Published: Tuesday | February 24, 2009

Mavado has what it takes to break that drought with the March 3 release of his second album, Mr Brooks … A Better Tomorrow, on VP Records.

The deejay's first album, 2007's Gangsta For Life: The Symphony of David Brooks, made some ripples in the US but was not a big seller. Urban tales like Gully Side and Weh Dem a Do made it, arguably, the grittiest dancehall album since Bounty Killer's My Xperience in 1996.

VP Records has thrown its weight behind Mr Brooks, pushing the video for its lead single, So Special, on BET and MTV.

Already, there is radio buzz around Mr Brooks' leading songs: So Special, So Blessed, On The Rock and Overcome. So Special is currently on Billboard magazine's Top 100 R&B/Hip Hop chart.

Baz Dreisinger, a writer for the edgy Spin magazine, says Mavado may be a godsend for lovers of hardcore music.

"Gangsta personas have short shelf-lives. Snoop Dogg: the only set he's believably rolling with these days is the PTA. And who's still afraid of big, bad 50 Cent? But on his stellar second album, David 'Mavado' Brooks – the Kingston-born artist hyped as having more street 'cred' than Biggie and tupaccombined – has lost none of the edge that made him dancehall's latest commercial saviour."

Pyroradio.com, an influential network for hip hop and urban music, is just as impressed with the Mavado set. "Part prophet, part superhero and part fugitive, Mavado is the voice of the streets and represents dancehall for the new generation," it said in its review.

Last year was not a good one for dancehall albums. Although Let's Get Physical by Elephant Man and Shaggy's Intoxication did well in Jamaica, neither cracked US pop charts.

With the wind at his back, Mavado has a clutch of promotional dates lined-up in the US, starting this week.

Reggae superstar singer Taurus Riley announces that his new single ‘Start Anew’ where he denounces abuse on women was not a ‘dis’ to his artist dad Jimmy Riley. Jimmy Riley was accused of punching his wife Sandra Bramwell-Riley and is now in court. In issong Tarus Riley talks about the man saying that he loves you but beating you when he feels like. Taurus, hower denied that the song has anyhting to do with his father. He made the record about two months before the incident.

On January 3, Supreme Promotion and Laing brought a version of the popular ‘Sting’ concert to Antigua and all account was that it was a master blast. The show is obviously not as big as the Jamaican Sting but less controversial and just as nice. Artist like Egg Nog and Flippa Mafia were in performances among others, but Kartel and Spice mashed up the place. With no Mavado to worry about Kartel gave the audience his best performance. Antigua Sting was a success and may be repeated next year.

Now that Sting 2008 is all said and done, who came out triumphant? Sting was wrapped up early Saturday morning with a head to head battle between Mavado and Vybz Kartel. Both men displayed hits after hits hoping to

end all confusion of who is superior. So enough said, who was victorious? Lyrically, Vybz Kartel seemed to shut out Mavado, who had many silent moments of almost awkwardness. Mavado then gained many points after responding to a comment Vybz Kartel made about his mother, which many onlookers saw as a line that should not have been crossed. After both artists departed the stage, Ninjaman added a little more excitement by declaring Mavado the winner, with the audience’s approval. Although Mavado was declared unofficial winner, anyone who watched or will watch the clash will find it hard to rule out Vybz  Kartel as the apparent champion. This is clearly a war that is not complete. We are thrilled to see how this clash will unfold in the days to come. Video and audio will be coming soon