Quickies: 'Hot Skull' makes BBC'S hot list

BBC's Radio 1Xtra has chosen deejay Popcaan as one of its 'Hot 20 for 2012'. The deejay is the only Jamaican to appear on the list. Revealed last week, the ranking features American rapper A$AP Rocky and singer Frank Ocean, the UK's Etta Bond, Delilah, Dot Rotten, Josh Kumra, Sneakbo, Daley, rapper Azealia Banks and more.

On the station's website, www.bbc.co.uk, all 20 acts are featured in a video interview. Popcaan's interview, which is two minutes long, was done in Jamaica. The video is introduced with "chosen as one of 1Xtra's Hot 20 for 2012, Popcaan gives us a little insight into who he is and what he's about".

In the interview, he talks about growing up in St Thomas and Portmore and describes himself as being a "loving person" to his friends and family. He also gives credit to the collaboration Clarks with his mentor Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim as being what brought attention to his career, then he followed up with other popular songs.

Speaking about what inspires his lyrics, Popcaan touches on the much-debated topic of the relationship between dancehall music and crime. He says: "Nuff people feel sey dancehall music sparks violence and crime inna di community and dem ting deh. But is not really like that, yuh zeeit? Di artiste dem sing wah dem see and weh dem hear. So big up to dancehall music again and reggae music."

Sean Paul on 'Disco Crash' album

Jamaican entertainer Sean Paul is the sole Caribbean act featured on French house music DJ-producer Bob Sinclar's 12th studio album, Disco Crash. The album is set for a February release and it is the follow-up to Sinclar's Grammy-nominated Made in Jamaica project, which was released in 2010.

According to Rodney Hill, A&R representative for Sinclar, the album will feature collaborations with Pitbull, British pop singer Sophie Ellis Bextor, Dragonfly and Snoop Dogg, among others. The album's first single, Rock the Boat, features Fatman Scoop, Pitbull and singer Dragonfly. The track is number one on the iTunes dance chart in France.

Festival standouts for Rebel Salute

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Festival Song Competition 2011 winner Everton Pessoa and multiple winner Eric Donaldson are in the star-studded line-up for the 19th annual staging of Rebel Salute, slated for tomorrow at Port Kaiser Sports Complex, St Elizabeth.

The Festival Song Competition, organised by the JCDC, has been the platform for many budding artistes across Jamaica. Last July, Pessoa walked away with the prestigious title, a 2011 Nissan Tiida and over $1 million, winning with Oh If We. He joins the lists of outstanding Jamaican singers who have won the title over the years, including Toots Hibbert, Desmond Decker, Tinga Stewart and seven-time winner Eric Donaldson.

proud achievement

Festival Song Coordinator David Reid expressed his profound gratitude to Rebel Salute organiser Tony Rebel for the inclusion of the Festival Song winners on this year's show. "It is a proud achievement for the Festival Song Competition, especially as we embark on the celebration of Jamaica's 50th anniversary," Reid said.

The Commission hopes that Donaldson and Pessoa's Salute appearances will lead to greater participation and entries in this year's competition. The closing date for entries in the 2012 Festival Song Competition has been extended by the JCDC until Tuesday, January 31.

21st-Hapilos goes harder for 2012

After a phenomenal 2011 for the 21st-Hapilos team, plans are afoot to ensure an even more successful 2012.

Last year, the digital-distribution company saw a number of their clients' productions dominating the local and international airwaves. This year, some of the highly anticipated projects being marketed by 21st-Hapilos will be I-Octane and Chan Dizzy's newly released Till Kingdom Come, produced by Russian of Head Concussion Records, and the Fifth Gear Riddim, produced by Markus Records (run by one of Buju Banton's sons).

increasing reception

Executive vice-president of the company Johnny Wonder said: "We are continuously pleased with the reception that digital marketing has steadily garnered in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Since 2010, we have been focusing on getting reggae and dancehall insiders additional exposure and income for their work, and it has been going well. In addition to the online exposure and revenue, a number of artistes have seen an increase in airplay on overseas mainstream radio stations after their music is sent out to these international media houses. This is definitely a great thing for the industry and, this year, we not only want to increase that, but also expand our offerings."

One of their expanded event offerings comes in the form of Hapilos Teens, which will cater to the entertainment needs of teenagers on the party scene. The first of the events being staged by Hapilos Teens is the soca/reggae Black Light party Illumina - The Soca Edition on April 7 at the Constant Spring Golf Club, St Andrew. On April 21, 21st-Hapilos will stage their anniversary and award-show event.

Tifa to drop album in summer

Prominent dancehall deejay Tifa will attempt to dazzle the mainstream and build her status overseas with her first album this summer. Also, the Bottom of the Barrel deejay wants the album to tell a story that fans can relate to.

Tifa has intimated that 2012 will be an industrious year for her, as she hopes to accomplish more on the international stage while opening various marketing doors for herself. She has earned eight 2012 Youth View Awards nominations and will appear at the show on February 4 at the National Indoor Sports Centre, St Andrew. Tifa has expressed humility regarding the recognition.

The deejay's most recent musical project is Nuh Want Yuh No More on the Bubble Gum Riddim and last month she held her birthday party, dubbed Pink Xstacy (Pink and White Edition), in Portmore.