Quickies: Snoopy kind of lion love

Recent convert Snoop Lion says reggae is the genre of love, happiness and struggle. According to the rapper during an interview with MTV host Sway Calloway, during the Reincarnated Documentary Press Conference, he wants to expand his musical influence through positive messages.

"I have always wanted to perform for kids, my grandmother and people around the world who really love me and can't accept the music that I make, and this reggae music is music of love, happiness and struggle, and now I get a chance to perform for kids and grandparents," Snoop Lion continued. "Not that the music in the past never felt good at all; it felt good because it was who I was and it is who I am. But now, as a 40-year-old man in the music industry, the younger artistes call me Uncle Snoop. I gotta give them something now. I can't just keep taking them to the dead-end street and drop-em off," Snoop Lion said.

Rohan Marley was present at the conference and welcomed the rapper to the reggae fraternity, stating that music is universal.

"Music in general is universal yu nuh, and Jamaica is a part of music, yu nuh. Suh we really don't separate ourselves and we embrace Snoop and not only through music, but through a divine order, because it's all about life and what you have to give. So, once you gonna profess a positive vibration and give back to the earth and the land and the people and be an instrument of good, yu nuh, we receive that well," Marley said.

Snoop Lion revealed that he would give back to Jamaica by initiating developmental projects. "One thing about the people of Jamaica, they are not lazy and, if you give them the opportunity, they will make it happen," he said. Snoop Lion hinted that two development projects will be executed by his team in Tivoli Gardens and Trench Town in 2013.

Etana pregnant with second child

Singer Etana is expecting a new addition to her family. Known to be quite conservative, Etana felt compelled to respectfully reveal her pregnancy to her fans. Rumours of the pregnancy were already being circulated since her marriage to Pulse model/award winning actor, Andre Morris, in March 2010.

According to Morris, he and Etana share commitment and love. "I'm very happy that I'll be a dad. Now the two and a half years of speculation is confirmed. I'm pretty sure I'll have the family I've always dreamed of. It's hard to find the rare combination of love and commitment that we have and I'm looking forward to the birth of my daughter and looking forward to many years of prosperity and success with my beautiful wife," he said.

Etana, who is working on a new album to be released in 2013, says her spouse will be a great father. "Our plan was to do different business moves and so on, but we were surprised with a new life, a precious gift, and funny enough we ended up doing most, if not all, we planned just the same. Jah works in mysterious ways. My husband is all smiles watching every step I make. He wants to be in every doctor's visit, rubbing my aching feet and making sure I have all I need to be comfortable. He's gonna be a great dad," she said.

Etana is currently in Birmingham for a concert in celebration of Jamaica's 50th anniversary, and is also scheduled for appearances in Kenya later this month.

Poetic Breeze at Edna Manley

An enthused audience gathered at the Edna Manley College's amphitheatre, Arthur Wint Drive, St Andrew, on Tuesday, July 31, for a reading by renowned poet Jean Binta Breeze at the Poetry Society of Jamaica's July fellowship. Breeze, recently appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to literature, was the evening's featured poet.

Following its usual format, the fellowship began with a series of open-mic readings, each set followed by brief discussions about the poems shared. Edward Baugh's The Warner Woman and James Berry's Fantasy of an African Boy were also read in this segment as part of the fellowship's featured works.

Richard Nattoo was the featured visual artist and his pieces - mainly ink-on-paper, detailed, abstract drawings - were displayed throughout the evening.

Introduced by the Poetry Society's president Tommy Ricketts as having made significant contributions to poetry and being among the persons who helped to shape the Edna Manley College's culture, having studied there, Jean Binta Breeze took the captivated gathering on through new and old poems.

Reading from her most recent publication, Third World Girl - Selected Poems (2011), Breeze shared that the publication was significant for her because it was a culmination of many of her works from collections and recordings over the years. Of the newer poems, she said "some poems are new, but the story is old", stressing that the newer writing still covered the topics and stories she has continued to tell over the years.

Said to be one of the most potent and influential voices of her time as well as the first female dub poet, Breeze read Ordinary Morning, Third World Girl/Migrant, Welcome to Heartease and Caribbean Woman as part of her set. She said that in 'Third World Girl/Migrant', the final poem in the collection, referring to 'Third World' wasn't negative for her. It allows her to speak to a wider set of people, not just "Jamaican or Caribbean", but a global people with shared struggles and realities, Breeze said.

The evening wound down with Breeze's Caribbean Woman, in which an elated audience joined, singing "Oh man, di Caribbean woman" as Breeze left the stage to a standing ovation.

The Poetry Society of Jamaica hosts its monthly fellowships at the Edna Manley College's Amphitheatre on the last Tuesday of each month, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Bad tattoo for Dad?

Paris Jackson wants to get a tattoo in honour of her late father Michael Jackson. The 14-year-old aspiring actress - the only daughter of the Thriller singer - is contemplating having the Roman numerals of Michael's August 29, 1958, birthday permanently etched on to her back so her dad will always be with her.

She tweeted: "I kinda want to get August XXIX tatted on my back. (sic)"

However, many of Paris' followers tweeetd her back saying she was too young to get body art, to which she responded: "lol y'all are trippin trying to tell me not to get the tat, when u guys don't even know what it means ... it's my dad's bday get over it lmao. (sic)"

A SHRiNE FOR DAD

Earlier this week, Paris revealed she had created a shrine to the King of Pop - who died of acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009 - from magazine and newspaper clippings and art work because she is so proud of her father. She tweeted a picture saying: "my new wall "took me 3 effing hours"(sic)"

She later added: "someone commented on my pic saying "obsessed much?" yeaa u better believe it ... a whole wall of his pics is the LEAST I could do #dedication (sic)"

Paris and her brothers Prince Michael, 15, and 'Blanket', 10, have been at the centre of family problems recently, with their grandmother Katherine temporarily losing guardianship of them after she went on an unannounced vacation to Arizona. However, late last week she was reinstated as their co-guardian, and will now share care duties with her grandson Tito Joe 'T.J.' Jackson.

Jedani dedicates single to Olympics team

Singer Jedani has a number of singles recorded and ready to be released, the first being a track he recorded as a tribute to Jamaica's athletes called Victory. A video was recorded for the single and, after premiering on local cable TV station HYPE TV, is now being distributed to other stations.

"I feel great that the first single and video that we are really going to be pushing is Victory. The song is a tribute to our athletes and the message is really saying to everyone that anything is possible, no matter the circumstances and no matter what obstacle is put in your way. A victory is always possible," Jedani remarked.

Jedani takes the business side to his music very seriously, incorporating his own management company and investing heavily in studio and post-production resources. "It's important for artistes to understand the business side of being in the music industry. Before I started to even record in any real way, I made sure that I had the necessary tools in place not just to protect myself, but to also protect my music," he continued.

"I'm not afraid of what's ahead. I'm ready to face the challenges that come with being an artiste," Jedani said.

J Lo driven to sue

Jennifer Lopez is suing her former driver for extortion. The former 'American Idol' panellist is claiming he demanded US$2.8 million or else he would tell the media and authorities about secrets he overheard while driving her around for jobs.

Jennifer's case is a countersuit to a claim filed by Hakob Manoukian, who claimed he was forced to resign after being publicly berated by her manager, Benny Medina.

In her countersuit, obtained by website TMZ.com, Jennifer alleges Hakob became drunk with power and wanted to control her entire security team and get more money for doing it. When he was turned down, Jennifer claimed he retaliated by threatening to spill confidential information that would be highly embarrassing.

Jennifer says the driver threatened that if he wasn't paid US$2.8 million he would take his information to authorities and have her criminally prosecuted. She is suing for damages in excess of US$20 million.

THE BREAK-UP

Meanwhile, Jennifer is reportedly on the verge of breaking up with Casper Smart. The 43 year-old performer has apparently come to the realisation that she really doesn't have a lot in common with her 24-year-old backing dancer, and is beginning to feel like his babysitter.

A source said: "Jen is currently on tour with Enrique Iglesias and Casper is the head choreographer of her show in which he also dances. It's tough being on the road. This isn't Jen's first tour and she has been feeling more like Casper's babysitter than girlfriend."