Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae: Changing sounds, same views From ska to rocksteady and reggae to dancehall, Jamaica’s music since 1962 has not diverged much from its origin – an indication perhaps, that the sounds may have changed but the sentiments are still the same. Terms like “resilient, armoured music” used by scholar Dick Hebdige in his [...]
D’Angel/Barbee drama There’s only room for one ‘top girl’ in Spanish Town, according to D’Angel, who allegedly attempted to have dancehall artiste Barbee kicked out of ‘Fire Tuesday’, a popular dance in Tawes Pen, Spanish Town. The drama began at the daytime event at about 2:00 p.m., when Barbee entered the already jam-packed venue, and [...]
Island sounds make their way into pop With Rihanna’s “Umbrella†and Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls†vying for chart supremacy over the past month, pop music has received a sizable infusion of Caribbean flavor this summer. Also in the mix is Kat DeLuna’s “Whine Up,†featuring dance-hall star Elephant Man, which has cracked the top 40.
Long live the ‘Greats’ – ‘Tribute’ outlasts founder’s expectations Having come of age in an era many regard as the golden age of Jamaican popular music, Kingsley Goodison has always had a kinship with performers of the 1960s. Hence came his decision to start the ‘Tribute to the Greats’ awards show in 1998. The annual [...]
Entertainment: Ziggy Marley charts his own course Though it may unsettle fans who believe the struggle against political and social injustice is a crucial component of the best reggae music, Ziggy Marley, eldest son of reggae’s most transcendent figure, Bob Marley, doesn’t quite see it that way. Marley says his struggle is “spiritual,” unlike the [...]
Rastas blast Munga’s ‘Gangsta Ras’ image A group of Rastafarians who feel that dancehall artiste Munga’s promotion of himself as “the Gangsta Ras” with attendant image, is a perversion of the integrity of Rastafari, say they intend to pursue the use of intellectual property protocols to protect and preserve the culture and symbols from misuse. [...]
Bagasau boy brings band Kepone Fiu is a true believer. He lives the roots rock he earns his living from. The one-time flight information officer is practically flying at the prospect of a home boy strutting his stuff in front of his people. Kepone is the driving force behind acclaimed Australian reggae outfit Cool Runnings [...]
Still moved by the spirit of Marley Wilmington, though not a big city, has a festival worthy of one this weekend — The People’s Festival Tribute to Bob Marley. Twenty-six years after his death, the legendary reggae musician, who once lived in Wilmington, still exerts a pull on millions of people
Reggae’s Compassion Apparently, reggae and dancehall music are nothing alike. This might sound confusing to casual fans of the genres, but international reggae star Freddie McGregor says a line needs to be drawn in the sand — and he’s not just talking shit. McGregor, a prominent member of the reggae community who’s based in Hollywood, [...]
Roots manoeuvre Dave Simpson on what happened when reggae and punk went head to head in the UK It’s late autumn 1977, and the Stranglers are headlining a show in the Midlands. The support comes from the roots reggae band Steel Pulse. They know what to expect from a punk crowd: gobbing, cans being thrown. [...]