Congorock + Stereo Massive + Sean Paul = Vibes
Italian DJ/Producer Congorock teams up with Stereo Massive and Mr. Dutty Rock himself Sean Paul on his new single “Bless Di Nation.” A hypnotic mix of pulsating synths and thumping bass kicks paired with Paul’s signature vocals will have you bobbing your head in no time. “Turn up the bass an bless up di nation” after the jump. (more…)
New Caribbean Cinema Storms into New York Like Sandy
After premiering last September at the British Film Institute, Ring Di Alarm will have its NYC premiere this weekend as part of the Flatbush Film Festival. A compilation of seven short films by seven different filmmakers that director Storm Saulter has called “a true experiment in guerilla film making,” Ring Di Alarm is the latest production of the New Caribbean Cinema movement that also brought us the critically acclaimed period piece Better Mus Come. You don’t want to miss this one. Movie Trailer and Screening Details After The Jump…
This Ain’t No Beach Party
Cham’s “Stripper Pose” video looks like it had to be one of the funnest video shoots ever. Beautiful girls on a beach with big bass cabinets blasting dancehall—what’s not to like? His song “Lawless” video might be on the same Dave Kelly–produced riddim, but the visuals depict totally different situation. It’s a rudeboy tune after all, a block-by-block survey of which neighborhood in Kingston is the maddest and why. We’re talking black bandanas, high-speed chases, outwitting Babylon at every turn. Fasten your seatbelt. Video After The Jump…
Busy Stays Getting Busy, Drops Two Bad Tunes on the Church Money Riddim
Busy is not rampin’—at all. Ever since his triumphant return to Jamaica, he’s been dropping heat every single day. Today our inbox was blessed with not one but two tunes on the Church Money riddim. The first, “Bout It,” is all about the sexy ladies with a catchy Auto-Tune hook that sounds a bit Kartel-ish. The second “Defense” is a rapid-fire audio assault focusing on Busy’s lyrical prowess. “Superior is my style, some bwoy style inferior.” Any questions? Audio After the Jump… (more…)
Say It Ain’t So, Saw!
OMG! Is it really over for Lady Saw?!? They say “All Good Things Must Come To An End,” but we’re hoping this turns out to be one of those rumors that gets cleared up—fast!
Sadly this news does seem to be coming straight from the Queen herself. In a recent radio interview Saw discussed the struggles of life in the dancehall business and specifically the difficulties that she’s had with other female artists. She also discusses her calling from the Almighty and plans for a gospel collaboration with Mavado. (Which actually sounds kinda hot, come to think of it.) But still, why quit now just when she was about to shoot the video for her big single “Heels On,” and with an album of the same name on the way?
It’s not like Saw can’t mash up any dance, stage-show, or clash anytime she feels like it. Could this have anything to do with another recent interview in which Macka Diamond spoke of her issues with Lady Saw? It’s been no secret that Saw’s had her ups and downs with other females in the biz, including Spice & Tanya. But earlier this Summer, when Saw was crowned Queen of the Dancehall, she made a point of showing love for the other ladies in the business. How soon they forget. Interview After The Jump… (more…)
Wes Takes The VF Massive To Jamaica and Introduces Them to Popcaan, Busy, and Passa Passa
Diplo and his road dog / top shotta Shane McCauley have published a photo essay in the latest issue of Vanity Fair as the producer behind Major Lazer continues to expose dancehall to a wider audience. “I was in Jamaica during this time recording with a crew for a secret project,” Diplo write in the story. “Popcaan has been brought in to give us some current vibes, and also some weed and other stuff. His favorite drink is a weird fruit flavor of vodka that he mentions in mad songs. In fact, he mentions me and the producer Dre Skull in this tune we are recording, and his friends and the studio. In Jamaica nearly every song is a document of the moment. Dre Skull will release Popcaan’s next single and has been a producer within the Vybz camp for a few years. In fact, he produced the entire Vybz album, Kingston Story, in 2011—one of the most coherent and best long-player dancehall albums in the past decades. Dre Skull produces videos for the songs he produces, too, and through his YouTube channel, these videos and the ad revenue they generate support his label on a day-to-day basis. It’s a funny economy that just sorted itself out, since the fall of the old days of record deals and CD sales—but dancehall still found a way to keep the doors open.” More Photos After The Jump…
Buy Kartel’s Remarkable Book, The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto, At A 60% Discount For Black Friday
“I pray this book helps to change Jamaica forever,” writes Vybz Kartel on the cover of The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto. Like most everything else with Kartel, the publication of this book has been clouded with controversy. How could a dancehall artist who’s known for outrageous lyrics and who sits behind bars accused of murder publish a book criticizing society? How dare he include the subtitle “Incarcerated But Not Silenced” on said book? And is the man who advocated bleaching his skin really posing as Malcolm X on his book cover? While these questions may be understandable, they seem to have distracted many people from the old saying that “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” If folks would actually take the time to read Adidja Palmer and Michael Dawson’s work, they might realize that the authors have anticipated the questions, providing answers to these and many more. If you haven’t had a chance to read Kartel’s book until now, Black Friday is your lucky day. Visit the official book website today to order your copy at a 60% discount. During this time of Thanksgiving, we thought it appropriate to allow readers a chance to actually read Kartel’s words and judge for themselves. So we present to you the first three paragraphs of Chapter 1, “Thank You Jah.” Book Excerpt After The Jump… (more…)
Busy’s Back—Time To Get Busy… Hottted!
That first tweet when he touched back down on Jamaican turf was nice. Last night’s press conference was sweet. But nothing beats the feeling of hearing Busy Signal’s first new release since his own release. No surprise he sounds like he’s got a lot to get off his chest. “Me just jumped out and me ready, go tell the whole world say me ready.” His fans are ready for sure. Hope the whole world is ready too. Audio After The Jump…
(more…)
“6 Months Felt Like 6 Million Years” Says Busy In His First Public Appearance Since Returning From Prison
Last night Busy Signal made his first public since returning home to Jamaica after serving a six-month prison sentence in the United States. The reggae star was joined by his close friend and manager Shane Brown as well as other industry heavyweights. It’s good to have Busy back in the game. And he certainly seems happy to be home. Video After The Jump…
(more…)
Epic Two-Part Video Takes Elly & Crew From The Swamp Around The World And Back
You’ve gotta love the new Elephant Man video from Terminal 4 Media. Not just because it’s hilarious seeing Elly and Ding Dong and Keiva and the Ravers Clavers crawling in the primordial ooze like a bunch of swamp creatures. And not just because they so clean up in the second half of the video, trash and ready and bush to the bone ready to floss around the world in yet another dancehall version of Psy’s runaway hit “Gangnam Style.” And not just because it’s great to hear Elly singing a ridiculous dancehall instructional video all hoarse and off-key and not giving a frack like in the good ol’ days. It’s a little bit of all those things, actually. “How dem say Ding Dong stop dance?” Elly asks, outraged. “A lie dem ah tell!” As silly as these songs are—and make no mistake, they’re pretty silly—there’s a serious subtext behind the whole thing. “Mek we bring back the dancehall,” Elly sings on the delightfully ear-splitting hook. “Mek we show dem how it used to be.” Which means you’ve got to come with a new style. Even if it means making up your face like a reptile and crawling in the mud. And of course “Badman Style” isn’t exactly new. Psy did it first. Then Mega Banton, Singer J, and G-Loc brought it into the dancehall. But theirs was more of a bad man badman thing. And you already know Elly’s thing is a dancing thing. As in not taking oneself too seriously. As in embracing the inherent silliness of the whole thing. As in having fun again. Just like it used to be. Video After The Jump… (more…)
Truck Back Family Brings Fun Into The Dancehall
Steve Locke of Truck Back Records has dreamed up another smash in “Street Pledge,” the latest smash hit from Truck Back Records. “The song came to me in a dream,” Locke told The Jamaica Star. “I woke up the next morning and started putting pen to paper.” Although he dreamed that he saw Baby Chris and New Kidz doing the song, Ding Dong happened to be in Locke’s studio—which is literally in the back of a truck—and since nobody makes a dancehall pop anthem like Ding Dong, he jumped on the song too. “Street Pledge” is shaping up to be the new ravers theme song. Reinterpreting Fun’s No. 1 hit “We Are Young” in a dancehall style, the video places the song firmly in the streets of Kingston. Nobody does road better. Video After The Jump…
Mad Gyal Spice and Reshma B Talk Di Tings Dem
The ReggaeGirlAboutTown sits down with Mad Gyal Spice after her big Dancehall Night performance. They start by talking about Spice’s hairstyle evolution—Marge Simpson to Rapunzel—and discuss her tribute to stars behind bars like Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton. Spice also sends her best wishes to Lady Saw, who gives the love right back. Plus—the Mad Gyal sings Celine Dion, inna dancehall style of course. Video After The Jump…
(more…)