Dancehall Documentary: Documenting Jamaican Music History As It Happens

Music News

2009-12-31T13:47:00.001-08:00

Spice Disses Lisa Hyper
Singing Melody Mom Dies
Lisa Hype Still Says Gaza!!
Kartel Kicks Lisa Hype From Gaza
Flippa Mafia In Car Crash
Still No Legal Representation For Buju...
A Stingless Sting!

WHEN YOU SEE SOME CHICKEN HEADS… CLUCK CLUCK ON COCK!

Hey what’s the difference between LISA Swipe and a rooster… roosters say cockle-doodle-doo… Lisa says… Any-Cock-will-do…

Making Career Moves to Get Ahead…

I thought Lisa knew that sucky sucky was a no brainer…

Freaky Gyal the teacher NUH BADDA waan fi see, it backfire and a cause contraverseeeeee…!

Is the Public Capable of Recognizing Quality Music?

2009-10-05T07:38:00.001-07:00

Can the average music listener recognize quality? Can they distinguish a virtuoso from a mediocre musician? Can they recognize a “hit” that will still be esteemed a masterpiece in a hundred years? Does “popular” mean the same as “quality”?

I’ve just starting watching that great Massachusetts law drama “The Practice” again. In a recent episode, a film critic defended his occupation: “The public don’t know whether they like a movie or not unless we tell them!” Is the same true for music?

A couple of years ago The Washington Post held an experiment to find out. They called their experiment “Pearls Before Breakfast”.

The Experiment

To find his own answer to our question, Gene Weingarten from The Washington Post approached violin virtuoso and one-time child prodigy, Joshua Bell, and asked him to don street clothes and play quality music on his 1713 Stradivarius as a busker at a Washington DC railway station during rush hour.

Here is a brief summary of the experiment. You can read the original Washington Post article here, and see Dear Teacher’s take on it (including footage of the event) in the Youtube video below.

On a cold January morning, Bell arrived at L’Enfant Plaza Station at 7:15 am, and positioned himself against a wall on a busy subway platform near a trash basket. He wore jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt and a baseball cap. He threw a couple of dollars in his open violin case, pointed it towards the passersby, and played Bach for 43 minutes with the same 3.5 million dollar violin and passion he would play with in Symphony Hall.

Weingarten describes the thoughts and decisions that passersby would have to process:

Each passerby had a quick choice to make, one familiar to commuters in any urban area where the occasional street performer is part of the cityscape: Do you stop and listen? Do you hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation, aware of your cupidity but annoyed by the unbidden demand on your time and your wallet? Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite? Does your decision change if he’s really bad? What if he’s really good? Do you have time for beauty? Shouldn’t you? What’s the moral mathematics of the moment?

In their planning, editors of the Post discussed the issue of crowd-control, but they needn’t have bothered. A crowd never formed. What response did Bell get?

A $1 tip from a lady who didn’t stop to listen.

A middle aged man slowed his pace to listen for a few seconds before hurrying again.

One man leaned up against a wall to listen, but hurried off after looking at his watch.

A three-year-old boy tried to stop to listen, only to be pushed along by his mother.

A total of six people stopped briefly to listen.

27 people gave him money, but didn’t stop to listen.

A worker at the station had no memory of a musician being at the station when he was asked later. He had been listening to his iPod.

Another woman did remember the violinist, but “but nothing about him struck me as much of anything.”

One person who stopped for a shoe shine complained that the music was too loud.

1,070 people passed by oblivious.

There was no applause after any of the six pieces he played.

He made a total of $32 plus change.

But there were a few people who appreciated the performance:

One classical music fan and former student of the violin stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the music. He didn’t recognize Bell, but commented, “This was a superb violinist. I’ve never heard anyone of that caliber. He was technically proficient, with very good phrasing. He had a good fiddle, too, with a big, lush sound. I walked a distance away, to hear him. I didn’t want to be intrusive on his space.” He added, “Yeah, other people just were not getting it. It just wasn’t registering. That was baffling to me.” He contributed $5.

Another woman who learned violin as a child appreciated Bell’s gifted playing, and listened during her coffee break. “I really don’t want to leave,” she commented.

Right at the end, a woman who had seen Bell in concert three weeks earlier recognized him and positioned her just ten feet from him, where she remained planted until the end of the performance. “It was the most astonishing thing I’ve ever seen in Washington,” she said. “Joshua Bell was standing there playing at rush hour, and people were not stopping, and not even looking, and some were flipping quarters at him! Quarters!” She contributed $20.

Would you like to see Bell in action? Here is some footage, along with Dear Teacher’s take on the event.

Was the experiment fair? Let us know what you think. I don’t know if it proves anything, but I think there are some lessons in this story for we musicians and music producers.

Context

If I was rushing to work one morning, I don’t know if I would have stopped to listen to Joshua Bell. I can be pretty focused when rushing for a train. Once I was running to catch one, tripped, slid along the platform on my stomach until my face was up against the train’s window, and still managed to jump on.

It’s hard to learn anything from this experiment without taking context into consideration. If you want to run a successful concert with people stopping to listen, don’t hold it on a train platform during peak hour. In this context, the people’s lack of ability to recognize quality music isn’t the only issue. It’s unlikely they would risk their jobs to listen even if they did recognize the quality.

What we can learn from this experiment is that context is always an issue in how music is accepted. Whether we’re creating music for a concert, and advertisement, a soundtrack, or a computer game, that context will dictate the type of music that will be acceptable as much as any other factor. We need to answer the question, “Where will people hear this music?” and write accordingly.

Genre

Quality alone will not guarantee that music will be enjoyed. As with the fashion industry, taste plays a hugely important part – we all enjoy different styles and genres of music. Would the response have been different if the Post went with rock or pop music instead of classical music?

I’m sure that most musicians reading this article understand genre, and have strong opinions about what genres you enjoy. There are no right and wrong answers here: different people have different tastes. Understanding that, and creating music within a predicable set of genres – will increase your chances of success. Listeners who enjoy one of your tracks expect to enjoy others.

Even within a genre, fashions will change. The expected sound of a snare or bass line for a genre will vary over time. One thing I love about the tutorials here on Audiotuts is that many of them will help you tweak your music to achieve that sound.

Branding

People didn’t stop because they didn’t recognize Joshua Bell as a world-class musician. If signs were put up or announcements made on radio, I have no doubt there would have been a traffic-destroying crowd. If people were told he was famous, they would have been interested.

Branding – making a product, musician or band instantly recognizable – is a key element in marketing today. It also raises the question of this article: Are normal people able to recognize quality music without branding? Or, as the film critic on The Practice claimed, do people need someone to tell them what they like?

For producers of music, it is enough to recognize that branding and marketing are essential elements in becoming successful. We need to assume that quality is not enough, and make ourselves recognizable. What do you do to brand and market yourself or your music?

Popularity

Even more than needing an “expert” to tell us what we like, we need our friends to. Social proof is a powerful thing. Knackered Hack asks the question in his article The Lie Becomes the Truth: “Since I heard about social proof, and more specifically Joshua Bell’s famous busking experiment, I’ve wondered what in fact determines my own musical taste: how independent is it of others? Like anyone, I want to think I’m a free spirit.”

The music industry is driven by popularity, not quality. The popularity of an album defines the number of sales. The two concepts are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but musical quality is not the only thing that makes a song popular.

The likability or infamy of the artist, the humor or currency of the lyrics, image and advertising, and the amount of radio time a song gets can all contribute to its popularity. The traditional line of the record companies is that they deserve the lion’s share of the profit because achieving popularity without them is impossible.

What are your thoughts about popularity? Is it important? How is it achieved? And is it possible to achieve it by promoting and distributing your own music?

Famous Composers

Joshua Bell was not recognized as being a virtuoso by most people in the crowd rushing to work that morning. We have to wonder whether things would have been different if they weren’t in such a hurry.

But quite a few now-famous composers didn’t achieve the recognition they deserved in their own generations. They produced beautiful music for decades, but the music listeners of the time were oblivious to its quality. Their musical genius was ahead of their time.

If entire generations missed the quality of a musical composition even after hearing it for decades, what hope did Joshua Bell have that morning?

Musicians Appreciate Music Differently

It is telling that two of the three people who stopped to listen were musicians. In fact, they had spent years studying the violin—the same instrument being played by Bell—and were able to recognize his greatness by their own familiarity with the instrument and the music.

Musicians listen to music differently to others. For a start, we’re really interested in music—though that can be said of many non-musicians as well. We can appreciate when a singer or musician does something special, because we understand what is involved in accomplishing it. We have a greater awareness of the sounds of an instrument, the structure of a song, the subtle things that make a performance outstanding, the beauty of a melody, and the extra flavor added to a chord.

The music you create will be listened to by non-musicians. They probably won’t hear the same things in your music as you do. They won’t understand the skill and effort you have used to create it. They’ll just be aware of whether they like it or not. How should that affect our music making?

Conclusion

I’m not sure whether the “Pearls Before Breakfast” experiment was a fair test. But it’s an interesting story which we can learn from.

Is the public capable of recognizing quality music? Let’s hold our own informal poll:

Do you believe you recognize quality when you hear it? Do you believe the rest of the world does?

If Joshua Bell was playing at your train station, would you have stopped? Even if you couldn’t stop, would you have recognized his talent and the quality of Bach’s music?

If you make a mistake at a gig, how big does it have to be before someone in the audience notices?

How important is quality in order for music to become popular?

Besides quality, what other aspects are important for someone wanting to become a successful music producer?

What did you learn from the experiment?

Is the Public Capable of Recognizing Quality Music?
Adrian Try
Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:43:13 GMT

Ky-Mani Marley brings rain and reggae to the desert (Las Vegas Weekly)

2009-06-12T20:02:00.001-07:00

Ky-mani Marley will bring more than passionate music and a heartfelt message to the Reggae in the Desert festival this weekend. "I love the desert, and I shall bring the rain with me."

Ky-Mani Marley brings rain and reggae to the desert (Las Vegas Weekly)
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:30:17 GMT

Arts & Entertainment: (The Berkeley Daily Planet)

2009-06-12T13:55:00.001-07:00

Celebrating the Rich Cultural Heritage of the Caribbean through Music, with Third World Reggae Band from Jamaica, Calypso monarch The Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad and Tobago, Sheila Hylton (reggae from Jamaica, London and New York), Collie Buddz (reggae and dancehall from Bermuda) and the New Kingston Band appearing 7 p. m. Sunday evening at Woodminster Amphitheatre in Oakland’s Joaquin Miller ...

Arts & Entertainment: (The Berkeley Daily Planet)
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:55:25 GMT

INSIDE THE CARIBBEAN: Diana King covers; Mr. Vegas no. 1; Melanie Fiona; more.... (Eurweb)

2009-06-12T13:53:00.001-07:00

*Diana King is back in the arms of a major label. She is reportedly working on an album of covers for the Japanese arm of Warner Music. 'The album is being done exclusively for the Asian market. It should be released around summer', King told this column recently.

INSIDE THE CARIBBEAN: Diana King covers; Mr. Vegas no. 1; Melanie Fiona; more.... (Eurweb)
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:20:06 GMT

Mavado Debuts At #1 On Reggae Billboard

2009-03-16T10:30:00.001-07:00

Mavado's Mr. Brooks Debuts At #1 On Reggae Billboard.

March 16th, 2009 @ 11:00A.M.
Mavado's latest VP Records album Mr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow zoomed to the top of Billboard's Reggae Album chart, but VP Records is probably hoping for a better week of sales that could propel the album on to other Billboard charts.
The album was released via iTunes on March 3 and released on CD a few days later but without a hit single to generate sales and excitement, the album is just treading water right now.
The top five is rounded out by Mishka, Elephant Man, UB 40 and VP's popular Reggae Gold series.
Mavado's debut album Gangster for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks, bottomed out at number six on Billboard's Reggae Album chart in 2007.
The set watered out at number 84 on Billboard's R&B Hip Hop album chart.

Hasidic reggae performer Matisyahu will perform a free concert in ... - Vail Daily News

2009-03-11T13:22:00.001-07:00

RealVail

Hasidic reggae performer Matisyahu will perform a free concert in ...
Vail Daily News, CO
Matisyahu, who emerged in 2001, is known for blending traditional Jewish themes with reggae, rock and hip-hop. Since his debut, Matisyahu has received good reviews from both rock and reggae outlets and was named Top Reggae Artist of 2006 by Billboard. ...
OAR (Of A Revolution) wraps up Spring Back to Vail on closing day ... RealVail
all 2 news articles

Hasidic reggae performer Matisyahu will perform a free concert in ... - Vail Daily News
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:17:41 GMT

Mr. Dark and Gloomy Catches a Bawdier Wave

2009-03-11T13:20:00.001-07:00

Mavado’s best when incensed or malevolent, but at S.O.B.’s on Tuesday he caught the wave of good cheer, seeming more at home in bawdy material than in his darker work.

Mr. Dark and Gloomy Catches a Bawdier Wave
By JON CARAMANICA
Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:37:45 GMT

From popular to 'gangsta' culture - Jamaica Observer

2009-02-23T09:56:00.001-08:00

From popular to 'gangsta' culture
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica
by its conflicts, from becoming perverted and perverting In my observation of discussions on the "dancehall" genre of the Jamaican popular culture, Ester Tyson's "Rampin shop - musical poison" was indeed a turning point. As Clyde McKenzie observed ...

From popular to 'gangsta' culture - Jamaica Observer
Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:29:07 GMT

Arts & Entertainment Briefs (The Times Press Recorder)

2009-02-23T09:53:00.001-08:00

Stephen Marley will headline SLO Dayz, a six-act show of veteran and up-and-coming reggae performers set for Saturday night at the Graduate in San Luis Obispo.

Arts & Entertainment Briefs (The Times Press Recorder)
Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:21:10 GMT

Broadcasting Commission targets soca (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-23T09:39:00.001-08:00

Following its previous ban on vulgar and explicit dancehall songs, the Broadcasting Commission yesterday placed a further prohibition on the transmission of all soca music with content that displays, simulates or instructs sexual activities or positions.

Broadcasting Commission targets soca (Jamaica Gleaner)
Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:05:28 GMT

Mr McGregor by Freddie McGregor

2009-02-23T09:38:00.001-08:00

A pleasant balance of Freddie's light-hearted and spiritual sides.

Mr McGregor by Freddie McGregor
Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:21:13 GMT

Belize Reggae Fest Kicks off with the King - SKNVibes.com

2009-02-23T09:37:00.001-08:00

SKNVibes.com

Belize Reggae Fest Kicks off with the King
SKNVibes.com, St. Kitts and Nevis
RAINE INC): Dancehall's Royal Highness Beenie Man is headed to Central America next month to inaugurate the Belize Reggae Fest series, which will be held on Saturday, March 7, at the Civic Center in Belize City. The Fest is an initiative of Triple T ...
DANCEHALL'S 'FIRST LADY' D'ANGEL TropicalFete.com
all 2 news articles

Belize Reggae Fest Kicks off with the King - SKNVibes.com
Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:45:04 GMT

The Ultimate Peter Tosh Experience - Pitchforkmedia.com

2009-02-23T09:36:00.001-08:00

The Ultimate Peter Tosh Experience
Pitchforkmedia.com, IL
His reggae career started alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Livingston in the Wailers, a group he left in the mid-70s after Island Records' Chris Blackwell refused to release his first solo album. No surprise, really-- compared to Marley, Tosh was nearly ...

The Ultimate Peter Tosh Experience - Pitchforkmedia.com
Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:20:52 GMT

Reggae Exhibition to be staged in Washington - radiojamaica.com

2009-02-23T09:34:00.003-08:00

Reggae Exhibition to be staged in Washington
radiojamaica.com, Jamaica
Entitled "Salute to Reggae" the event at the Jamaican Embassy is in observance of February as Reggae month. Among the features will be exhibits on reggae superstar Bob Marley, radio features including interviews with several reggae personalities, ...

Reggae Exhibition to be staged in Washington - radiojamaica.com
Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:28:00 GMT

Could Dancehall Be The Ruination Of Reggae? - CARIBWORLDNEWS.COM

2009-02-23T09:34:00.001-08:00

Could Dancehall Be The Ruination Of Reggae?
CARIBWORLDNEWS.COM, NY
February, 20, 2009: “Could Dancehall be the ruination of Reggae and by extension, the Jamaica brand?” The question could be answered when the Coalition to Preserve Reggae music in association with ZYNC TV NEW YORK LINKS host a community forum and panel ...

Could Dancehall Be The Ruination Of Reggae? - CARIBWORLDNEWS.COM
Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:26:19 GMT

Credit crunch Carnival?

2009-02-19T09:49:00.001-08:00

How has the global financial crisis affected Carnival in your country this year? Have your say.

Credit crunch Carnival?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/caribbean/
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:09:37 GMT

Bob Marley photographic exhibition opens in Washington

2009-02-19T09:39:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON, USA (JIS): Rare photographs providing a unique glimpse into the life of the late reggae king, Bob Marley, are now on display at the Govinda Gallery, in Washington, DC. The exhibition is entitled, Soul Rebel: An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley. It comprises some 40 never-before-seen photos.

Bob Marley photographic exhibition opens in Washington
editor@caribbeannetnews.com
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The granddaddy of British hip hop - Telegraph.co.uk

2009-02-19T09:38:00.001-08:00

Telegraph.co.uk

The granddaddy of British hip hop
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom
Bell, who will release his own debut album this summer on 1965 Records, produced three clattering ragga tracks infused with the futurism of steel city's musical heritage: Do Nah Bodda Mi, I'm a New Man and the frantic dancehall inspired single Buff ...

The granddaddy of British hip hop - Telegraph.co.uk
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:51:32 GMT

LETTER OF THE DAY - Dangers of dictating tastes for others - Jamaica Gleaner

2009-02-19T09:37:00.003-08:00

LETTER OF THE DAY - Dangers of dictating tastes for others
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica
Some like to watch CNN others TBN; others want to watch the dancehall channel or Playboy TV. The state should not by legislation grant TBN legal superiority over the dancehall channel or to the Daily Bread over Playboy magazine. ...

LETTER OF THE DAY - Dangers of dictating tastes for others - Jamaica Gleaner
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:13:28 GMT

'Ban vulgar sessions' - Church body says public transportation ... - Jamaica Gleaner

2009-02-19T09:37:00.001-08:00

'Ban vulgar sessions' - Church body says public transportation ...
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica
The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) has become the latest addition to the ongoing debate surrounding the purification of Jamaican dancehall music, with the organisation calling for a further ban to be placed on street and community dances, ...
Churches weighs in on 'Daggerin' Go Jamaica
all 2 news articles

'Ban vulgar sessions' - Church body says public transportation ... - Jamaica Gleaner
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:13:29 GMT

Richie Spice - Hour.ca

2009-02-19T09:36:00.001-08:00

Hour.ca

Richie Spice
Hour.ca, Canada
Roots warrior Richie Spice - born Richell Bonner in 1971 into one of Jamaica's most beloved families, whose brothers include Spanner Banner, Mikey Spice, dancehall DJ Snatcher Lion and Pliers from Chaka Demus & Pliers - has delivered arguably the best ...

Richie Spice - Hour.ca
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:32:52 GMT

Ziggy Marley NEW Children's Reggae Album 'Family Time' feat Jack ... - Top40-Charts.com

2009-02-19T09:33:00.001-08:00

Ziggy Marley NEW Children's Reggae Album 'Family Time' feat Jack ...
Top40-Charts.com, NY - 11 minutes ago
His sophomore solo album, 'Love Is My Religion', was released in 2006 and won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album at the 2007 ceremony. ...

Ziggy Marley NEW Children's Reggae Album 'Family Time' feat Jack ... - Top40-Charts.com
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:26:10 GMT

Vincent Ford Dies at 68; Inspired Classic Bob Marley Songs

2009-02-19T09:32:00.001-08:00

Writing credit and royalties for “No Woman, No Cry,” “Positive Vibration,” “Roots Rock Reggae” and “Crazy Baldheads,” went to Mr. Ford.

Vincent Ford Dies at 68; Inspired Classic Bob Marley Songs
By ROB KENNER
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:01:06 GMT

Tiny Bit of Hardware With Marley Software

2009-02-19T09:30:00.001-08:00

For the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s “Exodus,” Island Records produced 4,000 U.S.B. flash drives loaded with the album and additional material.

Tiny Bit of Hardware With Marley Software
By ANDREW ADAM NEWMAN
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:01:06 GMT

For Him, Reggae Is the Family Business

2009-02-18T16:13:00.005-08:00

A member of one of reggae’s reigning families is now one of the hottest producers in Jamaica.

For Him, Reggae Is the Family Business
By VIVIEN GOLDMAN
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:01:06 GMT

For a Singer and a Sect: A Rift Amid the Riffs?

2009-02-18T16:13:00.003-08:00

The Hasidic reggae star named Matisyahu appears to be distancing himself from his sect.

For a Singer and a Sect: A Rift Amid the Riffs?
By ALEX MINDLIN
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:01:06 GMT

Family Challenges Verizon Wireless Deal to Sell Bob Marley Ring Tones

2009-02-18T16:13:00.001-08:00

The family of Bob Marley is challenging a deal announced on Tuesday between Verizon and the Universal Music Group to sell ring tones based on the catalog of Marley’s music.

Family Challenges Verizon Wireless Deal to Sell Bob Marley Ring Tones
By ANDREW ADAM NEWMAN
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:01:06 GMT

Little Hero's dancehall album takes top spot on Billboard reggae chart

2009-02-18T16:03:00.001-08:00

Revelation, dancehall reggae artiste Little Hero's debut album, has opened at the #1 spot on the Billboard reggae charts, beating out reggae mainstays including UB40, a handful of Marleys, and Grammy

Little Hero's dancehall album takes top spot on Billboard reggae chart
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:56:58 GMT

Alton Ellis, Jamaican Singer, Dies at 70

2009-02-18T16:01:00.001-08:00

Mr. Ellis was the smooth Jamaican singer and songwriter known as the Godfather of Rock Steady.

Alton Ellis, Jamaican Singer, Dies at 70
By ROB KENNER
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:01:06 GMT

Peter Lloyd

2009-02-18T10:40:00.001-08:00

Peter Lloyd born in Kingston, now resides in Montego Bay, but is on a steady rise … moving at his own pace, and according to his strategies… to claiming his spot among international reggae legends.

Peter Lloyd
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Matisyahu: Hasidic Jew, reggae artist, local star - Examiner.com

2009-02-18T10:34:00.001-08:00

Examiner.com

Matisyahu: Hasidic Jew, reggae artist, local star
Examiner.com - 54 minutes ago
by Bonnie Lee, Brooklyn Examiner

Though his upcoming show in Gowanus sold out weeks ago, I still wanted to profile the innovative reggae-rap-hiphop artist ...

Matisyahu: Hasidic Jew, reggae artist, local star - Examiner.com
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:12:05 GMT

Mavado, 'Mr. Brooks…A Better Tomorrow' (VP) (Spin)

2009-02-17T18:20:00.001-08:00

Gangsta personas have short shelf lives. Snoop Dogg: the only set he's believably rolling with these days is the PTA. and who's still afraid of big, bad 50 Cent? Post–"In Da Club," he became more of a thug cartoon than the genuine article. But on his stellar second album, David "Mavado" Brooks -- the Kingston-born artist hyped as having more street cred than Biggie and Tupac combined -- has ...

Mavado, 'Mr. Brooks…A Better Tomorrow' (VP) (Spin)
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:32:12 GMT

The Upsetter: The Life And Music Of Lee Scratch Perry

2009-02-17T15:40:00.001-08:00

Screening at Rich Mix Cinema, London, February 6th 2009

The Upsetter: The Life And Music Of Lee Scratch Perry
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:36:41 GMT

Jamaica to receive recommedations to clean up music industry

2009-02-17T12:27:00.001-08:00

KINGSTON, Jamaica (OPM): Prime Minister Bruce Golding has called for a set of recommendations on the action and the direction to be taken to clean up the music that is broadcast or projected in public spaces. Education Minister Andrew Holness said that for too long we have allowed our culture to just evolve.

Jamaica to receive recommedations to clean up music industry
editor@caribbeannetnews.com
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Broadcasting Commission seeks volunteers to monitor media (The Jamaica Observer)

2009-02-17T12:18:00.001-08:00

THE Broadcasting Commission is on a drive to draft volunteers from around the country to make up a citizen-based monitoring programme which it hopes will extend its reach as a regulatory body for the broadcast media.

Broadcasting Commission seeks volunteers to monitor media (The Jamaica Observer)
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:28:59 GMT

Calling All Reggae Stars! VP and Golden Krust Search For Next Idol - South Florida Caribbean News

2009-02-17T12:16:00.003-08:00

Calling All Reggae Stars! VP and Golden Krust Search For Next Idol
South Florida Caribbean News, FL - Feb 15, 2009
The premier record label has teamed up with the food franchise for Reggae’s Golden Krust Caribbean Star Search competition, giving musicians 18 years and ...

Calling All Reggae Stars! VP and Golden Krust Search For Next Idol - South Florida Caribbean News
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:50:39 GMT

Matisyahu NEW 'Light' Album Features Sly & Robbie - Top40-Charts.com

2009-02-17T12:16:00.001-08:00

Matisyahu NEW 'Light' Album Features Sly & Robbie
Top40-Charts.com, NY - 12 hours ago
Several guest artists contribute to the record: son of legendary reggae artist Freddie McGregor and among Jamaica's youngest and most innovative producers ...

Matisyahu NEW 'Light' Album Features Sly & Robbie - Top40-Charts.com
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:30:44 GMT

Jamaica: Explicit music banned - Global Voices Online

2009-02-17T12:14:00.001-08:00

Jamaica: Explicit music banned
Global Voices Online, MA - 4 hours ago
Another trend in these discussions is the issue of other musical genres besides dancehall (ie soca and calypso, hip hop, rap etc. ...

Jamaica: Explicit music banned - Global Voices Online
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:35:04 GMT

Dancehall needs self-examination - Jamaica Observer

2009-02-17T10:31:00.001-08:00

Dancehall needs self-examination
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - 7 hours ago
It was expected that once the Broadcasting Commission decided to ban from public radio dancehall music with sexually explicit lyrics, the charge of ...
Not a move against dancehall, creativity and freedom of speech The Jamaica Star Online
Language and lyrics - the rampin' debate Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica: Explicit music banned Global Voices Online
The Nation Newspaper - Jamaica Observer
all 11 news articles

Dancehall needs self-examination - Jamaica Observer
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:13:52 GMT

Language and lyrics - the rampin' debate - Jamaica Gleaner

2009-02-17T10:29:00.001-08:00

Language and lyrics - the rampin' debate
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - 15 minutes ago
Arguments that the lyrics in hip hop and soca are similar to those in dancehall and other songs by our local artistes miss an important point. ...

Language and lyrics - the rampin' debate - Jamaica Gleaner
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:30:19 GMT

Busy Signal, Loaded

2009-02-16T15:42:00.001-08:00

This is an excellent collection of known and new tunes by a talented artist

Busy Signal, Loaded
Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:58:42 GMT

Sizzla, Journey: Very Best Of

2009-02-16T15:41:00.001-08:00

...Bobo sing-jay Sizzla Kalonji is well overdue another retrospective.

Sizzla, Journey: Very Best Of
Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:51:40 GMT

Last week's winners (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-16T14:22:00.001-08:00

Spear snares Grammy - Roots singing legend Burning Spear notched his second Grammy award for Best Reggae Album last Sunday.

Last week's winners (Jamaica Gleaner)
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:23:34 GMT

MoBay Convention Centre already in high demand, says Bartlett (The Jamaica Observer)

2009-02-16T14:20:00.003-08:00

MONTEGO BAY, St James - Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says the US$45-million Montego Bay Convention Centre being built at Rose Hall, is already in high demand even as controversy rages over its suitability to host large conferences.

MoBay Convention Centre already in high demand, says Bartlett (The Jamaica Observer)
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:29:22 GMT

Spice hits back (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-16T14:20:00.001-08:00

Deejay Spice has blasted what she views as the targeting of dancehall music in the Broadcasting Commission's ban on X-rated songs on television, radio and cable.Spice has also got her share of blows in a torrent of criticism for the hit song Rampin'...

Spice hits back (Jamaica Gleaner)
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:24:14 GMT

New Reggae Industry Association Open to Talks to Benefit Industry - Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service

2009-02-16T14:16:00.001-08:00

New Reggae Industry Association Open to Talks to Benefit Industry
Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service, Jamaica - 45 minutes ago
Interim Chairman of the newly formed Reggae Industry Association, Howard McIntosh, says the music industry has to work with all areas of the society to ...

New Reggae Industry Association Open to Talks to Benefit Industry - Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:05:31 GMT

Belize Reggae Fest Kicks off with King Beenie - TropicalFete.com

2009-02-16T14:15:00.001-08:00

TropicalFete.com

Belize Reggae Fest Kicks off with King Beenie
TropicalFete.com, NY - 18 hours ago
Nicknamed Beenie Man for his diminutive size, he has gone on to have one of the longest and most illustrious careers in Dancehall, successfully crossing ...

Belize Reggae Fest Kicks off with King Beenie - TropicalFete.com
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:26:46 GMT

Not too young to soca - Trinidad News

2009-02-16T14:14:00.001-08:00

Trinidad & Tobago Express

Not too young to soca
Trinidad News, Trinidad and Tobago - 13 hours ago
The night, billed as “Heavenly Drums”, had a heavy dancehall, reggae and hip-hop rhythm with Maxi Priest, during his performance with Shurwayne Winchester, ...
Machel: AC7 the hardest yet Trinidad & Tobago Express
all 2 news articles

Not too young to soca - Trinidad News
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:21:30 GMT

A worthy tribute to the King and Crown Prince of Reggae - Jamaica Observer

2009-02-15T15:47:00.001-08:00

BBC News

A worthy tribute to the King and Crown Prince of Reggae
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - Feb 11, 2009
And for sure, a recorded version of her interpretation of that song would be something the Reggae King (Bob Marley) would be proud of. ...
‘Soul Rebel’: Exploring a Reggae Legend Jakarta Globe
'Jamaican Cookbook With The Reggae Diet Commemorates Black History ... PR Web (press release)
For sale: Bob Marley Independent
Reuters - BBC News
all 105 news articles

A worthy tribute to the King and Crown Prince of Reggae - Jamaica Observer
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:47:02 GMT

This Day In Music - Billboard

2009-02-15T15:46:00.001-08:00

This Day In Music
Billboard, NY - Feb 13, 2009
2002 - Two sons of the late reggae star Bob Marley are arrested in North Florida after officers find marijuana in their car. Julian and Stephen Marley, ...

This Day In Music - Billboard
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:55:30 GMT

Reggae unites artists - Santa Monica Daily Press

2009-02-15T15:45:00.003-08:00

Reggae unites artists
Santa Monica Daily Press, CA - 14 hours ago
By Taylor Van Arsdale Westsider Matthew McConaughey knew he wanted to sign reggae recording artist, Mishka as his first official artist on his new record ...

Reggae unites artists - Santa Monica Daily Press
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:32:10 GMT

Reggae and International label hurting - Jamaica Observer

2009-02-15T15:45:00.001-08:00

Reggae and International label hurting
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - 14 hours ago
By Stephen Jackson Reggae labels complain of erratic international markets whilst the 'Big Four' record companies (Universal, Sony, Warner and EMI) posted ...

Reggae and International label hurting - Jamaica Observer
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:26:16 GMT

Dancehall Artist Bounty Killer Arrested On Traffic Violations - BallerStatus.com

2009-02-15T15:40:00.003-08:00

Dancehall Artist Bounty Killer Arrested On Traffic Violations
BallerStatus.com, CA - Feb 4, 2009
Jamaican born dancehall artist, Bounty Killer, is in trouble with the law in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica. According to the Associated Press, ...
Bounty Killer For May Trial CARIBWORLDNEWS.COM
all 92 news articles

Dancehall Artist Bounty Killer Arrested On Traffic Violations - BallerStatus.com
Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:02:45 GMT

'Dancehall music can empower the young' - Jamaica Gleaner

2009-02-15T15:40:00.001-08:00

Jamaica Gleaner

'Dancehall music can empower the young'
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - Feb 7, 2009
Internationally acclaimed Jamaican pianist Huntley Brown has strong views on the influence of dancehall music on young minds. ...

'Dancehall music can empower the young' - Jamaica Gleaner
Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:21:35 GMT

Dancehall ban outrages Jamaicans - SKNVibes.com

2009-02-15T15:38:00.001-08:00

3 News NZ

Dancehall ban outrages Jamaicans
SKNVibes.com, St. Kitts and Nevis - Feb 11, 2009
In Jamaican dialect ‘daggering’ refers to acts of sexual violence and the term which originated in Jamaican dancehall has penetrated the local airwaves and ...
Dancehall under attack - Broadcasting Commission sticks to ban on ... Jamaica Gleaner
Call for soca ban Trinidad & Tobago Express
JAMAICA: Women Cheer Ban on Sexually Degrading Song Lyrics Inter Press Service
Jamaica Observer - San Francisco Chronicle
all 29 news articles

Dancehall ban outrages Jamaicans - SKNVibes.com
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:37:28 GMT

Carnival not all lewd and crude, says organiser ... but parents ... - Jamaica Gleaner

2009-02-15T15:37:00.001-08:00

Jamaica Gleaner

Carnival not all lewd and crude, says organiser ... but parents ...
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - Feb 12, 2009
The Gleaner first broke news of the Broadcasting Commission's ban of free-to-air X-rated songs, including the dancehall phenomenon of daggerin', ...

Carnival not all lewd and crude, says organiser ... but parents ... - Jamaica Gleaner
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:48:21 GMT

When is a dutty song not a dutty song? - Jamaica Observer

2009-02-15T15:34:00.003-08:00

When is a dutty song not a dutty song?
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - Feb 12, 2009
The new buzz word is "genre" - especially dancehall. From that come appeals for "the sanctity of the space", all leading up to the rallying cry: "Leave the ...

When is a dutty song not a dutty song? - Jamaica Observer
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:02:06 GMT

Too much rampin' law - The Jamaica Star Online

2009-02-15T15:34:00.001-08:00

Too much rampin' law
The Jamaica Star Online, Jamaica - Feb 13, 2009
The disc jocks claim that the ban is an attempt to kill dancehall and stifle creativity. I laugh every time I hear those suggestions because some of the ...

Too much rampin' law - The Jamaica Star Online
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:16:26 GMT

Romping with slackness - Jamaica Observer

2009-02-15T15:33:00.001-08:00

Romping with slackness
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - Feb 13, 2009
For many Jamaicans, there is a great deal of hypocrisy surrounding the issue of slackness as this relates to carnival (soca) and dancehall. ...

Romping with slackness - Jamaica Observer
Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:17:28 GMT

Bureau of Women's Affairs Says Ban on Lewd Songs Long Overdue - Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service

2009-02-15T15:32:00.001-08:00

Bureau of Women's Affairs Says Ban on Lewd Songs Long Overdue
Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service, Jamaica - 11 hours ago
Responding to those who say that 'Dancehall' music is being persecuted and the action of the Broadcasting Commission will stifle artistic expression, ...

Bureau of Women's Affairs Says Ban on Lewd Songs Long Overdue - Government of Jamaica, Jamaica Information Service
Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:48:03 GMT

Matthew Mcconaughey - Mcconaughey Pays Tribute To Reggae Star Who Sparked Record Label Idea (ContactMusic)

2009-02-15T15:27:00.001-08:00

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY made a special guest appearance on late night TV in America on Thursday (12Feb09) - to introduce the first music act signed to his record label. The ...

Matthew Mcconaughey - Mcconaughey Pays Tribute To Reggae Star Who Sparked Record Label Idea (ContactMusic)
Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:51:40 GMT

IT'S MARLEY & US (New York Post)

2009-02-15T15:25:00.001-08:00

For years, the family of deceased reggae legend Bob Marley has watched bootleggers reap millions selling knocked-off merchandise bearing the singer's name and likeness. Well, they feel they've been smoked enough. They have recently begun...

IT'S MARLEY & US (New York Post)
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:18:45 GMT

Broadcasting Commission rejects claims of double standards - Jamaica Gleaner

2009-02-15T11:30:00.001-08:00

Broadcasting Commission rejects claims of double standards
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - 8 hours ago
Tyson said that she shared the opinions of the dancehall community that to not address carnival is a double standard and pointed to the fact that she had ...

Broadcasting Commission rejects claims of double standards - Jamaica Gleaner
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:11:18 GMT

Daggering and Kumina: Is there a link? Formal dancers disgruntled ... - Jamaica Gleaner

2009-02-15T11:29:00.001-08:00

Daggerin' and Kumina: Is there a link? Formal dancers disgruntled ...
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - 8 hours ago
Hall contends that daggerin' and dancehall are being judged by persons who are alien to the genre. "There's no way you can not attend dancehall then ...

Daggerin' and Kumina: Is there a link? Formal dancers disgruntled ... - Jamaica Gleaner
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:11:16 GMT

Jamaican prof 'sounds like he has a vendetta' (Trinidad Express)

2009-02-15T11:28:00.001-08:00

St Vincent soca crooner Kevin Lyttle and Bermudan reggae act Colin "Collie Buddz" Harper have both come out in support of soca music, following recent controversy over statements made by Jamaican lecturer Dr Kwame Nantambu during an interview on a Jamaican radio station.

Jamaican prof 'sounds like he has a vendetta' (Trinidad Express)
Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:08:46 GMT

Rampin daggering - Jamaica Observer

2009-02-15T11:25:00.001-08:00

Rampin daggering
Jamaica Observer, Jamaica - 8 hours ago
Dancehall dictionary. It's all the rage, on talk shows, radio and TV, newspapers, verandah talk, church talk, bar talk, street talk, so I have to give my ...
Literary arts - Hitching a ride on the daggerin' bus! Jamaica Gleaner
all 2 news articles

Rampin daggering - Jamaica Observer
Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:12:53 GMT

The bottom line

2009-02-13T13:19:00.001-08:00

Is too much attention being paid to women's bottoms in Caribbean music? Have your say.

The bottom line
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/caribbean/
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:24:25 GMT

BAN BANANA! (Trinidad Express)

2009-02-13T13:06:00.001-08:00

Ban "Banana". That was the tongue in cheek response by Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) yesterday to a Cipriani Labour College lecturer's definition of the popular soca hit as musical pornography during an interview on a Jamaican radio talk show on Wednesday.

BAN BANANA! (Trinidad Express)
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:26:34 GMT

Lewd music ban gets mixed reaction from students (The Jamaica Observer)

2009-02-13T12:58:00.001-08:00

STUDENTS from a number of high schools across the island have added their voices to the weeks-old debate on lewd music, with some in full support of the ban imposed by the Broadcasting Commission over the weekend and others calling on the regulatory body to reassess its position.

Lewd music ban gets mixed reaction from students (The Jamaica Observer)
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:58:20 GMT

Jamaicans want to ban lewd soca music from Trinidad

2009-02-12T18:17:00.001-08:00

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaicans, angered over the country's Broadcasting Commission banning reggae dancehall songs containing sexually explicit lyrics, have called on the Commission to also ban soca music from Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaicans have been calling in on talk shows on several radio stations.

Jamaicans want to ban lewd soca music from Trinidad
editor@caribbeannetnews.com
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Ban carnival too, says Ras Kassa (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-12T18:15:00.001-08:00

ONE OF Jamaica's leading music video directors, Gerald 'Ras Kassa' Hynes, believes the Broadcasting Commission's clampdown on explicit content should target the airing of other risqué productions such as carnival parades, not only dancehall...

Ban carnival too, says Ras Kassa (Jamaica Gleaner)
Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:57:57 GMT

Jamaica regulators ban explicit music, videos (AP via Yahoo! News)

2009-02-12T18:14:00.001-08:00

Jamaican regulators are cracking down on indecency on the airwaves — banning all songs or music videos with explicit sexual references.

Jamaica regulators ban explicit music, videos (AP via Yahoo! News)
Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:06:22 GMT

Crackdown on 'daggering' songs, soca (The Jamaica Observer)

2009-02-12T18:13:00.003-08:00

The Broadcasting Commission yesterday included soca music in its ban on the airing of music with sexually explicit lyrics as debate on the regulatory agency's prohibition of lewd dancehall songs grew in intensity with accusations that the commission's action was one-sided and smacked of hypocrisy.

Crackdown on 'daggering' songs, soca (The Jamaica Observer)
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:14:19 GMT

Principals group happy for ban (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-12T18:13:00.001-08:00

Albert Corcho, president of the Association of Principals and Vice-principals, yesterday welcomed the Broadcasting Commission's decision to ban songs with content deemed explicitly sexual and violent, even if concealed by bleeps. All dancehall songs...

Principals group happy for ban (Jamaica Gleaner)
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:15:08 GMT

Prime Minister of Jamaica orders forum on X-rated songs (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-12T18:12:00.001-08:00

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has given directives to Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, to organise a task force to discuss concerns raised over the explicitly sexual and violent content of some local songs, a release...

Prime Minister of Jamaica orders forum on X-rated songs (Jamaica Gleaner)
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:15:22 GMT

Dancehall under attack - Broadcasting Commission sticks to ban on vulgar lyrics (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-12T18:11:00.001-08:00

THE BROADCASTING Commission has remained steadfast in its decision to place a ban on certain lyrics deemed inappropriate for airplay. At the same time, the broadcast watchdog has asked the Government to urgently amend the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations....

Dancehall under attack - Broadcasting Commission sticks to ban on vulgar lyrics (Jamaica Gleaner)
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:16:03 GMT

Carnival not all lewd and crude, says organiser ... but parents urged to take charge (Jamaica Gleaner)

2009-02-12T18:10:00.001-08:00

A spokesperson for one of Jamaica's major carnival operations has challenged critics of the annual festival, saying characterisations of the event as wholly lewd were unfair. Samantha Franklyn, public relations manager for Bacchanal Jamaica, argued that the lyrics...

Carnival not all lewd and crude, says organiser ... but parents urged to take charge (Jamaica Gleaner)
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:23:44 GMT

Call for soca ban (Trinidad Express)

2009-02-12T18:08:00.001-08:00

Jamaicans, angered over that country's Broadcasting Commission banning reggae-dancehall songs containing sexually explicit lyrics, have called on the commission to also ban soca music from Trinidad and Tobago.

Call for soca ban (Trinidad Express)
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:54:05 GMT

Bob Marley Sells Out (ChartAttack.com)

2009-02-12T18:06:00.003-08:00

Bob Marley 's family has signed a deal with private equity firm Hilco Consumer Capital to licence the late reggae great's likeness for a wide array of products.

Bob Marley Sells Out (ChartAttack.com)
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:05:45 GMT

Bob Marley's family in marketing deal (AFP via Yahoo! News)

2009-02-12T18:06:00.001-08:00

Bob Marley's family has entered a deal with Hilco Consumer Capital to develop a line of consumer products that capitalize on the reggae legend's name and image, the company has announced.

Bob Marley's family in marketing deal (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:49:28 GMT

For sale: Bob Marley (Independent)

2009-02-12T18:05:00.001-08:00

Nirvana may be just around the corner for the Bob Marley fans among us – and apparently we are still many. We are promised a future when just about everything we wear, read, ride, eat and drink could be born of the loins of the late reggae lion of Jamaica. Do you fancy a mug of Marley Coffee? Meet you at the One Love Cafe.

For sale: Bob Marley (Independent)
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:28:46 GMT

Nas Goes Reggae on New Album (About.com)

2009-02-12T18:03:00.001-08:00

Nas' Untitled album may have lost to Tha Carter III at the 2009 Grammys, but he's already looking ahead. The Queens-bred MC is back in the studio cooking up a...

Nas Goes Reggae on New Album (About.com)
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:38:52 GMT

Bounty Killer Latest InterView (Shit Man)

2009-02-05T09:22:00.001-08:00

Trinidadians do Bounty Parody

SEAN PAUL MASHING UP THE PLACE

2006-03-31T11:42:00.000-08:00

SEAN PAUL, ''TEMPERATURE (LIVE)'' The dancehall king (really now!!!) continues to offer more sizzling evidence of global warming with his current smash. He's now offering a frenzied live version of that song and five others exclusively online.

Matisyahu

2006-03-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

Matisyahu: A most unorthodox pop star
Matthew Miller cuts a striking figure on stage with his black hat and beard. The fervent Hasidic Jew better known as Matisyahu is also an unlikely rising star of reggae and rap.

BUJU PRESS RELEASE

2006-02-06T06:50:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gargamel Music, Inc.

............
	Press Release	.....

JAMAICA OBSERVER NEWSPAPER NAMES BUJU BANTON THE COMEBACK ARTIST OF THE YEAR!

-Veteran DJ Recording First Pure Dancehall Album in Over a Decade-

New York, NY/Kingston, JA - February 3, 2006 Gargamel Music, Inc. is extremely pleased to announce that the award-winning Jamaica Observer newspaper has named dancehall-reggae luminary Buju Banton aka Gargamel the “Comeback Artist of the Year” for 2005.

Indeed, the Banton rammed the land of wood and water with a blazing succession of dancehall hits, including “Haffi Get A Beating” featuring the late great Peter Tosh, “Too Bloody” with singer Anthony Cruz, “Ride This” on Steely & Cleevie’s Sleepy Dog riddim, “Too Bad” on the classic Throwback Giggy riddim and “Siren” (aka "Sireen") on the futuristic riddim of the same name. Observer writer Kevin Jackson, who gave out the honors based on chart action, radio play, popularity in the dancehall and some performances, duly notes: “Buju regained lost territory with ‘Ride This’ and ‘Too Bad,’" adding that the DJ “really came back good last year enjoying saturation at radio.”

One of the few artists who can deftly move from dancehall to reggae, Banton also made his presence felt with the roots single “Magic City" an uplifting inspiring homage to his hometown of Kingston. While the song received considerable airplay at home and abroad, the accompanying music video, beautifully shot on location in Kingston and Ocho Rios, portrayed a more upful side of Jamrock, and was promptly added to key local channels as well as such prestigious international outlets as MTV Jams, MTV U, BET Digital, VH1 Soul, Music Choice, MTV Africa, Channel U UK and Trace TV France, to name a few.

Banton recently announced that he is currently at work on his first strictly dancehall album in more than 10 years. The as- yet-untitled album will be released on his own Gargamel Music label, which has offices operating in both Kingston and New York... A NEW BUJU BANTON/GARGAMEL MUSIC EXCLUSIVE: "NOT LISTENING" AVAILABLE NOW ON iTUNES ONLY!!! Thank you, dear friends, for your continued support of Buju Banton and his musical movement. Gargamel rise up...

Your Friends at Gargamel Music, Inc.

email: gargamelmusicfamily@yahoo.com

BOUNTY and ROCK BAND , Collaborate

2005-10-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

We've heard the mash-ups between Jay-Z and Linkin Park, but there are new mash-up tracks on the horizon. The latest mash-up garnering attention is a collabo between Dancehall artist, Bounty Killer, and rock group, Program The Dead.

Bogle murder suspect charged:

2005-10-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

POLICE YESTERDAY charged the main suspect in the killing of popular dancer Gerald 'Bogle' Levy who was shot dead in January. Ricardo Palmer, 22, a.k.a. 'Ricky', was charged with two counts of murder, three counts of shooting with intent...

JUSTICE FOR MR. WACKY

Read on

BUJU BANTON FACES ASSAULT CHARGES: Reggae star accused of gay-bashing in Jamaica.

2005-10-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

BUJU BANTON FACES ASSAULT CHARGES: Reggae star accused of gay-bashing in Jamaica. *Reggae sensation Buju Banton will go on trial Oct. 19 for his alleged role in an attack against a group of gay men in Jamaica's capital last year, a judge said Friday.

(BOOM BYE BYE...)

Reggae master a spiritual being: LEE SCRATCH PERRY

2005-09-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

18.09.05
By Scott Kara

Lee "Scratch" Perry is guilty of arson. He did it. In 1979, after two days of aimless wandering and hammer wielding on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, he burned down his own Black Ark Studios, a place where he had recorded many a reggae and dub masterpiece.

Perry, who plays the Studio on K Rd tomorrow with the Mad Professor, was arrested but released without being charged because of lack of evidence. Today though, the man behind some of Bob Marley's best music, is adamant: "I didn't do anything wrong. I had to burn [it] down."

For Perry, burning the Ark was a matter of life and death. After he recorded the Congos' classic album, Heart of the Congos - one of reggae's best albums - he realised the Ark had to be destroyed because it housed too many "demons".

Read on

Wake up and Listen to the Cries of the People

2005-09-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

Sherilla Gordon, Deputy Quarterly Editor
Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Last Tuesday, almost all regular September activities were disrupted. Jamaica Urban Transit Company buses were pulled of their routes, businesses were closed, schools suspended and regrettably, a police officer was shot and injured while another man was shot dead.

I agree with the Jamaica Labour Party that the cost of living in Jamaica is too high, but I disagree with the extremities of some of the demonstrations. It is full time that the government wakes up and not only listens to the cries of the people, but ease the enormous burdens that many of them have to carry. Aren't two of the roles of government to control price and incomes, and regulate business, whether public or private, if they are acting against the interest of the general public?

In my opinion, the Jamaican government is ineffectively performing these roles. I have to agree with popular dancehall entertainer, Vybz Kartel, when he says "everyting except dead people a raise" in his single Emergency. Prices are on the rise, with no current indication of ceasing. Bus fares, oil, chicken, electricity and soon to come, water and telephone services.

Read on

Marley's son returns reggae to roots : JR. GONG INTERVIEW

2005-09-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

MARK LELINWALLA

Associated Press

NEW YORK - Being an icon's son isn't easy. Yet Damian Marley is doing just fine. The son of Bob is leading reggae back to its roots with his enthralling summer anthem, "Welcome To Jamrock," and new album.

The articulate, socially conscious artist known as "Jr. Gong" spoke to The Associated Press about the return of traditional reggae, gang violence, working with Alicia Keys and continuing his father's legacy.

AP: Since the "Welcome To Jamrock" single is so big, what do you expect from the album?

Marley: It can expose people to what we're speaking about and what the music stands for in a moral and lyrical sense. It's about what's going on in the world, not just my life.

AP: There has been a real return to traditional grassroots reggae. How do you feel about that?

Read on

Lady G paving a positive path for her children to follow

2005-09-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Lady G says when she looks back at her musical archives, there isn't any material that she regrets recording. With over 17 years of experience in the dancehall, Lady G (real name Janice Fyffe) says that the material that she puts out is reflective of who she is as an individual.

Sean Paul adds message to the groove

2005-09-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Mark Lelinwalla
Associated Press

September 29, 2005

NEW YORK -- The ladies love dancing to Sean Paul's contagious dancehall grooves. Guys like him for making women move on the dance floor.

After three years without dropping an album, the dancehall don is back with The Trinity. In a recent interview, Paul talked about his message and his vibe.

AP: We Be Burnin' is a smash single, but behind the groove is a message. Do you think that message gets buried?

Sean Paul: Dancehall music is perceived as party music, which it is because of the rhythm, but there are messages that do come through or a purpose of an artist saying something to the world. People usually don't get the messages because of the partying.

Read on

BUJU vs. GAYS

2005-09-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Reggae star denies attacking gays
REGGAE artist Buju Banton has been charged with assault in connection with an attack on a group of gay men in Jamaica.

LOST MARLEY TUNE TO APPEAR ON NEW ALBUM

2005-09-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

A lost BOB MARLEY tune has been unearthed for a new reggae compilation album. Marley's son ZIGGY found the track, SLOGANS, in the family archives last year (04) and he asked pal ERIC CLAPTON to rerecord the music for the track over his father's voice.

Damian ''Jr. Gong'' Marley Posts Highest Debuting Reggae Album in Chart History

2005-09-22T15:50:00.001-07:00

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley made history today when his Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Records release, WELCOME TO JAMROCK, entered the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at Number 7, selling over 85,000 units and making it the biggest opening week for a Reggae artist in the history of the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart.

Damian ''Jr. Gong'' Marley Posts Highest Debuting Reggae Album in Chart History

2005-09-22T15:50:00.000-07:00

Tuesday round up :: 13-9-05

2005-09-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sean Paul – We Be Burnin’ If you were ever in any doubt that Sean Paul loves the ladies, he’s back to hammer the point home and let you know he’s a player.

Read on

'I've sold more than Bob Marley' (so what, I don't care mr. boomboclaatastic)
Shaggy tells Amina Taylor why he deserves to be ranked among reggae's best
Tuesday September 13, 2005
The Guardian

Once an underground sound, dancehall reggae has long since become a global music phenomenon. Based on sales alone - over 10m for 2001's Hot Shot, making him the only reggae artist to earn a diamond disc - Orville Richard "Shaggy" Burrell should be the genre's crown prince. And yet, as he prepares to release his sixth studio album, Clothes Drop, Shaggy is feeling less like reggae royalty and more like its court jester.

While hardcore acts such as Beenie Man and Buju Banton have brought acclaim and controversy to the scene, and Sean Paul has been hailed as dancehall's saving grace, Shaggy's critics claim his music is little more than glorified pop. Removing his straw hat and rubbing his hand through his curly Afro, Shaggy sighs. "I'm 'conveniently reggae'. Let me explain that," he says. "Within the last year, when dancehall has got its shine, there have been people who have dubbed me 'not quite dancehall'. Whenever people want this type of music to be in Madison Square Garden, the big bosses ask about the music's homophobia, sex and violence reputation, and the promoters will say: 'That's not true, look at Shaggy.' But when it's time to say, 'Look what reggae has done,' and acknowledge the people who have been influential, then I'm conveniently not reggae. I've had to live with that."

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World Clash Returns to Brooklyn, New York!!
By Flair Lindsey, press release One Drop Promotions

Posted: Sep 12, 2005 19:12 UTC

NEW YORK, NY - Irish and Chin’s World Clash series of events traveled to Jamaica, Antigua and Canada this year. Now, the flagship event is returning to Brooklyn, New York, where the monumental World Clash 1999 set new standards for the sound clash industry.

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Reggae's New Old Sound, Led by a Marley

By KELEFA SANNEH

Published: September 8, 2005

For anyone only casually acquainted with reggae music, the scene at the Hammerstein Ballroom might have come as quite a shock. It was last Friday night, and a crammed-in crowd was enjoying a typically crammed-together bill. Sean Paul cycled through computer-driven club hits. Sizzla delivered blistering song fragments, some lasting only a few seconds. And Elephant Man, dressed up as a Wild West gunman, invited Diddy (formerly P. Diddy and officially Sean Combs) onstage for some dirty dancing with two women from the crowd who both looked as if they could give a great deal better than they got.

Reggae has come a long way since Bob Marley.

And, in another sense, not so far at all. One of the headliners at the concert was Damian Marley, a k a Jr. Gong, the youngest son of reggae's most famous father. But Mr. Marley's appearance was not a case of nepotism run amok. He has a breakthrough hit with "Welcome to Jamrock," a thrilling protest anthem that adds his fiery monotone to simple, impossibly heavy bass and drums.

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Damian Marley Welcomes Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
Tuesday ,13th September 2005

After announcing 24 US tour dates to support his new LP, Welcome to Jamrock, Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley has also revealed some big news. The son of the reggae legend will be donating $1 from each ticket sold, to the victims of the New Orleans natural disaster. The Hurricane Katrina relief efforts have also had a massive help from the likes of BET… who with help from stars raised $10 million for sufferers. Mary J. Blige , David Banner, Floetry, Patti LaBelle and Alicia Keys were among the performers who took the stage for aid.

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Bounty Killer is back on the Billboard charts, as his single PSABK (2004) which features Jay-Z, debuts at number 75 on the R&B Hip Hop Singles & Tracks tally.

Roof embraces Levy reggae beat
September 8, 2005
By James W.B. Burrows

Celebrated Jamaican dancehall artist Barrington Levy sang in front of a full Hot Tin Roof on Thursday, August 11. Known as a driving force in dancehall reggae, Levy was heavily anticipated. His first performance on the Island lived up to expectations.

Levy has enjoyed a couple of decades of success, growing in recognition from Jamaican star to international celebrity. After first forming The Mighty Multitude with his cousin, Levy tested his talents as a solo artist. He quickly established a name for himself. At 14, Levy was already a popular performer in Jamaican dancehalls. He teamed up with promising young producer Jungo Lawes and recorded well received singles backed up by The Roots Radics' roots-based rhythms. Using these traditional rhythms, then adding a hard-hitting edge for the dance floor, they created a sound that was embraced in the clubs and sent dancehall music in a new direction.

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