Quickies: The Messiah for Ja 50

Father Ho Lung is looking to celebrate Jamaica 50 by hosting another charity-based theatrical production, The Messiah.

At a recently held press launch at Sagicor, president and CEO of the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPSCo), Kelly Tomblin, and senior brand manager at Grace Tropical Rhythms, Nicholas Bramwell, expressed their support.

Father Ho Lung said Jamaicans needed to exercise more compassion towards each other.

"Jamaica needs compassion at this time. We must not forget that although all of us are struggling, that the one missing answer is love. It sounds cliché, but we need to love because we all have struggles. We cannot look up at the struggles of others and say, 'No, I have struggles of my own', but rather, as Christ did on the cross, he said 'Father, forgive them for what they have done', even when he was being ridiculed ... The Bible said, 'Cast your bread in the water and it will be returned," he said.

"As we celebrate Jamaica 50, I put on this production and there will be 50,000 people in the National Arena. It must be this year, because it is centered on the occasion. Give thanks for our friends," Father Ho Lung said.

The Messiah will be staged at the National Arena on September 29-30 and October 6-7. This production sees Father Ho Lung and Friends celebrating more than 40 years of service.

Omi releases debut videos

Oufah Media and Productions artiste, fast-rising urban pop sensation,Omi, has released his first two music videos for his singles Cheerleader and Standing on All Threes. The singles have been creating a buzz online in the last few months, with Cheerleader passing more than 600,000 views on YouTube.

The videos, which highlight the exceptional directing skills of veteran music video director, Tim Cash, premiered on Jamaican music video network, Hype TV, on September 6. Shot on Red Epic Digital Cinema camera, both videos were filmed in Bend, Oregon, USA. They feature swimsuit model Nicole Mintiens and dancer Haley Bennet B (Standing On All Threes), and talents Brad Knowles Antoinette Reese and Randall Knight (Cheerleader).

Omar 'Omi' Pasley is enthusiastic about the final outcome of both videos. "It has been challenging, but I really enjoyed making the videos and, personally, I love the finished product. At the end of the day, however, it's all about making the fans happy. All I have to do is continue to put in some serious work and try to be better every time," he said emphatically.

Omi's influences stretch from the base of classic songwriters such as Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole and John Legend to the prolific poetry of Tanya Stephens. He hails from May Pen, Jamaica, and started singing from childhood, jumping to perform at every occasion that provided an audience - church, school concerts, or any other community gathering. His father, known in the music business as Jah Ken (now deceased), nurtured Omi's desire to follow in his footstep as a visual artist and musician.

Omi is currently in the studio laying tracks for his debut album. His new videos are available on YouTube:

Cheerleader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NVUZNsh2E

Standing On All Threes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy18UqKRKcYbout

Lanmine releases video for 'Pretty Body Gyal'

Stashment records artiste Lanmine has high hopes of repeating success after his last music video, Creeping, which featured Future Fambo, got major attention locally.

His latest video, Pretty Body Gyal, was released last week and, according to Lanmine, is already doing well.

"Right now, the street events play the song every night and the girls get wild on the dance floor when it plays, which is always a plus. So I have high hopes for this single," Lanmine said.

Lanmine is also featured on the 'Dark Cloud' riddim with Nuh Fear. 'Dark Cloud' is also produced by Stashment Records and features I-Octane, Tommy Lee, Lady Saw and Khago, among others.

Damian Marley produces Marshall's 'True Colours'

Damian Marley is named as the main producer of Wayne Marshall's upcoming reggae/dancehall album, True Colours.

The album will be released under Ghetto Youths International and Marshall expresses full confidence in the work of the reggae royalty brothers.

"It is my first time doing an album with them and it is amazing. They are talented masters of their art. They put in the effort and they have a tremendous work ethic. I have learnt a lot from them and it is a great experience," he said.

True Colours is a 14-track album featuring artistes such as Sean Paul, Bounty Killer, I Octane, Vybz Kartel, Assassin and, of course, Damian Marley.

Marshall explained that this latest effort shows his development. "This album shows experience and musical growth. I am getting better at my craft and I am learning. I guess the music will speak for itself. People will see the experience and the growth and will grow with us," he said.

Wayne Marshall's last album, Marshall Town, was released in 2003 on VP Records.

Cashflow 'Leggo' dancers

Dancehall/reggae producers Cashflow Recordz have released a new rhythm, 'Leggo', which features only dancers who deejay.

Cashflow producer DJ Neil said Cashflow Recordz was about finding unique concepts.

"The concept came about from Overmars, the dancer-turned-deejay. Him link mi and sey him have a song name Best Pon Two Foot, and he was also promoting it as a slang. We had the 'Leggo' rhythm in the library already and it was perfect for it.

"Cashflow is about concept, so we went for something new and we decided to record Ding Dong, Chi Ching Ching and Quick Cook, because he has a lot of slangs on the streets," DJ Neil said.

The producer disclosed that the method of promotion for 'Leggo' was also unorthodox. "We decided to do promotions in the streets. Normally, people would blast on radio, but we just made a street team with road manager Kevin Slaughter and we are at every street event each night doing promotions. We are building it from the street up and now we are getting support from radio DJs," he said.

"Cash Flow records is also gearing up to release new riddims, such as the 'Overcome', '6 o'clock', 'Bell Foot' and 'Throw Back'. From now leading up to the winter season, we want to change a new gear with our productions," DJ Neil said.

Pink ready for another baby

Thrity-three-year-old singer Pink is desperate for a sibling for her 15-month-old daughter, Willow, but knows now isn't the right time to get pregnant again, as she is due to begin a tour in support of her new album, The Truth About Love, next February.

Pink, who is married to motocross star Carey Hart, said: "I mean, if I weren't going, getting ready to go on tour, I'd be pregnant. I'm barefoot and pregnant in my garden with an attitude."

Although she wants another baby, Pink admitted her last pregnancy made her full of "rage", comparing her experience to the horror movie 28 Days Later. She said: "They were infected with the rage virus and that's what I had. I didn't battle morning sickness, I didn't have cravings. I had rage!"

Lifelong breastfeeding?

The Blow Me (One Last Kiss) hitmaker is still breastfeeding Willow and joked she plans to continue doing so until her daughter is a teenager. She told Access Hollywood: "I'm a hippie at heart. How long will I do it? Until prom! I'm going to carry her to prom in a Baby Bjorn. 'Willow, your feet are dragging.'"

But Pink could be keen to continue nursing her daughter to maintain their bond as she believes Carey is such a good father, her presence in their family wouldn't be necessary if she wasn't supplying her child's milk. She said: "He's amazing. He's exactly the dad I thought he'd be. He was raised by a single dad, so he's completely capable. Sometimes I feel like if I didn't have the boob, I wouldn't be necessary!"

Gaga over weed

Twenty-six-year-old singer Lady Gaga told her fans she had cut down on drinking alcohol because she prefers smoking marijuana and revealed it had been hugely beneficial to her music. According to The Sun newspaper, she said: "I want you to know it has totally changed my life and I've really cut down on drinking. It has been a totally spiritual experience for me with my music."

"It's like saying everybody needs to take a breath and it's going to be OK."

She also joked she was going to talk to US President Barack Obama in a bid to make marijuana legal in America.

The eccentric singer recently had a tattoo inked into her newly-shaved head in front of a live audience as part of the launch for her new perfume, Fame. Gaga had an image of a cherub wearing a crown etched into the back of her head at New York's Solomon R Guggenheim Museum and tattooist Mark Mahoney said the design is a nod to her Italian roots.

Mahoney, who was helped by his assistant Wes Brown, explained: "It's kind of a Renaissance-era cherub, a nod to her Italian heritage."

The singer - whose real name is Stefani Germanotta - put on a number of live art installation features during the evening to launch the scent, which included the singer arriving at the venue inside a replica of her perfume bottle, inside which she was asleep on a bed.