Caribbean Entertainment News Round Up

Rapper Doug E. Fresh, speaking  during ‘Men Of Courage’ Hold MLK Holiday Day Of Action on January 16, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, is set to be honored by AFUWI next month. (Photo by Monica Morgan/Getty Images)

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Jan. 20, 2017: Here are the stories making news on the Caribbean entertainment scene this week.

DOUG E. FRESH

Barbadian born American rapper, record producer and beat boxer, Doug E. Fresh, is set to be presented with The ‘Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley Award’ at the Annual Legacy Awards Gala of the American Foundation for The University of West Indies (AFUWI) next month.

Fresh, born Douglas E. Davis, is among the 2017 AFUWI honourees who will be lauded on February 23rd at The Pierre Hotel in New York City.  The ‘Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley Award’ is given to an individual/group for their contribution to society and to the advancement of arts and culture, transcending race, colour, creed and geographies; to unite people worldwide in a spirit that embodies the essence of the music and lyrics of Bob Marley.

Previous recipients of the award have included Machel Montano, Jimmy Cliff, Danny Glover, Judith Jamison, Spike Lee, and Jessye Norman.

Other honourees include British born singer, songwriter, record producer and actress, Estelle who is best known for her eclectic mix of musical genres and is of Senegalese and Grenadian descent. She will receive the ‘AFUWI Caribbean Luminary Award.’

Proceeds from the annual event, now in its 20th year, provide an average of 50 scholarships annually for students across The University of the West Indies (UWI’s) four campuses.

This year’s awards will be held under the auspices of Honorary Patron, Dr. Harry Belafonte, O.J.  David N. Dinkins, the 106th Mayor of New York City, will again join the celebration as the Honorary Dinner Chair.

The fundraising Gala begins with a reception and auction at 6:00 p.m. followed by the dinner and programme starting at 7:00 pm. Tickets start at US $500. To reserve or purchase tickets, and for further information, visit https://www.afuwi.org.

WYCLEF JEAN, MARLEY BROTHERS, LAUREN HILL

Haitian rapper and former FUGEES, Wyclef Jean, is set to share the same stage with former bandmate Lauryn Hill early next month in Miami.

Jean and Hill are set to perform at Miami’s newest music festival, Kaya Fest, set for Saturday, April 22, at Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Early-bird tickets went on sale Monday, January 16, for $50, and general admission and VIP tickets go on sale today, Friday, January 20, for $80 to $300 via livenation.com. Also set to perform are the Marley Brothers – together on stage for the first time in two decades – Ziggy, Damian and Ky-Mani.

RIHANNA, SEAN PAUL

Barbados’ superstar Rihanna and Jamaica’s dancehall sensation Sean Paul are up for the forthcoming BRIT Awards, the UK’s biggest Music Awards show. Rihanna, fresh from winning Favorite R&B artist at the People’s Choice Awards Wednesday, has been nominated in the International Female Solo Artist category as well as in both the Best British Single and British Artist Video of the Year categories.

Sean Paul has been nominated for his collaboration with Clean Bandit and Anne-Marie on Rockabye in both the British Single and Video of the Year categories. Paul also received a nod for his collaboration with Little Mix on Hair in the Video of the Year category. The annual event is scheduled for Wednesday February 22 and will take place in London’s O2 Arena.

BILLBOARD REGGAE CHART

The Billbaord Reggae chart’s continues to be dominated by non-Caribbean/Jamaican groups. California band Rebelution has again topped the Billboard Reggae Charts for the week ending Jan. 28. At number two is America Samoa-roots reggae singer J. Boog’s ‘Wash house Ting’ while California reggae and dub band, Stick Figure’s ‘Set In Stone’ is at number 3.

MACHEL MONTANO

Reigning Trinidad & Tobago Road March King and Soca singer Machel Montano is taking aim at the crime rate in his country with a new song. With the murder toll for the year past 22, Montano has teamed up with D Loxx, to launch, “Take It Down,” a track dedicated to decreasing the violence in T&T.