Distant Relatives (Universal Republic) on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. Featuring the signature instrumentation and musicianship of Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley with the hard-hitting beats and lyrics of Nas, the album title refers not only to the bond between the artists, but the connection to their African ancestry, which inspired the album both musically and lyrically.

‘As We Enter’ – NAS & Damian Marley Official Video

Informant paid to snare Buju?

Buju Banton’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, is claiming the confidential informant, who United States (US) prosecutors are depending on to make their case against his client, for years, has been paid to assist American law-enforcement agencies.

Markus is also claiming the informant has already earned, but has not been paid, for his role in the case against Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie.

The dancehall star’s attorney laid the allegations in court yesterday, as he appealed for more information on the informant, whose name was not disclosed.