O'Neil Edwards Dies

O'Neil Edwards, a member of the singing group Voicemail, has died. O'Neil was critically wounded after he was shot several times as he was entering his home in Duhaney Park early on the morning of Monday May 10.

He had since been on life support and today died from his injuries.

R.I.P.

Mad Cobra Released From Hospital

Mad Cobra, who was shot Tuesday, has been discharged from the hospital.

Cobra was initially treated at Spanish Town Hospital was tranferred to the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies where he spent two days.

He is said to be resting comfortably at home.

Word is that Cobra had been involved in an altercation with a group of men in Braeton who claimed that, while driving, he had shone his bright lights on them. Cobra attempted to calm the situation but that obviously failed and one of the men later shot Cobra.

Mad Cobra & Oneil Edwards Shot

Ewart Brown, more popularly known as Mad Cobra, was admitted to the Spanish Town hospital after being shot several times.

Cobra is the second artist to be shot this week.

Oneil Edwards of the group Voicemail, was listed as critical at the Kingston Public Hospital after he was also shot.

Edwards was shot all over the body and in the head by unknown attackers about 1:30 Monday morning.

According to reports, one finger was shot off and the bullet which struck him in the head had fragmented and was causing swelling in the brain.

Reports are that the singer's vital signs have stabilized and there is swelling on the brain but it has decreased.

One suspect in his shooting was found dead and another taken into police custody.

Ky-Mani Marley Explains Why He Wrote Dear Dad

Ky-Mani Marley recently sat down with HipHollywood.com and explained why he wrote his book, Dear Dad. The book has reportedly caused tension inside the Marley family.

Video: Damian Marley & Nas - As We Enter

New video from Nas and Damian Marley. First single off their new album Distant Relatives, which drops May 18th. See their tour schedule after the jump.

On Set: Damian Marle & Nas - As We Enter

Photos from the set of Damian Marley's video shoot for their single, As We Enter. Their album, Distant Relatives, is due of May 18th.

Source

Chuck Fenda In Car Accident

Dancehall artist Chuck Fenda is lucky to have escaped a car accident with minor cuts and scrapes. His Toyota Rav 4 flipped three times and landed in a steep ditch while he was driving to the Irie FM Road Show in Montego Bay.

According to Chuck, "I was driving from Kingston to Mobay Friday, about 7:30am, and I was on the Chalky Hill Road, going down to St. Ann's Bay. I approached a steep corner, but it seemed like there was oil on the road cause when I turned di corner, di van jus start slide. Mi touch di brake and it still did a slide, so mi just hold di steering and di van flip three times and den lan' inna di ditch."

He was supposed to be escorted to the event by a bus that was provided by the event's organizers but he overslept, missed the bus and decided to drive instead.

"When mi wake di bus reach a Flat Bridge, so mi just seh mi ah go tek mi time and cruise down. There was nothing I could do to stop the accident. It was just the power of Jah. If yu see how di van look or how di ditch deep!"

"Mi just haffi give thanks fi life same way. Mi deh ya fi continue di the work," he said.

St. Lucia Bans Vybz Kartel

St Lucia has become the latest Caribbean country to ban Jamaican dancehall singer, Vybz Kartel, who was scheduled to perform there at the end of the month.

The St Lucian government established a committee to discuss the request from the promoters to allow Vybz to perform there. It said that the committee looked at a number of factors, the history of the artiste, solicit views and opinions of key institutions and organizations in the country and determine the general impact of the artist’s performance on the population, particularly the youth.

“Having looked carefully at the significant amount of information presented, and considering the views and opinions of the many individuals and institutions as well as available options, the Government of St Lucia through the Ministry of Labour, Information and Broadcasting has decided not to grant a work permits to Mr Adidja Azim Palmer otherwise known as Vybz Kartel for performances at the Hot FM promoted Supreme Weekend show scheduled for April 30 and May 1, 2010.

“In light of the foregoing, and in order to ensure consistency and to avoid discrimination, Government has decided that in going forward, it is essential to establish a permanent committee to review applications for artistes seeking permits to perform in St Lucia,” the government said in a statement.

Vybz has been embroiled in a feud with a rival entertainer in Jamaica and has been banned from performing in several Caribbean islands. He has also been denied a visa to enter and perform in the United States.

Bounty Killer Goes To Church After Release From Jail

So apparently Bounty Killer's mother, Miss Ivy, ordered him to go with her to church yesterday. He was released from jail on Friday after spending 10 days in jail for beating up his girlfriend, Kadeem Baker.

Someone tipped off the Observer that he had to go to church because that is what his mother wanted. "If Miss Ivy say him fi come a church, him haffi come."

Bounty, and his entourage, was present and on time at Miss Ivy's place of worship, the Agape Christian Fellowship Church in Gregory Park, St Catherine.

At the time of his arrest one of Bounty aides said he needs to reflect on how he is living his life. "Bounty need to stop go out every night and waste so much money pon liquor and flossin', so me glad him nuh get nuh bail, mek him stay deh and hol' a medz."

One cannot help but wonder if his attendance at church yesterday comes as a result of the reflection, and marks a new beginning for Rodney Basil Price.

Damian Marley & Nas Interview At Digiwaxx

Damian Marley and Nas sat down for an interview with Stef Lova over at DIGIWAXX during a listening party for their album, Distant Relatives.

Kadeem Baker Claps Back Against Bloggers

Kadeem Baker, girlfriend to Bounty Killer is upset that people are talking about her after she dropped the charges against him for allegedly beating her up.  She sent this email to a website:

Firstly u guys sit ere read these aweful things an turn dem into facts. Nothing is wrong wit reading wat unscrupulous, badmind, wicked ppl write to bring me dwn good people, but its what you believe in the end. Persons are making comments about me selling p*ssy, cleaning up an how my p*ssy stink

.... den if my p*ssy stink an him nuh wnt me den why him waah heng

Sean Paul & Sean Kingston Nominated For MTV Japan Awards

Sean Paul and Sean Kingston have both been nominated for MTV Japan's Video Music Awards which will be held May 29.

Kingston is nominated for Fire Burning, and Paul is up for his video So Fine.If either of them win it would be history making as only Japanese artists have ever won the award for Best Reggae Video.

This is the second nomination for Kingston, and third for Paul.The only other Jamaican to have been nominated in the category was Mavado who was nominated for Dreaming back in 2008.

Bounty Killer Released From Jail; Girlfriend Charged With Public Mischief

Bounty Killer was granted bail for $200,000 yesterday after being locked up for two weeks for allegedly beating up his girlfriend, Kadeem Baker.

They both appeared in court where she was charged with creating public mischief after she asked that the charges against Bounty be dropped because she and Bounty wanted to get on with their life together. Ah hope she remember that next time him buss her ass.

Her lawyer asked for mediation instead of charging Bounty with assault.

The police reported that after the initial incident, as they were processing Bounty, he used his one phone call to call Kadeem and threaten her life right in their presence.

New Music: Damian Marley Ft. Nas & Dennis Brown

New music The Promised Land with Damian Marley, Nas and Dennis Brown. This is off Damian and Nas' upcoming album, Distant Relatives, due out May 18.

Also check out the lead single off the album As We Enter.

Jah Cure Teams With Mary J. Blige On Each Tear

Jah Cure has teamed up with Mary J. Blige to do a reggae version of her single, Each Tear.

Mary will release several versions with different international artists. Jah Cure was happy for the to work with Mary J. Blige, reports the Jamaica Gleaner. He says: "Mary has been one of my favorite artists from the day I heard Real Love in 1992. It is a dream come true to be able to work with an artist of such immense talent on such a beautiful song. I think the song will connect with my fans and also help me to connect with hers. I am so pleased with how it turned out and I have to give thanks to Supa Dups for making it happen."

Jah Cure will also headline the Westmoreland Curry Festival on Sunday, May 25. Held at the Manning's School in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland. Also scheduled to perform: Assassin, Kiprich, D'Angel, I-Octane, Stevie Face, Tifa, Edge Michael, G-Whiz and J Youngg and singjay Iyahblaze.

Jah Cure is currently working on his next album, which will feature a collabo with Keri Hilson and Pooh Bear titled World Cry.

Buju Banton's Drug Trial Postponed

Buju Banton's trial for drug charges has been delayed until June 21.

Buju was arrested in December for allegedly attempting to buy more than five kilograms of cocaine from an undercover officer in Sarasota, Florida.

The trial was scheduled to start Monday April 19 but the judge pushed the date back to June. No reason was given for the change.

Buju entered a not guilty plea and his lawyer said the singer was entrapped into a drug deal.

If found guilty, Buju faces up to 20 years in prison.