Best of the Best 2013

South Florida's biggest Memorial Weekend concert, Best Of The Best, will be held at Bayfront Park (301 Biscayne Blvd.) on Sunday, May 26th. The long-running Caribbean music, arts and culinary festival will once again bring the top acts in Reggae, Dancehall & Soca to the Miami stage.

Produced by Rockers Island Entertainment, in conjunction with Massive B, the Best Of The Best franchise remains the country's largest, multicultural, family-oriented festival, consistently welcoming thousands of visitors from urban centers around the United States, including New York, D.C., Atlanta, Houston, as well as from the Caribbean, South America and Europe.

The blockbuster lineup for Best Of The Best 2013 includes Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, Beenie Man, Sanchez, Cocoa Tea, Elephant Man, Mad Cobra, Singer J,Mega Banton, Chronixx, Konshens, Patrice Roberts, Lyrikal, Skinny Fabolous, J.W. & Blaze, and The Bahamas Rat Pack. More superstar additions to the lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

This year, in honor of Military Appreciation Month (May 1 - 31), the promoters of Best Of The Best are offering general admission tickets at a 30% discount to US Military with a valid ID. Special 50% off bonus to the first 300 tickets sold online. Visit: www.BestOfTheBestConcert.com/Military.

On Friday, May 24th, the Official Best Of The Best 2013 Welcome Party will be held at Cafe Iguana Pines (8358 Pines Blvd.) in Pembroke Pines and feature music by Massive B, King Waggy T, D Life, House Arrest and Fergie & Springer. Following the big show on Sunday, all roads lead back to Cafe Iguana Pines for the Official Best Of The Best 2013 After Party featuring champion sounds by Stone Love, Massive B, Poison Dart, Platinum Kids, Encore, Steelie Bashment and more!

The NacGroup announces the exhibition “Lost in Cinema” by Ivan Roque.

Ivan Roque’s “Lost in Cinema” is a series of 16 works based on the artist’s characters “Lost” and “Found.” Using collage and painting Roque pays tribute to 20^th century cinema greats such as Al Pacino’s “Scarface,” Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky,” series and the cult classics “King Kong” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Born on December 27^th, 1991 Ivan Jorge Roque, also known as “The Lost Artist,” is a Cuban-American urban artist hailing from the inner city community of Carol City, Florida. Currently a student at the Miami International University of Art & Design, Roque is an emerging urban pop artists to watch. He has been working steadily and has accomplished quite a repertoire at an early age. Roque has participated in a number of group shows, has had a public installation commissioned by the town of Surfside and was chosen for the Pop Up Piano Series during Art Basel Miami Beach 2012.  

Roque’s collages present his interpretation of the world. The artist explores morality and questions definitions of right and wrong within the context of contemporary American society. He created the characters “Lost” and “Found” as a representation of the two halves that make up every individual, good and evil, mischief and innocence, rebellious and loyal. 

The new works present a move towards a new direction for Roque as he pushes his limits in “Lost in Cinema.” Movies are a source inspiration for the artist and he appreciates the medium’s ability to convey messages. Roque sees film as moving paintings with endless possibilities for interpretation. This association started the idea to merge cinema and fine art into this new series, which will be accompanied by a surprise site specific installation at Nac Gallery.

NacGroup is a global entity that consists of a group of like minded individuals with a shared passion and purpose, who have rejected today's accepted conventional wisdom as it relates to how a gallery should operate. NacGroup offers consulting services, brokering and collection as well as estate representation. Nac Gallery, a division of NacGroup, provides a vehicle for emerging and mid-level career artists to reach their respective audiences in a targeted and effective way. Nac Gallery is a fine art gallery located in the North Beach Arts District of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“Lost in Cinema” runs from May 18^th, 2013 through June 13^th, 2013 at Nac Gallery, 3325 NE 32^nd Street, Fort Lauderdale 33308

VIP Preview: Friday, May 17, 2013. 7-11 pm
Public Opening: Saturday, May 18, 2013, 7-11 pm

For more information on "Lost in Cinema", Ivan Roque or upcoming events such as auctions at the gallery visit www.nacgallery.com or call 805-272-5831

Remembrance - Songbook of Bob Marley

The revolutionary CD, Remembrance, officially launches with a concert led by Everton “Pablo” Paul and Cuban musicians, La Academia, from Cuba, in Toronto on Thursday, May 16 at the popular Lula Lounge as part of the LULAWORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Remembrance is an inventive fusion of indigenous contemporary rhythm patterns from both Jamaica and Cuba based on the universal songbook of Bob Marley.  

“I don’t believe it’s ever been done before.” says Everton “Pablo” Paul of Remembrance. And when it comes to fusion and rhythms Everton knows what he’s talking about.  Born in Jamaica, Everton is a founding member of The Cougars and a member of Jamaica to Toronto.  He has played with such industry greats as Cuba Gooding Sr., Bill King, Wayne McGhie, Jackie Mittoo, Melba Moore, Ernest Ranglin, Jackie Richardson, Percy Sledge and Lyn Taitt, to name a few. 

“For this first recording I chose Bob Marley.” continues Everton Paul. “His music knows no borders so I thought a fusion grounded in his songs would be more readily accepted by an international audience.  I chose the Cuban flavour as the sound with which I would inject the Marley songs because it was my first musical influence.  Growing up in Jamaica I often listened to Cuban bands on a shortwave radio and before I graduated to drums, congas were my instrument of choice.”

Recorded at the Nelson Studio in Havana, Cuba, the ten songs featured on Remembrance were rearranged by Roberto Garcia Lopez into Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Obàtálá, Guaguanco, Mambo Cha, Bembe, Iyesa, Abakuá, Piluo and Salsa beats and brilliantly performed by La Academia led by Ruy Lopez-Nussa Lekszycki.

“The challenge in making this CD was to blend Reggae, Cuban and Afro-Cuban rhythms into ten songs,” says Everton Paul.  “We remained true to Marley’s lyrics and spirit, but allowed the Cuban influence to shine through.  Jamaica and Cuba may share neighbouring waters, similar climates but musically, they are worlds apart. This music is like nothing that has come before and I hope it is the beginning of many more collaborations with many other parts of the musical world.”

Cherine and R.O.C. Jamaica Launches Scholarshi​p Programme

Jamaican singer/actress Cherine through Reach One Child Jamaica, "R.O.C" has announced their R.O.C Scholarship 2013 initiative to assist parents of 6th grade students as they move into secondary schools this fall. The R.O.C Scholarships Program is open to 6th grade students in Jamaica regardless of sex, color, disability or religious background. The R.O.C Scholarship Program seeks to provide support to motivated students, who show potential for academic excellence, who are also actively involved in supporting their school/community but have a clear verifiable financial need. 

In a recent interview Co-Founder of Reach One Child Jamaica Mr. Patrick Lindsay shared "We believe the best opportunity for our young people is through a solid education and while we cannot assist everyone, we are trying to do our part to better enable a good education for some of our motivated students. R.O.C Jamaica has been supporting administrators through our school tours which have been well received over the years, so we are just moving forward through our new scholarship initiative to further our support."

Dancehall-Soul artist and Co-founder of R.O.C. Jamaica Cherine added, "The idea of helping students isn't new to us. We've been giving aid and supplies to students for more than 8 years without any fanfare. I am fortunate to reach and teach a lot of people through my music but I am a huge advocate of school and education, it's a solid foundation and we do have some of the best and brightest students right here in Jamaica."

R.O.C Scholarships are small, meant to be supplementary and will generally cover full tuition, uniform, school supplies and text-books. Aid will be given for the following school year. Applications are available via the new R.O.C Jamaica Website at www.reachonechild.org or can be obtained from participating schools. The deadline for all applications is JUNE 30th, 2013.

For more information about the R.O.C Scholarship please send an email to info@reachonechild.org

Topping the Charts on Italian FM Radio!

Here’s what’s topping charts on the FM dial in Italy!

TPN RADIO & CARIBBEAN VIBES RADIO - DJ GUSMA TOP 20 SINGLES

01 - CHERINE ANDERSON - AFFI COME BACK (UIM RECORDS/CHERINE MUSIC)

02 - META AND THE CORNERSTONES ft JR. GONG - MY BELOVED AFRICA (VP RECORDS)

03 - BOBBY HUSTLE - KUSH MORNING (DINASTY REC / TWELVE 9 RECORDS)

04 - IBA MAHR - GREAT IS H.I.M. (BORN ROLLIN PRODS)

05 - PROTOJE - I&I (DON CORLEON)

06 - CHRONIX - BEHIND CURTAIN (ZINC FENCE RECORDS)

07 - BUJU BANTON & LUCIANO - WHATS WRONG (DELLY RANX REC.)

08 - LION D - TRY AFTA YOU (BIZZARRI RECORDS)

09 - CORNADOOR ft JUNGLE - NEVER LET YOU GO (SOUND QUAKE)

10 - MORGAN HERITAGE - PERFECT LOVE SONG (GEDION MUSIC)

11 - LUTAN FYAH & SPECTACULAR - BETTER DAYS (FAT EYES)

12 - SUGAR ROY + ANTHONY B & CAPLETON - BAD COP (FIREBALL RECORDS)

13 - TOK - CRYING OUT (DON CORLEON)

14 - COURTNEY JOHN - BORN TO FLY (LION DUB 45)

15 - JUNIOR KELLY - PEACE OF THE PIE (VP RECORDS)

16 - CALI-P - SEND PRAISES (DIGITAL B)

17 - ROMAIN VIRGO - DON' T YOU REMEMBER ( VIKINGS PROD.)

18 - CHUCKLE BERRY FT LUCIANO - RUDE BWOY (NEW BRAND MUSIC)

19 - ELEPHANT MAN & BAAUER - HARLEM SHAKE (DI GENIUS)

20 - RDX - BROAD OUT (APT. 19 RECORDS)

TPN RADIO & CARIBBEAN VIBES RADIO - DJ GUSMA TOP 20 ALBUMS

01 - VARIOUS - STOP THAT SOUND RIDDIM (IRIE ITES RECORDS)

02 - PROTOJE - THE 8 YEAR AFFAIR (DON CORLEON RECORDS)

03 - JAH 9 - NEW NAME (RORY STONE LOVE)

04 - VARIOUS - CORNER SHOP RIDDIM (21ST HAPILOS)

05 - RDX & DREADSQUAD - WARNING EP (SUPERFLY STUDIO)

06 - PREZIDENT BROWN - I SOUND IS FROM CREATION (TADS RECORDS)

07 - FREDDIE MC GREGOR - DI CAPTAIN (VP RECORDS)

08 - PENTATEUCH - THE GENESIS (BOOTCAMP RECORDS)

09 - SCREWDRIVER - AFRICAN UNION (UPSTAIRS MUSIC)

10 - LION D - BRING BACK THE VIBES (BIZZARRI RECORDS)

11 - VARIOUS - JUMP UP RIDDIM (WEEDY G)

12 - JAH CURE - WORLD CRY (SOBE ENTERTAINMENT LTD.)

13 - U-ROY - PRAY FI DI PEOPLE (SOULBEATS RECORDS)

14 - WAYNE WONDER - MY WAY (SINGSO RECORDS)

15 - VARIOUS ARTISTS - HERBSMAN HUSTLING (PHA REAL RECORDS)

16 - GRAMPS MORGAN - REGGAE MUSIC LIVES (GEDION MUSIC/DADA SON ENT)

17 - UWE BANTON - MENTAL WAR (AL.TA.FA.AN RECORDS)

18 - EASY STARS ALL STARS - THRILLAH (EASY STAR RECORDS)

19 - MARCIA GRIFFITHS - MARCIA GRIFFITHS AND FRIENDS (VP RECORDS)

20 - NANDO GRIFFITHS - YARD & ABROAD (ONE JAM MUSIC)