LECTURER AT UWI SAYS JAMAICAN ENTERTAINERS NEED TO BE TRAINED—05/04/15
After an altercation between Dexta Daps and police officers at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Dr. Donna Hope, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), recommended that artistes and their managers enroll in social interaction and professionalism courses. Hope said Dap could have walked away from the problem, as evidenced on a video of the incident, if he had taken a different approach. She said that artistes need behavioral training classes in order to avoid giving authorities a reason to confront them physically. Hope noted that individuals raised in the inner-city are more likely to challenge police officers due to their past experiences with law enforcement.

VIJAHN ENTERS 2015 SONG CONTEST—05/06/15
While the singer Vijahn wrote a song in 2007 that he said he would not record until “the time was right,” he was encouraged by a friend to enter the son in Jamaica’s Festival Song Contest of 2015. Vijahn, 31, was born in St. Andrew. He said the song was not created as a festival song, but represented more than as a “seasonal composition.” The son “Move to the Bassline” is produced by Mikey Chung, who also plays guitar on the track. Chung is a former member of the New Generation and Peter Tosh’s Word, Sound and Power bands.

OMI ENTERS U.S. TOP MUSIC RANKING WITH “CHEERLEADER”—05/07/15
Omi, a popular reggae and dancehall artiste, finally achieved his goal of entering the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart with his single recording of the song “Cheerleader.” The single was certified gold in Britain and is experiencing its first week on the Hot 100 chart. Omi said he has not started to promote the single fully in the U.S. but plans to do so shortly.

ATTORNEY CLAIMS SINGER’S COCAINE TRAFFICKING MEANT TO ENHANCE CAREER—05/08/15
According to Pearnell Charles Jr., attorney at law, the reason that Kharell Wisdom was one of six entertainers arrested on drug charges at Sangster International Airport in December 2014 is that he saw cocaine trafficking as a way to enhance his musical career. Wisdom pleaded guilty to possession, dealing, and attempting to export three pounds and three ounces of cocaine. He was sentenced to ten months in prison and fined $250,000 or have three months added to his sentence. Wisdom’s attorney said his client will regret his decision to become involved with cocaine trafficking for the rest of his life.