Caribbean Entertainment News Roundup

By NAN ET Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019: Here are the top headlines making news on the Caribbean entertainment scene for this week:

Art Pieces From Caribbean Born Hollywood Actress For Wright Exhibition

The personal art collection of Caribbean-born Hollywood actress CCH Pounder, featuring African, African-Americans, and artists from the Diaspora, will be open to the public this Jan. 28, 2020 the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan.

Presented under the title, ‘Queen,’ the exhibition will feature sculptures, paintings, and mixed media works by such luminaries as Betye and Alison Saar, Kehinde Wiley, painter of President Obama’s official portrait, and countless others. Pounder’s robust collection celebrates black “feminine beauty, identity, and power” according to the New Orleans’ Times-Picayune. The Guyanese-born actress has over 100 film and TV credits to her name, as well as 4 Emmy Award nominations.

Caribbean Roots Rapper Releases New Album From The Grave

Caribbean roots rapper XXXTentacion is dead but his legacy lives on. The slain rapper’s second and reportedly final posthumous album, “Bad Vibes Forever,” is set to be released on Dec. 6th.

In a teaser for the new project, such artists as Billie Eilish, Craig Xen and Trippie Redd paid homage to XXX, who was gunned down in a robbery gone wrong June 18, 2018, outside Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The Plantation, Florida native was only 20.

Buju Banton Now With JAY-Z’s Roc Nation

Grammy winning reggae star Buju Banton has inked a partnership deal with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation with the help of Bajan star Rihanna. The deal makes him only the second Jamaican reggae artist to be signed to Roc Nation.

“The connection came about through my association with the great queen, Miss Rihanna herself,” Banton said to the Rolling Stone.

“It’s an honor to work with a legend and trailblazer of Buju’s caliber — His music catalog is simply unparalleled,” Omar Grant and fellow Roc Nation co-president Shari Bryant said. “We’re thrilled to help propel his legacy forward and look forward to amplifying his resurgence on a global level.”

To celebrate the partnership, Banton has shared a visual for his newest single, “Steppa.” The track follows “Bigga Mouth,” “False Pretense,” “Country for Sale” and “Trust” — all released within this 2019.

Trinidadian Rapper Wins Small Court Victory

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, a Los Angeles judge has denied singer Tracey Chapman’s motion demanding Trinidad rapper Nicki Minaj turn over private communications with Funkmaster Flex.

In the suit, Chapman accuses Minaj of sampling her music without permission. She believes Minaj leaked the track to Funkmaster and claims the texts will prove her case.

In her motion, she claimed to learn new information during Minaj’s recent deposition. The judge decided Minaj does not have to turn over the messages at this point and added that the court finds that the “plaintiff has not shown a substantial need for the draft declarations.”

Billboard Reggae Chart

After 11 weeks on the Billboard Reggae Chart, Stick Figure has returned to the number one spot which it has dominated for 10 weeks. Stick Figure, an American reggae and dub band founded in 2006 and based in Northern California, reclaimed 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 in September, 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.