The hardest working crew in Brooklyn’s dancehall community just sent us their latest project for release, a mixtape by the groups CEO, Fire Ras, which is titled “Changez”. This is the group’s second of five planned mixtape releases for this year, the first was War Professa’s, “War in Professa”. The mixtape is a change (no pun intended) from what we are accustomed to from Fire Ras and Damage Control, and packs a powerful dose of conscious music. With topics ranging from politics, to infidelity, to poverty and morality. The 12 track compilation is the first of it’s sort for Fire Ras though he has told us that he intends to follow it up with a more familiar Fire Ras mixtape sometime later this year and a another conscious compilation next year.

Overall we think it’s a bold step for the artist, whose group is known for tracks such as, ‘Pop My Guinness’, ‘Beg Yuh A Lisa Hype’ and ‘Buy A Bokkle’. We think that “Changez” is a tremendous first effort for the young artist and would recommend it as a great listen to even those who are not big followers of reggae music. Definately a step in the right direction. Grab your free copy below and tell us what you think.

Check out this track for a sample of what’s in store on the mixtape
Fire Ras -Don’t Worry

Click here to download the Changez mixtape…

For more information on Fire Ras or Damage Control you can contact CARIBDREAMTV.COM or email them at damagecontrolnyc@gmail.com

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This past Monday, Memorial Day, was the 11th Annual Celebrity Soccer Match and CARIBDREAMSTV was live on the ground covering the event and chatting it up with celebrities present. Check out the footage.

Also, check out the photo gallery for images from the event.

Downtown Kingston yesterday was the scene of several sporadic acts of violence against law enforcement officers as criminals from Tivoli Gardens and surrounding areas banded together in an act to try to prevent the arrest of Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is facing extradition to the United States where is to face gun and drug trafficking charges. Gunmen from Tivoli and surrounding communities erected roadblocks and then fired on any one attempting to clear said roadblocks including the police. A ‘limited’ state of emergency was placed in Kingston & St. Andrew after the Hanna Town Police Station was attacked by gunmen and subsequently burned down.

During a limited state of emergency certain civil rights are waved to afford law enforcement officials added power to effectively police and restore calm. Included in the rights to be waved are the freedom of movement – the police can arrest you for being on public property (the streets) without what they deem to be a valid reason – and freedom of speech. The Prime Minister in a nationwide address last night urged all citizens to cooperate with law-enforcement officers as they will be conducting they’re duties within the scale of the law.

Meanwhile, the police issued several statements throughout the day yesterday, urging law abiding citizens to leave Tivoli Gardens and surrounding areas. The government even went as far as to provide transportation and a safe place of stay for people who wanted to leave much to their avail because reports indicate that at the end of the day there was no one there to board the buses.

And it would seem like the violence is spreading to other areas as two police officers were killed and another six injured in the Mountain View area of Kingston last night, while the Cross Roads Police Station in Spanish Town were attacked by about 10 gunmen. Early reports out of Jamaica today are that things have toned down significantly since yesterday but we hope and pray for a speedy resolution to the current situation.

We’ve have including unedited footage captured by TVJ in Jamaica yesterday.

Last night at about 8:30pm, Prime Minister Bruce Golding addressed the nation of Jamaica. He spoke about the controversy regarding the U.S. extradition request for Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke and it’s spinoff the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips saga. Both have been an issue for Mr. Golding and his administration since last August and eroded public trust in the Government.

Coke is wanted by the United States for alleged gun- and drug-trafficking between Jamaica and that country and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips is the law-firm contracted by Mr. Golding and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to solicit Washington in effort to overturn Coke’s extradition request.

The Prime Minister apologized for seemingly putting his party over the country when he sanctioned Manatt’s law-firm but maintained that his actions were made as President of the JLP and not Prime Minister of Jamaica. “I sanctioned this initiative but made it clear that it was to be kept completely separate from the Government,” he said. “As I later discovered, those instructions were not followed. Having sanctioned it, I cannot escape responsibility for it or the developments that have ensued although I was not myself involved in those activities.”

The Prime Minister also announced that Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne will sign the authorisation for the extradition process against Coke cementing the rumors that had be circulating since early yesterday evening. Yesterday evening several private businesses and government agency in Downtown, Kingston and surrounding areas closed early and sent home employees in anticipation of unrest that maybe caused because of the announcement.

Last week we told you that Mad Cobra was shot and injured in Braeton because he allegedly shun his vehicle lights on some assailants. Now it would appear that the alleged gunmen were not satisfied with injuring the legendary artist, as reports are surfacing that the artist’s house was sprayed with bullets late last night. Cobra was inside but he did not sustain any further injures.

From the left: Oneil, Kevin, Craig from Voicemail

The big news out of Jamaica this week is the entertainer Oneil Edwards, one-third of the the very popular dancehall group Voicemail, was critically shot and injured early Monday morning. Now in less than 72 hours, reports are surfacing that a man believed to be the shooter was found dead Chancery Hall, Kingston yesterday. In his possession was a cell phone which belongs to Oneil Edwards. Meanwhile, the Manchester police has a man in their custody who is believed to be the second suspect in the act.

Oneil is still in the hospital nursing gunshot wounds, with fragments of one of the bullets still logged in his head. He is listed to be in critical condition.

Mad Cobra, who was one of the most popular dancehall artist in the 1990′s was shot and injured on Tuesday less than 48 hours after Oneil from Voicemail was critically shot and injured. Reports are that he altercation was cause because the artist shun his vehicle’s bright lights on some youths in his community of Braeton in Portmore, St. Catherine. The youth allegedly, felt disrespected by the act and despite recognizing the veteran artist, opened fire on the artist. Cobra is still in hospital nursing gunshot wounds and is listed as being in stable condition.

Oneil is in the center of this picture

Following up on our story from yesterday, Oneil Edwards from the popular dancehall group Voicemail, was serious shot and injured at his gate in Duhaney Park. The artist remains in critical but stable condition at the hospital after undergoing surgery yesterday. Reports indicate that the bullet in his head is fragmented, which caused sever swelling of the brain and due to the positioning of the bullet fragments the doctors are still pondering on their next move.

Meanwhile the police are said to be looking for three ‘persons of interest’ who they believe will be able to assist with their investigations. While robbery was initially believed to be the motive, the police are reportedly looking into the possibility that Oneil’s shooting stems from an altercation that took place over a month ago. We will continue to bring you more on this story as it unfolds.

Hip Hop superstar Drake, recently went to Jamaica to shoot the video for his latest single of his debut album entitled “Thank Me Later”, which is set to be released on May 25, 2010. The song entitled “Find Your Love” is the second single of the highly anticipated album. The video features a cameo from Mavado and a few other members of the Gully Squad and the Alliance and has scenes shot from the gully side. Check it out for yourself and tell us what you think.

Things just keep getting from bad to worst for popular sound system selector Ricky Trooper, as the Sunday edition of the Jamaica Observer reported yesterday that Trooper is being investigated by the United States authorities because of the alleged gun that he waved during his now famous YouTube rant. Trooper, later claimed that the gun in the video was fake.

A U.S. Government official is quoted in the report saying, “… we are convinced that he had a real gun … we looked at the gun from all angles, using the latest technology. We stopped the frame, examined it closely, removed sections of his body, like the hand, enlarged the picture and it was real, no fake at all. We were trying to get the specs of the gun and spotted something that looked like a serial number which led us to make certain recommendations, regarding action to be taken against him.”

When asked if further action would be taken against the selector, the official said that additional investigations were being conducted and a determination would be made soon, which could involve a collaborative approach with Jamaican law enforcers.

The news out of Jamaica, is that early this morning, Oneil from the popular dancehall group, Voicemail, was shot 5 times (atleast once in the head) at his gate in Duhaney Park, Kingston. The artist is now undergoing critical surgery at the Kingston Public Hospital. Though authorities have no motive for the shooting, unconfirmed reports indicate that it was a robbery. Our prayers go out to Oneil, his friends and family. We hope he is able to pull through.

From the left: Oneil, Kevin, Craig from Voicemail

Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor has taken reggae back to the days of drums snares and hi-hats with his latest release called Catalog Riddim. The release features 19 tracks and several popular 90′s artists we haven’t heard much from lately such as Terry Fabulous, Capleton, Singing Sweet and Freddie McGregor. Keen ear listeners will notice the similarities in sound to the popular “Scarface Riddim” which was released in 2000 and featured hit songs such as ‘Replacement Killer’ from Elephant Man and Sean Paul’s ‘My Name’. Take a listen to the 1 minute preview of each track from the upcoming Catalog Riddim.