Remy Ma's not going to let her legal troubles keep her down. According to BET's celebrity news show 'The Black Carpet,' the rap diva is engaged to Brooklyn, New York rapper Papoose. The pair have been quietly dating for more than two years and plan to tie the knot in the summer.

In the meantime, jury selection for to the raptress' assault trial began yesterday. Remy, whose real name is Reminisce Smith, is accused of shooting her longtime friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph in the stomach for allegedly lifting $2,000 from her purse. The 26-year-old rapper has pleaded not guilty to assault and related charges. Smith could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Irate show promoters in St Lucia and Guyana are planning to sue dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel for a series of no-shows over the weekend. Kartel and members of his Portmore Empire were reportedly booked for a concert in Guyana on Saturday night, after which they should have moved on to St Lucia to perform on the last evening of a three-day event called Love Fest.

Reports are, however, that while some members of the Empire turned up, Kartel missed his flight to Guyana, not once, but twice, after which the promoter was asked to send a charter. According to one report, this was done, but the plane sat on the tarmac on Saturday and the deejay refused to leave Jamaica. Conscious Minds Promotions in Guyana reportedly suffered tremendous losses when they were forced to cancel the show. The Sunday Stabroek in Guyana noted that “a press release advised that persons who purchased tickets for the show will receive full refunds beginning Tuesday at all ticketing locations”.

The promoters are quoted as saying, “We again express our deep regret at the disappointment that our supporters must feel and pledge that we will make good with other promotions.”

Meanwhile, the St Lucia promoter Andrew Hayles, in an interview last evening with the Observer, said that he had spent over US$20,000.00 on plane fare just to ensure that Kartel would be present for his show, Love Fest, which has built up a solid reputation during its eight years.

Hayles said he was aware that there were some “security issues and threats” and he had assured the deejay that he would have been closely guarded throughout his visit to the island.

“And then he doesn’t even get in contact with us … somebody told us that there was a statement on YouTube and that’s how we knew that he was not going to take the charter. Well, we promoters have aligned ourselves, we have spread the word, we have even contacted BBC 1Xtra. And we are going to sue Kartel for our money. He charged us US$25,000.00 and he was paid his 50% deposit. We have to deal with Kartel,” Hayles said.

He stated, however, that the concert would go on last night since there were other big names on the bill. However those persons who wanted a refund would be accommodated.

It was in May this year that Kartel was banned from Grenada for the event, Rap-it-Up, which was to mark the official launch of his Daggerin condoms in that island. Government officials reportedly refused to issue a work permit because of his violent lyrics.
“Naturally, the Guyana promoter and myself have been communicating, since I was supposed to bring Kartel in from there. So those tickets went down the drain. Then I made direct contact with Kartel and he told me to send two first-class tickets for him and Jahvinci to travel from Jamaica. At 11:00 pm on Saturday we got the travel agent to open up her business place so we could purchase the tickets. Then plans changed and we were asked to get a charter and this was done. Then the next thing we know we hear on Sunday that Kartel had posted a statement on YouTube saying that he was not attending Love Fest in St Lucia and it was not the promoter’s fault,” Hayle said, still sounding bemused at all that had transpired.

A quick look at YouTube shows a 33-second clip with Vybz Kartel who identifies himself and then goes on to say “we a mek the people dem know from now that we won’t be attending Love Fest in St Lucia … but it’s no fault of the promoters or the promotion which is Hot FM … it’s just circumstances beyond our control.”

Producer Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor has released a songconfirming rumours of a rift between his Big ship camp and deejay Vybz Kartel with the release of his first solo single Cyaa Friend Again.

For months, rumours have been circulating in the streets and in the media that the producer and the deejay had ended their musical relationship

with neither party confirming the rift – until now. In November, Kartel released Rifle Shot in which he insults McGregor which was followed by Blak Ryno’s Empty where he, too, took aim at the Big Ship camp.

Yesterday, McGregor released his own song Cyaa Friend Again. In a recent interview  19-year-old producer Stephen McGregor discussed the situation, confirming that he and Kartel will no longer be working together.

He said, “It’s pointing at a number of people based on my experiences with them; however, it was the recent activity of artistes such as Kartel and Ryno that pushed me to put those emotions and thought into song. Music is expression and that’s the best way I figured I could bring it out.”

Rumours started circulating earlier this year following Kartel’s no-show at the Big Ship produced show Rocksteady Meets Reggae and Dancehall. Kartel was scheduled to perform.

In the song, McGregor talks about a former friend who did him wrong singing, “Mi have a bagga ting fi talk/like how mi give dem strength and show dem love outta mi heart/neva know dem waan di link fi part/neva know dem waan di ship fi sink and wah we park/dem bwoy deh cyaan give wi nuh talk bring dem out inna di light when dem did a hide inna di dark.”

play hypocrite

The song continues, “Now yuh see me and some bwoy coulda never be frens/dem a play hypocrite but mi can neva pretend/from mi find out sey a enemy dem/mi cut off di frenship from di memory dem/ ask dem who give dem di melody dem/ but mi is a yute weh on nobody mi neva depend/no Jah Jah guide me from everything/mi put mi heart and mi soul inna every riddim.”

According to McGregor, he voiced the song about a month ago but changed the second verse after the release of Kartel and Ryno’s song. In the second verse, he sings, “God knows mi neva do dem nuh wrong/a true wi nuh tek programme from nuh man/dem mussi see sey mi stubborn caw nobody cyaan tell me how mi ting fi govern/mi not even frighten when dem call mi name inna song/same ting dem do Jesus wid di nail inna hand.”

As to the reasons for the rift, McGregor said, “Kartel violate big time and since then I no longer want to work with him, but the reason has nothing to do with him not coming to my father’s show. People should just listen keenly to the song and you’ll hear what’s up. The purpose of this song is not to ‘get a hype’ from the situation ’cause I don’t need one off Kartel’s career, it’s just me getting out all of those emotions and expressing it through song because I’m capable of doing so.”

McGregor emphasised that it will not be the start of a lyrical war between the two camps as he has no intention to respond musically after this. “It won’t matter to me whether or not he responds because I’m not doing a ‘clash’ song or nutten, I got out what I needed to say and that’s all.”

Adding, “Kartel and all a dem can fight me if dem want because Kartel himself always tell me that what I have over everyone is time, and the age factor will allow me to continue what I’m doing for years to come. I’m prepared for the fight I will be getting from various people but it doesn’t matter ’cause I’m still gonna be doing what I do best to the best of my ability and ship a sail.”

I Am Blessed singjay Vegas and the Warlord Bounty Killer hung out together backstage at the HOT 97’s ‘On Da Reggae Tip’ concert, talking, vibing and even taking pictures for the press and fans.

“Me and him hold a reasoning backstage. Killa ah mi dupes, I don’t have no problem with Killa, you know him personality, and if yu follow him up wid him aggressive personality, yu know wha a go happen. Nuff people tek it on and it nuh work out fi dem,” Vegas said.

Vegas and Bounty Killer had had an acrimonious relationship in the past and Killer had referred to him using several derrogatory names in the past but now they seemed to have buried the hatchet.

“Anyway, I respect Bounty Killer because yu have nuff artiste who buss internationally like Sean Paul and dem coulda bring yutes wid dem, like how Akon pick up Kardinal Offishal and buss him internationally. Mi rate Killer because him break crazy yute inna the business and yu caan deny him that. Me and him had issues but mi remember when me and him and Tyrical used to de rounda Junior Reid studio, so mi see the good side of Killer. Me and Mavado good, mi come from Big Yard, Mavado come from Cassava Piece and him never show mi no hype yet, him and Serani dem always show mi maximum respect, so right now, mi ah say good over evil.”

Bow Wow took to UStream and Twitter on Sunday night to make the big announcement he'd been teasing his fans with for some time: "It's official, I'm a Cash Money Millionaire," he told his thousands of viewers and followers.

The rapper had parted ways with his longtime label, Columbia Records, earlier this year. In previous Twitter dispatches, he explained he was deciding between two recording options: T.I.'s Grand Hustle camp through Atlantic Records or relaunching So So Def when Jermaine Dupri signed a new deal.

In the end, a third option emerged.

"We had two sit-downs," Bow Wow said of meeting with Cash Money. "Upon the first sit-down, I called [co-CEO Birdman] and told him what I wanted to do. So it was a no-brainer. He was like, 'Bow, you always been family. Next to Wayne, I look at you like my son. If you not with JD, you with us.' From there, it was a done deal. So I wanna thank [him], Slim and Wayne."

Bow Wow's addition to the Cash Money collective follows the announcement that Omarion had inked with Lil Wayne's Young Money imprint. The two moves, along with Drake's signing, are a far cry from the label's early days when the Hot Boyz — a cast that included Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Young Turk — were the central act. Now, with a stable of rapping matinee idols, the crew boasts a lineup as deep as any label.

"We all want to win, and in order to do that, we have to cover all bases," Bow said. "With me coming to Cash Money, I bring something to the table that hasn't been there in their history. I bring the whole Hollywood side, from that perspective."

Bow Wow said he'll also continue to work with mentor Jermaine Dupri. "He's always gonna be there right by my side," Bow said.

Next up, the rapper said he'll release the Greenlight mixtape, followed by a single in late November and a new album tentatively set for release by the end of the year.

The Gaza and Alliance warfare continues. Shawn Storm takes on the Alliance in his song “Mek Mi Kill The Dog”  produced by X Factor on the “Death Sentence Riddim”.  He refers to the Alliance as the  dog dem asking the teacher Vybz Kartel permission to kill them all (lyrically). He attacks Mavado  and his cousin Chase Cross accusing them both of taboo sexual activities. He also Lashes out against Flexx, Bling Dawg and Daseca, even though the production group are not Dancehall Artiste.  Shawn Storm Spared no one from the Allaince on this track.

Recognized by the people as one of the best Dancehall Artist in the world, Vybz Kartel has played a fascinating role in Dancehall culture, with an influence that has reached far beyond music. Vybz Kartel born as Adidja Azim Palmer is dubbed one of the best lyricists in dancehall music to date. Vybz Kartel first emerge on the scene as bounty killers protégé, ghost writing songs for the Warlord and various artistes such as elephant man to name a few.

At the time up and coming producer Don Corleon noticed Vybz Kartel talents and eagerly started working with the artiste. Vybz Kartel then went on to create hits such as “ New millennium” on the Mad antz riddim featuring Wayne Marshall, “Why” on the crazy riddim and “why again” on the good to go riddim.

Vybz Kartel now established in the Dancehall Music industry released 2 albums produced by Don Corleon “Up 2 Di time” and “J.M.T”. He was nominated for the Source, Vibe and UK Mobo Awards. Kartel went on to collaborate with international artistes such as Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Cameron, Missy Elliot and the move your body girls Nina Sky.

Being Bounty killer’s protégé it was no shock that Vybz Kartel would be part of the infamous group called the ALLIANCE. This group at the time consisted of the warlord himself, Vybz Kartel, Elephant man, Wayne Marshall, Aidonio, Busy Signal and now dancehall superstar the Gully Gad Mavado.

Kartel played a major role in the Alliance, helping the up and coming members to fame, but With such a powerhouse group and strong personalities there was no surprise that there would be clash of egos, never the less Kartel left the group in 2006.

With his publicized departure from the Alliance Kartel now had a few nemesis from his former group, which resulted in an ongoing feud where numerous diss records from both parties was released, such as “Mr. palmer” Vybz Kartel diss and “mofraudo” Mavado diss. Kartel and Mavado was now at the forefront of this feud.

With the back and forth diss records from both individuals it was inevitable that this feud would be settled at the greatest one night show on earth (Sting 08). Sting 2008 depending on who you ask, where you were and what you heard, the jury is still out on who won the most anticipated clash of 2008. It was 5am when the most eagerly anticipated artist Vybz Kartel and Mavado begun to arrive at the venue. Kartel made an early cameo with female Dj Spice for their performance of the hit “Ramping Shop”; it got the crowd going and raises the intensity meter.

It was Showtime and once both were on stage the words of lyrics begun to fly. The die hearted fan stood and watch while others took cover.

When the smoke cleared and the battle was over the last man standing was Vybz Kartel, to the media’s eye Mavado had won the clash but to the people of Jamaica Kartel had took home the Crown.

Months after the face-off Vybz Kartel has drop more hits on the dancehall scene than his nemesis Mavado, such as “Last man standing ”, “Dollar Sign” and “Virginity”. He has took the air wave by storm and remains a force to be reckon with

Kartel, the People’s Champ is a fresh reassessment of the place of a giant music idol, he reflects the times in which he’s living and the hardships to success. He’s looked upon by the ghetto youths of Jamaica as a symbol of hope that success is reachable.

Story By: Mr.Smith