Bounty Killer Denied Entry Into TT
Jamaican Dancehall DJ, Bounty Killer, who was one of the main acts in last night’s “Cease Fire” concert at the King George V Park in Port-of-Spain, failed to show, as he was denied entry into the country on Friday night by Immigration officers at Piarco International Airport.
Sunday Newsday was […]
No daggerin’ on Jamaican TV and on Worldfocus
At the center of the music ban in Jamaica is daggerin’. Earlier this year, Jamaica’s national broadcasting commission banned sexually-explicit and violent lyrics and images related to daggerin’.
Worldfocus — based in New York City, not Kingston — also decided not to air these images because we thought our […]
Jamaica considers cashing in on its image
Usain Bolt had just been crowned the undisputed sprint king when a businessman boldly walked into the government office here hoping to cash in on the Jamaican track star’s record-setting dash. The visitor from the Cayman Islands sought to brand his creative ideas: U-Sane Energy Drink and Lightening […]
Lost legends of reggae
As we enter black history month, Davina Morris salutes some of reggae music’s past pioneers
It’s impossible not to think of the late great Bob Marley when considering reggae icons. But, of course, there were countless artists before and since Marley who made a massive impact on the Jamaica-born genre.
Hip hop book taps into Jamaican roots
The love of hip hop has taken Dalton Higgins, a music programmer, pop culture critic, author, broadcaster and journalist, around the world, but it was a visit to Germany that inspired him to write a new book, Hip Hop World.
The Canada-born writer of Jamaican parentage takes a uniquely intelligent […]
Rocksteady: The Roots Of Reggae
The lovingly conceived, brilliantly executed, multi-platform Rocksteady: The Roots Of Reggae aims to achieve the same sort of museum piece-to-modernity transformation for Jamaican rocksteady that Buena Vista Social Club (World Circuit, 1996) created for Cuban music of an earlier era. As with Buena Vista, there’s a CD, a movie and a […]
Just let the music play. without set quotas
Large radio stations won’t increase local content to suit the Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS) which says the dominance of foreign music is costing the country millions in royalty payments at the expense of national development.
“We are not supportive of giving up flexibility and ability to respond to our […]
Many horn players, few opportunities
Jamaica has a sterling history of horns in its music, the trumpet, trombone and saxophone giving songs a sparkle onstage and in the studio, and people such as Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Wilton Gaynair, Lester Sterling, Sonny Bradshaw, Nambo Robinson, Dean Fraser and Tony Greene among those who have played their […]
Blakk Rasta features in Amsterdam’s biggest reggae festival
Ghana’s reggae sensation, Blakk Rasta, performs live in Holland, on a platform which has for years been the preserve of Western and American reggae artistes.
The concert, which comes off at The Sand in Amsterdam city, is the most popular reggae event in Holland.
Blakk Rasta rubs shoulders with […]
Gay activists protest upcoming Buju Banton performance at Miami’s James L. Knight Center
Several gay-rights groups are protesting a Halloween-night concert at a city of Miami-owned hall by Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, whose hit song Boom Bye Bye advocates shooting gays in the head and setting them on fire.
“”The message is that gay people’s lives […]
Errol Bonnick fuels his passion for music
The entertainment industry is replete with instances of artistes starting out as a member of a group, then branching out into solo acts. On the international stage there is Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and Beyonce, while locally such artistes include Bob Marley, Judy Mowatt, John Holt and […]
He might have been giant
Despite his near sellout of the Trocadero Saturday night, things could have been better for Buju Banton.
The 36-year-old Jamaican roots reggae/dancehall singer and lyricist was once set to follow in Bob Marley’s giant steps. By popularizing dancehall with his innovations of lyrics speaking of social consciousness and his use of live […]
Gay groups anger Buju’s management
The cancellation of another Buju Banton concert in the United States, due to pressure from gay rights groups, has prompted an angry response from the singjay’s management.
Banton was scheduled to perform on October 8 at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City, Utah, but the show was cancelled Tuesday, according to […]
Jamaican reggae legend Max Romeo
Max Romeo. is on the brink of ending his forty year career, but retains much of the vim and vision that made him a pioneer of rude reggae in the Sixties. Today’s World Tracks is an exclusive exchange with one of the monuments of reggae music. This is Max Romeo like […]
Tuff Gong signs distribution deal with Disney
A giant of family entertainment has teamed up with the biggest brand name in Caribbean music. Tuff Gong Caribbean Distributors, part of the legendary Marley stable of corporations, has reached an agreement with Hollywood and Walt Disney Records for the exclusive distribution of their catalogue throughout the Caribbean.
The Disney […]
Lest we forget Peter Tosh, Free I, Doc Brown
Last Friday, September 11, had immense global historical significance. This date is traditionally celebrated in Ethiopia as New Year’s Day according to its ancient Julian Calendar.
Since 2001, it took on new meaning in the western world as for the past eight years the calamity that was 9/11, […]
Tarrus Riley’s music is ‘Contagious’
Tarrus Riley is mixing styles on his newest album and he’s spreading it “like a virus.”
So many artists are throwing a little reggae into their music, and Thanks to artists like Sean Paul, Beenie Man and Shaggy it’s really entered the mainstream in America. Now, the title of Tarrus’ newest album, […]
DJ Dossier: Tony Culture
If you missed Tony Culture spinning reggae and dancehall music during last weekend’s ultra-packed First Friday celebration, don’t worry. You can always catch the dreadlocked DJ working the turntables next month. Or the month after that. And then the month after that.
In fact, the Jamaican-born musician and platter jock has been a […]
Mavado’s Range shot up - Foota denies involvement
Shots were fired at Mavado’s upper St Andrew home early Tuesday morning, and although persons speculate that it may have been linked to a recent feud with Foota Hype, the selector has denied any involvement in the incident.
Speaking with THE STAR yesterday, Foota Hype said: “Mi woulda neva […]
That Was Then, This Is Buju
Lyrics from a 17-year-old song are costing Buju Banton gigs. The Jamaican dancehall singer had some of the dates on his 2006 U.S. tour canceled because his 1992 song “Boom Bye Bye” urges listeners to shoot gay people in the head and douse them with acid.
Last week major promoters AEG […]
Steely leaves indelible mark on dancehall
While jamming at the popular Rae Town dance in 1987, Home T member Mikie Bennett said he was struck by an infectious new rhythm.
“I found out that it was called the Cats Paw and it was done by Steely and Clevie at Jammys (producer Lloyd James),” Bennett told The Sunday […]
Local entertainers scoff at retirement
For many persons, age is just a concept. Nowhere is that proven more than the local music industry, where countless entertainers are on a musical mission that spans their entire lives.
Retirement age is 60 and 65 for women and men, respectively, with early retirement starting at 55. Music, however, disregards the […]
Busy Signal rocked with sex vibes
The edgy, hardcore feel of dancehall music is the sort of stuff Jamaican artiste Busy Signal serves up when he is onstage and firing off lyrics. But he has a different appeal, a style that is dripping in raw, endless vulgarity.
The thing about dancehall is that its staying power is […]
Reggae artist Pato Banton answers 7
When Patrick Murray was 8 years old he began performing at his stepfather’s gigs as a DJ. Since then, his career as a progressive Reggae singer and songwriter has blossomed and he is loved throughout the world. His unconventional performance style has endeared him to his fans, and new songs […]
‘Lioness on the rise’ - Queen Ifrica … Music, Message, Mission!
Queen Ifrica has been in the spotlight a lot these days from promoting her debut VP Records release, Montego Bay, to voicing her forthright and unwavering stance against a lot of what is happening in the entertainment industry and popular culture in Jamaica and her […]