Gaza Gully beef escalating?

876.com are saying that Movado’s Range Rover was shot up and that this shooting follows Kartel’s car being fire bombed – although the entertainer says it was an “electrical fault”.

It also reports that the situation on the Gully side – aka Movado’s home area of Cassava Piece in Kingston is tense right now.

Anyone got any more info on that?

I am hoping that Movado is not going the same way as Sizzla in August Town.  Read more about that in this blog post.

Gaza or Gully?

Photo by h-sinc

Rather than paintings of Haile Selassie on the walls in Kingston, you are more likely to see tags saying Gaza or Gully right now.

Photo by amataiclaudius

The battle going on between dancehall artist, Vybz Kartel (who’s uncompromising and tough sound from the streets gives him the Gaza tag) and Movado – the singjay, a cross between DJ and singer – better known as the Gully God because of the place he comes from in Kingston- Cassava Piece, with its’  huge gully running through it.  This photo is not Cassava Piece, but just in case you’re wondering what a gully looks like.

So Gaza or Gully?

I have said on this blog before, that I am long standing Kartel fan, but I was feeling Movado more.  But there’s been a turnaround.  Kartel is back on top.  I’m really feeling his track, Money on My Mind and even ramping shop I was liking that.   But will musical battle spill over into violence?  I don’t reckon so, but with the mix of social problems that inner city Kingston has, I can understand why some might be worried.  Are you?

Reggae Reggae gongs

I was on the red carpet interviewing artists one year at the MOBOs in London.

I remember speaking to among other artists Wayne Wonder – there was a time in my life that I kept bumping into that guy,  I ended up dancing to No Letting Go at my wedding – it spoke to me that song!

 The reason why I bring up the MOBOs is to say that are so many duff reggae awards that are handed out on in the world even the well respected Grammy’s is not somewhere to look for recognising new talent and award to the more established and successful artists – 2009 Grammy winner for best reggae album went to Burning Spear for Jah Is Real.  Which is not really doing it for me I’m afraid – have a listen here. 

This is the reason why a reggae award ceremony happening on May 3rd 2009 is worth writing home about.   It is unfortunately happening not in Jamaica the birthplace and home of reggae, but Jamaica, New York - where they can afford to put on a televised event and arrange flights for all the invited artists and also reap the profits that come with it.  Jamaica itself is not in a financial position to afford even the annual reggae sumfest as it’s reported that organisers are asking the government to help them with funding.  Jamaica and the reggae bailout plan!

It is the Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards and top nominations include Movado, Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica and Mr Vegas – I’ve been listening to Mus Come A Road all weekend.  

Now this is a reggae awards ceremony worth covering.

Mavado in the US

Article in the LA Times on dancehall artist Mavado.

Here’s a version of Mavado’s ‘On the Rock’ – called We Need Barack !

and one of his latest tracks.. Inna Di Car Back

Sting is coming

This is the concert that I have always wanted to go to but never have yet. Every year I’m like, wouldn’t it be great to go, but I still never have. One day, one day.

It is a legendary concert. The proper ghetto concert – not for the faint hearted. Go there expecting some shots to be fired!

It happens in Portmore every Christmas time. Run by the promoter called Leng – proper name Isaiah Laing from Supreme Promotions.

It’s the 25th concert this year and it has been launched by Portmore native, Vybz Kartel (who’s been busy promoting Ramping Shop!)

Laing of course and none other than Renato Adams. Adams is a more than controversial police man. To just get a flavour of how controversial he is take a look at some of these newspaper headlines about him – here and here.

Gosh I could write a very long post about Adams, but this is about Sting.

2004 I was set to go but life got in the way – that year was when Kartel bottled Ninja man in the face and there was a lot of blood.

There is always some beef between the artists that has to get hyped up – but hopefully it won’t lead to any actual violence this year. In the past, the big beef has always been between Bounty Killer and Beenie man – but them two are ready to collect their pension now!

It’s all about Kartel and Mavado nowadays.

I always loved Kartel the best – whenever I have met him and interviewed him he has made me laugh and i’ve always been blown away by his eloquence and sense of humour. I like the guy and I’ve always liked his songs.

But I don’t feel like that anymore – since Mavado, Kartel just seems like old news. Mavado is singing about Jamaica now – he’s got the sadness and the grief in his voice.  Kartel has got the bravado and cockiness and cheekiness which I think is the past. Today’s Jamaica is much more serious. Read more about this years’s Sting line up and details here.