After years of honing her musical chops as lead singer of the girl group 54-46, and as a backup singer for her famous father, reggae pioneer Toots Hibbert, singer Leba Hibbert has come full circle with the release of her debut solo album Intoxicated.

According to the singer, the album which was released two months ago, has been doing well on iTunes while the the physical CD has been well-received and she is quite pleased at the response to the album.

“I am very pleased with the feedback I have been getting and to see that people are enjoying good quality music, it motivates any musician to continue on the same path,” Leba said in a recent interview.

The singer is in the midst of wrapping up a two month promotional tour of the United States where she has been promoting the album.

George Nooks covers Broken Vessel

Veteran singer George Nooks has updated American gospel singer James Payne’s Broken Vessel. Nooks’ reggae-flavoured version has been gaining momentum on gospel-themed programmes on local airwaves.

In an interview earlier this week, Nooks highlighted his reasons for covering the song. “As a God-fearing person, its one of those songs that reaches out to me whenever I go to church. Just lyrics resonate very well and this is my testimony, God is always there for us no matter how difficult the situation may be. There is no broken vessel that God cannot mend,” Nooks explained.

Nooks has in the past flirted with gospel-influenced recordings. It was ten years ago that his cover of Al Green’s God is Standing By topped local and international reggae charts for multiple weeks.

His last major gospel-influenced hit was No Power on Earth.

Known mostly for his secular recordings, Nooks released a gospel album Giving Thanks for VP records a few years ago.

Tonight, Nooks will participate in a tribute to the late Gregory Isaacs at Reggae Sumfest.

Nadeera’s Cheaters Loss hits the Top Ten

Fast rising dancehall artiste Nadeera continues to make gains on the charts. The Canadian-based dancehall artiste who copped the female Deejay of the Year award earlier this year at the Canadian Reggae Music Achievement Awards, has hit the Top Ten with her single Cheaters Loss.

The song which also features Canadian-based reggae singer Tony Anthony recently peaked at number 3 on the New York Top 30 Reggae Singles Chart. After a total of 15 weeks Cheaters Loss is currently number 8 on the chart.

Nadeera who is originally from Kingston expressed her joy about the song’s current success. “I feel extremely joyful at this moment in time for all the wonderful things that have been happening with my career. The music business is rough especially for women and I am thankful that I am making some strides,” she recently commented.

Chart Updates

DJ Khaled’s I’m On One featuring Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne returns to the number one spot on Billboard’s R&B Hip Hop Songs chart.

For a third week LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem featuring Lauren Bennett and Goonrock maintains the lead on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Demi Lovato’s Skyscraper roars into the chart at number ten to give Lovato her second Top ten single.

Selena Gomez earns her first number one title this week, as Who Says is the new champ on Billboard’s Dance Music Club Play chart.

And after debuting at number one two weeks ago, VP Records’ Reggae Gold 2011 various artiste compilation falls to number two. Jumping back into the number one spot is Stephen Marley’s Revelation Part 1.