Music Box: Jamaica Edition- Denyque, Cherine Anderson and Protoje

I decided I wanted to share my opinions on some videos/songs from some Jamaicans. This may become a new feature of the blog or it may just be something I do whenever I feel so inclined. I may expand to artists who are not Jamaican, I may review movies and other forms of entertainment. I don’t know what niche my blog fits into if it even fits into one and I’m ok with that, to be honest. Trying to speak on just one area or blog about one aspect of my life (being a Jamaican studying overseas) has really been too restrictive for me and that may be why I haven’t posted a post like that in a while even after I have retained a new laptop charger and now have access to the pictures. Feeling free to blog as I wish about whatever is on my mind is the key to me improving as a blogger, I think. As it pertains to the music box features or any features in which I give my opinions on something in entertainment, do not expect to see words typically used in reviews by professionals or wannabe-pros. I do not naturally use most of the language these people use and I would not feel comfortable trying to imitate it. In truth, it bores me so I’m not interested in speaking like that. Also, I won’t be reviewing evry how new song or album or video. I’m not aiming to be a music blogger. Just blogging as I see fit. Thanks in advance for understanding. Now on to the post

I stopped by my girl MszRockstar's site and saw the latest visual offering from dancehall artist Denyque called I Miss You.

This video reminds me of Chrisette Michelle’s latest offering “Charades” because of the extended series-of-glamour-shots treatment. It’s a simple video that suits the song and it helps a great deal that Denyque is a very pretty girl. I don’t get why she wiped the makeup off. I assume it was to be symbolism for stripping down since she had taken off some of her jewelry right before. Still, it changes to black and white so we don’t really get to see her barefaced. Also, why was it raining? Where are you, Denyque, that water is falling from above and wetting you? Was this all a ploy to plant the image of a wet you in our minds? Well played, mama.  As for the song, it’s a nice tune. Reminds me a lot of something Alaine would do. In fact, her voice started sounding more and more like Alaine’s with each chorus. Overall, the song and video are a decent effort. One thing I do remember each time I hear a Denyque song is when a friend of mine said that Denyque won’t truly have major success in Jamaica until she has a “walk out” song. There may be some truth to this but we’ll see. It seems likely that she’ll go the route of Alaine if she continues like this and that would be a bit sad because Alaine’s career is not at the level it should be given how talented she is. Still, Denyque is a fresher face and a risk-taker from early on, as we can see with her look, so hopefully this means she has more in store for us and is going to try her hand at different sounds and she’ll be charming enough to make us like what we typically would not openly embrace.

Rating: 3/5 high notes

I also stopped by SwadeDaVillain's site 13th Street Promotions and viewed the videos for Cherine Anderson’s “Haffi Come Back” and Protoje’s “Kingston Be Wise”

My Problem(s) With Dancehall Artists

This post is an attempt to help dancehall artists build a better brand and hopefully become better entertainers. I will be writing as if speaking to the entertainers themselves up until the "P.S." section

Disclaimer: I will not be calling any names and singling any artists out as I do not wish to be attacked by any crazed or idle fans. Feel free to pass this on to some of your favourite dancehall artists.

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-          Physical appearance- Females: Exercise. Regardless of your body shape or size, this will help you out in the long run. More is required of women in general when it comes to entertaining and having a toned body and increased stamina can only help. Dress for your size. Stop stuffing yourself into your younger and much smaller sister’s clothes. Those “love” handles hate you for what you try to do to them. I get that we all want to look or feel sexy but if you were really honest with yourselves or had a team around you who really cared about your image, you would realize that what the camera captures most often are failed attempts at a contrived view of sexy. I get that dancehall is about extremes and expressing yourself with a lot of flare but sometimes simplicity can be a good friend to you. Practice proper grooming and get decent stylists. There are just too many fashion blogs out there for the mistakes that so many of you make. Spend some money on your look or try to look like you did.

-          Males: Exercise- women like eye candy as well. You already have a really low standard set in terms of how attractive you have to be to be able to become popular; there is no requirement to be handsome, cute or even “not frightening to small children and anyone with eyes that work”. This does not mean that you should look like you collide with a wall or blunt object every day. Honestly, too many of you look like death warmed over or like you recently had a dramatic bout with a chemical peel (Yes, this is directed at the bleachers- putting that much energy into something whose end product is reminiscent of a zombie clown makes absolutely no sense). Dress like you were not surprised that you would have to venture into a public place. At one point I had two theories: Some entity or organization was going around and dragging the men of dancehall out of their beds and forcing them to perform or some gang was robbing them of their decent wardrobe pieces- so much so that they decided to stop trying to acquire any sensible clothes altogether. The sloppiness with which most of you carry yourselves is truly disgraceful considering the fact that you are paid to be public figures and your own fans dress up to see you perform. At least try to match the efforts your fans make. Geez!

-          General Note: Stop looking like everyone else in dancehall or the latest musical pop culture “icon”. Try to present yourself in a manner that is unique and true to who you are, not who you see is “selling big” or who you think is likely to sell big;

-         Stop being so lazy. It’s part of why your fans are lazy to support your work on a larger scale.

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Yohan Blake's Secret

We all know Yohan Blake as one of the fastest men in the world- the second fastest, to be exact, and he is tied with Tyson Gay for that title. If you did not know, you’re not Jamaican and I understand and I forgive you for that. Luckily, now you know this and you may go on your merry way researching fun facts about this incredibly talented and hard-working young man. If you do not wish to stray from this article (which, let’s be honest, none of you do) you are in luck because here you will find one very fun and previously unknown fact about this incredible specimen of a man. I like to lay it on thick….like his thighs. Wait, what? *clears throat* I digress.

Yohan is known by many as “The Beast” a nickname that was apparently given to him by the fastest man in the world and his training partner- Usain Bolt. This nickname is said to be representative of the fact that he trains “like a beast” and is extremely dedicated to his craft. According to Blake, he trains “twice as hard as anybody else” in his pursuit of becoming the fastest man in the world. He became the youngest 100m champion at the World Championships in 2011. Some view Blake as somewhat of an overnight sensation saying that he sprung up out of nowhere or he improved too quickly too soon. Those people have clearly not been paying attention as all sports are prone to those who are “seasonal” fans, having people who are of this opinion is not new and, therefore, not unexpected. Still, there is something that those who have been paying attention may have missed.

Yohan has said that he eats 16 ripe bananas a day as part of his diet when training and my word, that sounds like a lot, but I guess when you’re training like a beast, you have to eat like one. No offense is meant to any monkeys or creatures of the monkey family who may be reading this- “beast” is used in a loving way. After all, we ARE related, according to Darwin, so let’s just consider this a joke amongst family members. Sheesh, so sensitive, uncle monkey J

Getting back on track (see what I did there?), I am writing this to finally spill the secret to Yohan’s success- apart from his natural talent, his drive and his love of potassium. Yohan Blake is…..wait for it……are you waiting? I hope you are…..drumroll, please…..*waits for drumroll*……a Super Saiyan. Many have found his signature pose to be confusing, disturbing or downright dumb (not me, Yohan) but what they fail to realize is that it is in fact homage to his race of fellow Super Saiyans? Rather than have his hair and eyes change colour and freak small children and normal human beings out every time we watch him race, Yohan has done a trade-off with the Super Saiyan gods and has instead harnessed his transformation powers into his fingernails. Bear this in mind the next time you criticize the young man’s pose. Is this an unfair advantage? Of course not! He can’t help that he comes from a powerful race of people and you thinking it’s unfair is racist. Fix that. Hmmph.

For those of you who are not yet convinced and need proof, just see the pics below.

P.S. Save the monkeys J    


Yohan Blake



Yohan Blake


Gogeta Super Saiyan 4


Yohan Blake


Broly Super Saiyan 4

I rest my case.

Disclaimer: All pictures were taken from the internet (Google images, to be precise and I have no clue about Super Saiyans and their levels but I'd put Yohan at about a level 3. He doesn't show enough chest cleavage for level 4).

S.O.S: Stuck Overseas Studying- Peter M

Age : 21

Where you study: UWI Mona

Major: Law

What’s the biggest culture shock or some of the biggest culture shocks between where you study and where you’re from? The people, the country, the school etc..:  The general interaction in Jamaica is louder and more aggressive than back home in St. Vincent.

How well did you adjust to any change(s)? : …Still adjusting, but pretty well so far

What is/are the best part(s) about studying where you do? : Exposure to new people

What is/are the worst part(s)?: Inconvenient to travel back home frequently

How’s the food? (if not mentioned before): Excellent. Love Jamaican cuisine. Could have had more eastern cbean food readily available but I manage.

What do you miss most about home when you are abroad studying, if anything?:  Ease of travel anywhere I felt like at minimal cost

Would you migrate there at a later point in your life? Why or why not?: Still up in the air, not sure. Depends on economic climate and security

Any other interesting things you’d like to mention?: Jamaican girls are quite attractive

Bajan to English to Jamaican Dictionary (Some of what I’ve learned so far)

I thought I'd share some of the fun things I've learned in terms of language while I've been in BIM and try to break down some language barriers while I'm at it. Bear in mine that I am not a linguist. I am merely a learning Caribbean girl.

1) Sain- Something- Sumn/ Sup’n

Sentence examples:      (Bajan) Do sain fa me

                                     (English) Do something for me

                                     (Jamaican) Do sumn fi mi

2) Malicious- Curious/Inquisitive- Faas

Sentence examples:      (Bajan) Wendy Williams does be too malicious when it comes to celebs

                                     (English) Wendy Williams is too inquisitive when it comes to celebs

                                     (Jamaican) Wendy Williams too faas when it come to di celebrity dem

3) Gine- Going- A go/ Gone a (in relation to a person going somewhere)

Sentence examples:      (Bajan) I gine campus mart

                                     (English) I am going to to the campus mart

                                     (Jamaican) Mi a go di campus mart or Mi gone a campus mart

4) Wunna- You (Plural)- Unu

Sentence examples:      (Bajan) Wunna does really make me sick

                                     (English) You (all) make me sick

                                     (Jamaican) Unu sick mi

On a related note:

Bajans also say “yuh all” while Trinis (Trinidadians) say “all yuh” (sometimes sounds like ‘all ya’).

At first, I was thrown by how some things were said by Barbadians or Trinidadians but when I put them next to things said by Jamaicans or those of another Caribbean country, it somehow makes sense in terms of how words and phrases evolved. Eg: Wunna makes sense when I look at how similar it sounds to unu- it sort of sounds like “unu” with a ‘w’ at the front. Another example is “all yuh”. It’s just an inverted way of saying “you all”/”yuh all”.

5) Hey/Hay- Here- Ya so

Sentence examples:      (Bajan) What gine on hey?

                                     (English) What is going on here?

                                     (Jamaican) Whaa gwaan ya so?/What a gwaan ya so?

Note:  It may seem confusing to those of us not versed in Jamaican patois but “go” and “going” is conjugated (in Jamaican patois) depending on the subject being referred to as well as the preposition it follows as well as the tense. It’s just something I’ve learned to speak much better than I’ve learned to explain. Maybe when we become standardized, it’ll be easier. ;)

Am I Troy Davis? Or am I Khajeel Mais? Am I even significant?

I asked this question as I observed the views expressed  by black people the world over in the final 24 hours leading up to the execution of Troy Davis. I’ve read too many articles about this case, almost all of which were drenched in bias either for or against the stance taken by the state since the arrest of Troy Davis. As a law student, this case really hit home because it brought to the forefront a very controversial issue within law: the death penalty- yay or nay? I will not pretend to truly have set position in regards to this issue. I have, in the past, said that I am all for it but then I had certain conditions that had to be fulfilled before that would be “okay”.

I recall having serious debates with colleagues of mine about this issue. We, of course, looked at cases like Pratt V Morgan and Attorney General V Joseph and Boyce where the major concerns of “cruel and inhumane treatment” and the right to appeal came up. The guidelines adopted by courts under the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council was garnered from the cases of Pratt V Morgan and the resulting principle was that anyone convicted of murder and sentenced to the death penalty had the right to exhaust all appeal options through all courts in the hierarchy in an effort to have their sentenced commuted to life imprisonment. I will refrain from giving details in these cases because it is not a lecture and I am mindful of the fact that non-law student readers are present.

All the same, I bring these cases up to say that my opinion on the Troy Davis case was formulated bearing the justice system of my country and region in mind. That should have been the first red flag for me because a major difference to note is that Troy Davis was tried under the justice system of the United States of America. Their laws and methods of carrying out justice are quite different. Their justice system is based on federal and statutory laws. In the Caribbean region and the United Kingdom, the justice system is based on common law as well as statutory laws. Statutory means official documentation of laws on the books for our states. Each country is a state. So basically, the way they do things and the way we do things are different.

Cruel and inhumane treatment was thought to be what a man experiences when he is on death row for a certain amount of time. The traumatic psychological effects that a man would experience with each passing day- the uncertainty of when your number would be called, getting nervous and fearful each time the guard walked toward your cell- was thought to be too much for any man to be put through, horrendous crime committed aside. As such, based on the fact that it is a breach of a constitutional right to be surrendered to this kind of treatment, it was then established that any man who was on death row for more than five (5) years (3.5 if no resort was made to human rights bodies) would have his sentence automatically commuted.

As I said before, our justice system is based on common law (based on decisions of cases that have set precedence rather than statutes) and operates differently than that of the American system. They have no such rule or principle to follow that is akin to the Pratt V Morgan principle. There have been many theories about the decisions being due to the fact that Troy was a black man and that the state in which he was tried was one of the most racist in the country. How much of that is true, we won’t ever really know. What we do know is that some sort of injustice was served and that the facts do not add up.

There was just too much doubt.

Trip to BIM

My flight had to be postponed for 6 days due to the fact that I had to wait to get back my passport and then I wanted a couple more days on top of that. The flight change fee (50- 75 USD) was waived because I was student but I still had to pay a rescheduling fee and some other fee (I forget what exactly) when I chose my new date (totaled to under 4000JMD). I was to leave with my two roommates and another classmate on my original date but, as we all know, things come up.

So I was sort of a last-minute packer and that ended up really getting to me when I had to try n pack my life into 3 suitcases and 2 carry-ons in a matter of hours. During that time, I checked in online and had a near meltdown when I realized I could not print my boarding pass. Alas, I decided to deal with that at the airport. Mi money pay so dem TRY sawt it out.

Anyway, I said my goodbyes to all the people at my house that wouldn’t be tagging along and my bestie who came to see me off. She started crying- bait! Lol. Then I and those who were gonna see me off packed ourselves into 2 cars. I travelled with my little brother, my cool kid and Mini-me. Mini-me stuck to me the whole way there. It had just started hitting her, what was happening.

When we got to the airport (NMIA), we went to the line for those who did web check-in and I explained what happened and was handed my boarding pass. Then came problem number 2- overweight suitcases. Now the lovely Caribbean Airlines lady was happy to tell us when they were overweight but wasn’t so obliging to disclose when they were under the limit, and, as such, able to take more load. I turned my body to the side so I could give her a proper side eye. After we sorted all that out- away from the line, as requested- my luggage was checked in and I was told my departure time was 6:35pm. *raises eyebrow* When I booked it, the time was 5:20 though. Still, I was happy because I got to spend more time with my loved ones.

Eventually the time came for them to leave and the tears came a running- I’m such a girl! Mini-me took it the hardest. She bawled and they had to hug me while she held on and even after they took her away, she had to come back and hug me again. I wasn’t ready for them to go but it had to happen. I’m tearing up as I write this. I hugged and kissed my cool kid last. This journey was NOT going to be easy.

On to security check and blah. So I recall my family members making remarks about someone who everyone was staring at and trying to decipher the sex of that person. I didn’t pay it much mind ‘til heard airport security debating this. “No, man, a your own dis. Is a man” “Bwoy, mi nuh too sure enuh, some ooman have small breas’”. The laughter increased and the gaping stares were even less disguised as this individual came closer. There was a sigh of relief from the male security guards when they realized they did not have to search….this person.

The person in question was wearing ridiculously tight jeans pants, pink slippers and a pink blouse, had long, pink fingernails and clearly subscribed to Vybz Kartel’s skin treatment method. The best part was the long, blonde weave plaited in two.

So I wait in the line to head to the waiting area upstairs. When I’m at the front, I see the person in question with their back turned and I take up my phone to…tweet, yes, that’s what I took it up to do. However, by the time my cam—Twitter app loaded, the person’s male companion blocked the view, erm, signal for the phone. Still, the person saw me and walked up to me and said “ You wana learn? I can teach you how to be a bitch. I can be a super bitch” With my most innocent, puzzled look, I asked “Pardon me?” The person replied “I can teach you how to be a REAL bitch, a super bitch. Do you understand what I just said?” So I gave my brightest smile and replied “Congrats!” and turned away. I guess I was condescending because the male companion began shouting “Shi know wha shi dida do enuh!”. Moving right along.

I’m upstairs waiting and moving around with my luggage and trying to decide what to buy to eat on the flight, if needs be. I had eaten curry chicken and white rice prepared by my grandma when I got to the airport- I wouldn’t have her cooking for a while so I wasn’t going to miss dinner in the midst of all the last-minute rush to leave the house. I decided on buying Burger King. I refuse to comment on the increase in prices at the airport. Hsst!

While waiting, I realize that all the announcements on the intercom are to tell us the time or they begin with “This is not a boarding call”. If only Caribbean Airlines would have explained why all those people were in the waiting area, if not to be called for boarding.  I saw TWO airline employees in the 150 minutes I was waiting. They were kind enough to put the information on the flight board (whatever those tv’s in the airport are called) though and I learned that my flight was delayed for yet another hour.  I ate my fries and drank my soda while wondering if all these people were for my flight. At about 6:45pm, a boarding call was made for a flight to New York and a crowd shuffled their way to the boarding area. At about 7pm, our flight info changed from delayed to boarding soon.  At 7:40 pm (the ETD- Estimated Time of Departure- for my flight), we still sat in the lounge area. Fifteen minutes later, our boarding call was made- well, those in executive class were called first. I rushed to get as close to the front of the masses as I could because I wanted to shorten my waiting time in line. I took the stairs- I am not friends with escalators.

The wait in line to board wasn’t that long- about 10 minutes. Nothing eventful happened except me getting frightened by the drug-sniffing dog- that creature was HUGE- and me being amused by a Jamaican woman and her two Bajan kids who were d epitome of ENAGY!

I went in with a very perky attitude even though I was super tired because I have been hearing horror stories about potential bad treatment. I believe a smile helps to ease things along much easier. Positivity, I say! Anyway, I went to my window seat (praise the Lord for web check-in), got help putting my carry-on in the overhead bin. There was no one in the middle seat and an older gentleman in the aisle seat who made conversation with me a couple times during the flight. It really hit me that I was leaving my loved ones behind and I started to cry again. I thought about sleeping through the entire flight but I really wasn’t sleepy so I decided to read one of the books my cool kid got me as a present. Thanks again, my love! I took out The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. It’s not quite like the movie, I discovered. Not sure how I feel about that just yet.

Everyone else slept on the flight except me and the flight attendants and, I assume, the pilots. We reached safely, without any incidents and walked to customs. It was late so we got through really fast. I had a hard time finding a porter to help me carry out my luggage and I, as I later found out, tipped him too much.

Travel tip for BIM:  The custom is 2BDS (1USD) per bag

Another travel tip for BIM: If asked what someone’s accent sounds like, do not answer.

Luckily, my roommates had made friends with a taxi man in their week here and he was sent to get me in the night for a reasonable fee (25BDS). I got in, called my fam, tried to tweet then went to bed.

Final point to note: BBM service operates over here the same as it would in JA. If your service is to be on for another week or 2 or 3 in JA, you will still have it in Barbados. If you’re a person that relies on BBM, you’ll be fine where this is concerned. As for making calls and such, unless you have the means to roam, you will have to get a Barbadian SIM card. The rates within a network (JA Digicel to/from BIM Digicel or JA Lime to/from BIM Lime) are the same as if you were calling within your country. However, local promotions (Gimme 5, etc) are not retrievable internationally.

Peak: My apartment here is really nice and comfortable and so is the neighbourhood. We live three houses down from Rihanna’s mommy. I’m already making plans for Cheers Part 2. What a post that would be!

Peak 2: I got a fun-sized Twix on the plane- so much better than the in-flight meal though that wasn’t so bad.  Mawd!

Pit: Leaving my family and my Cool Kid

I've been here for almost a week now and I miss the people from home SO much. My roomies say I'm not opening up to this experience enough. I do participate, I just often have to be dragged. So sue me! Better yet, SUMO me. DWL. Pic time! There are only 3 for this post.

The view from my seat on the plane in JA

Simple pleasure afforded on the plane

This sign made me smile when I came off the plane