STEIN BREAKS OUT WITH DEBUT ALBUM

Dancehall star Stein (formerly known as Einstein) breaks out with his debut album All Or Nothing, slated for a June 25, 2013 worldwide release from FOX FUSE. Born Jermaine Lee-King in St. Thomas, Jamaica, Stein’s music reflects his diverse Chinese-Afro heritage and echoes an eclectic edge that secures a place for his sound both at home and abroad, with international audiences.
Bubbling with 15 sizzling tracks and three satirical skits, All Or Nothing is a bonafide showstopper that offers up Stein’s modern take on dancehall music,


driven by up-tempo, heavy-bass beats bound to send dancehall fans into a frenzy. He teams up with some of dancehall’s hottest hit makers for this debut effort, including Wellesley “Supa Blunt” Haye, Chimney Records (Jordan McClure and David Hayle), Stevol “Charlie Pro” Hibbert and JK4 Music Group (Randayne Jagen and Shomani Hayles). The lead single, “From Night Till Day,” was released in January and has been gaining traction on radio across the Caribbean and Europe, ever since. Stein recently appeared on Jamaica’s HYPE-TV to premiere the official video. The album also features his smash hits “Shell Dung Di Party” and “More Than Ten Gal,” and new anthems “Pray For Me” and title track, “All Or Nothing.”

“I named the album All Or Nothing because when you have nothing, you can only have it all, and when you have it all, you can only go back to having nothing, and I’m a person who cannot settle for less,” reveals Stein. “I’ve been pounding the pavement in Jamaica for a very long time and I’ve started taking my music to audiences in Europe and America, and fans have been receptive so I’m on a mission to deliver dancehall music, my way, to everyone.”
Stein is planning album launch events at home in Kingston, Jamaica and also for his fans across Europe and in the U.S., come this summer. “Everywhere I go, fans are always asking me for an album so it was time to deliver one to them,” discloses Stein. “Prior to FOX FUSE, no record company has ever approached me for an album. So with their help, in collaboration with my own label New Planet Records, I’m finally able to make my music available to the world.”
“Unlike many contemporary dancehall artists, Stein is one of the most clever lyricists on the scene,” states Zack Cohen, CEO of FOX FUSE, who proposed the album to Stein exactly one year ago. “We’re fans of his work and we wanted to provide him with a platform that was previously unavailable to him. We have the means and he has the talent, and we’re very thrilled with the outcome of this venture.”

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Inner Circle thrills Jinja

By Donald Kiirya and Doreen Musingo

Jamaican Reggae group Inner Circle on Saturday put up an energetic performance leaving people still yearning for more in Jinja.

At the show dubbed 'Reggae on the Nile' that climaxed the 'Paint the City Bright' tourism campaign, Inner Circle band brought their special brand of pop-oriented Jamaican beats and energy filled live performance to Ugandans at Crested Crane Hotel.
The concert was organised by Metro Green Uganda in partnership with Jinja Municipal Council.

The show kicked off with performances from the Nine Miles band led by Singer Stephen Geier accompanied by Trombonist Johan Eklind, Saxophonist Daniel Burling, Guitarist Ola Fjellborg and Background vocalist Martina de Leo.

They sang a variety of reggae songs which kept the crowd busy unleashing their reggae dancing strokes and received cheers from Rastafarians who attended in huge numbers with their trademark dread locked hair styles.

At 12:00am, after performances from the Nine Miles band, Governor came in on Stage and performed. He was joined by Ivon who sang Road to Jinja among other songs.

Afrigo Band's famous Rachael Magoola, also a Musoga by tribe stepped in to join Governor and Ivon to perform the theme song 'Paint the City Bright'.

Other Ugandan local artists like Ragga Dee and Gen. Megga Dee also stepped on stage and performed for the crowd along side Dj Mosh who was Mcee for a short time.

At 1:00pm, Inner Circle band came on stage amidst applause from fans. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for.

They started by performing some of their new jams and later climaxed with the 1970s hits that drove the crowd crazy.

Kelvin Dixon, a lead singer in the group, engaged the crowd and kept it busy singing along with them. They called on fans at distant areas away from the stage to come closer and feel the beats of their jams which the crowd did not hesitate.

Lead vocalist Roger Lewis this time was seen plunging a guitar will full vigor from his fingers and kept on shaking his head in all directions, a sign that he was determined to proving to Ugandans a perfect show in Jinja.

They sang songs like 'Bad Boys', one more night, Mary, Games people play, Rock with You and dance party favourite Sweat (A La la la la long) among others.

They also sang a special memorial for the late Jacob Miller, the bands founding vocalist that made the fans go into a somber mood as they listened to them with their V-sign shaped fingers in the air.

On the whole, it was a fun filled event that will forever be etched in the history of the town.

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NATURAL BLACK GEARS UP FOR THE UK

Reggae star Natural Black gears up for the UK, as he is set to headline Guyana’s 47th Independence Anniversary celebrations at Platinum Suite in London, England on May 26, 2013. Natural Black will be appearing alongside fellow reggae ambassadors First Born, and other local acts including Jumo Primo, Ras Ranger, Baby Boom, Fojo and Fiona Singh, among others. The event’s promoters Dan Fox Promotions and Vizion Sounds Records only had one choice when it came to nabbing an international reggae act for this prestigious event, with the Guyanese-born entertainer, Natural Black.
“I’m always honored to perform for my native country, Guyana,” states Natural Black. “I’ve been performing for fans across the U.S. recently, and I’m really looking forward to taking my show across the pond to the UK fans, later this month.” This prolific event takes place under the patronage of Guyana’s High Commissioner to England, His Excellency Mr. Laleshwar Singh.
Natural Black has five new singles currently out, including "I'm On My Way," "Natural Chronix," "Who Cares For Me," "Don't Play With My Heart" and "Party Truck.” He recently released the video for “Party Truck,” and will be releasing the new video for “Don’t Play With My Heart,” in the coming weeks.

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Reggae Star Toots Hibbert Injured By Bottle Thrown During Concert

rollingstone - The lead singer of Toots and the Maytals was injured on Saturday night by a bottle thrown at the stage during a concert in Virginia. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Frederick "Toots" Hibbert was struck in the forehead and treated at a hospital for the resulting cut.

Toots and the Maytals were performing at the Dominion Riverrock Outdoor Sports and Music Festival when a glass vodka bottle was launched from the crowd. The reggae veterans' set was brought to an early end, and a 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and public intoxication, according to Richmond police. An executive with Venture Richmond, the company that produces the three-day festival, said that the bottle used appears to have been stolen from the venue's bar area.

Another festival manager said that 67-year-old Hibbert remained in good spirits after leaving the hospital that night. "He was lucid. He was laughing. He was tired obviously. He had had a very long day," Venture Richmond's Stephen Lecky said. "He was one of the nicest men I ever met."

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SOCA GOLD 2013 TURNS UP THE HEAT THIS SEASON

For almost two decades, VP Records has been bringing the annual Soca Gold series to the masses. The top-selling compilation has been the ultimate carnival soundtrack from Caribbean islands. On May 21, Soca Gold 2013 will unleash the genre’s freshest party anthems including one of Trinidad & Tobago’s biggest tunes of the year with Bunji Garlin’s “Differentology,” plus 2013 Soca Monarch and Road March winner Super Blue’s “Fantastic Friday,” Groovy Soca Monarch 2013 runner-up Iwer George’s “Bubble” and a scorcher from one most sought-after soca acts, with KES' “Thief A Wine.”
Soca Gold 2013 also contains a DVD filled with electrifying live performances from this year's Trinidad & Tobago Carnival, steamy soca music videos and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage with the album cover model Jennifer Skye.

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Snoop Lion Wants to Perform With Bob Marley 3D Hologram

By Todd Olmstead
Snoop Dogg has been known for many things throughout his career, from his long list of hits as a solo artist to his very vocal love of marijuana. But he's also developed a reputation for being cutting edge and social savvy.

In addition to his large presence on Facebook and Twitter, he made news last year for his powerful performance alongside a hologram of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.




Earlier this week, Snoop Dogg — also more recently known as Snoop Lion — teamed up with Mashable for a Twitter chat Q&A with fans and offered insight into his artistic motivation, favorite collaborators and if he would perform with another 3D holographic artist in the future.

When asked which artist he would collaborate with again as a hologram, he said: "bobmarley!!!!!" And as for where he wants to perform one day? "Tha moon."

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