Papa Biggy Records New Single with Ten Year Old Singer Nikia‏

Veteran deejay Papa Biggy is getting ready to drop a brand new single titled Careless Fearless, which was done in tandem with a talented ten year old singer called Nikia. The song will be released on Itunes and all other leading music download stores before the end of the month, through Papa Biggy’s Life Force imprint.

Papa Biggy said he was moved to record this song after years of observing how a lot of young men live a life of crime and get into trouble or die leaving their families behind.

“Careless Fearless is an antiviolence tune, its speaks about a lot what is happening in society today, you know a lot of guys are living carelessly running around living a life of crime. Sometimes they either end up in jail or dead, leaving their love ones behind to bear the pain and it’s especially hard on the kids, they leave behind,” said the artist.

He also said that he is very happy that he was able to do the Careless Fearless with Nikia as she is a very talented singer and easy to work with in the studio.

“I am very happy that I was able to record the song with Nikkia she has a lot of talent, its her first recording and she did a really good on the tune. So far everyone who has heard the song is very impressed. It’s a good tune; I think its going to do well once it gets the right airplay.

Papa Biggy is slated to perform at Top Hop Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday the 16th of December alongside Errol Dunkley, Pat Kelly Empress Uneek and Ambelique.

I-Octane Releases Full-Length Debut on VP/Scikron‏

“I-Octane's fusion of hauntingly sung vocals with rapid-fire rhymes...reaffirm dancehall's significance as a vehicle for compelling commentaries and praising Jah..."
– BILLBOARD, Chosen as one of the ‘15 Artists Impacting The Indie Scene’

VP Records and Scikron are proud to announce the release of I-Octane’s debut album, ‘Crying To The Nation,’ available January 31, 2012. As one of the most-talked about artists emerging from Jamaica, I-Octane’s first full-length LP will reinvigorate the feeling of roots and dancehall at its purest. He has already proven himself as a lyricist with rapid-fire delivery, and unveils his uncanny ability to sing romantic ballads and socially aware tunes on this traditional reggae album.

‘Crying To The Nation’ puts I-Octane in a class of his own as one of the next generation’s leaders of the conscious dancehall movement. Following in a similar vein of his predecessors Sizzla, Capleton and Buju Banton, his lyrics express sentiments of faith, romance, social justice and compassion for the ghetto youth.

His brand new single “L.O.V.E Y.O.U,” “Missing You” (remix featuring Agent Sasco) and “Once More” reflect his emotional sensibility, while songs like “Vanity Will Come,” “All We Need Is Love” (featuring Tarrus Riley) and the title track are filled with positive messages and political leanings, something that the current state of dancehall often lacks.

"I feel good about all the songs I've done since I have started out, but this album is very special to me because I got the chance to make the type of songs that I really enjoy and meds the music in a different creative way. My fans will get to see another side of me and after all the challenges I've faced in the industry, seeing my first album is a great accomplishment. I give thanks for that," states I-Octane.

Most of the album’s tracks have never been heard with the exception of the pulsating dancehall anthems "Nuh Love Inna Dem" and “Puff It” as well as “Lose A Friend,” arguably his biggest and most requested song to date. The latter tune hit number #1 on Jamaica’s charts - remaining at the top for approximately 16 weeks - and experienced new life again when Jamaican officials declared a state of emergency after Kingston’s gruesome gang-related attacks.

This year, Billboard magazine enlisted I-Octane as one of their 15 Artists Impacting The Indie Scene. In a rave review for his latest mixtape ‘Focus’ (produced by Livity Movements), the New York Times adds that his recent performance at Jamaica’s largest annual music festival, Reggae Sumfest, was “focused and intense’ and stood out for“bonfires getting stoked throughout the crowd. In the language of Sumfest, that’s an endorsement, a big one for this young singer."

The evolution of I-Octane began when he developed a diverse catalogue of songs under the moniker Richie Rich. He had dancehall’s A-List producers at the helm, like Donovan Germaine of Penthouse Records, Arrows and Cash Flow. In 2007, his breakthrough hit “Stab Vampire” became the number one song in his native country and received the award for Video of the Yearat the Excellence in Music Awards (EME). I-Octane continued to put out hit after hit like “Mama You Alone, “Lose A Friend,” “My Life,” “Nuh Love Inna Dem,” “Nuh Ramp Wid Wi” and “Puff It.”

In his short five year career, he has already received a total of 20 nominations and awards, including 3 wins at this year’s Excellence in Music Awards (EME) for Breakthrough Artist, Best Male Singjay and Best Reggae Song for “My Life,”Best Performerat the 2011 Clarendon Music Awards and Jamaica Observer’s title for Male Singer of the Year. Digicel, the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean, selected I-Octane as its brand ambassador for the company's 'Next Generation' campaign in 2010 and as their sole entertainer for 2011.

Over the past year, I-Octane kicked off an extensive tour spanning 40 cities in North America as well as the shores of Japan. In addition to his buzzworthy mixtape, he is set to release a digital EP ‘Straight From The Heart’ in early December prior to his debut album. In 2012, ‘Crying To The Nation’will solidify his position as a multi-faceted reggae artist, proving his reach beyond dancehall with his added repertoire of touching love songs and cultural tunes. This refreshing approach to the genre holds a bright future for the ever-evolving artist.

www.ioctanemusic.com
www.facebook.com/itsioctanesiiick


TRACK LISTING

1. Rules Of Life
2. Help I Please
3. Vanity Will Come
4. Nuh Love Inna Dem
5. Puff It
6. No More Violence
7. System A Beat Dem
8. Zion Awaits
9. L.O.V.E. Y.O.U.
10. Missing You ft. Agent Sasco
11. Once More
12. The Master's Plan
13. Lose A Friend
14. All We Need Is Love ft. Tarrus Riley
15. Crying To The Nation
16. Still Holding On

Top Acts for Jagra GT Taylor Christmas Extravaganza‏

Throughout the years Jagra GT Taylor Christmas Extravaganza has built up a reputation as an event of high standards. The annual Christmas night concert was first staged eleven years ago and is still going strong despite many obstacles. Promoter of the event GT Taylor will hasten to tell you that his event has grown to become one of the top events in Jamaica because it has always delivered the best acts each year.

“Over the years I have tried my very best to present the best acts for the patrons and this has really helped the show to grow. Now people all over the world know that each Christmas they can come to Independence Park for a top quality stage show event where they will some of the biggest and brightest stars in reggae and dancehall music,” said GT Taylor.

GT has put together another exciting cadre of top acts for this year’s staging of Jagra GT Taylor Christmas Extravaganza. The lineup includes dancehall and reggae heavy weights such as Bounty Killer, Mavado, Coco Tea, I Octane, Aidonia, Kkago, John Holt, Macka Diamond, D Angel, Professor Nuts,Tony Matterhorn, Kiprich Twins Of Twins, Spice, Lutan Fyah, Romain Virgo, Iley Dread, Chuck Fender, Warrior King, Harry Toddler, Charley Blacks and Junior X.

The lineup also includes Hezron, Toya, Tanto Blacks, villa Dutch, Ibahmar, Zamunda, Baby Chris, Mikeylous, Chi Ching Ching, Specialist, Brimstone, Acid, Calli Blaxx, and Hitman Walley.

The promoter also promises several improvements for this year’s show.

“This year will be the twelfth staging and my team and I will be doing everything possible to improve the show. We want to make our twelfth staging a special one; therefore all aspects of the show will be upgraded.”