‘Rompin Shop’ Created and Manipulated Controversy
The use Ne-Yo’s successful single ‘Miss Independence’ hit rhythm by Dance Hall  maestro Vybz Kartel on his Did Vybz Kartel create a controversy to manipulate it, I wonder? ‘Rompin Shop’ track may have been a stroke master of genius from marketing perspective given the reported 250, 000 hits on youtube to date. Kartel primary concern here is popularity, fame and money. He knew using Ne-Yo’s rhythm was illegal, because he had not obtained legal clearance to use it, but he wanted to ride on the success of success of Ne-Yo’ track to boost his ‘Rompin Shop’ sales and popularity. EMI issued Kartel to cease and desist court order forcing him to change the riddim on his song. EMI have not asked YouTube to take down the video version of Rompin Shop, the more popular of the two videos, to date. Why? That’s another story

Bob Marley Trivia
This month we celebrate Bob Marley day. Do you think you know Bob Marley? Take our trivia quiz and see how well you know Bob Marley.

Bob Marley, National Hero? Does Jamaica need another one?
Bob Marley’s 64th birthday was February 1 and February is officially Reggae month in Jamaica and the discussion of making him a national hero is heating.  When I wrote the above cover in 2000 raising the specter of Bob Marley being considered for national hero status in Jamaica, my intention was to provoke a debate on the merits of his candidacy and viability of whether or not Jamaica needed another national hero.

Reggae Artist outpricing themselves
As the global economy heads into a tailspin, it is expected that it will have a profound effect on many sectors in Jamaica. I believe that one of the sectors that will be greatly impacted is the music industry.

Ladies First: Boogie on Reggae Women
Having fired a proverbial shot across the of reggae music’s bow in 2007 Reggae Female artist continue establishing their dominance in big way for 2008. First off there are so many female entertainers this year, including an ever increasing crop of new artists with songs getting air time, like Tifa, Alibra, Natalie Storm, Pamputtae, Timberlee, a.k.a "TNT, Althea ‘Di Chic’ Hewitt, Natalie Storm, Lady Raine Seville, veterans Lady Saw, D'Angel, Stacious, Spice, Macka Diamond, Lady G, Queen Paula, Miss Thing and Ce'Cile to name a few. It is a joy to keep track of them. Reggae music may well be on its to shedding it sexist image Let’s look at what the females in reggae and Caribbean music have done for the first half of 2008.

Who’s really responsible for DANCEHALL decadence?
February was declared Reggae month; Reggae music is therefore destined to gain added notoriety locally as well as overseas because of its close association with brand Jamaica . Dancehall music is unquestionably the most popular genre. It is unapologetically raw and rude being a creation of the rabble. It is therefore by nature uncouth and uncontrollable. A firestorm has erupted as to whether dancehall is the source of our decadence or its natural by-product, the jury is still out.

Reggae’s Crown Prince Should be Honored
Brown is arguably the greatest singer in the history of Jamaican music,his contribution to Jamaican music makes him just as much an architect of reggae music as Bob Marley.