Hypnotic, freestyling reggae heats up Troc Here’s a note to revelers and party-throwers during this chilliest holiday season: If you have Jamaican Dave as your host – the Tri-State area’s preeminent Jamaican music booker – it won’t matter if it’s 20 degrees outside. Things will get very steamy, very quickly. That’s what happened when Dave [...]
Insurance woes for artistes “Hell yeah its hard for us to get insurance”, stated Ronaldo Evans aka Rumblood, member of dance hall quartet Ward 21 when asked if he finds it difficult to garner insurance as an artiste. “All a dem hard, but car insurance is the worst. Mi nuh know a wha, but dem [...]
Gospel according to Shaggy The world might once again be on the verge of experiencing another ‘monumental hit’ from the multi-platinum selling recording artiste, Shaggy. Shaggy’s latest single, Church Heathen, is already wreaking havoc and creating waves locally and the feeling is that this could be the next big one.
Mumma Saw is back The Queen of the Dancehall is back, Lady Saw has returned better than ever. The first Lady of dancehall has been on an extended break for months, but she’s back in the limelight, filming a new music video for her song Chat to my Back.
Beenie Man rocks the Wildey Gymnasium That’s how patrons described the HOTT 95.3 ninth anniversary concert, which was held at the Wildey Gymnasium last Saturday night. The much anticipated show was opened by seasoned local entertainer, Biggie Irie, who thrilled the crowd with hits from the days of the Splash Band to more popular reggae [...]
Rebel rouser As a producer at Clement “Coxsone†Dodd’s Studio One in the ’60s and later at his own Black Ark studio, Lee “Scratch†Perry played a critical role in developing the steady grooves of ska and roots into the addled atmospherics of dub. He soon became known as much for his intense, eccentric personality [...]
Toots is Blessed on Christmas CD Reggae legend Fredrick Toots Hibbert believes he has alot to thank God for and no doubt he will be doing just that as he celebrates his birthday today. Toots has been busy in the studio working on the follow-up to his Grammy-winning True Love album, but he took time [...]
It’s a mix that works It’s hard for the average rock band to earn a living if it doesn’t break big. All the album and ticket sales have to be split four or five ways. With that in mind, consider how tough it is for eight-piece ska/soul group the Pietasters to make enough money just [...]
Reggae stars clamor to be in ‘the Best’ There are reggae compilations, and then there’s “Strictly the Best,” a series of compilations issued by VP Records that feature the best reggae artists of the year. “There are so many artists in Jamaica, so to make the cut is a blessing,” said singer Wayne Wonder, whose [...]
Under a Vybz at Weekenz When Vybz Kartel hit the stage at Weekenz, Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew, at about 3:30 on Sunday morning, he looked out at the empty lawn and said, “a lie. A so much people deh yah man?” One hottie in a hot three-quarter-length white pants had been taking full advantage [...]