Sean Paul

In 1974 at the height of the popularity of the Kung Fu martial arts films, Jamaican born singer Carl Douglas became the first Jamaican-bred act to score a number one track on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart with Kung Fu Fighting. Now some thirty-two years later, Sean Paul sets a record for being the most successful Jamaican-born artiste to dent the Billboard Hot 100 chart having lodged eight chart entries, including five top 10 hits.

Sean Paul's journey began in 2002 when Gimmie The Light peaked at number seven. In 2003, Get Busy rocketed to number one, while his track with Blu Cantrell, Breathe, hit number 70. Like Glue got stuck at number 13, while I'm Still In Love With You featuring Sasha played out at number 14. And Baby Boy with Beyoncé clocked nine weeks at number one in 2003.

Sean Paul's most recent entries are the We Be Burning, which peaked at number 6 a few months ago, and Temperature, which at last check, was number eight on the Billboard Top 100 chart.

Shaggy is the second most successful Jamaican artiste on the Billboard Hot 100. He has seven charted entries to date, including two number one hits with Angel and It Wasn't Me and a number three hit with Bombastic.

Mario files lawsuit for get out of production deal

Teen R&B singer Mario has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to free himself from a production deal that he signed when he was still a minor. The lawsuit filed against Troy Patterson and 3rd Street Music Group, alledges that both earned thousands of dollars from Mario's album sales. Mario claims to have only received only US$50,000 (approximately J$3.3 million) of the over US$20 million (over J$1.3 billion) sales of his last two albums. Mario ended his business relationship with Patterson in 2004.

BITS AND PIECES

Baby Cham's Ghetto Story is the number one dancehall track on many charts. Not only is the single number one on the MiPhone Mega Jamz Dancehall chart, but is also sitting at the top of the New York Reggae, BBC 1Xtra Dancehall chart in London, the South Florida Reggae chart and the Choice FM Top 20 Reggae chart in London.

A new video for Tami Chynn's Hyperventilated single is to be shot on local shores over the next few weeks. Word is that music video director Little X will be involved in this project.

RE TV's newest VJ, Empress, who hosts the Top Ten and VIP Backstage programmes, is making moves in musical waters. She has to date released singles via Sony Music and Warner Bros in Australia.

Rapper Common has commenced work on his seventh album, tentatively titled Finding Forever. He wants the involvement of Kanye West and Dr Dre to spice things up a bit.

Cameal: Sittin' On Top

Laws of Men

Alton Ellis hailed a musical icon