Magnum Kings and Queens finalist Calado drops mix tape

Safe Streets is the name of the mix tape which was recently released by dancehall artiste Calado. The 20-odd track collection is quite a commendable effort as it displays the deejay’s vocal prowess and songwriting skills.

According to Calado, the feedback on the project has been overwhelming to date. ‘I wasn’t getting the airplay for the songs I recorded, so I decided to drop the mix tape and so far the feedback has been great. I had to do something to let others know about my work. So far more the mix tape has been downloaded more than a 1000 times on my Facebook account’, an excited Calado said in a recent interview.

Formerly known as Wescalado, the 26-year-old was a finalist in the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall competition a few years ago. ‘I was a top ten finalist and then I came back as Scatta’s wild card. The experience in the Magnum Kings & Queens of Dancehall competition was a good one and it helped to showcase my talent and let people know what I had to offer’, Calado explained.

Asked what he is bringing to the musical table, Calado said ‘I am an upcoming dancehall artiste who is bringing a lyrical flow and melodies that’s different to the dancehall game’.

To date he has recorded songs including Bad Mind a Kill Dem and Wine Pon It.

Born Eton Gordon, he lived between Waltham Park Road and Clarendon. After finishing studies at Edwin Allen High School, he gave up hopes of becoming a visual artiste and instead pursued his musical ambitions.

Among the producers who Calado has been working with are Shane Brown, Carl Morrison, Icon, J Cannon and Dre Day. His current singles include Mi a Provide, My Story and Carry On.

X-Factor champ collects UK Christmas number one hit

Matthew Cardle won the race for the UK Christmas hit for 2010. His cover of Biffy Clyro’s Many of Horror which he renamed When We Collide, sold some 439,000 copies in its first week of release to capture the number one spot on the UK Pop singles chart.

Cardle, who is 27 years old, won the recently concluded UK X-Factor singing competition, has signed a million dollar recording contract with Syco Music.

Born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, Cardle was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour when he was two years old, but fully recovered after having one of his kidney’s removed.

Before entering the X Factor competition, he was a member of a rock band called Seven Summers.

Taylor Swift upsets Michael Jackson

In a surprising move, Taylor Swift’s Speak Now album edged out Michael Jackson’s Michael opus to capture the number one spot on Billboard’s 200 album chart.

Swift’s album sold an additional 259,000 copies to make a return to the number one spot for a third non consecutive week. Speak Now’s tally to date rises to 2.6 million copies and it is the third best selling album of 2010.

Meanwhile, Jackson’s album moved 228,000 copies to debut at number three on the chart. His previous set This is It debuted at number one a year ago with 373,000 copies.

Nas and Damian Marley still on top, Strictly the Best cracks Top 10

VP Records controls four of the slots inside the Top 10 of Billboard’s Reggae album chart this week.

Gyptian’s Hold You album is at number five while the various artistes compilation Reggae Gold 2010 is at number four.

Two year end compilations from VP Records, namely Strictly the Best Volume 42 and 43 have cracked the top ten at numbers nine and ten respectively.

Nas and Damian Marley’s collaborative album Distant Relatives continues to lead the pack, clocking 30 non consecutive weeks in the number one spot.