The album that everyone has been anticipating is finally here! Etana's latest album, "The Strong One" is released June 24, 2008. The album was already release digitally and will now be available in stores today. Everyone knows Etana for her conscious lyrics backed by her powerful voice.

The album features familiar as well as unfamiliar songs. These include: "Roots", "Warrior Love", "I am not Afraid" and "Wrong Address". The album has a little of everything; love songs, uplifting songs, inspiring songs - songs that everyone of all ages can listen to. The album is very relatable.

While listening to this album Etana's natural beauty, both internally and externally shines through. You can hear the passion that she has for music in her voice and that she really loves what she is doing. This is an album that the public should really go out and purchase.

Another artiste is now receiving a hard time because of his violent lyrics. Promoters of the 12th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival have been expressing concern since the line up of artistes for the show has been released. They fear that the use of profanity, lyrics promoting violence and sexual acts will be on display.

The main artiste for this event is Busy Signal. The promoters are however worried as they feel his lyrics are violence based.

They have argued that everyone knows Busy Signal for his "gangsta" lyrics which have been perceived to persuade people to use violence to resolve issues. This is depicted in his breakout hit single "Step Out", a line from which goes: "Afta mi step out, inna mi black, have glock, unda mi throwback. Shot holla pon spot, Badman nuh tek back chat..." and "Bwoy disrespect, Mi get mi guns fi do a fine job". The promoters fear that Busy's lyrics will not be appropriate and are too violent for him to be on the show.

The singer spoke with REPORTERS in a telephone interview shortly after her release from a private hospital in New York.

"I got out of the hospital this morning (Friday), but they (doctors) were really concerned about the hit to my head on the windshield - but I'm okay now and happy to be out. The hardest part was sitting still in the hospital, I even tried to check myself out twice and they had to start watching me, it was crazy."

"My doctor gave me the clearance to be out, but he says I just have to rest. But I'll be back in Jamaica in July," Bar-Bee said.

The singer was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a private New York hospital after she was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Friday, June 13.

She had remained in a coma for two hours after the accident in which her Mercedes Benz motor car was totalled.

The singer was on her way to the Jamrock Reggae Fest at the Hammerstein Ballroom, NY, where she was slated to perform.

Bar-Bee is thanking all her fans who showed love and support during her time in the hospital.

"I really want to thank my fans, I got a lot of flowers and stuff while in the hospital, they (fans) really supported me through this."

Bar-Bee, also addressed some of the rumours that had been circulating about her accident, as it was said that the singer had lost a baby during the accident.

When asked about the allegation, Bar-Bee responded: "A baby? Why do people keep tying babies to me? I mean I love kids but I don't want any anytime soon."

Now that Bar-Bee has passed the worst, and having been hospitalised for approximately eight days, the singer says, "I can't wait to get back to work."

"I have this project that I'm working on right now that is called I Love You Anyway. This record is very dear to me, and I just know that everybody can relate to it ... it's about real love, and it will be out in July," she said.

The police have refused to grant the promoters of Finish Line a permit because violent clashes they say may develop between headliners Mavado and Vbyz Kartel or their supporters.

Finish Line: The Summer Edition, was scheduled for today at the Palisadoes Go-Kart Track. However, Superintendent Assan Thompson of the Kingston Eastern Police Division said he had not granted permission for the event to be held in the division.

"I have received intelligence that persons appearing on the event are likely to have violent clashes which might result in firearm usage and affect the security and safety of the Norman Manley International Airport," Thompson told REPORTERS.

He added, "The notice to me I received 24 hours ago and that would not give me enough time to sufficiently and effectively police an event of that nature. On that basis I have refused a permit."

Thompson said he is open to discussions with the promoter but they would have to assure him that the event will be safe and that the artistes would not resort to any form of violence.


new developments


In March, the promoters were not granted permission to host the event at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. The Finish Line: Summer Edition, Stop The Violence should have been held at the Police Officers' Club but the location was changed to the Palisadoes Go-Kart Track earlier this week when the police said the noise from the event might affect the nearby Andrews Memorial Hospital.

Maurice Williams, one of the promoters for Finish Line, is upset about the new developments as he says he will lose millions and it would affect the credibility of the event and its sponsors.

"It's just crazy! We will be losing millions again in promotion and the high production of the event. We don't want to decrease the credibility of the event's name. They (police) are destroying the character of the event. We are going to take this to court," he said.

He added, "I can't even explain how I feel 'bout it. Dem seh dem a stop it cause Mavado and Kartel deh pon it and there might be violence or gun violence but this is a peace event so it is an event that they should endorse. It has been incident-free for the past six years."

He said he did not see the reason for the police's decision as Mavado and Vybz Kartel have performed on the same event in the past and are booked for upcoming events.

Williams said he might wait until next year to host Finish Line after Boys and Girls Championship.

"Wi nuh want it reach di point where wi seh 'Finish Line' an' people seh 'dat again'," he said.

Alliance top lieutenant David 'Mavado' Brooks was freed of gun-related charges when he appeared in the Gun Court in downtown, Kingston Thursday morning.

He had been answering to charges of shooting with intent and illegal possession of a firearm. Mavado's co-accused Sameer Coombs was also freed.

A member of the Alliance told One876Entertainment.com that Jamaica's Director of Public Prosecutions this morning signed a letter stating that the crown is not continuing proceedings against Mavado. The letter was presented to the court and the matter against him dismissed. He has been de-processed and his fingerprint destroyed.

According to reports on IRIE FM and RJR News, a nolle prosequi was entered because the main witnesses failed to show.

The witnesses are reportedly not available to give evidence in the matter surrounding an incident in June last year where it was alleged that Mavado and Mr. Coombs fired several shots at persons on the road. Mr. Coombs was charged shortly after the incident but Mavado was not charged until March this year.

The question on everyone's lips is: will he be granted his US visa or granted a waiver to allow him to perform in the United States? The artiste was sent home from the United States almost five weeks ago when he attempted to enter that country to perform at a show only a few days after he was slapped with gun charges.

Mavado had also been charged in relation to ganja possession over  18 months ago during a police raid in Cassava Piece, St. Andrew.

The deejay has been banned from a number of Caribbean countries because of the violent content of his lyrics, the last being Guyana a few weeks ago. However, his camp has launched a furious public relations campaign in recent weeks announcing that the deejay had been selected as part of Nike's promotional CD campaign for the Olympics in China, and that Mavado is expected to star in the summer movie, What Goes Around.