Rapper Fabolous for ATI parties
AMERICAN Rapper Fabolous is the main international act for Appleton Temptation Isle's original Independence Weekend party series.
"Fabolous is very talented, energetic, and the ladies love him," said ATI Managing Director Alex Chin. "He is a perfect fit for ATI and Stages and he will be a great addition to the weekend!"
The Grammy Award Nominee and BET Hip Hop Award Winner will host and perform at the party that started it all, Stages "the Legend" on August 5.
Stages will be the "Officially Jamaica 50 Celebration" for the ATI weekend. This all-inclusive event will also feature an air-conditioned club within the venue, the official Independence Punch made with Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum -- and a special show that will light up the night sky.
The weekend also boasts international deejays DJ Envy from New York, DJ Dutty Dex from Miami and the 2012 World Champion Miami Heat's very own DJ Irie.
Appleton Temptation Isle is set for August 3 to 6. The four days will see a seven party line-up which includes: Naked, Wild Sides, Colours Jokers Wild 'Lingerie J'Ouvert', the Official and Original Water Party, Stages 'The Legend', Officially Diagnosed 'Bikini Masquerade', and Full Moon Party 'Mariposa'.
Source-Ja.Obsever
All set for SUMFEST
ORGANISERS of Reggae Sumfest are pleased with the way things have progressed for this year's staging of the popular festival.
According to the festival's chairman Robert Russell, plans for the July 15-21 event are more advanced than they have ever been in its 20-year history.
"We have had no real challenges this year. All our vending stalls have been taken, the grounds are being prepared, stage, lighting and sound are ready and all the artistes have been booked," Russell told Splash.
He further noted that organisers are also comfortable with the line-up.
Russell refuted the suggestion that the roster of artistes is weak, citing that dancehall night, on July 19, will feature what he described as the "who's who of the local dancehall scene" .
Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Cham, Konshens and Romain Virgo are among the artistes confirmed.
"Every year there is a challenge. When we are not hampered by the touring schedules of the artistes it is the expensive fees being requested by the artistes," Russell explained.
"We did pretty well this year. Shabba Ranks seems to be a big hit, R Kelly is definitely gathering momentum, Trey Songz is there for the younger patrons and, of course, Damian Marley is doing well, thanks to his two current hit songs," he added.
Reggae Sumfest was first staged in 1993 following the departure of Reggae Sunsplash from the resort city of Montego Bay.
Since its inception, Sumfest has showcased a number of high-profile pop acts.
Among them Lionel Richie, Kanye West, Rihanna, Missy Elliot and Destiny's Child. Last year, hip hop's current poster girl, Nikki Minaj, was the feature act.
Russell described Reggae Sumfest as Montego Bay's greatest event, noting that the city is abuzz with just two days before it starts with the traditional pipe-opener at Aquasol Beach Park.
"Flights are already coming in, the hotels are filling up and the vibe is already building," said Russell.
Source: jamaica observer
Mary J. Blige Fires Back at Charity Lawsuit with Interesting Strategy
Mary J. Blige just came out and said the bank that’s suing her charity organization knew the group was penniless.
She said it was a bad business decision the loaner made. So it’s the bank’s fault for making a bad investment and they won’t get the money back.
The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now was sued by TD Bank after taking out a $250,000 loan in June 2011. But the org only paid back $400 by the December deadline.
According to the organization, the woman who signed for the loan had no authority to do so in the first place.
Eddie Griffin Involved in Drink Throwing Fight
You know your comedy act isn’t going well when a woman in the audience throws a drink at you.
That’s what happened to Eddie Griffin. But he threw one back at the woman then got really aggressive with her. It was caught on camera and of course TMZ has got it and so do we … below.
Police in Peasanton, CA tell TMZ they were called to Tommy T’s Comedy Club on Friday night after a fight broke out when a woman became so offended at Griffin’s act … she threw a drink at him while he was on stage.
The video obtained by TMZ begins after the woman threw the drink and Griffin can be seen retaliating, pouring his bottle of water on her and then tossing it at her.
Security had the woman removed from the venue and the club closed down for the night after the fracas.
The club did not want anyone arrested and the woman was gone by the time police got there.
Young Buck Heading To Jail
Nashville, Tennessee rapper Young Buck was sentenced to three years in prison, over weapons charges on Friday (July 13).
The rapper will serve a total of 18 months for the offense. “With the judge not considering my history to subtract some time, I’m just thankful for what time I do have,” Young Buck told WSMV-TV.
On July 26, a number of Young Buck’s assets will be auctioned off by the IRS, including the “Young Buck” moniker, which is owned by one of the rapper’s creditors and former label home, G-Unit Records.
After he is released, Young Buck must stay off drugs and serve three years probation.
Dolphins Domino Tournament semifinals starts tonight in Grand Turk
The BIG TEAM KILLERS did it again. The Dolphins Domino Tournament sponsored by the Bigger Better Network DIGICEL witness the conclusion of it semifinals round last night as team Pink Bar took on team Water Boots in a “WIN or GO HOME” match.
The game was an exciting one, filled with all the expectations of a good semifinals match up and when it was all said and done the question asked was: What is it called when your shoes are too small and are hurting your toes?
Answer: The agony of defeat!!!!!! And as such it was last night as the Water-boots found their footwear to small and thus tasted defeat at the hands of the Pink Bar. The Pink Bar held a slim 6 point margin at the half, and it was widely theorized that it was not enough and that the Water-boots would overtake them in the second half. But, that is why we play the game. The Pink Bar withstood a furious 2nd half comeback, then pimp slapped the Water-boots into submission. To win 113 to 105, the Pink Bar advance themselves to the finals of the Dolphins Domino Tournament sponsored by Digicel. They will be taking on the Host Dolphins on Wednesday the 11the of July at 7:30pm at Gwashay’s Bar. The Dolphins cautioned the Pink Bar to remember that “mullets do not swim in the Ocean.”
The domino teams are inviting everyone to support the event Wednesday July 11,2012 to see who will win game 1. Who will it be? Pink Bar, the Big Team killers or the defending champions, the Mighty Dolphins. Will the Dolphins repeat or will the Pink Bar captured the championship which slipped through their fingers last season.
WICB CEO not seeking renewal of his contract
The West Indies Cricket Board today confirmed that Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ernest Hilaire had advised, at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, in April this year that he will not be seeking a renewal of his three year contract when it comes to an end.
Dr. Hilaire joined the WICB as CEO in October of 2009 and the full term of his contract will come to a conclusion in September this year.
The Board of Directors, while having regretted Dr. Hilaire’s decision not to seek a renewal, expressed full support for his desires to pursue other professional opportunities available to him.
The WICB has engaged Deloitte to commence the process of recruitment for a new CEO.
Following region-wide advertising, this process is on-going. It is expected that the new CEO will be engaged in an appropriate capacity before Dr. Hilaire finally demits office.
Bolt's agent says Olympic champ 'feeling good'
Usain Bolt's agent says the three-time Olympic champion is back in full training and "feeling good".
Ricky Simms tells The Associated Press that the Jamaican sprinter is fit ahead of the defence of his titles in the 100, 200 and 4x100 at the London Games.
BOLT... back in full training
The holder of the world record in both sprint distances, Bolt lost to Yohan Blake in the 100 and 200 at recent Jamaican Olympic trials. He had his right hamstring stretched out by a trainer after the 200.
Bolt pulled out of the Monaco Diamond League meet on July 20 -- his last race before the Olympics -- with what his coach called "a slight problem".
Britain's Daily Telegraph said yesterday that Bolt flew to Germany last week for treatment on a tight hamstring.
WI hunt clincher in ODI series
West Indies enter today's third One-Day International (ODI) against beleaguered New Zealand knowing a win will hand them their first series triumph over a top-eight side in four years.
The Caribbean side, propelled by exhilarating form by opener Chris Gayle, has been outstanding on the tour and will back themselves to win their third straight match, the first of a triple-header at Warner Park here.
Captain Darren Sammy, under fire in recent months, especially on the side's winless tour of England, cut a happier figure as he talked up his side's chances of winning the series.
"It feels really good. Since the start of the series in Florida we have been playing some really good cricket and it's good to see that we've been consistently good in what we've been doing so we're just looking to continue again," he told reporters.
"Wednesday (today) will be a chance to clinch the series, so we're looking to do that."
West Indies have not beaten a team ranked in the top eight since a 2-0 win over Sri Lanka in a three-match series back in 2008. Since then, they have lurched from one defeat to another, celebrating series victories only over minnows Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
After sweeping the T20 double-header in Florida two weeks ago, they constructed convincing performances to whip the Black Caps in the first two ODIs at Sabina Park last week.
They won the opening game by nine wickets and the second by 55 runs, with Gayle proving the architect in both fixtures.
The left-hander hit an unbeaten 63 and followed up with 125 in the second match — an innings that saw him top the list for the most centuries in ODIs by a West Indian.
"You can see what he does at the top of the order. He's brilliant for us and so far since he's come back, he's been really good for us at the top of the innings," Sammy said.
"He's really stabilised the opening partnership... and we've been able to post good totals, especially in this series against New Zealand."
New Zealand have been weakened with injuries, losing influential captain and batsman Ross Taylor with a shoulder injury and pacer Doug Bracewell to a back injury.
Fast bowling all-rounder Andrew Ellis is also struggling with a leg injury.
Sammy was quick to push back on suggestions that the Windies were only dominating because of the weakened New Zealand unit.
"People will say what they want and have an opinion, but at the end of the day, you've still got to go out there and win cricket matches and so far we're doing that, something we have not done consistently for a long time," Sammy contended.
"So we're just looking to take it one day at a time. We'll come again and plan for them on Wednesday and see how it goes, and Saturday (fourth ODI) and Monday (fifth ODI) we'll look to wrap up the series."
He added: "But it's good to see how the guys are playing. We're going about doing our jobs professionally and I think the coach and everyone is happy with the progress we're making."
New Zealand, meanwhile, have spent much of their time trying to figure out how to restrict West Indies, especially Gayle who has scored a half-century in every innings against them so far on tour.
Coach John Wright said they were at pains to break the losing streak, and was considering the inclusion of pacer Trent Boult who was a late call-up due to the side's injury woes.
"It's a very flat wicket, an even smaller ground straight than Jamaica, so we have to do something about our bowling. We think the variation Boult will provide early on in the innings to Gayle [could help]. We need to do something differently," Wright said.
"He's put us under pressure right from the word go in the Twenty20s in Miami. It has allowed batsmen to bat around him.
"He's going to fail some time. I just feel if we can bowl better and do things 10 per cent better right throughout our game we will have the opportunity to beat this side with Gayle scoring runs or not.
"It's been challenging to come up to speed, but if we can do some thing correctly in this match, we are going to get some results somewhere along the line."
Fraudster rips off Nicki Minaj in Trinidad
Nicki Minaj and the producers of her music video "Pound the Alarm" which was filmed in Trinidad last week were reportedly duped by a man said to be known among members of Trinidad’s entertainment fraternity.
The Trinidad Express reports that the fraudster took more than $100,000 to render services towards the production of the music video and delivered nothing.
A report has been made to the police by the producers, London Alley Entertainment of New York, USA.
The case is reportedly being treated as a breach of contract.