Prophecy revealed When up-and-coming reggae singer Prophecy penned the single Chance – an anti-violence piece – and sent it off to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) shortly after the untimely death of South African reggae singer Lucky Dube, he had no idea that he had set in motion what would become his chance of [...]
February to be declared Reggae Month, says Grange The Government is to declare February Reggae Month, minister of information, culture, youth and sports, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, told guests at the launch of the Reggae Academy Awards last Tuesday at the Hilton Kingston Hotel. “I really want to say to you that the Government will be [...]
Artistes pay big bucks for on-stage impact It’s not unusual for an artiste to spend megabucks on stage ensemble. “Me spen’ ’bout one million fe ’bout 20 suit a year,” quips self-professed King of the Dancehall, Beenie Man, explaining that he gives a lump sum to ‘Smilie’ – of dancehall design house WhiteSky – who [...]
‘I’ll never marry again’ – ‘There is an icebox where my heart used to be,’ Beenie says After a much-publicised split from his wife D’Angel and several embarrassing moments, The Doctor’, Beenie Man, says he will never get married again. The deejay, who is currently separated from his wife of less than a year, told [...]
‘Burnin’ smokes in US Library of Congress – Friday Burnin’, the 1973 Island Records album which was the swansong for the core Wailers unit of Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, has been chosen for perpetual preservation in the United States Library of Congress. A release from Tuff Gong International Ltd. said “Each year [...]
Big plans scare young Hammond After Beres Hammond recorded the Soul Reggae album for Aquarius, released in 1976, his life changed. Or, at least, his life was changed for him. We pick up on our ongoing series on Beres Hammond at the point where his popularity was really skyrocketing. With Got To Get Away ruling [...]
Chaka Demus, Pliers – open ‘Front Door’ Singer Pliers chuckles when The Gleaner asks if the new single, Front Door, refers to a vehicle, a house or any other object which requires entry and exit. He just calls it “another kind of door”. And Chaka Demus, his deejay partner in one of the most successful [...]
The Month In: Reggae / Dancehall As we round up 2007, one certainty is times are changing for reggae and dancehall. Vinyl production in Jamaica is at a virtual standstill, the apparently unstoppable flow of riddim albums on international labels such as VP and Greensleeves has now come to an end, Jah Cure can no [...]
Family energy at home While many might find it difficult to maintain a career and responsibilities at home, Ifrika manages her time as artiste and a mother easily. According to Queen Ifrica who is the mother of two, a 14-year-old son, Imeru, and a six-year-old daughter, Amakai, “it’s easy to balance both, because on holidays [...]
Tastee Talent Trail blazing in Montego Bay tonight Twenty semi-finalists will compete in the Tastee Talent Trail 2007 when the second concert happens tonight in Montego Bay. Judges Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Anthony Cruz and Chantal Hylton-Tonnes will face the challenging task of selecting the five contestants who will move on to the finals and a chance [...]