A Reggae ‘Queen’ is crowned When Queen Ifrica came out blazing in 2007 with a firestorm of scorching melodies, she hoped her inspired composi-tions would set alight the proverbial walls of Jericho and secure for her a place in reggae’s kingdom and in the hearts of the people. Hailed as the “Fyah Mumma”, this outspoken [...]
No 462: Kardinal Offishall If you like digital dancehall, R&B and hip-hop, chances are you’ll enjoy the first album proper by Kardinal Offishall, the nom de rap of Jason Harrow, Canada’s self-styled “hip-hop ambassador”. If you like all three, your chances will increase three-fold, because that album, Not 4 Sale, features all of those types [...]
The Humble Calf: A Conversation with Burning Spear It is impossible to talk about Burning Spear now without talking about Burning Spear then. Four decades and still dropping knowledge: no other artist, with the possible exception of Toots Hibbert, can lay claim to being reggae’s true elder statesman. And of course, when it comes to [...]
Pepper: Start with reggae, stir in rock and soul Jamaica isn’t the only island where reggae rules. On the islands of Hawaii, too, reggae is a force — so much so that there is a local hybrid, Jawaiian, a cross between Jamaica’s most popular export and indigenous Hawaiian styles. Jawaiian music has at times dominated [...]
France said to be biggest reggae country outside of Jamaica Jamaican engineer and producer Sam Clayton Jr has been living in France long enough to know a lot of what’s happening there, especially in the music industry. So when Clayton Jr, during a recent visit to Jamaica, told us that France is reggae music’s biggest [...]
Ras Moses to show versatility at Rebel Salute One of the biggest dancehall acts in Jamaica today, ‘The Docta’, Beenie Man will take to the stage for the 16th staging of the Caribbean’s largest one-night roots reggae festival, Rebel Salute set for Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Port Kaiser Sports Club in St Elizabeth. [...]
Mind and Spirit – The ‘Landlord’ story His is a story of early poverty, family related hardships and criminality. Then one day Orlando Francis’ life changed because he embraced the Christian faith. He is now a well-known gospel artiste in Nassau, quietly carving out a niche for himself as a reggae gospel artiste. He is [...]
Let’s hear it for the girls Female acts held their own in Jamaican music throughout 2008. In fact, they made more of an impact than their male counterparts did, in terms of creativity and overseas presence. Here are some of the ladies who made their mark.
Reggae for your mamma Pato Banton was born in a home plagued by violence. When his family separated, Banton and his five siblings were placed in government care. It took more than two years for his mother to get all her children back under one roof. “It wasn’t ideal,” Banton understates. “There were times I [...]
Baron’s jewelry stolen in airport Trinidad and Tobago’s Sweet Soca Man is singing the blues these days. Timothy Watkins, a.k.a The Baron, rang in the New Year without his trademark pieces of gold around his neck. Baron lost gold jewelry valued at over $75,000 on December 28, at the Piarco International Airport, before he boarded [...]