Co Co Tea will be putting out a new album titled Yes We Can named after his latest single, a song which implore people of all nations and races to unite and live in peace in order to have a better world.
The album was produced by Co Co Tea aka Calvin Scott on his Roaring Lion/Dancehall Jam Jam label. According to the singer it will have 12-15 tracks and will feature songs such as his big international hit Barrack Obama a tribute to the American on his presidential campaign.
He has also reunited with Shabba Ranks for a song titled Time Is Real. Co Co Tea in the 1990's had 2 big collaborations with Shabba in Pirates and Who She Love. He also has collaborations with Marcia Griffiths, President Brown, Cutty Ranks and El General. As well as a make over of Hoace Andy's song, She Is My Baby.
Co Co Tea speaking to YardFlex spoke highly about the album. "It is a one in a million CD." he said with his trade mark smile. "It is a mixture of Lovers Rock and authentic reggae music. I had famous musicians working on it, like members of the Prophecy Band, Dean Frazer and his harmonizers, Kirk and Bowie, Teetamus, Lymie Murray. It has an international appeal and I am expecting it to do very well."
The big clash between world record holder, Usain Bolt and former world record holder, Asafa Powell at the recent Jamaica National Trials, not surprisingly, did not materialize. Both had played down the clash in pre-race interviews and said that they would do just enough to qualify for the Olympics team.
In the end Bolt won, looking very relaxed, even having time to glance twice at his friend Asafa, winning in a time of 9.85. While Powell jut as relaxed came second in 9.97 sec.
So all focus now is on that Olympic Gold medal at the Beijing summer Olympics. Both athletes said that an Olympic Gold far outweighs having a world record as the record will easily go but the gold medal stays with you for ever.
The Bolt - Asafa debate about which of the two is 'faster' in the 100m is still circulating. I would stick my neck out in saying that presently, Bolt is in much better condition than Asafa and is capable of running faster.
However, as the outstanding track and field annalist Earl Bailey said on a Talk Show programme on RJR on Monday, June 30, 2008, "with 6 weeks to go before the Beijing Olympics anything can happen. An athlete can improve as well as drop form."
Even on the day itself, the 100m finals, the race will be over in under 10 seconds and the winner of the Olympic Gold medal would have been decided.
Intro
How bout a round of applause
standing ovation
ooooooooh yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah.
Verse 1
You look so dumb right now
Standing outside my house
Trying to apologize
You're so ugly when you cry
Please-(spoken)just cut it out
Chorus
Don't tell me you're sorry cuz you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
But you put on quite a show
You really had me going
Now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closing
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
Go on and take a bow
YardFlex understands that the Jammins Celebrity Soccer Match in New York was a big flop. Wi hear dat it attracted less than 1000 people. But wid a big line up line Buju, Capleton, Gregory Isaacs, Serani, Bunji Garlin, Marcia Griffiths and many more a wonda how come. But fi real it come een like hard times a lick every body left right and centre, dat's why nuff people probably neva meck it, dem haffi choose between food and show!
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Yard flex buss it fuss
YardFlex buss di news fuss sey it come een like Beenie Man and him wife a eye dem one anodda back and si it deh, we guh read it inna one nex' suss column teday. But something could a really guh suh dough.
I read with great shame and embarrassment the other day how they robbed the missionaries at Salvation Army. But to tell the truth I am not surprised. The only way crime is going to stop is unless the mothers and the baby mothers come together and start trying to make a difference.
These men have to rest their heads somewhere, they have to eat somewhere, they have someone in their lives that they 'check for'. But the simple truth is, women are enjoying the profits of crime and have no real need to make a difference. They are contented to spend the blood money, wash the bloody clothes, feast on the stolen goods, wear the stolen bling bling and hype up on their friends in the process. Some will even threaten you that they are going to "meck mi man buss yuh face". They take pride in being with a bad man. And at the end of the day they don't give a damn about the family that's left crying being because the bread winner was gunned down. They don't care about those who are left hungry, because the last money for food was robbed on the bus. Yet they want you to care when police gun down the culprit, then they come out and demonstrate and beg for justice.
After weeks of speculating over which international acts will be performing, for the generally vibrant Montego Bay crowd; Grammy winning Hip-Hop entertainer T-Pain has been added to the versatile lineup for Reggae Sumfest 2008. T-Pain is scheduled to co-headline the final night of the festival along with the internationally recognized reggae legend, Beres Hammond.
Tired of the generic sound of music played constantly on the radio, T-Pain was inspired to create an album that would combine the likes of both Hip-Hop and R&B; the result, the smash hit singles "I'm Sprung" and the lyrically creative track "I'm In Love with a Stripper". Released from the album "Rappa Ternt Sanga". "I'm Sprung" peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top 100 Charts, helping the newly acclaimed solo artist sell over 800,000 copies of his work. The track's remix with Vybz Kartel boosted his airplay status in Jamaica and left many youngsters wanting more. Since then, T-Pain has done everything but fallen off the music scene, appearing on a number of chart topping hits including his Grammy winning collaboration with Rapper Kanye West entitled "Good Life".
The entire world stood up and took notice when the Prime Minister of Jamaica was being interviewed in England when a very important question was asked of him if gays could be in the cabinet. The ever, cool, ever suave PM responded, "Sure they can be in the Cabinet; not mine." When the interviewer pressed home the point, maybe wanting Bruce to back down by asking "But do you want to live in a Jamaica where they can be and they should be and it would be entirely natural for them to be so?" Big up to the PM when he answered in no uncertain terms "I do not know that that is necessarily the direction in which I want my country to go."
There have been a lot of back and forth debates about equality when it comes to gays, but while I do not condone the ill-treatment and cruel acts meted out to them, in fact I totally hit out against it. At the end of the day, they are all humans too. But I draw the line at having them in the cabinet. These are people who are involved in guiding the country and having a say in the laws of the land. How can we ask them to make certain moral decisions when their lifestyle totally belies what they will be representing?
For all we know there may already be a few gays in the cabinet, and if they are, they are taking great pains to keep it totally locked up in the closet. But coming out and advocating for the rights to be recognized as a legal couple, flaunting an immoral lifestyle, influencing our children, maybe even corrupting them...that stretching acceptance way too far.
This year, the celebration of International Reggae Day, commenced back in 1994 by one-woman power house, Andrea Davis and her Jamaica Arts Holdings organisation, came to a crescendo at the Undercroft of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, with a panel discussion themed 'Reggae Music in 2008'.
Commemorating 2008 as the 40th year of Reggae music, a major point of discussion was the landmark songs of the year 1968, which definitively propelled the shift in genre from Rock Steady to Reggae. Among these were famously Nanny Goat by Larry Marshall and Do The Reggae by Toots and the Maytals, as well as, Baby Why by the Cables, Israelites by Desmond Dekker and the Aces and Feel the Rhythm by Clancy Eccles, which was actually recorded in late 1967, but released in 1968, according to panelist Julian 'Jingles' Reynolds.
Yow, fi real mi miss all a di mix up and blenda and mi have a super one fi share wid unno. Mi nuh know, but people business just follow mi suh!
How some people come suh, dem neva hear di saying whey sey 'if yuh teck di cow yuh haffi teck di calf tuh'. Memba dat! Whey bring on all dis, is me know a woman wid two pickney weh tek up a man weh have four well it suh happen dat one a him pickney handicapped and har madda lef har a Jamaica and migrate to di States from di pickney a 3 years old, suh yuh done know sey she nuh know nutten bout har. Di madda run left di handicapped pickney, left it wid di man daddy and den come a States and meck di same man breed har again...and she end up wid six pickney a farin, five fi smady else and di one from di man whey she got di handicapped pickney fah.
Now people, a true true something mi a relate. Di hottaclaps nuh done de suh yu nuh. Di man whey father di handicap pickney, him sista set him up pon one rich woman and him an har end up being together, nice nuh backside. Him a di best baby father inna di world to fi har pickney dem but when it come to fi him disabled one a Jamaica him treat har like dawg. But yuh woulda tink sey di rich woman woulda show likkle compassion and encourage di man fi gi some tender loving to him now 18-year-old daughter. No sah, nutten like dat. Di man nuh hug di pickney and if she try fi hug him, him slip outa it, an fi meck matters worse di house whey him left har pack up a pure man.
What do you do when you want to get away from the regular mundane things of life? Say you are getting married and you are oh so tired of the 'here comes the bride' routine as you walk down the isle of the church with your husband to be waiting for you at the end? The male guests sitting comfortably in their seats all eyes fixed on you and then the same o same oh ritual of vows, songs being sung and the pronunciation of man and wife. Then you go off to do the ritual of taking photos and the guests head for the reception area where the glass knocking and the ribbing and stuff take place.
Here's an idea, you don't have to follow tradition, it's your big day and hopefully it's the one time in your life you are going to do this thing so if you want to go overboard who can blame you. Even if you want to take it way out of the norm, who cares, no one should complain! Got this idea from a friend who is actually contemplating having such a ceremony for her wedding.
It will be rap meets reggae on Saturday, August 9 when US rap duo, Playaz Circle, popularly known for their hit "Duffle Bag Boy", which features Lil Wayne, hits the stage in Jamaica at "Face To Face". They will be meeting the likes of Serani and Bugle will coming with hits such as "Stinkin Rich", "What Am Gonna Do", "Study People", "Journeys" and "Doh" under their belts.
Promoted by World Beat Music Group and Bacumi Entertainment it will take place at the Cable and Wireless Golf Academy.
The lineup is not yet completed, but stay tuned to this spot for the entire lineup.
The Adamari Caribbean Sumfest at Queen Mary Park, Long Beach, California on July 8,2008 will be headlining a wide selection of Jamaican artistes.
The two time Grammy Award winner of Dancehall, Shabba Ranks, will be performing his retroactive hits "Champion Lover", "Trailor Load of Girls", "Dem Bow", to name a few, as well as introducing the patrons to his new singles featuring Sizzla Kalonji, Movado, Busta Rhymes and Akon.
YardFlex sends condolence to singer Anthony Cruz who lost his mother, Lorna Harriot, three nights ago.
The singer told YardFlex that his mom met into an accident three years ago and since then she has been plagued with after effects from it. "She had a lot of back pain...in fact she had pain all over," Anthony Cruz said, as he tried had to maintain his composure.
He said everytime she went to the doctor she received medication, but that was about it. Three nights ago she went to bed "and she just never woke up," the singer brokenly stated. "Right now I am just trying to keep the faith and stay positive," he told YardFlex.
Anthony Cruz will be leaving the island this weekend for Delaware, where his mom lived to make funeral arrangements.
If her performance at the Miss Jamaica Beauty pageant 2008 was anything to talk about then one can imagine what will happen when Keyshia Cole hits the St. Catherine Hall stage for Reggae Sumfest's 1st International Night on July 18,2008.
This 24 year old Oakland native and multi-platinum, Grammy nominated artiste has been climbing the music industry ladder since she was 12 years old.
Her passion for motivating and inspiring young girls is revealed in her music. Her first album "The Way it is" made R&B appealing to the younger generation with singles such as, "I changed my mind", "Love", "I should have cheated" and "(I just want it) to be over".
Cole has had the distinction of working with many musical icons such as, P. Diddy to produce the hit "Last Night", Sean Paul in the remix of his single "Give it up to me", Missy Elliot and Lil Kim for "Let it go".
Her list of consistently hit songs, "Just like you", "Shoulda let you go", "I remember" and "Heaven sent" reveals a more mature side of the Princess of Hip Hop's repertoire, and is also evidence of her 'staying' power.
Reggae Sumfest's 1st International Night is one that patrons should be eagerly anticipating!
There really seem to be no end in sight when it comes to Beenie Man's tax case. Called up yesterday, the trial was once again pushed back to July 29 in order for the crown to get more time to present witnesses.
The artiste is scheduled to return to court on July 29 when the trial is expected to resume.
Moses Davis aka Beenie Man is facing trial on allegations that he owes the government more than $40 million in outstanding taxes.
Revenue officials alleged that Beenie Man failed to pay over the taxes over a number of years.
Dennis Immanuel Brown from the Tribe of Joseph died on the 1st if July 1999.
Reggae music lovers worldwide will always remember the Crowned Prince of Reggae, who serenaded us with his melodious tracks. He will also be remembered for his infectious laughter and smile.
Almost two years since the release of her scintillating video for the track "Roll it gal", the Soca Diva has recently released two videos for the tracks, "The more you get" and "Thundah" from her Soca Queen album.
The videos are a typical Hinds combination of class and sex.
Trini - Canadian, David Cropper of "Roll it gal" fame directed these videos as well. Videos were set in Trinidad.
Has Goofy aka Mr. G gone into the restaurant business? YardFlex sighted the deejay at the corner of Princeville Plaza, Kingston with his charge preparing some sumptuous looking sea foods dishes, Hellshire style, including some large Parrot fish frying up in some big frying pans.
According to one of his regular customer, they do this activity every Friday at the same location. He said that it is well supported, especially by members of the entertainment fraternity.
Other artistes in the past have branched off from the regular music business and have ventured into other fields. Bling Dawg, last year opened a barbershop in Kingston. General Degree has gone into the apparel business launching his clothing line Reh Geh.
Tanya Stephens is also set to open a restaurant in the west end of the island. 'Rude bwoy' deejay Cobra is in the race horse as well as transportation business and the list goes on. An artiste who asked to remain anonymous said, "right now artistes have to try other business ventures to turn over the money that they earn. Things get tighter now so you can't squander yu money, you have to learn about money management and good business practices. Some times the business gets slow so you have other source of income."
Magnum Kings and Queen Of Dancehall winners Singer Jah and Baby Tash are presently reaping the rewards for winning the competition. YardFlex caught up with Singer Jah and Baby Tash, who won the King and Queen titles respectively, at the Magnum Kings and Queen Of Dancehall Road Show at Folly Oval, Port Antonio, Portland on Saturday, June 28, 2008.
Singer Jah said that the competition has given him invaluable exposure. "The people love wi crazy, and I love them same way." he said "The competition has helped my career a lot cause it has made me known on a national level. Where people from 14 parishes saying Singer Jah. I could't ask for a better start in my career."
Commenting on what he has been doing lately he said, "I am working on my album right now with Scatta Burrell. You can say the album finish already. I am also working on a music video so I give thanks that things are really looking up for me."
Crime continues to give the country a bad reputation. The situation worsened when a US-based church mission had to cancel plans to come to Jamaica arising out of the fact that 39 of their members were roused from their beds and robbed at gunpoint at the Salvation Army at Mannings Hill Road in St. Andrew hours before dawn on Monday.
According to reports gleaned by YardFlex the robbers were able to gain access to a secure area where the visitors were sleeping at the rear of the School for the Blind compound.
Among the stuff stolen were wallets, hand bags, digital cameras, cellulars before they made their escape at the back.
I&I Clothing Company is making a big name for itself in the apparel business ever since coming on stream in June of last year.
It has been refreshing and captivating to see the eye catching colours and excellent finishes of the I and I designs.
The brand is owned by Jason Panton ,CEO and Creative Director of the company and Financial Officer, Keisha Hall who both hold 50-50 shares of the company.
Jason grew up in Miami, Florida but also spent time in Jamaica where he attended the Edna Manley College of Visual & Performing Arts. He is a talented painter who has done graphic work with top record companies both in Jamaica and the United States. He worked at an apparel company as their Creative Director but later stepped out on his own, thus the birth of I&I Clothing Company.
Mavado is again facing problems in regards to his lyrics. This time around it's from a prominent radio Disk Jockey, in Dominica, who has become a Christian. He has raised concerns as to whether Mavado should be allowed to perform at a show scheduled to be held in July.
There was an article published in Dominica addressing Mavado's lyrics and how negatively his blasphemous message has influenced the youths.
One of the writer's major concerns was why Mavado has to sing songs with lyrics suggesting he is above God. A typical example he explains is the popular church song entitled I am under the Rock. In this song he changes around the words to convey his message, the song now named "On the Rock." He explains that the song was originally written in relations to 1 Corinthians 10:4 which states that the children of Israel "Drank water from the Spiritual Rock that accompanied them, and that Rock was Christ." He has concluded that many countries refer to "crack/cocaine" as "rock" thus interpreting the song to mean "I am on crack."
A true sey Beenie Man and D'Angel may be getting back together. Mi nuh know but the rumour kinda a circulate from di odda day sey it look like something like dat a guh gwaan. Well YardFlex nuh believe in telling lies, suh wi a fling out di question out deh to everyone. Di ongle ting we notice is dat D'Angel now added pon dancehall night...whether a fi join Beenie Man or not...wi nuh know.
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More prayers needed for Shirley
Our last check revealed that Shirley Willis was still in a coma at the hospital. There has been a constant prayer vigil and the demand is still there to keep sending up prayers for this vibrant gospel singer. Doctors are reporting no injury to the brain, no bleeding, which would indicate that there is every chance she will come out of this thing. Let's help her family pray her back to 100% health.
It's that time of year again for the annual "JAVAA Anniversary Show". The Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes & Affiliates in association with Jamaica National Building Society will be hosting a sequence of events in "The Gardens" at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday, July 11, 2008, along with the "JAVAA Anniversary Show". The concert will be called "Their Music Lives On", where the first twelve inductees to the JAVAA Jamaica Music Hall of Fame will be announced.
This year the focus will be on Delroy Wilson and Phyllis Dillon. Delroy Wilson is known to be the man who paved the way for Dennis Brown, Ken Boothe and Errol Dunkley. While Phyllis Dillon is remembered as one of the real queens of Jamaican music. Phyllis Dillon will be represented by Mary Isaacs and Angella Stewart. Ken Boothe OD, Errol Dunkley and young Jevaro Laing will represent Delroy Wilson.
Ziggy Marley has been known for his generous donations to the Bustamante Hospital for Children. His first donation was in 1991 and has continued over the years. The foundation which is called URGE (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment) has made several donations since the start of the year to the cash strapped hospital. They have donated equipment such as Laryngoscope sets, blood pressure machines, a Metro Basic crash cart and a Stand Mounted Suction Pump.
The Chain of Hope, Jamaica had appealed to URGE and they responded by paying for a pacemaker for little Shinnia Porteous who was five months at the time. She is now recovering at home.
The Victoria Jubilee Hospital's Premature Nursery also received donations from the Marley family; they donated twelve CPI Baby Cots and an Infant Radiant Warmer to the institution.
St. Ann is also receiving attention from URGE as they are the host of an annual health fair in Nine Mile. Here one can find international doctors and nurses who come to offer their time, medical supplies and services.
It has now been reported by the Management and Staff of Tuff Gong International Limited that Greg Morris, Oneil 'Mondays' Smith, who are engineers and Phillip James the keyboard player are now recovering from a car accident which happened last Monday on Hellshire's main road.
Oneil has awakened from a coma and is showing improvement, while Greg and Phillip have been released and sent home.
The Management and Staff of Tuff Gong would like to say thank you to members of the public and the entertainment fraternity for their continued support and concern.
In 1997, 18 year old, New Orleans native, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. known as Lil Wayne was the youngest member of the Cash Money Records group Hot Boys. He soon surmounted the groups expectations.
Now this Grammy nominated star will be joining other international stars, such as Keyshia Cole, for Reggae Sumfest's International Night on Friday, July 18, 2008.
The group, Hot Boys, careened to stardom with tracks such as "We on Fire" and "I Need a Hot Girl". Lil Wayne's release of his first solo album, "Tha Block is Hot" which debuted at number 3 on the Billboard charts, propelled him to stardom as a solo artiste.
The group, Hot Boys, also collaborated with The Big Tymers to produce the internationally acclaimed hit "Bling Bling".