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  • Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, and UB40 Rock Barclays Center in Brooklyn

    Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, and UB40 Rock Barclays Center in Brooklyn

    Maxi Priest Performs For a Packed House at Sounds of Reggae

    Standing onstage in a T-shirt reading Flatbush Wah Gwan, Shaggy looked very much at home in the Barclays Center—the audaciously fly new arena on Atlantic Avenue that also serves as home of the Brooklyn Nets. “It’s very important that you came out in the masses as you did, so stand up and give yourself a round of applause,” Shaggy told the near-capacity crowd. “However I am a little bit disappointed because of the fact that this is West Indian party, and there is not party like a West Indian party. Yet still we have some old people siddown pon them chair like them no wan’ get up. And we no inna it tonight! So point dem out! The first time West Indian people are inside the Barclay Center and them siddung pon them backside? It nah go work!” After a little scolding from the Grammy Award winner—who ran through his catalog of chart-topping hits and invited sparring partners Rayvon and Red Fox on stage to perform dancehall boomshots like “Big Up” and “Bashment Party”—the party did in fact tun up. The Biolife Sounds of Reggae Concert also featured British reggae star Maxi Priest and internationally recognized reggae band UB40, as well as veteran reggae crooner Beres Hammond. Held under the patronage of the Consul General of Jamaica, Hon. Herman LaMont, the concert celebrated 50 years of Jamaican independence and raised over $10,000 . A portion of the concert proceeds to benefit the American Foundation for the University of The West Indies (AFUWI) scholarship fund. Maxi Priest turned in a solid performance to open the show, and UB40’s Ali Campbell proved that he still has the golden voice—if not the recent hits to hold the crowd during to the end of their ill-advised closing slot. But the night belonged to the legendary reggae vocalist Beres Hammond, who addressed the audience as “family” all night long and made the enormous venue feel as intimate as a house party. As he ran through a bushel basket of classics, from “Full Attention” to “Putting Up Resistance” and “What One Dance Can Do,” it was hard to tell who was having more fun—Beres or the audience. When all was said and done the crowd’s sentiment could best be summarized witha Beres lyric: “I wish you could stay longer.” Photos and Video After The Jump…

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  • WATCH THIS: Beres Hammond & The Roots on ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’

    The Maestro Makes His U.S. Television Debut
    Beres Hammond has been a staple in the Jamaican music world for quite some time. His soulful voice and feel0good lyrics have always made his songs just flow right. While he was in town for a performance at the Barclays Center, Hammond made his first appearance on American television by rocking out with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Our peoples at LargeUp TV have the hookup with The Roots so you know they’ve got the exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The Roots and the man of the hour himself. Video After The Jump…

  • Cham Brings Out Bounty Killer And Together They Tear Down The Place

    Peeeeople Dead…

    You can’t beat the raw excitement of two champion DJs passing the mic back and forth—unless of course it’s a sneak attack. And that’s just what happened on a recent Thursday night party at the University of West Indies in Kingston. The crowd was amped just to see Cham, but when the Warlord stepped out on stage unannounced, the whole thing went to “Another Level.” Video After The Jump…
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  • HEAR THIS: Ziggy Marley “Justice / War” Live Medley PREMIERE

    The  Brand New Selection From The Album Ziggy Marley In Concert

    “Justice” is not just standout cut from The Melody Makers’ 1989 album One Bright Day, it’s also the name of Ziggy’s daughter. On the new live album Ziggy Marley in Concert—available on iTunes next Tuesday, December 18—Ziggy blends “Justice” with one of his father’s greatest songs, which happens to be one of the few Bob Marley classics that Marley did not write. The lyrics to “War,” from the 1976 album Rastaman Vibration, were adapted from a speech made by Emperor Haile Selassie before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963. Audio After The Jump… 

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  • WATCH THIS: Spice Interview “She Can’t Style Me, Lyrically or Physically”

    The Mad Gyal Goes OnStage With Winford Williams To Talk Di Tings Dem

    The Dancehall girl fight continues to escalate as Spice visits OnStage with Winford Williams, the same show where Macka Diamond recently vented frustration against various female artists including Lady Saw and another whom she would refer to only as “the black one.” (UPDATE: Macka has even released a diss song called “Kill the Black One.”) Though she says she considers herself “Black and beautiful,” Spice made no attempt to hide her annoyance with Macka. “Me haffi box her down, jook out her eye, and nearly take out the eye outta her head,” Spice recalled of a physical confrontation between the artists some years back. Though the guys get most of the attention with their so-called beef and lyrical clashes, Spice says the dancehall divas have some serious rivalries of their own: “The women dem inna the business, them fight ‘gainst them one another. It come in like crab inna barrel. If you put on a nail polish, and it look better than fi her own, them wan’ chop off your fingers fe it.” Wow. Spice goes on to recall her falling out with Lady Saw. But she says her and Tifa’s song “Why You Mad” was not written for anyone in particular. Well, not anyone that she cares to mention at the moment. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Pusha T ft. Popcaan & Travis Scott “Blocka” Official Video

    Live From Matches Lane, It’s The Wrath of Caine

    Lots of rappers go to Jamaica to shoot videos. Very few go deep in the heart of Western Kingston like Pusha T did on this one. All the way live from Matthews Matches Lane, the PNP garrison where Zekes once ruled the scheme, Pusha kicks his ghetto metaphysics surrounded by bandana-faced bravehearts with chrome shotties. The gritty visual aesthetic is in keeping with previous Clipse and Pusha videos, only it’s transported to one of the most notorious blocks on Jamrock. Sure woulda been nice to hear more Popcaan on this track, but if Hotskull’s not already working on his own remix somebody needs to get him an instrumental like yesterday. Video After The Jump…
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  • WATCH THIS: Beres Hammond on Late Night

    Reggae Legend Makes History Sitting In With The Roots on The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon

    Making his American TV debut, Beres sat in with The Roots on the latest episode of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Performing in and out of commercial breaks throughout the night, Beres shared airtime with actress Anne Hathaway, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, comedian Robert Smigel, and rapper Macklemore.Although it was tough hearing him get started on classics like “What One Dance Can Do” and “Double Trouble”—with Questlove killing it on reggae drums—only to have the show cut to commercial just when things were getting good. (Hopefully that video surfaces before long.) Still it was a great look for Beres, who performs at Barclays Center in Brooklyn Wedensday night. In case you missed this moment of reggae history, fret not thyself. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Busy Signal “Artist” Official Video

    Busy Delivers A Scathing Critique of So-Called Artists Who Insist on Messing Up The Game

    One good thing about going away for a while, when you come back you tend to see things a bit more clearly. And sometimes people are more inclined to listen to you. Let’s hope the whole reggae biz heeds the message of Busy’s latest video and takes it to heart. Nobody wants to discourage talented people from getting into the game, but somebody’s got to make a case for quality control. And it never hurts to do it with a touch of humor. Bu make no mistake. Busy’s dead serious when he says “What a disgrace inna the music fraternity. Right now the music need a surgery…” Video After The Jump…
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  • Beres Hammond Interview: “There’s A Power Within Love Songs”

    The Maestro Speaks On The State of Reggae Today, The Real Buju Banton, and His Own Musical Legacy

    For me, it started with Full Attention. Hugh Beresford Hammond’s first album for V.P. Records began with a drum roll and a saxophone tendril that laid the foundation for the textured tenor to plead his case with a lady who didn’t seem to know he was alive. It was full-on lovers rock reggae with R&B and soul sensibilities made by a man who dreamt of crooning like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. The music was accessible—at least more so than the Sugar Minott, Burning Spear, and Culture records that spun in my New Jersey home on Sunday mornings over cornmeal porridge. Beres may not have had any honorific titles laid onto him, like the Crown Prince of Reggae, but for my money he’s every bit as legendary as any of the greats that came before him.

    You can start with his voice, which is as strong as it is soulful and soothing. When he belts out a tune, even when his grainy vocals are pushed to the limits, it feels effortless. The voice works with the music to emphasize the words, always telling a story about real people, inflecting meaning where there previously was none.  Hammond sings like he’s wrenching the emotion from each word. My mother once told me one of her favorite songs was “Ain’t That Loving You” by Alton Ellis until she heard Beres sing it. On the other hand you can start with his songwriting. The best Beres Hammond songs distill relatable situations and feelings into clever, meaningful couplets wrapped in sticky melodies.

    Relevancy is a tough coin to spin for a lot of artists, but throughout his thirty-year career Beres has managed to glide his distinctive voice through the dancehall revolution, partnering with wicked up-and-comers like Buju Banton. In high school, when all my friends were blasting Sean Paul’s Alton remix, I was hanging tough with “Who Say.” Hammond has lasted while maintaining his trademarked effortless cool. That’s why it was such a thrill to speak with him about his latest album One Love, One Life. To me, he’s like the reggae version of Jay-Z—so it’s fitting that he’ll be performing with The Roots tonight on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and that he’ll take the stage tomorrow night at Barclays Center, the home of the Brooklyn Nets. Sure, many great artists have come before him, but to paraphrase Hov: No one’s been this good for this long, or this pop or this hot, with so many different styles. For that reason, Beres Hammond will continue to have my full attention. Interview After The Jump… (more…)

  • Popcaan Interview: “Tommy Lee Ah Me Bredda”

    The ReggaeGirlAboutTown Chops It Up With The Hotskull

    After rising through the Gaza ranks for years, Popcaan burst out big last year, coming into his own with massive hits like “Party Shot” And “Only Man She Wants.” This year has been all about next-level movements, from his first appearance in Vanity Fair magazine, to high-profile collabos with Pusha T and Snoop Lion. He also gave his first solo performance at Reggae Sumfest, which was where Reshma B caught up with him for this exclusive interview. He talked about performing without Vybz Kartel, downplays talk of any rivalry with Tommy Lee, pointing out that he brought Uncle Demon to the Gaza, and also shares the best advice his grandma ever gave him.  Video After The Jump…
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  • HEAR THIS: Snoop Lion Ft. Mavado & Popcaan “Lighters Up”

    Gully Gad & Hotskull Blaze One With The Lion

    The homie DreSkull just hit us on G-Chat and blessed us with the maddest Soundcloud link. The track is crazy plus it’s good to hear Snoop Lion sparring with a couple of real dancehall heavyweights—from the Gullyside and the Gaza—on some unity vibes. As  Mavado puts it: “We making money fuck the guns, we no want no enemies.”   Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Kalado “Whole Night” Official Video

    Alliance Next Generation Fi De Gal Dem

    Few artists in the dancehall industry have brought as much young talent to light as Bounty Killer. From Mavado and Kartel to Wayne Marshall and Busy Signal, Bounty always shines a bright light on the youths in the business, building future stars along the way. In 2012, a new wave of stars is beginning to break—and they go by the name Alliance Next Generation. Kalado has already distinguished himself among A.H.G. representers with his blend of raw thug appeal and a winning touch with the girls. His latest video is a delicious daydream complete with a dream girl in a pink bikini. Video After The Jump… (more…)