The event is tonight, May 2, 2010, at York College Performing Arts Center located at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd in Jamaica, New York.  The event is dedicated to “health awareness” and the “people of Haiti.”

More than 150 nominees will vie for the coveted “IRAWMA” statuette in 30-plus categories honoring Reggae and World Beat entertainers for their outstanding contribution to the international music community.

Jamaica’s sing/jay Queen Ifrica captured nine nominations and set an IRAWMA record for most nominations in a single year for a female artist. Other leading contenders include: Tarrus Riley (six nominations); Machel Montano and Gramps Morgan(five nominations each); Julian Marley, Sean Paul and Macka Diamond (four nods each); followed by Barbee, Beenieman and Vybz Kartel with three nominations each.

Grammy award winning songstress India.Arie and fellow IRAWMA nominee Gramps Morgan share a Best Crossover Song nomination for their duet on the single “Therapy”.  In addition, India. Arie and lyricist Matisyahu are each slated to receive the Martins International Award of Honor.

Wyclef Jean and Rev Al Sharpton will receive the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award for their tireless efforts in the community. Veteran entertainer/songwriter will receive the Producer’s “Respect” Award. Music pioneers Maurice “Jack Scorpio” Johnson, Noel “King Sporty” Williams, Tony Ryan and Tony Greene will be inducted into the IRAWMA Hall of Fame. Radio personalities Trevor Forde, Ron Muchette, Donovan Longmore and Ricot Dupuy will be honored with a special award for their contribution to music, arts and culture.

Past IRAWMA events have spread the awards pretty evenly across the major performers, so it remains to be seen whether there will be any surprises in what has generally been a feel-good industry event in the past.

Reggae singer-songwriter Julian “Ju Ju” Marley has been nominated for four International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA). “I give thanks to the IRAWMA award staff and to all the fans that continue to show their love and support,” says Marley. JuJu’s IRAWMA nominations comes on the heels of a Grammy nod for Best Reggae Album the talented artist received for his third studio album entitled, “Awake” that was co-produced with his brothers Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley, on Ghetto Youths/Universal Records.

Gramps Morgan, Mojo Morgan and the group Morgan Heritage, the children of Denroy Morgan have amassed a great body of work over the last 12 years. Gramps, up for five IRAWMA nominations, shares a “Best Crossover Song” nomination with India.Arie for their duet on “Therapy.” Passionate about his latest recording project, Gramps is putting the finishing touches on a Country and R&B album that is set to hit stores later this year.

Jamaica’s sing/jay Queen Ifrica captured nine nominations and set an IRAWMA record for most nominations in a single year for a female artist. The daughter of Ska pioneer, Derrick Morgan, Queen Ifrica is described as a “lioness on the rise.” A versatile performer Queen can sing the sweet melodies of traditional reggae and rock the mic dancehall style like a seasoned veteran.

Tarrus Riley has been surrounded by music from an early age as the son of Jimmy Riley. His third album, Contagious is up for “Best Album/CD” and his single, “Good Girl Gone Bad” a duet with Konshens received a “Best Song” nod. Tarrus is also up for “Entertainer of the Year”, “Best Male Vocalist” “Recording Artist of the Year”, and “Most Culture/Educational Entertainer”.

Reggae veteran Freddie McGregor is nominated for “Most Consistent Entertainer,” while his sons Stephen(Producer of the Year) and Chino(Most Improved Entertainer) are nominated as well. Daville, son of Jah Thomas is nominated for “Best Male Vocalist”. Junior Reid’s sons, Andrew and Wadada Blood received a nod in “Most Improved Entertainer”. Femi Kuti, son of Nigerian legend Fela Kuti is nominated for the “Best African Entertainer.”  Other leading  IRAWMA contenders: Machel Montano (five nominations); Sean Paul and Macka Diamond (four nods each); Barbee, Beenieman and Vybz Kartel with three nominations each.

Among the performers for the 29th IRAWMA, are: Julian Marley, Machel Montano, Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel, Alison Hinds, Gramps Morgan, Barbee, Dean Fraser, Winsome Benjamin, Tarrus Riley, New Kingston Band, Mutabaruka, Dean Fraser, Brigadier Jerry, Awilo Longomba and a host of other international reggae, and world music superstars.

Advance tickets for the IRAWMA are $120 platinum(includes VIP reception), gold/main floor $75 and $49 general admission (ticket price more if purchased at the door).  Tickets are available at www.irawma.com and www.ticketmaster.com, or 800/745-3000 or 877/9-REGGAE and selected from sponsors’ locations. An after-party will immediately follow the event at Club Tobago in Jamaica, NY.

In 1981, Jamaican photo-journalist Ephraim Martin staged the first “Reggae Awards” in Chicago. Over the  last 29 years the annual event has traveled to Miami, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, New Orleans, New York and Jamaica drawing record audiences in each location. The International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) honors Reggae and World Beat entertainers for their outstanding contribution to the international music community. Reggae and World Music industry experts select the top entertainers for more than 40 categories. Music fans across the globe are then given the opportunity to vote for their favorites, the nominee with the most votes takes home the coveted trophy. The International Reggae & World Music Awards has grown into the oldest and longest running annual Reggae and World Music event.

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Billboard Magazine reports that Barber has begun a campaign targeting reggae artistes, bands, and reggae music producers regarding participation in the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the group that bestows the Reggae Grammy every year. Her objective is to increase the number of reggae-related voters in the Recording Academy in time for the 2011 Grammy nominations by at least 100 people from around the world.

Barber has gone on to tell Billboard that “the only people voting in the reggae category are those who are not in the know” and “the few who are actually voting do not represent our industry.” She explained that when a typical non-reggae member of the Recording Academy is handed a list of 40 – 60 qualifying albums, they tend to simply opt for familiar names. This process leads to the widely-criticized process that seems to favor well-known classic reggae artistes.

Currently, there is only 1 Jamaican voting on the Reggae Grammy award in the Recording Academy.

For starters, Barber will hold an industry conference in Jamaica from January 21-25 to explain the Grammy nomination process to Jamaican music executives. A key component of the conference will be a discussion of the Academy’s requirement that a Reggae Grammy nomination must be returned to the Academy’s Los Angeles offices within 2 weeks of the original postmark. This process makes it difficult for Jamaican and other international participants to vote in time, so many potential Caribbean participants never even explore the other requirements of gathering creative credits and paying a membership fee.

Barber has worked hard for several years to finally achieve her goal of allowing participants to vote electronically, via email. This year she has finally succeeded, so the postal problems will no longer be an issue for the 2011 Reggae Grammy nomination process. The form also includes a “referred by” option for new members. She promises to assist any new Academy members with the voting process if they list her as the referrer. Bill Freimuth, the VP, Awards of the Recording Academy says it’s likely that all Grammy voting will switch to an online process in the coming years.

Now she’s working to build participation and awareness within the reggae community, explaining that “winning a reggae Grammy offers a level of recognition that impacts sales, radio play and concert demands, essential elements in establishing a new generation of reggae stars. I wouldn’t be doing the genre, the artists or Jamaica justice if I didn’t embark on this campaign.”

Barber would know: she produced the 2005 Reggae Grammy-nominated Def Jamaica album. She’s also the former President of the Marley family’s Tuff Gong and Ghetto Youths labels. Her next step will be to work to add a Dancehall Grammy category.

The Best Reggae Album Grammy was first awarded in 1985 and is typically won by Jamaican reggae artists. The 52nd Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday at 8 p.m. This year’s nominees for the Best Reggae Album Grammy are Gregory Isaacs, Sean Paul, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley and Buju Banton.

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The 2010 Reggae Film Festival will be held in Jamaica’s Hilton Kingston hotel from February 25th through February 27th.

The Reggae Film Festival will open with a red carpet gala on February 25 for the premier of the Japanese reggae documentary Ruffn’ Tuff – Founders of the Immortal Riddim. The film includes appearances by Leroy Sibbles, Bob Andy, Gregory Isaacs, and John Holt, some of whom may also be in attendance. The screening will be a memorial tribute to recently-deceased rocksteady founder Lynn Tait.

All events will be held in Jamaica’s Hotel Kingston, primarily in the ballroom, which will serve as a cinema for the evening screenings and opening gala. The Hilton Kingston is also offering special deals including discounted rates for a Reggae Film Festival package and daily meals.

The Reggae Film Festival will include full-length films, documentaries, and music videos from both domestic Jamaican directors and international reggae filmmakers. Films from Hawaii, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Brazil will all be shown, including:

• The 80s cult film Babylon by Franco Rosso.
• Made in Jamaica from French film maker Jerome Lapperousaz.
• The world premiere of Don McConnell’s Reggae in the Ruff.
• A rare documentary of Lee “Scratch” Perry.
• A short film telling the story of Randy’s Records in Kingston, Jamaica, which later moved to the US and became the worlds largest reggae distributor.

Films will be judged in 9 categories, including Best Film, Best Documentary and Best Music Video. A select panel of judges will decide on the winners, with some audience participation expected as well.

Several international film celebrities have been invited to attend, including noted director SPIKE LEE, rapper/actress EVE and

In addition to the films, Jamaican actor Roger Guenevere Smith – who has appeared in 8 Spike Lee films and in American Gangster alongside Denzel Washington – will deliver a lecture on reggae film. Former boxer Lennox Lewis is also expected to attend as he is building his own film career in Jamaica.

2010 Reggae Film Festival Lineup

Many of these films are available as DVDs from www.reggaefilms.co.uk.

Concrete Jungle by Kurt Fuller (2010)

A new Jamaican feature film about a fictional character Singy, from Concrete Jungle, one of the roughest ghetto’s in Jamaica. Singy’s childhood friend’s are some of the most notorius killers of the Bangers Gang. As a youth Singy experienced the outbreak of violence and it’s destructive eruption in the community between the Bangers and the devastated Mafia Gang. Because of the intense love Singy has for Dancehall music he decided to persue his musical career. In doing so Singy was seen as a major enemy through the eyes of the opposing side of the gangs.

Reggae in The Ruff by Don McConnell (2009 world premier)

This isn’t your average Reggae documentary, this one travels deep into Reggae Rasta consciousness and captures the essence of Reggae on film. Through a series of interviews, live musical performances and reasoning with Rasta musicians we get to learn more about the essence of reggae music and begin to understand what reggae means to those who create it”

Rastafari: Then & Now by Joel Gordon & Patricia Scarlett (2009)

Nation Cheong, a Rastafarian community youth worker and African drummer is concerned about youth violence and wonders if the principles and values of Rastafari has something to benefit today’s youth. To find an answer to his question, he gathers a group of Black youth and takes them on a journey of discovery into Toronto’s Rastafarian community. Along the way, he re-connects with some of his elders and also discovers that he has a few unanswered questions about his walk with Rastafari. This leads him to travel to Jamaica, the birthplace of Rastafari, for the very first time.

Duke Vin & The Birth Of SKA by Gus Berger (2008)

London in the 1950’s was a cold place if you were one of the thousands of newly arrived Jamaicans. Discrimination and racial tensions culminated in fierce riots in both Nottingham and Notting Hill Gate. It was in this environment that the Jamaican soundmen; Duke Vin and Count Suckle arrived in the UK. They both stowed away on a boat from Kingston and brought with them a sound that was sweeping across the small Caribbean island and would later change the face of music in the UK. This was the sound of ska! Now in their 70’s, Vego and Vin, both continue to do as they have always done, promoting and pushing Jamaican music. Daddy Vego is still running his record store and plays a vital role in the Ladbroke Grove community with his youth projects and street fairs. Duke Vin is still a deejay, playing on sound systems at the Notting Hill Carnival and to packed clubs such as Gaz’s Rocking Blues in Soho.

Rasta’s Paradise by Parine Jaddo (2008)

Rasta’s Paradise is a documentary about Rastafarians during the 60th Birthday commemoration for Bob Marley in February 2005. It is all shot in Ethiopia starting in the capital Addis Ababa and then travels to Shashamene, the land that was given by Emperor Haile Selassie to Diaspora Africans. Rastafari ways are explained as well as the interconnections between the Diaspora blacks, Africa, origin of the movement, connections to the Jamaican black leader Marcus Garvey, and the reason for repatriation to Ethiopia. With the divinity of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie a central rallying point amongst the various groups within the Rastafarian family, they all insist on and the need for peace in the human family.

Coping With Babylon by Oliver Hill (2007)

Coping with Babylon explores the Rastafarian experience in the West, following the transformation of the Rastafarian movement into a recognized and popular religion of the world, Set against a backdrop of controversial world affairs, Rastafarians are vocal about their opposition to “the system,” taking action according to their interpretation of the Bible, the teachings of Marcus Garvey, and the example of Haile Selassie I. This documentary features interviews with Rastafarian leaders including Ascento Fox, Barry Chevannes, Prince Emanuel and recording artists Mutabaruka, Luciano, Morgan Heritage, Freddie McGregor, Elephant Man, and Beenie Man.

The Story of Randy’s by Christopher & Clive Chin (2007)

Randy’s Record Mart was founded in 1958 by Vincent & Patricia Chin. Their retail enterprise went on to become VP Records; the world’s largest reggae distributor & record label. This film tells the story of the Kingston, JA record shop and it’s ascension to one of Jamaica’s leading recording studios (known as Studio 17) in the earliest days of reggae music. The Story Of Randy’s is a documentary about the Chin Family and the golden age of the mythic Randy’s Studio. This film features some rare archive footage and interviews with legendary artists like Lord Creator, Ken Boothe, Stranger Cole, Derrick Harriott, Niney The Observer, Johnny Dizzy Moore, Jah Stitch, Big Youth, Sly Dunbar, Earl Morgan from The Heptones, and Pat Kelly.

Ruff’N Tuff: Founders Of The Immortal Riddim by Shizuo Ishi (2006)

This Japanese reggae documentary features Gladstone “Glady” Anderson, Lynn Taitt, U-Roy, Alton Ellis, Bob Andy, Stranger Cole, Shiburusu Leroy, Johnny Moore, John Holt, Gregory Isaacs, King Tubby, Carlton Manning, Stephen Stanley, Yellow Man, Cleveland “Kurivi” Brownies, Takatsu Yoshinao, and others.

Destination Jamaica AKA Rastafarian Dreams by George Tait AKA Jungle George (2004)

Destination Jamaica takes us on a journey back to the 1980′s when George left his home in Woodstock, Canada on the journey of a lifetime and fortunately for us he documented his journey on one of the first ever handheld camcorders available to the general public. George ended up staying in Jamaica for almost 20 years. The film takes us to the remote area of South Broughton, George documents his experiences while living with a local Rasta family ‘The Sommervilles’ to whom he later became lifelong friends.

Road Through The Blue Mountains by Barbara Blake Hannah (2002)

The Road Through The Blue Mountains, is both a figurative and literal route – one which exposes some of the purest locales in Jamaica, its natural history and culture. It is an almost spiritual excursion, in many ways the story of Blake Hannah’s experience living in the mountains, but also the story of the mountains, their residents and future.

Rastafari by James Ewart (2001)

A about Rastafari, featuring: Omaal Wright, Barry Shevannes, Yassus Afari, Barbara Blake-Hannah, Dawn White, Mortimo Planno, Mikey Beard, Ray Smith, Shakes Shankai. The Rastafari movement was founded upon the belief that the 1932 coronation of Haile Sellassie I of Ethiopia marked the second coming of Christ, a perception bolstered by the writings of Marcus Garvey. Present-day adherents in Kingston, Jamaica discuss its spiritual meaning as well the religious significance of reggae music, marijuana use and dreadlocks.

Kids Paradise by Barbara Blake Hannah (1996)

Kids Paradise is a childrens adventure made by Barbara Blake Hannah in 1996. This screening is ‘Shasta Runs Away’ – a stressed young fashion model runs away from the hotel where she is to perform, and her brothers get help from some boys to find her. As a reward the brothers invite the boys to stay at their home in Negril, where they have another crime-solving adventure.

Rastafarians of Jamaica by Aran Patinkin (1995)

Jamaican Rastas believe themselves to be the only authentic carriers of the Hebrew spirit and the Jewish destiny. Like the Jews, they felt the bitterness of exile, they suffered the terrible effects of racial prejudice and cultural alienation and they, too, yearn to return to their Zion – Ethiopia. They also have a messiah, the Emperor Haile Selassie, whom they believe to be a direct descendant of the holy union between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The film displays the unique Rasta rituals where they elevate themselves towards the divine with the help of reggae music and marijuana.

Journey Of The Lion by Fritz Baumann (1992)

Life in Jamaica for the Rastafrian Howard A. Trott and his children Irey and Makeba is a day-to-day struggle for survival. His only real hope of his faith in repatriation to Africa, the home of his forefathers, the “Land of the Lions”. Brother Howie has never left Jamaica. And then one day he suddenly receives a letter from his sister in London who he has not seen for thirty years. Her invitation entices him to commence a 6-month journey. The filmteam accompanied Brother Howie for half a year across three continents and documented his encounter with the land of his dreams: Africa.

Babylon by Franco Rosso (1981)

Babylon is a gritty, neorealist account of the lives of a group of West Indian youths living in London. Unlike most films about reggae music and culture, Babylon doesn’t explore the sunny side of Jamaican life or West Indian gangland culture; instead, it looks at how the implicit radicalism of reggae mirrored political and social concerns in the urban areas outside Jamaica where the music was so enthusiastically embraced.

About Jamaica’s 2010 Reggae Film Festival

The Jamaica Film Academy founded the Reggae Film Festival in 2008. The 2010 Reggae Film Festival is produced by a Planning Committee led by film maker and film festival organizer Barbara Blake Hannah. She said that since the first Reggae Film Festival in 2008, there have been many spinoffs, with festival films being invited to international events and winning awards, but these all have served to achieve the Jamaica Film Academy’s main objective: to promote Jamaican film culture and increase opportunities for Jamaican film makers.

Blake-Hannah, who presented Jamaica’s first film festival in 1974 and has produced several more since, has been a guest of international film festivals in Venice, Cuba, Iraq, and Cannes. She is also producer/director of several films and worked on film productions including “The Harder They Come”, “A High Wind in Jamaica” and “Kla$h”. She and British film archivist Peter Gittins of Reggae Films UK conceptualized the first Reggae Film Festival in 2007 as a special event with private sector support. Mrs. Hannah continued developing the idea while working as Consultant to the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports on various projects including the planning and procedures for the first Reggae Month in 2008, into which the Reggae Film Festival was eventually incorporated with some government support.

The Jamaica Film Academy’s aim is to see the Reggae Film Festival become an annual date in Jamaica’s events calendar that will provide Jamaican films with the needed international exposure that they deserve. Four different films have been made as a direct result of its first event in 2008 and two films premiered at the Reggae Film Festival 2009 have won international awards, evidence of just how important this event is.

The Jamaica Film Academy invites members of the Jamaican film industry and local businesses to help the Reggae Film Festival grow bigger and better. Further information on the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON can be had at the official Reggae Film Festival website at www.jamaicafilmacademy.org.

The organizers are interested in hearing from anyone who would like to support or collaborate with the Reggae Film Festival. If this sounds like you, get in touch with them via their website at www.reggaefilmfestival.com. You can also contact jamediapro@hotmail.com
for more information.

Travel to Jamaica’s 2010 Reggae Film Festival

Every evening of the 2010 Reggae Film Festival promises sightings of famous reggae stars, film makers, and directors on the Hilton Kingston’s red carpet. Every evening’s screening will be followed by after parties featuring homegrown reggae, ska, dancehall, and rockers.

The Hilton Kingston in Jamaica is offering the following special packages of room and board for travelers interested in attending the 2010 Reggae Film Festival in Kingston, Jamaica.

For reservations for the Reggae Film festival, email info@jamaicafilmacademy.org or call the HILTON-KINGSTON Hotel at 876-926-5430.

Room Only (w. Continental Breakfast)

• Garden Room – US$85.00 per person, p .n.
• Tower Room – US$105.00 per person, p.n.
• Executive Club – US$165.00 per person, p.n.

Reggae Film Festival Package A:

• Garden Room – US$350 (Single) US$380 (Double)
• Tower Room – US$410 (Single) $460

Includes:

• 4 Days/3 Nights Accommodations as Selected
• Breakfast Daily
• Access to 3 Film Festival Screenings
• 2 Lunchtime Film Programmes
• VIP Invitation to Official Welcome Party & Opening Night Reception, Awards Presentation
• 2 VIP Passes to all Reggae Film Festival After Parties
• Day Tour to: Port Royal, Bob Marley Museum, or Blue Mountains (Picnic Basket by request)
• Optional Airport Meet and Greet and Private Car Transfers to and from the Airport
• Expert Travel & Concierge Services of the HILTON KINGSTON At-Your-Service Desk™

Reggae Film Festival Package B:

• Garden Room – US$280 (Single) US$330 (Double)
• Tower Room – US$320 (Single); US$370 (Double)

Includes:

• 3 Days/2 Nights Accommodations as Selected
• Breakfast Daily
• Access to 2 Film Festival Screenings, 1 Lunchtime Film Programme
• VIP Invitation to Opening Night Reception, Awards Presentation
• 2 VIP Passes to all Reggae Film Festival After Parties
• Day Tour to: Bob Marley Museum, Blue Mountains (Picnic Basket by request)
• Optional Airport Meet and Greet and Private Car Transfers to and from the Airport
• Expert Travel & Concierge Services of the HILTON KINGSTON At-Your-Service Desk™

Reggae Film Festival Package C:

• Garden Room – US$120 (Single); US$150 (Double)
• Tower Room – US$150 (Single) US$175 (Double)
• Executive Club – US$ 210 (Single) US$220 (Double)

Includes:

• Overnight Accommodation – 1 Night
• Continental Breakfast
• Access to 1 Film Festival Screening, 1 Lunchtime Film Programme
• VIP Invitation to Opening Night Reception or Awards Presentation (as per night selected)
• 2 VIP Passes to Reggae Film Festival Opening Reception/ After Party/Awards Presentation
• Optional Airport Meet and Greet and Private Car Transfer to and from the Airport
• Expert Travel & Concierge Services of the HILTON KINGSTON At-Your-Service Desk™

The Hilton is also offering the following add-ons and possible options for attendees of the 2010 Reggae Film Festival:

• Extra Nights
• Room Upgrades
• Reduced price for additional Ticket
• Additional Tours
• Daily Car & Driver Rental

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Update: this article is part of a continuing series about Buju Banton’s arrest, accusations, and trial. For more information about the trial, please see these related articles:

1. Buju Banton mistrial, new trial in December, September 27
2. Buju Banton still waiting for drug trial verdict, from September 24
3. Buju Banton cocaine defense lawyer claims entrapment, from January 27
4. Buju Banton drug arrest: dancehall reggae star buys cocaine from undercover cops, from December 15, 2009

They say a good offense is the best defense, and apparently David Oscar Markus, Buju Banton‘s lawyer, agrees. He turned up the heat on a anti-Banton conspiracy theory when he filed court documents yesterday, Tuesday, January 26, 2010 claiming that Banton only attempted to purchase the cocaine after being convinced to do it by a government-paid informant.

The move is a good one, since Buju Banton is reported to have sampled the drugs before making the purchase and (if you believe the US authorities) was caught red-handed. He was arrested in Tamarac, Florida back on December 10, 2009 and pleaded not guilty to the drug charge in a federal court in Tampa, Florida.

The US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) has filed an affidavit claiming that they received a tip from a “confidential informant” regarding the drug deal. The informant wore a wire to record drug negotiations with Buju Banton. Later, at a meeting in an “undercover warehouse” the agents claim that Banton and 2 associates sampled a 20-Kg load of cocaine from an undercover law enforcement officer in Sarasota, Florida.

In order to win the entrapment defense in a US court of law, Banton’s lawyer Markus must prove that Buju wasn’t “predisposed” to purchase cocaine and wouldn’t have engaged in the criminal behavior if the government hadn’t induced him to do so.

To do that, Markus is arguing that the government’s secret informant courted Banton for months, making repeated attempts to interest him in a cocaine purchase.

In fact, some of the government’s secret recordings may help Banton’s case, as Markus has argued that some of them include Banton’s “repeated attempts to putt off” the secret informant’s efforts to interest him in a drug deal.

Buju Banton’s lawyer is attempting to have the government’s secret informant’s name is revealed. He’s also making inquiries into how much the informant was paid and whether he has a past criminal record. Perhaps he’s hoping to show that the informant had so much to gain from entrapping Banton that he overstepped the bounds of a legal undercover investigation.

Buju Banton pleaded not guilty in Tampa federal court to charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm during the course of the cocaine distribution. His trial is currently scheduled to start in March 2010 and he’s being held without bail at Pinellas County Jail.

If convicted, Banton could face a sentence of life in prison.

Buju Banton, born Mark Myrie, is a 36-year-old Caribbean singer renowned for his husky voice and controversial lyrics. After making waves for his dancehall work in the early 1990s, he has more recently transitioned to a roots reggae style celebrating a Rastafarian lifestyle. His most recent album Rasta Got Soul, is nominated for a Grammy Reggae Album of the Year. He also recently won a 2009 IRAWMA award for best crossover song with John Legend.

Buju Banton‘s career has been marked by controversy and international protests regarding his the homophobic content of his early works. Banton’s reggae Grammy nomination is being protested by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation via an online petition.

This story was first reported by the Tampa Bay, Florida newspaper the St. Petersburg Times.

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One of these nominees will win the best reggae Grammy at the 52nd annual Grammy awards:

• Rasta Got Soul by Buju Banton on Gargamel Music, Inc.
• Brand New Me by Gregory Isaacs on Tad’s Record
• Awake by Julian Marley on Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic
• Mind Control — Acoustic by Stephen Marley on Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic
• Imperial Blaze by Sean Paul on VP/Atlantic

Sean Paul‘s Imperial Blaze won the 2009 MOBO award and includes the single So Fine.

Last year’s Grammy Award was won by Burning Spear. (Even though the awards are provided in 2010, this isn’t the 2010 Reggae Grammy – that will be next year.)

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This is not an unexpected move for Xie Tianxiao, as his band Cold Blooded Animal‘s previous album, 2008′s There is Only One Desire, included reggae themes and CBA’s bassist Guo Jian is also the leader of Taoist reggae band The Way of the Dragon God.

For Xie Tianxiao, The Chinese style of reggae will also be a homage to Bob Marley, who personified the Jamaican brand of reggae before his death in 1981.

“I have been always fascinated by him and planned for a long time to make a reggae album. Now I have,” Xie Tianxiao says. “In combination with Chinese traditional sounds you create a complete new style of music.”

One such traditional Chinese instrument, the guqin, has a history of more than 5,000 years and belongs to the family of “zither” instruments. “You need to have the feeling for playing it. Just practising is not enough,” he said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency.

He describes music as like an ocean: “Its the endless vastness I get my ideas and inspirations from.”

The rock star, who was awarded Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and Best Live Performance honors at the Midi Awards at the end of October 2009, first came into contact with reggae during a year-long stay in San Francisco in 2002.

The fascination remained after Xie Tianxiao and his band, Cold Blooded Animal, decided to go back to China. They regarded their style as too similar to Western bands and they preferred to develop an individual style in which their Chinese origins would be obvious.

About Xie Tianxiao and Cold Blooded Animal

Xie Tianxiao, who was born in 1972 in the town of Zibo, Shandong Province, started his music carrier at the age of 9 in the role of “The Monkey King” in a local opera production of “Journey to the West.”

In 1990, he began composing his own songs and moved to Beijing, forming Cold Blooded Animal in 1997.

A contemporary leader of the Chinese alt rock scene, 12-year-old Cold Blooded Animal has undergone many changes to it’s lineup. Current members include Xie Tianxiao (vocal/guitar), Li Ming (bass) and Wu Rui (drums). Cold Blooded Animal also records as 谢天笑与冷血动物 (Xie Tianxiao and Cold Blooded Animal). Their music fuses grunge, acid rock, and punk music.

Cold Blooded Animal released a self-titled debut in 1999.

Between 1997 and 2002, Xie Tianxiao and Cold Blooded Animal performed hundreds of gigs in China, Europe, Japan and the United States, where they were the first Chinese rock band to appear at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

In 2004, the band released the album Xie Tian Xiao X.T.X and also renamed the band with this title. That was the first time the band broke with the three-instruments mode and adopted traditional Chinese instruments.

You can hear more of Xie Tianxiao‘s music at Last.fm and learn more about the band on the Rock in China Wiki.

If you’re interested in hearing more Chinese dub and reggae, check out D&R member reggaechina, AKA Jiang Liang.

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Sean Kingston Videos

• Video of Sean Kingston singing the Marley classic No Woman No Cry in a live concert
• Sean Kingston singing Take You There video
• Sean Kingston singing Push It video
• The Sean Kingston Face Drop download story has a music video and a video interview

Sean Kingston’s Life

Sean Kingston was born Kisean Jamal Anderson in Miami, Florida on February 3, 1990. He is the grandson of legendary reggae music producer Jack Ruby. He moved to Kingston, Jamaica, the geographic heart of reggae music, when he was 6 years old, where he was raised by his sister and mother. In 2005, when Sean was still in high school, his mother and sister were incarcerated for 1 year and 4 months, respectively.

“When my mother and sister went away, it took a lot out of me,” Kingston explains on his MySpace page. “I thought to myself, ‘This is too much.’ I was only 15. I missed her like crazy.”

These events began a turning point in Sean Kingston’s life and future career as a pop reggae star. First, he moved back to Florida, where he borrowed a friend’s computer and got active on MySpace to stay off the streets and out of trouble. Once online he began developing his own reggae fusion sound and building a network of friends and musical professionals, the most important of whom was superstar music producer J. R. Rotem.

After discovering Rotem’s MySpace page, Kingston began emailing him several times every day, until Rotem finally gave him a break, offering to meet the hopeful teenager in Los Angeles, California, and listen to his music and singing.

This was a lucky break for both Sean Kingston, who was moving to LA to live with his brother, and for Rotem, who was searching for a lead artists for his new Beluga Heights label. When he heard Kingston, Rotem was struck by what he described as Kingston’s “distinct sound” and “limitless potential.”

Rotem quickly signed on as executive producer for Sean Kingston’s debut album, also entitled Sean Kingston, a modern fusion reggae album with featuring the hit single Beautiful Girls. Sean Kingston was released in partnership between Beluga and Epic Records. His sophomore album, Tomorrow, is scheduled for release in late August 2009.

Related Sean Kingston news

• Sean Kingston – Face Drop free MP3 downloads
• Sean Kingston – Fire Burning on the Dancefloor free MP3 downloads
• Fire Burning by Sean Kingston is USA Today’s Pick of the Week
• Sean Kingston Labor of Love concert
• Sean Kingston wins 2007 MOBO Award for Best Reggae Artiste

Sean Kingston’s Music

Sean Kingston successfully matches his melodic, crooning voice with well-produced tracks, resulting in songs are notable for 3 reasons:

1. They are frequently chart-topping hits, thanks to Kingston’s talent and enthusiasm as well as Rotem’s deft production decisions. With only 1 full record released to date, Kingston already has 4 top 10 hits under his belt (Beautiful Girls, Me Love, Take You There, and Fire Burning), a platinum album, and more than 3 million digital singles and 3 million ringtones sold at the time of this writing.
2. They blend reggae, pop, hip hop, and other musical genres into an addictive sound. Sean Kingston’s international upbringing exposed him to a variety of musical flavors, which he mixes into singles that sound both fresh and classic. Beautiful Girls pulls the bassline and some lyrics from a doo wop hip. Me Love’s melody has its roots in classic rockers Led Zeppelin‘s D’Yer Mak’er. The initial singles from Tomorrow have dancehall and hip hop sounds.
3. Kingston keeps his lyrics clean. At a time when hip hop and dancehall music – the 2 genres that Kingston bridges – are criticized for violent, denigrating, and sexually explicit lyrics, he writes hopeful, uplifting songs about love and life. Sean Kingston once said “if I can write a great track without using those words, then that’s the style for me.” It’s the style for many other people too: in addition to his own reggae pop albums, Beautiful Girls and Me Love both appeared on the Kidz Bop vol. 13 compilation album. Kingston won a 2007 Teen Choice Award and has toured with kid-friendly pop star Kelly Clarkson.

Sean Kingston’s Take You There.

Beautiful Girls, Sean Kingston‘s Debut Smash

In May 2007, at the age of 17, Sean Kingston released Beautiful Girls, his debut single from his first album, Sean Kingston. The track introduced audiences around the world to Kingston’s blend of pop, reggae, hip hop, and R&B, and listeners responded favorably: Beautiful Girls spent 3 weeks at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100, topping the UK and Canadian charts as well. It was also featured in the indie movie Cloverfield and was used in American TV shows including Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, and The Hills.

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Dub Echoes was produced by a Brazilian crew, in Kingston, Jamaica, London, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. It has won numerous international film awards.

Dub Echoes trailer

Here’s the Dub Echoes trailer, courtesy of Vimeo:

Dub Echoes – trailer from Bruno Natal on Vimeo. The trailer sountrack is Deb dub by Digitaldubs versus Dubiterian.

Dub Echoes DVD launch party

The Dub Echoes DVD was released in a launch party at Cafe 1001 in London. The event kicked off with a screening of Dub Echoes to a standing-room-only crowd. After the screening, Bruno Natal, Don Letts, and Adrian Sherwood handled a Q&A session with the audience.

After all the watching and talking, things got down to business with a party featuring dub sets with Don Letts, Adrian Sherwood, Cotti, and Cluekid. The movie was popular, but the party had people lined up outside the club!

Here’s Adrian Sherwood‘s set at the Dub Echoes DVD release party:

Here’s Cotti‘s set at the Dub Echoes DVD release party:

We initially reported on the Dub Echoes documentary 2 years ago, when it was still a lot of hype and anticipation. It’s great to hear that it’s been so successful!

More information:
The official Dub Echoes movie website
The Dub Echoes Flickr feed

Bruno Natal’s next project is Our Coachella, a documentary about Coachella 2009 made from user-generated footage.

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Top IRAWMA award nominees included dancehall deejay Mavado (8 nominations), reggae crooner Beres Hammond and dancehall rapper Elephant Man (7 nominations each), reggae vocalist Etana and reggae singer/deejay Queen Ifrica (5 nominations each) and Mr. Vegas (4 nominations. Given these artists’ popularity and wide range of nominees in all categories, it seemed certain that someone would go home empty-handed. But they didn’t.

The IRAWMA awards are determined by votes from fans and the music industry, but unlike other hidden-ballot music awards where standout performances tend to sweep multiple categories, the IRAWMA awards were evenly distributed, with nearly every A-list attendee taking home an award.

Longtime reggae star Beres Hammond took home the Entertainer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year Awards with his recent release of A Moment in Time, but was passed over in the Recording Artist, Male Vocalist, Best CD, and Best Song categories (the last was a particularly surprising split – the year’s best songwriter did not pen the year’s best song?). On the dancehall front, Mavado was awarded the Recording Artist of the Year and Best Song Awards, but his genre-busting hit “On the Rock” (recorded with hip hop luminary and mega-producer Jay-Z) didn’t win the Best Crossover Song category. In a final twist, Queen Ifrica and Etana were tied for the best female vocalist awards, with Etana also winning the Best CD and Queen Ifrica winning Best Female DJ/Rapper.

Decide for yourself: you can read the 2009 IRAWMA nominations list and compare it to the final awards list:

• Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year – Beres Hammond
• Recording Artist of the Year – Mavado
• Best Male Vocalist – Tarrus Riley
• Best Female Vocalist – Queen Ifrica & Etana (TIE)
• Best Song – Mavado “So Special”
• Best CD – Etana “Strong One”
• Best Crossover Song – John Legend & Buju Banton “Can’t Be My Lover”
• Best Gospel Song – Stitchie & Elephant Man “What A Mighty God”
• Best Female D.J./Rapper – Queen Ifrica
• Best Male D.J./Rapper – Beenie Man
• Best New Entertainer – Serani
• Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer – Alison Hinds
• Best Reggaeton Entertainer – Daddy Yankee
• Best Latin Entertainer – Shakira
• Best Compas Entertainer – Nu-Look
• Best African Entertainer – Alpha Blondy
• Best Soukous Entertainer – Awilo Longomba
• Best Hip Hop/R&B Entertainer – Lil Wayne
• Outstanding Contribution to World Music – Wyclef Jean
• Most Outstanding Stage Personality – Machel Mantano
• Best Music Video – Stephen & Damian Marley “The Mission”
• Best Poet – Mutabaruka
• Most Educational Entertainer – Morgan Heritage
• Most Outstanding Show Band – Machel & Xtatik Band
• Most Consistent Entertainer – Calypso Rose
• Most Promising Entertainer – Lutan Fyah
• Most Improved Entertainer – Tanya Mullings
• Best Instrumentalist – Dean Fraser
• Best Backing Band – New Kingston
• Most Popular Selector – Stone Love
• Concert of the Year – Irie Jamboree
• Promoter of the Year – Sumfest
• Producer of the Year – Steven McGregor
• Songwriter of the Year – Beres Hammond
• Award for Spiritual Service thru Music – Lutan Fyah
• Community Service Award – Ziggy Marley, U.R.G.E.
• Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award – Shaggy
• Best Song in Tribute to Barack Obama – Cocoa Tea – “Barack Obama”

Special awards included:

• International Reggae & World Music Hall of Fame/Lifetime Inductee – Clive Hunt, King Short Shirt, Sweet Honey in the Rock
• Master of the Caribbean Award – Mighty Sparrow
• Martin’s International/Inter-Culture Award of Honor – Granville Straker
• Award for Contributions to Music, Arts & Culture – Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange
• Producer’s “Respect” Award – Usain Bolt
• Awards of Appreciation for Contributions to Music Industry – Owen Dalhouse, Brigadier Jerry, Road Int’l, Heavy D

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Nominees for IRAWMA awards include dancehall deejay Mavado, nods in eight categories, Beres Hammond and Elephant Man with seven nominations each, Etana and Queen Ifrica each grabbing five nods, and Mr. Vegas with four nominations. Other nominees include Shaggy, Machel Montano, Morgan Heritage, Duane Stephenson, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Ziggy Marley, Wyclef Jean, Serani, Jazmine Sullivan, Luciano, Tony Rebel, Tarrus Riley and Stitchie, among others.

The full list of International Reggae and World Music Awards nominees and categories includes:

The event will include live musical performances by nominees Etana and Queen Ifrica, joined by Beenie Man, Cocoa Tea, Mighty Sparrow, Alison Hinds, Tarrus Riley, Dean Fraser, Calypso Rose, Tony Rebel, Gramps Morgan, Lt. Stitchie, Awilo-Soukous Band, Barbee, Mutabaruka, D’Angel, Duane Stephenson, Machel Mantano, Mutabaruka, Allison Hinds, and poet Malachi.

“We are very pleased with the response we are now receiving from the Caribbean and the rest of the world, and the respect that IRAWMA has been getting,” states Ephraim Martin, President of Martin’s International and Associates. “When we think back 28 years ago, there was no form of recognition for reggae or world music entertainers. Today, from all corners of the globe, world beat
music entertainers now have their special awards to look forward to each year.”

The 28th IRAWMA is now the talk of the town in and around New York and the Caribbean, as media, entertainers and fans from far and near are making preparations to be a part of the glamour and excitement, and to walk the red carpet on Sunday May 3rd at York College Performing Arts Center, in Jamaica, Queens, New York.

Visit www.irawma.com for more inforamtion.

American Airlines, which has served the Caribbean region for 38 years, is again the official airline sponsor of the prestigious made for television 28th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), which is produced by Martin’s International & Associates, LLC.

Tickets for this grand gala celebration of world and reggae music are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or 800/745-3000; also from IRAWMA 877/9-REGGAE and the York College Performing Arts Center box office 718/262-2840. Advance VIP tickets are $150 and general admission tickets $75 (more at the door). Tickets are also available at selected sponsors’ locations.

The official hotels are the JFK-Hampton Inn Hotel and JFK-RAMADA Plaza Hotel. You must mention “Reggae Awards” to get the special rate. Of course, American Airlines has returned as the official carrier. Please contact American Airlines at 800/433-7300 or visit www.aa.com.

The sponsors for this coveted event include: American Airlines- Official Airline Sponsor, American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Coca Cola, Western Union, Carib News, Irie Jam Media, Inc, LinkUp Media, Inc, JAMROCK Magazine, Inc, Carib News, TriFold Graphics and Printing, LLC, Sam’s Caribbean Market Place/Sams24-7.com, Dennis Shipping, Transcontinental Shippers, CVM TV, Keeling Records, DJ Steve’s Tax Services, Street Hype Newspaper, AVAGROW.COM, ONE CARIBBEAN RADIO 740 AM WNYH & ONECARIBBEANRADIO.COM, Blue Print The Magazine/Metric Bar & Grill, Dalhouse Production, Uptown Juice Bar, Drive Time Radio, Bennett Limousine/Bridal and Wiltshire Limousine.

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