Archive for March, 2007

Roots reggae at root level

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Roots reggae at root level No matter how hard the schmaltz of Sean Paul’s club-bangers or the myriad black-lit Bob Marley posters adorning our nation’s dorm-room walls try to pull, Reggae’s roots burrow much deeper than America’s flash-pan pop culture. Burrowing deep into the rich soils of rhythm and melody-finely tuned amid loved ones, not [...]

Demand Outstrips Supply

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Demand Outstrips Supply Since signing an exclusive contract with one of the leading supermarket outlets in the UK, Keith Graham who secured a £50,000 deal and a 40 percent equity, on the BBC reality programme, The Dragon’s Den, says his product has been sold out across the country. The entrepreneur better known as Levi Roots, [...]

Beijing reggae club hoping for some Marley power

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Beijing reggae club hoping for some Marley power “It’s going to be very difficult to bring reggae to China, but this is a start.” Former IT engineer Robin Liao looks out from the terrace of ‘Together’, Beijing’s first reggae bar, at this unlikely setting for a rasta revolution. A man in his 70s stops his [...]

Sweet and dandy at UWI J’ouvert

Friday, March 30th, 2007

Sweet and dandy at UWI J’ouvert It was a night of sensational fun for many students last Friday night at ‘J’ouvert’, the Caribbean night’s edition, held at the Students’ Union, UWI, Mona. Wild dancing dominated the event as drunk, and tipsy patrons wined out the night to soca and a few dancehall and rap tunes [...]

Allison Hinds is ‘on a roll’

Thursday, March 29th, 2007

Allison Hinds is ‘on a roll’ On the eve of her much anticipated performance at the Mas Camp for Bacchanal Jamaica’s – Friday Night Fete, she walks into the lobby of the Knutsford Court Hotel and has necks snapping, watching her every move. A man can be heard whispering, “Is that Allison Hinds?” Yes it [...]

Brigadier Jerry still marches on

Thursday, March 29th, 2007

Brigadier Jerry still marches on Calling out all the soldiers of culture in dancehall music, Brigadier Jerry led the Jamaican music scene in the early ’70s as one of the top DJs. Born as Robert Russell and affectionately known as ‘Briggy’, Russell ruled the mic on various sound systems such as King Stur Gav Hi [...]

If You Can’t Riddim, Join ‘Em

Sunday, March 25th, 2007

If You Can’t Riddim, Join ‘Em Most artists yearn to be recognized and admired by the public. But in the cutthroat world of Jamaican dancehall, fame can lead to serious trouble, particularly if you happen to be a member of the thriving Miami collective Black Chiney. “Back in 2002 someone sent us an e-mail,” says [...]

Who killed the coach?

Sunday, March 25th, 2007

Who killed the coach? When the news broke that Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer had been murdered, it sent shockwaves around the world. Toby Harnden in Kingston and Neil Tweedie in London report on his final hours. When Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer entered the lift on the ground floor of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last [...]

Marley home ‘inspiring, cheesy’

Sunday, March 25th, 2007

Marley home ‘inspiring, cheesy’ A visit to the Jamaica birthplace of reggae megastar Bob Marley includes traversing a narrow potholed road, a store with over-the-top T-shirts — and the odour of ganja. A rattling pickup truck honks and squeezes by us on a type of road Jamaicans aptly named a “one-lane two-way.” “Head gown. Head [...]

Pulse withholds part of Spragga’s money

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

Pulse withholds part of Spragga’s money Pulse InvestmentS Limited, organisers of the ‘Rock the World’ fashion, beauty and concert series has decided to withhold 25 per cent of Spragga Benz’ performance fee, claiming that his actions on stage on Wednesday were in breach of the profanity clause in his contract. The clause reads: “ARTISTE will [...]