Mavado's popularity will continue to rise in the United States with the BET world premiere of his So Special video.

The video, which is directed by Ras Kassa, will be shown for the first time this Monday on BET's 106 & Park. The video was done in December, with the final touches being done recently.

Mavado's manager, Julian Jones-Griffith, said it has always been their intention to get the video on the station.

DUE TO years of gang fighting, Spanish Town has deve-loped a reputation as one of the most violent areas in Jamaica. On a positive note, it has produced big-name artistes like Stitchie, Papa San and his brother Dirtsman.

Singer Lutan Fyah wants to be the next big musical act out of the old capital.

The Rastafarian vocalist has a strong underground base in his hometown, but is still searching for the hit song to make him a household name.

BRITISH REGGAE band Steel Pulse were among the first musicians to endorse Barack Obama's run for president.

Prior to the November 4 election between Obama and Republican Senator John McCain, the veteran band recorded the song Vote Barack!, which became part of its live act.

"Blessings to the world after the inspired appointment of Barack Obama as president-elect of the United States. We're all truly blessed to bear witness to this historic event," wrote lead singer/guitarist David Hinds and keyboardist Selwyn Hinds on the group's website.

Steel Pulse performed at events to mark the inauguration of Bill Clinton as president in 1993.

When Rebel Salute 2009 unfolds at the Port Kaiser Sports Club in St Elizabeth, on Saturday, January 17, a remarkable array of Jamaican entertainers will come together to celebrate the best of Jamaican music.

With a commanding line-up of roots-dancehall artistes, Port Kaiser Sports Club will experience a baptism of fire as the 'Fire Man' Capleton, the 'Fyah Mumma' Queen Ifrica, I-Wayne, young deejay I-Octane, Chuck Fender and 'the Doctor' Beenie Man, performing as 'Ras Moses', blaze across the Rebel Salute stage.

Queen Ifrica, who has been a staple on Rebel Salute since 1999, emerged in 2007 as one of the young, powerful Rastafarian voices leading a new wave of conscious reggae music. Her album Fyah Mumma was an amazing success, and she is expected to delight with powerful singles such as Bad Man, Daddy, Black People and Ghetto Youths Rise.

The 'cool ruler' Gregory Isaacs, Luciano, Tarrus Riley, Sanchez, Morgan Heritage and Mykal Rose are epic performers and are expected to deliver spirited performances.

The women sing

This is while Lady G, Cherine Anderson, Althea Hewitt (formerly of Fourth Street sisters) and Trinidadian bombshell, Choc'Late, represent female crooners.

John Holt, Horace Andy, Errol Dunkley, Tinga Stewart, Cornel Campbell, Silvertones, Leroy Sibbles, Leroy Gibbons and the powerful Wailing Souls are undoubtedly legends of Jamaican music. Audiences around the world have been delighted with their smooth style and their poetic melodies continue to receive critical acclaim.

These artistes are expected to light up Rebel Salute 2009 with blazing performances only they and Rebel Salute can deliver.

When birthday girl Milk proclaimed over the microphone, "Its my birthday I want you to get wild; is pure 'daggering'," she was setting the mood in the packed Oxygen nightclub of the Quad in New Kingston last Saturday night.

Milk's birthday party, called Milky Way, was promoted as an all-white event to celebrate the birthday of personality, Amelia 'Milk' Sewell. The Quad was also decked out in white. Although some patrons adhered to the all-white dress code most partygoers simply wore their usual Quad attire.

The turnout for the event was huge. It was so well supported that one female patron had to exclaim in disbelief, "A di line dis fi go inna Quad? Mi nuh see dis in years!"

And, it was obvious from the onset that the event would attract a big crowd because when the STAR arrived after midnight, Milky Way already had many patrons either inside the venue or waiting to enter. Inside, persons had already found their ideal spot and others walked around trying to find space to create their own vibe.

Big up

Birthday-girl Milk was on hand, moving around the venue as constant calls to the selectors booth and 'big ups' to the birthday girl were made throughout the night. Bloodline's DJ Narity and Buncoline kept the vibe going, mixing current rap and R & B hits with older dancehall songs.

Entertainers such as Nikki Z, Lady Saw, Christopher Martin, D Major, Voicemail, Raine Seville and Milk's former co-workers from CVM TV were spotted by the STAR chilling out and enjoying the vibe.

A 'gangster' segment soon followed, with songs from Munga Honourable and Kartel's My Scheme getting a huge response from the crowd. Songs from Mavado and Kartel were booed at times by some groups of various supporters but were ignored by other patrons who were simply enjoying the music.

Throughout the night, most patrons kept the dancing vibe strong as they nuh lingered, swept others away and gully creeped. Ramping Shop was pulled up several times by Bloodline for the women. By 2 a.m., both Oxygen and the Voodoo Lounge were full of patrons, with persons having to fight for space. In the corridors, security guards had to direct the flow of persons exiting and entering the Oxygen club to keep the area free of traffic.

Daggering

ZJ Liquid soon took over the turntables playing a slew of rap songs before moving on to a mini daggering segment as the women bent over throughout. The women got wild for Kartel and played No Games with Serani, to the amusement of their male partners. When the STAR left the Quad, the party was still going strong with few patrons leaving the venue.