501 Entertainment

Jamaican born Kevin Barnes successfully competed against eight other participants to walk away with the top prize at Montserrat’s inaugural talent search hosted by the Nurses Association.  Adena Morson grabbed the 2nd place spot and Jamal St. Hill who goes by the stage name of ‘Prosper’ filled the third position.  The other contestants were Thiffanie Rogers, Ben Durand, Camille Winspeare, Shamella Carlisle, Flora Martin and Veronica Lynch.

The show was held at ‘The Lime’ in Brades on Monday, December 22nd.  The eight participants puts on a great show and fully entertained the many patrons that came out to show their support.  The event hosted by Mr. Basil Chambers was patterned after shows such as ‘American Idol’ and ‘Digicel Rising Stars’ which have become quite popular in recent times.  

The judges Mr. Kelvin ‘Tabu’ Dubbery, Mr. Chad Cumberbatch and Ms. Ann-Marie Dewar.  Each judge gave their personal opinion of each act immediately after the contestant performed.  The three judges then took 20 minutes after all the contestants completed their performances to tally their scores and declare the winners.

Kevin Barnes won the talent search singing a Christian Ballard which allowed him to hit the high notes and showcase his natural talent.  Mr. Barnes described the competition as ‘tough’.

1st runner up Ms. Adena Morson said she was grateful for the experience and told The Montserrat Reporter: “Well…..I’m happy for the opportunity to have taken part in the first ever talent show on Montserrat.  I went up there and I did my best and even though I did not win I am still happy because I now have an experience that I can look back on and share with others”.

Uprising hip-hop artist ‘Prosper’ from the 501 Camp said ‘It was a great experience because it provided exposure for myself and 501 Entertainment.  I am not surprised that I placed third because as the 501 motto says - ‘First Strat; then the world’ and 501 music is going international”.

Nurse Maureen Cabey from the Nurses Association told The Montserrat Reporter “The show was very good especially when considering it was the first time doing this kind of show.  The crowd was also very good and involved in the show from beginning to end”.  

Sponsors of the talent search included Judith Greer and Associates, Dr. Lowell Lewis and MS Osborne Ltd.

By: Jarrell Fenton
Source: www.themontserratreporter.com

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Crowd favourite Rondell Meade competiting in the Soca monarch Competition for the first time ‘jumped’ his way to the crown with his festival anthem ‘I Love My Festival’.  Flying Dove with his catch phrase ‘Are you ready?’ was 1st runner up,  while, Kulcha Don was 2nd runner up singing his club-banger ‘Wickedest Wine’.

The final line up of singers included Prosper, Lionel Obama Bolt, Dexter, I-Cultural.

The show held at Festival City was put on by Punch and Get Out Promotions who have been hosting the Soca Monarch Competition for the last five years.  The Competition was very lively and MCs Ben Meade, ‘Diamond’ from Antigua, and house DJ – ‘Banga Dred’, did an exceptional job of keeping the Soca patrons entertained throughout the whole night.

Soca Monarch Rondell Meade told The Montserrat Reporter, “I am really elated to win the Soca Monarch and I feel as if I have set a positive example for other young people on Montserrat to follow.  Winning the crown meant a lot to me especially as it was my first time in the competition”.

2nd runner up Kulcha Don has recently shot a music video for his extremely popular song ‘The Wickedest Wine’ with Soca Diva Jadine Greenaway.  The song is already receiving regional success in countries such as Jamaica where it is in heavy demand.  Kulcha will travel to Trinidad in February and Jamaica in April for their respective carnivals to promote this new song.

Noticeably missing for the competition for the second year in a row is former Soca Monarch ‘Scrappy’ who lives in the UK.  However, he has promised his fans that he will definitely be competing in this year’s competition.

By: Jarrell Fenton
Source: www.themontserratreporter.com

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This weekend Alliance young gun Serani has a lot to celebrate as he join the ranks of international high profile entertainers such as rappers Lil Wayne, Nelly pop sensation Lindsay Lohan, and the undeniable Amy Winehouse with the signing of his latest album deal.

The dancehall singer yesterday inked a four album deal with international music giants Universal Records. According to Serani’s manager Julian Jones-Griffith after seeing the success of ‘No Games’ on the Billboard charts they were approached by the label.

Jones-Griffith added  that since last December they have been in negotiation with several major labels but decided to sign with Universal Records because they felt most comfortable with the offerings from that company.

An elated Serani said he was happy with the deal and vowed to be an ambassador for Jamaica and Dancehall music as he looks forward to the mammoth task ahead.

Founded in 1995 as Rising Tide Records, the following year its name was changed to Universal Records and began to thrive. The label was created by current Universal Music Group Chairman Doug Morris and Daniel Glass, who became its president.

Universal had success in breaking new artistes, including the multi-platinum debut of Erykah Badu, Billie Myers, Goldfinger and the Lost Boyz. Recognizing the changing landscape of the industry, Glass strategically aligned Universal with such independent record labels as Kedar Entertainment, home to Erykah Badu, and Mojo Records, home to platinum artist Reel Big Fish and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies.

As the 1990s ended and the 2000s began, the label had notable success with acts like 3 Doors Down, 98 Degrees, Godsmack, Jack Johnson, Lindsay Lohan, Juvenile, Nelly, Lil Wayne and Mika. Overseas, it has notable success with the band Grinspoon. In 1999, Universal Records was pooled together with Motown Records and Republic Records to form The Universal Motown/Universal Republic Group, under which it operates today. With 269 artists among its roster, the label is one of the largest in the world.

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Lionel Baker, the first Montserratian to play for the West Indies, was greeted with a hero’s welcome when he arrived here last Thursday evening.
 
Scores of jubilant supporters turned up at the John A Osborne Airport for Baker’s arrival, his first return to his homeland since making his debut for the senior West Indies team in November in Nee Zealand.
 
“When I came off the plane and saw so many people I was quite happy to see that the people of Montserrat appreciate what I have done, I was quite happy,” a delighted Baker told reporters.
 
“It feels quite good to see all these people coming out to welcome me back,” said Baker who joked that “I thought it was Christmas again … I thought Christmas was coming again just for me.”
 
“We want to welcome you home and to show our appreciation, for you have done us proud and you are now a national hero,” said Communications and Works Minister Charles Kirnon, who greeted the young pacer as he stepped off the plane.
 
Among the accolades being planned for the West Indies player is the renaming of the St John’s main road to Lionel Baker Street, where a billboard will be erected in his honour.
 
“The best part of being back home is to go on my street,” Baker said, referring to the stretch of road where he honed his skills after school, on weekends and during vacation as a youngster growing up – and where a motorcade from the airport culminated Thursday night.
 
The 24-year-old Baker took three wickets for 74 runs on his One Day International debut versus Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in November and made his Test debut against New Zealand in Dunedin last month in the opening Test of the two-match rubber. He subsequently played three ODIs against the Kiwis in the five-match series that finished on Tuesday.
 
Meantime, Baker says his immediate priority is rest and relaxation with his family at home, ahead of what is expected to be a tough Home Series against England beginning next month.
 
Upon his arrival, he told reporters that the long journey from New Zealand, where he made his Test debut last month, had left him slightly exhausted.
 
“I just want to get some rest, stay home with my family and then, after a week’s time, its back to cricket again,” said Baker, who will await word on his selection for the four-Test and five-match One Day International series against old rivals England.
 
Baker, who did not take a wicket in his solitary Test, said while he was not overly happy with his performance with the ball in the just concluded series against New Zealand, he was “pleased” with his body of work that yielded eight wickets in six ODIs against Pakistan and New Zealand combined.
 
He said, however, after taking it easy for a few days, he would begin his analysis of the England batsmen using the popular internet site, Youtube.
 
Baker said he would use the technology to give him a head start on preparing for the upcoming tour.
 
“Before you get there you must know what you are about so when you get in the nets in Jamaica you will be bowling that kind of length … because that’s what you’ll be bowling in the Test match.”
 
He also said that his mission for the year ahead was “just trying to put myself and my country on the map, and trying to establish myself on the West Indies team.”
 
In the meantime, the St John’s native said he would also make himself available with the expectation to be selected to the Leeward Islands team now playing in the regional first class tournament and would play out the rest of the season if he did not retain his position on the West Indies side.

Source: http://www.themontserratreporter.com/index.pl/article_local?id=2471877

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Word on the street is that the video for Mavado’s breakout hit Am So Special is set to premiere on MTV JAMS next week after being axed from BET’s flagship programme, 106 and Park.  According to sources close to the camp, the video may debut as the Jam of the Week on MTV Jams next week.

The axing of the video was a major disappointment for dancehall fans, and a major letdown for an industry searching for a bolt of inspiration.  Mavado’s camp explained what went down in a release: 

“Despite 106 and Park’s presenters hyping the premiere for several days, including showing clips from the video, a last-minute intervention by someone in the legal department prevented the video from airing,” the release stated.

“The anticipation was very high for the BET premiere. We weren’t notified until late in the day that there was a last-minute objection by one of the legals over there, who had a censorship issue. He objected to ‘excessive display of alcohol’and ‘careless use of women as writhing set dressings!’. The video is now available to watch online, so people can make up their own minds about that.”

Source: www.one876entertainment.com

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