Vision Newspaper Canada December 1st - 15th 2014

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Tyler Ennis learning about life as a rookie with Phoenix Suns >> Page 10

Marley heirs join US ямБrm to build pot brand. >> page 04

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Vision/ Autumn 2014

The Caribbean Tobago police arrest alleged cocaine courier at airport trying to board London flight

NEWS

Police arrest 2 in slaying of US lawyer at Around the world his home in Dominican Republic man for the police in Santo Domingo, the capital.

Teasley was a criminal lawyer in Washington. He kept a second home in the Dominican Republic and a friend has said he travelled to the country about a dozen times a year. His body was found bound and gagged in his apartment Oct. 31.

PORT-OF-SPAIN _(AP) Police in Trinidad & Tobago have arrested an alleged drug mule as he was attempting to board a flight destined for London.

The suspect was arrested at Tobago’s international airport on drug-smuggling charges and was being held at a lockup on the island located some 30 kilometres (19 miles) northeast of Venezuela.

Agents with the organized crime bureau say they found nearly 15 pounds (7 kilograms) of cocaine in his luggage. They say the drugs were stuffed in five bottles wrapped in plastic.

The man’s name and nationality was not immediately released. He was trying to get on a flight to London’s Gatwick airport operated by U.K-based Monarch Airlines.

Jamaica policeman facing homicide charge arrested at airport

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic _ Two men have been detained in the slaying of a Washington lawyer who was found dead last month at his home in the Dominican Republic, a police spokesman said Tuesday.

The suspects confessed to killing 55-year-old Van Teasley as part of a robbery scheme that they had been planning for at least a year, said Jacobo Mateo Moquete, a spokes-

Police identified the two suspects as 20-year-old Luiggy Miguel Gonzalez Gamez, and 19-year-old Jhon Michael Cabrera. They were found with Teasley’s cellphone and clothing and a motorcycle they bought with money taken from his apartment, the spokesman said.

Mateo said Gonzalez confessed that he started a relationship with the victim a year earlier with the intent of robbing him The Associated Press

Metropolitan Museum of Art gets major gift of works by African American artists from the South The gift of 57 works comes from the Atlanta-based Souls Grown Deep Foundation. The non-profit was started in 2010 by art historian William Arnett to bring attention to self-taught African-American artists.

Arnett says in a statement that the collection documents a little-known artistic tradition that began in the Deep South, likely during the earliest days of slavery.

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ A Jamaican policeman facing a murder charge has been arrested at an island airport.

The Independent Commission of Investigations probes allegations against Jamaica’s security forces. It has identified the arrested law enforcer as Constable Whitney Hutchinson, who is attached to the May Pen police division in central Jamaica.

Investigators arrested him late Wednesday at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

The commission earlier this year levied murder charges against eight other officers in the same police division in an unprecedented probe.

Hutchinson is charged in the 2011 killing of a suspected gang member who was accused of threatening a judge. Police said the suspect was killed in a shootout.

The officer’s initial court hearing is Friday. It was not immediately known if he has a lawyer.

The Associated Press

NEW YORK _ The Metropolitan Museum of Art has received a major gift of works by contemporary African-American artists from the South.

An exhibition of the works is planned for 2016.

The Associated Press

The museum says the donation includes 20 works by female quilters in Gee's (jeez) Bend, a remote community in Alabama.

It also contains 10 pieces by Thornton Dial, as well as paintings, drawings and mixed media works by Lonnie Holley, Nellie Mae Rowe and others.

For advertising enquiries email: advertising@vision-newspaper.ca or call 647-386-3419 For all other enquiries email: info@visionnewspaper.ca Exposing the talent in our communities.

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Vision Newspaper UK: Editor in Chief : Nadine White, Editor: Nadia Akram, Correspondent in Jamaica: Deana Meyers Contributors: Francesca Quass, Yemi Abiade, Samantha Dennis, Claire Daley, Vision Newspaper Canada: Editor in Chief: Alwin Squire, Editors: Samantha Deschamps, Kelly Deschamps, Marilyn Marshall, Christopher Miller

CENTENARIAN-FIRST OCEAN VISIT ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (AP) _ Ruby Holt has seen a lot in her more than 100 years. But one thing she never saw was the ocean -- at least not until this month. Holt got a chance to go to the beach, visiting the Gulf coast in Alabama. The trip was made possible by Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, where Holt lives in Columbia, Tennessee, and the Wish of a Lifetime organization. Holt says she had always heard about how wonderful the ocean is and wanted to see for herself. She got a chance to walk across the white sand with a little help and dip her feet into the cool Gulf waters. Holt turns 101 Dec. 13.

PRINCETON-POT SMOKE PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) _ Where there was smoke, there was smoking -- of pot. Students at a Princeton University dorm were evacatued early Wednesday after a smoke alarm was triggered. University police say there was the smell of marijuna in a music practice room.

A university spokesman tells the Times of Trenton no one was in the room, but a window was open. Police found what’s described as remnants of marijuana smoking material in a garbage bin. Students were allowed back into their dorm after about 10 minutes.

GIANT NUTCRACKER ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) _ It’s nuts! A giant nutcracker will be the centerpiece of the annual holiday festival near Roseburg, Ore. Toby Johnson created the monster cracker using a chain saw.

It will stand more than 40 feet tall and the nutcrushing power comes from a motor. Cranes are being used to assemble the nutcracker at the site of the festival, which opens Sunday. Sponsors tell The News-Review they’re sending documentation to the Guinness people to earn a world’s record for the biggest nutcracker.

UNCLAIMED LOTTERY PRIZE RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A lucky $1 million Powerball winner could soon turn very unlucky.

Virginia Lottery officials say the clock is ticking on a winning ticket sold for the June 21 drawing.

The ticket hasn’t been turned in yet. It will expire at the close of business on Dec. 18 if the jackpot isn’t claimed. Virginia Lottery officials note winning tickets are only good for 180 days after the drawing.

news

Vision/ Autumn 2014

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Ferguson grand jury documents contain inconsistencies, fabrications and provably wrong claims

FERGUSON, Mo. _ Some witnesses said Michael Brown had been shot in the back. Another said he was face-down on the ground when officer Darren Wilson finished him off. Still others acknowledged changing their stories to fit published details about the autopsy or admitted that they did not see the shooting at all.

An Associated Press review of thousands of pages of grand jury documents reveals numerous examples of statements made during the shooting investigation that were inconsistent, fabricated or provably wrong. For one, the autopsies ultimately showed Brown was not struck by any bullets in his back.

Prosecutors exposed these inconsistencies before the jurors, which likely influenced their decision not to indict Wilson in Brown's death.

Bob McCulloch, the St. Louis County prosecutor, said the grand jury had to weigh testimony that conflicted with physical evidence and conflicting statements by witnesses as it decided whether Wilson should face charges.

“Many witnesses to the shooting of Michael Brown made statements inconsistent with other statements they made and also conflicting with the physical evidence. Some were completely refuted by the physical evidence,''

McCulloch said.

The decision Monday not to charge Wilson with any crime set off more violent protests in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson and around the country, fueled by claims that the unarmed black 18-year-old was shot while surrendering to the white officer in the mostly African-American city.

What people thought were facts about the Aug. 9 shooting have become intertwined with what many see as abuses of power and racial inequality in America.

And media coverage of the shooting's aftermath made it into the grand jury proceedings. Before some witnesses testified, prosecutors showed jurors clips of the same people making statements on TV. Their inconsistencies began almost immediately after the shooting, from people in the neighbourhood, the friend walking with Brown during the encounter and even one woman who authorities suggested probably wasn't even at the scene at the time.

Jurors also were presented with dueling versions from Wilson and Dorian Johnson, who was walking with Brown during the Aug. 9 confrontation. Johnson painted Wilson as provoking the violence, while Wilson said Brown was the aggressor.

But Johnson also declared on TV, in a clip played for the grand jury, that Wilson fired at least one shot at his friend while Brown was running away: “It struck my friend in the back.''

The witness, who lives in the predominantly black neighbourhood where Brown was killed, also acknowledged that he changed his story to fit details of the autopsy that he had learned about on TV.

Johnson held to a variation of this description in his grand jury testimony, saying the shot caused Brown's body to “do like a jerking movement, not to where it looked like he got hit in his back, but I knew, it maybe could have grazed him, but he definitely made a jerking movement.''

“So it was after you learned that the things you said you saw couldn't have happened that way, then you changed your story about what you seen?'' a prosecutor asserted.

Other eyewitness accounts also were clearly wrong.

One woman, who said she was smoking a cigarette with a friend nearby, claimed she saw a second police officer in the passenger seat of Wilson's vehicle.

When quizzed by a prosecutor, she elaborated: The officer was white, “middle age or young'' and in uniform. She said she was positive there was a second officer _ even though there was not.

Another woman testified that she saw Brown leaning through the officer's window “from his navel up,'' with his hand moving up and down, as if he were punching the officer. But when the same witness returned to testify again on another day, she said she suffers from mental disorder, has racist views and that she has trouble distinguishing the truth from things she had read online.

Prosecutors suggested the woman had fabricated the entire incident and was not even at the scene the day of the shooting.

Another witness had told the FBI after the shooting that he saw Wilson shoot Brown in the back and then stand over his prone body to finish him off. But in his grand jury testimony, this witness, acknowledged that he had not seen that part of the shooting, and that what he told the FBI was ``based on me being where I'm from, and that can be the only assumption that I have.''

“Yeah, to coincide with what really happened,'' the witness replied.

Another man, describing himself as a friend of Brown's, told a federal investigator that he heard the first gunshot, looked out his window and saw an officer with a gun drawn and Brown “on his knees with his hands in the air.''

He added: “I seen him shoot him in the head.''

But when later pressed by the investigator, the friend said he had not seen the actual shooting because he was walking down the stairs at the time and instead had heard details from someone in the apartment complex.

“What you are saying you saw isn't forensically possible based on the evidence,'' the investigator told the friend.

Shortly after that, the friend asked if he could leave.

“I ain't feeling comfortable,'' he said.

By Holbrook Mohr, David A. Lieb And Phillip Lucas THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

___ Associated Press writers Michael Kunzelman, Catherine Lucey, Nomaan Merchant, Garance Burke, Jeff Donn, David B. Caruso and Paul Weber contributed to this report.

___ An updated interactive about the Ferguson grand jury is available here: http://hosted. ap.org/interactives/2014/ferguson-shooting/

Community

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Vision/ Autumn 2014

Cannabis skin cream? Marley heirs join US firm to build pot brand; grousing in Jamaica ing ones famed in Jamaica, where regulations permit by late 2015. It also plans to sell weed-infused lotions, creams and various accessories.

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ A U.S. private equity firm announced Tuesday it has joined the family of late reggae star Bob Marley in hopes of building what it touts as the “world's first global cannabis brand.''

Seattle-based Privateer Holdings announced Tuesday it has reached a licensing deal with Marley's heirs to offer marijuana strains, includ-

“My dad would be so happy to see people understanding the healing power of the herb,'' Miami-based Cedella Marley said in a company statement.

She's the eldest daughter of the music legend who died of cancer in 1981 and is Jamaica's most iconic figure.

Over the years, his estate has authorized deals for a wide range of merchandise. But the move to create “Marley Natural'' has stirred grousing in Jamaica among those who share his Rastafarian faith, a spiritual movement that considers the drug divine.

Maxine Stowe of the Rastafari Millennium Council asserts that Marley was “the least of the Wailers around the issue of ganja legalization'' and worries his estate's efforts to launch a cannabis brand will negatively impact Jamaican efforts to financially benefit from a legalization movement gaining traction across the globe.

The Wailers were founded

by Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. All three famously espoused smoking the “holy herb,'' but Stowe argues Wailer and the late Tosh were more strident activists.

“The government has to stand up now for Rastafari and the Wailers' rights in their intellectual property!'' Stowe wrote in a Tuesday email.

What ’s On

Events

Some Rastas are also irked that Marley Natural will be based in New York.

But while pot remains prohibited here, Jamaica has been rethinking its position. The government hopes to amend drug laws to pave the way for a regulated medical marijuana and research sector.

Officials say this could be achieved next year.

Delano Seiveright, director of the island's Ganja Law Reform Coalition, said there are hopes that the Marley family's plans will spur Jamaica to “develop a legal and regulated cannabis industry much sooner rather than later.''

By David McFadden THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Family & Children

Common & Jay Electronica

Flow 93.5’s Big Night Staring Ashanti

Tinashe

World War Clash King Addies vs Body Guard vs Super Fresh

Jhene Aiko

Ross Petty Productions Presents Cinderella

Toopy and Binoo

Venue: Kool Haus Address: 132 Queens Quay E, Toronto, ON Date: December 12, 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: The Guvernment Address: 132 Queens Quay East Toronto, ON Date: December 12th, 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Tatoo Queen West Date: December 13th, 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: On the Rox Address: 1600 Steeles W Date: December 13th, 2014

Venue: Sound Academy Date: December 18th 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Elgin Theatre Toronto, ON Date: November 29th to December 29th, 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Hamilton Place Theatre Hamilton, ON Date: December 13th 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

John Legend

Smokey Robinson

ASAP Ferg & YG Best Coast Connection Tour

The Spinners

Chris Brown & Trey Songs

Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer (The Musical)

Disney on Ice Treasure Trove

Venue: Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, ON Date: January 5th & 6th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, ON Date: January 9th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Sound Academy Toronto, ON Date: January 14th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Living Arts Center Mississauga, ON Date: February 13th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Air Canada Center Toronto, ON Date: February 25th, 2015 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Living Arts Center Date: December 14th, 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Venue: Rogers Center Date: December 19 - 28th, 2014 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ca

Vision/ Autumn 2014

music

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Etana: Reggae’s Princess Regent with abject, ‘downtown’ issues. This appears to be a winning formula. What’s more, Etana commented: Balancing responsibilities “white reggae bands are on as a wife and mother to two young children, Etana the rise and they are doing well on the charts such as has also managed to exthe Billboard”. When asked pand her brand into merchandise via ‘Strongones why she believes this to be Shop’ on her website. Items the case, she suggested a “difference in strategy”. up for sale include jewellery, t-shirts, natural soaps Courtesy of LB Entertainand skirtswhich are all of ment, Etana will be headher own innovation! ing to London town on Sunday 19th October for a Whilst Etana does not highly anticipated concert agree with the rampant sical influences such as alongside Sanchez, with acoustic folk, country and idea of a reggae revival, support by Aysha Loren western and ska, providing citing it as “quite disreand Cassandra London. definitive scope to the term spectful to all artists who have been here and contin- She tells fans to expect ‘Free Expressions’ (2011). “more positive energy, ue to work hard at makHints and traces of World more vibes, more new ing good music”, she does music, Jazz and Soul can acknowledge some key music”. be heard onEtana’s fourth changes happening within digital recording ‘I Rise’ ‘I Rise’ is currently availthe genre. One example which is due for release of this is the emergence able for sale and is being later this month. Helmed released through VP Reof ‘uptown’ artists who

by Clive Hunt, who has cords. choose to sing ‘rebel’ muworked with just about everyone from Grace Jones sic, which typically deals to The Rolling Stones, this body of work is unlike any of her other’s in sound, but still remains soothing and varied in terms of content. Featured tracks ‘Trigger’ and ‘Richest Girl’ have already been enjoying wide airplay, yielding chart positions. cals are deeper, more emotional and much bigger”.

For the last seven years, Etana has comfortably and graciously maintained her place as one of the most relevant reggae artists, full stop. Since bursting onto the scene in 2007 with ‘Wrong Address’, she has provided the world with hit songs such as ‘Roots’ and ‘I Am Not Afraid’.

By all means, each Etana standard has offered perspective into topical issues such as love, spirituality, social and political affairs.

Recently, she joined the campaign for the legalisation of marijuana and penned the song ‘Hemp Eyes’, insisting that the plant is a medicinal treasure. This was something of a PR risk but true to her resilient stance, ‘The Strong one’ aligned herself with the greater mission of enlightenment! Only leaders demonstrate such principles.

Every album has showcased the variety of mu-

Having come under new management, she said the following of this project: “The concept is all about being able to get up every day with new strength.

With every album comes new experiences. My vo-

Music

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Many factors place female dancehall artists in a compromising position. When dancehall first emerged in the late 1970s, they were definitely less prevalent.

However since then more ladies have joined the music roster, recording popular songs and going toe to toe with their male counterparts. The numbers seemed to reach its peak during the noughties (2000s) before dipping since the 2010s.

The ‘elephants in the room’ are the gender inequalities which stalk the music industry; this is not often discussed but it plays a huge part in the exclusion of the female artist within dancehall. Furthermore, these inequalities make the question of sustainability difficult for the women who do manage to break into the scene. Artists such as Toya, Tenuke, Timberlee, Miss Thing, Miss O, Bridges, Posh, Pamputtae, Nefatari appear to have somewhat gone off the radar and it is not necessarily for a lack of talent.

Legacy

Sister Nancy (above) is often

hailed as the first female deejay and, in a recent interview with blogger Jacinta, she cites the difference between how women were treated in ‘her day’ and now: “In those times, men respected women because it was their job. Now they’re saying that women are equal to men…but I don’t think so. That’s not the way that women are treated… ladies (nowadays) are doing their thing, but my time was a better time, it was more cultured. You didn’t have to do so much to make a name. Maybe because there weren’t so many females out there” Dancehall has long been underpinned by the sound system culture and radio airplay. Just as Sister Nancy rose to prominence via these platforms, so they have always been, and continue to be, instrumental in the development of an artist’s career. As it stands, there are more male disc jockeys than females, and their support of the female artist leaves a lot to be desired. This appears to be quite a paradox - these men profess their everlasting love for ladies, yet do not play their songs! It seems that this ‘love’ is more like lust;

the dancehall industry is a misogynistic place where women are objectified and the primary value of most women is to be seen. Consequently, many female artists have taken note of this and adjusted to this demand, becoming more sexualized than ever before, in order to be seen and then hopefully heard. Fingers crossed.

Vision/ Autumn 2014

moods of Marion Hall; she has not used her sexuality as a crutch having also addressed social, personal, gender, relationship issues.

This versatility has seen her stand the test of time. If one considers the few female dancehall artists who are at the forefront of the scene now, then it can be seen that all of them find a balance between slackness and other subject matters.

Hip Hop Similarities

Slackness Artist Stylysh explained why she believes slackness is key in an interview with Irish and Chin: "When you do too much clean music dem don't tek yu serious. So you have to show dem dat yu bad and that way you will get your ratings in the streets…”

Queen of Dancehall Lady Saw (above) was arguably the first female artist to infiltrate the music scene with risqué performances and music. This was unusual for a female artist at the time but not for males, who were just as slack. However, time has told us that this is just one facet of the many

For the last ten years, a similar drought of female artists has been happening within Dancehall’s child – Hip Hop. And yes, the few successful female artists appear to have also combined the role of video vixen with their craft. This includes the likes of Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj.

Rapper Trina (pictured above with artist Gucci Mane) is known for her lewd expressiveness and put this into perspective when she said: “It’s like – you a female;

I’m a dude. I’m not learning nothing from you. I just want to see you. So whatever you’re talking about, I probably don’t really care. I wanna just look at you”. This formula is not just confined to Dancehall or Hip Hop but also R&B, Rock. Very seldom does talent alone guarantee success when it comes to female artists – sex sells.

Whilst there is nothing wrong with sexiness and embracing one’s sexuality, this state of being can be rather empty when isolated and exploited.

And unfortunately that is the content of a lot of female artist’s music who have cropped up – and disappeared – in the last fourteen years.

This highlights the sobering fact that times have indeed changed, particularly when one considers past icons such as Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill, who did not have to openly feed the male fantasy to be successful. In fact, they could be rather abrasive in their style of delivery. The same can be said for dancehall matriarchs such as Lady G, Sister Charmaine and Lady Ann.

Music

Vision/ Autumn 2014 Where’s the limit?

What’s more, the industry’s insatiable appetite for sex can tip the scale at times. A well-known female dancehall artist, who will remain anonymous, said the following during a candid conversation with me: “at one point, when I was up and coming, it was like if mi nah f*** certain man like DJs and producers, mi nah go get the song voiced or played. And a so di ting set right now. So, for a woman who is not prepared to do that, it can make things difficult. But on the other hand, you get some women who are prepared to do that and do…which also makes the situation bad for the rest.”

Danielle DI has been in the industry for a while and has been recently getting more recognition, especially since blowing away the ‘Jamworld’ (Portmore) at last year’s Sting stage-show. During an interview with Nightly Fix News Talk 93FM she comments that when she was up and coming she struggled with “men who did not want to keep it just business”.

In saying that, she points out those incidents have become scarcer since she’s become more established.

Passa Passa Personal scandals are publicly unraveling the careers of some promising female artists. Unsurprisingly, these are all to do with men! For instance, despite the fact that she has a succesful career in her own right,

D’Angel will probably always face flack from the public for being subsequently involved in relationships with rivals Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. Moreover, she has been the topic of jokes in male artists’ songs. On the other hand, apart from a few diss tracks from Bounty, Beenie’s career was not negatively impacted by his union with her.

Downsound Records’ artist Ishawna has been steadily rising in popularity over the years, but her public break up with popular disc jockey/ selector Foota Hype has received greater attention.

This has somewhat overshadowed her music.

Bursting onto the scene in 2007, Raine Seville began to gradually forge a promising career as the First lady of Daseca; she was also involved in a long term relationship with label mate Bugle. In 2013, she scored a hit song with Konshens ‘Sekkle Dung’, in and around this time she split up with Bugle and many ‘isms and schisms’ ensued!

He was openly critical of her and Konshens’ steamy promo photos (above) and cast aspersions on her, as the mother of their three year old daughter. In true dancehall fashion, scores of patrons jumped on the wagon too, hurling critique at her via social media platforms! What’s more, Bugle penned and released ‘Nuh Compatible’ which was a mega success and widely thought to be a dig at his ex-partner. Raine’s musical

output has declined.

Gaza Slim (Vanessa Bling, above) has just been vindicated of a perjury charge in connection with Vybz Kartel’s murder case; during this time, her musical output plummeted. Her popularity has not dwindled and she is planning a ‘comeback’. Here is an incredibly talented and promising young lady who is responsible for one of dancehall’s major feminist anthems ‘Independent Ladies’.

Another of Kartel’s protégées Gaza Kym (Kym Hamilton) sensationally left his musical ‘Portmore Empire’ clique, having alleged that Kartel was physically abusive towards her. The success of her subsequent output has declined, having done so.

In and around this time, explicit pictures of Lisa Hype (above) began to surface, in which she is seen performing a sex act on a male, rumoured to be Kartel and even alluded to be so, by the man himself. There was never any exact confirmation about who exactly leaked these shots. This was a huge blow to her career, from which she is yet to properly bounce back.

7 At this particular time, Hype was also involved in an exchange of several diss tracks between fellow artists Stacious and Spice respectively. She admitted feeling “ganged up against”, to Jamaican Personality Winford Williams. On that note, let’s explore another timeless factor that never fails to drive a wedge between ladies in any situation – catfights!

Rivalry

In a recent interview with Boomshots, Tifa suggested that the relationship between female artists leaves a lot to be desired: “Things are going better than before for female artists but we’re not there yet. If we unify then things could be better but it’s going to be hard for that to happen as everyone wants to be the ‘it’ person.”

Feuds certainly seemed to be at its height from 2012 – 2013; Spice and Macka Diamond (above) were at loggerheads, Lady Saw and Tifa had a short-lived moment and even Spice and Lady Saw. At ‘Sting’ 2013, Macka Diamond and Lady Saw engaged in a scathing clash, which became very personal. Although media and fans bought into all of the aforementioned feuds and helped to sensationalise them, these incidents caused a divide amongst the already scarce female artists which was a shame.

Since then, the dust has

settled amongst all parties and this is good news because they all just happen to currently be dancehall’s leading female artists. Cecile and Tanya Stephens are two further examples of the few ladies who have long-cemented their place at the forefront of the scene.

Learning Curve In dancehall’s earlier days there certainly were less female artists on the whole; however the turnover rate was also low.

This is a contrast to nowadays, where there have been more female artists surfacing here and there.

However the turnover rate is higher meaning they do not remain relevant.

Sure, there is always the factor that some artists pursue a career in music solely for the promise of fame and fortune, which is not usually enough to ensure longevity. However the plight of women in dancehall has much more to do with the pressures that come with it a male dominated industry.

So, with this said, a lot of the more recent contributions from the ladies are more valuable in terms of context than content. In that, the musky music has a tendency to inadvertently document the plight of an oppressed sex, literally being stripped of respect. Most tragically of all, the culprits behind this deprivation are not always the ones doing the stripping but sometimes the stripped, themselves, who subscribe to the industry by any means necessary.

N.W

Music

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Vision/ Autumn 2014

Capleton fires up Sting Launch

Vision/ Autumn 2014

Anita rules iTunes chart

Jamaican-born reggae singer Anita Antoinette’s performance on the NBC talent competion, The Voice, moved her back to the number one slot on iTunes Reggae Top 100 Chart. Her rendition of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song (The Voice Performance) ensured that she retook the top spot from Kranium. www.jamaicaobserver.com

Lady Saw hits Billboard

LADY Saw’s latest album Alter Ego debuts at number six on Billboard’s Reggae Album chart with first-week sales of 110 copies. This is Saw’s fifth entry on the chart. Her last album, 2010’s My Way failed to enter, while 2007’s Walk Out peaked at number eight. Alter Ego features collaborations with American rapper Flo Rida, Beres Hammond and UB40 singer Ali Campbell. www.jamaicaobserver.com

Capleton, Tydal, Dan I and Zhavea performed at the launch of Magnum Sting in New Kingston on Wednesday. According to organisers, this year’s Sting will pay homage to dancehall fashion and for the first time, the show will be split into two segments, one featuring Electronic Dancehall acts. The second segment has Capleton among the headliners. Also confirmed are Alkaline, Gage, Aidonia, Ninjaman, Tommy Lee Sparta, Kiprich and Demarco.

WAKA FLOCKA FLAME'S SOCIAL STEVIE WONDER MEDAL OF MEDIA PROFILE RISES AFTER AD GETS FREEDOM

NEW YORK (AP) _ Waka Flocka Flame has gotten 7.3 million visits to his Facebook page in the 24 hours after his Pine Brothers cough drops ad ran during the American Music Awards Sunday. His team tells the New York Post the ad

has been shared 45-thousand times. Waka says he thinks it’s pretty great everyone is talking about his moment during the AMAs when he wasn’t even at the show. The ad shows Waka in a smokefilled room talking about using the drops for minor throat irritation. A Pine Brothers spokesman says N-B-C and C-B-S banned the commercial, and he adds, “They’re in the Stone Age, because there is nothing offensive about the ad.’’

RICK ROSS DROPS WEIGHT AND ALBUM

ATLANTA (AP) _ Rick Ross has dropped almost 100 pounds in the last seven months. He says he does a version of CrossFit he calls “Ross Fit’’ that involves a series of exercises in a 20-minute span. He

also used to eat big meals at 2 a.m. because of his schedule but he cut that out. Ross also stopped eating bread, white rice and fish fillets and started drinking less, but he didn’t cut out everything he loves. He owns nine Wingstop restaurants around the country and stops by at least twice a week. He also says he just went out for fried Oreos and fried velvet cake as a treat.

Ross released his seventh album, “Hood Billionaire,’’ this week.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ U-S President Barack Obama says the first album he ever bought with his own money was Stevie Wonder’s “Talking Book.’’ Obama bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon Wonder yesterday.

It’s the highest civilian award in the country. Obama says Wonder has “channeled his inner visions into messages of hope, healing and becoming one of the most influential musicians in American history.’’ Obama also gave medals to 17 others, including Meryl Streep and Tom Brokaw.

Music

Vision/ Autumn 2014

9

Album Review

The Pink Print Nikki Minaj

Trap House V Gucci Mane

A Better Tommorrow

The Pinkprint is the upcoming third studio album by American rapper Nicki Minaj, scheduled for release on November 28th, 2014,

by Young Money, Cash Money and Republic Records.

Gucci Mane is about to release a new project which is his the fifth installment of his most celebrated album series “Trap House 5”.

This album comes 9 years after the first installment was released, although the fourth (and most recent) installment was just released in July. It is scheduled to be released on November 28, 2014 through 1017 Records.

A Better Tomorrow is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

The album is scheduled to be released on December 2, 2014, by Warner Bros.

Records. The album was supported by the singles “Keep Watch”, “Ron O’Neal” and “Ruckus In B Minor”.

Wu Tang Clan

Uprisng Bob Marley On May 30, 1980 reggae legend Bob Marley embarked on a tour in support of Uprising that wound up being his last before his untimely death. As part of the tour, Marley and The Wailers performed in Dortmund, Germany on June 13 for a show that was broadcast on German TV. Eagle Rock will issue Marley’s performance in Dortmund as Uprising Live! on Nov. 25, marking the show’s first release on DVD.

Music

10

Vision/ Autumn 2014

Canadian Tyler Ennis is learning about life as NBA rookie with Phoenix Suns “I think Tyler is doing great,'' said Suns coach Jeff Hornacek. “Unfortunately for us, we've got those three point guards on the team. But he's going to be a great player in the league, he really sees the floor well.

Of all the guys on our team, he's probably the one guy who can go out there, and he'll call a play, he sees what's going on out there and he'll get guys into a certain play that he thinks might work.

“For a young guy coming out of college. . . it's big. He's making great strides and he's going to do fine in this league.''

TORONTO _ Several of the Phoenix Suns were sitting courtside after shootaround Monday morning at the Air Canada Centre. They leaned back in their chairs, and lazily kicked off their shoes. Tyler Ennis walked by and scooped up each one, depositing the giant-sized sneakers in a nearby equipment bag.

He picks up shoes, he wears a pink Disney Princess backpack, he brings the team soap _ it's all part of the life as an NBA rookie.

Unfortunately for Ennis, being a rookie has also meant going from averaging 35 minutes a night in college to zero minutes most nights with the point-guard-heavy Suns.

The 19-year-old from Brampton, Ont., was back in Toronto for the Suns' game Monday night against the Raptors, but was listed as inactive for the game.

He remains patient and optimistic.

If he's not sweating on the court during games, he's doing it in the gym.

“I work out a lot as far as game

days. I always try to stay in shape,'' Ennis said. “You never know what happens, one day you could not be playing, the next day you could be in the rotation. So as far as staying in shape, I always want to be ready, regardless of how much I played the day before.''

Ennis is part of a bumper crop of talented young Canadian players, and one of three Canadians drafted in the first round last summer. He went 18th overall to Phoenix, while fellow Canadians Andrew Wiggins and Nik Stauskas went first and eighth, respectively.

There were rumblings Ennis would end up in Toronto, with reports the Raptors were keen on the Syracuse point guard. But the Suns picked two spots before Toronto, and with Ennis off the board, the Raptors took Bruno Caboclo.

The Suns already had starters Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe and then signed Isaiah Thomas from Sacramento in the off-season. Ennis has been the odd man out, playing a total of 18 minutes in two games so far.

Ennis did see significant playing time when the Suns sent him down to the Bakersfield Jam _ their D-League franchise _ for two games.

He totalled 44 points, and 15 assists. The Suns recalled him for this six-game road trip, which brought the Canadian back to the Air Canada Centre, where he grew up watching the Raptors.

“You don't get to see this side of it being a fan,'' Ennis said. “So it's good to just get back into the city, see my friends, family, and being able to be on the other side, (not) with the fans, but being in the (players') seats this time.''

Ennis estimated he went to probably 10 to 15 Raptors games as a kid, during stretches when either Vince Carter or Chris Bosh were with Toronto.

When asked if Toronto was his team growing up, Ennis came clean. '”Um. . . you know what? They weren't that good growing up,'' he said, laughing. “They've had their good years and bad years, and I've been watching since.''

He watches the Raptors _ who

boasted the best record in the Eastern Conference (11-2) going into Monday's game _ from afar now.

“They've been playing well, as far as their record and everything they're doing,'' he said. “I know the city is behind them especially after last year's playoff run. I watch a lot of basketball so I watch their games, especially games with other Canadians too, so I've been able to catch a few of the Raptors games.''

Ennis said the biggest adjustment to life as an NBA player is the travel schedule. The Suns arrived in Toronto to play the finale of their six-game road trip.

“You know there's 82 games, but just how much you travel, and how often the games are. . . .,'' Ennis said. “College, you got a little taste of it, but as far as practices, you don't really practise that long, or that much. So a lot of it is staying in shape when you're not playing as much, or making sure you get in the weight room is kind of on yourself.

That's being a professional.

“So that's different coming from college, when you have set times, be in the weight room at this time. . . you have to take it upon yourself to do that.''

As for his added rookie duties, Ennis said he doesn't mind.

“Yeah, every shootaround we've got to go get the shoes. We have a few rookie duties. . . Carry the Princess bag. Carry soap. Little things like that,'' he said. “They're nice guys, and they look out for us all the time, so it's not a big deal when they ask us to do little things.''

By Lori Ewing THE CANADIAN PRESS

sports

Vision/ Autumn 2014

11

Athletes' reaction on Twitter to grand jury's decision not to indict officer in Ferguson Better'' _ LeBron James, who tweeted an Instagram image of Mike Brown arm and arm with Trayvon Martin

Some star athletes' reactions on Twitter to the grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri: “As a society how do we do better and stop things like this happening time after time!!

I'm so sorry to these families.

Violence is not the answer people. Retaliation isn't the solution as well. #PrayersUpToTheFamilies #WeHaveToDo-

prayers go out (to) the Brown family. #RIPMikeBrown'' _ Dwyane Wade

“The system enables young black men to be killed behind the mask of law #Ferguson #tippingpoint #change''

“Disgusted by decision in furguson. Racism is learned.

Accepted is systematic suffocation of education and opportunity. What are we saying?''

_ Kobe Bryant

_ Steve Nash

“I am very disappointed with decision in the Mike Brown case in Ferguson, MO. My thoughts & prayers are with the Brown family and the people of Ferguson.''

“Just so no one misunderstands where I'm coming from. I'm MAD. Mad bc (a) young man (is) DEAD. I don't care that he was blk white purple. I know cops are under extreme pressure. I have family that are cops, but I'm tired of have of seeing stuff like this. If a blk cop shot a white UNARMED white young man I would be mad about that as well so understand I'm about making this world a better place. I have sons and I want

_ Magic Johnson “Wow. Just wow. Shameful.

What will it take???'' _ Serena Williams “The Wade family hearts and

them to live in a world that they don't have to worry about this crap. I'm praying for the Brown family and suffering tonight blk white etc'' _ Justin Tuck “Sending my thoughts and prayers to the Brown Family.... My heart is so heavy.... #ourkidsmatter #RIPMikeBrown'' _ Swin Cash “No matter who you are, what colour skin you have, where you live, we are all in this together! This isn't a Ferguson problem it's a Global Problem!

We need change NOW! What happened to humanity? #JusticeForMikeBrown'' _ Reggie Bush

Montreal's Subban has lead after first week of fan voting for all star game NEW YORK _ Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban was the top vote-getter after the first week of fan voting for the 2015 NHL all-star game in Columbus on Jan. 25.

Subban led all players with 100,133 votes while teammate Carey Price led all goaltenders with 83,612 votes. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was tops among forwards and sat second overall with 87,858 votes.

Four members of the Chicago Blackhawks cracked the top 10 in the overall vote. Forwards Patrick Kane (73,551) and Jonathan Toews (71,734), defenceman Duncan Keith (66,723), and goaltender Corey Crawford (51,212) ranked fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth respectively.

Montreal's Max Pacioretty was seventh overall with 53,545 votes. Pittsburgh's Kris Letang (51,052) and Nashville's Shea Weber (49,640) rounded out

the top 10.

Online voting concludes Jan. 1 with the top six vote-getters by position _ three forwards, two defencemen and one goaltender _ to lock up spots in the mid-season showcase.

12

FILM

Vision / Autumn 2014

Lobster, Crab, Shrimp.

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Jerk, Curry, Fried and Stew Chicken.

Many more delectable entrees.

Ask about our specials.

All meals come with: Rice and Peas, Rice or Cooked Food & Small Side of Vegetables (ALL PRICES INCLUDE TAX)

Vision/ Autumn 2014

Fashion & Lifestyle

13

BANG ON TREND! FASHION BITES

Mojo Morgan to start jewellery line

MOJO Morgan of Morgan Heritage is expanding his horizons with the launch of a line of jewellery in December.

He says Infinite Love By the Morgans is an affordable assortment of necklaces, bracelets, finger rings and earrings.

"My fiancĂŠe Elia Camacho brought the idea to me and thought the synergy between the line

and my music would be great. So, she set up the meeting for me and the rest is history," Morgan told the Jamaica Observer.

The venture sees Morgan teaming with Zalemark Holding Company Inc, a product design, manufacturing and distributing company based in Sherman Oaks, California.

"I'm involved in every aspect of 'By The Morgans'. However, our first line designed by our Italian manufacturer is Infinite Love and the future proprietary designs will be spearheaded by my fiancĂŠe, Steven Zale (head of Zalemark) and the Zalemark team," Mojo said. source: www.Jamaicaobserver.com

2014 / Page 14

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