Does reggae really need a dancehall X Factor?

It has become a cliche of documentary film-making that a project which sets out to capture people’s differences will only end up emphasising how alike we all are. How many times must a western crew have voyaged up the Amazon, hoping to capture footage of an undiscovered tribe who ritually sacrifice their first-born to the monkey god, only to find a bunch of loggers crowded around a TV set, beers in hand, yelling at Robinho to pull his finger out?

When Argentinean-American director Luciano Blotta first travelled to Jamaica seven years ago, he came up with the idea of making a documentary about the local underground music scene. This would be a thorny proposition for any outsider; even more so for a film-maker who admits that before touching down in Kingston, the only reggae artist he could name was Bob Marley.

King Sizzla on mission

The man Zimbabwean promoters have been chasing for the past 10 years is finally here!

Ishe (King) Sizzla Kalonji is in town — it took a personal phone call from the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Robert Mugabe, for him to make the trip — of course not without support from the sponsors, Shumba Instrumentation, the Ministry of Information and Publicity, and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, to mention just a few.

Dancehall’s past, present and future fuse at JARIA concert

Dancehall’s future, present and past rhymed in front of a stone-carved theatre on Wednesday with performances by Elephant Man, U-Roy, Chino, I-Octane and others.

Mid-set, a sweating Elephant took off his baby-blue jacket, elephant chain and shoes then danced. The thick crowd at the Edna Manley College in Kingston mimicked his spontaneous moves to hits including Gully Creeper, Pon di River, Dancehall Nice, and No Junju No Deh Deh.

Bob Marley Movement Caribbean Festival 2010: Interview With Capleton

Capleton’s favorite food is okra. “I love okra, whatever style — fried okra, okra stew, okra salad. Okra is really good for you.” So says the Prophet, sometimes called the Fireman, but always known as one of the greatest artists in dancehall history. If you’re at the festival while having fun don’t forget to be responsible. Drinking and driving is a serious crime and can result in still penalties. DUI lawyer Columbus can assist you if you are ever charged with a DUI. Hiring an experienced lawyer for your case is essential.

Born Clifton George Bailey III in St. Mary, Jamaica, Capleton has been performing reggae for well over 20 years and now. Now age 42, this raw-food loving vegan activist has performed in over 25 countries to millions of adoring followers, boasting an impressively energetic live show that could make any Olympic athlete catch his or her breath.

Steel Pulse Brings Proper Roots Reggae to Revolution on March 10

One of the longest-running roots reggae bands around, Steel Pulse now boasts a list of former members as twice as long as that of its current lineup. Only two of its current players have appeared on all 11 of the band’s studio albums: keyboardist and backing vocalist Selwyn Brown, and lead guitarist and vocalist David Hinds. That’s been enough, though, to hold up the band’s strong musical and lyrical backbone.

Touching the pulse of the people

Emerging from hibernation of some years, former junior calypso monarch, young king and soca monarch, Kurt Allen was crowned Calypso Monarch 2010 with ’They Too Bright’, a commentary on political leadership in T&T. In this week’s Q&A, he talks with Andy Johnson about the the ’true’ role of the calypsonian, and the future of the artform.

Q: This (the calypso, ’They Too Bright’) was your sort of history or was it picong?

A: Let’s say it’s Trinidadian expression. We discuss serious issues with a smile, with a laugh, with a bit of humour but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the issue that is being addressed is very serious, it is cause for concern and is basically the expression of the people, a national expression we just put a spin on it – it’s a serious issue.

Reggae Grammy doesn’t influence chart position

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Most Reggae Grammy winners of the decade didn’t get a boost in the charts, like their pop counterparts, following the US-based award show.

Only three of the 10 winners since 2000 saw increased chart success of the winning album, according to Observer analysis of Billboard data.

From the streets, `Kingman’ rises

Claudius Linton is among Long Beach’s homeless. In the reggae world, he is royalty.

You come across him on the street with his briar-patch tangle of beard and dreadlocks, missing teeth, his small thin frame almost disappearing into layers of sweat shirts, and he looks exactly like what he is – homeless.

And if that’s all you see, you miss the essential Claudius Linton.

Jamaica losing its grip on Reggae — Culture Minister

In delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2010 International Reggae Conference at the Mona Visitor’s Lodge, UWI, on Wednesday afternoon, culture minister, Olivia Babsy Grange, noted that if steps are not taken immediately, Jamaica and Reggae could no longer be synonymous.

“In the current arena, Jamaica is losing its grip not only on the distribution, but also on the very production of the music. With each day more and more of the music is owned, created and distributed by non-Jamaicans outside of Jamaica. While the numerous festivals and reggae shows that take place across the globe is a tribute to the strength of the music, we must acknowledge that more of these shows can now take place with fewer Jamaican artistes on the roster.”

Anti-gay reggae singer dropped from Oakland festival

A reggae singer whose repertoire has included calling for gays and lesbians to be killed won’t be performing in Oakland after all.

But in a Sunday, February 14 e-mail to the Bay Area Reporter, Moss Jacobs, a co-producer of the festival in Oakland, wrote Capleton had been “removed from the Festival(s) and will not be performing in Oakland next Saturday. He was also removed from our Long Beach and San Diego events, and my understanding is that now none of his California performances will be happening.”