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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Keeping a Pace with Cham


In a world where deejays come and go at a rapid pace, Cham believes his staying power in the industry is primarily due to the high quality of his music.

The deejay is currently experiencing a resurgence in his popularity locally, thanks to two tracks, Wine and Tun Up which feature his wife Ophelia (aka O). But, the deejay tells the Jamaica Observer that although he has not had a hit locally in some time, he has always been able to stay on the road performing and keeping in contact with his fan base.

"The truth is people love Cham," he states confidently. " I think it comes down to the quality and timelessness of my music and how I present myself on stage. Then there are ladies," he adds, bursting into laughter.

Cham contributes this timeless and consistent musical content to the work of master producer Dave Kelly, with whom he has maintained a close working relation from his earliest days on the Jamaican dancehall scene.

"Dave Kelly and I have a chemistry... it's just the right connection," he explains. "He's like a chess player. If we sit in the studio and come up with 10 songs, he will be able to make that right move and pick the hit track — it was his idea to put O on Wine, and we all can see what has happened with that." Cham says.

But does the artiste born Damian Beckett, who is now a man in his 30s, feel he can still compete in the dancehall game? "There is no question about it. I can compete with the best of today's deejays," he offers confidently. "Again it comes down to the quality of my music and stage presentation."

But the deejay is quick to admit that he, along with his team have had to change tactics and adapt to the changing music market in order to effectively compete.
"The business is changing. It's different than when I started nearly 20 years ago. So Team Cham has to do the homework and find ways to capitalise on the changes in the market, because no matter how much change takes place, there are ways to survive."

The deejay who hails from Sherlock Crescent in St Andrew says he makes use of all types of new media — Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Instagram — to ensure that he is constantly in touch with his supporters.
As for the coming months Cham says time is now being devoted to coming up with a single specifically for O.

"Tun Up is really her track, but I'm in it to provide some support. So what we are working on is a single that is all hers."

As for shows, Cham was in Trinidad, but returned to the island for the Portland Jerk Festival on Sunday. It's then on to Reggae Sumfest. He last performed at that Montego Bay music festival in 2008. He notes that his summer engagements also include a string of overseas gigs.
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Dancehall Ent is designed to broadcasting dancehall and reggae entertainment on a global level.Our E-magazine features entertainment news from Jamaica and around the world.

Warner Music Group Signs Licensing Deal With Tuff Gong International


Warner Music Group (WMG) and Tuff Gong International Caribbean Distributors, part of the legendary Marley stable of corporations, today announced an exclusive licensing agreement under which Tuff Gong will distribute Warner’s world-class releases throughout the Caribbean islands. Effective immediately the deal covers both new and catalog releases, as well as local synch, licensing and live performance rights.

Through the license Tuff Gong will distribute the albums of some of today’s top artists including Wiz Khalifa, Bruno Mars, Flo Rida, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Estelle. Warner’s extensive catalog also features icons such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Eric Clapton.

Stu Bergen, EVP, Warner Bros. Records said “Cedella Marley and her team at Tuff Gong are proven experts in the Caribbean music market, thanks to their un-paralleled local knowledge and marketing expertise they will provide a first-class service for the distribution of Warner’s diverse repertoire across the region. We see this agreement as a great way of introducing our artists to new markets and fans, as well as another step towards our goal of making our extraordinary music available as widely as possible around the world.”

Cedella Marley, CEO of Tuff Gong said “We are thrilled to get the opportunity to work with Warner’s impressive global catalog and artists, and we are looking forward to a partnership that will allow us to bring a new dimension to the already vibrant Caribbean music industry.” Marley has appointed Myshjua Archibald to oversee the Warner license as Label and Product Manager in the region.

Countries covered by the new agreement include: Jamaica, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Virgin Islands.
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Dancehall Ent is designed to broadcasting dancehall and reggae entertainment on a global level.Our E-magazine features entertainment news from Jamaica and around the world.

Vybz Kartel Releasing The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto


On Friday, July 6, 2012 Adijah Palmer aka Vybz Kartel is set to release his best body of work, catalogued in his book, The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto.Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come best describes Vybz Kartel's journey thus far - "there been times that I thought I couldn't last for long but now I think I'm able to carry on. It's been a long, a long time comin' but I know a change is gon' come. Oh, yes it will." And for Jamaica, it has.

Undeniably talented and arguably the most mystical personality to come out of Jamaica since Bob Marley, Vybz Kartel is seen as a musical demigod to some and the devil personified to others. In a New York Times article, Vybz Kartel's marketability was compared to that of Lady Gaga, Madonna and Jay Z. The Rolling Stone Magazine is quoted as saying "look up controversy in the Jamaican dictionary and you might find a photo of Adidjah Palmer, aka dancehall star Vybz Kartel."

Vybz Kartel has had an indelible effect on the policy and people of Jamaica, including forcing the Jamaican government to change broadcasting rules in an effort to curb his musical influence, revolutionizing female sexuality by allowing Jamaican women to acknowledge and embrace their sexual inhibitions and challenging the political status quo by having many in Jamaica pay allegiance to the Gaza (his hometown) instead of PNP and JLP political parties.

Vybz Kartel has been summoned to Jamaica House by the Prime Minister, invited to the podium of esteemed universities by learned professors and brought to West Kingston to demonstrate the unity between himself and his musical rival Movado. Oddly enough, these events took place whilst Vybz Kartel (the person) and his music were refused both entry and airplay in many countries.

Vybz Kartel's musical influence combined with his demeanor has made him the man Jamaica loves to hate and the artist that many hate to admit that they love. Vybz Kartel, who maintains his innocence, is currently in custody at the Horizon Remand Centre in Jamaica on the allegations of murder and other criminal offenses. Nonetheless, Vybz Kartel has vowed that prison bars shall neither silence nor hinder his message.

Vybz Kartel and his co-author, Michael Dawson completed the first draft of this book early summer 2011 intending for this text to serve as a catalyst for discussions on classism, racism and other "isms and schisms" existing in modern day Jamaica. While Vybz Kartel proudly acknowledges 50 years of Independence for Jamaica, The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto boldly asks - "50 years of what for poor people?"
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Dancehall Ent is designed to broadcasting dancehall and reggae entertainment on a global level.Our E-magazine features entertainment news from Jamaica and around the world.