Rising deejay Hit List has been making a name for himself on the stage show circuit. His high energy performances and chart hit Please Stop the Killing (currently riding all major local charts) haven't gone unnoticed. Reports are that dancehall kingpin Beenie Man has been hunting Hit List to sign him to his recently formed Mafia House Productions entity. Mafia House Productions currently has under its roster among other acts, Don Mafia (formerly known as Gringo) and Razor.

When this column caught up with him on the weekend, Hit List confirmed that Beenie Man had been trying to reach him with the intention to work with him under the Mafia House label. "He (Beenie Man) has been trying to reach me. He has been talking to some people who I know, and that's what has been communicated to me," said Hit List.

A protege´ of deejay Bounty Killer, Hit List has been making a lot of noise on radio with a handful of releases. Among them are tracks such as Nah Give Up, One Day and Strive and Survive.

Please Stop the Killing which was originally released on the Gogan Music label, is now available on the Fouta Record label. The song was licensed from the original producer, who recently handed over the rights to the song to producer Carlton Lewis.

JCDC Popular Song contest entrant makes the grade with Not Good At All

Last year he placed third in the JCDC Popular Song competition with his entry Don't Leave. Lil Joe makes a bid for mainstream attention with the song Not Good At All. The song which was produced by Gussie Clarke and released on the Consuming Fire rhythm has been enjoying favourable airplay in recent weeks.

Lil Joe says the feedback on the song to date has been really good. "Is pure positive and good vibes I have been getting from people about the song. VP Records has licensed it and the company plans to release it as a single," Lil Joe said in a recent interview. A video for the track will be shot next week.

Nineteen year old Lil Joe was born Alty George Nunes. A resident of the Vineyard Town area, his studies at Wolmers Boys High were interrupted due to his love for the music. He subsequently attended Maths Unlimited, then St. Josephs High school and later on Exed Community College. "I was having a problem doing school work at the time, because I was too busy concentrating on music. However I plan to further my education. I can't afford to stay on one level all the time," said Lil Joe.

False Pretending featuring Tally DeNiro and produced by Gavin Blair was the tune that signaled Lil Joe's recording debut. "The song wasn't successful but it was a nice experience for me. It was recorded four years ago when I was fifteen years old," Lil Joe recalled.

Not Good at All which is similar in lyrical content to Gyptian's Serious Times, was conceptualised by Lil Joe but its lyrical content was adjusted after consultation with producer Clarke.
"It was a totally different song, but Gussie encouraged me to alter it a little and that's how the present song came about," he said. He added "The song is a message to the youths to break the cycle. There is nothing good about being a bad man. They need to stop doing the same things over and over."

Turbulence is number one in South Florida with Ital Stew

Turbulence earns the second number one song of his career with Ital Stew. The song released on the Tads label takes over the number one spot on the South Florida Reggae chart. Turbulence's previous sole chart topper was Notorious.

He had previously peaked at number two with We Got the Love featuring Sasha. Name and Number on the No Doubt label peaked at number four.

Tads Records will be releasing an album from Turbulence in May. The album will be called Ital Stew.

George Nooks teams up with Toronto-based reggae singer Steele

George Nooks recently teamed up with Toronto-based reggae singer Steele for the track What's Wrong Wid We. A video for the song has been making the rounds locally.
Nooks' album of covers of Dennis Brown songs titled George Nooks Sings Dennis Brown has been doing well locally and overseas. It is number two on the New York Reggae album chart.

Da'Ville returns from two week tour of Japan

Singer Da'Ville is back from his recent two week tour of Japan. He had been out of the island since the middle of February where he did a Valentine's Day show in Canada, and a post-valentine showcase in South Florida, USA. After performing in the US, Da'Ville immediately left for Japan where he did a series of shows in support of his recently released album In Heaven. The album, according to reports, has been doing well in Japan since its release late last year.

Da'Ville said he is in the middle of commencing work on his sophomore album which he anticipates will be completed in time for a late 2006 release in Europe. Fans who have been waiting for the local release of the album In Heaven will have to wait until summer. According to Da'Ville, the album is being fine tuned with new tracks for release in Jamaica, the Caribbean and North America.

Da'Ville recently hit the charts with Can't Get Over You. His previous hits include In Heaven, Baby Bring it On, and a cover of All My Life with Marcia Griffiths.

Red Rat back with another inspiring recording

Red Rat has always left an impression on our minds with his conscious lyrics. Remember the street people anthem Live Nuh Weh? Well Red Rat is back with Crying for the People. This song which is on the Rat-a Kastle Records & Mista Wilks label is his musical expression of hardships faced, not only in Jamaica but worldwide.

A video for the moving song was shot and directed on location in Kingston by MAD Multimedia Productions. Given the spirit of the lyrics the directors and producers decided to shoot a simple video using black and white as the theme. In the video Red Rat demonstrates his versatility by his playing the piano, one of the many instruments he is able to play.

Clips depicting pain, suffering and poverty around the world were used as cutaways for emphasis.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World