分类： entertainment

The late reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, who passed away in November at 81, left behind a complex cinematic legacy defined by one monumental success and one notorious failure. While his starring role in the 1972 classic ‘The Harder They Come’ earned him permanent international recognition, his subsequent venture into Hollywood comedy proved disastrous.

Cliff’s portrayal of Ivan, an ambitious country musician navigating Kingston’s ruthless music scene, became an instant cultural landmark. Director Perry Henzell’s film not only launched Cliff’s acting career but also introduced reggae music to global audiences. Despite this breakthrough performance that suggested a promising acting future, Cliff surprisingly retreated from cinema screens for over a decade.

His cousin, filmmaker Lennie Little-White, reveals Cliff consciously refused numerous acting offers during this period. ‘Either because he did not want to be stereotyped only doing roles like The Harder They Come or the money was not right,’ Little-White explained to Observer Online.

Cliff’s eventual return to acting came in 1986’s ‘Club Paradise,’ a Caribbean-set comedy that paired him with Robin Williams. Directed by Harold Ramis fresh off his ‘Ghostbusters’ success, the film featured an impressive ensemble cast including Peter O’Toole, Twiggy, and Rick Moranis. Despite its US$19 million budget and A-list talent, the project failed spectacularly, generating only US$12.3 million at box offices while receiving scathing critical reviews.

Renowned critic Roger Ebert particularly criticized Williams’ performance, noting ‘when the star of a movie seems desperate enough to depend on one-liners, can the rest of the cast be blamed for losing confidence in the script?’ Little-White concurred with this assessment, identifying fundamental flaws in the film’s direction and scripting: ‘It had a lot of brand-name actors, but the director could not make up his mind about where the greatest emphasis should be.’

Following this disappointment, Cliff largely withdrew from acting, making only minor appearances including a 1990 role in Steven Seagal’s ‘Marked For Death’ and contributing to the successful ‘Cool Runnings’ soundtrack in 1993. His cover of ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ for the Jamaican bobsled team film became an international hit, topping charts in multiple countries and demonstrating where his true artistic strengths lay.

Connecticut-based dancehall artist Libra-Don has channeled the devastation of Hurricane Melissa into musical inspiration with his newly released single ‘Don’t Lose Faith.’ The track, produced by Maddmoni Empire and launched on November 4, serves as both a tribute to hurricane victims and a rallying cry for national recovery.

The artist, born Devon Maddan Jr. to Jamaican parents, described the hurricane as one of the most catastrophic events to ever strike Jamaica, emphasizing the widespread destruction, loss of life, and displacement of thousands. Despite the overwhelming damage, Libra-Don expresses unwavering confidence in Jamaica’s resilience and capacity for renewal.

In an exclusive interview with Observer Online, the musician revealed the emotional origins of the composition. ‘Don’t Lose Faith’ emerged from what he characterized as a state of fear and uncertainty during the hurricane’s onslaught. He initially recorded a demo in his home studio to capture the raw emotional intensity of the moment. The entire creative and production process was completed within approximately five days.

Beyond his musical contribution, Libra-Don is actively participating in relief efforts. With family roots in Westmoreland parishes including Belmont, White House, Bluefields and Grange Hill, he has coordinated the shipment of essential supplies to affected relatives and community members. Together with his management team at MaddMoni Empire, he has committed to ongoing support for Jamaica’s recovery and rebuilding initiatives.

Libra-Don launched his recording career in 2022 with his debut single ‘Honest,’ establishing himself as an emerging voice in the dancehall genre with a conscious message.

Grammy-nominated producer Dre Skull, founder of Mixpak Records, is channeling his expertise into developing Cholita, a promising Jamaican-Peruvian vocalist poised for international stardom. Their collaborative single “Without You,” featuring dancehall sensation Skillibeng, has garnered immediate radio traction across Kingston, London, Nairobi, Zurich, and Mexico City.

Skull discovered Cholita through social media after encountering her vocal performance online. Despite having written only one song previously, her innate musicality convinced the producer to initiate collaboration. “She’s a born star who consistently rises to the occasion,” Skull told the Jamaica Observer, emphasizing her rapid artistic development despite being relatively new to professional music.

The Brooklyn-based producer brings substantial credibility to the partnership, having produced Popcaan’s Billboard-charting albums “Where We Come From” and “Forever,” Vybz Kartel’s “Kingston Story,” and earning Grammy recognition for work with Burna Boy. His catalog includes collaborations with PartyNextDoor and Wizkid.

Cholita’s musical foundation runs deep, with her father working as a sound engineer and producer, and multiple relatives on her Peruvian mother’s side being professional musicians. “Music wasn’t something I had to search for; it always surrounded me,” she explained, noting that songwriting ultimately compelled her professional pursuit.

Her debut single “Next Time” already achieved international reach, receiving airplay on major stations from Zip FM in Kingston to BBC Radio1 in London and Hot 97 in New York, plus placement in H&M’s global retail playlist. As of early December, both “Without You” and “Next Time” ranked prominently on Jamaica’s YouTube Trending chart.

Regarding their creative process, Cholita praised Skull’s flexible approach: “He teaches there are no strict rules—only what feels right in the moment.” The artist describes “Without You” as capturing that rare, overwhelming sensation of profound love where “everything flows effortlessly.”

Skull remains optimistic about their ongoing collaboration: “Cholita is building an amazing artistic world. The response to her first releases has been incredible, with much more amazing music to come.”

The dancehall scene has been electrified by an escalating lyrical confrontation between two of its prominent figures, Masicka and Tommy Lee Sparta, marking what enthusiasts are calling the official commencement of ‘war season’ within the genre. This artistic clash has captivated the music community, generating intense anticipation for each subsequent musical round in what promises to be a dramatic showdown.

The conflict ignited when Tommy Lee Sparta released ‘Control,’ a track perceived as targeting Masicka for what appeared to be subtle disrespect toward Vybz Kartel, the incarcerated ‘World Boss’ of dancehall. While neither Masicka nor Kartel have openly acknowledged any brewing tension, industry insiders report simmering discord since July’s Reggae Sumfest, where Masicka’s self-proclamation as the ‘GOAT’ (Greatest of All Time) coincided with Kartel’s official coronation as King of Dancehall.

Tommy Lee’s initial diss track garnered immediate traction among dedicated Gaza supporters, who applauded his assertive defense of his mentor. However, this opening salvo provoked a formidable response from Masicka, who counterattacked with ‘Vain.’ In his retaliation, Masicka reinforced his GOAT status while dismissing Tommy Lee as an unworthy challenger, accusing him of riding Kartel’s coattails amid a declining solo career.

The battle intensified with Tommy Lee’s ‘Destroyer,’ which accused Masicka of ‘crown-chasing’ and questioned his legitimacy for dancehall’s throne. Masicka promptly answered with ‘Tears,’ asserting that raw talent alone would never have propelled Tommy Lee to prominence within the industry.

This verbal duel has generated remarkable engagement from music enthusiasts, with both artists receiving praise for their lyrical prowess from their respective fan bases. The consensus among listeners is that this confrontation benefits the dancehall landscape, provided it remains confined to musical expression without escalating into physical altercations.

Veteran selector Boom Boom attested to the positive reception on the streets, noting that both tracks received enthusiastic responses during his sets. ‘As someone raised on clash culture, we recognize this as the traditional season for artistic warfare, and it revitalizes the scene,’ he commented, emphasizing the importance of maintaining lyrical rather than physical combat.

Industry insider Heavy D, an artist manager with extensive experience, echoed these sentiments, highlighting how clashes and wars form the foundational fabric of dancehall culture. ‘This confrontation showcases our culture in its purest form and will undoubtedly benefit both artists at this stage of their careers,’ he observed, refraining from declaring an early victor.

Adding to the spectacle, Sting promoters have extended an invitation for both artists to continue their lyrical battle on stage during the December 26th event. Historically, Sting served as the ultimate proving ground for feuding artists, having launched several careers into legendary status through its platform for musical combat. Memorable historical clashes include Merciless versus Bounty Killer, Beenie Man against Vybz Kartel in 2000, and the iconic Vybz Kartel versus Mavado confrontation in 2008. However, with the event struggling to reclaim its former glory, a physical showdown between the current contenders appears improbable.