Live, informative and on top of everything and anything as it pertains to Jamaican Music Culture
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Hot New Additions to the Dancehall Documentary Playlist!
Kymani Marley and I-Octane
Baby Cham and the Gong
Chronixx and Protoje
Gong and Sean Paul
Who! Man a Real Bongo Nyah!
Ragga, Shango and Kalonji
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
The New or Not-So-New Non-Jamaican Reggae!
Once upon a time in fairy tale world, before, the 21st century rush of intellectual property and copyright... once upon a time way back when... Reggae used to be indigenous to Jamaica, it would conjure to mind relaxing images of white sand beaches, rum, dreads and Rastas, marijuana, religion, the Old Testament.
But I smelled the change way back when after stumbling upon a bar in New York, with Jews in drunken harmony like some quasi bar choir... belting along with Sizzla to... "like mountains round about Jerusaleeeeeeeeeeeeehm" granted the follow up wasn't so strong "So is Emperor Selassie I around I and I..." Yep this was probably 2002 or 2003. It had prepared me for the deluge to come of Reggae metamorphosis of epic proportions.
I was already acquainted with the notion that World Beat is sort of on the same BPM as Reggae and pretty much is a multi-ethnic reggae re-branding. This was brought home to me by Magazines like TRACE and GLOBAL RHYTHMS. I don't get them anymore... too costly and owing to the Government tax on books reading and all literature... I now have to steal books to read on the Nook. I feel like a house slave some times... piracy and theft to read and learn. The consequences of financial slavery. But I digress.
Yes, yes... World Beat = Reggae re-branded. Then I notice the rise of Reggaeton, I had already witnessed the phenomena that is Ragga Soca in 2003 and 2006, especially the similarity with Bunji Garlin and Jamaica's Bounty Killer... Hmmm I also remember experiencing the early Brit fad that was Jungle music in the late 90's with Bounty's "Smoke mi herb give tanx and praise" splice neatly unto some raggedy techno riddims, and fell in love with Brit music for awhile... spent a few summers with Bush and Oasis... Coldplay and Spice Girls (Yes I admit it I loved them... especially Scary Spice... my fave song and video was Viva Forever)... A lil Radio Head... This Brit Reggae melting pot... I believe is the premise and foundation for today's DubStep... especially seeing there is a techno revival across genre's, listen to pop music these days... all this Calvin Harris, Pitbull... that... Baby don't hurt me no more... Real McCoy...Ace of Base... CLUB SOUND... and remember how Reggae dancehall club Ace of Base sounded... I saw the sign... all that she wants...
Now lets remember some bands, bands like UB40, Rolling Stones and Sting and the Police. Add this to the fact that Dancehall essential informed Hip-hop and Rap... it's just Deejaying with an accent. Toasting the mic yankee style... instead a yardcore. We have been a musical and cultural if not spiritual power house and superstate... yes... we... us... Jamaica.
So I have to ask... How did all the top reggae stars end up being... Gentle Man from Germany, Snoop Lion from California (Speaking of Cali... who remembers No Doubt reggae wannabe), there is this other dude from Portugal, Matisyahu is a New York Jew... Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was from Hawaii...
With all this... what of the likes of Jah9, Chronixx, Protoje, Dax Lion, Kabaka Pyramid, Ibah Mahr, Keke-I, Jah Bouks, Jesse Royal, Black Am I, Jo Mersa and the rest?
How do we profit? Is this an intellectual property issue? Is there space left for Jamaican artistes? Can the Reggae Revival acts compete with there foreign counterparts?
Jewish NYC
Germany
International Mix of Reggae Influenced Artistes
But I smelled the change way back when after stumbling upon a bar in New York, with Jews in drunken harmony like some quasi bar choir... belting along with Sizzla to... "like mountains round about Jerusaleeeeeeeeeeeeehm" granted the follow up wasn't so strong "So is Emperor Selassie I around I and I..." Yep this was probably 2002 or 2003. It had prepared me for the deluge to come of Reggae metamorphosis of epic proportions.
I was already acquainted with the notion that World Beat is sort of on the same BPM as Reggae and pretty much is a multi-ethnic reggae re-branding. This was brought home to me by Magazines like TRACE and GLOBAL RHYTHMS. I don't get them anymore... too costly and owing to the Government tax on books reading and all literature... I now have to steal books to read on the Nook. I feel like a house slave some times... piracy and theft to read and learn. The consequences of financial slavery. But I digress.
Yes, yes... World Beat = Reggae re-branded. Then I notice the rise of Reggaeton, I had already witnessed the phenomena that is Ragga Soca in 2003 and 2006, especially the similarity with Bunji Garlin and Jamaica's Bounty Killer... Hmmm I also remember experiencing the early Brit fad that was Jungle music in the late 90's with Bounty's "Smoke mi herb give tanx and praise" splice neatly unto some raggedy techno riddims, and fell in love with Brit music for awhile... spent a few summers with Bush and Oasis... Coldplay and Spice Girls (Yes I admit it I loved them... especially Scary Spice... my fave song and video was Viva Forever)... A lil Radio Head... This Brit Reggae melting pot... I believe is the premise and foundation for today's DubStep... especially seeing there is a techno revival across genre's, listen to pop music these days... all this Calvin Harris, Pitbull... that... Baby don't hurt me no more... Real McCoy...Ace of Base... CLUB SOUND... and remember how Reggae dancehall club Ace of Base sounded... I saw the sign... all that she wants...
Now lets remember some bands, bands like UB40, Rolling Stones and Sting and the Police. Add this to the fact that Dancehall essential informed Hip-hop and Rap... it's just Deejaying with an accent. Toasting the mic yankee style... instead a yardcore. We have been a musical and cultural if not spiritual power house and superstate... yes... we... us... Jamaica.
So I have to ask... How did all the top reggae stars end up being... Gentle Man from Germany, Snoop Lion from California (Speaking of Cali... who remembers No Doubt reggae wannabe), there is this other dude from Portugal, Matisyahu is a New York Jew... Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was from Hawaii...
With all this... what of the likes of Jah9, Chronixx, Protoje, Dax Lion, Kabaka Pyramid, Ibah Mahr, Keke-I, Jah Bouks, Jesse Royal, Black Am I, Jo Mersa and the rest?
How do we profit? Is this an intellectual property issue? Is there space left for Jamaican artistes? Can the Reggae Revival acts compete with there foreign counterparts?
Hawaii
California
Jewish NYC
Germany
Portugal
International Mix of Reggae Influenced Artistes
Swedish
British
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
New Quality Music... Dancehall Documentary Current Playlist!
Jesse Royal - This Morning!
Jo Mersa - Comfortable!
Jah Bouks - Angola
Damian Marley - Mek It Bun Dem
Chronixx - Smile Jamaica
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Reggae Mania Charts for April
| NO. | SONG | ARTIST |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | Gyal A Gimme Bun | I-Octane |
| 02. | Odd Ras | Chronixx |
| 03. | Behind Curtain | Chronixx |
| 04. | Gal Sidung | Konshens / Darrio |
| 05. | Tip Pon Your Toe | Aidonia |
| 06. | Broad Out | RDX |
| 07. | Mr. Tek Weh Yu Gal | Mavado |
| 08. | Kotch | RDX |
| 09. | So Me Tan | Konshens |
| 10. | Ever Blessed | Vybz Kartel |
| 11. | Agony | Mavado |
| 12. | Mr. Bleach Chin | Vybz Kartel |
| 13. | Million Dollar Man | Mavado |
| 14. | Freaky Gal Pt 3 | Vybz Kartel |
| 15. | Badmind Dem A Pree | Bounty Killer / I-Octane |
| 16. | Maniac | Tommy Lee |
| 17. | Bedroom Bully | Busy Signal |
| 18. | Heels On | Lady Saw |
| 19. | Dweet Again | Beenie Man |
| 20. | Box of Money | Mavado |
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
RICHIE B PRESENTS: THE JAMAICA WEEKLY MUSIC COUNTDOWN CHARTS
| TW | LW | WOC | Play | Song - Artist - Label |
| 1 | 1 | 18 |  | Haffi Come Back (2 wks @ #1) – Cherine – UIM Records |
| 2 | 2 | 11 | | Broad Out - RDX - Apt 19 Music |
| 3 | 4 | 14 | | From Yuh See Me – Konshens – Chimney Records |
| 4 | 3 | 18 | | Odd Ras (Nah Follow Nobody) (2 wks @ #1)– Chronixx – Digital One Productions |
| 5 | 6 | 12 | | Di Gaad – Bounty Killer – Markus Records |
| 6 | 8 | 9 | | Ghetto Gyal - QQ - College Boyz/QG Productions |
| 7 | 5 | 27 | | Run Road (2 wks @ #1) – Aidonia feat. Deablo – Hitcity Records |
| 8 | 7 | 15 | | Behind Curtain (3 wks @ #1) - Chronixx - Zinc Fence Records |
| 9 | 11 | 10 | | Greatest Gallis - Sean Paul feat. Beenie Man - Claims Records |
| 10 | 12 | 7 | | Mr. Bleach Chin – Vybz Kartel – TJ Records |
| 11 | 13 | 7 | | Jiggle – Konshens – Dre Day Productions |
| 12 | 9 | 11 | | Get Gyal Easy - Popcaan - Dre Skull |
| 13 | 15 | 6 | | Tip Pon Yuh Toe – Aidonia – JOP Production |
| 14 | 18 | 4 | | Gal A Gimmi Bun - I-Octane - Seanizzle Records/Troyton Music |
| 15 | 17 | 4 | | Million Dollar Man - Mavado - Flip Money Records |
| 16 | 10 | 21 | | Buss A Blank - Tommy Lee Sparta - UIM Records |
| 17 | 14 | 16 | | Why Yuh Mad – Tifa & Spice – Washroom Entertainment |
| 18 | 20 | 4 | | Can't Love You Like Me - G Whizz & D'Angel - Good Good Production |
| 19 | 21 | 3 | | Spartan Angels - Tommy Lee feat. Tabeta Cshae - UIM Records |
| 20 | 22 | 3 | | Kotch - RDX - Cash Flow Records |
| 21 | 23 | 2 | | Hear Mi Hear But Mi Nuh Care - Flippa Moggela (aka Flippa Mafia) - Flip Money Records |
| 22 | 19 | 24 | | Badmind Dem A Pree (1 wk @ #1) – Bounty Killer & I-Octane – Marcus Records |
| 23 | NEW | 1 | | Take It - Mavado feat. Karian Sang - Troyton Music |
| 24 | 16 | 27 | | Box Of Money (2 wks @ #1) – Mavado – Chimney Records |
| 25 | 24 | 29 | | Heels On (3 wks @ #1) - Lady Saw - Diva Records |
| TW - This Week; LW - Last Week; WOC - Weeks on Chart Sources: Sound Systems, Record Shops, Night Clubs & Radio Play |
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