Corey Todd, proprietor of Unlimited Daggering which manufactures and
bottles the ultra-popular Street Vybz Rum, will take his unique
marketing ability to a new level with the launch of a ‘Gaza Talent
Search’ every Friday in The Building nightclub beginning September 17th.

by millsydon

“The search will start this Friday and continue every Friday until January. We will be searching for selectors, deejays , singjays and female dance groups,” Corey Todd told one876entertainment.

Each week a winner will be selected from each category and receive cash prizes courtesy of Street Vybz Rum. The weekly winners will then automatically qualify for a final at the end of the month, the winner of
each category will then move on to a grand final in December where the
overall winner will be signed to a recording contract with the Portmore
Empire.

“The winner will receive $500,000, a video for their debut single provided it meets our standards, and a real chance to buss, this is not like other talent shows where it’s a remote possibility you might buss,
the Gaza busses artistes,” Todd, who is also Vybz Kartel’s business
partner, said.

The show will be hosted by Boasy Boy Floyd and excerpts of the show will be aired on Hype TV.

According to Corey Todd who conceptualized the idea of an uncensored talent show, “this will be unlike any other talent show in that it represents real raw dancehall”.

“Unlike other products, Street Vybz represents for the streets and is a real dancehall-based product therefore contestants will not be censored,” he added. “And unlike other talent shows this winner will
buss.”

Todd, who is one of the masterminds behind the revival of The Building as New Kingston’s premiere party spot, also believes that a lot of raw talent will get a chance to shine. The Gaza Talent show will
replace Fresh Fridays, a weekly session hosted by broadcaster Arif
Cooper.

Todd explained the rationale behind the controversial move of abruptly replacing Fresh Fridays saying it was just brutal economics at work.

“It was a purely business decision because it was the weakest night in the club, that’s the bottomline. I know that Arif Cooper is disgruntled, and he is trying to earn a stripe with the Alliance, but he
needs to face the fact that he has been poorly promoting Fresh Fridays,
it has almost no buzz in the streets,” he said.

Todd dispelled all claims that there was a move to sideline any artistes or selectors who were not aligned to the Gaza camp saying that “I don’t do business that way”.

“All artistes and selectors are welcomed in the Building. People need to get their facts straight before they start tweeting and assuming foolishness, everyone’s music plays in The Building and if that wasn’t
the case, Street Vybz Thursdays wouldn’t be the most successful weekly
event in Jamaica,” he said.

The American-born Todd who played an instrumental role in establishing merchandising lines and marketing products for various US rappers, before coming to Jamaica hailed the new spirit of co-operation
and unity which has defined the dancehall as of late.

“I hope that peace can remain in the dancehall and hope that Alliance, Gully and Gaza can unite as one and take dancehall to the level it belongs,” he said.