Sizzla leaves 'noble' Zimbabwe

Sizzla leaves 'noble' Zimbabwe

Sizzla left Zimbabwe last Friday, telling reporters he would return to the southern African country with other reggae artistes. According to The Herald newspaper, Sizzla supported the government's controversial land reform programme, calling it 'noble'.

The reggae star first arrived in Zimbabwe for the 21st February Movement (a welfare programme for the country's youth) celebrations in the city of Bulawayo. He also performed at a party marking president Robert Mugabe's 86th birthday that month.

The Herald reported that Sizzla staged a farewell show in the capital, Harare, on September 6, where he mingled with fans.

Mugabe was one of the leaders of the revolution that toppled the racist regime of Ian Smith when the country was known as Rhodesia. He has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

But his land reform (seizing properties of mostly white farmers) has drawn strong criticism internationally. Critics claim Mugabe has given the lands to relatives and cronies.

Mugabe's alleged attacks on opponents have angered many world leaders including Nelson Mandela. The Herald said Sizzla had different views on the land reform.

"I'm happy that the leadership here is doing everything to empower the majority with the land reform programme and the black empowerment drive, which is a noble idea," the publication quoted him as saying.

Mary J Blige calls on Gyptian

Hip-hop/soul singer Mary J Blige has hooked up with rapper Busta Rhymes and reggae singer Gyptian for Anything You Want, one of the songs from her upcoming album.

The track will be produced by Haiti-born Jerry Wonder, best known for his work with Wyclef Jean, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Tom Jones. Blige has been one of the leading names in urban pop music for 20 years.

Along with vocal group Jodeci, she helped put the Uptown Records label and producer Sean 'Puffy' Combs on the map.

You Remind Me, Be Happy and Family Affair are some of her biggest songs.

Gyptian has been enjoying a good run recently with his song, Hold You, with Trinidad and Tobago-born rapper Nicki Minaj. The song peaked at number 33 on Billboard magazine's R&B/Hip Hop Chart.

Busta Rhymes, whose parents are Jamaican, has worked with reggae acts including Stephen Marley and Sean Paul.

Chin goes back to China

Veteran producer Clive Chin of Randys and VP Records fame, will kick off his 13-date Back To China tour on October 7 at the C's club in Shanghai.

He will be accompanied by Selector Twice. According to a press release from VP, Chin will play songs from the vast Randys catalogue in other major locations including Hong Kong and Beijing.

While Asian countries, most notably Japan, have warmed to reggae, that has not been the case with China. The country's strict communist policies restricted western influences, especially during the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1972, Chin teamed with Kingston College schoolmate Horace 'Augustus Pablo' Swaby to record Java, a mystical instrumental that became the latter's signature song.

Chin helped his father, Vincent 'Randy' Chin, make the Randys label one of the most successful in Jamaica. The biggest names in local music including The Skatalites, The Wailers and Dennis Brown recorded for the company.

Chin