Caribbean Entertainment News Roundup

By NAN ET Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019: Here are the top headlines making news on the Caribbean entertainment scene for this week:

Bob Marley The Musical?

Reports indicate that a brand-new musical based on the life of legendary Jamaican Reggae singer, Robert Nesta Marley could be released next year.

The new musical, according to What’s On Stage, recently had a workshop production in London, with direction by Dominic Cooke and Lee Hall, screenwriter for Rocketman and the upcoming Cats film.

The piece, which is currently nameless, is reportedly being overseen by a producing team of Playful Productions, Stage Play and Kwame Kwei-Armah. It is slated to open in 2020 – during what would be the year of Marley’s 75th birthday.

One Love Bahamas Concert For Pompano Beach

The Amphitheater in Pompano Beach, Florida will form the backdrop for the One Love Bahamas benefit concert this November.

The Hurricane Dorian relief is set to feature renowned artists and entertainers from around the world coming together in support of the Bahamas. It is scheduled for Saturday, November 23, 2019 from 4 p.m. All event proceeds will benefit Hurricane Dorian victims in the Bahamas.

Shipwreck Park, a Pompano Beach not for profit organization has diverted all of its efforts to Bahamian Disaster relief and will administer 100 percent of concert proceeds to this effort.

Tickets for One Love Bahamas will go on sale from Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 10 a.m., through Ticketmaster. For more see onelovebahamas.org for volunteer opportunities or to donate.

Caribbean Roots Rapper Single Now Highest RIAA-Certified By A Female Rapper

Caribbean roots rapper, Cardi B’s breakout hit “Bodak Yellow” has been certified 9x-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The former Number One on the Hot 100 Chart, the single is the highest certified single by a female rapper. “Bodak Yellow” is on pace to make Cardi B the first solo female rapper to earn a Diamond Single Award (10x-Platinum) from the RIAA.

Akon Enters The Reggaeton Sphere

Akon is back on the music scene and is now entering the reggaeton genre, collaborating with Becky G on her new video for “Como No.”  “Como No” follows Akon’s May release “Get Money” with Anuel AA sung in both Spanish and English. But “Como No” is entirely sung in Spanish, Akon’s first song of its kind.

Dancehall’s Busy Signal Ready To Drop New Album

Dancehall reggae star Busy Signal is set to release his new album on October 4th on VP Records label. The long-awaited, new studio album is titled simply, “Parts of the Puzzle” and features popular singles such as ‘Stay So,’ ‘One Way,’ ‘Dolla Van’ and ‘Got To Tell You.’

The four tracks have amassed millions of social media impressions to date, weekly streams in the hundreds of thousands and active rotations on mix-show radio in the US, as well as massive street credibility. The album also includes features from dancehall legend Bounty Killer on ‘Nuh Weh Nuh Safe,’ veteran deejay Josey Wales on the retro flavored ‘Bring Back The Vibes’ and breakthrough Afrobeats artist Afro B on ‘100%’.

Billboard Reggae Charts

Stick Figure, an American reggae and dub band founded in 2006 and based in Northern California, this week again claimed the number one spot on the Billboard Reggae Charts with ‘World On Fire.’ The group made their debut at the top of the charts with the album last week, copping the coveted spot after the highly anticipated full-length studio reggae album was dropped two weeks ago. World On Fire was written, produced and recorded by Scott Woodruff, a self-taught musician.