UK Bashment Sound Set To Mash Up Croatia Again
Back on the beach innit! Your favorite UK reggae DJ’s are takin it back to Croatia’s OutLook festival. If you didn’t make it there last year & you aint got tix for this year, it’s time to get that lastminute.com poppin’. This year the crew are putting on a rave pon the beach—nothing to think about but sun, sand, skinout and dancehall – time to make some f@cking noise! Video After The Jump… (more…)
The Mad Gyal Talks Kartel, Hip-Hop Collabos, and Twerking
Year in and year out, one of the most reliable standout performers at Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night is Spice. Her entrance is always amazing, but this year she really out did herself. You may have heard how she took the stage in 13-inch heels AND inside a giant plastic bubble. Lady Gaga eat your heart out. It was all good until she took a tumble off those heels and hit the stage with a bump. But you’ve got to love Spice for keeping the show going without a hitch. Backstage at Reggae Sumfest 2013, Spice chatted with Reshma B about how her grand entrance went wrong, and RGAT reminded her that these sorts of things happen to everybody—ever supermodels like Naomi Campbell. And of course the show must go on! Spice and RGAT also spoke about her hit single “Twerk” and how the dance is a great way to stay fit. Spice went on to fill RGAT in about her sexy new single and video “Come Inside.” She also spoke about why she brought a Vybz Kartel lookalike onstage and how she would be happy to collaborate with the World Boss when he comes home. Finally Spice shares her international collab wish list: Who do you think made the cut? Video After The Jump…
The Dutty Boy Flings Down The Hits In The UK
Wednesday night saw DuttyPaul rock west London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Every person in the joint was on fire. Girls were shaking their thang as the dutty boy flung down his hits and guys were sweating watching the girls on heat! It was a case of “not for the ill hearted”—and a timely reminder of how much the UK loves Sean Paul. Show Review and Video After The Jump… (more…)
Win Tickets To See Barrington Perform Tomorrow
Actions speak louder than words, and when it comes to teaching the youths, Barrington Levy is a man of action. His 80s dancehall classic on Witty’s digital lick of the “Mr Bassie” riddim expressed Barrington’s hearfelt desire to see music “teach the youths them how to live, teach the youths them how to survive.” At the same time Mr. Levy’s song was a rebuke of artists who choose to use the gift of music to spread slack irrelevant teachings: “No put it deh no put them no weh / No bend down just keep them to the ground,” he sang with righteous indignation. “Can’t you see the time we’re living in, the people are suffering?” This Thursday June 6th Barrington Levy will continue his mission to teach the youths by performing live to benefit the Rockhouse Foundation. The foundation transforms the places where Jamaica’s children learn and supports the people who teach them. 2013 marks the Rockhouse Foundation’s ten-year anniversary. To date, the Foundation has entirely transformed and modernized four schools – Negril All Age School, Negril Basic School, Little Bay All Age and the Bunch of Stars E.C.I. – along with a complete renovation and expansion of the Negril Community Library. All projects combined, the Rockhouse Foundation directly impacts the lives of thousands of young people and their families. You can win free tickets to the show (and why not use the money you save to make a donation?). Video And Contest Details After The Jump… (more…)
St. Croix Roots Reggae Rebels Rock NYC
An energetic, electric crowd awaited the arrival of Midnite for the “Late Night Ghetto Session” at the B.B.King Blues Club located in the heart of New York City’s Time Square. Appropriately enough, the band hit the stage around midnight, with lead vocalist Vaughn Benjamin and his brother, producer/vocalist/dub arranger Ron Benjamin on bass and keys, accompanied by drummer Christian Molina, guitarists Edmund Fieulleteau and Edwin Byron, and keyboardist Lyndon Williams aka Ras L. As an audience member shouted “Bring It Out!” the band began to play raw instrumentation without any sugar-coating over a pulsating bassline. Orthodox Rasta Crosses draped in red, gold and green moved toward the front of the venue as the musical communion commenced. Interview And Video After The Jump… (more…)
Management Blames “Circumstances Beyond Our Control”
Chronixx fans have been patiently waiting for the rising reggae start Chronixx to bring his Start a Fyah tour to the U.S.A. for the first time. The show was already postponed once—and now it looks like they’ll be waiting for a good while longer. Details After The Jump… (more…)
The Grammy-Winning Songbird Explains Why She Loves Reggae
India Arie has been on a four-year hiatus from the music business, and while she was away the brilliant and talented artist actually considered giving it all up, going back to school, and trying a new path in life. Thankfully she reconsidered those plans, but she’s only recently begun performing again. In fact her headlining appearance at the Tobago Jazz Experience marks only the second time she has stepped on stage since stepping away from the game. But she clearly has a very special bond with the fans in Tobago, where she has performed in the past. In fact she felt so comfortable on stage that she shared some never-before-heard songs from her new album Songversation, which is due to be released next month. After an amazing and emotional performance, India blessed Reshma B with an interview in which she shared her thoughts about returning to the stage, and explained why she loves reggae music so much. She even shared the news that some new collaborations with Gramps Morgan are on the way soon. Video After The Jump… (more…)
UK Singer Songwriter Reconnects With Her Caribbean Roots
Though her mother’s side of the family is Jamaican, London-born Lianne La Havas had never been to the Caribbean before she performed at this year’s Tobago Jazz Experience. Although the tropical weather forced a rain delay, the 24-year-old folk and soul singer rallied back on the final night of the festival with a solo set that filled the Tobago evening with intoxicatingly sweet sounds. (If you’re not yet up on the self-described “shinger, shongwriter and guitarisht” go ahead and check her debut Is Your Love Big Enough, which was voted last year’s iTunes Album of the Year.) Shortly after stepping off the stage at Pigeon Point, Lianne told Reshma B that she wants to be play strictly Caribbean dates from now on. And can you really blame her? Video After The Jump… (more…)
The Royal Couple of Soca Reign At Tobago Jazz Experience
When Trini superstars Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons got married back in 2009, they became the Royal Couple of Soca—Trinidad & Tobago’s answer to Jay & Beyonce. Bunji got his start as a ragga soca artist and has emerged as a consistent hitmaker, having won Trinidad’s soca monarch title on numerous occasions. Fay-Ann is the daughter of calypso monarch Super Blue and her mom is an artist who goes by the name Lady Gypsy. Let’s just say they’ve both got showbiz in their blood. Like Jay & B, they each have their own thing going on and they know how to support each other and make the family business even stronger. Just wait till their daughter Syri gets in the mix! Interview coming soon, but for now behold Bunji & Fay-Ann in action as they tear up World Music Night at the Tobago Jazz Experience. Video After The Jump… (more…)
The Grammy-Winning R&B Star Channels Her Caribbean Roots
Last night the heavens opened up on the island of Tobago, just as the Tobago Jazz Experiencec was trying to kick off World Music Night featuring Jamaican reggae legend Freddie McGregor, Fayann Lyons and Bunji Garlin—Trinidad & Tobago’s Royal Couple of soca—and internationally acclaimed R&B star Melanie Fiona. But this Guayanese girl from Toronoto was not about to miss her chance to perform for the Tobago massive. So the two-time Grammy winner strapped on her mile-high Louboutins and put on the show of a lifetime. She even dipped into her old dancehall catalog and blessed the place with a Supa Dups selection from back in the day when she used to go by the name Syren Hall. Musical thing called “Somebody Come Get Me Before I Kill This Man,” and Melanie sings it like she really means it. Just after stepping off stage, Melanie explained why Syren Hall will always be a part of her. Video After The Jump… (more…)
Soca, Reggae, and R&B in A Lush Tropical Setting
The island of Trinidad is synonymous with carnival and you may still be recovering from February’s ordeal, but in the month of April the focus shifts to the beautifully laid-back sister island of Tobago where it’s all about the Jazz Experience. Sun, sea, sand and soca – whats not to love!?!?! This year the Tobago Jazz Experience sees appearances from international acts India Arie and Melanie Fiona—both of whom have worked with major names in the reggae world such as the Morgan Heritage fam & the Marleys. Full Lineup and Photo Gallery After The Jump… (more…)
Let’s Start Your 4/20 Weekend Off Right.
As the day winds down some of you are probably already thinking about your 420 shenanigans. Let us indulge you a bit with this 1982 classic “Ganga Smuggling” from the original “Sing-Jay” himself Eek-A-Mouse’s debut album “Wa Do Dem.” Eek-A-Mouse regales us with tales of living in the ghetto and how trafficking the herbs earned him some fresh new jewelry and a young lady on his arm. Roll Up One And Hit The Jump… (more…)