Bi-weekly local newspaper
ARTS - ENTERTAINMENT
G COLE WRITES TRIBUTE SONG 'THERE GOES
THAT MAN' TO HONOR ERNIE SMITH
(BROOKLYN, New York): When G Cole heard that Er- nie Smith died, he got to work instantly and wrote a tribute song to one of Jamaica's great- est composers. That song, There Goes That Man, was re- leased on April 28 12 days after Smith's death. G Cole co-pro- duced the song with Ed Rob- inson, whose wife Joanna Ma- rie was Smith's manager at the time of his passing on April 16 at age 80 in Miami. He de- scribed Smith as "an enigma" and an "awesome storyteller."
Smith is best known for easy-grooving songs like Pitta Patta, Life is Just For Living, Ride On Sammy and Duppy Gunman. His career peaked in the 1970s, a time of turmoil in Jamaica, his homeland.
"Ernie's smile was as big as his voice, and he lived for that stage, no doctor. No manage- ment could keep him off it. A true showman, and he loved his fans as much as they loved him," said G Cole, who at tended Smith's thanksgiving service at Metropolitan Bap- tist Church in Davie, South Florida. There Goes That Man will be on a compilation album dedicated to Smith. It is pro- Continued on page 31
CARNIVAL CULTURE CLASH
Mr Killa ignites debate on Trinidad Carnival and Grenada's jab jab culture ancestral authenticity.
The comments, made during a recent Caribbean tour appearance alongside popular online stream- er IShowSpeed, quickly ignited pas- sionate reactions across social media platforms, drawing responses from Carnival enthusiasts, cultural com- mentators, and soca fans throughout the region.
Continued on page 20
(BROOKLYN, New York): A spir- ited regional debate surrounding Caribbean Carnival culture erupted online recently after Grenadian soca artist Mr Killa made comments de- scribing Trinidad Carnival as "big and commercialized" while praising Grenada's Jab Jab tradition for main- taining what he called a more raw and Caribbean Times | June 4-17, 2026
NEW ALBUM 'GOD & TIME' SET FOR JUNE RELEASE
(BROOKLYN, New York): Dancehall star Vybz Kartel is set to release a new album, God & Time, on June 5, marking what the artist describes as a major new chapter in his ca- reer following his release from prison in 2024. The album is now available for pre-order alongside the release of its ti- tle track, "God & Time," and an accompanying music video filmed in Miami and Kingston and directed by Ruppi.
The project follows a strong run for Kartel, whose recent al- bums Party With Me and Heart & Soul both received Grammy nominations for Best Reggae Album. His 2025 anniversary project, 10th Anniversary: Vi- king (Vybz Is King), also add- ed to renewed global interest in the dancehall entertainer.
According to a release an- nouncing the album, God & Time will feature collab- orations with several ma- jor artists, including Puer- to Rican star Farruko and Jamaican entertainers Skil- libeng and Shenseea. Shenseea previously appeared on the single "Panic," which was re- leased ahead of the album.
The album is described as Continued on page 20