I must be dreaming… I just caught wind of an album that is in the process of being recorded between reggae royalty Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Rap legend Nas. Nas’s manager Anthony Saleh told Billboard.com that the two have been recording in Los Angeles for the past few months and the album was planned to drop in the spring with a tour in the summer. Damian has always said what a huge fan he is of Nas and the two paired up for “Road To Zion” which I think ranks in the top Reggae/ Hip-Hop collaborations of all time. It is the first time the link between the two genres has been made both lyrically and musically and has cemented Marley as a prominent figure in the Hip-Hop community. But a whole album!? I’m trying not to get too excited because some projects can get recorded but never released. One glaring reason that might happen is because both of the artists are signed to different labels. Nas has said that the album will be a community service project, with proceeds going towards building schools in Africa. That is righteous work indeed and should go a long way to making this album a reality. I will have my fingers crossed but if the album does manifest, I think it’s more reasonable to expect it in the Fall or early 2010. Check out the article on Billboard for more information.
Greetings, what a gwaan!?This is the point in the year that California Reggae fans start getting antsy because we wait patiently for the lineups of our Summer Reggae festivals. I’m especially excited for this year’s Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (SNWMF) after my first experience at the festival last year. As many of you know I have been going to Reggae on the River (Reggae Rising) for18 of my 23 years and have witnessed it transform into the biggest Reggae festival in the world. Though I am eternally grateful for Reggae Rising, it is safe to say that it has sacrificed a certain level of “Irieness” to exist in its current form. There was the bitter legal dispute with Reggae on the River, the constant price hikes changing the makeup of the attendees, and the infusion of rave music into the after hours scene. This is much different from the Roots Reggae and naked hippies that I remember from my youth. This has forced many Reggae purists to search elsewhere for the true Roots experience. Sierra Nevada World Music Festival has come to the rescue.Located at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in the beautiful Anderson Valley, this festival has vowed to fill the Nyabinghi void. With tons of arts, crafts, food and kids activities, as well as two stages there is never a dull moment at SNWMF. Your first clue that you are at the right Reggae concert is when you see the elder Rasta community mixed with the expected college crowd. They are there for the music. SNWMF knows what their fans want with lineups cemented by legends of Reggae. 2009 is no exception. The preliminary lineup for this year includes Fema Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Michael Rose, Zap Mama, The Abyssinians, Michigan and Smiley, and Anthony B. There will be at least another dozen artists added before the party kicks off in June but I would say that that lineup alone is worth jumping on the special early bird tickets. Check out the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival web site for more information and I hope to see you there.***Recent Additions include the legendary Gregory Isaacs, The Itals, The Easy Star All-Stars, and Tarrus Riley.Jah Bless – One LovellCheck Some Videos from past years at SNWMF
Though Reggae enjoys a constant influx of new artists to discover, it is rare that a new band arrives on the scene. Rootz Underground has emerged as a very refreshing alternative to the riddim circuit and has several tracks that deserve anthem status on their debut album “Movement.” They hit the ground running with their single “Victims of a System” which I actually picked up on 7″ while at the Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica last year. I originally picked it up to support my cousin, guitarist Jeffery Moss-Solomon but after I threw on the record I knew that that would only be a very fortunate side note because they had finally delivered the sound that Reggae purists were searching for. Hard hitting one drops and nyabinghi drums with some of the most righteous lyrics that I have heard in a while. And finally a band! After I picked up the album I was impressed with the consistency and sincerity of each of the track. My personal favorite is “Herb Fields” where singer Stephen Newland pays homage to his Rastafarian upbringing chanting, “the secret the my mama used to hide from me, I man must have been born inna herb fields.” Rastafarianism is a relatively new religion so it is is beautiful to see other youth that have been raised with consciousness. This song is important because it reveals his upbringing and honors his parents commitment to Rasta.
Reggae is a genre that is made to be played live. Many other genres use a lot of studio production when making an album and then have a hard time accurately depicting it in a live setting but Reggae is exactly the opposite. Roots Reggae was born out of the live sessions of Sly and Robbie and the Roots Radics and the members of Rootz Underground have clearly been paying attention. Their live performance is where they capture the true essence of the music and this is why they have enjoyed so much success. The talent and dedication of the band is evident immediately as they flow seamlessly from song to song and even add samples and live mixing to remix the album versions. They know that reggae fans will never complain of too much dub-wise. The primary reason I chose to highlight them now is because they are offering a free download of their latest release “Alive,” which captures the unique experience that is a Rootz Underground show. Please take this opportunity to support them and discover the next generation in Roots Reggae. I got big up all the members of the band and thank you for your contribution. For those of you in the Bay Area, you can join me at the Ragga Muffins Festival where Rootz Underground will be playing along with Stephen and Julian Marley, Lee Scratch Perry, and K’Naan.
My fascination with Akon started several years ago when I revisited the all time great Fugees album, “The Score.â€Â At that point at my life I was rediscovering the greatness of Sly & Robbie and how they had been the first to really make the connection with the world of hip-hop on the production side. So I’m grooving on the Fu-Gee-La Sly & Robbie remix and then about 4 minutes into the song I hear I familiar voice making a cameo. “Is that Akon?â€Â I asked myself. All I knew about Akon is that he had had a breakout debut album and sounded like the next Nate Dogg but what was he doing with the Fugees? Even more, what is he doing with Sly & Robbie? Based on the fact that it was such a small part and that it was on this particular version of the song out of the 3 on the album I figured he must be in with Sly & Robbie. As Akon’s career has progressed his appreciation of Reggae music has been more and more evident. On his second album titled, “Konvicted†he included a track called Mama Africa that features him representing the motherland a smooth one drop rhythm. This one was on every playlist I made for a solid 6 months. Akon also has graced several tracks with top Reggae artists such as Shaggy and Beenie Man, lending them his voice and production skills and allowing them to access his wide ranging fan base in the United States.
Recently, Akon has stepped it up a notch by taking Canadian Reggae star Kardinal Ofishall and break out star Tami Chynn under his wing. In the playlist below I included a few of Chynn’s hits that she had in the Reggae world before her recent work with Akon. It’s easy to see why she has made such an impression on Akon. Her beauty and her talent have the potential to have her music reach much further than the shores of Kingston where she hails from. I expect that she will make the transition much as Rihanna has and hopefully bring the Reggae world along for the ride. Though I like her work on the riddim circuit much more than, “Frozen,†I see where they are going. Tracks like this allow her to break into the American Pop scene and capitalize on the neo-disco movement that is coming to dominate the airwaves. Check out her website for more information on this up and coming star.
Akon’s work with Kardinal Ofishall on the other hand is surprisingly authentic to the Ofishall sound that we have come to know and love. Identifying more as a MC (Hip-hop) than a dee-jay (Reggae) Kardinal’s heritage is not hard to find as he slips in and out of his parents’ Jamaican patios seamlessly. On the playlist I included some videos of projects that he has done leading up to, “Not For Sale.â€Â His first major hit was Bakardi Slang and that set him up for a strong career in the Jamaican music scene but it was clear that his expectations of success were unmet because he didn’t want to be pegged in one genre or the other. That is why his teaming up with Akon is such a perfect fit because he transcends genres. Check out the videos and listen to Kardinal in his own words and a sample of his latest project.
Akon’s unique style has refreshed the popular music scene and I think it’s clear that he understands the potential of Reggae music. As I have mentioned before I think the Reggae’s lack of popularity is more based on poor distribution methods rather than disinterest and developments such as this will greatly increase America’s accessibility to Reggae. I’d love to hear what you think about the videos so feel free to post a comment.
Since I have neglected to update in the last few months, I wanted to look back on some of my favorite Reggae projects that came out in 2008. To start off, I got to big up my boy Gentleman, who absolutely tore it down at Reggae Rising 2008. His latest release is titled, “Another Intensity,†and features the rub-a-dub/one drop sound that we have come to expect from Germany’s finest but there are several tracks that need to be given special consideration. The first is the single with Sizzla titled, “Lack of Love,†which is featured in the YouTube playlist below. This remix was done for the video and is available on the “Soulfood†EP which is an 8 track release with several remixes of, “Lack of Love,†as well as dub versions of “Tranquility†and “Evolution.†Definitely check that out. Gentleman is always known for his collaborations with just about every star in Reggae and he stayed consistent with that theme linking with new comer Alborosie. They collaborated on the track, “Celebration,†that is by far the best selection on the album. Its a certified anthem.
Alborosie was busy in 2008 and made a name for himself quickly with a huge European Tour and a half dozen chart toppers. His album titled, “Soul Pirate,†was exclusively sold at his concerts but can be found on various online outlets. He blew up with tracks such as, “Rastafari Anthem,†“KingstonTown,†and “Sound Killah,†but showed staying power releasing track after track of booming One Drops that will make the old school heads nostalgic and dem youth slap it in their trunks. Alborosie represents that next generation of Reggae musicians that have gotten a chance to watch and study the masters such as Sly & Robbie, Black Uhuru, and Sizzla and use that to create a new hard hitting sound that Reggae has been lacking. If you don’t know Alborosie then check the tracks below and you’ll wonder what took you so long. It’s alright, that’s what I’m here for.
Estelle had a huge 2008. She released a fantastic album titled, “Shine,†and stumbled on a smash hit with her single, “American Boy,†with Kanye West . But little did we know that was just the bait to bring you into her Reggae based soulful style. My favorite tracks are obviously the Reggae based, “Come Over†and “Magnificent,†but the entire album a very refreshing record that showcases all of Estelle’s musical talents. Definitely check that out. It seems like she’s become the new Reggae golden child already being featured on tracks with John Legend as I mentioned, and Kardinal Offishall, and Sean Paul. Here are some videos to highlight the tracks I talked about. Enjoy.
Filed under: New Music — Tags: Rhapsody.com — Marley Lovell @ 1:32 pm January 4, 2009
Greetings and Happy New Year all my Bredren and Sistren. 2009 is all about hope and progress. Everyone I have been around the last few days has been very optimistic for the coming year and very happy that 2008 was over. Personally, I am thankful for 2008, a year that I was able to graduate from Loyola University New Orleans and secure a job for Rhapsody.com. So 2009 is all about moving forward and making progress on adding some substance to a career in the music industry. Among things that I want to do in 2009 is transform this site and start reviewing and highlighting some of my favorite albums and artists. In addition to filling out the site I will also be working on developing some dub lounge nights here in San Francisco. It’s time to make some moves and put in some work for Jah movement. So check back for upcoming reviews and shows.
I & I have been faulty on my promise to keep you up to date on the happenings in the Reggae world, but no more. The latest and greatest in Reggae news was the 2nd annual Reggae Rising Music festival in Humbolt country California. This festival has actually taken place for 25 years, but last year a legal dispute between producer People’s Production and host Mateel Community Center that lead to the Reggae Rising. I have been fortunate enough to have been present for 18 of those 25 years. Though many fans were sceptical of the”Irie-ness” of the festival following the dispute, no one can deny that the line ups and special guests the last two years has erased any doubt about the greatest Reggae Festival in the world. At Reggae Rising 2007 the The Marley’s performed with special guests Mr. Cheeks from Lost Boys and Chali-2na formally of Jurassic 5, but in 2008 they stepped it up another notch by reuniting Black Uhuru for a special performance to highlight Saturday night.
Following a mind blowing performance by Jr. Ried featuring Sly & Robbie, Ried and the rhythm twins were joined on stage by Don Carlos and Garth Dennis to perform classic anthems by Black Uhuru. It was clear they hadn’t performed together recently due to the chemistry on stage, but I am so thankful to have witnessed such a momentous event. And of course Sly & Robbie was the familiar rock playing for at least 2 straight hours with three different artists (Reggae Angels, Jr. Ried, and Black Uhuru). The performance even carried on the the next night when Don Carlos brought Jr. Ried back on stage during his solo performance to play more Black Uhuru classics. I can only hope this leads to a reunion record.
I felt somewhat bad for Turbulence and Sizzla who had to follow this historic performance, but they must have been inspired because they were the best live performances from dancehall artists that I have ever seen. It was my first time seeing Turbulence who was surprisingly melodic and extremely dynamic on stage while commanded the crowd. I will not miss another performance by this talented young artist. Sizzla closed Saturday night and did not hold back. For those of you who don’t know about the tension there can be at a Sizzla show let me just outline a few things that could go wrong. First of all, Sizzla has such a large body of work, that the set list might miss fan favorites in favor of songs on the current album. Sizzla also is known to use profanity and derogatory remarks against homosexuals which can seriously damage the vibe of a roots Reggae show. But at Reggae rising 2008, none of these things happened (to his credit he also did a very good performance in 2006). He was dynamic on stage and seemed to feed of of the energy of the night keeping it positive till the last beat. Much respect bredren.
Before we go on to Sunday’s highlights I would be wrong not to mention the performances that Tanya Stephens and Beres Hammond threw down on Friday. I overheard many people saying that Tanya was the reason they came to the festival this year. She blew away many people in 2007 and she s did not disappoint in 08 with a great performance showing the strength and command that only a woman can. Personally, Beres Hammond was 1/3 of the reason I was especially excited about this years lineup. He has one of the purest and cleanest voices in Reggae music and is known for putting on a spectacular show. He was extremely humble and grateful for the honor of being featured and seemed to have the most fun on stage out of anyone that performed all weekend.
Sunday was great finish to the weekend and featured performances by Collie Buddz, Gentlemen, and Don Carlos. Collie Buddz performed a lot of the remixes and news tracks that he released since performing in 2007, but lack of a studio release limited the potential of the show. Don Carlos capped off the entire festival with a one of the Irie-est roots performances that I have ever seen and brought Jr. Ried back for a second Black Uhuru jam session. Don is the godfather of Reggae and he embodied the spirit of the music that night with humility and graciousness. Few things can upstage a Don Carlos performance in my mind but Gentleman made quite an impression on me. For those of you who are not familiar with Gentleman, he is a German Reggae star that has collaborations with pretty much every major Reggae Artist in the world. His appearance is very unassuming but his performance was the highlight of the weekend for me. He was the guy that I went and looked for at the record store on Monday. His crowd control was fantastic and his voice was surprisingly rich for a man of such small stature. He performed hits from his various albums released over the past decade including several collaboration tracks such as Fire A Go Bun Dem featuring Capelton and his latest hot Celebration featuring Alborosie. I will definitely be keeping an eye on the Gentleman US tour schedule.
The only problem with Reggae Rising 2008 is that fans will have too high of expectations for 2009! Peoples Productions has a serious task ahead of them to live up to this year. Nuff respect to all the organizers, Volunteer and of course the Musicians for making it an experience that I will not forget.
Bless-sed Love
-One Lovell
Check out my video playlist of fan Youtube videos.
Greetings Reggae massive. A primary goal of this website is to connect the global community of Reggae enthusiasts by creating a venue where you can share a passion for music and culture. In an effort to establish this community, we have decided to start on a local scale. Over the next few months, we will be compiling all of the information that we can find about Reggae establishments from around the country. This includes everything from clothing to music to food. We want everyone to be a part.
We are starting by doing a profile on New Orleans, and the various people and places that are a must for every Reggae lover. The video features segments on Wayne’s World and Son’s Reggae Shop, Red Lantern clothing store, Reggae Night at the Dragon’s Den, the Imperial Dub Sound System, the Domino Sound Record Shop, and the Coco Hut Caribbean Restaurant. The video was compiled and produced by myself and is designed to promote the Reggae culture here in the Crescent City. These videos are also featured on the Issential New Orleans page. Enjoy
I got to Big Up Itation Records out of the Bay Area in California. Itation started in Vermont as a Sound System and transformed into a record label in 2007 and moved to my home town of Oakland CA. As a record label they debuted with the “Higher Meditation” Riddim which features cuts from Sizzla, Jah Mason, Freddie McGregor and more, and recently released the “Show Love” riddim which features Lutan Fyah, Natty King, and the Bay Area’s own Nyorah. Both of these releases are available at iTunes.com, ebreggae.com, and the Itation Records site. Make sure you check out ItationRecords.com and find out about their events, artists, and releases. Respect
The next few posts will highlight the best the Internet has to offer in Reggae services. GreenLionCrew.com is a production team and sound system offering mixtapes, show production and more. Based out of New Hampshire, GLC has a weekly radio show on WUNH Durham 91.3 called the Green Lion Reggae Show as well as a weekly Reggae night (Stormy Wednesdays) at the Red Door music venue. Check out GreenLionCrew.com and support the movment.
