Lil Wayne's album makes a million-copy debut

Rapper Lil Wayne occupies the penthouse at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart this week. His latest album, Tha Carter III has sold one million copies in its first full week at retail in North America. Not only is this the biggest first week burst for the rapper, but this rare feat ranks him among an elite club of artistes who have sold a million copies or more of any album in a week.

Only nine other acts and 12 other albums have achieved the million-or-more mark in a debut week, the last being 50 Cent with The Massacre in March 2005 (1.14 million) . They are N Sync with No Strings Attached (2.42 million, March 2000); N Sync with Celebrity (1.88 million in July 2001); Eminem with The Marshall Mathers LP (1.76 million in May of 2000); Backstreet Boys, Black & Blue (1.59 million in November 2000); Britney Spears, Oops ... I Did It Again (1.32 million in May 2000); Backstreet Boys, with Millennium (1.13 million, in May 1999); Usher, Confessions (1.10 million, March 2004); Garth Brooks, Double Live (1.09 million, November 1998); Limp Bizkit, with Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water (1.05 million, with October 2000); and Norah Jones with Feels Like Home (1.02 million, February 2004).
Lil Wayne has more reasons to smile this week. His long-running chart-topping single, Lollipop, licks its way at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for another week.

Local acts among nominees for International Soca Awards

A handful of Jamaican acts have been nominated for their collaborative efforts in the upcoming International Soca Awards. The awards will be handed out in a glitzy ceremony on October 18 in St Kitts.

Among the familiar soca artistes who have been nominated for awards are Fay Ann Lyons, Tizzy from Antigua's El A Kru, Zoelah, Machel Montano, Farmer Nappy, Destra, St. Lucia's Marie Anne, Nadia Batson, Patrice Roberts, Edwin Yearwood, Shurwayne Winchester, Bunji Garlin, Mr. Dale, and Peter Ram.

The nominations featuring Jamaican artistes are:
Best Soca Collaboration Groove: Do Me Baby by Jamesy P and Cecile; On the Floor by Destra, featuring Mr Vegas
Best Soca Collaboration Up Tempo: Free it Up by Destra featuring Sean Paul

Best Soca remix collaboration: Wukking Up (remix) by Patrice Roberts and Macka Diamond; Pumpin (remix) by Peter Ram featuring Aidonia; Chippin (remix) by Farmer Nappy featuring Anthony B; and Pressure Boom (remix) by Ricky T and Mr Vegas.

Lady Saw teams up with R&B singer Mashonda

R&B singer Mashonda recently collaborated with Lady Saw on the single, All or Nothing. The song was produced by Tony Kelly. It will be featured on Mashonda's forthcoming album, No Panties which is scheduled for a late 2008 release.

Mashonda is best known for the solo recordings Black Out and Back of Da Club. She also collaborated with rapper Cassidy on the track Get No Better. Mashonda, who recently split from her husband, music producer Swizz Beats, will be shooting the video for the song All or Nothing right here in Jamaica.

Richie Stephens teams up with Mitsubishi

Singer Richie Stephens will be the face of the new advertising campaign from Motor Sales Mitsubishi. Stephens has over the years done advertising campaigns for companies including Busta, Courts Jamaica, the Student Loan Bureau, Red Stripe Beer, Wray and Nephew Rum Cream, Sangsters Rum Cream and Color Glow by Edge Chem.

Stephens will be releasing a new album in July. A launch is being planned for New York.

D'Angel to release debut album this summer

Caught up with dancehall artiste Michelle Downer, better known as D'Angel, and she has advised that her debut album is due this summer. The album will feature mostly production work from Fresh Ear head honcho Arif Cooper.

D'Angel, who recently copped the People's Choice Award in the Jamaica Observer Style Awards, says she will be working with director Kimala Bennett on her new video for the song High Intensity.

14K is back with Your Day Will Come

Singer 14 K burst on to the local music scene a few years ago, with a popular cover of r&b superstar R Kelly's hit song Fiesta. The song, released on the Stone Love label, instantly became a dancehall anthem both locally and internationally.
The popularity of Fiesta resulted in him doing several shows in Europe, the USA and the Caribbean. During his stint with the Stone Love label he recorded several other songs including Snake, Ordinary People, Free Willy and Gimme the Beat on the classic Real Rock rhythm.

He took a break from the music business to concentrate on raising his son and to improve his craft as a singer. Now he is back on the scene under the guidance of a new manager, Brian Nembhard.

He has been doing a lot of work in the studio with in-demand producer, Computer Paul. Currently he is receiving a lot airplay with his latest single Your Day Will Come.

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