Soaking wet from the rain, UNB students kept the tradition and spirit of Neville/Jones residence alive – by pushing a bed all night to raise money for Women in Transition House.

This year, the annual Neville/Jones house bed push raised more than $11,000. It’s Friday night at 8 p.m. It’s drizzling. The well-lit soccer field sparkles with water particles. Four students are pushing the bed, making a lap, then passing it to another group that is ready for their turn. A local DJ, who has performed on international stages all over the world under the name DJ Nasty Naz, is in charge of the night’s music. Students play football and frisbee, dance and get a bite of pizza in between laps.

There’s still 12 hours to go, 272 laps to push – before they will head to the Boyce Farmers Market.

The 19th annual Neville/Jones House bed push officially ended with a cheque presentation to Women in Transition House representatives.

Originally, Neville/Jones house was an all male residence. Male students came up with the bed push idea to raise awareness about violence against women. They traveled to the UNB campus in Saint John, constructed a bed and pushed it all night – 120 kilometres – to Fredericton. All proceeds supported the shelter.

Last year, the RCMP prohibited UNB students to push the bed on the highway because of safety concerns.

This year, Neville/Jones House reopened its doors, but as a co-ed residence, after taking a year off to renovate the house.

Becky McBriarty, the first female president of the house, said that for her and most students in the house the bed push event was a new experience.

The post Tradition pushes on for Neville/Jones appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

The Last Train to Paris is pulling into intimate venues across the United States. Diddy-Dirty Money has announced the “Coming Home” tour, kicking off in Minneapolis on April 13. The month-long trek, which hits New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, and more.

“You’ll be able to see my eyes, you’ll be able to smell my cologne, you gon’ be able to look at the ladies and see their caramel complexion. You’ll be able to hear their voices, see their smile,” said Diddy. “You gon’ be up close and personal, baby—super HD, ya dig?”

  The Last Train to Paris has pulled into Kool Haus – Toronto for the first EVER ( AND EXCLUSIVE) performance of Diddy and the Dirty Money crew’s ” Comming Home” Tour on April 17 . Following opening sets from Tyga, Lloyd, and DJ Nasty Naz,  Diddy, Dawn, and Kalenna lit up the stage with material from their debut album, kicking things off with “Yeah Yeah You Would” and segueing into the remix of Waka Flocka Flame’s “O Let’s Do It.”

Diddy dipped into the Bad Boy catalog with some of his classics and a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. that included “I’ll Be Missing You,” “One More Chance,” “Hypnotize,” and more.

diddy dirty money tribute to biggie

Be sure to check out when Diddy, Dawn, Kalenna and DJ Nasty Naz are coming to a city near you. Its a show you DON’T wanna miss….we’re coming home, tell the world, we’re comming home!

The post DJ Nasty Naz is ” Coming Home” with Diddy & Dirty Money! appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

It was after 3 a.m. on Sunday morning when a disgruntled Elephant Man, after having his set cut short by police officers, unapologetically announced that fellow deejay and unscheduled performer Beenie Man had “mashed up” the Coca-Cola Presents Sean Kingston in Concert.

Receiving boos from the disgruntled audience for ‘dissing’ the self-styled King of the Dancehall, Elephant Man made his way offstage after just getting the energy started in his shortened set. After being called up by Sean Kingston earlier in the night, Beenie Man made his way back onstage for a short stint begging scheduled performer, DeMarco, “five minutes” to give his fans a taste of ‘the doctor’. DeMarco obliged, cutting in here and there for a few lines of his own songs and to showcase his own dance moves. Beenie Man ended up taking longer than his ‘five minutes’. At the abrupt end of the show as emcee Miss Kitty thanked the packed venue for showing, persons in the crowd lively debated Beenie’s performance for the night, often favouring the deejay for showing up and performing unexpectedly.

 strong vibe

Prior to its the unexpected ending, Sean Kingston in Concert was a well-organised and well-attended event that saw more interesting than forgettable performances for the night. Dominated by young artistes after 9 p.m., acts such as G Whizz and Tessanne Chin alongside surprise act Shaggy performing their duet Hold Me got some responses for their effort. Voicemail soon brought a dancing vibe as the younger crowd members bawled out “bembe” along side the trio, who kept a strong vibe. Laden soon followed, deejaying more of his song than usual with Gal Over Gun, Working Hard and had hands waving for Time to Shine. QQ gave a surprisingly mature performance, showing promise for the future, as he came out in a Michael Jackson-style outfit and had fans screaming at the front of the stage. Singing his R&B song, security had to come to his rescue at one point as fans tried to grab the young singjay while he ‘stookied’ and ‘rum-rammed’.

the boo-bird 

 
Elephant Man during his shortened set at Coke Zero Concert, held at LIME Golf Academy, New Kingston on Saturday night. Elephant Man was later booed after he blamed Beenie Man’s extended performance for his abbreviated stint. – Winston Sill

Elephant Man wasn’t the only person to be bitten by the boo-bird for the night. Emcee Supa Hype received a solid one as well. After re-entering the stage, he asked fans to scream if they liked QQ. The audience complied. He then proceeded to ‘big up’ LA Lewis in the VIP area and asked fans to scream for the graffiti artiste. However, instead of shouting their approval, he was given a sound booing. Miss Kitty soon took over emceeing duties, bringing on Alaine next who danced and did her set followed by Tifa, who received a strong forward from welcoming fans. Fans sang along to Bottom of the Barrel, as the female deejay showed off her quick lyrics before going into Spell It Out. D’Angel looked enticing in a red body suit as she hailed her husband in the building and blazed onstage. Executing a quick wardrobe change, she soon made way for Chino who made time for new songs such as Phone Gallis on the Boops rhythm. He slowed it down for Ruff It Up as he took a seat onstage and played his guitar. Bringing out ‘the captain’, Chino made way for his father Freddie McGregor to get in a line or two as the crowd sang along to Push Come to Shove.

Etana, Shady Squad and Mystic all had the crowd warmed up as shortly after 1 a.m. the man of the night Sean Kingston made his way onstage as those sitting down, stood at attention for the international act. Coming to Mi Love, Kingston had a lot to say throughout his first performance in Kingston. In a disc jock showdown with his DJ NAZ, Kingston showed that he was in touch with new music, playing Assassin’s Hand Up Inna Di Air, Serani’s Skip to ma Luu and Stephen McGregor’s Cyaa Friend Again before bigging up the Big Ship. The deejay was all business with hits such as Take You There, Beautiful Girls and Fire Burnin.

The post Sean Kingston in Concert – Disgruntled Elephant Man appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

While all eyes will be on Canada’s athletes competing for Olympic gold next month, a lot of ears in Vancouver will be treated to the best of New Brunswick music.

More than 20 of New Brunswick musicians have been financed by the province’s Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport to perform at Atlantic Canada House and Place de la Francophonie from Feb. 13 to 28.

The selected English and francophone artists span every genre and region. The roster includes Fredericton’s world-renowned soprano Measha Brueggergosman, but no artist is more fitting than her aptly named hometown compatriots, The Olympic Symphonium.

“On the list of things you want to do, it’s one of the ones you wouldn’t even think of putting on the list,” says Symphonium guitarist and vocalist Nick Cobham. “When it comes about that it’s happening it’s pretty exciting.”

The group probably wishes it had seen this possibility coming. They’ve already received a call from the Olympic administration, and may have to change their name because the word Olympic is trademarked.

“A few years ago, we even talked about that and that somewhere in the future it could come back and bite us. We’re not sure what’s going to happen there. I think it’s pretty appropriate that we’re playing there and hopefully they won’t be too mad about our name.”

Name issues aside, Cobham is excited about the opportunity and hopes to see at least one athletic event. Saint John chanteuse Jessica Rhaye is also staying a few days after her showcase to possibly catch an event and take in the atmosphere.

“I don’t have an athletic bone in me. I like to swim, that’s about it,” says Rhaye. “I will be telling people I’m going to the Olympics and they look at me funny, because I don’t look sporty. So, it is an interesting way to be involved with the Olympics.”

The news that they would be playing in Vancouver on behalf of New Brunswick came as an early Christmas present for the selected artists. But they’ve had to keep mum for the past month.

Marc Chouinard was entrusted by the province with choosing the musicians. As general manager of the Capitol Theatre in Moncton, he says he was used to programming and choosing from the wealth of New Brunswick musicians.

“We’re bringing the best image possible for our province to Vancouver,” says Chouinard. “I think we’ve got something original. We’re not just programming two or three artists, we’re putting on a show of what we do best in New Brunswick.”

The showcase will put the province’s Acadian heritage on the world’s stage. Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist group Ode a l’Acadie, considers it a “huge chance.”

“It’s a responsibility we have, but also a privilege, to share that part of who we are with the rest of the world,” says Monique Poirier, an artistic director and member of Ode. “We’ll certainly be choosing songs that best represent the Acadian spirit and culture.”

Country musician and Sussex native Julian Austin, who is now based in Alberta, shares Ode a l’Acadie’s sense of pride in his home province.

“I’m very honoured,” says Austin, “especially during the Olympics. It’s going to be such a proud time for all Canadians, and I’m going to give it 120 per cent.”

For Fredericton’s DJ Nasty Naz, who was born and raised in Trinidad, his selection goes to show what can happen if you work hard.

“I tell people this all the time, when I moved here it forced me to really do what I’m doing right now. I would not have gotten those opportunities in Trinidad,” says Naz “This can be your New York. This can be your L.A. You just have to have that mental ability to drive and succeed.”

Naz couldn’t believe it when he got the phone call at his Fredericton restaurant inviting him to Vancouver.

“I thought they were joking. I was expecting Ashton Kutcher to be on the other line “¦ I didn’t know whether to jump for joy or think it was a hoax.”

Named Atlantic Canada’s Top DJ, Naz has performed with the Black Eyed Peas, Akon and The Pussycat Dolls. He’s also reggae superstar Sean Kingston’s official DJ and will be heading in a week around the world to play the Grammys, Dubai, New Zealand and the NBA all-star game. But even with that international schedule, Naz is most looking forward to the Olympics.

“It definitely obviously makes me excited. I’ve done many shows with different artists -Akon, Sean Kingston, Black Eyed Peas, etc. But to tell my kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, I was part of that Olympics in 2010? That’s a big thing.”

The post Hitting the right note for New Brunswick appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

David Myles

DJ Bones

DJ Nasty Naz

Edith Butler

George Belliveau

Grand Theft Bus

Hubert Francis

Jean François Breau

Jessica Rhaye

Julian Austin

Julie Doiron

Lisa LeBlanc

Matt Anderson

Measha Brueggergosman

Mindy Ward

Ode A l’Acadie

Pascal Lejeune

Radio Radio

Ryan LeBlanc

Samantha Robichaud

The Olympic Symphonium

VJ Pan

The post The Musical Team for Vancouver 2010 Olympics appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

By the time they get to university, most people think they know what career path they would like to take. But life is a tricky thing and no matter how many plans you make, you can still end up somewhere different down the road.

When Naz Ali started his business career at the University of New Brunswick’s BBA program in Trinidad and Tobago, he dreamed of becoming a Pediatrician or Marine Biologist. Little did he know he would go on to become a successful restaurateur and internationally known DJ.

Back in Trinidad and Tobago he had already started out being a DJ at various shows and this career forced him to come up with an interesting and unique stage name, and so “Nasty Naz” was born! 

Naz decided he would bring his music and culture to the Canadian Maritimes and he moved to Fredericton in 2003, after being offered a scholarship to study business at UNB. He earned an MBA degree and managed to turn his underdog business plan, which he created for an entrepreneurship class, into a successful restaurant. Caribbean Flavas is an award winning restaurant located in Fredericton, owned and operated by Naz and his family.

Naz received a lot of media attention last year when he was invited by the famous singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, to become his personal chef during his Atlantic tour. Naz catered to Cohen and his crew for their entire stay in the Maritimes.

Naz’s dual career has him working 18-hour days, but he’s not complaining. He loves the crazy hours he keeps. Naz says that his two jobs are really more like six. Other than being a DJ and chef, he is also a radio and television personality, artist promoter, production director, marketing promotions manager, and more. He has also worked on tour with artists such as the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Snoop Dog and Sean Paul.

Russell Simmons, Naz’s mentor and a music and fashion industry mogul, said that Naz was, “highly motivated, a born winner, full of resilience and faith”.  To this day, that memory still makes Naz’s jaw drop. He continuously works hard to stay true to Simmons’ statements.

In Salisha Baboolal’s interview with Naz for the April, 2009 issue of Caribbean Belle magazine, Naz said that whatever path you go down and where ever it leads you “be true to yourself. Find your groove and stick to it; stand your ground and be strong. Sometime’s others won’t see your idea or vision but it’s yours. No one can take that from you – ever! It’s your job to make people see it and believe in you”.  Naz is an inspiration to finding and following your dream.

Even with the little downtime Naz has, he still has time to connect with his fans on the DJ Nasty Naz fan page on Facebook. If you would like to learn more about Naz and the people he has worked with you can visit his website, www.djnastynaz.com.

The post MBA Graduate Turned Local “Celebrity” appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.