Black Immigrant Daily News

Vybz Kartel and his attorney Isat Buchanan both called out false media reports about his ongoing appeal on Tuesday.

The artist had filed a November 2021 application to introduce fresh evidence in his ongoing appeal before the Privy Council, Jamaica’s highest court of appeal. The artist’s appeal in the UK, filed in November 2020, is still active before the appellate court, and a decision is yet to be made.

Amid misleading reports that his appeal was denied, the artist called out Jamaican media for hastily reporting false information.

“Like I’ve always said, its like the Star just takes up random people off the streets and turn them into reporters but tell the badmind Jamaica media #TheCometsComing,” Vybz Kartel’s label page.

Vybz Kartel’s attorney Isat Buchanan also shared that the ruling on Tuesday (February 21) meant that the artist was denied permission to pursue his appeal on two aspects but that his substantive appeal is yet to be heard at a future later date.

Fox 5’s Lisa Evers also shared that Buchanan said that reports about the appeal being denied were false.

“…The APPEAL IS STILL ON & that the false reports apparently stem from a misunderstanding of the complicated legal process,” Buchanan said.

via Instagram

Vybz Kartel is presently incarcerated, awaiting the outcome of his appeal. The artist was convicted in 2014 along with Andre St. John, Kahira Jones, and Shawn Campbell.

The legendary dancehall artist was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison for the murder. His lawyers argued that he did not receive a fair trial due to the issues that took place with not only the case being high profile and attracting undue publicity but also because a juror was charged for attempting to bribe the jury foreman and others whom he offered $500,000 to vote not to convict Kartel.

The artist’s attorneys also raised issues with the evidence from Kartel’s Blackberry phones used to convict him, claiming that the phones were tampered with.

Vybz Kartel’s appeal to Jamaica’s Court of Appeal shaved off Two and a half years from his 35-year sentence before he is eligible for parole due to an oversight by the trial judge.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Skatta Burrell has stepped forward to address controversy sparked by Ishawna’s new music video.

The Christian community in Jamaica is once again up in arms at Ishawna, who is accused of “mocking God” and the church in her new music video. The dancehall star knows how to get people riled up, especially as controversy is a feature of dancehall music, and it appears that she has hit the hammer on the head once again. The new song “New Child” features a video showing women at what looks like a church service, mimicking how churches tend to look on a Sunday morning.

On Monday, her producer and manager, Skatta Burrell, hit back at the critics who called out the artist for seemingly “mocking God” because the video concept appeared to be about women in a church service with Ishawna as the pastor.

The music video featured Ishawna on stage in a red dress with a couple of dozen women in church pews acting like they were in a church service. One woman even got up and rolled around in church in the way that videos from actual churches look. Many on social media were up in arms about the video appearing to mock church services where people get the “holy ghost” and sometimes act out.

According to Skatta Burrell, the artist was merely celebrating women.

“Can’t please everyone,” Skatta said in a statement on Instagram. “A few Persons saying that this video [is] disrespecting God. Well Dressed Women coming together in unity celebrating and enjoying an uplifting song that empowers them is now mocking God? That’s not even a real Church.”

He continued, “Some People filled wit resentment in them heart they can’t stand to see others Happy and Being nice to each other. they prefer to see half naked females cat fighting and hating amongst themselves.”

This is not the first time that Ishawna has caught flack for her music. The artist previously received criticism for what some fans felt was disrespect for one of Jamaica’s most iconic women- the erudite Miss Lou after declaring that “[mi] nuh wear tablecloth like Miss Lou,” on Instagram.

Ishawna also faced major backlash after her Ed Sheeran sample of “Shape of You” called “Equal Rights” promoted oral sex for women as recipients. Ishawna drew the ire of many people, including the Christian and Rastafarian communities which condemned her lyrics in the song. Even some dancehall stalwarts like Bounty Killer aired their displeasure at the lyrics and accused the singer of corrupting the youth.

Ishawna, who signed a record deal with New York-based Payday Record last year, has not reacted to the criticisms.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Rotimi and Mya have arrived in Jamaica as he prepares for the post-Valentine’s Day concert ‘Lovers and Friends’ event to be held on February 18 at Priory, St. Ann.

Rotimi arrived on Friday through the Sangster International airport, and he shared that he was excited to be in Jamaica after hearing good things about the country for a while now. This is the first time that the singer/actor is setting foot on Jamaican soil.

“I’m so mad at myself for not being here sooner you know cause this would be my first time,” he says before adding, “I heard it’s amazing and the fact that Bob Marley is my favourite artist ever, it’s embarrassing this is my first time.”

The artist said that he was advised to try everything before leaving. “The food, I need to see everything, I’ve been told to see everything that I can,” he said.

The concert will feature a list of celebrities, including American artist Mya and R&B giant Bobby V, while a raft of local acts will complement the night of love.

These artists include Chris Martin, Sizzla, Alaine, J Written, and British Geeza, and hosted by Mc Blazze with Kurt Riley and ZJ Sparks juggling.

Mya also arrived on Friday at Sangster airport, where she was spotted meeting and greeting fans.

The artist revealed that she was happy to be visiting Jamaica, especially as she was celebrating a career milestone- the 25th anniversary of her first single being released. That song, “It’s All About Me,” was released on February 14, 1998.

The artist who previously collaborated with Beenie Man on “Girls Dem Sugar” said she felt “right at home” in Jamaica. She also shared that fans can expect her to perform as well as dance during her set, and she will be bringing slow jams for the lovers in the audience.

The event is being hosted by Good Vibrations Entertainment. Tickets for the event are VIP $20,000 and general admission $10,000.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Mr.Cheeks of the Lost Boyz link up with Luckie Mazi and Stevey Fresh for a crossover reggae/hip-hop smash hit, “Sexuation.”

Since its release in December, the track has been gaining traction on hip hop and dancehall airwaves internationally. According to producer/artist Stevey Fresh, “Sexuation” is the desire to surpass love in any given relationship between two persons as a passionate result of satisfactory guarantees at any given time and place.”

The single “Sexuation” has an island beat blend with a classic hip/hop sound creating a masterpiece for the listening public. With today’s music being as raunchy as ever, “Sexuation” provides a classy and respectful serene vibe for listeners. The trio produced a Caribbean sound guaranteed to put listeners in the vibe.

Stevey Fresh was born in Belize and is the son of a musician. He immigrated to the United States in 1999 and was introduced to dancehall and rap at an early age.

“As to my audience I would to take you through a journey as I make you dance and understand my cultural music as dancehall and hip hop and rap,” Fresh told Urban Islandz. “I been doing music for some time now did songs and stage performances with great people such as Skinny Gilly — Z Lala — lion — talent- Mantana — and the list goes on . My main focus is to connect with listeners world wide as I manifest my craft.. Music is life and will take you back to that place as you vibe.”

Mr. Cheeks is an American rapper best known for his work with the group Lost Boyz and as a solo artist known for his hit “Lights, Camera, Action!”

Luckie Mazi is a marketing expert/businessman turned music artist. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Mazi is best known for his work in production, marketing, and promotion but is now pushing his career as an artist. In 2011, he moved to Las Vegas, NV, to pursue his entrepreneurial career in the entertainment industry.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

50 Cent agrees with rapper Future that he’s bigger than Jay-Z in the streets because he has more non-charting classics than Hov and is still in the prime of his career.

Back in December 2021, Future stirred controversy after tweeting that he was bigger than Jay-Z. “In the streets im bigger [than] jigga. Ima run me a B up easy,” the tweet read.

Last week, Jay-Z was recently named the No. 1 rapper on Billboard’s top 50 rappers list to mark hip hop’s 50th birthday. The list has ruffled some feathers as some artists were left out while others were positioned in places fans believed were unfair to the artist and their contributions and influence on culture.

It seems that 50 Cent is also of the view that his long-time rival Jay-Z is not deserving of the title and believes that in any race, Future outshines him.

According to 50 Cent, both artists have put in a level of work during the last decade and have equally contributed to the culture, but Jay-Z, while commercially successful, is no match for Future, who is not in his prime.

When asked about Future’s statement that he was bigger than Hov, 50 Cent agreed.“Yeah, he is.”

He continued to justify his answer noting, “way bigger. Like, there’s consistent music from him that didn’t chart that [are] huge records that people love and appreciate that. Later, it may not have the same things to hold onto that you have at points.”

Meanwhile, 50 Cent also reflected on his music, and his earlier lyrics which shared that he was a drug dealer and the rapper was even shot nine times but miraculously lived to tell the tale.

When asked about his fans, 50 Cent shared that fans were drawn to the aspects of his life that were “wrong.”

“The stuff that they see that I’ve learned, it kinda kept me out of trouble at points. The stuff I was saying in the music in the very beginning, I was crazy to tell you the truth, Ari. I was absolutely crazy at that point. Kids fell absolutely in love with me and they were in love with the wrong part of me,” he said.

As if giving his fans a caution, he noted that his earlier life was “The part that won’t actually continue to be successful. The part that people won’t continue to be something that people celebrate. They have to turn into something bigger and better as they go with the new information and new opportunities that come because they’re really street.”

NewsAmericasNow.com