Author: Opastaff
Producer and composer Raoul Denis Jr. proudly announces the upcoming release of the 40th Anniversary Edition of Ti Ra – Mizikasyon! The cult album returns for its 40th year—reinvented, reimagined—in a joint production with Fabrice Rouzier and Raoul Denis Jr. Among the highlights of the original 1985 album, “Sukaina” immediately stood out as the #1 track, crossing borders and captivating audiences in Haiti and its diaspora, throughout Latin America—particularly Colombia, Panama, and the Dominican Republic—as well as in Africa, Europe, and the French Caribbean, becoming a timeless emblem of Haiti’s musical heritage. For this anniversary project, Raoul Denis Jr. has teamed up…
Tens of thousands of Haitians living in the United States received a measure of relief this month after a federal court delayed the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until February 3, 2026. The program, which had been set to expire on September 2, 2025, provides legal status and work permits to Haitian nationals who fled unsafe conditions in their homeland. The ruling, issued in the Eastern District of New York in the case Haitian Evangelical Clergy Association v. Trump, comes at a time when Haiti is engulfed in gang violence, political instability, and a worsening humanitarian crisis. For many…
Haiti’s humanitarian crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with more than 1.3 million people displaced by gang violence across the country. Entire families are living in makeshift camps, many lacking food, clean water, or basic healthcare. The crisis is so severe that aid workers are describing it as one of the largest internal displacements in the Western Hemisphere in recent decades. Children are among the most vulnerable. Reports indicate that armed groups are recruiting minors, exposing them to violence and exploitation. Women face heightened risks of sexual violence, particularly in displacement camps where security is minimal. Food shortages are worsening, with…
Willemstad, Curaçao — September 5, 2025 In a historic moment for Haitian football, the national team, known affectionately as the Grenadiers, takes to the field this Friday at 8:00 p.m. local (and Port-au-Prince) time to face Honduras at the Ergilio Hato Stadium. This is their first match in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 44 years after their previous appearance in 1981. https://www.tiktok.com/@iamcheyna/video/7546761133684821262?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7540308309985019423 Why the Long Absence? Haiti’s absence from the final qualifying stage stems from a combination of factors: Competitive struggles: Post-1981, Haiti frequently fell short during early qualifying rounds, never managing to…
Trenton, NJ — September 2025 — The family of Gary Dider Perez, celebrated vocalist of the legendary Haitian band Zenglen and band owner of Ozone, is deeply saddened to announce his passing. Perez, whose powerful voice and stage presence defined an era of Haitian Konpa music, leaves behind a legacy that has touched countless lives within the Haitian community and beyond. Perez rose to prominence as a key member of Zenglen, where his soulful delivery and charismatic performances helped shape the band’s success and reputation as one of Haiti’s most enduring groups. Later, as the owner of Ozone, he carried his passion for music into leadership,…
September 2, 2025 — Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B has been cleared of all liability in a highly publicized $24 million civil lawsuit, after a California jury sided with her in a case brought by a former security guard. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2018 incident outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office, where security guard Emani Ellis alleged that Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almánzar, had scratched her cheek, spat on her, and used racial slurs. Ellis sought damages, claiming emotional and physical harm. Cardi B denied all allegations. https://www.tiktok.com/@iamcheyna/video/7545655587342781710?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7540308309985019423 Following a short trial in Alhambra, California, the jury…
The West Indian American Day Parade returned to Brooklyn this Labor Day with its trademark energy, colorful floats, thundering music, and crowds in the hundreds of thousands lining Eastern Parkway. But beneath the spectacle of Caribbean pride, the event once again revealed its darker side. What should be a celebration of culture has increasingly become a playground for gangs and criminals looking to settle scores, putting innocent lives directly in harm’s way. Despite the New York Police Department mounting its largest deployment of the year, with drones, helicopters, barricades, and thirteen security checkpoints, the violence still spilled into the evening.…
Forget “Law & Order.” Cardi B’s trial has officially replaced daytime soap operas as the most binge-worthy drama of 2025. With twenty-four million dollars on the line, wigs changing like scene props, and rumors she’s pregnant again, this courtroom is basically a reality show with sworn testimony. https://www.tiktok.com/@iamcheyna/video/7545620492552637751?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7540308309985019423 $24 Million for an Argument Security guard Emani Ellis wants twenty-four million dollars, claiming Cardi scratched her, spat on her, and ruined her whole existence. Cardi’s rebuttal? She admits she cursed Ellis out, but insists she didn’t touch her. Translation: Cardi says she dished out words, not hands. Honestly, Ellis asking for…
What began as an online argument over the video game NBA 2K25 ended in tragedy on August 14 when 25-year-old Izayah Gaffney Lilavois was gunned down in the parking lot of the Park Towers Apartments in Biscayne Gardens, near the Golden Glades Interchange. The shooting happened just before 11:45 a.m., authorities confirmed. Investigators say Izayah and 23-year-old Derrick Terrell Ates II had been arguing during a live chat session while playing the game earlier that morning. Ates sent Lilavois his address, daring him to meet in person. Izayah, raised in a Haitian household in Miami-Dade, left his home and reportedly…
The latest controversy in the Haitian music industry has placed two powerful voices under the spotlight, Darline Desca and Anie Alerte. It all began when Darline criticized Anie’s vocals on “Apiye”, the song by Roody Roodboy featuring Zilé. According to Darline, Anie’s performance didn’t quite fit the track, sparking debate across social media and fueling a narrative of rivalry between the two singers. Anie did not take the critique lightly. Beyond suggesting that anyone who disliked the track didn’t understand music, she went further during a live performance, dropping a subliminal jab: “Where are you going with the big bag,…