No 462: Kardinal Offishall

If you like digital dancehall, R&B and hip-hop, chances are you’ll enjoy the first album proper by Kardinal Offishall, the nom de rap of Jason Harrow, Canada’s self-styled “hip-hop ambassador”. If you like all three, your chances will increase three-fold, because that album, Not 4 Sale, features all of those types of music. And if you’re enticed by the notion of an artist whose songs often combine all three genres AT ONCE, you’ll either find it utterly irresistible or be left wondering what would possess someone to attempt such an unlikely fusion of styles.

The Humble Calf: A Conversation with Burning Spear

It is impossible to talk about Burning Spear now without talking about Burning Spear then. Four decades and still dropping knowledge: no other artist, with the possible exception of Toots Hibbert, can lay claim to being reggae’s true elder statesman. And of course, when it comes to art, there are two types of living legends. On one hand, there are the ones who get props for simply surviving, even if their better days are far in the past. The other, far less common cases, are the ones who remain relevant and, by the sheer quality of their output, difficult to ignore. Burning Spear is without question of the latter ilk, and his latest release, Jah Is Real should appeal to fans and stands to attract new listeners.

Pepper: Start with reggae, stir in rock and soul

Jamaica isn’t the only island where reggae rules. On the islands of Hawaii, too, reggae is a force — so much so that there is a local hybrid, Jawaiian, a cross between Jamaica’s most popular export and indigenous Hawaiian styles. Jawaiian music has at times dominated the airwaves to the point of creating a backlash against it.

France said to be biggest reggae country outside of Jamaica

Jamaican engineer and producer Sam Clayton Jr has been living in France long enough to know a lot of what’s happening there, especially in the music industry. So when Clayton Jr, during a recent visit to Jamaica, told us that France is reggae music’s biggest market outside of Jamaica, he spoke with the authority of someone in the know.

Ras Moses to show versatility at Rebel Salute

One of the biggest dancehall acts in Jamaica today, ‘The Docta’, Beenie Man will take to the stage for the 16th staging of the Caribbean’s largest one-night roots reggae festival, Rebel Salute set for Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Port Kaiser Sports Club in St Elizabeth.

Although the affable deejay Beenie Man has graced the Rebel Salute stage several times, having made impromptu appearances over the years, this is the first time ‘The Docta’ is officially billed as a performer on Rebel Salute.

Mind and Spirit – The ‘Landlord’ story

His is a story of early poverty, family related hardships and criminality. Then one day Orlando
Francis’ life changed because he embraced the Christian faith. He is now a well-known gospel artiste in Nassau, quietly carving out a niche for himself as a reggae gospel artiste. He is also doing well financially, being the owner of three businessess in The Bahamas.

Let’s hear it for the girls

Female acts held their own in Jamaican music throughout 2008. In fact, they made more of an impact than their male counterparts did, in terms of creativity and overseas presence. Here are some of the ladies who made their mark.

Reggae for your mamma

Pato Banton was born in a home plagued by violence.

When his family separated, Banton and his five siblings were placed in government care. It took more than two years for his mother to get all her children back under one roof. “It wasn’t ideal,” Banton understates. “There were times I can remember that I went to look for food in the cupboard and there wasn’t any.”

Baron’s jewelry stolen in airport

Trinidad and Tobago’s Sweet Soca Man is singing the blues these days. Timothy Watkins, a.k.a The Baron, rang in the New Year without his trademark pieces of gold around his neck.

Baron lost gold jewelry valued at over $75,000 on December 28, at the Piarco International Airport, before he boarded a plane for Toronto, Canada.

Man’s entourage reportedly injured in fight

Reggae Campfire held at the Windalco Sports Club in Ewarton, St Catherine, ended abruptly on Thursday morning when the stage was bottled by irate patrons after it was announced that dancehall artiste Beenie Man would not be performing.

Billed as one of the main acts for the night, Beenie Man was present at the venue
in the early hours of Thursday morning, but left before performing after an alleged incident took place backstage.