New Music: Voicemail-"Praise His Name"

"Praise His Name" is an inspiring song written by Voicemail members. I am glad that readers of The Lime can see the kind of music that Oneil created before his passing.


Written by: O’Neil Edwards, Jerome “Craig” Jackson, Kevin Blair

Click HERE to listen to the song on the Music Page.

T.O.K Records Tribute for Oneil Edwards of Voicemail

With the local entertainment fraternity still mourning the lost of Voice Mail member Oneil Edwards who died in hospital on May 26th while undergoing treatment Dancehall group T.O.K has poured all their emotions and memories of Oneil into a musical tribute entitled "See You Again" which celebrates his life as a recording artist.



The empowering tribute which comes on the heals of Oneil's Funeral Service which is slated for Saturday June 5, at Church On The Rock in Kingston is one of several currently in rotation on radio as fellow artists continue to express their sympathies musically to the man described by many as "Positive Role Model in Dancehall".

T.O.K member Craigy T who was present at the K.P.H Prayer Vigil which was organized by Sharon Burke of Solid Agency and fellow entertainer Mr. Vegas in the "See You Again" tribute sings "You know seh is not even a sadness thing, cause mi kno mi muss see you again mi nuh worry at all".




The funeral service for Oneil Edwards is scheduled for 10:00 am at the Church on the Rock, Clifton Avenue, Kingston 8 and the body will be interred at Meadowrest.

Oneil Edwards is survived by his Mother Lisa Brown, Father Rupert Edwards, Daughter Nehalis Edwards and other family and friends.

RIP Oneil Edwards of Voicemail

Oneil Edwards, of popular Reggae/Dancehall/Pop group Voicemail, succumbed to his injuries sustained in a shooting in front his home on Monday May 10th. He was shot in his chest abdomen and head, and had severe swelling of his brain. He also lost a thumb in the incident.

Many Jamaican artists such as Beenie Man, Mr. Vegas, Tifa, Alaine and Natalie Storm, congregated in HalfWay Tree, hours after the shooting, to pray and share words of comfort and encouragement, while decrying gun violence.


His group Voicemail has released one of the songs from their upcoming album in his honor. The song called "One Life To Live" was recorded six months ago it was one of the tracks on their upcoming album Next Level.

Voicemail: Oneil, Kevin and Craig

You can visit Voicemail at myspace.com/voicemailgroup
You can make a Paypal donation to voicemailgroup@yahoo.com.

RIP Oneil....this is truly a great loss..cause you were all about positivity and living life to the fullest. I am glad I got to meet you at the EMEs this year..you were very pleasant.

Suspect in Oneil Edwards (Voicemail) shooting dead another in police custody

According to the Jamaica Observer:
THE main suspect in the shooting of Voicemail artiste O'Neil Edwards, was found dead in the Chancery Hall community this afternoon, Police said the unidentified man managed to escape a dragnet set up to nab him several hours earlier.

Edwards' cellular phone was found in the dead man's possession. The body was clad in green short pants, white T-shirt and blue slippers and was found on Lady Hamilton Close with several gunshot wounds.

Meanwhile a second suspect was picked up by the Manchester Police in that parish last night and is being transported to Kingston where he will be questioned by senior homicide investigators.


Edwards was attacked and shot several times as he attempted to enter his home at Belloc Avenue in the middle class community of Duhaney Park early Monday morning.

He condition is still critical and he remains hospitalised.

Source


I am glad that there are suspects in the case but as the saying goes, "Dead men tell no tales." To me the article is a bit vague. It says he was found shot by police who basically were hunting him down. So did the police shoot him????

And as for the Observer, their cartoon of the day is drawing some controversy-to the point where comments have been deactivated. Which to me is funny as most of the 30 comments were in support of the cartoon. It portrayed a Dancehall artist in a studio promoting gun violence and then shows said artist laying in the street with gunshot wounds to the chest. The issue of violent lyrics and crime is not a new one, this is a debate that has been brewing for decades. This week two artists (Oneil and Mad Cobra) on different ends of the Dancehall spectrum have been shot. Now Mad Cobra definitely promotes gun violence in his music so some feel that the cartoon is geared towards artists like him. Oneils reps feel that the cartoon is "insensitive", after all he mostly sing about girls and partying and enjoying life-not shooting down the next guy.And I don't know if I should call it irony or what but the same paper is reporting on Voicemail members talking about the insensitive cartoon, only to have said carton on their site right next to that comment

Personally, I feel the cartoon was in bad taste. We all know the issue at hand, like I said its not a new one. There are many people who have never listened to Voicemail and now associate Oneil with violent Dancehall. Seriously. Instead of going on YouTube and checking out the music, people are going on various forums and just spewing more hate and fueling the cycle.

So who has the right to freedom of speech??? The media, who can turn on and turn off comments at will, who can determine what and how much to put or leave out of stories??? the entertainers who are talking about the life they lived, live and want to live???? or regular folks like you and me that just want to comment on a story cause we can?????

Anyways I hope Oneil pulls through, and Mad Cobra too. He is a human being like you and me.

Update: Oneil Edwards of Voicemail in critical but stable condition, Jamaican entertainers show support with vigil.

Oneil Edwards, one third of Dancehall/Reggae trio Voicemail is in critical but stable condition after being shot at 1:30 am yesterday morning outside his home in Duhaney Park. He was admitted to the Kingston Public Hospital, but from what I have been told, he was transferred to University of the West Indies Hospital for a CAT Scan. He did have surgery and is in critical but stable condition. I am still not to sure as to whether he is at Kingston Public Hospital or UWI Hospital.

I am glad that he is alive and I pray that he will pull through. I love Voicemail's music. When I think of the group, I think of great harmonies and fun -loving topics: love, partying, girls and feeling good. I was so glad when they got the award for Best Video for "Dance The Night Away" (feat. Busy Signal) at the EME Awards this year.

Oneil accepting the award for Best Video at the 2010 EME Awards

Voicemail with their EME Award (l-r: Oneil, Kevin and Craig)

Of course many in the entertainment community are in shock and saddened at the same time. Mr. Vegas, Stacious, Tifa, Natalie Storm, Beenie Man and other artists as well as members of the community met at Half Way Tree Bus Terminal to pray for Oneil and to show solidarity against such violent crimes. Here are some pics below courtesy of AXE-S Media.

Mr. Vegas speaks to media outside Half Way Tree Bus Terminal ( Photo courtesy of AXE-S Media)
Photo source




Stacious, Natalie Storm, Tifa hold hands while taking part in prayer vigil for Oneil Edwards in HalfWay Tree ( Photo courtesy of AXE-S Media)
Photo source

Alaine speaks to media about recent shooting of Voicemail member Oneil Edwards ( Photo courtesy of AXE-S Media)
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Beenie Man speaks to Hype TV about recent shooting of Voicemail's Oneil Edwars ( Photo courtesy of AXE-S Media)
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Voicemail feat Busy signal "Dance The Night Away"



Voicemail and Ding Dong- "Jus Dance/Wacky Dip"

Oneil from Voicemail shot multiple times

Oneil Edwards, one-third of the popular dancehall group, Voicemail,is undergoing critical surgery at the Kingston Public Hospital for multiple gunshot wounds including one in the head. The shooting took place at the gate to his house in Duhaney Park, Kingston, early this morning. Unconfirmed reports indicate that robbery was the motive.

Voicemail l-r: Oneil, Kevin and Craig

Photo source