“When Beyoncé sampled Pon De Floor it was already in the clubs two years earlier and I told her that,” Diplo admits. “She said to me ‘No, but do people know this s***?’ So I was like ‘fine go ahead’. I don’t care, I’m in my own world.” Diplo’s musical world is a collision of [...]

Havana in the 1950s was Las Vegas with beaches. Affluent North Americans escaped to Cuba to indulge in cigars, sex, rum, and affordable luxury. Leading hotels and casinos boasted of dance halls and large orchestras. Modeled after popular New York orchestral combos, these tourism-generated bands infused popular music from the United States with the instruments [...]

Dancehall music has had its fair share of highs and lows since the 1990s. The most notable of those ‘highs’ are perhaps Shabba’s double Grammy Award wins and Shaggy’s diamond-selling record, despite many other gains by several artistes. As far as low moments are concerned, there appears to be stiff competition between Shabba’s fall from [...]

Based on New Times’ reporting, a federal judge in Tampa last week tossed out one of two convictions that sent reggae giant Buju Banton to prison in 2011. The decision — which hinged on juror misconduct dug up by the newspaper — is just the latest plot twist since the Grammy Award winner was rounded [...]

The combined lyrical prowess of dancehall’s biggest divas will pique ideas of girl power in dancehall at Reggae Sumfest’s Dancehall Night, July 25. As the premier reggae festival readies for the staging of its 21st show, audiences are in for a female-powered line-up with the panache to please and tease its fans. Dancehall Night 2013 [...]