Interview: Sean Paul

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Sean Paul followed in his parents’ footsteps and became a professional athlete at the age of 13. But after eight years playing for the national water polo team, he gave it all up to focus on his music career. This turned out to be a wise move, as he’s gone on to sell more than 12 million albums, nab a Grammy and collaborate with the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé. We hooked up with the man himself as he prepares to release Imperial Blaze, his first album since 2005.

Inner Circle reflects on ‘State of da World’

Legendary reggae band Inner Circle is one of the acts confirmed for this year’s staging of Reggae Sumfest.
The creators of Bad Boys – which later became the theme song for the television series, Cops – and the mega hit Sweat (A La La La La Song), are back on the airwaves once again with their new hit single Candy Girl ft FloRida and a new dual acoustic/electric album State of da World scheduled for release in August.

Contagious – Tarrus Riley spreads ‘sweet sickness’ on third album

It’s early Tuesday evening at Grafton Studios in Vineyard Town, St Andrew. Tarrus Riley has just finished voicing a track, but that is not his only reason for being particularly upbeat. He is in the later stages of preparing his third album for an August release on the Cannon label, VP Records handling distribution.

Following his 2006 Parables, which sent Riley into the big leagues with the women’s anthem She’s Royal, and the gritty rub-a-dub of Beware, Riley is confident that this set (the final number of tracks is yet to be determined) justifies its title, Contagious.

Dread in a Babylon

Jamaican legend U-Roy is now 67 years old and has never been busier. And after nearly 50 years in showbiz, the world is finally catching up to the Godfather of Jamaican Dancehall and American Hip-Hop, and giving respect where respect is due.

“You just have to get good rest, keep your body intact or you can fall apart,” U-Roy tells Hour with considerable understatement. “When you reach my age, you have to do more to keep going.”

Recession Silencing the Music

VP Records (VP) and the ‘Big Four’ record labels (Universal, Sony, Warner and EMI) continue to struggle with sales down figures as high as 20 per cent this year due to the economic downturn which seems to be silencing the music.

All posted lower sales with VP charging that even its online sales, an important growth segment, is flat.

VP and Greensleeves Records
“It is just as hard and to make it harder, digital sales are starting to flatten a bit,” Olivier Chastan vice-president of VP told Splash by email this week.
“Unit sales of CDs are down around 20 per cent this year which is in line with overall record industry.”

Uganda moves to reggae beat – Though Marley mania holds firm, new interests abound

Though the global economic recession has flushed the fortunes of Jamaican products like alumina down the toilet, at least one signature export is thriving in transatlantic exchange.

Reggae, a genre still synonymous with the deceased island singer Bob Marley, is alive and well in the east African state of Uganda, whether in remote areas of the forested hinterland or the densely populated capital Kampala.

Dressing the wounds of dancehall

In the article entitled ‘No Caribbean love for dancehall’ by Krista Henry in the May 10 issue of The Gleaner, the assertion that “Caribbean islands are putting a ‘stop order’ on Jamaican artistes travelling throughout the region” is not only misleading but also divisive.

Indeed, the observation that Jamaican songs are being banned on radio stations in the region without acknowledging the banning taking place in Jamaica is nothing short of disingenuous. On the other hand, it is encouraging to learn that across the region societies are showing an appreciation for the significance and impact of popular music, and heart-warming to see their discriminating taste in rejecting works and artistes that purvey vulgar, vile and vituperative messages.

Matisyahu keeps the faith while rapping

Matisyahu, the devout Jewish rapper, is making the kind of journey he makes all the time between his music and his religion. On this recent Friday afternoon, that consists of walking through Manhattan from a voice lesson to prepare for Shabbat, the Jewish holy day of rest. For Matisyahu, this particular passage is simply another step in his dual spiritual and musical odyssey.

”It’s one thing for me,” he says. “The music is not separate from the spirituality. The music is what provides the space to get [to the spirituality].”

Legends ready to rock TT

With just one week to go before the show that will set the pace for all shows to follow in 2K9 and beyond, promoters of I Am Legend II, are rearing to go and eager to see the masses that will flock to the Queen’s Park Savannah next week Saturday.

Shabba Ranks touches down on Wednesday, for what is being dubbed his Caribbean comeback, while Buju and the Shiloh band, along with long time collaborative hit-maker Wayne Wonder, fly in on Thursday.

Vacant Metro Orlando homes leave neighbors feeling empty

There’s a squiggle of yellow crime-scene tape on the ground and a notice from code enforcement staked to the front yard of the vacant, one-story brick home near Lake Jessamine in Orange County. The water in the backyard swimming pool is dark and scummy.

Tim Repasky says the brick house across the street from his home on Lake Jessamine Drive has been vacant for two years.

“All the appliances are gone, the water heater and everything,” said Repasky, a carpenter who has lived in the neighborhood since 1985. “There’s nothing left to vandalize.”