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.
Reggae singer Tarrus Riley had a number of projects on his plate when the COVID-19 pandemic hit earlier this year.
Undaunted, the She’s Royal singer used the opportunity to pivot, focus his attention on other aspects of his musical career and personal life. But he quickly realised that the pandemic was having an effect on almost every aspect of human life and existence and so he put everything on hold to pull together an album with music that plays like a COVID-19 soundtrack.
The artiste shared The Healing in a special virtual listening session with journalists on Thursday, noting that the project becomes available on August 28.
From the title track Riley expressed that the global shutdown due to the pandemic forced him into all kinds of thoughts, hence the themes explored and subject matter of the lyrics.
Riley and his team capture some of the searing thoughts and feelings about the global health crisis in tracks such as The Great Equaliser, and Babylon Warfare, two tracks which look into the social, economic and political effects of COVID-19.
The personal effects on interpersonal relationships are shared in Connect Again. This track which features long-time collaborator Konshens, and is described by Riley as the ‘girl tune’ of the album. The Riley/Konshens hit Good Girl Gone Bad still remains a favourite. This track again highlights their chemistry.
The racial tensions in the United States and the Black Lives Matter movement are also injected into this musical account of the times. Riley provides a cover of Poor Immigrants, a track previously recorded by his late father Jimmy Riley.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Riley does provide a respite and moments of gratitude and redemption in tracks such as Blessings, the prayerful Remember Me and the uplifting and resolute My Fire.
Popular artistes Dexta Daps and Teejay also make appearances on The Healing.
“What I want my fans to take away from The Healing is just to give thanks. One of the things this time has shown us is that we should not take anything for granted. I could have been doing a number of other things, but I stopped to provide this project… something coming from my heart,” said Riley.
Produced by his musical director, saxophonist Dean Fraser, and long-time collaborator Shane Brown, The Healing could stand as a historical document in years to come, having captured the mood and feel of people in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masicka racked up the views for his new video, “Just A Minute.”
Masicka is once again on his way back to what is seemingly his favorite chill spot—#1 on trending—with his latest set of visuals for “Just A Minute.” Released a couple hours ago, the video is currently number 7 on trending and has racked up over 100K views on YouTube already.
The Genahsyde recording artiste has recently been appointed as an ambassador for Dragon Stout, adding to the sold-out worldwide gigs and International Reggae and World Music Award (IRAWMA) nominations that have followed him into a successful, lucrative year. The deejay has made consistent strides in his nearly five-year career and is back to take over summer 2020 with a scorching new banger for the ladies.
Filmed on location at Sabina Park, Masicka matches the playful metaphors of the song with scenes fit for flexing with some hot ladies.
“Wull on mek me tell dem how mi grow fi a minute/ Get ****y fast neva slow fi a minute/ Suit out to di shoes mout’ mi nuh gimmick/ Shoot out every tools out mi a bring it/ Get di food doh buy a new house every minute/ Have a few house inna di pool house mi ah dig it/ She ready fi do it all, yeh mi trick it/ If yuh hear she lick di ball ano cricket,” he spits.
The horns featured in the riff of the Dunwell produced hit come to life as members of a marching band clad in bright red on the field surrounding the ‘Leader” deejay as he lays bars across the driving beat.
Continuing on his “winning streak”, this latest video is set to rise to the top of streaming charts, possibly outperforming “Grandfather,” which was viewed almost as many times as the Beenie/ Bounty Verzuz Battle after its premiere in May.
The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division announced multiple arrests in the murder investigation.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Pop Smoke, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division revealed on Friday (July 10). According to an LAPD news release, the suspects include two teenagers and three adults, the latter of whom were identified as Corey Walker, 19, Jaquan Murphy, 21, and Keandre D. Rodgers, 18.
The LAPD claims that the suspects are gang members who were involved in Jackson’s murder in February, and in the murder of an 18-year-old victim who was gunned down last year in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
No other details were released as both investigations are ongoing.
Pop Smoke, whose birth name was Bashar Jackson, was gunned down at a temporary rental home in the Hollywood Hills while visiting Los Angeles. The 20-year-old Brooklyn native was the victim of an armed robbery, per the LAPD.
JA Outlaw is banking on the success of his latest single, ShowLoyalty.
“I wrote Show Loyalty because loyalty is a lifestyle not just a word. It’s easy to say ‘Yow, I’m real!’ but actions speak louder than words. Time will reveal all,” said JA Outlaw.
The single, Show Loyalty will be the first single to be released from his upcoming EP. Produced by Brilli Production, Show Loyalty is now available on all digital platforms.
JA Outlaw is also generating a huge buzz with Life Nice, released on the Dengue rhythm, alongside heavyweight stars such as Alkaline, Intence, and Jahvillani. The rhythm project is produced by Countree Hype Music.
“I just dropped both the visuals for these songs and they’re doing great. I also have some features with Fantan Mojah and many more songs. I also dropped a video for my song, Prolific, off the Creation rhythm with Brilli Production and Gold and Goals Production out of New York,” he said.
JA Outlaw is working with production houses such as Roehampton Production out of New York City, and Brilli Production to complete the tracks to his debut EP.
“Since 2011 when I released my first single Senorita on YouTube, produced by Zeej Sterling, I have been working hard, and my music has been out professionally on YouTube, but now, 2020 is the year of discovery,” he said.
Born Andrew Meeks from Mitchell Town, Clarendon, he started doing music when he moved to Kingston at 14 years old. He attended Tarrant High school and once he graduated, he began visiting studios all over the Corporate Area to hone his craft.
“Well my mother and father are both great singers in their respective churches. So from a young age I was singing in church on the choir, so it’s in the blood. My uncle was a local DJ but never got to do it professionally, but he inspired me to follow my dream,” he said.
JA Outlaw is a professional songwriter and he has penned many songs for other artistes in the business.
“All of my songs are written by me. When I’m in the studio working, I’m in my element, in my zone…music is my life, my passion, my love,” he said.
The Smiths sat down for a special episode of ‘Red Table Talk.’
As promised, Jada Pinkett Smith brought herself to the infamous red table but she wasn’t alone. Will Smith joined his wife to address August Alsina’s claims in a special mini-episode of Red Table Talk that premiered on Friday (July 10).
Jada confirmed that she was once in a relationship with the 27-year-old singer while “separated” from Will. According to Jada, things with Alsina started out as a platonic friendship before turning into something more.
“As time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August,” she admitted.
The actress went on to clarify that Will never August “permission” to date her. “The only person that can give permission in that particular circumstance is myself,” she said. “I could see how he would perceive it as ‘permission’ because we were separated amicably and I think he also wanted to make it clear that he’s not a home wrecker — which he’s not.
“I was in a lot of pain. I was broken. I definitely realized that you can’t find happiness outside of yourself, and luckily enough, you and I were going through a process of healing in a much different manner,” Jada told Will. “I would definitely say we did everything we could to get away from each other only to realize that that wasn’t possible.”
Later in the talk, Will asked Jada what she was looking for in August. “I just wanted to feel good,” she said. “And it was really a joy just to heal somebody.”
The couple, who have been together for 25 years, also revealed their relationship mantra: “We ride together. We die together. Bad marriage for life.”
