After one strong year in the business, the deejay faded from the spotlight as other dancehall contenders took over the reins.

With an edgy style combined with his ‘gangsta’ image and his signature phrase ‘yes, yes’, Munga first broke into the business with his hit song Nuh Bad Like I in 2006. A slew of other hits followed with producer Don Corleon at the wheel with Bad From Wi Born, Flippin Rhymes, I Came To Take My Place and Earthquake.

big plans

While still making songs and releasing his debut album Bad From We Born in Japan last year, Munga has failed to ignite the fire he once had among fans and on radio. When THE STAR caught up with the deejay recently, he said he believed he still had what it would take to regain his throne, and he has big plans in the making.

In a telephone interview, Munga, born Damian Rhoden in St Mary, explained that he had just returned to Jamaica after a show in Costa Rica and before that, was in St Vincent. Since returning, it has been back to the studio where he’s working on his untitled sophomore album, an album that will be released on his new label - Hill Top Records.

Munga said, “Right now, I’m releasing some new singles, my album will comprise three singles from Don Corleon called Don’t Beg Fren, Anyweh We Go on his Pulse rhythm and an exclusive unreleased single. There will also be singles from DJ Frass and I have a few out for Russian now, he’s actually suppose to be building some beats for me as we speak. I have my label working on with my new artistes Sustain and Mad Rhymes.” This album he says, unlike his debut, will be geared at the US market.

While Munga is still working on getting a location set up for his studio, he says he plans to expand more in the business and take his career in his own hands. Hill Top will be involved in artiste management, but Munga will mostly be involved in production work alongside producers Jerome Blake and Richard Pearson of Mosiah Music.

Working with producers such as Russian, Frass, Mafia and Suku from Ward 21, Munga says everything is still good between himself and Don Corleon, who played a major role in ‘bussing’ his career.

When asked about how Corleon felt about him releasing his next album on his own label, he said, “Well, we never sat down and spoke about it but I don’t think is a problem. Don have more than one artiste to focus on, I don’t think I should wait hand and foot on him in every aspect.”

next big break

Nor will Munga be waiting around for his next big break in music, as he believes he is on a gradual path to being a hit once more.

“Since Vybz Kartel and Mavado got so big, I was di last artiste to get such a break to the top. When I was making my debut, there was Matterhorn at the top. I just have to expand di horizon. Di dancer
dem have it right now, so mi just haffi tek it from Ding Dong” he said.

Currently, Munga has a video doing well for Pay Di Bill/Short of Nutten medley and is planning another video for his songs on the Survivor and Nuh Fear rhythms. In the future, Munga says fans can expect him to be as prolific as ever, comparing himself to veteran Bounty Killer, bussing new artistes and expanding more in the business.

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His manager, Flexx (from dancehall group T.O.K), said they were heading to the studio when they were stopped by police, who were doing a routine spot check. After searching Flexx, Chucky and the car, Chucky was found with the weed.

bailed by Flexx

He was later taken to the Half-Way Tree Police Station, where he was held for a couple hours before he was bailed by Flexx.

However, efforts to confirm the incident with the Half-Way Tree police were unsuccessful.

The Monster Twins are known for songs like Gyal Dem Want Wi, Suh Di Ting Set Up and Gal.

Currently, the Monster Twins are working on their new album that they hope to release next summer and are currently finalising a distribution deal for the album. They also plan on releasing a single called Do Or Die and according to Flexx, “they (Monster Twins) did a correction to Merital’s My Money called Serious”.

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The often-shy Marco-Dean was celebrating his third birthday and got the support from family, friends well-wishers and the media.

The Jamaican Michael Jackson ensured that the kids who turned out were richly entertained while the MC duties were shared between Fancy Cat and Pretty Boy Floyd.

Both Beenie Man and D’Angel stood as proud parents throughout the evening as the support mounted during proceedings.

merry-go-round

A bounceabout and merry-go-round were made available for the children who, in return, took full advantage.

Beenie Man believes it is always important for parents to make the necessary effort for their children, even if they are overwhelmed with a busy schedule. “It’s always important to be there for your children. Both parents should be there no matter how busy you might be,” he said.

Music was also provided and the children got the opportunity to show off their dance skills to songs like QQ’s Stookie and Beenie Man’s Chakka Chakka.

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Member of the duo, Patrick Gaynor, said there are rumours circulating about the song, which speaks about west Kingston leader Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who could face life in prison if he is extradited and then convicted by United States
authorities.

don send out orders

“The rumour is that the don send out orders seh di song nuffi play and nutten nuh go so. Dem a seh di song ban and di don send out orders fi anybody weh play it,” Gaynor told THE STAR.

He said many persons like the song and people from Coke’s area have no problem with it.

“We never sensationalise or embellish anything. We just say what is out there. Tivoli good with the song. It seem like somebody a try stop the popularity of the song,” Gaynor said.

“We know exactly who but that politics is for another story. Twin of Twins come under pressure from people weh nuh waan wi highlight certain things. Everything weh dem a hear negative a rumour. The song is still in heavy rotation,” he added.

Like Which Dudus, Gaynor said their other big song, Bait Mi Up, is also doing well.

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The Grammy-award winning, Billboard Chart-topping, platinum-selling dancehall superstar will also be performing on the show. The show will be aired on BET tonight at 11.

Sean Paul’s latest album, Imperial Blaze, has been setting records, as shortly after its release, it won the award for Best Reggae Artiste at the Soul Train Music Awards, held last Tuesday night in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Queen of Comedy got her space in the growing talk-show industry when The Mo’Nique Show premiered on October 5 at 11 p.m., as part of BET’s new fall line-up.

Starting this Thursday the event will be held weekly at the Building in New Kingston, formerly the Asylum, over the course of three months.

Street Vybz Thursdays was the brain child of its originator Vybz Kartel. In a recent interview with THE STAR, Kartel’s business partner Corey Todd explained more about the event saying, “the idea came from di teacha to do something weekly so the people could see him and also to donate to his community. It’s also a way to get the Street Vybz brand out there more.”

spin-off

Street Vybz was launched in April of this year, a spin-off of Kartel’s ‘Vybz Rum’ brand. Every Thursday night at the Building, there will be Street Vybz specials, ladies free all night, a mechanical bull contest, guest selectors each week and it is to be hosted by various members of the Portmore Empire. “Kartel will be performing or hosting it on a regular so you can look to see him there directly. The brand has been doing well and is distributed island-wide and we’ve also been showing our support by sponsoring a number of dancehall events” Todd said.

Proceeds from the venture according to Todd will be used to buy computers for various primary schools in Portmore, an after school programme is in the planning phase and a playground will be erected in Waterford (Kartel’s hometown). Todd elaborated, “this is all gonna happen very soon and so far we’ve spent money from our pockets, so as soon as the dance starts to make money
we’ll hopefully start by next month.”

Adding, “For the after school program we want to teach job training skills, hire people to work with our products and to work in the Kingston area. Jobs are lacking in these communities and the high school drop out rates are high, so we plan to address all of that.”

‘gaza laws’

Recently the ‘gaza’ name which is associated with the deejay, has been getting negative attention after it was reported that a female was beaten for breaking the ‘gaza laws’ in the ‘Big Yard’ community on Mannings Hill Road. This has been the latest in a series of incidents involving over zealous fans. Todd hopes to show through this venture, that the ‘gaza’ name is not a negative one saying, “we do a lot of good stuff as well, we provide a lot of jobs and are doing great things for the dancehall that hasn’t been done before.”

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After being on hiatus the past couple of years, this year’s show will be taped at the Georgia World Congress Center on Tuesday, November 3 and will be aired on both BET and Centric (the channel formerly known as BET J) on Sunday November 29.

The line-up of performers include Trey Songz, Ryan Leslie, Chrisette Michele, Ledisi, Brian McKnight, Melanie Fiona and many others. This year’s show will honour the careers and musical influences of Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds.

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The artiste recently received high praises for his show in Atlanta, Georgia despite opposition from the gay activist movements to have his shows cancelled. Meanwhile, Joe Sanchez, City Commission Chairman for Miami Florida, issued a statement earlier this week denouncing the artiste’s anti-gay lyrics - which was done early in his long-standing career. Banton is scheduled to perform on Halloween night at Reggae Bash 2009 at the City-owned James L. Knight Center.

In the statement, Sanchez was quoted as saying, “I cannot believe in a time of world economic, poverty and hunger crisis - when we all need to bond together as one human family to uplift our brethren - we have an ‘artist’ who encourages violent acts against gay people in his venomous lyrics.”

He further said, “the First Amendment gives this man the right to spew his hatred from the stage. If we tried to ban him from using a City facility because of his message, we would endanger the very right to free speech that empowers us to speak out against homophobic ‘performers’ and others who ignorantly and viciously attack the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.”

Rather than rallying for the show to be cancelled Sanchez is encouraging persons to “answer Banton’s violent and hateful lyrics” with a peaceful civil protest outside of the venue. Since it was announced that Banton and fellow deejay Beenie Man were the headliners for Reggae Bash 2009 , gay activists from the region have been petitioning for the show to be stopped. When The STAR previously spoke to the promoter Andrew Minnott, president of Global Vybz Entertainment, he said he would not be ‘bowing’ to the demands as it was a matter of freedom of speech.

The new chapter in the ongoing fiasco comes in light of Banton’s controversially received meeting with gay activists in San Francisco, (USA) earlier this month.

Following the cancellations of a number of the shows for his tour, Banton attended a meeting with gay activists at the Courtyard Hotel
. The meeting was organised by the San Francisco mayoral candidate and supervisor Bevan Dufty. The meeting was also attended by SF gay community centre representative, Rebecca Rolfe, activist Michael Petrelis, Banton’s representative Tracii McGregor and others.

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Her latest single called Love Found Me, produced by Bulbie follows up on her song, Clearly, which was released last year.

“People are still talking about that song,” she said. She claims artistes such as Tanya Stephens and Tony Rebel were impressed by Clearly whereas Irie FM’s Elise Kelly described it as an anthem for women.

The 20-something Old Harbour High graduate hopes Love Found Me does even better and helps to propel her career that has been five years in the making.

good men

“It’s a beautiful song about love and I think women will be very receptive and men will love it as well because it highlights good men for a change,” she said. “It’s a positive song. It’s about finding that someone that causes you to change your views about love.”

She added that the mixing on the song is now complete and it should be out sometime this week. She has been working on the song for a about a month and a half and plans to release it on ZIPFM, IrieFM and other major radio stations.

“Good work takes time,” she said.

This latest release also marks a comeback of sorts for the singer, who took a short break after her mother, Cynthia Bramwell, unexpectedly passed away in August.

“I took some time to heal and still healing,” she said, explaining that her mom’s passing made her realise just how painful heartbreak is.

told you twice

Now back she also has another single set to be released a few weeks after Love Found Me hits the streets. The song, Told You Twice, is one of two she is currently working on and offers the warning, “Stay out of my life, I have had enough,” she said laughing. In Your Arms, on the Judgement Yard label, is the other song she has done but yet to be released and on which the finishing touches are being applied at the Mixing Lab.

For next year she hopes the hard work she has put into her career will begin to start paying off and she will be one step closer to her goal.

“What you put in is what you get out,” she said. “So you have to be positive and do good work.”

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It is Mr Vegas’ second number one single for the year on the BBC charts following the huge success of I Am Blessed.

“This is massive, to score my second number one for the year on the BBC reggae chart. I could not have asked for a better year, I just have to continue to give thanks to the fans who support the music,” he said.

adults-only show

Over the weekend, Vegas brought his high-energy performance to shows in Guadeloupe, the first, a teen event during the day, before rocking an adults-only show at the same venue, the Lakasa Musik nightclub in La Jaille, Guadeloupe.

“It was great. Both performances sold out. Only Beenie Man I see do something like that, selling out a venue two times in one day, when he did it at the Cactus years ago. I just feel great that the show was a success and the promoters are pleased with the result,” he said.

Vegas said he performed reggae classics by Bob Marley and Chaka Demus and Pliers during his set for the teens.

“That is my way of keeping the reggae music alive and introducing it to a new generation of fans, who might not be otherwise with the music. And they responded well to Maxine and the Bob Marley songs and dem love Heads High,” he said.

Recently, Mr. Vegas stepped up the promotion of his breakout Gallis/Sassa Step single by making appearances on the popular television programmes CVM Hitlist and TVJ’s Intense and Impact shows.

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