Rihanna’s Rude Boy is a global hit

Not only is it the number one single in America this week, but Rihanna’s latest single Rude Boy (taken from her latest album Rated R), is making major impact worldwide. On the other side of the Atlantic, Rude Boy is number two on the UK Singles chart, while decorating the number spot on major charts in Ireland, Australia, France, Austria and Denmark

The video for Rude Boy has been a popular fixture on major television networks stateside, features a Jamaican dancehall theme.

Rude Boy is the six number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 for Rihanna. It is her fifth as lead artiste. Her previous chart toppers were SOS, Disturbia, Live Your Life featuring TI, Take a Bow and Umbrella featuring Jay Z.

Rude Boy is currently number two on the UK R&B chart. Stateside it glides into the number 19 spot on Billboard’s R&B Hip Hop Songs chart.

Gyptian makes debut on Billboard R&B Hip Hop Singles chart

The song Hold Yuh by Gyptian which was recorded some two years ago, makes its debut stateside on the Billboard R&B Hip Hop chart at number 78.

Produced by Ricky Blaze, Hold Yuh has been making some serious noise at crossover radio in America, particularly at influential urban and hip hop radio station Hot 97 FM.

In an interview recently with this writer, Gyptian said he wasn’t surprised that the song’s early success on the American radio. “My song dem always a tek off outside of Jamaica before getting any attention in Jamaica. So its not a surprise to me really”.

Hold Yuh is being promoted by Gyptian and record label VP Records, as the first single off his forthcoming album of the same name.

Hold Yuh marks Gyptian’s first time on any Billboard singles chart. However he has scaled the magazine’s reggae charts, peaking at number 13 and number four respectively with the discs My Name is Gyptian and I Can Feel Your Pain.

Ludacris scores fourth number one album

American rapper Ludacris earns his fourth #1 album in America, as his latest offering Battle of the Sexes debuts in the top spot on Billboard’s 200 album chart, selling 137,000 copies in its first week of release.

Ludacris who recently released a remix of his current chart single How Low featuring dancehall artiste Tifa, topped the charts with the albums Chicken and Beer, Release Therapy and Red Light District.

Laza Morgan signs with Atlantic Records

Laza Morgan, a former member of the group LMS yesterday signed on the dotted line for a five album deal with Atlantic Records.

Laza who is a member of the Morgan Heritage clan, was a member of the group The Dreads which was once signed to MCA Records. The Dreads later became known as LMS.

Caribbean entertainment updates

St Lucia Jazz Festival is set to take place from May 1-9. Among the confirmed performers are Ne Yo, Corinne Bailey Rae, Shaggy, Steel Pulse, Laura Izibor, Jeffrey Osborne, Freddie Jackson and St Lucia’s very own Teddyson John.

St Vincent native and soca artiste Zoelah who was recently in the island for Bacchanal Fridays, says she likes to cook and do cosmetology in her spare time. She added that if music hadn’t worked out for her, she would’ve pursued a career in cosmetology. Zoelah was born in Trinidad, but moved to St .Vincent while still an infant.

Trinidadian soca artiste Oscar B who calls Jamaica his second home, says he is working in the studios on various recording projects. He said an album of new material is expected this summer.

BITS AND PIECES

Jamaican reggae singer Foxy Brown who is best known for her cover of Tracey Chapman’s Baby Can I Hold You single, is reportedly locked up in prison in the US. Brown whose real name is Jennifer Hylton, is reportedly serving time for drug charges. Brown who has resided in the US since the early 1990’s released three albums between 1989 and 1992. Her cover of Baby Can I Hold You topped the charts in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. The song peaked at number 59 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart in 1990.

Voice Mail and Daville are getting ready to release albums this summer.

Tifa and Tami Chynn have combined for the collaborative effort Certified Diva which was produced by Conroy Forte for Washroom Entertainment. And speaking of Forte, we understand that he is no longer assuming management responsibilities for singer Nicky B.

DID YOU KNOW

Did you know that the song Caribbean Queen recorded by Billy Ocean, was recorded under different titles for release in different parts of the world? There were two other versions of the song, namely African Queen and European Queen.

Caribbean Queen hit the number one spot on the Billboard R&B and Hot 100 singles charts in 1984.

In 2004, the song was re-released as a digital single for its 20th anniversary, shooting up to number 25 on the Billboard digital singles chart and garnering radio play across the US and UK.