Lamine Fellah’s goal is ‘a big global party’ “I call reggae the skeleton key of music, since it fits in almost any lock,’’ says Jacob Edgar, who spent years as a globe-trekking talent scout for the world music label Putumayo before launching his own label, Cumbancha, in 2006. “You can put it in almost any [...]
The Great Dancehall Freeze-Out of 2010 When word spread on April 1 that the U.S. Embassy in Kingston was stripping dancehall stars Aidonia, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Mavado of their visas, many Jamaicans figured the news for a joke—just more fodder for Clovis, the Jamaica Observer cartoonist whose satirical barbs target trouble-prone musicians just [...]
The Great Dancehall Freeze-Out of 2010 When word spread on April 1 that the U.S. Embassy in Kingston was stripping dancehall stars Aidonia, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Mavado of their visas, many Jamaicans figured the news for a joke—just more fodder for Clovis, the Jamaica Observer cartoonist whose satirical barbs target trouble-prone musicians just [...]
Riley wants more confidence from the ladies During 2009, as part of its anniversary celebrations, the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) launched its television series titled Breakfast with the Stars. The series began by featuring international recording artiste Dr Jimmy Cliff. This week, CPTC chose to feature Tarrus Riley. At the recent taping of [...]
Usher coming for Reggae Sumfest Multi-talented American R&B singer, Usher, has been confirmed as one of the acts who will perform at this year’s staging of “the greatest reggae festival on earth” Reggae Sumfest. At the long-awaited launch on Friday night at Sportsmax Zone in New Kingston, the promoters, Summerfest Productions, announced the artiste line-up [...]
Hasidic New York Reggae in The Park There once was a time when Matisyahu seemed cool. The weed-smoking hippie turned Hasidic rapper blended worlds that seemed destined never to meet and created danceable music that was unique to the American mainstream. That was in 2006. Now that he’s been exposed as little more than a [...]
De Lions of Jah bring reggae style to community plaza [North Florida] To round out the month-long celebration of National Black Music Month, De Lions of Jah will perform at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in Friday’s installment of the Let’s Go Downtown Free Fridays concert series. The plaza has already seen groups like Little [...]
Vybz Kartel puts Clarks footprint on Jamaica Back in the spring, the Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel released a single paying tribute to his favourite consumer goods. He was, he says, recognising a great Jamaican tradition. The song was a huge hit on the island, and stores across Jamaica reported selling out of the very [...]
Flexxing with Russian “Russian, clean out yuh closet, deposit the clark’s dem we love it, ahoe…” These are the words of dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel as he croons over the Clark’s Again beats created by young producer Tarik Johnston, who we have come to know as Russian.
From Rasta to Gospel, Mowatt has thrilled The sounds of gospel icons will bless fathers countrywide when Judy Mowatt, belts out those sounds that men worldwide have come to fall in love with. The event, A Blessing for Fathers; the venue, the King’s House West Lawn; the cost, well worth it. The gospel music Mowatt [...]