分类： entertainment

A decades-long cross-genre friendship has birthed an exciting new musical release that bridges Caribbean and American West Coast sounds. Reggae and dancehall performer Courtney Undah Privilege has dropped his latest single, *GMML (Gi Me Me Loot)*, a collaborative track featuring Money B, a founding member of the iconic hip-hop collective Digital Underground.

The partnership between the two artists did not emerge out of thin air: they first connected years ago while living and working in Oakland, California, forging a bond that extended far beyond casual professional acquaintance. That longstanding personal and creative rapport shines through on the finished track, where Undah Privilege anchors the production with a hypnotic, high-energy vocal performance, while Money B lays down his signature smooth yet commanding flow, creating a dynamic balance that elevates the whole song.

The result is a cohesive, authentic sonic fusion that blends the rhythmic roots of Caribbean reggae and dancehall with the classic grit of West Coast hip-hop, a synergy that came naturally thanks to the pair’s history of working together. As Undah Privilege explained, the shared creative history and inherent chemistry between him and Money B made the recording process seamless from start to finish.

“I have worked with Money B of Digital Underground on many projects in the past. There is musical history and chemistry, which allowed a seamless recording of GMML,” the artist shared.

This is far from Undah Privilege’s first mark on global popular music. He is the originator of the iconic sampled line “Six Million Ways to Die, Choose One,” a phrase that has been woven into countless reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop tracks across decades, becoming a staple of cross-genre production. With this new release, Undah Privilege says he aims to bring the genre-blending sound to a global audience, hoping the track resonates far beyond existing fanbases.

“I hope to reach wide audiences with this single, given its dancehall and hip hop fusion style. I would love to gain traction with hip hop audiences. Additionally, I would like to garner great appreciation for Money B, who has a notable place in hip hop history as a member of Digital Underground alongside late bandmates Shock G and Tupac,” he explained.

Beyond his work in music, Undah Privilege has built a multifaceted career across screen and production. He is widely recognized for his role as Melvin on the comedy series *Arnold’s Caribbean Pizza*, produced by veteran television creators Bentley Kyle Evans — best known for hit 90s series *Martin* and *The Jamie Foxx Show* — and Trae Ireland. His film resume includes featured roles in projects including *Gangsta’s Paradise*, *Cop and a Badman*, *Straight Out*, and *Rude Boy the Jamaican Don*, highlighting his versatility as a performer across narrative and genre formats.

Looking toward the future, Undah Privilege is expanding his creative footprint through his own production banner, Podeville Productions. In a joint partnership with Mix Frames Entertainment, he is currently developing the feature film *Dream Chaser*, an ambitious project centered on themes of perseverance, vision, and the pursuit of personal and professional success. The film is currently slated for a wide release in summer 2026.

In the lead-up to the annual recognition of World Cognac Day, one of the spirit’s most iconic global brands took center stage at a bespoke culinary event at Kingston’s acclaimed Ivy23 restaurant on June 2. Nearly 50 invited guests – including Jamaican Olympian Asafa Powell, content creator Carmen-Elena “Cholita” Stewart, and prominent local food industry figures – gathered for an intimate three-course pairing dinner highlighting the unique versatility of three of Hennessy’s core expressions: VS, VSOP, and XO.

Ivy23 has built its reputation on a boundary-pushing culinary philosophy that fuses flavors and cooking techniques from across four continents: Europe, Asia, India, and the Caribbean, weaving these disparate influences into cohesive, innovative menu items. For this exclusive collaboration with Hennessy, co-owner Vivek Chatani explained that the team opted not to tone down Ivy23’s signature bold flavors to accommodate the cognac, but instead designed each course to meet each spirit expression as an equal creative partner. In a nod to the collaborative spirit of the event, the kitchen even infused Hennessy directly into two of the evening’s three main courses, letting the spirit’s depth elevate every bite.

The evening kicked off with an energetic opening course designed to highlight the bold character of Hennessy VS, the youngest and most vibrant of the three expressions, which boasts bright fruit notes and a robust finish. Guests were served two small plates: Spicy Chilli Oil Chicken Dumplings and Cognac-infused Chicken Tikka. The dumplings deliver a sharp, lingering heat, while the tikka features warm, bold spices rounded out by a rich cream, cashew and cheese sauce cooked with a cognac reduction. The bright structure of Hennessy VS cuts through the dish’s richness and stands up evenly to the heat, creating a balanced, dynamic first impression that set the tone for the rest of the night.

The meal transitioned smoothly into the second course, which paired Hennessy VSOP with a creamy saffron risotto topped with grilled shrimp. Unlike the bold bite of VS, VSOP is a rounder, more refined expression with soft vanilla, gentle spice and delicate floral notes that echo the earthy, aromatic sweetness of saffron. The creamy texture of the risotto balances the cognac’s warm finish, while the grilled shrimp adds a subtle smoky sweetness that complements the spirit’s nuanced profile, resulting in a smooth, harmonized midpoint for the evening.

The dining experience culminated in a decadent final course centered on Hennessy XO, the crowning jewel of the brand’s core portfolio. XO is the richest and most complex of the three expressions, with deep notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, coffee, and aged oak. To mirror these layers, the kitchen paired XO with a duo of desserts: a dark chocolate mousse infused with Hennessy, and a classic tiramisu defined by its rich coffee and cream layers. The overlapping flavor profiles of the food and spirit create a seamless, luxurious finish that brought the evening’s exploration of cognac and food pairing to a satisfying close.

Beyond the food and drink, Chatani noted that the structured pairing experience invited guests to slow down and engage more intentionally with their meal. After each bite of food and sip of cognac, guests return to their plate to discover how the flavors shift: the spice softens, the saffron’s aroma opens up, and the chocolate notes round out the finish, creating a dynamic, interactive sensory experience rather than a standard meal.

Hosted in partnership with Select Brands, the event turned a global celebration of cognac into an intimate, locally rooted experience that aligned with Ivy23’s core mission. “We want Ivy23 to be a space for culinary discovery, where guests can try something new they won’t find anywhere else in Kingston,” Chatani explained. “Constant innovation is at the heart of what we do, whether that’s developing new signature dishes in our kitchen or partnering with iconic brands like Hennessy to create one-of-a-kind experiences. Jamaica’s food scene is brimming with incredible talent, and we’re proud to contribute to its growth by drawing on global flavors, adding our own unique local twist, and delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

The evening also featured welcome cocktails including the Hennessy Pure White Cast Away and the signature Henny Mash, a refreshing blend of muddled strawberries, Hennessy, Triple Sec, lime juice, and syrup topped with Sprite, proving further the versatility of Hennessy cognac in a range of drinking experiences.

In a life-changing opportunity that has sent ripples of excitement across the global dance community, the Ghetto Kids — a Ugandan performance collective composed of vulnerable street-connected children — are preparing to step onto one of the world’s biggest stages, after global music icon Shakira tapped them to join her half-time performance at the upcoming FIFA World Cup final this summer in the United States.

The Colombian superstar made the announcement last week via her official Instagram account, revealing that the young Ugandan troupe was her first pick for the high-profile finale show. For the kids and the organization behind the collective, the invitation has sparked overwhelming joy, marking a full-circle journey from street performances in Kampala’s informal neighborhoods to a global audience projected to top one billion viewers.

The Ghetto Kids is more than just a dance group: it is a Kampala-based non-governmental organization founded by Kavuma Dauda, a former street child himself, that uses dance and performing arts as a tool to support abandoned and orphaned children across Uganda. The troupe earned their spot after responding to an open call Shakira shared, asking fans to submit homemade dance clips for her new World Cup anthem. Their submission, brimming with unbridled energy and infectious joy, quickly went viral across social media platforms, catching the eye of the Grammy-winning artist.

This is not the first time the collective has captured international attention. Their journey to global fame began with simple clips of their impromptu street performances filmed across Kampala, which amassed a large international fanbase and even earned them a coveted spot on the hit U.S. talent competition series *America’s Got Talent*. Even with that previous high-profile exposure, the World Cup gig represents an unprecedented milestone for the young performers.

Eight-year-old Busingye Josephine Daniella, one of the troupe’s rising young stars, shared her unfiltered excitement in an interview with AFP in Kampala. “We can’t wait to show the world what we are!” she said, echoing the collective’s eagerness to share their talent and story on a global platform.

Sixteen-year-old Ssegirinyi Madwanah echoed that enthusiasm, noting the transformative potential of the opportunity. “Getting outside the country… and performing on one of the biggest stages… it feels good, and it brings a lot of opportunities,” he explained.

For Dauda, the invitation is more than just a moment in the spotlight: it is a chance to advance the organization’s long-term mission. He told reporters he hopes the global attention from the World Cup performance will help the collective raise critical funds to build a permanent rehabilitation and education center for the children they support. “We have that big dream… It’s a very huge opportunity for the Ghetto Kids, for me, for the children,” Dauda said.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Just seven days ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s opening match on June 11, the only officially licensed Jamaican rights holders for the tournament have issued a urgent public warning crack down on widespread unauthorized broadcast and streaming of matches. Television Jamaica (TVJ) and Caribbean Premier Sports Ltd, which operates the RUSH Sports network, have reaffirmed their status as the sole authorized entities to deliver 2026 FIFA World Cup content across every available platform in Jamaica, including traditional television, digital streaming services, and public screenings.

In their joint formal statement released Thursday, the two broadcasters clarified that accessing World Cup matches via unapproved third-party channels constitutes a violation of international intellectual property laws. Specifically, the organizations called out access through sideloaded apps on modified consumer devices — such as customized Amazon Firesticks, altered Android TV boxes, modified IPTV receivers, and other unvetted streaming applications — as clear acts of piracy, copyright infringement, and intellectual property theft.

The rights holders emphasized that no other media entity, ranging from competing broadcasters and streaming platforms to IPTV operators, independent websites, social media accounts, public viewing organizers, and commercial hospitality venues, holds any legal license to broadcast, retransmit, stream, or publicly exhibit 2026 FIFA World Cup content anywhere within Jamaica’s borders. This exclusive rights mandate extends to every conceivable mode of content transmission: cable television, direct-to-home satellite, IPTV services, mobile streaming apps, internet-based platforms, social media live streams, public community screenings, and commercial venue broadcasts.

Of particular note is the restriction on commercial public exhibitions: even popular hospitality spots such as bars, restaurants, live entertainment venues, and public community events or fan zones are prohibited from showing matches without explicit written authorization from either CPSL/RUSH Sports or TVJ, aligned with FIFA’s formal public viewing regulations and global licensing structure.

To enforce these exclusive rights, the Jamaican rights holders confirmed they are collaborating closely with FIFA and the governing body’s global network of anti-piracy enforcement partners as part of FIFA’s flagship worldwide Content and Brand Protection Programme. This coordinated effort is focused on proactively identifying, flagging, and removing all illegal broadcast streams, illegal retransmissions, and pirated content across digital and physical channels in Jamaica.

For consumers and business owners to easily verify legitimate broadcasts, the organizations confirmed that all official, legal 2026 World Cup transmissions in Jamaica will display an on-screen logo from either TVJ or RUSH Sports. Any World Cup content broadcast or streamed within Jamaica that does not carry this official identifier should be immediately recognized as unauthorized and potentially illegal.

To support ongoing enforcement efforts, the broadcasters are calling on the Jamaican public to actively report any suspected piracy or unauthorized World Cup broadcasts directly to their teams. To help investigators quickly address violations, reporters are asked to include supporting evidence when submitting tips: screenshots of unauthorized streams, short video clips of illegal public screenings where possible, direct links to illicit online streams, physical venue addresses for unauthorized public viewings, or details about the modified devices being used to access pirated content.