South Florida’s premier music and lifestyle promotions company, Rocker’s Island Entertainment, in association with Massive B Sound System, Inc., and title sponsor REBEL MIX, are extremely pleased to announce the addition of dancehall legend Super Cat to the line up of Best Of The Best 2008.

Miami’s longest running Memorial Weekend reggae concert, Best Of The Best 2008 will jump off on Sunday May 25th at Bicentennial Park (1075 Biscayne Blvd.) in bustling downtown Miami. “We all grew up listening to Super Cat,” says Rocker’s Island CEO Joseph “Budafuco” Louis, “so this is a huge honor for us to bring him down to Florida for our annual event.” The occasion will be Mr. Cat’s first outdoor park show ever in North America.

Born and raised in the rough and tumble streets of Cockburn Pen in Kingston, Super Cat aka the Wild Apache bumrushed the dancehall fraternity of the mid-1980s with a spree of hits like: “Boops,” “Mud Up,” and “Sweet For My Sweet.” He was one of the first Jamaican deejays to bust in the US market and signed a major label deal with Columbia records in the early ’90s, enjoying success with several smash hits including “Dem No Worry We,” “Don Dada” and “Dolly My Baby.”

Super Cat also helped pioneer the fusion of Hip-Hop and Reggae and R&B and Reggae, regularly collaborating with then-rising stars P. Diddy, Heavy D, Mary J. Blige and Notorious B.I.G. Over the years, his trademark vocal style and lyrical pattern have been adopted by many deejays to follow, most notably multi-platinum Pop artist Sean Paul, who can credit the Cat as a major influence.

The original don dada joins a stellar list of artists already confirmed for this year’s event, including Buju Banton aka Gargamel, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Junior Reid, Barrington Levy, soca king Machel Montano, Tarrus Riley, Mavado, Etana, Dean Frasier, Assassin, Serani, Bling Dawg, Shifta, Demarco, Bugle, Screechy Dan, Rockefella and Dilly Chris.

Best Of The Best 2008 will be hosted by Bobby Konders and Jabba, DJ Khaled, Jamusa, Ron Burke, Tony Matterhorn, 800-Bungie, Walshy, Mr. Slater, DJ Roy and Steelie. Doors will open at 1:00pm sharp. Stage show kicks off at 2:00pm and ends at 11pm.
Additional 2008 sponsors include Island TV, Mixx 96, Irie TV, Hot 97, Air Jamaica, The Marriott Biscayne Bay, RA Travel, Gargamel Music Marketing.

FOR BOOTH/VENDOR INFO: Call 305.438.9488. Space Is Limited!

CARIBPR NEWSWIRE, ST. JOHN`S, Antigua, March 28, 2008: The Honorary Counsel Of Guinea to Pennsylvania and Managing Director of Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio & Associates, PC., the largest African American-owned Certified Public Accounting firm in the United States, is set to receive this year` Team Jamaica Bickle community service award.

Stanley L. Straughter will be presented with the 2008 Team Jamaica Bickle International Community Service Award, officials of the Philadelphia-arm of the organization announced yesterday. Straughter will receive the award at it’s the group’s annual reception on April 10, 2008 at the PECO Headquarters, 2301 Market Street in Philadelphia. The reception is being presented again this year under the distinguished patronage of Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Philadelphia, Dr. Alston Meade.

In announcing the award, Christopher Chaplin, co- chairman of The Philadelphia Organizing Committee of Team Jamaica Bickle said, `Mr. Straughter epitomizes the principles of Team Jamaica Bickle which include service above self and bringing international communities together. It is our honor to convey our International Community service Award on Mr. Straughter. Each year, the award is made to an individual living in the City of Philadelphia who exemplifies the spirit of giving, support and service to the Caribbean community in Philadelphia. Previous recipients include Kenny Gamble, founder of Universal Companies; Philanthropist Dr. Walter Lomax; Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and State Representative Dwight Evans.

Straughter also serves as chairman of the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs for the City of Philadelphia and has served as a senior advisor to the International Foundation for Education and Self- Help (IFESH), an organization founded by the late Reverend H. Sullivan, with the mission of supporting African nations in their efforts to eradicate poverty, disease and inequity through self-help partnership programs.

Straughter speaks French and has considerable experience working with bilateral and multilateral financial development entities such as USAID, African Development Bank, African Development Foundation, Eastern Caribbean Investment Promotion service and U.S. Trade and Development Administration. He also provides consulting services to OIC International, Inc. a NGO serving, Poland, Philippines, Haiti, and eighteen countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

As a Senior Advisor on Trade, Mr. Straughter represented the Eastern Caribbean Investment Promotion Services (ECIPS) in the United States. He organized in-bound and out-bound trade missions between the United States and the member countries of ECIPS. He was directly involved in the increased foreign direct investment into the ECIPS member countries from the United States. The investments benefited small and medium enterprises in the Caribbean. He served as a Senior Advisor to U.S. Virgin Islands Government Employees Retirement System (GERS) and assisted the GERS in the restructuring of its loan portfolio and the design of a system of accountability and reporting to management.

Straughter is also a specialist in state and local government issues and has served as the executive director of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. NBCSL is an organization of 600 legislators from 44 states and the US Virgin Islands. He was executive director from 1986 to 1990. He now serves as senior advisor to the president of NBCSL on international matters.

Straughter has organized delegations of state legislators to African and Caribbean countries and Foreign delegations to study trade and economic development issues in the United States for NBCSL. Team Jamaica Bickle is a non-profit organization that provides food and hospitality services for the visiting athletes and officials from Jamaica and the Caribbean who attend the annual Penn Relays. The group provides over 300 visiting athletes and coaches with food, transportation and accommodation in Philadelphia while the athletes participate in the Penn Relays which takes place this year from April 23 – April 26.

South Florida’s premier Caribbean music and lifestyle promotions company, Rocker’s Island, have officially announced the lineup for the Best Of The Best concert to be held Memorial Sunday, May 25th at Bicentennial Park (1075 Biscayne Blvd.) in downtown Miami.
Icons already confirmed for this year’s event include Buju Banton aka Gargamel, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Junior Reid, Barrington Levy, and soca monarch Machel Montano. Also on the bill is a new generation of Jamaican artists led by Mavado, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Assassin, Serani, Bling Dawg, Shifta, Demarco, and Bugle.
Best Of The Best 2008 will be hosted by Bobby Konders and Jabba, DJ Khaled, Jamusa, Ron Burke, Tony Matterhorn, 800-Bungie, Walshy, Mr. Slater, DJ Roy and Steelie. Doors open at 1:00pm sharp. Stage show kicks off at 2:30pm and ends at Midnight.
This year’s sponsors include rebelmix.com, Island TV, Mixx 96, Irie TV, Hot 97, Air Jamaica, Marriott Biscayne Bay, RA Travel.

FOR BOOTH/VENDOR INFO: Call 305.438.9488. Space Is Limited!

Warning to avoid beaches

The Trinidad Met office has warned that the storm which is currently battering Puerto Rico and the US will remain in the region for another few days. St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago and Nevis were among countries in the region who have warned members of the public to avoid the islands’ beaches over the Easter Weekend

Small craft operators were also being urged to remain on shore or get safe harbour, to minimise the effects of high sea swells and heavy winds from an Atlantic storm. The storm has killed more than a dozen people in the United States. One elderly man was also killed in Barbados.

Puerto Rico and Cuba were among the islands feeling the effects of the low pressure weather system. Reports from Tobago said all beaches there have been closed until further notice. Huge waves on Thursday battered the shoreline of beaches along Trinidad and Tobago’s north east coast, causing panic among residents and visitors.

Crime busters want foreign help
Police Commissioners and security chiefs who met in Guyana to discuss the region’s crime situation, have been trying to come up with action-oriented solutions to the wave of violent crime by heavily armed gangs. Their deliberations come ahead of a special crime and security summit of Caricom leaders in Trinidad next month.

St Lucia’s assistant police commissioner Vernon Francois says the Georgetown meeting discussed whether Caribbean countries should, as a region, ask for foreign help to assist their crime fighting efforts.

Caricom tackles education and child health
A Caricom-wide protocol on protecting and guaranteeing the rights and entitlements of children moving across the Single Market appears to be a long way off. University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris is among those calling for such a protocol for children are accompanying adults in search of jobs and a better living-standard.

Caricom headquarters coordinator for human development, Myrna Bernard says countries have agreed to provide primary health-care and primary education. However, Ms Bernard said there are grey areas on how to guarantee the provision of early childhood, secondary and tertiary education to children from other countries.

Caribbean told it is important to the US
The prime ministers of the Bahamas, Barbados and Belize have been assured by US President George W Bush that the Caribbean region is important to the United States. Mr Bush met with Prime Ministers Hubert Ingraham, David Thompson and Dean Barrow at the White House on Thursday. Mr Ingraham said the Caribbean leaders told Mr Bush they wanted to see the Caribbean Basin Initiative Act extended.

That trade agreement expires in September of this year. Tourism was another matter examined by the four leaders. President Bush said they discussed how to make sure that their security needs are met without interrupting people’s ability to travel as freely as possible.

Ethanol blamed for rising food prices
The World Bank says the global rise in food prices has reached a critical stage and is placing extra strain on up to forty developing countries. Food prices rose by up to 34 percent in 2007. Phil Corzine of South American Soy – a farming conglomerate in the US and Brazil says growing emphasis on using corn to produce the biofuel ethanol is one of the contributing factors.

Singer Anthony Cruz, real name Rohan Smith, has earned his place in reggae with solid lover’s rock vocals mixed with his edgy style and polished stage performance. His upcoming album Fight With All Your Might showcases his talents over a range of musical styles. Standout tracks include, “Hold Me,” “Leaders of the World,” “Take It Off” and his first single “Love Is Falling.”

With destiny and music in his veins, Anthony Cruz- the nephew of the legendary lover’s rock crooner Garnett Silk- left his Jamaican hometown Mandeville and migrated to the United States after high school to fulfill his dreams. In 1993 in Miami, FL, producer Willie Lindo was impressed by Cruz’s demo and took him under his wing releasing his debut album Where There Is Love featuring international hits “Just Call My Name” and “When You Get Lonely”. In 1999, Cruz returned to Jamaica and shortly after joined Fifth Element Records.  Cruz began to land major reggae stages shows (Sting, Rebel Salute, Stone Love’s Annual Anniversary Dance) and create more #1 hits (“You Got it Bad,” The Place Too Bloody” ft. Buju Banton and “Halfway Tree”.  Currently, this dedicated singer is on the Penthouse Label anticipating the release of his latest album Fight With All Your Might in stores April 15th, 2008

Hold Me

Promising vocalist Jamelody’s new hit “Love Crazy” came in at #6 as the highest reggae radio debut. According to the latest Media Guide Report, the rhythmic ballad charts at #5 making its way up to the top of reggae specialty charts. The passionate tune is the first single off the Jamelody’s debut album Be Prepared set to be released on April 29th, 2008 with VP Records.

Jamelody’s 15 track album BE PREPARED, showcases a rare voice—soulful, gritty, with echoes of Dennis Brown and Garnet Silk, as well as Stevie Wonder. But JAMELODY is clearly his own man, and he sings not just for one audience, but for the whole world. This new roots messenger blends classic reggae with contemporary R&B, rock, and pop in to reinvigorate reggae’s vintage call for “truth, rights, justice, and one love.”

Whether working out over BE PREPARED’s first half—hardcore foundation-style reggae tracks (produced by legendary mixing board master Bobby “Digital” Dixon)—or the CD’s “New Roots” rock/pop/R&B hybrids, orchestrated by Carl James, this genre-busting talent is a sure shot for international stardom.

Love Crazy

Luciano is undeniably an ambassador for Jah, who’s always committed to the survival of Roots Reggae. His music is timeless and edifying. His mission is to uplift humanity with inspirational messages that demand global appeal. And since the release his landmark CD in 1995, Where There Is Life, succeeded by more than 40 full-length albums that have garnered tremendous acclaim, Jah Is My Navigator, the Rastaman’s latest release on VP, is arguably the quintessential Culture album for 2008

OC: You are known in the music world as “the messenger”. How do you feel about this role?

Luciano: It’s an honor for me. I see myself as a missionary. One who has taken up the responsibility to inspire the people, especially the younger generation. One who feels it necessary at this time to help carry on the teachings of my roots and heritage, using music as a medium to carry this message.

OC: Most people would say they started off singing in church. Where did you start?

Luciano: [laughing] Well, I started off in the church as well, but there was something in me that wanted to sing more than gospel. Gospel is really for worship and praise, but when you have reggae music you can sing about injustice an inequality in the society. I remember when I was in the church I would hide and play a bob Marley tune

OC: What would you say was the breakthrough moment for you? When did you feel as if you’d moved ahead of the pack?

Luciano: My breakthrough in music was a mystical one, I had recognition in America and England long before people knew of me in Jamaica, and I was getting dub plate orders as early as 1993. My recording career started in 1992 with a song called “Shake it up tonight” with Freddie McGregor on the Big Ship label which ran for eight weeks as the number one song in the UK. Then I started doing some dub plates for Kilimanjaro, and exterminator. then I started writing my own stuff and doing some real serious songs like “one way ticket”

OC: Tell us a little about your new album, “Jah is my Navigator.”

Luciano: Jah is my navigator is another one from the messenger to inspire and uplift the people. It has 15 tracks with two combination, “I’m the toughest” with Andrew Tosh, and another with my backup vocalist empress Rochelle Bradshaw called “Paradise Last”. I love this song, this is one for the lovers. Then there is “Sweet Jamaica” where we remember the good ole days in Jamaica. “Jah live” is one of my favorites, which is giving justice to one of the greatest in reggae, the late, great Robert Nester Marley

OC: Speaking of sweet Jamaica what do you think needs to happen for Jamaica to move forward

Luciano: Honestly I think we as artists and public figures need to start doing more for the people and playing more of a positive role in the community. There is a lot of garbage stuff brewing in Jamaica right now like gun lyrics, and gangsters and the gully kind of vibes. Everyone knows that music influences the people, so why sing about such things. The people should be concentrating on more positive things right now. the rest of the world has a negative image of Jamaica because of what we portray in the movies, videos and the lyrics that some artist put out.

OC: What feelings did you have as you approached this latest album, and how did you feel after you were finished?

Luciano: I approached it from a family vibe. Some of the songs were written by other people. A lot of times people come up to us, asking us to sing their songs. Actually, “Jah is my navigator” was written by brother Tarrus Riley [new sensation on the block]. We had a vast amount of musicians and engineers who all came together, and put in their best to produce a great album.

OC: “Hard herbs” it’s definitely different especially in sound. Tell us how this song came to be

Luciano: Ok, Mr. Dean Fraser was the genius responsible for this song. Singing about something as hard as herb in a classical way, I think is a play on music which we believed would captivate the minds of the people. You see, over the years people have come accustomed to Rasta singing about herb in a defiant way, singing about burning down Babylon. But in this way, we bring it to the people to make them feel safe about herb and rastafari

OC: What’s your favorite track on the album and why?

Luciano: Track six (Never give up your pride) is my favorite on the album. This song touches the whole movement on what I’ve been going through over the years. I’ve been through a lot, but I’ve never let things deter me. I just hold to my faith and keep doing what I do.

OC: Any last words for the fans?

Luciano: I just want to leave a note. Let me just sing this one please. “I’ve spent many days and nights to find you. Open up my eyes, to my surprise you were there. You showed me that you loved me, you showed me that you cared. Told you that I needed you, you said you’d always be there. For I, Rasta for I.” I’d like to tell the people that even though they depend on a lot of things like technology and other ways and means to pull through life, this is the time we should really have Jah as our navigator in our lives. Be strong my people, good over evil, god over devil.

The Way We Roll ft Busta Rhyme and Shaggy

Deejay Elephant Man’s latest single and dance is all the hype in the dancehall and with the recent release of the video, Ele looks well on his way to making a loud statement in 2008. Entitled Gully Creepers, both song and dance have that ‘Ele’ touch which equals hype entertainment.

“We just release the video and it bad . we have the dance lock and throw way di key,” an excited Elephant Man told the Observer. The video is directed by rising video director Julia Braham on location at Barbican gully, Roses Corner, Hot Mondays and the Burlington Avenue studio of Q45, Elephant Man’s manager.

It features celebrity dancers Ice from Roses Corner, Mad Michelle, First Class Dancers, Latoya Styles and Ladii-Kadii. The single was produced by Shawn Nizzle.