Beenie ‘runs’ Trelawny Self-styled King of the Dancehall Beenie Man delivered a majestic performance in front of a jam-packed audience at the Hague Agricultural Show Ground, Trelawny, at the sixth annual staging of the reggae music festival dubbed the Trelawny Family Fun Day hosted by top flight chanter Anthony B New Year’s night.
Payola on the increase, say music industry sources No pay,no airplay It’s hard to prove and those who get involved are extremely tight-lipped, but music industry sources say payola, an old unethical pay-to-play or publish scheme involving the media, is on the rise. So pervasive is payola that many producers, artistes, and artistes’ managers believe [...]
First World Music at King’s House With acts like Third World, given their longevity (32 years) and the attendant depth of their catalogue, everybody more or less has “their” song; the one tune from the repertoire that they just have to hear.
Police chief takes rap to rock slum crime A police chief who led a commando-style anti-crime team that has left a trail of bodies is hitting the airwaves with a rap song that pledges to restore law and order in Jamaica. “People of Jamaica, listen to this: The law is here to serve and protect, [...]
MUSIC REVIEW: The Wailers The Wailers have done little recording since some very productive years in the 1970s . But since Marley’s death in 1981, the band has maintained a touring presence in an effort to keep Marley’s music and message in the ears and minds of American listeners. Anyone who was counting on a [...]
Dr. Israel’s Patterns of War by Elena Oumano One turntable spinning through a crate of vinyl, giant speakers blasting riddims into backbones, and a hypester on the mic—that’s the Jamaican sound system, a cheap fix for music cravers lacking the price of a concert ticket. That same level of need and imagination fueled Brooklyn reggae [...]
King Yellowman From rags to records He was deserted by his parents, scorned at stage shows, chased away by pro-ducers, banned from the airwaves and developed skin cancer. A doctor even told him he would live only three years more. That was in 1983.
Swiss Reggae Ambassador Wears Double Culture The reigning Swiss roots reggae champ Thomi Nikles, aka Famara, is not relenting in exposing his dual racial personality. “I am white outside and black inside,” he confessed over the phone from Europe. “Reggae is black music and that’s all about me.” The vibrant performer, who’s toured Western Africa [...]
The night is feeling their song- and then some If you would like an idea of how well things are going for Bedouin Soundclash, you should know they finished recording their new album Street Gospels in February — and don’t plan on releasing for another year.
Reggae: Globalisation in reverse Noted Jamaican musicologist, Dermot Husssey has observed reggae music’s global penetration as one of Jamaica’s greatest victories. Describing the music’s global reach as “globalisation in reverse”, he contends that this is a feat that only superpowers like Britain and America have matched. “The penetration of reggae globally, is one of Jamaica’s [...]