Quickies: Kimanda shoots for stars

Singer Kimanda Cunningham is hoping to break out of the box for 2011. The past Digicel Rising Stars contestant is hitting the airwaves with new songs.

The little powerhouse from the third season of Digicel Rising Stars, Kimanda, finished sixth in 2000, but has never stopped trying to hit it big in music. Hailing from Portmore, Kimanda started out singing when she was very young, first for her family, then for an audience of her church.

It was Digicel Rising Stars, however, that brought her to the public's attention. "The Digicel Rising Stars competition was great, very much so. I got a lot of exposure, even though I didn't win or even come second or third. Everyone remembers me and I got a lot of experience from it, like how to perform on stage. So it was good," she said.

Since the competition, Kimanda has been honing her craft and developing her songwriting skills. She recently released the single My Baby, which she wrote, and says the song has been getting a lot of airplay. Kimanda also recorded a cover of I Want to Know What Love Is.

Thus far, she has worked with producers Mafia McKoy and DJ Karim. She hopes her big hit will come with her upcoming collaboration with Busy Signal, Let's Go. In the meantime, she's working on new material to showcase her unique reggae and dancehall style.

Keida starts promo tour at Reggae Rhythm and Blues

Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York, was the site of the Reggae Rhythm and Blues concert on Sunday, and Keida was in the mix. The reggae songstress performed alongside R&B crooners Monica and Babyface, dancehall/reggae elites Tarrus Riley, John Holt, Leroy Sibbles, Mavado, I-Octane and soca singer Machel Montano. The outdoor event served as a kick-off for Keida's US promo tour, which will continue with interviews and appearances in the Tri-state area through to Tuesday.

Keida said, "I thought my performance went well on Sunday at Reggae Rhythm and Blues. I loved the response from the crowd. It was the best platform to begin my promo tour. This is my first time in New York and it has been an amazing experience thus far. The objective of this promo tour is to open as many eyes as possible to the music I have to offer, in order to grasp a new market. I am pretty excited about the opportunities I am being afforded."

Keida, who recently released music videos for Good Vibrations with Shurwayne Winchester and Big Bam Bam with Valley, along with the singles All Again with Protégé, Baby Girl with Erup and Can't Sleep, will be interviewed on Sirius XM Radio, Irie Jam, Linkup Radio, WRFG 89.3FM, E2 Online, DAFLAVA Radio, One Caribbean Radio and Road Block Radio, among others.

The Jamaican Boy artiste will also make appearances at Negril Village Restaurant and Club Rebel, hosted by Upscale Crowd.

Chedda shells bar with Fambo

After completing two US promotional tours and releasing several singles over the summer, dancehall artiste Chedda has teamed up with 2010 comeback kid Future Fambo for the remix of Shell Di Bar, an infectious number that speaks to alcoholic drinkers and partygoers alike. The single, a certified drinkers' anthem featured on the African Robot riddim, has been steadily making inroads on the FM airwaves and local party circuit.

A video is also expected to be shot in the upcoming weeks for the catchy composition. "After releasing the song and seeing the feedback, I was listening to it one day on the radio and I said to my manager, 'You know, we should do a remix and I know the right person'. We approached Fambo, he heard the track and, within hours, we had a remix," Chedda said.

"Fambo is a workaholic and a natural when it comes to doing these types of songs; just listen to some of the material he has released over the past months," he added. The remix was produced by Darkcide International in collaboration with Unknown People Records (DJ Raffa and DJ Rodrick Howell of Hitz 92FM).

Chedda's other recent projects include See We A Road on ZJ Ice's Center Stage riddim and Dip And Come Up on the Club Life riddim. Fans can also look forward to his new single on the upcoming Steppa Life riddim, courtesy of Blackspyda Records.

Ghett'a Life premieres in Toronto

The latest Jamaican feature film, Ghett'a Life, will have its North American premiere at the CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase in Canada on Tuesday. Ghett'a Life is still playing in Jamaica after its July 27 premiere, fuelled by strong reviews and word of mouth.

Ghett'a Life tells the story of Derrick, a determined inner-city teenager struggling to realise his dream of becoming a champion boxer despite a country, community and family driven by divisive politics.

Chris Browne, the writer/director, will be attending the premiere to be co-hosted by the consul general for Jamaica and Jamaica Trade and Invest at the Studio Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, in the heart of downtown Toronto.

Ghett'a Life is the second major film from Chris Browne, who directed the critically acclaimed Third World Cop in 1999.

Rumfire revs up Portmore

Rumfire White Overproof Rum is the brand behind the hot new club series in Portmore, Rumfire Hardcore Thursdays. Rumfire teamed up with C-Eye Promotions and Portmore Society to start the Thursday-night series at the increasingly popular Rev Nightclub last night.

Entertainment will be provided by dancehall's most authentic and popular disc jockeys, selectors and sound systems. The resident DJ is popular sound system Chromatic from Portmore. The promoters have implemented measures to keep patrons interested and eager to return every week. There will be free phone-credit giveaways all night, free Rumfire Rum mixes until midnight, and ladies enter free up to midnight as well.

There are competitions, such as the selector/sound system 45 shootout, where up-and-coming selectors go head to head with the winner, getting the opportunity to play in the Rev Nightclub and at Hardcore Thursdays. Also, ladies will compete to be the official dancehall queen for Rev Nightclub, with the winner earning cash prizes and full access to the club. In addition, the promoters are keen to add artiste performances as the series escalates.

Serani hot On Da Reggae Tip

Following up on last year's show-stealing performance at HOT 97's On Da Reggae Tip show at the Hammer-stein Ballroom in Manhattan, New York, this year Serani decided it was time to showcase his skills to the world and started his performance seated at the keyboard.

Dapperly dressed in suit and tie, Serani started out singing his new single Sweet Love and segued into She Loves Me before continuing the rest of his set on tracks, spun by Troopa Chaloopa. Serani gave them favourites such as Doh,Badmind and No Games.

"I decided it was time to take my live set to another level," said Serani. "The majority of people don't know that I can do that. Making a debut with this type of performance at On Da Reggae Tip was the right platform as it's such a prestigious show with a diverse crowd. The feedback has been great, and I will definitely be adding this element to my future performances."

Serani closed out his set with Skip To My Luu.