DMX's "Ruff Ryders' Anthem," "Party Up (In Here)" and "X Gon' Give It to Ya" return to Billboard charts
After several of late rapper DMX's albums reappeared on the Billboard 200 after news of his passing broke, three of his songs have now returned to another chart -- the Hot 100.
The Grammy-winner's "Ruff Ryders' Anthem," which he recorded in 1998, blasted up to the 16th spot this week, making it the song's best showing on the chart to date. Its previous high was number 94, of which it obtained in February 1999.
Not only that, "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" is now the late rapper's highest-charting single, officially besting his previous record-holder, where he joined the The Lox on "Money, Power & Respect" that also included vocals from Lil Kim. The song peaked in 17th.
In addition, "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" was also experienced an incredible surge in streams, up 477 percent -- 16.6 million times -- since his death was announced April 9.
X's other singles reappearing on the Hot 100 are "Party Up (Up in Here)" at number 40 and "X Gon' Give It to Ya" at 46.
Both songs experienced a surge in streams as well, up 402 and 486 percent, respectively.
DMX, real name Earl Simmons, last appeared on the Hot 100 in 2004 when he teamed with Yung Wun for "Tear It Up," which peaked at 76.
His last solo effort to make it onto the chart was "Where The Hood At" in October 2003.
X died April 9 after suffering a heart attack at age 50. He spent a week on life support at White Plains Hospital in New York and never recovered according to our sources at ABC.
In other DMX News, according to a report from TMZ on Friday (April 16), a public memorial for DMX, who died on April 9 after reportedly suffering an overdose that resulted in a heart attack on April 2, will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Sat., April 24.
Extensive details regarding the service are unclear and according to the outlet, X's manager, Steve Rifkind, says logistics are still be sorted out as it pertains to the quantity of attendees and ticketing, which will likely be limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Additionally, DMX's family and close friends will memorialize the veteran rapper in a private funeral service that will take place at an undisclosed church on Sun., April 25.
Lionel Richie releases deluxe 25th anniversary digital reissue of his 1996 album, Louder than Words
An expanded digital reissue of Lionel Richie's 1996 studio album Louder than Words has just been released in honor of the record's 25th anniversary.
Originally released on April 16, 1996, Louder than Words was Richie's fourth solo studio effort, and his first full-length album since 1986's Dancing on the Ceiling. The album peaked at #28 on the Billboard 200, and yielded one top-40 single, "Don't Wanna Lose You," which Lionel co-wrote with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
The bonus tracks featured on the expanded reissue include rare Spanish and Italian versions of "Still In Love," the radio edit of "Don't Wanna Lose You," and the non-album tunes "What Do They Know" and "Now You're Gone." All of these tracks have just been made available for streaming for the first time.
Louder than Words is one of a series of deluxe expanded Richie reissues that will be released digitally this year. Next up, on May 4, will be Lionel's 2004 album Just for You, followed on June 25 by his 1998 release Time.
In addition, Richie's 2008 live album, Symphonica in Rosso, will be released digitally in North America for the first time on May 21. The album captured a performance that Lionel gave at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands, backed by his band and an orchestra.
Here's the full track list of Louder than Words deluxe reissue:
"Piece of Love"
"Still In Love"
"I Wanna Take You Down"
"Can't Get Over You"
"Change"
"Nothing Else Matters" -- featuring Toots Thielemans
"Ordinary Girl"
"Say I Do"
"Paradise"
"Don't Wanna Lose You"
"Lovers at First Sight"
"Climbing"
"What Do They Know"*
"Now You're Gone"*
"Don't Wanna Lose You" (Radio Version)*
"Still In Love" (Italian/English Version)*
"Still In Love" (Italian Version)*
"Still In Love" (Spanish Version)*
* = bonus tracks.
Minister of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services visits SNAP Center
April is observed as Autism Month, the Deputy Premier, Minister of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services, Hon. E Jay Saunders, accompanied by Deputy Permanent Secretary Mrs. Tamera Howell-Robinson made an official visit to the Special Needs Association of Providenciales Center (SNAP Center) on 8th April, 2021. This visit allowed the team to view and observe the program and services offered.
The SNAP Center provides intellectual and life skills opportunities for children and young persons with special needs, inclusive but not limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Speech/Language Disorder, Learning Disorder and Down Syndrome, Ages 4 -21.
The SNAP Center is staffed with trained teachers, operating under an adequate ratio student to teacher population, imparting life skills programs, sign language and outdoor programs, all within a friendly learning environment.
In commenting on the visit, the Director, Ms. Betty-Ann Been stated that, "Our goal at the SNAP Center is to provide intellectual and life skills opportunities for the students with multiple disabilities; thus enabling them to function as productive citizens where possible. Each student is evaluated. This is followed by diagnostic reports and treatment plans to help parents and teachers as a guide to the development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) inclusive of life skills. Once this plan is completed and implemented it is reviewed quarterly using the combination of various international standard programs."
During the visit, officials had the opportunity to view the various international programs applied, based on the student aptitude. Prior to departure from the SNAP Centre, Minister of Health, Honourable E. Jay Saunders stated, "This Government and in particular my Ministry will ensure that every action is taken to guarantee that our vulnerable children and young people have equal opportunities to succeed by providing the right educational support and health care. I am very proud of the stellar work being done by the staff of the SNAP Center. The students are in good hands".
While pledging a personal donation of $2,000 to be used for life skills training, Hon. Saunders further shared that his desire is to "be a champion for those most vulnerable".
Guyana's health minister urges developed countries to supply C'bean with COVID-19 vaccines
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, has called upon developed countries to make an interim supply of vaccines available to the Caribbean region.
Anthony made the plea while speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), at a special meeting convened by the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council.
Dr Anthony lamented, “Caricom remains deeply concerned” about the inequitable access and unbalanced distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally.”
The health minister said that access to vaccines is particularly important for small developing states since these countries continue to experience the devastating health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that lockdown measures, supply chain disruptions, sharp declines in remittances, and a general decrease in travel, trade, and other economic activities that the region depends on, have all been disrupted by the pandemic.
According to recent reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there will be uneven growth in the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. The Real GDP measures a country's total economic output, adjusted for price changes. Importantly, the IMF noted that the tourism-dependent countries have been adversely affected due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
Against this backdrop of the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on Caribbean states, the minister reiterated the Caribbean's call for global and equitable access to vaccines stating that this will lessen the impact of the pandemic, protect citizens, and bolster the economy.
Guyana's health minister urges developed countries to supply C'bean with COVID-19 vaccines
World Bank concerned about COVID's economic impact in Caribbean
World Bank Group President David Malpass said the bank is concerned about the impact the economic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic will have on developing nations in the Caribbean.
“Gross domestic product (GDP) for Latin America declined sharply in 2020. It will recover some, I expect — at least numerically — in 2021, but it won't be able to get back to previous levels. So I'm very concerned about the human situation in Latin America and the Caribbean,” Malpass said when asked whether the pandemic is leading to a new debt crisis in the Latin America and Caribbean during the World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2021 Virtual Spring Meetings held recently.
The IMF, in its recently released World Economic Outlook, revised its 2021 projections for tourism-dependent Caribbean economies down by 1.5 percentage points to 2.4 per cent regional growth.
Malpass noted that access to vaccines will be the key to the region's economic rebound.
“Part of this is getting the contracts in place and started up. The World Bank is providing financing for several countries and there can be large-scale programmes, but the countries are working to arrange delivery schedules from the various vaccine providers; that will be an important part of the recovery,” he said.
When asked specifically whether nations like The Bahamas, that have experienced a shocking rise in deficit and debt since the onset of the pandemic, should try to reduce borrowing levels in this global economic climate and focus on more austerity, or use borrowing to maintain obligations at this time, World Bank Group economist Sebastian Essl said, “Fiscal policy needs to be informed by debt sustainability assessment.
“In this context, it is important that the debt data coverage is comprehensive, which can be achieved by enhancing debt transparency. Countries with limited fiscal space and room for borrowing need to ensure that debt is contracted for priority areas that deliver high returns.”
The Bahamas has borrowed in excess of B$2 billion since the start of the 2020/2021 fiscal year. The Government has been heavily criticised for its high level of foreign borrowing at even higher rates, with many of the bonds attracting between eight and 10 per cent interest.
However, Malpass said the World Bank is seeking to find ways to intervene on the matter regarding the higher rates developing nations face.
“You know the interest rates have fallen for the advanced economies, but very few of the developing countries have gotten as much benefit from that. So there is an inherent unfairness in this, in that people that already had some national wealth are getting the low interest rate,” he said.
“So that is a challenge we want to address in the World Bank; with good practices in the developing countries there can be transparency, good choice of projects, that can help the country get lower interest rates.”
Los Angeles Lakers beat Utah Jazz in overtime plus more
Andre Drummond scored a team-high 27 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 127-115 in overtime.
The Jazz, who lead the Western Conference, were without injured starters Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley Jr and Rudy Gobert.
The Lakers, defending NBA champions, were missing their two biggest stars in Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
"We didn't allow adversity to get us out of our game," said Drummond, who was returning after a toe injury.
The Lakers' Dennis Schroder added 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also finishing on 25 points.
Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz who have the league's best record (42 wins, 15 defeats) with 27 points. Ersan Ilyasova finished with 20 points, shooting six of eight from the three-point line.
"We're missing four pretty important guys," said Jazz guard Joe Ingles.
"For most of the game, we did a pretty good job. We were one stop away from winning the game."
The game was played in front of of a crowd of 1,700 spectators, the second at the Staples Centre since California relaxed its rules on spectators attending sporting events.
Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum scored 44 points for the Boston Celtics to beat the Golden State Warriors 119-114 despite Stephen Curry's impressive 47-point haul for the Warriors.
The win ends Golden State's four-game winning streak, while the Celtics made it six wins in a row.
Source-BBC
China and US pledge climate change commitment
Australian and NeChina and the US say they are committed to working together and with other countries on tackling climate change.
It comes after several meetings between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and his US counterpart John Kerry in Shanghai last week.
They both agreed on further specific actions to reduce emissions, a joint statement on Sunday confirmed.
US President Joe Biden is holding a virtual climate summit this week, which China says it is looking forward to.
However it is not yet known if Chinese President Xi Jinping will join the world leaders who have pledged to attend.
"The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands," the statement said.
It added that both nations will continue to discuss "concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach".
Both nations also agreed to help developing countries finance a switch to low-carbon energy.
Li Shuo, senior climate adviser for environmental group Greenpeace, described the statement as "positive".
"It sends a very unequivocal message that on this particular issue (China and the United States) will co-operate. Before the meetings in Shanghai this was not a message that we could assume, " Mr Li told Reuters news agency.
Source-BBC
Former Bad Boy rapper Black Rob dies at 52
Former Bad Boy artist Black Rob, who is known for his 2000 hit single “Whoa!”, has passed away. He was 52, according to the New York Times. The exact cause of death is unknown.
The news was reported by former Bad Boy singer and producer Mario Winans as well as by Rob's frequent collaborator Mark Curry on social media.
Winans shared a photo of Rob on Instagram with the caption, "This hit my heart....... we will NEVER forget you brother! RIP BLACK ROB!"
Meanwhile Curry recorded a tearful video on Saturday confirming the news. "I wanna thank everybody for the donations … Rob passed away -- about an hour ago,” he said. “I need for his daughter, Iona Ross, little Robert Ross, y’all get in touch with me, please.”
Black Rob's passing comes less than a week after a video surfaced showing the rapper frail and in the hospital. In the video Rob had offered his condolences to rapper DMX, who had died earlier that day. It was later revealed by Rob that he was currently homeless and battling severe health issues.
"Oh man, I’ve been dealing with this for five years," he said in part. "Four strokes … I don’t know what to tell you man."
Born Robert Ross, Black Rob grew up in Harlem, New York and made his debut as an artist on Bad Boy's 1996 remix to 112’s “Come See Me.” During the '90s, he contributed to numerous Bad Boy remixes and singles, most notably “24 Hrs. to Live” featuring Mase, The LOX and DMX. In 1999, Rob released his debut album on Bad Boy titled Life Story. His hit single “Whoa!,” garnered him his first platinum plaque. From there, he continued as a featured artist on various albums, including “Bad Boy for Life” and G-Dep's “Let’s Get It.”
A GoFundMe page was recently created for him after news of his deteriorating health. Black Rob is survived by his four children.
Source-ABC
Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Akierra M. D. Missick Visits Twin Islands
Hon. Akierra M.D. Missick, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing Planning & Development along with Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education and Labour, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, MP for the Twin Islands and Minister of Border Control and Hon. Randy Howell MP for Blue Hills, visited North and Middle Caicos to tour Government schools there and welcome students back to face-to-face learning. The schools visited were; Charles Hubert James Primary School, Adelaide Oemler Primary School, Raymond Gardiner High School and Doris Robinson Primary School.
Hon. Missick was also accompanied by team members from the Ministry, including Garvin Thomas (Directors of Public Works), Roger Harvey (Civil Supervisor) Bernadya Smith (Executive Administrator) and by The Public Works colleagues based in the Twin Islands.
Commenting on the visit, Hon. Missick stated; "Visiting our Twin Islands School Campuses was indeed a pleasure, and reminded me of what I loved most about serving as the Minister of Education in the past". While engaging with the students we could see and feel the excitement of the students returning to face to face learning and we are proud that this government was able to provide that in a safe environment"
Hon. Missick confirmed with school administrators that the Ministry of Infrastructure through the Public Works Department is committed to enhancing the Campuses so that the students not only become twenty-first century learners, but have twenty-first century campuses to meet their developmental needs. Consideration will be especially given to developing the sporting facilities on the Twin Islands and renovation of various school blocks, which were not repaired post the 2017 hurricanes.
The space needs for the various Turks & Caicos Islands Government Departments in the Twin Islands at the Paul S. Higgs complex was also assessed. "It is clear that our public servants in the Twin Islands are making do with what they have; but this Administration will not require them to work in conditions that are not comfortable. Hon Musgrove has provided me with space options on the Twin Islands, and our Estates team will commence the required reviews to make the expansion a reality." stated Hon. Missick.
In addition to the various schools, the group also visited the building site of the Promenade & Craft Market in Bottle Creek, North Caicos managed by the Ministry of IHPD, and lastly had an opportunity to sample the delicious lunch options at the Seaview Cafe, Middle Caicos.
Special thanks is extended to the DC's of North & Middle Caicos for being amazing hosts as well.
Sandals and the Caribbean open for business
Sandals Resorts International says it has welcomed nearly 200 influencers, celebrities, and travel media to its resorts across the Caribbean and hosted several major radio remotes, creating close to 300 million global media impressions in what it described as “an aggressive and strategic marketing thrust” to inform the world that Sandals and the Caribbean islands are open for business.
The all-inclusive luxury resort chain has been engaged in this marketing initiative, a key component of its marketing strategy, since it reopened its first resort last June after forced closures caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“So far in 2021, Sandals South Coast has hosted two radio remotes reaching approximately five million listeners and resulting in over 50 million impressions,” Sandals stated in a news release.
Radio remotes see international radio stations broadcasting live from Sandals and Beaches Resorts to their listeners back home. This element of the company's strategy began as early as September 2020 at Sandals Grande St Lucian with broadcast reaching 19 key markets in the United States.
“On the heels of these successful radio remotes, Beaches Turks and Caicos is set to host its own radio remote in May with additional remotes tentatively slated for Barbados, Grenada, and The Bahamas,” Sandals stated.
The resort group said that in addition to US radio stations, it intends to invite stations from the United Kingdom to Grenada and/or Barbados later in the year.
“Our company has always been an innovator in marketing and promotions. We're one of the most well-known hospitality brands across the world and that's due to our well-oiled marketing machinery,” the release quotes Sandals' Executive Chairman Adam Stewart.
Source-Observer