Sean Paul Billboard Reggae Artiste of the Yearand of the Decade

Published: December 29, 2009

By: Steven Jackson, The Jamaica Observer 

Music 'bible', Billboard, lists Sean Paul as the reggae artiste of the year and decade, whilst Shaggy's Hotshot was listed as the 15th most selling album of the 2000s. Paul beat Matisyahu and Bob Marley & the Wailers for second and third respectively for 2009 artiste of the year based on just released chart data from Billboard, the US based music company.

For artiste of the decade the order of the runners-up was reversed with Marley taking second to Paul. In 2008, the late Bob Marley was the top act followed by Collie Buddz and Stephen Marley. Billboard stated that the top reggae artiste of the decade ranking was based on an artiste's chart performance. During the year Sean Paul hit number one on the

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JAMAICAN Dancehall DJ, Bounty Killer, who was one of the main acts in last night’s “Cease Fire” concert at the King George V Park in Port-of-Spain, failed to show, as he was denied entry into the country on Friday night by Immigration officers at Piarco International Airport.

Sunday Newsday was reliably informed that the artiste, whose real name is Rodney Price, arrived at Piarco at 8.07 pm on Friday onboard flight BW 415. However, when he disembarked the aircraft and made his way to the Immigration section he was told by officers that he was not granted permission to enter the country and that he would have to leave for Jamaica on the next available flight.

After spending almost 12 hours at the gate under the watchful eyes of security personnel, Bounty Killer departed for Kingston, Jamaica at about 7:55 am Sunday morning on flight BW 416. A source close to the concert promoter, Jacho Entertainment, claimed that they were given no logical explanation as to why Bounty Killer was denied entry. The source said initially they were told that Bounty Killer failed to produce a work permit and then they were told that he was given no permission to enter Trinidad. Local artiste Ken Charles, also known as KMC, slammed the authorities for denying Bounty Killer entry to the country and said that the promoter should sue the State

Even though patrons were upset with the Immigration decision fans still turned out in their numbers to witness a brilliant performance from Vybz Kartel along with a few members of his Empire

Bounty Killer Denied Entry Into Trinidad, and Vybz Kartel saves the day

charts and sold slightly more copies than Matisyahu, however neither artiste surpassed 80,000 units in the US market.

Billboards also ranked the top selling albums of the decade using sales data from Nielsen SoundScan. It called that chart the Best Billboard Reggae Albums of the 2000s which included:

Sean Paul's, Dutty Rock; and the, Trinity;

Damian Jr Gong Marley's, Welcome to Jamrock; Bob Marley's, Chant Down Babylon; Matisyahu Live at Stubbs;

Soundtrack for 50 First Dates; Matisyahu's Youth; Bob Marley and the Wailers' One Love; Beenie Man's Art and Life; and Kevin Lyttle's self-titled album.

Shaggy's album Hotshots sold more than the above list combined, however it was not categorised as a reggae album. Hotshots was the 15th most selling album in North America in the 2000s selling more than albums released by popstars including Alicia Keys, 50 Cent and Linkin Park. Billboard did not disclose the actual sales but Hotshots is known to have sold upwards of six million copies in that market and more than 10 million worldwide.

N'Sync's No Strings Attached was the top selling album of the 2000s, followed by Usher's Confessions and Eminem's The Eminem Show. Interestingly, Eminem was artiste of the 2000s, he was the only artiste that had two entries in the top 10 for albums with most sales in the 2000s.

The Billboard's Best Reggae Albums of the 2000s complements a recent Observer compiled list which ranked reggae albums in terms of the number of weeks on the Billboard charts. Chart longevity indicated that the albums were not only popular but had that timeless quality as sales continued well beyond their release dates.

Published: October 6, 2009

Buju Denies All Allegations of Drugs Dealing Againts Him

Published: Wednesday | December 16, 2009

Buju Banton agreed in court Wednesday to be transferred from Miami to Tampa, where he faces federal drug charges. The reggae supperstar is accused along with two others of buying cocaine last week from an undercover law-enforcement officer in Sarasota. Banton was arrested last Thursday at his home in Tamarac, Florida.

Wearing a beige jail jumpsuit and shackles, Banton sat expressionless in the front row of the Miami federal courtroom Wednesday morning. His trademark dreadlocks pulled back off his narrow face and rolled into a bundle. Occasionally, he looked across the courtroom where, in the back row, his publicist and two members of the local Jamaican Consulate observed the proceedings.

The only time Banton spoke was when he uttered his real name and age, and confirmed to U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff that he was indeed waiving his bail hearing in Miami to be transferred to Tampa.

"He's a very spiritual person. He's a very positive person,'' his attorney, Herbert Erving Walker III, said about his mood. "I'm confident he's going to be exonerated''

Walker also added that Banton, whose album 'Rasta Got Soul' is nominated for the Grammy Reggae Album of the Year, is looking forward to "getting back to doing what he does, which is make music for the people of the world.'' Buju Banton's ninth studio album, Rasta Got Soul, is currently nominated for a Grammy which is schedule for January 31, 2010 in Hollywood, LA.