Tough Roots Tune From The Rebel Music EP
Even if you never heard of him before, Kabaka Pyramid’s name lets you know he is a not a small artist. Nor is he lacking confidence: “Me ah de baddest lyricist so watch me prove it,” he boasts near the top of this tune, then proceeds to make his case. The video for the first single off his Rebel Music EP was directed by Pierce McLean and Andrew Jackson of Road Block Films. Gotta love the big Protoje cameo.
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The Doctor Speaks On Gay Listeners, Nicki Minaj, and Why He Can’t Be Compared to Mavado and Kartel
Remember that tune where Beenie Man says “Me lose me visa but everything nice”? Well let’s just say that everything’s much nicer now that he’s got the visa (and work permit) back. Beenie’s electric performance at Grooving in the Park this past weekend was his first live show in New York since U.S. authorities revoked the his visa along with several other top dancehall acts in April 2010, effectively cutting them off from their U.S. audience. But the Doctor has stayed in the mix, collaborating with Nicki Minaj, touring Africa, and preparing to release a double album under his own MD Entertainment brand, appropriately titled The King In Control. Before the Doctor mashed up the Strictly Boomshots show at Miss Lily’s, we kicked it at the Complex offices. He spoke about working with Nicki Minaj, static with DJ Khaled, the backlash from his famous video statement renouncing homophobic lyrics, and why he’s closer to Michael Jackson and Bob Marley than a lot of these so-called superstars. (more…)
The Girls Them Sugar Nices Up The Strictly Boomshots Show
It’s been three years since Beenie Man performed in NYC. But now that his visa issues are all sorted out the King of the Dancehall is back with a vengeance. Over the weekend he rocked Roy Wilkins Park in Queens alongside Beres Hammond, Jimmy Cliff, and Gladys Knight. Then last night he passed through Radio Lily to hold a vibes, nyam some food, and admire the ladies—not necessarily in that order. Once Beenie stepped up in front of that sound system something just took over. Whether you’re on Hagley Park Road or Houston Street, there’s no mistaking that real dancehall culture when you get it live and direct. Photos and video by the man called Gizmo after the jump.
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Papi And Mixpak Bring Forth Some New Visuals
Popcaan is best known for party tunes and songs for the girls, but on his latest cut off Mixpak’s Loudspeaker Riddim, he flips into reality mode. Check on-set photos here; the brand new video after the jump. (more…)
The 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Reggae Gold Is In Stores Now. Stream The Full Double CD Here.
For the past 20 years, VP’s Reggae Gold series has been the 24-karat standard for dancehall and reggae compilations. To celebrate the anthology’s anniversary, VP has pulled out all the stops with a deluxe double disc combining this year’s hottest hits with a selection of the biggest boomshots of the past 20 years. Check the selections after the jump. (more…)
Vegas Takes Us From Dub Studio To Dancehall
You already know Mr. Vegas’ Sweet Jamaica is one of the best albums of the year. The double CD is a musical celebration of the past, present, and future of reggae and dancehall culture. In this exclusive video, Vegas hits the dub studio to voice a special of his album cut “Gimme A Light”—based on Desmond Dekker’s classic “Israelites”—for the mighty Stone Love sound. Then later that night he tests it out in the dance. (more…)
Big Request To All The Daddies Round The World
Reggae music has no shortage of tunes bigging up the mothers of creation. So whappen to the fathers? No love for Papa? With Father’s Day right around the corner, we did some digging and the results were mixed. Most of these sound like they’re really more about God than dear old Dad, but work with it father… (more…)
Brand New Combination From The London Boy and the Starbwoy
First they teamed up for “Every Gal,” now Chip & Mavado are after “More Gyal.” Their strategy to get them is a simple matter of supply & demand. Supply more money and you’re sure to be very much in demand. (more…)
Shaggy, Assassin, Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Damian Marley, Romain Virgo, Chevelle Franklyn, Wayne Marshall, Tifa & Tessanne Chin Join Forces To Sing Jamaica’s Praises
A new song celebrating Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence just dropped. Shaggy brought together an all-star lineup for the tune, which joins Mikey Bennett’s “Find a Flag” as the second “official” song of the golden anniversary. Audio after the jump. (more…)
Rumor Has It That Some Very Big Names Are Still To Be Added
Reggae Sumfest, a.k.a. “The Greatest Reggae Show on Earth,” will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this July. Year in and year out, Sumfest has showcased the best of Jamaican music and brought some of the world’s best known international artists to rock out alongside reggae’s biggest stars. But don’t get it twisted—while folks like Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, and Lil Wayne tend to get most of the media hype, the fact is that Thursday’s Dancehall Night always draws the biggest crowds each and every year. The lineup for this year’s Dancehall Night has just been announced, so click through to find out who will be blazing up the stage this year.
A Jail Record So Real, You’d Swear It Was Recorded Behind Bars
VYBZ KARTEL HAS NOT BEEN RECORDING MUSIC IN JAIL read the official statement from Kartel’s record label: “Adidjaheim Records would like to make it clear, that Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer has not recorded any material since his arrest in 2011. Any songs containing material from Vybz Kartel that were released after his arrest, were recorded by the artist in previous years.” The reason for the press release? U.I.M. Records’ latest boomshell “Back To Life,” whose compellingly raw details about life behind bars have sparked rumors that Kartel has been recording at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre. Check out the audio after the jump…
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The Original Ruffneck Chicken Is Back With A Vengeance
Junior Demus is one of dancehall’s greatest larger-than-life characters. Both menacing and hilarious, with a voice like a gravel-crusher, he can mash up a stage show without uttering a word—all he needs to do is strike one of his patented poses in front of the right crowd and the whole place will erupt. By his name you can tell he’s a student of Nicodemus, and while his flows might be similar but his dress code and vocal syle are way more raw. Junior Demus is a master of the “talk and stop” flow, which he employs to perfection on his signature track “Ruffneck Chicken.” He goes even harder on the classic Jammy’s cut “Bank Haffi Lick” and the Phillip Smart-produced “Shot Make You Wiggle.” His records may not always be lyrically profound, but they are never boring. Just last night we got hold of a new Jr. Demus track on the “Rock & Stop” riddim released by the Belgian label, Big Bout Ya Records. Check it out after the jump…
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