NEWS ALERT!!! Check Out Chyna Layne’s cover story at www.StriveMagazine.com

On February 15, 2008 at 9pm, full-length feature film A DEEPER LOVE will make its southeast debut in New Orleans, Louisiana in T.O.M.I. Film Festival at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center (1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd). After captivating audiences and film critics on the East Coast and emerging as a winner in this year’s San Diego Black Film Festival for Best Religious Film, A DEEPER LOVE is prepared to bring its heartwarming story of love to the multi-cultural city of New Orleans.  Call (504) 569-9070 or visit www.tomifilmfestival.org for more information.

 

ABOUT CHYNA

Award-winning actress and award-winning producer, Chyna Layne, was raised in East New York, Brooklyn and is commonly referred to as a young Diahann Carroll.  A professional actor since adolescence, she has done over 30 independent films and six commercials. 

Chyna Layne lights up the big screen in the much anticipated movie, PUSH, based on the bestselling novel by Sapphire and directed by the critically acclaimed Lee Daniels.  Set in the 1980s, Chyna portrays Rhonda, a young immigrant from Kingston, Jamaica enrolled in the pre-GED program at Each One Teach One Alternative school.  Here, Rhonda battles illiteracy and overcomes a painful past, surviving incest.  

The powerhouse actress gives a heart-wrenching performance as Deyah Kingston, a young and pregnant Jamaican woman who is HIV-positive in HBO’s LIFE SUPPORT.  For her powerful performance as a young mother in SILENT CRIES OF A CHILD, she received the Best Actress Award in the short film category at the 2007 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival.  Quickly becoming a classic, the faith-based film A DEEPER LOVE, is the first film produced under her company, Lawrence Layne Productions.  The Source describes her star performance as “stunning” and the film itself “a true masterpiece.”  The spiritual drama won Best Religious Film in the 2008 San Diego Black Film Festival.        

She is the face of the hilarious commercials for Dr. Miracle hair relaxer, airing exclusively on BET. Chyna gives another hilarious performance in the Dunkin Donuts commercial with Jermaine Dupri, directed by Zach Braff.  She gained nationwide recognition when she competed against thousands in TNT’s Dramatic Auditions Competition earning one of the highly coveted top 20 spots. 

Chyna’s many films include A DEEPER LOVE (2008 San Diego Black Film Festival, 2008 TOMI Film Festival New Orleans), HARDROCK (Lionsgate), BACK STAB (2007 Urbanworld Film Festival), SILENT CRIES OF A CHILD (NYIIFVF Best Actress Award Winner & 2008 Cannes Short Film Corner), ALL SCREWED UP (2008 Rockland Film Festival), STD:  Spiritually Transmitted Disease (2008 TOMI Film Festival), HBO’s LIFE SUPPORT and Lee Daniels’ much anticipated theatrical release PUSH.

For film clips, stellar reel and news, please visit her website at: www.ChynaLayne.com  and learn more at http://imdb.com/name/nm1822939/

Buju Banton Wins Album of the Year!

Gargamel Music, Inc. is pleased to announce that international Reggae icon Buju Banton won the Excellence in Music & Entertainment (EME) Album Of The Year award for Too Bad, beating out such fierce contenders as Stephen Marley, Tarrus Riley, Da’Ville, Chuck Fender and Lady Saw. Created by top Jamaican radio personality Richard “Richie B” Burgess, who hosts the world renown Jamaica Music Countdown on Hot 102, the 2008 EME awards were given out at a star-studded ceremony last Thursday night in Kingston.Buju Banton’s Too Bad officially dropped in Jamaica in late December 2006 and soon entered the Jamaica Music Countdown’s Top 10 Albums chart the week of February 9, 2007. Four weeks later, on March 2, 2007, it reached #1 — the best movement by any album on the chart to date, according to Burgess. Too Bad sat perched in the # 1 spot for 8 solid weeks and spent a total of 19 weeks on the top album chart, ending its lengthy reign on June 15, 2007.

“I am not surprised that Too Bad emerged the winner in the Album Of The Year category,” explains Richie B. “It was always going to be hard to beat on the strength of Buju’s monster hit “Driver A,” but most importantly for me is the fact that Buju once again raised the bar by coming out with a dancehall album where all the songs are clean, wholesome and fit for radio play.” Burgess adds, “Best wishes Buju, you separate the men from the boys!”

Richie B’s weekly Jamaica Music Countdown can be heard each and every friday afternoon from 4:15pm – 5:00pm on Hot 102 FM in Jamaica. The Top 10 is presented later on TVJ’s Entertainment Report on Fridays at 8:00pm. The full chart is also printed weekly in the X News paper.

In other awards show news, Buju Banton has been nominated for Most Popular Artist by the Reggae Academy Awards. The Most Popular Artist category is one of two awards that will be decided by the general public. The brainchild of local entertainment attorney Lloyd Stanbury and the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJ), the 1st Annual Reggae Academy Awards show will take place on February 24th at the National Indoor Sports Center in Kingston. Fans can cast their vote for Buju Banton now at www.reggaeacademy.comFor more info about Buju Banton and Gargamel Music, simply log on:
www.myspace.com/bujubanton www.myspace.com/gargamelmusicinc www.youtube.com/gargamelmusic www.gargamelmusic.com GARGAMEL… DON’T STOP AT ALL!

KOCH RECORDS SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH BUBBA SPARXXX AND HIS NEW SOUTH ENTERTAINMENT LABEL

KOCH Records is proud to announce the signing of Bubba Sparxxx and his New South Entertainment label.

One of the most forward thinking rappers to bless the game, Bubba will release his fourth studio album in the summer of 2008. He’s been actively working on new material that will blow away his long time fans and make believers out of new ones.

In addition to Sparxxx’s new album, he will also release a new Mixtape in 2008 and will introduce new artists signed to New South Entertainment.

First bursting upon the scene in 2001 with his Gold certified album, Dark Days, Bright Nights (which yielded the monster hit “Ugly”), Sparxxx followed up with his genre-bending Deliverance; an album that took many fans by surprise and earned the rapper much critical acclaim for being well ahead of his time thanks to its ground-breaking production. Bubba’s last album The Charm (released in 2006) spawned the massive hit “Ms. New Booty” which became one of the biggest Ringtones of all time and hit well over 11,000 spins at Radio.

Together, Sparxxx’ 3 albums have collectively sold over 1.3 million albums in the U.S. alone.

Alan Grunblatt, General Manager of KOCH Records says, “Bubba Sparxxx is the rapper’s rapper.  He continually surprises his fans with his diversity and comes out with hit after hit.  We’re thrilled to be working with him.” 

To hear new music visit: http://www.MySpace.com/BubbaSparxxx