Jamaican and West Indies cricket legend, Ambassador Courtney Walsh, will be a guest of honour at Wray & Nephew Contender on May 22, 2013.
In 2000, Courtney Walsh broke the record for holding most Test Wickets, one that stood for the next four years. He captained the West Indies for 22 Test Matches during 17 years of representing the regional squad, from 1984 t0 2001.
“Courtney Walsh is a proven Contender within the international sporting arena, and as such, we found it fitting to honour him at Wray & Nephew Contender, our marquee televised sporting series,” noted Cecil Smith, Marketing Manager of Owned Brands at J. Wray & Nephew. “Walsh’s presence will without a doubt, motivate our boxing participants, as they should always strive to further their craft to the highest of heights.”
For the May 22nd staging of Wray & Nephew Contender, not only will Mr. Walsh be a guest of honour, he will also participate in the announcement of the bout’s winner, and receive a presentation for his vaunted place in Jamaica’s sporting history.
The Yellow Team’s Devon ‘Concrete’ Moncrieff, and Richard ‘The Frog’ Holmes of the Green Team, will face-off in the quarterfinal bout on Courtney Walsh’s night of Honour.
Sixteen professional boxers entered Wray & Nephew Contender for a share of nearly $2 Million in prizes. The winner will receive J$1 Million and the title of Jamaica’s Ultimate Middleweight Boxer and the Wray & Nephew Contender. The second place winner will receive $500,000, 3rd place $250,000 and 4th place $200,000.
Launched in 2010, the Wray & Nephew Contender has enjoyed unprecedented success. The television show has enjoyed record viewership during each of the first two seasons and the live fights at the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) attract sell-out crowds each week.
The fast rising contemporary reggae artiste Keznamdi has been blazing a trail across the musical landscape with thought provoking lyrics woven together to form infectious melodies and has now heralded his arrival to the reggae scene by releasing his first EP, appropriately dubbed, Bridging the Gap.
Keznamdi, who has been winning fans on both sides of the Atlantic, sees Bridging the Gap as a good chronicle of his musical and spiritually development through reggae: “Bridging the Gap means bridging all generations, all nations, and all cultures together through the music. Music is my life and the issues on the EP are topics that affect me to varying levels”.
Through Bridging the Gap , Keznamdi focuses on issues that appeal to all classes, races and age groups. The EP is sewn together with social commentary and thoughts on man’s interaction with each other with a fair amount of questions and answers on male and female relationships.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alumnus, singer and composer of “Stand By Me” Ben E. King is in Jamaica for a special Mother’s Day Concert dubbed ‘An Evening of Musical Memories and Excellence’.
The special Mother’s Day concert is being staged by the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica’s (LMAJ) Kingston Chapter, and will be held on Mother’s Day at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.
The former member of the Drifters known for hits like “There Goes My Baby,” and “Save The Last Dance For Me” will be in town”, will be joined by a mixture of local talents for a splendid evening including, Harold Davis, Maria Myrie, Boris Gardiner, Carole Reid, Jon Williams, Rory Baugh, Onaje Bell, Paulette Bellamy and Ouida Lewis.
The event will help raise money for the outreach projects catering to the elderly and shut-ins associated with the Lay Magistrate and Justices of the Peace and will be held under the distinguish patronage of Custos Rotolum for the parish of Kingston the Honorable Steadman Fuller, C.D., JP.
Living legend Usain Bolt in partnership with the Digicel Foundation handed over a multipurpose court to his hometown, Sherwood Content in Trelawny. The gift also included the levelling of a playing field for football and other field related sporting activities.
Funded by the Digicel Foundation to the tune of J$ 4million, the multipurpose court is yet another example of working for the development of his hometown and is the first step in Bolt’s plans to revitalize the Sherwood Content Community Centre. The Bolt Foundation has also been heavily involved in giving back to schools with the purchase of a school bus for Bolt’s alma mater William Knibb and the donation of playground equipment to four primary schools in Portland.
Continue reading
Season 6 of Magnum Kings & Queens of Dancehall came to an end moments ago when SASSY SILVA and JONNAH were announced as winners.
Each were awarded a million dollars, a single and a video.
The second place winners, CHARLENE SKYLAR and PAYNE, will not walk away empty handed as Downsound Records will award them $50,000 each, according to Skatta Burrell.
Following a week of high publicity, with Skatta being called out by dancehall artiste Khago for an apparent diss the previous week and claims by up-and-coming artiste Dazzla that I-Octane, last week’s guest judge on Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall (MKQ), stole the concept of his She Want it All Night/Move Up Yuh Body song, the contestants were all expected to deliver exceptionally.
However, the twelfth live show did not prove to be balanced, as the three remaining princesses (all deejays) did a better job than their male-counterparts (two sing-jays and a deejay) who were unwilling to “start the war” as is custom.
Even when contacted neither were willing to say that they wanted to clash the other. And hence begs the question, what will happen this Saturday?
DRAMA
Skatta continued another week of controversy, as he donned a copy of the Jamaica Star, with the front-page story calling for an apology by Khago following on the 11th show. As he walked on stage a dub undertone about the newspaper story could be heard. He opened the paper, shook his head and Nah Apologize by Sizzla started to play to rousing applause.
Resident Judge Skatta Burrell making his entrance.
SETTING THE TONE
The audience was again treated to another surprise the MKQ Top Ten Song “Can’t Stop We” was premiered for the first time. Produced by Chimney Records, the single featured impressive vocals from SASSY SILVA, CHARLENE SKYLAR, MAKARIE, MINORI and KONFYDENCE for the princesses. While, SHACK, JONNAH, JAH BOUKS, PAYNE and BUCK 1 represented for the princes. The song was well received and quite shrewd to say the least.
Take a listen
After the song premiere lyrical face-off princess MAKARIE and the crackerjack SHACK were both packed and sent out of the ‘Magnum Mansion’; their destination, home, after receiving the lowest votes based on their performance on the last show.
PRINCESSES PERFORMED
The show took a different format this week, with all the princesses performing first, followed by the princes; all doing two songs each: a popular one from this season and a new one.
'Ask and it shall be given', seem to have been CHARLENE SKYLAR thinking when she took resident judge Skatta Burrell on his challenge.
The self-proclaimed Commander-in-Chief, CHARLENE SKLYAR, was the first to bat as she did Step to me Lively. She surprised the audience, as she performed to the challenge Skatta gave her the week before, which left him saying, “yuh step lively tonight, a swear…yuh step up! Ratings”. Fellow contestants and rivals SASSY SILVA and KONFYDENCE earned her wrath and judge Professor Nuts liked it and encouraged it by adding, “this a wah mi want see long time”. The guest judge SPICE, despite loving the act, told her to improve her confidence.
Miss Independence was executed by KONFYDENCE. Professor Nuts told her he found her persistence to his liking, given that many persons would want to see her drop out; the audience shouted ‘yes’ and lamented that she should have been sent home long ago. She seemed touch and on her return to the stage was hurling her frustration at everyone. Starting with, “mi tired every week the judge dem deh pon mi like house”. For much of her performance she lacked impact, got some applause, earning the biggest when she threw words at Skatta.
SASSY SILVA had the crowd in her palms as they sang to her ‘Prayers Me a Use”, which once saved her from an elimination. “CHARLENE and KONFYDENCE a go have problem tonight, because a Sassy the crowd a say,” said Skatta.
Skatta told her, “mi respect your fighting spirit”. However, Miss Kitty was more blunt, “no judge is here to get you… We are here to help you, to build you. If we were not on you, like we were, we would not have gotten this. Congrats on a job well done”.
JONNAH in his thobe.
LUKE-WARM PRINCES
An easy going JAH BOUKS launched into ‘Curves’, as his popular song. Patrons were heard saying, “mi think him did a go do the one how him woman a give him bun”. Nevertheless, he was commended by Professor Nuts for remaining himself throughout the competition. The second time around, Miss Kitty was his target with a groovy lovers selection, which caused her to beam and say, “I felt that JAH BOUKS. It was almost effortlessly done and packed with emotions”.
PAYNE pulled off his set with his “lyrically show-off self”, as Professor Nuts would say, in between “him hard”, “lyrics a fire” from several audience members.
Mr. One-One, JONNAH, was the last exhibit for the night with melody, theatrics and creativity on overdrive. The lyrics of his first song was modified to big up his campaign team, while the second saw him wearing a white thobe (a long robe worn by Muslim men, which is usually tailored like a shirt, but it is ankle-length and loose), sandals and rod in hand like Moses to deliver the people— as the intro to his gospel-themed song suggested.
The females ended the night declaring war on each other. CHARLENE SKYLAR promised “anyone a dem step to me dead”. KONFYDENCE had this to say, “mi a show them the real KONFYDENCE”. “A mi seh me a di general so me just a come fi murder them and done, ” SASSY SILVA opined.
The curtains were drawn on the show with SPICE executing her new single “Twerk” and dance of the said name
The electrifying eight ‘charged up’ Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall last Saturday, leaving behind pleased and not so pleased patrons, as the survivors of the ‘Magnum Mansion’ battled it out at D’Entrance.
With only three weeks of voting left in the competition, the Contestants were naturally putting their best efforts forward. However, not before the previous week’s lowest was to be sent packing.
BUCK 1, who had more or less got an extension the previous week, had his rights revoked. But there was a slight tremor from fans when MINORI and KONFYDENCE were announced in the bottom two, because the former was way better. As fans bellowed MINORI’s name, host Yanique told KONFYDENCE that she was safe to a much disappointed audience.
TIME FOR ACTION
With that out of the way, SASSY SILVA started the night with a reinvented version of her with a very teenage-esque appearance. JONNAH, who followed, was lauded for his usual creativity, melody and stage craft. Guest Judge MAD COBRA said to him, “nuh whale can’t swallow you. You good…every four bar yuh have a farwud”.
MAKARIE showed a softer side by singing against pedophiles. The judges thought it was a risk, because she needed to tighten some of her keys, but said the lyrics resonated well. JAH BOUKS injected his usual smooth and confident “haile” self, picking up comments of “having traits for crossover potentials” for the international market.
KONFYDENCE, after surviving another week, failed to spark any electricity among the judges given her weak performance. Skatta had a problem with her lyrics, saying it wasn’t representative of the level the competition is at. Miss Kitty thought the lyrics were basic. Miss Kitty added, “your shorts and your whole outfit, a do better than your performance. And when that’s happening, its a problem.”
PAYNE, CHARLENE SKYLAR and SHACK pulled the curtain on the show ahead of Guest Judge MAD COBRA’s closing performance.
PAYNE was told his song had the appeal of a jam one could play in their car or groove to. He was commended for his interactivity that got D’Entrance shouting “Payne a di boss”. CHARLEND SKYLAR regressed to her old self (problems with breathe control) somewhat and got a challenge from Skatta to bring stage craft and a better performance if she survived another week. While SHACK was asked to add more punchlines and sharpen his exit.
CLASH ANTICIPATIONS
MAKARIE declared she hopes to take on SASSY SILVA for the crown. While declaring a position SASSY SILVA however said, “mi a de General fi di army and things a go get stormy.” CHARLENE SKYLAR also said she would tackle anyone.
Princes JONNAH and PAYNE spoke candidly on the topic, but stayed far away from declaring war against each other because they’re good friends outside of the competition. However, JONNAH insinuated that he would do what’s needed to cop the top spot.
JAH BOUKS spewed true rastafarian vibration, saying he wouldn’t be clashing with no man and that they would need to send Miss Kitty for him to clash. SHACK, the 18-year-old kid on the block, shot that being a singer will not hamper his quest for the crown; and only said “silent river run deep.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: ALL CONTESTANTS HAVE RETAINED THEIR VOTE NUMBERS SINCE MAKING THE TOP 10. VOTING HAS ALSO BEEN EXTENDED TO SATURDAYS AT 1PM.
