Beenie Man back on Billboard charts
After a one-year absence, Beenie Man is back on the Billboard R&B Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart. His collaboration with Trinidadian soca artiste KMC, titled Soul on Fire, debuts at number 84. This is the second single to chart on that listing which credits Beenie Man as featured artiste. Last year he was featured on rapper Guerilla Blacks’ Compton hit single.
Rihanna’s single sends a message: ‘Play it again’
We recently spoke with 17-year-old singer Rihanna. Her song “Pon De Replay” is one of our favorites. She describes her music as Caribbean beats mixed with R&B. Rihanna is from the island of Barbados, and even though she is living in the U.S., she says she stays in touch with her friends in Barbados every day.
Before Rihanna became a singer, she says she “just went to school and other things that normal teenagers do. I liked to go to the beach a lot and hang out with my friends. I like to watch television and dance.”
Mariah Takes Four Honors at Vibe Awards
Mariah Carey walked away with four honors at the Vibe Awards, a celebration of hip-hop and R&B that went smoothly after last year’s ceremony was marred by a brawl and stabbing.
Carey won Artist of the Year, R&B Voice of the Year, Best R&B Song for “We Belong Together” and Album of the Year for her comeback hit, “The Emancipation of Mimi.”
BallerStatus.net Beyond Hip-Hop: Sean Paul: Expanding His Reach
The US radio market is one of the hardest in the world to break into. If you don’t believe me, ask the millions of American artists that have been putting out music -– good or bad and they’ll tell you. For artists outside the country, trying to break the barrier, it’s even harder. It’s not an impossible task, but damn near it.
Singer, musician Abdel Wright debuts solid reggae album – Edge
As a politically-fueled reggae singer and musician, it’s not hard to imagine Abdel Wright’s idols. With obvious comparisons to influential reggae musicians, particularly Bob Marley, Wright has some great names being compared to him. The only question is whether he can live up to the comparisons.
Anthony B and the ghost of Club West
Once upon a time there was a nightclub in Eureka. This nightclub was the only place around that even came close to being a proper nightclub. This place was great fun for the people of Humboldt; they would dress in their finest and make for Club West, no matter what was on the bill.
Raffy, his ‘Inday’ and his new single
Last week, when I recorded my eight-line freestyle at Rasa Entertainment, the recording studio of Mouth 3 in Oton, I met Raffy Buenavides.
So, who is Raff Buenavides?
He is the Ilonggo reggae artist who gave us the hit song “Inday”.
The most intriguing of artists in the industry enter the game with some sort of Cinderella story, and Barbados’ Rihanna has one of her own. Imagine sitting around the waiting room of Def Jam Records anticipating a meeting with President Carter, performing for him on the spot, and getting signed all in one day. Seems like something out of a fairytale for sure, but for this 17-year-old overnight sensation, dreams do come true.
Toots & the Maytals to open for the Rolling Stones
Toots Hibbert and his Maytals will be sharing the stage with the world renowned Rolling Stones on their tour for two sold out shows in California before returning to the studio to work on his follow up album to his Grammy winning True Love masterpiece released last year on the V2 label.
No stranger to the group, Toots has appeared in concert with the Rolling Stones on their previous tour as well as collaborating with the group’s lead guitarist Keith Richards on his True Love album.
Both members of this Jamaican duo are producers, musicians and now reggae stars. Leftside & Esco have scored a big Jamaican hit with “Tuck In Yuh Belly,” an absurdly catchy dancehall reggae song devoted to the rather onerous proposition that women should wear as little clothing as their bodies permit, but no less.