Marley more popular in non-white world than MJ Reggae icon Bob Marley was more popular than Michael Jackson in most of the non-white world based on web searches up to the time of Jackson’s death. Blacks, Latin-Americans and many Asians were searching for Marley over pop icon Jackson with China and India as notable exceptions, [...]
The Itals keep on keepin’ on Picture a bus full of Rastafarians high in the mountains of Colorado. At the wheel is their leader, a man who many credit with keeping roots reggae alive through the dance hall years, through the days when the music itself seemed threatened with the extinction, lost amid rapid beats [...]
Roots-reggae pioneer keeps it ‘Real’ As one of the pioneers of roots-reggae music, Winston Rodney, a Bob Marley protege better known as Burning Spear, has long been a respected figure in music, counting everyone from Bono to B.B. King as fans. Unfortunately, years of business mismanagement and record-label creative struggles plagued the man behind such [...]
‘Mi vehicle cyaan dearer than mi house,’ says Flippa Mafia When flossing king, Flippa Mafia, scored number one last year with the hit single Dem Yah and Dem Yah, it was the signal that this deejay was one of those “to watch”. And he has proved that this success was no fluke. “It was a [...]
Interview: Sean Paul Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Sean Paul followed in his parents’ footsteps and became a professional athlete at the age of 13. But after eight years playing for the national water polo team, he gave it all up to focus on his music career. This turned out to be a wise [...]
Inner Circle reflects on ‘State of da World’ Legendary reggae band Inner Circle is one of the acts confirmed for this year’s staging of Reggae Sumfest. The creators of Bad Boys – which later became the theme song for the television series, Cops – and the mega hit Sweat (A La La La La Song), [...]
Contagious – Tarrus Riley spreads ‘sweet sickness’ on third album It’s early Tuesday evening at Grafton Studios in Vineyard Town, St Andrew. Tarrus Riley has just finished voicing a track, but that is not his only reason for being particularly upbeat. He is in the later stages of preparing his third album for an August [...]
Dread in a Babylon Jamaican legend U-Roy is now 67 years old and has never been busier. And after nearly 50 years in showbiz, the world is finally catching up to the Godfather of Jamaican Dancehall and American Hip-Hop, and giving respect where respect is due. “You just have to get good rest, keep your [...]
Recession Silencing the Music VP Records (VP) and the ‘Big Four’ record labels (Universal, Sony, Warner and EMI) continue to struggle with sales down figures as high as 20 per cent this year due to the economic downturn which seems to be silencing the music. All posted lower sales with VP charging that even its [...]
Uganda moves to reggae beat – Though Marley mania holds firm, new interests abound Though the global economic recession has flushed the fortunes of Jamaican products like alumina down the toilet, at least one signature export is thriving in transatlantic exchange. Reggae, a genre still synonymous with the deceased island singer Bob Marley, is alive [...]