Dancehallartiste Tashina McKenzie realised a teenage dream when she finally landed a collaboration with her dancehall idol Vybz Kartel.
“Imagine, being a die-hearted Gaza fan and bussing blanks for Vybz Kartel’s bad man song and a bubble to the gal song dem since I was a teenager, so just imagine how mi feel to be able to bubble pon my own song with the Worl’ Boss himself. This is a real dream come true,” Tashina said.
The single, entitled Best Love Ever, which is accompanied with an official music video, was released on the JB Productions label.
Mckenzie has been working towards this goal in her musical career. In March this year she signalled her intentions when she collaborated with dancehall youngblood Intence on Confessions.
Then she raised eyebrows with Don’t Test Me on the new Skool rhythm alongside Vybz Kartel, Sikka Rhymes, I Octane, Teejay and newcomer JB.
Vybz Kartel himself appeared to endorse the song with a post on his Instagram page.
“The video is blowing up all over IG, VEVO, and YouTube. My followers are going up, JB Productions is sending my career to the universe,” said Tashina, who is presently in the US, doing some hip-hop collaborations with Florida-based rappers.
Other songs to look out for include Inna the Shower, Pretty Pretty, and Independent, all of which have been released on the JB Productions label.
“I plan to release an EP later this year which will include dancehall as well as cultural reggae songs, such as I Rise, with a UK-based producer. I have a collaboration with Queen Ifrica, and one with Sizzla as well, so those songs will be on my EP,” she said.
Konshens delivered “Backaz” video despite controversies around it being too explicit.
Konshens releases the butt-filled risqué visuals for his track titled, “Backaz” and it is sure to render viewers awestruck. The Subkonshus boss teased a couple of semi-X-rated scenes from the video a couple of days ago, which sadly did not receive a favorable response from some of his ‘righteous fans’. The dancehall veteran figuratively gave that small lot ‘the finger’ and proceeded to release the music video today and his true die-hard ‘indecent’ fans happy.
“All of da gals av incredible bodies but the 1 in diamond bikini has amazin muscle definition wish me body look so good an love d song too,” wrote one viewer. Another further commented, “Look how them girl yah skin clean n pretty!! Jeezam ?? who a di one wid the hoop earrings and the tattoo pon har thigh? Oh my dayz, and the one inna the leopard print bikini. A it bredda, gyal dem mad up di vid a waaay.” What could be so inspiring and pleasing to the eye for the fans to leave such moving comments?
For starters, the video includes dancers and video vixens Chinny Unique and Sara Bendii, among other lovely and bootylicious ladies. The shots by Xtreme Arts keep you very close to the action, which includes a lot of pool splashing, melon eating, icicle sucking, banana-eating, choking, and did we mention a whole lotta shaking. The video stays true to the Caribbean fruit-inspired theme by using warm yet vibrant color schemes, which further increases the passion throughout the 3 minutes and 30 seconds video. The video for “Backaz” arrives nearly a month after Charly Black’s equally provocative video for ‘Sidung,’ which is also featured on the TJ Records Incredible Riddim compilation.
“Backaz” was released today, August 14th, and it is steadily gaining views as his fans, especially the Kenyans, have declared it as a hot piece. We’re sure the views would have been at record numbers already if not for the plethora of negative reviews from naysayers.
One fan was quick to regard them as hypocrites citing, “I’m sure it’s the older generation in the comment section that are talking about morality, acting all perfect and holy but they were also wild players and hoes back in their days and I’ve seen quite enough videos and pictures of them wilding. The only difference is social media. Remember there’s nothing new under the sun.”
Still, others were tantalized by the beautiful women and the provocative and extremely sexual manner of the visuals, even Konshens himself seemed to have a hard time focusing during the shoot. The artiste did, however, enjoy the making of the steamy production with bloopers added in at the end of the clip showing him acting a fool among his female counterparts.
You can go ahead and check out the new music video “Backaz” from Konshens below. Be sure to bring a bucket of ice!
Dave East has dropped off a Jamaican inspired single titled, “Unruly,” which features the Unruly boss himself, Popcaan.
“Unruly” is one of the tracks featured on Dave East’s third mixtape installment Karma 3, which was released on August 13th, 2020. The prior installments were released in 2017 and 2018. Karma 3 sees collaborations from a bevy of heavyweights such as Trey Songz, Mary J.Blige, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Popcaan, Young Dolph, and much more. The new mixtape is composed of 15 tracks with “Unruly” at position number 2, which fans were quick to poke fun at on Popcaan’s Instagram account with him hilariously responding, “yyyyy”.
Dave East, given name, David Lawrence Brewster Jr., is a popular American rapper, songwriter, and actor. The New York rapper entered the music game way back in 2010. However, he didn’t begin to gain traction until 2014 when he released his eighth mixtape titled, “Black Rose.” His latest offering, “Karma 3,” is dedicated to his close friend and fellow rapper Kiing Shooter, who is also from New York. The rapper passed away following complications of the coronavirus back in May of this year, although East himself denies those claims.
For “Unruly” East fuses what sounds like an old reggae beat with a classic hip hop melody. The track definitely gives off Caribbean vibes, and East’s use of Jamaican slang (patois) is a nice addition. In the track, East shares the tragic dark and violent backstory of his childhood. While rapping in his signature quick-paced flow, the rapper drops bars, and fans have already dubbed the track as one of his best yet. In the intro for the track, Popcaan welcomes fans saying, “Murder, murder, Unruly, Bombocl**t dem DNA Ayy, Dave East, what dem a do, mon, yuh f**k, trouble, killy.”
Popcaan later brings his heat to the chorus cementing the track as a number one hit. “And when dem see me drippin’ every day, Anywhere you see, me did a later day, Don’t play, bring the chopper anywhere, Dave East make ya girl sing a melody, Tell ’em man a kill it down, kill it down, kill it down,” Popcaan deejays.
The dancehall artiste recently released his new album, Fixtape” on August 6th, and it has been at the top position on numerous charts since. Now, his collab with East further adds to his impressive catalog and strengthens his efforts to break out into other international markets.
Akon tells this riveting story of how he managed to build a lucrative multi-million dollar car theft ring.
Not many people in the world boast a background or business savvy quite like Akon. Born in Missouri and raised in Africa, the Konvict chief did considerably well in music throughout much of the 2000s before taking a break for more noble pursuits. The Senegalese-American artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist recently sat down for a mini tell-all with VLADTV, detailing among other things Akoin, his self dubbed cryptocurrency, how he once coordinated an elaborate and lucrative car theft ring and shared lessons on overcoming the legacy of slavery.
In true irony, the ex-felon turned CEO shot to the top of the charts in 2001 with a track called “Locked Up” on his very own record label, Konvict Music. But back in 1997, the broke youngster was looking for a ‘sweet escape’ from a life of menial jobs. His hustler mentality kicked in, and though he always knew music was his calling, he got sidetracked and then led right back to his first love. The road to him earning a criminal record was a checkered path of dodging options that “don’t add up,” and drug dealing, with its hefty sentences, which he says was “definitely not it.”
“I got hip to the car theft stuff coz I was working at a barber shop and n*****s would be just kinda rolling around, everytime you see ‘em, they come in a new different car. One of my homies came, he’s like yo man, you know, you should get into this, there’s some good money in it. And I was like how much you makin’? He said man, s***, I’m makin’ like 40, 50 thousand dollars a week And at that time I was like what?! I said but what do you do, he says nothing, we just jack these cars, toss ‘em to my man, all we gotta do is get the cars and bring it in, that’s it. Pop and deliver, done. Ten thousand a joint, let’s do it.”
Admitting to his curiosity and intrigue while learning the ropes, he earned the trust of the Jamaican ring leader, who taught him everything from VIN numbers to the ins and outs of various models. By the time he moved to Atlanta, he was no novice, able to “put it all together” to continue his line of work. Actively involved in armed robberies, Akon was still looking for an easier route, however, saying his “heart wouldn’t take it every time he pulled a gun out on somebody to make them get out the car.”
Scouting for a “cleaner way,” Akon got a bright idea when he saw the valet box at a posh restaurant with hundreds of unsupervised car keys. “That became the thing, whenever he go off to get the car, I just find a key, just peel any one, it didn’t matter coz I just wanted to get rid of ‘em. Then I had so many cars parked up in like parking lots, malls, apartment complexes,” he said. Finding success with his new method, he grew his operations to include two of his friends, who would later play a role in his arrest. The team was so skilled they’d “go to dealerships, test drive a car, and never come back.”
He added valets who scoop him spare keys and DMV staff for car registration in his mastermind efforts, laundering his money through the three studios he built and allowed people to use for free. But all good things, even such advanced operations, come to an end, and Akon was eventually sold out by one of his partners. Due to his calculated moves, however, there was little evidence to put him away for very long, and he did 6 months despite being caught in a ‘registered stolen car with State Farm insurance and a clean VIN number.’ He served a total of three years in prison nonconsecutively on other related charges and received three years’ probation.
Not at all embarrassed or bound by his past, Akon went on to soar to fame cleverly invoking many justice system references. In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Akon claims it was all deliberate, “but only to remind myself of where I’d come from, what I’ve been through, and what I don’t want to go back to. You know what’s funny? When I was in and out of jail and decided to go full-speed at this music business thing, I came up with this plan where the top goal was to work with Michael Jackson and retire in like 2018. Now I’ve already worked with Michael. And it’s looking like retirement might happen earlier,” he said.
Also, on the matter of the past, Akon spoke on the enduring wounds of slavery, saying Black Americans could “overcome” and better allocate their energy and efforts at improvement by simply “letting go.” In a statement that has unsurprisingly drawn much criticism on social media, the “Trouble” hitmaker said, “I think it’s the art of just letting the past go and moving towards the future, and I think, in the U.S., they have this stigma of just not letting go of the past and blaming the past on every mishap or, you know, disappointment.” “I think as long as you hold onto that past, there’s a lot of weight that you carry with you everywhere you go. It’s hard to move forward and move fast when you got a weight on your back. You just gotta let it go,” he said.
News that his début album Big and Heavy landed at number eleven on the US Billboard Reggae Albums chart last week caught reggae artiste Nowlege by surprise.
The Kansas City-based artiste, who is originally from Portmore, said hitting the charts was the furthest from his mind while putting the body of work together.
“This was a huge surprise but I am grateful for all the support that I have been receiving so far,” said Nowlege.
Big and Heavy was released July 24 via Clear Shot Media LLC. It has eight songs and collaborations with US Midwest reggae acts including Josh Heinrichs, Skillinjah and Nicolette Paige. Youthman Records, Banx Music Group, Kana Keihn, and Clear Shot Media LLC are among the producers.
The first single, Reggae Music, featuring Skillinjah reached number twelve on the US iTunes Reggae singles chart.
“It’s a great feeling to know that people love my music to go out and support it. For an independent artiste like me, this signifies that without any major label or network of people behind my career, I am able achieve chart success. I mean, being on the same chart as Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Sean Paul and Shaggy is an achievement in itself,” said Nowlege.
Since the release of the album, Nowlege has received feedback from markets that he did not know he had fans.
“Fans have been telling me that the album is a good one. I even got some reviews and feedback from persons in Sweden and in Germany. I didn’t even know I had fans in those countries,” he shared.
According to Nowlege who once competed as a track athlete at Bridgeport High school in Portmore, music was always his calling.
“I always knew I was going to be in music whether it was being a disc jockey or something else in the music field,” he said.
