Live TV Is Hype Again!‏

Every New Year brings new expectations. Many of us make resolutions, which we may not keep, but the creators of Magnum Kings and Queens have resolved to make this year the best season yet. The competition gets underway with the first live show on Saturday January 21st.

They couldn’t have said it will be the best season ever if, however, there weren’t some exciting changes., The first change is that the event will now be hosted at a bigger better venue: 76 Constant Spring Road, right beside the original venue (Weekenz). So, they’re not making it too hard for you to find them again.

And knowing how much we love the interaction in the “Digicel Endz”, they switched up things a bit with a new host, Donald “Iceman” Anderson, so we can expect to see bigger and better things happening pon di endz .

Although change is good, sometimes consistency is key, so the beautiful, curvaceous diva Yanique will grace the stage and our television screens again as the vibrant host of the competition. And fluffy diva Miss Kitty, Skatta Burrell and Professor Nuts, the resident judges, will once again be the ones to assess the performances of the dancehall hopefuls for another season; while a guest judge will be introduced each week.

With auditions now complete, the three resident judges have deliberated and chosen the 24 finalists – 12 princes and 12 princesses who will make it to the Live Magnum stage.


2012 Magnum Dancehall Princes

· Deh Deh

· Deep Jahi

· Rage

· Big Pop

· Brain

· Sem J

· Kkrytical

· Memzey

· Tommy Ice

· Allaboma

· Governor

· Rennick



2012 Magnum Dancehall Princesses

· Mys I

· Taliban

· Mermaid

· Sasique

· Kayla Di Diva

· Betty B

· Catty

· Little Miss

· Firmm

· Too Qute

· Lushus

· Teaka


Meet the first 12 finalists this Saturday night as the 6 Princes and 6 Princesses from Castle Red touch the Magnum live stage. If you are not able to make it to the live performances on Constant Spring Road, or you just prefer to see it in the comfort of your home, then tune in to TVJ at 9:30pm on Saturdays to ensure you don’t miss this exciting 5th season of the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall.

Hefla Nya Collaborates with Natural Black On New Single

619 Entertainment Group recording artist Hefla Nya is one of the fresh new acts making an impact on the reggae music scene both at home and abroad. The US based singer who hails from the parish of St. Mary, recently scored his first top ten hit with his debut single titled Take You There.

The song which was produced by Roger Grant of 619 Entertainment Group is currently number ten on the Jamaica Music Countdown Top 25 Reggae Singles Chart. Looking to capitalize on his latest success Hefla Nya has released a strong follow up single called Lose Control, which features Guyanese reggae artist Natural Black.

The hard hitting single displays vocal agitations from both artists as they spit biting lyrics about social issues on the popular Tainted Love rhythm.

Hefla Nya is currently busy in the studios working on several tracks that will be released before his debut album, The Truth, which is slated to be released later this year. Hefla Nya’s EP, Take You There and the single Lose Control is available on Itunes and all other leading online music sites.

Bio

With the world clamoring for more Jamaican artists who are original but adhering to the classic standard of reggae enters a young lion by the name Hefla Nyah.

Christened Tristan Duncan the light skinned rastafartian youth was born in the district of Content in the agrarian parish of St Mary, where the seeds of reggae musical affinity were sown in his formative consciousness. He however migrated to the United States at the tender age of 13 but remained plugged in to “yard” by a loving mother who constantly played her native music in her household.

By his own accounts the artist said his emerging desires for a career in the arts was first expressed through writing poems which he would mime, not yet confident to come out. As the years went by, he recorded sparingly, in his new home city, of Philadedelphia. This took more than average effort as in the field of reggae there was not much opportunities. After hooking up with Just Sounds studio he documented his material with more regularity but these efforts came to a halt after the owner moved out of the state.

In the meantime as his confidence grew and encouraged by his brother and songwriting partner Kevin he started to test the proverbial waters by appearing at open mikes and talent shows in and around the city. As his previous body of early works remained unreleased his hunger to put something on the market went unfulfilled. This search led him to the 619 Recording Studio owned and operated by four Jamaicans. Two of the four partners Patrick Guitsie Dunn formerly of pioneering Reggae band Riddem Nation and Roger Grant ex-manager of reggae star Natural Black have taken more than a keen interest in working with the budding artist.

This association has blossomed into a mutually beneficial relationship where the natural resources of the artist have merged with the experience and assets of the 619 Entertainment Group. This combination is also one where the artist feels comfortable to embark on a serious and urgent quest to come into the public eye. The results are already evident with the single Jamaica (I’ll Take You There) about to drop, a promotional mix tape already released and a soon completed album with the working title “Ghetto Fyah” slated to come to market by years end. Hefla Nyah now more secure with a team in place and plans’ being executed is also making his presence felt on stage recently opening for Richie Spice and making an appearance on the annual Peoples Festival in Wilmington Delaware alongside Bushman and Junior X.

Trough his partnership with 619 Entertainment Hefla also collaborated with French band Ondubground on a song called Ethiopian Child which is already getting love from radio all over the world especially in France, Holland and Australia.

The rising aspirant who cites conscious dancehall dj Capleton as one of his influences and who has a similar fiery delivery albeit one tempered by catchy melodies states that his goal is to bring something positive to the table. In addition to his stage name he has also adopted the hyphenated moniker of Di Ghetto Fyah which is in keeping with his social awareness and continuous effort of addressing injustices being mated out to the poorer class. From the looks of it he is well on his way with the aforementioned upcoming single aiming to promote his native island in an optimistic but realistic light. He says he hopes to entertain while at the same time enlightening his soon to be won over fans in waiting.

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