Irie Love: Hawaiian roots, reggae fruits Irie Love (not a stage name, but her given name, inspired by the third World classic, Irie Ites) recounts that while she grew in her mother’s womb, her father would place stereo headphones on her mother’s belly, thus ‘piping in’ the sounds of Buju Banton, Third World and others.
Rita Marley calls for Gov’t to pay greater attention to music business Montego Bay, St. James – Rita Marley, wife of music legend, Bob Marley, yesterday said it was about time that the Government streamlined Reggae music so that lyrical content could be monitored and royalty from the music would flow back to the artists [...]
Dancehall ROCKS gently When many think of rock music, images of head bangers in white face powder, eyes lined in black and reddened lips puckered, spring to mind. That extreme persona may soon be joined by that of a fashionable Jamaican bopping to rock, as more and more reggae and dancehall acts seem to be [...]
Holt stirs up reggae lovers When a dapper crooner by the name of John Holt went onstage at the Wildey Gymnasium minutes after 2 a.m., he truly put the gold plating on Vintage Reggae Gold to lift sagging spirits and a few sleepy heads after a long night.
Decision awaited in ‘Family Man’ suit Music interests around the world, not to mention the two parties involved, are now awaiting the decision of the UK High Court regarding the multi-million dollar claim brought by former Bob Marley and the Wailers guitarist Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett against the Marley family and the Universal Music group. [...]
The missing ‘X’ factor After his debut single Plead My Cause, it seems certain that this man has the ‘X’ factor that some say is missing from reggae music. Junior X says he is here to pick up where Malcolm X left off. “The name is from Malcolm X. I don’t think that him did [...]
Hitz radio blasts off In a high-decibel function, and with several media personalities and entertainers present, Radio 92 officially became Hitz 92 FM on Thursday night at the Asylum nightclub. In addition to the station’s roster of DJs and sports personalities, other team members on hand included RJR Group Chairman Lester Spaulding, morning show host, [...]
Reggae Focus: Wayne Wonder Although dancehall Reggae deejays (rappers) must be lyrically tough, unleashing rapid-fire guns in the ghetto rhymes and inflated sexual boastings, dancehall singers can attain great popularity sensitively cooing about a new found love, melodically lamenting a love gone wrong and emotionally conveying other oh-so tender concerns. The sensual, honeyed vocals of [...]
Wayne Marshall speaks on fatherhood, Forgive Them Please By now you must have heard Wayne Marshall’s inspiring tune Forgive Them Please. Marshall says the song originated from a personal experience. “It was inspired by a very personal experience. It is a spiritually and emotionally charged song,” Marshall said on the weekend. Forgive Them Please speaks [...]
Rik Rok to expand label Ricardo Ducent, popularly known as Rik Rok, wants to expand his recently-formed international label. “The basic plan of the company is to shoot the diversity of Jamaican talent. It’s not just primarily reggae though, it’s a mixture of reggae, R&B and pop,” Rik Rok said, adding, “We want to get [...]