A Barbados minister of government has moved to shut out toxic Jamaican dancehall music from his country.
Ronald Jones, the minister of education and human resource development, said the heavy diet of dancehall artistes performing in Barbados is an overkill and doing more harm than good.
“Even though we share the same Caribbean space, it does not mean we have to welcome everybody. Vybz Kartel and Mavado can stay in Jamaica,” Jones said.
Konshens gets behind the camera
Jamaican dancehall and reggae singer, Konshens, has moved into directing his own music videos as the artiste said he refuses to be a “sideshow”.
The video for his “The Realest Song” track has received rave reviews in various parts of the world.
In a press release issued through the Wildfire Productions, which says it is now handling promotional material directly from Konshens and his label Subkonshus Music, the artiste said since 2010 begun he has been focusing his energy to directing the music video and promoting his label.
In the wake of news that VP Records and singjay Mavado have parted ways, VP Records has decided to clear the air with a release stating that they decided to pull out of the three album deal contract with the artiste.
In Tuesday’s STAR it was reported that Mavado’s manager, Julian Jones-Griffith, confirmed that the artiste’s contract with VP Records was terminated on March 1 due to a “mutual agreement.”
Jimmy Cliff Carries the Reggae Torch to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Departures from tiers in EP and DP The court doesn’t always stringently follow the methods of analysis it prescribes for each tier of its of EPC and DP analysis. Often the court departs from its 3 traditional tiers (SS, IS, and RB), whenever (critics would argue) Justices want to rationalize whatever decision they want to come to on issues that comes before the court.
Jimmy Cliff already holds the Order of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by his native Jamaica, where the reggae legend stands alongside Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in the genre’s Mt. Rushmore. Now, he deservedly follows Marley from the reggae world into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he will be inducted by longtime admirer and friend Wyclef Jean.
The accolade comes at a perfect time for Cliff, who will release a new album, ‘Existence,’ this year and gets set for his first major US tour in five years, including dates at Bonnaroo and the Hollywood Bowl, this summer. On the eve of his induction, the elegant and gracious Cliff spoke with Spinner about his influence on the likes of the Grateful Dead and Keith Richards, the enduring impact of ‘The Harder They Come’ and about finally getting to the next level in the US.
Keepers of the Heritage – Autobiography traces Jamaica’s music evolution
Errol Samuels was born in 1948 at Victoria Jubilee Hospital and grew up at various addresses in Kingston, except for the two years he spent in England from 1954 to 1956. It was a childhood of fun and adventures.
His father had an insatiable taste for a variety of music, including classical. At the time, the most popular types of local music were calypso and the mento beat. Surrounded by such influences, he is not surprised that he himself was bitten by the music bug.
A girl’s journey of trial and triumph
One minute she’s imagining herself a dancehall queen, glorying in the spotlight and the envy of everyone on the dance floor. The next, she’s a little girl, taking to heart, at least while it’s in progress, her granny’s upbraiding for some breach of acceptable behaviour.
All the while, a resilient, funny and very smart young woman is emerging, discovering herself and her heritage in a country where blood seems ever-present, whether it’s being shed in violence or honoured in ritual.
Sizzla hails local dancehall talent
Zimbabwe has not only the world’s most passionate reggae and dancehall supporters, it has the most talented young ragga singers who have not been corrupted by the world.
These were the parting words of renowned Jamaican dancehall icon Sizzla Kalonji as he performed for the last time at Red Fox Art Centre where he was being hosted by Zimbabwean reggae granddaddies, Transit Crew.
I traversed four Caribbean islands in the past two months and spied one common denominator: graffiti. Scrawled precipitously on a cliff suspended above the lush mountains of Saint Lucia, on the aluminum siding of a rum shop in French Saint Martin, on the concrete walls of a Trinidad office park, on accessible surfaces covering urban and rural landscapes across Jamaica, one of two words made its inevitable appearance: “Gully” or “Gaza.”
No island-hopping tagger is responsible—blame Jamaican music’s latest, scariest personal feud. “Gaza” refers to a swath of the working-class town of Portmore, home of Vybz Kartel, the man voted, in a recent poll, the island’s most popular dancehall artist.
Buju Banton’s attorney seeks details on informant in drug case
The informant who helped federal agents build a drug case against Jamaican reggae singer Buju Banton has been paid $3.3 million for helping law enforcement in numerous cases over several years, lawyers said in court this morning.
An attorney for Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, said he plans to argue that the singer was entrapped by the informant, who pestered him for months to join him in a cocaine deal.
New reggae albums slipping out of Billboard Top 10
New 2010 releases are not remaining in the top 10 of the Billboard Reggae Albums, whilst aged albums hover effortlessly.
Six of the eight new albums that entered top 10 since January were either booted or trending down. Bob Marley and the Wailers Dub 1 debuted at one but quickly slipped out of the top 10 within two weeks. Crucial Times by Sizzla Kalonji debuted at five then bailed out the top 10 within two weeks. Now and Forever by Sanchez debuted at 10 but didn’t last another week in the top 10. Guy With A Guitar by Mishka peaked at four then dropped to 14 the following week.