Rapper 50 Cent To Ignite Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2006

KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 7, 2006: Grammy winning hip- hop artist, 50 Cent, will thrill fans with his tales from the street, when he appears at the world’s greatest reggae show, Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, in Jamaica, this July.

There has been a buzz on the streets of Jamaica since speculations were raised months ago that the hugely popular star would return to the island to perform at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest.

After much anticipation promoters of the event, Summerfest Productions confirmed that the hip-hop icon would headline the festival’s Friday night event, “Ignition on July 21 in Montego Bay.

Jomo Cato Director of Marketing for Summerfest Productions said the show is expected to be tremendously exciting with 50 Cent’s inclusion.

“50 Cent is absolutely one of the most exciting personalities in music he has an aura that excites fans even before he touches the stage,” said Cato. “We expect this show to be tremendously exciting and a huge favorite with our fans, when you look at the line up for Ignition, it is an event that no one in Jamaica will miss, my advice is to get your tickets early!”

When 50 cent last appeared in Jamaica in 2003, the show set venue records and was the most talked about event that year.

Cato noted that 50 Cent is quite popular in Jamaica because he has a real connection with the Jamaican audience.

“Jamaicans admire his rags to riches story and his relentless ambition. Many Jamaican’s see a lot of themselves in 50 Cent, someone who is determined to make it despite the odds and has put in the work necessary to succeed,” Cato added.

Carlo Redwood, Group Marketing Manager at Red Stripe, the title sponsors of the event, explained that Red Stripe was instrumental in signing the rap mogul.

“Red Stripe is responsible for bringing 50 Cent to Jamaica for Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest,” Redwood stated. “Our decision to push for his inclusion in the line up this year grew out of our commitment to make this reggae show, the world’s greatest and Jamaica’s best. We thought that by including the rap star, who many Jamaicans admire and love, would only add to the explosive talent at this years showing.”

Ignition will also feature Jamaica’s explosive dancehall star Sizzla, hip hop duo Mobb Deep, Lloyd Banks Lady Saw, Vegas and Germany’s international reggae sensation Gentleman.

Since he burst unto the scene, 50 Cent has sold over 20 million records and sold out venues in countries around the world. In its first week of release, his debut "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" sold 872,000 copies. The album was certified gold in its first week and platinum the next, and it broke the record for first week sales of any major label debut in the entire soundscan era.

Fans can expect, 50 Cent to roll out all his huge hits, from the comical ‘How To Rob,’ which first got him noticed, to the hypnotic ‘In Da Club,, ‘Many Men’, ‘P.I.M.P,’ ‘Candy Shop,’ ‘Wanksta,’‘21 Questions,’ ‘What Up Gangsta’ and to his latest burners, ‘Best Friends,’ the duet with Olivia and Outta Control, recorded with Mobb Deep. G-Unit members Tony Yayo and Young Buc are also expected to join 50 Cent on stage at Ignition.

This year, Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest is being presented under the theme, “Jamaica’s Greatest The World’s Best,” and will be staged in the ‘Vibes City,’ Montego Bay from July 16- 22 this year. Now in its 14th year, the event is recognised around the world as the premier reggae festival on the planet and is Jamaica’s largest and continuously running music event.

Among the other artists set to perform at Sumfest 2006 are Grammy winner Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley, the ‘Poor People’s Governor’ Bounty Killa and the self proclaimed ‘King of the Dancehall’ and Grammy award winner Beenie Man as well as Capleton, Buju Banton, Beres Hammond, Elephant Man, Baby Cham, Macka Diamond, Busy Signal and Wayne Marshall, Sizzla, Richie Spice, Mobb Deep, Chuck Fenda, Mr. Vegas, Leftside & Esco, Voice Mail, Gyptian, reggae’s legends, John Holt, Gregory Isaacs and and Pam Hall; Yellowman, Admiral Bailey, General Trees, Pinchers, Frankie Paul, Charlie Chaplin, Peter Metro, Courtney Melody and Flourgon.

Additionally, new themes and brand new concepts have been added to the 2006 show, which, kicks-off this year with the all new Vibe Island Beach Party on Sunday, July 16th, featuring Jamaica’s hottest selectors, the “Reggae on the Runway’ fashion segment, and the ‘White House Fish Fiesta.’

The party continues on Monday July 17th with ‘Mad Monday’s Mobay,’ staged in partnership with the Hip Strip community. This event will feature an arts and craft street fair, cuisine sampling for hip strip restaurants, and music from Jamaica’s biggest sound systems.

While on Wednesday, July 19, Summerfest Productions will stage “Top Ranking” a show that will highlight some of the best years of dancehall music. ‘Stormfront – the explosive dancehall night,’ follows on Thursday night, July 20 while the ‘Ignition’ concert will be the pulling card for Montego Bay on Friday July 21. Sumfest will climax with ‘The Summit’ On July 22.

Summerfest Productions has budgeted over $100 million to be spent on Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest this year in addition to the expenditure by the event’s major sponsors.

“Our investment in Western Jamaica is quite significant and translates into hundreds of jobs, new business opportunities and several other economic and social spin offs. As organizers of Jamaica’s greatest and the world’s best reggae music festival, we are proud to know that Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest is contributing to the development of Montego Bay ‘the Vibes city’ and the country’s overall economic progress,” Marketing Director Cato said recently.

Key sponsors this year include Red Stripe, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Air Jamaica, Digicel and Ocean Spray as well as media partners, the Jamaica Observer, CVM TV and Fame FM.

For travel packages and more information, log on to www.reggaesumfest.com.

The 2006 line-up is follows:

July 16th – 22nd
Montego Bay – The Vibes City!

Sunday July 16th – Vibes Island – Tropical Beach - J$600.00
Kurt Riley, Coppershot, DJ Liquid, Pure Playas, 3rd Degree, Pieces.

Monday July 17th – Mad Monday Mobay – Hip Strip – Free
Swatch International, Fire Links, Pieces, Pure Playas.

Wednesday July 19th – Top Ranking – Pier 1 - J$1000.00 Presold / $1200.00 at Gate
John Holt
Gregory Isaacs
Yellowman
Admiral Bailey
General Trees
Pinchers
Frankie Paul
Charlie Chaplin
Josey Wales
Peter Metro
Courtney Melody
Flourgon
Pam Hall
Backing Band – Lloyd Parkes & The We The People Band

Thursday July 20th – Stormfront – The Explosive Dancehall Night – Main Venue
J$1800.00 Presold / $2000.00 at Gate
Beenie Man
Bounty Killer
Capleton
Elephant Man
Cham
Chuck Fenda
Macka Diamond
Wayne Marshall
Busy Signal
Leftside & Esco
Voice Mail
Spice
Gyptian
Fantan Mojah
Natural Black
Little Hero
Black-er
Conrad Crystal & Suga Roy
Aidonia

Friday July 21st – Ignition – Main Venue - J$2800.00 Presold / $3000.00 at Gate
50 Cent & G-Unit, featuring Lloyd Banks & Tony A-yo
Sizzla
Lady Saw
Mase
Mr. Vegas
Richie Spice
Noddy Virtue
Andy Vernon
Jovi Rockwell

Saturday July 22nd – The Summit – Main Venue - J$2800.00 Presold / $3000.00 at Gate
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
Beres Hammond
Rihanna
Buju Banton
Gentleman
Tarrus Riley



ABOUT SUMMERFEST PRODUCTIONS
Summerfest Productions Limited is a privately held company owned by a group of shareholders including Johnny Gourzong, its executive director; Geoffrey Dwyer, immediate past chairman and Robert Russell, current chair. The group has been staging Jamaica’s biggest music event Reggae Sumfest for the past 14 years.
Through its events, Summerfest productions provide a significant contribution to Jamaica’s music industry, the tourism business in western Jamaica and by extension, the economy of Jamaica.

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