分类： entertainment

Los Angeles-based Jamaican artist E-Dee is making a strategic return to his hip-hop origins with the December release of his new single ‘Pretty Girl,’ marking a significant shift from his recent focus on dancehall-reggae recordings. Despite previous collaborations with prominent American rappers Cam’ron and Jim Jones, E-Dee’s hip-hop credentials have often been overshadowed by his Caribbean-inspired work.

The up-tempo track, produced by Jahsee, emerges from Clarendon Records—E-Dee’s own Los Angeles-based production company. The artist explained this deliberate artistic pivot comes after an extensive series of dancehall releases, signaling his desire for creative evolution.

‘My signature approach has consistently involved blending dancehall and hip-hop elements, tracing back to my debut album Ja 2 La 2 The World,’ E-Dee revealed in an exclusive interview with Observer Online. ‘Currently, I’m incorporating Afrobeats influences into this fusion to revitalize the sound and ensure continuous artistic development.’

‘Pretty Girl’ follows the emotionally charged single ‘We A Rebuild,’ which was inspired by the remarkable resilience demonstrated by Jamaicans following Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on October 28. Both releases are products of Clarendon Records, the label E-Dee established just over a year ago as he transitioned into greater production autonomy. To date, the label has generated an impressive catalog including over twenty singles, one EP, and a compilation album.

Originally from Toll Gate in Clarendon, Jamaica, E-Dee has maintained his Los Angeles residence for numerous years. Beyond his musical achievements encompassing multiple albums, EPs, and numerous singles, he has concurrently built an acting career in independent films. His filmography includes notable appearances in biographical projects such as ‘Out The Gate,’ ‘Temperature Rising,’ and ‘Mother In Law.’

Jamaican fashion model Naki Depass has achieved another significant milestone in her burgeoning international career with her selection as the face of American luxury brand Lafayette 148’s Spring 2026 advertising campaign. The Clarendon-born beauty features prominently in the newly released campaign showcasing the brand’s latest womenswear collection, demonstrating remarkable versatility across multiple high-fashion looks.

Depass, photographed against the urban backdrop of New York’s SoHo neighborhood, brings sophisticated elegance to the campaign’s aesthetic. Her portfolio includes everything from contemporary leather moto jackets and matte crepe knit shirt jackets to grid plaid crepe wide-leg trousers and refined shirtdresses. The October 2025 photoshoot was conducted under the creative direction of renowned photographer Dan Martensen and stylist Sasha Kelly.

In an exclusive interview from her current location in Jersey City, where temperatures had plunged to near-freezing conditions, Depass expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the Lafayette 148 team. ‘Working with Dan and the entire creative team was an absolutely fantastic experience,’ the model revealed. ‘The outdoor location shoot in SoHo provided dynamic energy that I’ve always appreciated about fashion photography.’

Depass, who holds an accounting degree from the University of the West Indies (Class of 2020), particularly praised the brand’s design philosophy: ‘Lafayette 148’s collections strike that perfect balance between chic sophistication and timeless elegance. Many pieces from the campaign are items I would personally incorporate into my own wardrobe.’

The luxury brand, founded in 1996 by Deirdre Quinn and partners Shun Yen Siu and Ida Siu, derives its name from its original SoHo address at 148 Lafayette Street. This collaboration represents another high-profile achievement for Depass, who celebrates ten years in the modeling industry this year. Her career launched spectacularly with a runway debut for Burberry’s Fall/Winter 2016 collection shortly after being discovered by SAINT International CEO Deiwght Peters.

Reflecting on her decade-long journey, Depass shared: ‘Looking back at everything accomplished feels somewhat surreal. That I continue to thrive in this industry with so much still ahead feels incredibly rewarding. My debut show in London with Deiwght seems like just yesterday—these ten years have passed with astonishing speed.’

Despite her professional success in frigid climates, the Jamaican model confessed to preferring warmer temperatures: ‘My physiology is definitely optimized for summer conditions, or perhaps mild spring weather. I must admit that extreme winter cold remains outside my comfort zone.’

Depass prepares for her next professional engagement at New York Fashion Week, scheduled to commence on February 11, 2026, where she is expected to appear in multiple designer presentations.

In a historic moment for the music industry, Kendrick Lamar has officially become the most-awarded rapper in Grammy Awards history, eclipsing the previous record long held by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. The groundbreaking achievement was confirmed during the 2025 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, where Lamar’s artistic dominance was prominently displayed throughout the evening.

Entering Sunday’s festivities with 26 Grammy wins already to his name, Lamar immediately surpassed Jay-Z’s benchmark of 25 victories by capturing the Best Rap Album honor for ‘GNX’ during the pre-telecast ceremony. His triumph continued unabated as the night progressed, ultimately concluding with an impressive total of 27 Grammy awards.

Lamar’s extraordinary evening was highlighted by multiple major category victories. Beyond the Best Rap Album recognition, the Compton-native artist secured Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance for his work ‘Luther’, Best Rap Song for ‘TV Off’, and Best Rap Performance for the critically acclaimed ‘Clipse’s Chains & Whips’. His dominance was further emphasized by leading all nominees with nine nominations this year.

The ‘Luther’ victory carried additional historical significance, making Lamar the first rapper ever to claim the Record of the Year honor twice. Furthermore, he became both the first male artist and first rapper to win this prestigious category in consecutive years, solidifying his unprecedented creative streak.

This Grammy milestone caps a remarkable period for Lamar, who began 2025 by headlining the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show—making history as the first rapper to perform solo on the NFL’s grandest stage. The artist continues to build upon his previous Grammy success, having performed his diss track ‘Not Like Us’ at last year’s ceremony, which ultimately earned five awards including both Record and Song of the Year.

As Jamaica prepares to commemorate the 60th anniversary of rocksteady music in 2026, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) will host a landmark gathering of the genre’s surviving architects. The ‘Back 2 Bass-es’ forum, scheduled for February 4 at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St. Andrew, will feature legendary bassists Boris Gardiner, Jackie Jackson, and Lloyd Parks sharing firsthand accounts of music history.

These instrumental pioneers shaped the distinctive sound that bridged ska and reggae, with Jackson having served as the backbone of producer Duke Reid’s Supersonics band during rocksteady’s golden age (1966-1968). His basslines defined timeless classics including Alton Ellis’s ‘Rock Steady’ and The Wailers’ ‘Thank You Lord.’ Jackson notably expresses profound admiration for fellow panelist Gardiner, whose work at Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd’s Studio One provided creative inspiration despite the legendary rivalry with Reid’s Treasure Isle label.

Gardiner’s understated yet revolutionary bass techniques powered anthems like The Heptones’ ‘Party Time’ and Marcia Griffiths’s ‘Feel Like Jumping.’ Meanwhile, Parks transitioned from vocalist with The Techniques to becoming one of reggae’s most sought-after bassists during the 1970s, contributing to definitive works by Dennis Brown and Ken Boothe.

The event forms part of JaRIA’s Reggae Month programming, addressing what Jackson identifies as a critical knowledge gap: ’99 percent of aspiring bass players and young musicians have no knowledge of the rocksteady era.’ This living history initiative aims to inspire new generations through direct engagement with the creators who established Jamaica’s musical legacy.

Music historians generally credit Hopeton Lewis’s 1966 recording ‘Take It Easy’ as the first rocksteady composition—a transitional style that replaced ska’s upbeat tempo with slower, bass-heavy rhythms that ultimately catalyzed the global explosion of roots reggae.