Hi Everyone. Quick post to let you know Belizean Entertainment’s “In This Carnival” made it to the final 7 of this year’s carnaval song competition. We will perform the song live on August 15th at the House of Culture in Belize City. It starts at 7pm. If you are in the vicinity your are more than welcomed to stop by and support. Thanks!
Hi Everyone,
Belizean Entertainment will be on Channel 5 for mothers day. We’re not sure when exactly it will be aired as there have been changes in the schedule due to the swine flu outbreak. However, we’ll keep you guys informed. Don’t miss it!
Join us in celebrating local talent in the urban genre in Belize. Live performances by West Side Homies, Belizean Entertainment, Agey V, Ras Cat, The Fraternity, Base Impact, Tony G and CD Release for Benque All Stars. It all kicks this saturday, April 25th, 7:00pm at Los Angeles Night Club in Benque Viejo. Entrance is just $10. Bring your family and friends.. see you there!
Ruben Echeverria was born in San Ignacio Town, on the 15th March 1982. At an early age of nine, he started discovering his talents for writing lyrics. In a local children’s rights talent show he performed his first written lyrics. The positive response of the audience then inspired in him motivation to continue writing and performing dancehall songs.
Later on, Benge-T formed what went on to be the first group to ever record music in Western Belize. This group, Bomb Scandal Crew, started in the high-school episode of Beng’s career, and went on to receive much recognition among the youths. It consisted of artists Benge-T, Jr Dre, Leal-J, Powa Kid and Killa Bee.
After high school, most of the members started their own lives, taking different directions. Benge-T went on to pursue an associate’s degree in accounting. Throughout these years, urban music was becoming more and more popular in the west. When Benge-T returned to his home-town, music was in the atmosphere itself. Leal-J had then began a career as a producer and was then planning to release what was to become a landmark of Belizean Dancehall: the first ‘riddim driven’ album in Belize, the “Hot Again Riddim”. Knowing Benge-T as a great lyricists, Leal-J invited him to participate in the CD. Benge-T’s song, ‘Belizean Artists’ became an anthem for artists and fans alike.
Following the success of this release, Leal-J and Benge-T tried to revive Bomb Scandal, but most of the artists had either formed their own group or gone solo. The sad and country-wide felt demise of Leal-J left Benge-T as the last-standing member of Bomb Scandal. He then decided to join with other artists, Belizeño, Flaco Leslie and Cita, who perhaps fatefully, had also been left standing alone from previous groups. They formed in memory of Leal-J the group Belizean Entertainment as he ambitioned to one day unite artists in Belize under the name.
Belizean Entertainment has since been one of the most recognized dancehall entities in Belize and continues striving to take their music to different heights. As for Benge-T, he has been through many struggles: loosing Leal-J who was like a brother to him; his younger brother Marvin; and he himself being shot multiple times. He remains strong however, as his enemies may tarnish his body but not his will. Benge-T remains positive that “With the help of God, Belizean Entertainment will stand strong and persevere till the days of glory”. He is currently recovering through therapies from his gunshot wounds.
Conchita Melissa Moreno was born on January 17, 1986. She has been told that she started singing even as she could talk. Her musician father still has some tape records of him playing guitar while Conchita and her sisters sang away. Conchita grew up among musicians. Her father is one of the most known in San Ignacio, and together with his children, he founded the popular band Jade. While her brothers and sisters found a wide range of musical talents to choose from, Conchita’s calling had been to one: singing.
Cita started performing publicly in high school. Variety Shows, Cultural Events, and plain old campus get togethers were the ideal ways for young talents to be born in Sacred Heart College, San Ignacio. Cita found herself in one of these when she was 15. At that time, not much female singers were around, as it seemed that the urban movement had reduced the necessity for singers, and thus not many were encouraged to do so. When it was heard that a group of girls were going to sing, and rap, it was a surprise. Everyone enjoyed the performance, and members of different groups were immediately interested.
Having first joined popular group Maddem Crew, Cita started her adventure into the world of a recording artist. Her first recording became an instant hit. With Maddem Crew and popular punta artist Supa G, Cita recorded “Suga Daddy”, a song that is as popular as any in Belize.
Changes in her musical ambitions then saw Cita join the group Belizean Entertainment. With the group she was able to grow together with the fledgling popular music industry in Belize. Conchita has always known that she is destined for great things, and remains convinced that with Belizean Entertainment the opportunities will come.
Amilcar Abdiel Vasquez, better known as Belizeño, was born in San Ignacio Town, Cayo, Belize on February 17th 1985. It was in his genes to love music, as from a young child he enjoyed performing at family events, and reminisces his father playing a guitar while he song church hymns when he was just 5 years old. It was a trend that lives on until this day. As an adolescent, he was introduced to urban music. In the towns of the Cayo District, Latin Urban Music became as popular as Mexican Rancheras. Amilcar Immediately fell in love. He started performing songs of popular artists such as Big Boy, Latin Fresh, Cypress Hill and Control Machete for high school events, much to the delight of his peers.
Since then, Belizeño has escalated in the urban genres movement in his country. Being part of a Spanish rap group known as Latin Pride early in his career, along with the other group member, Demo, he became an entrepreneur of the genre in Belize. Actively collaborating with other rap/dancehall artists in the west of the country, such as Rabba Man, Leal-J, B.V.D.C. and others, his musical influences grew and he eventually fused creating a unique blend of Spanish, Mexican-styled rap and Spanish, Jamaica influenced dancehall.
In 2003 he participated in what was a hit of Belizean dancehall music production known as “Hot Again Riddim”. After splitting with Demo to pursue other ambitions, he joined the group Belizean Entertainment. With Belizean Entertainment, Belizeño gained much experience and achievement in his career. Through the use of computer knowledge, he started to produce beats. He became proficient in electronic production of dancehall and rap among others.
After the sad demise of his group member, and then producer of Belizean Entertainment, Jose Nadir Leal (leal-J) Belizeño took upon the task of producing for BE. The group won the award for best dancehall group in Belize in 2005 and has since performed for international artists arriving in Belize. Belizeño has pursued a resilient and promising career. With the unique blends of what his country has to offer, he has rightfully placed himself among some of the most recognized urban music icons in Belize.
Philbert Leslie was born on September 19 1981 in Belize City. He started his music career imitating artists such as Burning Spear and Lord Laro when he was 8 years old. He enjoyed listening to reggae music and found himself singing to these songs and learning the lyrics. After discovering his talent to sing, ‘Flaco’ started to perform publicly for festival of arts and other events at the age of 12. By 15, he was already a well-known young artist singing underground dancehall and hip-hop songs. He performed with the ‘Benque Viejo Squad’ which initially consisted of himself and the Spanish hip-hop legend ‘Rabba Man’ (Raul Omar Obando). They made an explosive combination and for said reason they became very popular. They performed for groups who came from Guatemala and national artists who would come to Benque Viejo del Carmen to perform. They rehearsed avidly in Rabba’s yard with a mini boom-box and an old mic. The trend started a movement in the small border town.
Young boys started taking interest in what Flaco and Rabba were doing, and some of them went on to join the group. ‘Benque Viejo Squad’ grew to a large Spanish hip-hop movement, the largest in the entire country, which in its peak included as much as 8 rappers.
In 2003, Flaco found himself in distress. The rapper that was then his partner, ‘Meme’ was involved in a car accident. The experience left Flaco in a state of shock since he was in the vehicle himself and he considered Manuel Sosa (Meme) his brother. Adding to that, Rabba Man had a kidney failure and died in 2004. These sequence of events deeply moved Flaco Leslie and the entire rap movement in Cayo. They had suffered a great loss.
Leslie then decided to join a dancehall movement in San Ignacio, spear-headed by Nadir Leal (Leal-J). He decided to further his career. Again, the sad demise of Leal-J proved hard on the movement, but eventually caused the molding of the group now known as Belizean Entertainment. With Flaco Leslie as the most experienced singer/rapper, Belizean Entertainment received national recognition and is the group we know today.
Welcome to the Belizean Entertainment Blog. We decided to move into a blog system as its a lot easier to keep you all updated with the latest from Belizean Entertainment. Be sure to drop by often as we planning to keep the blog up to date with the latest. Also, feel free to comment and criticise all you want! Respect and thanks for supporting Belizean Entertainment.