First Born’s ‘Uplift Yourself’ tops reggae chart in Jamaica

Guyanese reggae singing sensation group, First Born, has made it to the top of the MiPhone/Mega Jamz98FM Top 20 Reggae Chart in Jamaica with the song, “Uplift Yourself” featuring Fantan Mojah from its ‘Irits’ album, recorded by Vizion Sounds.

The record company told The Scene that this is the first time a Guyanese musician has climbed to the top of the Jamaican charts. First Born, which has been creating sound waves locally and overseas especially with ‘Irits’, is also at number 14 on the chart with “Changes” featuring Ras Shiloh.

More German sounds in the dancehall

Jamaicans have by now become more than accustomed to the presence of a German in the dancehalls, in the person of DJ Gentleman, who all would say has acquitted himself well over the past couple of years.

Now another German artiste is seeking to make a name in the cradle of the music.

Reggae fever hits Boulder

March is a month often associated with the color green, thanks to St. Patrick’s Day.

Here in Boulder, specifically at the Fox Theatre , March might better be symbolized by red, gold and green. These three colors are synonymous with the Rasta culture, and are derived from the tricolor flag of Ethiopia.

As the first day of spring approaches, so do several phenomenal reggae acts – including one of my all-time favorites, Steel Pulse, which plays the Fox March 21.

Waiting for the novelty to fade

This Matisyahu mensch and the mounting mania for him really have me baffled.

By now you’ve surely heard about the world’s first Hasidic reggae star. Once you’ve laid eyes on him, you won’t soon forget the sight. For months, in fact, friends who rarely listen to radio, let alone KROQ – which has been spinning Matisyahu’s hit “King Without a Crown” as if it were the only record in existence – have been coming to me with variations on this: “That guy Matisyahu he’s really interesting!”

Just call her Claudette

You may have heard her song All I Know and thought she was Destra Garcia. It’s an easy mistake to make, since Claudette Peters’ voice is similar to Garcia’s. It’s so similar, Peters once performed with and substituted for the popular singer on the road in 2004.

“A lot of people thought it was her singing,” recalled Peters.

“The Destra comparison is not bad; she is an excellent artiste, but I want to be known as Claudette Peters,” the 26-year-old singer said.

Lifestyle trends in the Vail valley

Whether you are ready for an adrenaline high of non-stop dancing or just prefer to be an introspective wallflower, the dub-roots reggae band, Grimy Styles, plan to create a vibe just for you.

“You feel the music in your heart and your head or your hips and your legs,“ said guitarist Matt Beebe of Grimy Styles. “With no vocals in dub music, it is open to your own interpretation.”

When the sun rose on reggae

The original Reggae Sunsplash brought persons from all around the world to Jamaica to partake in the annual reggae festival to see the likes of Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Ziggy Marley and many others.

Don Green, one of the four founding members of Reggae Sunsplash, says it was born out of a vision to provide entertainment for foreign students coming to Jamaica.

“We put together a proposal for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), but prior to that, Tony (Johnson) and I said we need to connect to people who were actively involved in the music industry in Jamaica because we were both away and had just returned. Tony mentioned his friend Ronnie Burke and when we went to meet.”

Reggae legend heads for campus

Feetfirst present a phenomenal one-off reggae night for Norfolk this Thursday at the UEA LCR.

And the presence of a true reggae legend in Horace Andy promises to make it something special.

Anyone who attended his previous appearance at the UEA in 2004 will know what a special performer Sleepy is.

Jamaican singing star brings his beat our way

Some folks say good things happen in threes.

Sean Paul Henriques is a believer. On the eve of his third U.S. tour — starting Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale — to support his third studio album, The Trinity, the artist who goes by just his first and middle names took a few minutes to explain his third-time fixation.

”The Trinity took three years to complete,” Paul said. ‘It was my third album, and it was also produced in Jamaica, the so-called `Third World.’ Not anybody that’s on the album has been on the game for more than four or five years. So the whole album is all about repping the young Third World.”

Dancehall With a Different Accent

On Monday night, America’s most popular reggae singer took the stage wearing a black hat and a long black coat, but it wasn’t a costume. The singer is Matisyahu, a former hippie from White Plains. Once he followed Phish. Now he follows the teachings of Hasidic Judaism. And tons of fans follow him.

Monday’s concert was the first of two sold-out shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom. And yesterday he released his major-label debut album, “Youth” (JDub/Or/Epic), which is all but certain to enter the pop charts near the top. The record is dull, and the concert was often worse.