Gyptian, Mavado, Vybz Kartel, Damian Marley and Gappy Ranks battle for MOBO Award

Reggae and dancehall artistes Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Gyptian, Damian Marley and UK-based Gappy Ranks, will battle for the Best Reggae Act title at this year’s MOBO Awards. This year marks the 15th year of the MOBOs, which were established to celebrate music of black origin.

Kartel, Mavado, and Marley are previous nominees. This is the first nomination for both Gappy and Gyptian.

UK based rapper Tinie Tempah leads the pack with 4 nominations. Other multiple nominees include Dizzee Rascal, Professor Green, N-Dubz and Plan B. Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Drake, the Black Eyed Peas and Rihanna are also nominated.

The MOBO Awards will be handed out on October 20 at London’s Liverpool Echo Arena.

…and still on Gyptian

More news on Gyptian, the reggae artiste continues to make inroads on the North American scene. His single Hold Yuh falls to number 46 on Billboard’s R&B Hip Hop singles chart. Over on the Heatseekers chart, the song has better luck, moving from 9 to number 7. The track peaked at number three on that listing.

On Billboard’s Hot 100, the track re-enters the chart at number 99. It has spent 13 weeks on the chart and got as far as number 77.

Gyptian recently collaborated with Mary J Blige and rapper Busta Rhymes on the reggae track Anything You Want. The track which was produced by Jerry Wonder, is said to be one of the tracks for Blige’s upcoming album.

Gyptian’s latest single Nah Let Go (the follow up to Hold Yuh) was recently added to the rotation on influential pop radio station, New York’s Z-100.

Gott Yo’s I Need a Change is quite refreshing

The track I Need a Change by newcomer Gott Yo is quite a refreshing change of pace on radio. The autobiographical track which details the ups and downs of trying to make it in life, was produced by producer Seanizzle.

In a recent interview Gott Yo explained the reasons behind the recording of the song. “It’s based on every day living and it’s a song for everybody. The society can relate to it, because it’s really a cry for peace, a plea for the end of bloodshed, poverty and bad mind.’

The singer added ‘In these times people are looking for a change, a better Jamaica and better times. This is a real song’.

Gott Yo, the brother of fellow reggae singer Lukie D has been on the hunt for the big break over the past few years. ‘The musical journey has been rough. If you don’t have a transport to take you to the studios to record for the producers, then you are in trouble. Then if you don’t record for the producers who have the connections in the media, then your songs don’t get any airplay’, he explained.

Gott Yo whose real name is Gabrielle Russell, says the response to I Need a Change has been overwhelming to date. ‘I have been getting great response from people all over. A lot of people seem to love the song and we plan to step up the promotion and capitalize on the impact’, said Gott Yo.

Katy Perry on top in the UK, but falls in the US

Last week, Katy Perry had the number one album in America with her sophomore disc Teenage Dreams. Now this week, the album was removed from the number one spot by Disturb’s Asylum which sold some 179,000 copies.

On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, she crowns the number one spot as the single Teenage Dreams removes Eminem and Rihanna’s Love The Way You Lie from the penthouse.

Over on the UK Singles chart, the single Teenage Dreams debuts at number two right behind Please Don’t Let Me Go by former X Factor contestant Olly Murs.

Perry however takes the top prize with her album on the UK Album chart.

BITS AND PIECES

Veteran soca artiste Arrow is reportedly in an Antigua hospital for medical treatment. Known for the hits Hot Hot Hot and Long Time, Arrow it is reported, has been ill for sometime.

British boy group Take That, has reunited with its former lead singer Robbie Williams and a new album is expected in November. Take That has sold millions of records around the world prior to their breakup in the late 1990’s. The group has six UK number one singles to date.

Rapper Nelly scores his first top ten single in four years, as Just a Dream moves from 13 to nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

Singer Etana makes her acting debut in Chris Browne’s Ghett’a Life. The film is due out in summer 2011.