The Music Industry’s Highest Honor Will Go To One of These Five Reggae Acts
If there’s one thing reggae fans love to complain about it’s the Grammy Awards. Well today the nominees for Best Reggae Album category have been revealed, and let’s just say there’s going to be some more lively debates going on. Check out the final five after the jump—and let us know in the comments if you’d like to thank the Academy, or if they missed some of your favorites. Full List of Nominees After The Jump…
South Africa’s Cultural Ambassadors Speak On Madiba’s Passing
The Grammy-winning South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo has released this message on the passing of President Nelson Mandela, who once said their music was a great inspiration to him. “The Father of our nation, Nelson Mandela, has finished his journey. One wants to think in terms of big words when describing him, but this would not be right. Among the many things one can say about our Madiba (Nelson Mandela’s tribal name) is that he never thought of himself as big. He was one of us, one of the people. His journey was our journey. And although he has physically left us now, his journey continues within us all. More After The Jump… (more…)
Singers and Players of Instruments Pay Tribute to the Late Great South African Hero
Despite his advanced age, the news of Nelson Mandela’s passing came as a terrible shock today. Perhaps that is because the South African leader had become a living icon of human rights and endurance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The thought that he might be a mortal man hardly crossed our minds. Long before he became the subhject of major motion pictures, Mandela’s name had become a one-word prayer, a mantra to give strength to those engaged in the universal struggle. And if there’s one genre of music that has consistently kept Mandela’s name in heavy rotation, that would have to be reggae. From the UK to Africa to Jamrock, reggae singers and players of instruments have been beating the drums of freedom for the late great Nelson Mandela. And so on this sad day we present some of the best, in a spirit of honor and respect in all aspect. Ten Crucial Selections After The Jump… (more…)
Show Me The Light, And Mek It Shine Bright
Anytime Cham and Dave Kelly connect, they’re going to make a big tune. But when Cham and the Stranger link with Gongzilla? Now that’s history in the making. We’ve been all over this song “Fighter” since it first dropped, but today the visuals were premiered over at Hova’s site, Life & Times. (Now that’s how you roll out a big project.) Love the image of the two Damians playing chess—and making big moves. #Kings. Show them the light.
Video After the Jump… (more…)
Just Gimme The Trees And Mek We Drink It Up
Dutty Paul dropped by the Juan Epstein podcast last week and chopped it up with Rosenberg and Cipher Sounds. Among the topics he touched on was the healing of the nation, aka marijuana. This may come as a surprise to Sean Paul fans, but the artist who sang “Just gimme the light and pass the dro” no longer blazes weed. Yep, you heard it right. Not that he’s given up the wisdom weed. These days Sean boils up and sips a cup of ganja tea. The Breakfast of Champions! Video After The Jump…
We Requested It, And Now Ferg Delivers The Big Dutty Stinkin’ Reeeeeeemix
From the moment we heard the Trap Lord goin’ in about the Dancehall Emperor, we knew there was just one way to make this tune better. And when we saw the Ranks up in the video, we started thinking maybe it was about to happen. But when RGAT chopped it up with Ferg and mentioned the idea of doing a remix with the Rankin, Ferg seemed lukewarm on the idea. But we kept patiently waiting until we almost gave up hope and then, this weekend—pow! And not Shabba but BussaBuss and Migos too! Thank you Trap Lord. Audio After The Jump…
Di Energy God Won’t Be Doing This Dance Himself—Strictly Hannah Galtanna
Fromm “Willy Bounce” to “Signal Di Plane” to “Pon Di River Pon Di Bank,” Elephant Man has had a trunkload of hit songs about new dance crazes. No wonder they call him Di Energy God, because his music gets the crowd energized. And don’t even mention his life shows—mad, mad, mad. His latest music video is all about twerking, so you won’t see Elly doing it himself. But this tune gets the bashment girls going wild like Miley. (Or is Miley going wild like a bashment girl?) Better just pree the video and judge for yourself. Video After The Jump…
Delomar and Renigade Shell Down London Town and Big Up Di Teacha
Last night at Coronet night club in Elephant & Castle section of London, the dancehall duo RDX made their first ever live appearance in London and as usual they had the ladies going wild. “Dancehall cannot exist without dancers,” the dynamic duo explained to a crowd that included hardcore dancehall followers as well as UK radio heavyweights Robbo Ranx and Tim Westwood. In their post-show interview with Reshma B, RDX went on to break down the basic skills that all aspiring RDX video girls need to bring to the table. Although they’re known as the Party Gods, RDX also made a song called “Free Worlboss” so with Kartel’s trial about to begin, it seemed appropriate to ask them about the inspiration behind that one. The answer may surprise you. Video After The Jump… (more…)
Slim Shady Shells Down Amsterdam
Last weekend at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, the stars came out for the 20th annual MTV EMAs. The European version of MTV’s Video Music Awards has never been bigger, with artists like Miley Cyrus, Iggy Azalea, and Bruno Mars as well as global acts like Icona Pop, Dizzee Rascal and the latest UK sensation, Rudimental. But the biggest star of all was a last-minute addition to the lineup. One day before the awards, Eminem was added to the show, hot on the heels of his MMLP2 release. Reshma B hit the red carpet to find out what the other nominees and performers think about Slim Shady. She even caught up with legendary anchorman Ron Burgundy, whose favorite Eminem song is somewhat debatable. Video After The Jump…
Reggae Dancehall Xtraordinaite Inna Cowbwoy Stylee
From Josey Wales to the Lone Ranger to Super Cat’s classic “Scalp Dem,” western flicks have been a rich source of inspiration for reggae dancehall artists over the years. But chances are you’ve never seen a western video quite like this one before. Renegade + Delomar = RDX, two-man dancehall wrecking crew. They burst on the scene with smash hits like “Daggering” and “Bend Over” and since then they’ve carved out a niche as the bashment party gods with a gift for getting the ladies involved. They’ve just released some new visuals for their uptempo single “Ride It,” so what better concept than an Old West cowboy story? Words cannot do this one justice—best you just check it out for yourself. And then pree their backstage interview with the ReggaeGirlABoutTown. Saddle up! Videos After The Jump… (more…)
Matangi Tour Proves The UK Bad Gyal Still Does It Well
“Truth is like a rotten tooth,” M.I.A. observes on “Bring the Noize,” a single from her fourth studio album, Matangi, which drops next Tuesday. “You got to spit it out.”
Much truth was spat during her concert last night at New York’s Terminal 5, starting with the opening act, Julian Assange, who couldn’t make it in person since he faces all manner of threats—ranging from assassination to international extradition—for various unauthorized disclosures published on his fearlessly truth-spitting website Wikileaks. Assange delivered his opening remarks vis Skype chat from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, which has granted him political asylum for the time being. It was a perfect gesture of rebellion from M.I.A., whose father fought with Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers and whose latest release is named for a Hindu goddess of music and learning with special powers that include vanquishing enemies of the people by skillful use of supreme knowledge.
After a brief DJ set, M.I.A. took the stage rocking shiny gold and silver garments, dark shades, and pink stiletto heels. She kicked things off with “Bring The Noize,” whose automatic-weapon onomatopoeia hook had hundreds of gun fingers in the air from jump. (The gunfingers were only slightly outnumbered by mobile recording devices, which was also fitting for a multimedia maestro like M.I.A.) “Vicki Leekx bitches, back by dope demand,” she roared, referring to her 2010 Assange-inspired mixtape, and the eclectic crowd packed into the three-story venue—including a generous portion of rave kids in post-Halloween gear—roared back. By the time she got to the rabble-rousing punch line, “It’s not me and you, it’s the fucking banks!” M.I.A. had the place feeling like an Occupy Wall Street rally. But when she told her selector to “pull up” during “Galang” we knew she was still a bashment girl at heart…. Video After The Jump… (more…)
Jamaican Singing Sensation Wins Knockout Round
The first time he heard Tessanne Chin sing, Adam Levine told her she could easily win the whole thing. And after this week’s Knockout Round, she took a step closer to fulfilling Adam’s prophecy. The Jamaican chanteuse went up against Ashley DuBose and blew her out the frame with a rousing rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” The night was a double defeat for Ashley since none of the other judges picked her up. Video After The Jump… (more…)