The second day in the Buju Banton drug conspiracy trial has commenced in Tampa, Florida. The day began with alleged recordings of telephone conversations between Banton and a Police Informant: Mr. Alexander Johnson being presented to the court. Prosecutors examined audio evidence taped over a 5 month period of Banton reportedly discussing drug deals, dollar amounts and the best way to transport drugs including cocaine from Panama to Europe in frozen crates of seafood.

Banton's fans who had turned out in droves for the trial, were also stunned by the recordings which were played out aloud to the court. According to eye witnesses the fans appeared deflated after coming off of a high on Monday when the chief investigator in the matter said he had no evidence that Banton was involved in cocaine trafficking. Yesterday as the tapes were being played, one women could be seen with her head in her hands and covering her ears. Others sat attentively, captivated by the conversations between Banton and Johnson, a convicted drug trafficker who has been working with the US Government since 1996 to sting other dealers. Banton was also heard asking Johnson if he had any connections to buy cocaine as he was willing to finance a deal. He also told Johnson that he did not have contacts in Venezuala, Panama and other parts of South America, but that he was involved with smuggling diamonds from Africa to Europe.

We have also heard reports that Prosecutors presented a video of Johnson, Banton and Thomas (co-accused) in a warehouse in Sarasota. In it, Thomas cuts a package containing approximately a kilo of cocaine. Banton is seen taking a knife cutting the package, wiping the knife and tasting his finger.

Notably, when Buju’s lawyer cross examined  Johnson later in the day, Johnson agreed that the artiste did not finance the drug deal for which he, along with the two co-accused was arrested and charged. Johnson also admitted under cross examination that Banton had never purchased any cocaine in Panama or Colombia, and that their dealings never went beyond a talk.

But prosecutors say what is clear is that Banton wanted to put up money to buy cocaine. Below you can see a transcript of the tape that was played in court:

"All I do is finance," Banton told Johnson during the restaurant meeting, transcripts show.

"So you give the money to buy dope?" Johnson asked.

"Yes," said Banton, according to transcripts.

Defense attorney David Markus has argued that while his client talked about drug dealing, he never actually funded any.

"Did Mr. Myrie invest one dollar of money into a drug deal?" Markus asked Johnson during cross examination.

"With me — no," Johnson answered.

During another conversation on August 1st at a South Florida Hotel, Banton and Johnson discussed buying kilos of cocaine from Panama and transporting them to Europe in containers filled with frozen seafood.

Johnson told Banton he had a seafood business called Frozen Fish, the transcripts show.

Johnson turned informer in 1996 after being convicted of distributing cocaine and marijuana. He was paid $50,000 in the Banton case, according to testimony.

During a conversation at a Sarasota restaurant on Dec. 8, Banton admitted to Johnson he was having money problems. "My truck is in the shop and I can't get it out," Banton said. "I'm going to concentrate, though; things are going to be straight next year."

It was on that day that Banton brought an associate named Ian Thomas along for lunch with Johnson. Banton described Thomas as a "friend who had contacts to purchase kilos of cocaine," Johnson said in court.

Johnson told Banton he would give him 5 extra kilos of cocaine if Thomas and his associate, a man named James Mack, purchased 20 kilos.

Another video shows Thomas and Mack being arrested while attempting to purchase cocaine at the warehouse two days later. Banton was arrested later that day at his South Florida home.

"So that 5-kilo deal for Mr. Myrie never happened, did it?" Markus asked Johnson.

"No," Johnson said.

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Teacher or "Bleacher"?

People are comparing popular dancehall artist “Vybz Kartel” to the late Michael Jackson. Unfortunately Michael suffered from serious skin pigment disease; however, Vybz Kartel is nicked named “the bleacher” by members of the “Alliance” due to the fact that each year his skin complexion as gotten lighter and lighter.

Skin bleaching has become popular over the years in the Caribbean as well as Africa and even Asia which has the biggest market for skin bleaching products.

Skin lightening or whitening is a controversial topic as it is closely intertwined with the detrimental effects on health, identity, self image, racial supremacy and colonial mentality.

Dr. Neil Persadsingh, a leading Jamaican dermatologist and author of the book “Acne in Black Women”, says some of these creams work by killing melanin, the substance that lends skin its pigmentation and protects the skin from the cancer-causing ultraviolet rays of the sun. All people have melanin in their skin; the more melanin present, the darker the skin.

In addition, he says, the preparations contain large amounts of hydroquinone – a white crystalline de-pigmenting agent that is fatal in large concentrations. Victims will suffer from nausea, shortness of breath, convulsions and delirium. Damage to the skin – wrinkles, severe acne, marks – may be irreversible after prolonged use.

Household bleaching

If you happen to take a walk into any inner-city community on an early morning don’t be surprised to find several girls with powdery or painted-looking faces. They are bleaching.

Apart from the traditional skin lightening creams, some Jamaicans use toothpaste, curry powder, milk powder, household bleach and cornmeal. These products are cheap and effectively cool, users say. “The toothpaste and the bleach lighten your complexion,” explains Tamara. “The curry powder brings out the beauty and the cornmeal and milk powder makes your face cool.”

Dr. Persadsingh says: “Jamaicans perceive that when a product burns it can clear the skin. That’s why they use toothpaste, curry and household bleach as a base for lightening the skin.”

Why people bleach?

Health care professionals and social commentators in Jamaica view the trend with dismay, for example numerous reggae songs censure the practice, such as the early 1990’s hit “Dem a Bleach” by Nardo Ranks. Health officials say skin bleaching in Jamaica dates back over decades. Over the last 5 to 10 years the practice has been increasing significantly, says Dr. Clive Anderson, dermatologist and an executive member of the Jamaica Dermatologists Association.

The MHO has appealed to citizens to stop misusing these drugs as they were putting themselves at serious risk and overburdening the health system as they sought to treat the damage done to their skin by the creams.

Is Vybz Kartel Bleaching?

Well it isn't something he has admitted to doing however if you take a look at the pictures below you can be the judge for yourself?


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Collie Buddz, the Bermudian Reggae star with the dancehall sound that crosses genres from pop to hip-hop, announced this week that he was forming his own touring company, CB Touring, to handle all booking for his live appearances. CB Touring embraces the trend of artistic control in every aspect of life on the road by aggressively pursuing a touring schedule that allows Collie to connect with his fans and bring his hard hitting live show to more locations across the globe.

The value of an artist’s intellectual property has declined significantly in the age of file sharing, and Collie is determined not to devalue it as it relates to touring. “Every venue we play, every promoter we work with, all the numbers, when we tour, what songs we play… I want my own organization to be in charge of those decisions, and own that information,” says Collie in between signing autographs for fans during his current tour with Slightly Stoopid and Cypress Hill.

On the road through the end of August, Collie is playing the official pre-party for Lollapalooza on Thursday night at House of Blues Chicago before continuing on the Legalize It 2010 tour, which finishes in Florida. Collie will hit a small East Coast and West Coast run in September including headlining the West Beach Festival in Santa Barbara. The fun continues with a secondary market jaunt in November. Collie will then take some much-needed rest to be with his family in Bermuda as he prepares for the birth of his first child. In 2011 expect a nationwide US tour kicking off on the East Coast in late March and ending on the West Coast in Late April followed by extensive international touring.

Touring is the product of a unique collaboration between Collie Buddz, his management team, Mojiza Management, headed by industry veteran Dino Devaille, and Ineffable Music Group, a Bay Area firm specializing in artist infrastructure solutions. “We have taken the philosophies of the best agents and touring operations in the business and molded them into something that allows Collie to be the touring artist he wants to be, on his terms.” Says Thomas Cussins of CB Touring. “ Tech N9ne’s operation with Mark Reifsteck, and the model of Aaron Pinkus at Paradigm are major influences on how we approach our booking philosophy. We also have to credit the strategies of Ari Bernstein, formerly of WLA, and the genre –bending packages and artist development of many other agents.”

Collie Buddz will be releasing a follow up record to his self-titled release that has sold almost half a million copies worldwide in January 2011. The album will continue to bend the paradigm of what a reggae artist is supposed to sound like. Collie, who credits his brother Smokey with introducing him to the beauty of reggae music as a youth in Bermuda, will nonetheless experiment with his beats and flows as he lays down track after track of pure “Fyah.” Collie’s long time manager, Dino Devaille, who helped to mold the concept of CB Touring had this to say about Collie’s new music, "For the sophomore release it's pure vibes man: the energy you feel when you find that person that practically makes your heart stop, for good or for bad; the crush of walking by someone without food to eat, clothes to wear, or a roof to shelter them and telling yourself you can do something, or you won't, and time stops in that moment while you decide to walk by them or to walk beside them; the feelings of bliss when you thank The Almighty for giving you life; the feelings of devastation when you feel like you can't move on. Collie's sophomore album makes you feel like someone understands you and you don't exist alone. It's sound magic". He also commented on what fans should expect from Collie in the next year, “in the future the fans should come to expect Collie Buddz to become a brand artist, and a movement that caters to the ever changing music fan. Collie Buddz is the people’s artist.”

Watching Collie as he performs on stage with his band New Kingston at a recent show in Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, it is clear that despite his reputation as an artist’s artist with the most complete reggae album of the last ten years, nowhere is he more comfortable than on stage. As he flashes his trademark smile and waves in unison with five thousand fans, he is in complete control of the stage and the next move is up to him. We get the feeling that is exactly what he had in mind.

Tour dates announced soon at www.colliebuddz.com

Source

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Brand New Riddim - August 2010 - Circus Riddim

Producer: Jeremy Harding (2 Hard Records)

Just last month, he released the slow and easy reggae version called the City Life riddim, and now Jeremy Harding (2 Hard Records) confirms that he’s back on the dancehall/reggae music production scene in 2010, with his latest effort being a techno-influenced beat called the Circus Riddim; check out the Circus Riddim mix by DJ Engineroom below. The full version release will be available worldwide soon.

1. Sean Paul – Hey Ya
2. Elephant Man – Dis Gone
3. Beenie Man - Dance & Killy Dem
4. Denyque – Jugglin’ Hearts
5. Serani – Pleasure
6. Chan Dizzy – When Rain Fall
7. Mr. Vegas – She’s A Cutie

DJ Engineroom Circus Riddim Mix:

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The ‘General' Bounty Killer, who is accused of assaulting his girlfriend (Racquel Smith) with a hammer and a mosquito zapper, appeared in the Corporate Area Criminal Court earlier today, where the court was told by the complainant that she wanted to drop the charges and pursue the mediation route instead. Possibly because of Bounty Killer’s previous appearances before the local courts on similar charges, the judge was not having it however, and she denied the request for the case to be dropped.

Bounty Killer was allowed bail in the sum of $500,000, and is booked to stand trial on November 9.

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