Mya and Nicki Minaj hit the Caribbean to perform in Jamaica over the weekend at Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night 2011.

Peep Miss Minaj's performance of Moment For Life Below, and check out the performance pictures after the jump:

]]> http://hiphopwired.com/2011/07/25/nicki-minaj-mya-perform-in-jamaica-at-reggae-sumfest-2011-pictures/feed/ 1 http://hiphopwired.com/2011/06/28/nicki-minaj-r-kelly-to-perform-in-jamaica/ http://hiphopwired.com/2011/06/28/nicki-minaj-r-kelly-to-perform-in-jamaica/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:46:00 +0000 Randy Roper http://hiphopwired.com/?p=98902 Nicki Minaj & R. Kelly To Perform In Montego Bay, Jamaica

Rap star Nicki Minaj and R&B vet R. Kelly are set to perform at this year's Reggae Sumfest.

The event will take place July 21-23 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

A press release for the event stated the following:

“Nicki Minaj, one of the hottest acts in the world right now, will be treating her multitude of fans to a scintillating performance,” Johnny Gourzong, executive producer of the event said.

“Last year we had a tremendous festival with great Jamaican and international acts. This time around patrons will again be treated to amazing performances with the likes of Mavado, I-Octane, Beenie Man, Jah Cure and so many other great artistes.”

Gourzong also expressed delight that R Kelly will perform at the event as well.

"The Reggae Sumfest team is excited to be presenting R. Kelly on the Sumfest stage. We have been trying to contract him for the last five years and it is great to see that it is finally happening. We are expecting a spectacular performance from Mr. Kelly."

It will be R Kelly's second performance in Jamaica.

He made his Jamaican debut in 1996 at a concert at Jamworld in St. Catherine. At that time, he was the hottest artiste in R&B, thanks to the multi-platinum success of 12 Play, his 1993 album that announced him as a bona fide superstar.

That album contained big hits like Bump N Grind, a cover of the Spinners classic Sadie, and Your Body's Callin. 12 Play set the pace for a string of anthems that include the inspirational I Believe I Can Fly and If I Could Turn Back The Hands of Time.

R&B stars Usher and Chris Brown performed at last year's Reggae Sumfest.

Young Money rapper Drake drew the ire of Jamaican authorities but escaped arrest with a warning after breaking Jamaica's strict policy of no cursing on stage, at a recent concert.

According to reports, Drizzy was performing at Brit Jam 2011 as artist Movado's guest when he apperantly yelled out the phrase, "blood clot" (considered profanity on the island) while on stage.

The rapper was let off easy and issued a warning and not arrested.

Jamaica has a very strict policy against cursing on stage.

This isn't the first time artists have been reprimanded for not adhering to this mandate .

Beenie Man, Snoop Dogg and Ja Rule have all faced charges for breaking the island's anti-profanity policy.

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The individuals were assisted by Immigration Equality, a network of pro-bono attorneys which strives to secure asylum for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, because they were persecuted in their country as a result of their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV-status.

The success of their claims reflects the degree of of persecution suffered by homosexuals in Jamaica.

The Immigration Equality spokesperson said:

"By offering them a safe haven, the United States is not only saving their lives, but benefiting from the talent, skills and service these asylees bring to our country. We are proud and honored to help them begin life anew here in their adopted homeland."

The organization is reported to have 97 additional cases filed in 2010 and several filed previously that are awaiting review.

Jamaica is infamous for its intolerance and violence against homosexuals, known throughout the Caribbean as "buggering" remains a criminal offense in Jamaica and is punishable by up to 10 years in jail.

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Jamaicans Say Boy Gets Pushed Around By A Ghost

A family in Spanish Town, Jamaica has been terrorized for over 4 months, by what they call a “duppy”.

According to published reports, the family's 11 year-old son was haunted by the ghost of a friend who passed away 4 years ago.

The family states that after moving multiple time to escape the “duppy”, they couldn't hide from it and finally decided to call the local news station to get help from the apparition.

News crews came and watched as the 11-year-old boy was pushed and drug by the ghost on camera.

The footage was so disturbing and caused so much controversy that the town's pastor came to visit the child to verify the accuracy.

Check out the video and judge for yourself, is there a ghost or is the young man just a great actor?

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The accused Jamaican drug lord is facing drug and trafficking charges in New York City after a 9 month delay where officials debated whether his indictment was based on illegal wire tap evidence.

Coke agreed to waive extradition Wednesday and a went willingly with  U.S. authorities.

The suspected King Pen also released a statement to the media on his decision to go the U.S. saying,

“I take this decision for I now believe it to be in the best interest of my family, the community of western Kingston and in particular the people of Tivoli Gardens and above all Jamaica. "

When news came of his possible extradition his supporters flanked the streets and battled police for days leaving 76 people dead.

Coke has since said that he hopes his departure will help “heal” his country.

If convicted of the charges he faces life in prison.

Check out footage of Dudus Coke arriving in the U.S. below.

]]> http://hiphopwired.com/2010/06/25/accused-jamaican-drug-lord-appears-in-ny-to-face-drug-gun-charges-video/feed/ 2 http://hiphopwired.com/2010/05/26/update-4-dead-in-jamaican-drug-war-with-police/ http://hiphopwired.com/2010/05/26/update-4-dead-in-jamaican-drug-war-with-police/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 14:48:18 +0000 Danielle Canada http://hiphopwired.com/?p=41078 At least 44 people are feared dead in Jamaica as supporters of suspected drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke continue to lash out at police.

As previously reported Jamaicans in Kingston barricaded the kingpen's neighborhood with barbed wire and set cars and police stations on fire after hearing that Dudus faced extradition to America.

He faces charges in the U.S. with drug and arms trafficking and is set to be extradited after a 9 month delay where officials debated whether his inidictment was based on illegal wire tap evidence.

In retaliation, masked men went on a rampage with malatov cocktails and fire power leaving two members of the police force dead on Sunday and a State of Emergency declared.

Jamaican officials still do not have Coke in custody.

The U.S. State Department tells The Associated Press that it's “the responsibility of the Jamaican government to locate and arrest Mr. Coke.”

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman also went on to deny rumors that U.S. officials were meeting with Coke's lawyers.

Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world and reported 1,660 homicides in 2009 alone.

As previously reported Jamaicans in Kingston barricaded the kingpen's neighborhood with barbed wire and set cars and police stations on fire after hearing that Dudus faced extradition to America.

He faces charges in the U.S. with drug and arms trafficking and is set to be extradited after a 9 month delay where officials debated whether his inidictment was based on illegal wire tap evidence.

In retaliation, masked men went on a rampage with malatov cocktails and fire power leaving two members of the police force dead on Sunday and a State of Emergency declared.

Jamaican officials still do not have Coke in custody.

The U.S. State Department tells The Associated Press that it's “the responsibility of the Jamaican government to locate and arrest Mr. Coke.”

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman also went on to deny rumors that U.S. officials were meeting with Coke's lawyers.

Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world and reported 1,660 homicides in 2009 alone.

]]> http://hiphopwired.com/2010/05/26/update-4-dead-in-jamaican-drug-war-with-police-2/feed/ 6 http://hiphopwired.com/2010/05/24/jamaica-declared-state-of-emergency-as-civilians-rally-to-defend-drug-lord-torch-police-stations/ http://hiphopwired.com/2010/05/24/jamaica-declared-state-of-emergency-as-civilians-rally-to-defend-drug-lord-torch-police-stations/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 14:48:30 +0000 Danielle Canada http://hiphopwired.com/?p=40722 A state of emergency was declared in Kingston, Jamaica Sunday after officials say a group of masked men torched police stations and exchanged gun fire with authorities to defend a well known drug dealer.

Christopher "Dudus" Coke was charged in the U.S. with drug and arms trafficking and is facing possible extradition to the United States.

When his supporters heard that Coke might be taken to the U.S. after a nine month delay, they marked off his surrounding neighborhood with barb wire and began a rampage with high power weapons and malatov cocktails.

Masked men set four police buildings aflame and rang shots into the streets.

By Sunday night, they had exchanged gun fire with authorities, leaving two security officers dead.

Police Commissioner Owen Ellington reports that "scores of criminals" from gangs across the Caribbean island had traveled to West Kingston to join the fight against officials in “coordinated attacks on the security forces.”

The U.S. Justice Department names Coke as one of the “world's most dangerous drug lords” with ties to the governing Jamaica Labour Party.

His father was the head of the notorious Shower Posse gang.

Check out video of the melee in Jamaica below.

Recently  shooting and releasing the visual for the single “Find Your Love”, Drake has been under fire by certain folks of Jamaica, who feels the imagery portrayed is doing nothing more than giving the country negative publicity with the references to gang life.

Edmund Bartlett, the Caribbean country's Minister of Tourism, said artists should be mindful that the message that is conveyed about Jamaica is wrong.

“Care has to be taken by all, including our creative artists, in portraying images of our destination and people.  Gun culture, while not unique to Jamaica, is not enhancing (the island's image).”

The manager for Mavado, Julian Jones-Griffith, defends his artist, stating that he is simply playing role, but does understand that some might not be as comfortable with the way Jamaica is portrayed.

“The concept that they came up with, where did they come up with that? If Mavado did not do it, another Jamaican actor would have done it,” Jones-Griffith told the Gleaner. “There are a broad range of issues which need addressing if people from California want to portray a love story like this.”

Trust, if people had preconceived notions about Jamaica, they were present way before seeing this video.  Let's not forget about a movie called “Belly” folks.