Keri Hilson, Ne Yo, Toni Braxton, Nas and Jazmine Sullivan set for Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica
*This year’s staging of the annual reggae festival, Reggae Sumfest will feature the biggest names in reggae, dancehall and Caribbean music. Added to the roster are top US acts including Keri Hilson, Ne Yo, Toni Braxton, rapper Nas and newcomer Jazmine Sullivan.
The event will be the maiden performance in Jamaica for Braxton, Sullivan, Nas and Hilson. Ne Yo last performed in Jamaica in 2007.
Hilson has been burning up the airwaves in Jamaica with hits including Knock You Down, while Nas is known for his large catalogue of hits. Ne Yo’s hit streak has been running unchecked on the Jamaican airwaves with Mad, Miss Independent and Closer. Sullivan intrigued the Jamaican population when she paid homage to reggae with the number Need U Bad.
Braxton has been a favorite among Jamaicans ever since she exploded on the musical radar in 1993 with Another Sad Love Song.
Beenie Man, Damian and Stephen Marley, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Serani, and Lady Saw are among the dancehall and reggae giants who are billed to perform at Reggae Sumfest.
Reggae Sumfest 2009 runs from July 19-25 in Montego Bay.
Hot Like We takes the prize
Ce’Cile’s Hot Like We single has knocked Latin superstar Pitbull’s Room Service from the number one spot on Germany’s Black Singles chart.
Checks made by this column have indicated that Ce’Cile the first Jamaican entertainer to reach the number one spot on that chart. Over the past few months, a handful of Jamaican acts have registered singles on Germany’s Black Singles chart. They include Serani with No Games; Mavado with I’m So Special; Sean Kingston with Fire Burning; and Busy Signal and Marcia Griffiths’ combination single Automatic.
Hot Like We which was remixed by Kingstone Records/Groove Attack, has spurred interest from pop radio stations across Germany. The song has been showing up on several playlists and it could possibly make its way onto the main pop charts in Germany.
Timeka Marshall picks up Oakley endorsement
Guyanese singer Timeka Marshall has signed an endorsement deal with the eyewear and apparel giant Oakley. The endorsement deal comes on the heels of Marshall’s growing fan base across the region with the songs Hush and All Night.
Music videos for both singles have been in frequent rotation on cable television in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.
Marshall is no stranger to endorsement deals. In her native Guyana, she represented Kings Jewelry as well as telecommunications company Cell Link.
Marshall will be sporting Oakley branded eyewear in the forthcoming video for the collaborative single Feel Fah. The track features dancehall artiste Busy Signal.
Miss BVI finalists selected
The Miss British Virgin Islands pageant committee has announced the names of the six young ladies who will compete for the island’s top crown. Miss BVI 2009 will represent the nation in next year’s Miss Universe pageant.
Antigua Carnival set for July
The Antigua Carnival Committee held its media launch on June 13, when it declared this year’s carnival will take place from July 25 to August 4. Antigua’s carnival is hailed as one of the Caribbean’s greatest summer festivals. It will be held under the theme, “It’s yours, it’s mine, Antigua Carnival 2009”.
Grenadian soca artiste signs with Texas based label
Grenadian Soca artist Synnnah has signed a licensing agreement with the Texas based record label ISV entertainment. Under terms of the agreement, The Company will release recordings from the artist as well as seek licensing for media outlets including feature films, television shows, video games, movie trailers, ringtones and advertising commercials.
And that’s a wrap for Inside the Caribbean for this week. We certainly hope that you enjoyed the column and we look forward to your comments and suggestions. I can be reached at kevinjacksonkj@gmail.com
NOTE: Kevin Jackson is the Production Manager at Reggae Entertainment Television (RETV), an all music cable channel which is a subsidiary of the RJR Communications Group in Kingston, Jamaica. RETV is watched in Jamaica and 12 other Caribbean countries including Trinidad & Tobago, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Belize, Costa Rica, St Lucia, St Marteen, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda