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Stefflon Don Giving Back To Her Roots: “Jamaica is special to me”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Stefflon Don is definitely enamored with Jamaican culture. That’s not difficult to understand since both her parents were born in Jamaica. Her love goes beyond simply the culture, and she intends to give back to the island that has helped to influence her musical career.

The songstress was in Jamaica to host an event in the community of Denham Town in Kingston. While there, she took some time to host a back-to-school event which she shared helped her get a close-up view of the struggles many families have to endure.

The “Moments” singer also provided grants to parents who wanted to explore small business ventures. Denham Town is well known for its high levels of crime and is one of the communities that has been declared a Zone of Special Operation (ZOSO) by the Government. The hope is that they can help the area turn from its already bloody past and become a safer area for the residents.

Stefflon Don’s first line of action will be to do motivational speaking in schools across the island. That’s just where she intends to start, but she aspires to visit classrooms worldwide to impart her wisdom and hopefully inspire students.

This is also just the beginning of her intention to give back to all the fans who have helped her build a steady and growing career. When it comes to Jamaica, she explained that the country is very special to her and that she felt the time had come to focus on it and help out however she could.

The British-based artist said there was no better time to get moving than now as the island celebrates its 60th anniversary of Independence. She also explained that Denham Town, and all the people there, are part of her roots, so she felt that it was only right that she give back in a way that the people of the community would truly benefit.

“The number-one thing I learnt is that despite the hardship and challenges the people can still find a smile and that epitomises resilience of a people. I love the Jamaican people for this,” she told the Star.

The “16 Shots” singer continued on to say that she believes that education is one of the most real ways to uplift, elevate and give hope and renewed motivation to any community facing serious challenges. In this regard, she believes she is an ideal candidate to start giving back.

“I feel like this is my mission on Earth because I am blessed with a talent … which is music … and from that music I am blessed to be able to make a good enough income to live off … but I also feel like that income should be shared. So, by the grace of God I will make a lot more money and give a lot more to the people who need it,” she added.

The “Senseless” artist also said that she would love to get even more done for the Jamaican youths. She hopes to be able to give them advice on how she was able to rise above her own challenges to become a globally successful artist.

Stefflon Don has a new song out now with Vybz Kartel.

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Sizzla Calls For Vybz Kartel, Ninjaman Freedom, Performs Buju Banton’s ‘Boom Bye Bye’

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Sizzla shout-out some dancehall legends in prison, namely Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman, while paying homage to Buju Banton by performing the now disbanded classic single “Boom Bye Bye.”

The Judgement Yard icon was in his element last weekend when he performed at the Good Times party in Kingston, along with new artists he is mentoring. If you’re a fan of Sizzla, then you will know he has been one of the best live performers in reggae/dancehall for the past decades, and he is never one to shy away from controversial moments like fire burn the LGBTQ community or calling out other artists.

Around midway through his performance, Kalonji paused to hail his family and some of his comrades behind bars, including Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman, while calling for their freedom. “Big up all the youths them in a jail, Kartel, Ninjaman, and the whole a dem. Big up all a me family its time leggo the black people them now,” he said on stage before diving into performing his classic “Dry Cry.”

Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman, who have both beefed in the past, are both serving life sentences for murder. It’s unclear if they are currently housed at the same prison facility, but we do know that the former Portmore Empire leader is currently at the Horizon Remand Center.

Sizzla also caught the attention of dancehall fans who have been reacting on Twitter when he injected some lyrics from Buju Banton’s controversial single, “Boom Bye Bye.” During the performance, Kalonji said, “All ah the people them weh know say them love da party yah seh boom bye.”

Sizzla also questioned if he even could single the song. “Ah who sing da song deh?” he asked. “Mi cyaan sing da song deh, cause them fraid fi sing it?”

Urban Islandz reported in 2019 that Buju Banton issued a permanent ban on the song he released in 1992. The reggae/dancehall icon recorded and released the song when he was a teenager, something he said he has since grown and now has a different perspective.

“I recognize that the song has caused much pain to listeners, as well as to my fans, my family and myself,” Buju said in a statement sent to Urban Islandz. “After all the adversity we’ve been through I am determined to put this song in the past and continue moving forward as an artist and as a man.”

Buju Banton issued the ban just before his big performance at Summerjam in Germany. At the time, he had recently been released from prison, leaving some fans to speculate that he was pressured by the LGBTQ community to denounce “Boom Bye Bye.” His rep at the time, Ronnie Tomlinson, later denied that the singer was pressured to disband the song.

Banton has not performed “Boom Bye Bye” since around 2007, before his arrest in the United States and subsequent 10-year prison sentence for a drug conviction. It’s very unlikely he will ever perform the song again after causing him a lot of problems overseas in the past.

“Boom Bye Bye” is undoubtedly one of the most infamous anti-gay songs in reggae/dancehall history. Sizzla Kalonji might just help revive it from the trash bin.

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Nicki Minaj Vents After YouTube Hit Her Video With Skeng With Age Restriction

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Nicki Minaj is blasting YouTube for adding an age restriction on her “Likkle Miss Remix” music video with Skeng. On Monday afternoon, Minaj called out YouTube as well as her label for adding the restriction or letting it be added.

According to YouTube, an age restriction might be added to a video after reviewing the content.

“When a video is age-restricted, viewers must be signed in and 18 years of age or older to view it,” the platform said.

Additionally, age-restricted videos are screened for content that has, violence, disturbing imagery, nudity, sexually suggestive content, and portrayal of dangerous activities. On Monday, Minaj claimed that YouTube was being unfair to her and that they were “in bed with a certain record label and [management] company].

“Imagine this. They restricted my f***** video but have things a million f**** times worse on their BOGUS F*** PLATFORM. this is what they do to keep you from winning while doing ads for other ppl and posting FAKE F*** STATS,” she wrote on Instagram.

Nicki Minaj Instagram

She also cursed out the label. “Because the same ppl who run YouTube are in bed with a certain record label and mngmnt company,” she added.

Nicki Minaj also theorized that there was a scheme at play to deprive her of views after the remix first dropped and lashed out at her employees at her label, whom she called “DUDS.”

Meanwhile, there were mixed reviews of Minaj’s claims, with some agreeing that the rapper’s algorithm had other artists on it when her music was searched. Others claimed that Minaj’s tactic was to generate controversy to get the song’s numbers up.

“They really have to start telling these artists the truth about these numbers and how restrictions work because this is actually pretty normal to receive from YouTube lol,” another added. “Organic reach is everything but if you want to reach more ppl outside of your target audience then you pay to run them ads (which does work). That might not be her method but it is a common method and it’s prettt stupid to knock if we being honest lol. & most importantly you don’t need a machine to do it. I too would cross promo my video on her channel, the fan base numbers speak for themselves!! Why run an ad where an audience doesn’t exist? Are we slow now?”

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DJ Akademiks Apologize To Reginae Carter, T.I. And Toya Johnson Speak Out

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

DJ Akademiks apologize to Reginae Carter for calling her a b**** after T.I. and Toya Johnson called him out.

DJ Akademiks stepped on a lot of toes, but he has hardly been checked seriously until now after he made disparaging comments about Lil Wayne’s daughter Reginae Carter in a rant on his podcast. In a sit down with Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy on The Breakfast Club, AK apologize for calling her the “B” word but says he is not apologizing for using the word as a whole because rappers are constantly using it.

Akademiks is known for his controversial actions that are often directed towards women. Some of his most disgusting moments, which he tries to spin as being controversial, have been directed at the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Ari Fletcher, Cardi B, and even Nicki Minaj.

While many of those personalities have ignored DJ Akademiks, it seems that his obsession with women’s business has crossed the line as rapper T.I. and Reginae Carter’s mother Toya Johnson make it clear that he was out of pocket for his comments on Reginae’s past and present relationships.

Over the weekend, a clip from his podcast had the rapper incorporating funny voices while speaking about Reginae and her new relationship.

“Reginae loved hood n***gas, she love YFN Lucci, that was her n***a. Everything was all good with them until she realised n****ga caught a RICO, she seen that murder charge on it, I’ve never seen a chick quickly, Reginae is seeing someone name Armon, I don’t even know who that n****a is, She even downgraded like… she don’t even like thugs anymore,” he said in a clip.

“She got with a n***a who look more feminine than her…she got with a n****a who is like the opposite of gangster, who she can do guessing games,” he said before adding, “You know these b*tches– let me not call her a b*tch. These chicks love a hood n*gga until he’s facing 25 to life,” he said.

Reginae’s mother and businesswoman, Toya Wright Johnson, who is also the ex-wife of Young Money rapper Lil Wayne called out Akademiks for disrespecting her daughter.

“Keep my daughter name out your mouth,” Toya said. Clout chasing is at an all time high. Let her live her 23 yr old life.”

Johnson also addressed him, calling the young lady out of her name. Reginae’s uncle T.I. also called out Akademiks for the remark.

“I would love to have a work with Akademiks, I got to put a call out to him. Hopefully, we can communicate our way through a positive resolution. But Reginae under the umbrella, she covered. I would love to have a word to see if we cn communicate ourselves to a position resolution cause certain sh*t is avoidable, it’s not worth the trouble,” T.I said in a video.

He also shared a caption for the video, making it clear that his niece was not to be played with. The rapper says he has been trying to reach Akademiks by phone and text but has been unsuccessful.

“[Akademiks] Please find the time to Get wit me … I’d love to chat about the remarks you made about my niece. @itsreginaecarter Let’s exchange perspectives…man to man & see if you depart with the same conclusion. She was raised by a village who loves and protects her wit all our physical and spiritual abilities… She is MY business. Hence why I’d love to handle the matter privately (which is why I been calling & txtn’trying to speak with you)… Looking forward to the opportunity to get together SOON. Thx in advance.”

Akademiks has not responded to T.I. or Toya Johnson.

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Bounty Killer Reveals Merciless Died From Drug Overdose

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Bounty Killer shared that late dancehall artist Merciless died of a drug overdose.

The Warlord is responding to critics from some quarters of the dancehall fraternity who are bashing him for not attending the legendary clash artist’s funeral. Merciless, whose real name is Leonard Bartley, was laid to rest last week Sunday (September 18). The artist died on July 1 at a motel on Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew. The 51-year-old artist’s death shocked dancehall fans, particularly as he was not only young but was reportedly not ailing up to the time of his death.

Merciless funeral was attended by Spragga Benz, Don Mafia, Little Hero, Alize, Silver Cat, and Ghost, who were spotted inside the St Gabriel’s Anglican Church in May Pen, Clarendon. However, others who were reportedly close and highly respected by the late singer were curiously absent from his funeral. Both Bounty Killer and Beenie Man, who have a long history with Merciless, were also absent from the farewell leading to fans of the late artist, including Tony Matterhorn calling them out, for not showing unity.

On Instagram, fans of Bounty Killer called him out for not attending the event prompting an acidic response from the artist. On Monday, Merciless manager Harvel ‘Gadafi’ Hart called out Bounty Killer and Beenie Man for not showing up at the funeral. Hart laments that Merciless family included Bounty and Beenie on his funeral program and shares that the late deejay spoke highly of them.

Hart also lashed out at Capleton and Sizzla for not showing up at any of the events or nine-night for the artist.

Over the weekend, an audio clip of Bounty Killer’s interview on 104.1 FM radio station in Cayman started making the rounds where the artist said Merciless died of a drug overdose and lashed out at critics who accused him of not showing up to the funeral.

“A over deh the man go lose it enuh dog,” the deejay said. “A drugs kill Merciless enuh. Is drugs kill Merciless. They just shy to say it. No heart attack or nutten bredren a overdose kill the Don. And we don’t even want elaborate pon the dead man or nutten, but them fi gweh, me nah go a no funeral me a badman. No bwoy cyan ramp wid me inno.”

Bounty Killer added that Merciless wasn’t his friend but rather a co-worker; hence he doesn’t owe his family anything but condolences. “Merciless wasn’t me friend, he wasn’t me colleague, he was just a co-worker,” he said.

Bounty has been criticized for the statement as the audio clip makes the round on social media.

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Dancehall Stars Skeng and Mavado Show Each Other Love In Trinidad

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Dancehall stars Skeng and Mavado link up in Trinidad and show each other love.

Skeng and Mavado have linked up with the senior artist sharing that he was impressed by Skeng’s music and that he loved the work of the younger one. The artists’ appearance together has caused fans to call for a collaboration between the Gully Gad and Skeng.

A now-viral video showed a rare sighting of Mavado as he shakes Skeng’s hand as they have a brief exchange at the airport while being surrounded by members of their respective teams.

“Mi love how ya deal wid it dawg,” Mavado tells the younger artist. “Me and you ago wull a reason enuh,” Skeng promises.

The artists are in Trinidad for the event ‘Life The Concert,’ which features Mavado and Skeng as headliners along with Nessa Preppy, Trinidad Killa, and other artists. The event is being held at Queen’s Park Savannah on Friday night, the night before Trinidad’s Republic Day Holiday.

Meanwhile, on social media, many welcomed the interaction between the two artists, especially since Skeng was very young, while others also called for a collaboration between the two artists.

“That’s how Dancehall ought to be, the old generals and young generals… #onehalladancehall#,” one person wrote on Twitter. “Skeng x Mavado collab wuda sick still,” another said. “Issa new skeng an mavado song soon enuh,” a third person said.

Mavado is currently living in the United States and has not been seen in Jamaica in recent times. In the meantime, the two artists each hold the distinction of being among the few artists to have collaborated with Nicki Minaj.

Skeng’s “Likkle Miss” was recently remixed by Nicki Minaj, while the rap queen also featured on Movado’s chat-topper “Give It All To Me,” which was released in 2014.

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NBA YoungBoy Affiliate D Dawg Arrested After Passenger Died In Police Chase

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

NBA YoungBoy’s close friends and affiliates, D Dawg, has been arrested for the death of another person who was accidentally killed during a chase to elude police.

D Dawg, whose real name is Derian Bailey, was arrested on Wednesday (September 21). The deceased person was a passenger who was in Bailey’s car when it crashed while fleeing from police during a high-speed chase. The Baton Rouge rapper is reportedly in hospital as he was also injured during the accident.

Local news reports say that he has been charged with manslaughter and resisting a police officer. It’s expected that there could be other charges flowing from the incident as police also found a ski mask and weapons in the car.

This is not D Dawg’s first brush with the law. The upcoming rapper at the time of the high-speed chase was out on bond on an unrelated incident. According to the WBRZ, D Dawg’s criminal history span as far back as 2012, when he was just 14 years old and was arrested for the murder of a victim named Derrick Marioneaux. The victim was killed in the vicinity of Wyandotte Street in Baton Rouge.

The victim’s family claimed that the then 14-year-old and two others robbed the victim, who was with his wife and daughter. Dawg had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released after spending eight years.

Shortly after his release from jail, he was again linked to another crime- attempted murder allegedly committed in 2018. However, he was only arrested in early September for that incident.

Dawg was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 bond while he awaited his trial.

D Dawg and YoungBoy share a close friendship. On his Instagram page, D Dawg would often share images and videos of him and YoungBoy as well as their families and children co-mingling.

“Sis sh*t forever,” he had captioned a photo of YB and one of his sons.

D Dawg’s new bond for his latest arrest is set at $19.7 million.

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Yung Miami Reveals The Source Of Her Mental Breakdown, It’s Not Diddy

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Yung Miami is finally opening up about the source of her mental breakdown over the summer.

City Girls rapper Yung Miami says that when she had tweeted she was having a mental breakdown in July, it had nothing to do with Diddy as some had speculated. While on her Caresha Please podcast on Revolt, Trina spoke about the tweet that went viral and had many people reading into it as they felt that she was having a meltdown after her beau Diddy was spotted out with another woman.

However, the Miami rapper revealed that she hit rock bottom despite trying to push forward when her Godmother Trina’s niece was shot and killed back in July. According to reports, Toni Chester, the 17-year-old niece of the rapper Trina, was fatally shot in Miami, Florida. Two others were injured in the incident. Her death was particularly devastating for Trina, who had a close relationship with her niece and raised her as if she was her daughter.

According to Yung Miami, she had never had a chance to mourn her baby daddy, who was killed years before, and when Chester died, she basically shut down and couldn’t function.

“This was the real reason was we had a show in Toronto and it’s like a whole process to get over there…my shit wasn’t together when we got to the airport…I just got off a plane and I just like kinda just went through a death…you know my baby daddy died and I never got a chance to go through the motions because I am always working so it was one of those moments,” she began.

According to her, she had to call off the appearance because her Godmother Trina needed her.

“so it was one of those moments again somebody close to me had died and here ai am trying to go to a show and I’m like going through my emotions and when I got to the airport I was like I can’t do it and I just broke down. It triggered me so bad,” she added as she explained that she called off the show and went to be with Trina.

The Toronto show that Miami was referencing was on July 30th, and Chester had been killed on July 20th. Trina had also recently lost her mother, so it’s understandable that the entire family would be in pain from Chester’s loss.

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DaBaby Raps He Slept With Megan Thee Stallion Before Tory Incident, 50 Cent Reacts

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

DaBaby dropped a new project and made Megan Thee Stallion a primary target earning a reaction from 50 Cent.

DaBaby is getting renewed attention to his career with his new song “Boogeyman,” which claims that he slept with Megan Thee Stallion before she was allegedly shot by Tory Lanez in 2020. The song, released early on Friday, features on the rapper’s new 14-song LP, ‘Baby on Baby 2’. The song also namedrops Tory Lanez and indirectly references the shooting incident.

“You play with me that shit was childish/The day before she said that Tory Lanez shot her, I was fuckin on Megan Thee Stallion,” DaBaby raps.

Megan Thee Stallion was allegedly shot by Tory Lanez in Los Angeles on July 12, 2020. The North Carolina rapper also took a jab at Megan’s current boyfriend, Pardison Fontaine, with whom he previously had a back and forth in June 2021 after DaBaby had reposted featured on a song with Lanez “Skat.”

“Waited to say that sh** on my next album, Hit it the day before too, But I kept it player, I ain’t say nothing ’bout it, Had her pretty boy, boyfriend tweeting me, ready to die ’bout the b***h like a coward, I told you ni*** don’t play, now you gone have to handle me, I poked the mutha**** bear, I’m a animal,” he raps.

Last year, Pardison had called out DaBaby for collaborating with Tory, who is facing felony assault charges. The Charlotte rapper issued a stern response on Twitter after Pardi called him a clown.

In the meantime, there was swift backlash for DaBaby on social media. “Dababy can rap whatever he want about Megan on that album and we still aint gone listen to it LMAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” one person said on Twitter.

“This man doing anything for clout,” one said while another added, “If you falling off just say that.”

“Fell off so hard he disappeared from billboard charts,” another said.

Neither Megan nor Pardi has responded to the song. On the other hand, DaBaby is not fazed by critics and even appeared to mock those who said his career had diminished in the past few months.

50 Cent is among the high profile rappers who are reacting to what DaBaby said in the new song. “Anybody seen the boogie man because i’m a need to hear this sh** right now,” a stunned 50 Cent wrote on IG.

A day before he released the new album, DaBaby shared a message on Instagram about his imminent comeback to music after some fans accused him of falling off. At the time, he didn’t announced the project so it came as a bit of a surprise laced with controversies.

Listen Dababy new song “Boogeyman” below.

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50 Cent Thinks Ludacris Manager Chaka Zulu Murder Charge Is Without Merit

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

50 Cent thinks that Chaka Zulu’s murder charge is without merits.

Ludacris’ manager, Chaka Zulu, is facing a murder charge concerning the shooting death of a man outside of his restaurant back in June. Zulu was arrested earlier in the week but is now on bail. Family members and members of the hip-hop community are speaking up in his defense, with many believing that the Zulu is innocent, and there is evidence that supports him.

On Thursday, new extended videos surfaced showing the events that unfolded and showed Zulu being beaten by a group of men before he fired at the deceased man in self-defense. Among those who are speaking up for Zulu is 50 Cent, who shared a message of support for the veteran hip-hop manager.

“Hold your head. I saw the tapes there is no way you should be charged with anything, the way they punched the young lady that there was crazy,” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram.

According to CCTV footage shared by TMZ, the deceased man Artez Benton was captured on camera on June 26 along with a group of men entering Zulu’s restaurant, Apt4B.

The footage shows the men parking in the valet area and then entering the restaurant before emerging from the restaurant about 10 minutes later. During this time, Zulu is captured on tape speaking to someone in the parking area and then walking towards the restaurant.

Fulton County Sheriff Office

While doing that, he and one of the men in Benton’s group- Tre’mon Robinson- get into a heated exchange. Family members of Zulu say that Robinson was ordered to leave the restaurant.

Things escalate after another man named Corey Crawford is seen going to his vehicle to collect something. Sources tell TMZ that upon Zulu seeing this, he thought that Crawford was going to collect a gun.

At this time, Robinson also appears to assault Zulu as he bumps him in his chest.

Zulu then reacts, but by this time, Crawford and Benton also begin to punch Zulu. A large group of people seems to be fighting, with some coming to the aid of Zulu, who is seen lying on the ground as the three men kick and punch him.

A woman who is said to be Zulu’s assistant was also present at the scene. She was punched in the face by Robinson after trying to intervene to help her boss.

As the woman falls to the ground, Crawford is then seen scrambling for cover behind two vehicles as shots ring out. The video shows Zulu getting up after being jumped and pointing his gun forward and firing in the direction of the man who punched his assistant.

In the video, Benton is seen holding his chest and trying to crawl away. He later died while receiving medical attention. Atlanta police have not addressed the new video circulating. Nevertheless, Zulu is being held for murder, aggravated assault, simple battery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Zulu has maintained that he is innocent. He was also shot during the incident.

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