If you’re subscribed to Busy
Signal via YouTube, you know that the artist just released a certified
HOTTT music video called “What If,” and this sneak release has fans in a
frenzy!
Though the MP3 for the chune has not been released to DJs or made available on iTunes (the release is coming in the next few weeks), the artist builds anticipation
for radio play by asking some key questions that industry insiders know to be
though provoking. Questions such as “what
if when me say ‘step out’ mih did ah step back” and “what if I never mastered
my craft … business lock.” Discussion is
even raised about the time Busy was behind bars in the US. Though you cannot talk to Busy directly about
the questions asked, he knows you will talk amongst yourselves. This is what we call cause and effect! Can you imagine the Dancehall and Reggae landscape without Busy? I can't and I don't want to.
Pree the video at the link below and get ready for a sweet 2
and a half minute ride!
I finally got around to seeing the movie The Interview (yes
I know, I’m so late) and I have to tell you, it’s funny as frig. I don’t know what was more funny: 2 white men speaking urban slang throughout
the flick, or the humor in the plot of two white men infiltrating North Korea
to kill dictator Kim Jung Un at his invitation. I’ll leave that at a tossup.
What is not a tossup are legitimate questions as to why this
movie is so bothersome to North Korea.
Could it be they don’t want their leader to be perceived as being a
potential feeling human being? Maybe
they don’t want the world to know that some of his advisers secretly covet
living a non-cold, mundane and non descript life. Whatever the reason is, it is much ado about
nothing.
Some-thing, is hearing Sister Nancy’s voice come through my
surround sound theatre system crisp and clear singing “ting called ah bam bam /
request to all Jamaica / inna different style and fashion….” What?!
Old school Dancehall in the movie The Interview?! Yes my friends it’s true … and the build up
to her audio arrival is amazing. You
have to see it / hear it at the 1:20 (1 hour and 20 minute) marker.
Perhaps North Korea doesn’t want the world to know that they
LOVE Reggae and Dancehall and Kim Jung Un listens to it when no one is around
to hear. If that’s the case, Mr. Jung
Un, it’s ok, I understand. I’ll arrange
a real authentic Dancehall experience for you in North Korea instead of you
having 2 minutes in a movie!
Special shout to Vybz Kartel and Major Lazer whose song “Pon
De Wall” was also included in the movie soundtrack.
Hyundai
and The Recording Academy®announce the launch of the third annual
GRAMMY Amplifier®- an innovative, online music
initiative aimed at mentoring emerging artists and providing them the
opportunity to elevate their careers by showcasing their talent. As of January 28th, featured on
the front page of the Grammy Amplifier page is Jamaica’s own Raging Fyah!
Raging Fyah Featured on Grammy Amplifier
Three-time GRAMMY®and
Brit winnerMark
Ronsonwill
serve as the 2015 GRAMMY Amplifier Ambassador alongside this year's program
curators – current 57thGRAMMY nominees The Band Perry andZiggy Marley, and
singer/songwriterAllen
Stone. The ambassador and curators will vet talent via
online submissions and select the program's three winners who will individually
be awarded one of the following prizes: (1) a studio recording session with a
GRAMMY winning producer; (2) filming and starring in their own music video with
a noted director; or (3) securing an opening spot for a noted musician and/or
at a music festival.
"We couldn't be more
excited to continue our dedication not only to the GRAMMYs but to the
celebration and support of making music," saidDavid Matathia, Director,
Marketing & Communications, Hyundai Motor America. "The
Amplifier program and our partnership with the GRAMMYs allow Hyundai to
celebrate innovation and creativity through a truly unique and inspiring
platform."
Artists can begin entering
submissions onJanuary 27thatGRAMMYAmplifier.com.
Based on their track plays and social media "amplifications," the top
25 finalists will be brought together for a GRAMMY Amplifier mentorship experience.
The top 25 will then be whittled down by program curators to a short list of
finalists, at which point the program ambassador will select the final three
winners and align each of them with one of three top prizes.
The newGRAMMY Amplifier
websitewill go liveJanuary 26thand
will feature the debut of the mentoring session video series. The
episodes document the year-long learning experiences of the 2014 winners and
include footage from a studio session with Ronson, the experience of performing
on the road as opening act forAllen
Stone, and conceptualizing and filming a music video under
the guidance of industry professionals.
The 2015 GRAMMY Amplifier
program marks the start of a newly inked three-year renewal between Hyundai and
The Recording Academy, again naming Hyundai the official vehicle partner of The
GRAMMY Awards. In addition to a new Hyundai commercial scheduled to debut
during the 57thGRAMMY Awards television
broadcast, Hyundai vehicles will be featured on the GRAMMY red carpet, GRAMMY
Celebration®after-party, in addition to a Hyundai
fleet of vehicles chauffeuring talent throughout the week.
Exco Levi’s 2015
could not get off to a better start and today’s news is yet another cherry on
the cake! Before I get to today’s great
news, let me start with Exco’s performance at Sting (December 2014) where he
not only performed well, he picked up a legion of new fans. In January, 2015, Exco performed at Rebel
Salute which solidified his placement on fans list as one of their favorite
artists.
Later in January, it was announced that Exco had been
nominated for the JaRIA (Jamaican Recording Association) Breakthrough Artist of
the Year, and now today, has been nominated for the 2015 Juno Reggae Recording
of the Year!
This year marks Exco’s 4th nomination and I
couldn’t be more proud. The song that
put him in the category is “Welcome the King” on the Love Quest Riddim produced
by Kheilstone Music based in New York!
Congrats Exco!
P.S. Look out for Exco's full length studio album entitled Countryman coming March, 2015.
Additional Nominees is the 2015 Best reggae Recording
Category are:
Tasha T – Real Talk
Mikey Dangerous – Wake Up
Kirk Diamond ft. Bob da Builder – Love Inna Wi Heart
Soca, and music from the Caribbean is slowly seeping in to
the consciousness of the mainstream, and today’s entry on the most popular
fashion site, www.Vogue.com proves this
point!
Machel Montano
Machel Montano (undisputed Soca legend from Trinidad &
Tobago) added his Soca touch to Ariana Grande’s “All My Love” and fans
can’t get enough! Produced and curated
by Diplo and the Major Lazor crew (production credits include Madonna, Busy
Signal, Snoop Lion and more), this remix has quickly hit music lovers playlists
and have stayed on repeat.
Big up Machel for making history again … Strike a Vogue nah!
Atlantic recording artist and Queens, New York native, Kranium is currently in The Six (Canada)
doing what he does … getting all the ladies excited, and you would think that
after all that hard work (and all that money made), promoters would feed Kranium
properly. If you thought that like I
did, you thought wrong!
Kranium
The artist took to his Instagram page to express his
displeasure, and not only that, put the ‘dry food’ on display for the world to
see. Ugh!
For Caribbean people born and raised in Toronto, Canada, we know
have very good food; very good Caribbean takeout to be exact! The promoters dealing with Kranium clearly
forgot about sweet spots like Mainsha (1561 Eglinton Ave. W), Jamaica House
(2531 Finch Ave. W) or Willy’s Jerk (2353 Finch Ave. W). Shameful! Why are promoters so wicked to Kranium?
I think I might call on Polly Famous from LP International
and ask him to cook some food (Polly can cook!) and ask him to carry it to
Kranium quick before the artist’s condition gets worse!
Without wasting any time:
it’s not over for Buju Banton despite what media reports have written
and said.
The official legal explanation is that the US Court of
Appeals dismissed Buju’s appeal for a new trial, not because of the merits of
the case, but on the technicality that they do not have jurisdiction to hear
the case.
In plain English and to use a very basic example, we went to
the baker thinking we could buy steak, but the baker told us to go to the
butcher instead who is a few miles down the road. The baker did not say we could not buy steak,
he simply told us where to go to get it which is not with him, the baker.
The headlines used by media incorrectly stated that Buju has
lost his appeal which is not the case.
We still ask that you send positive vibrations to Buju and his team as
we have not given up the fight.
Aluta Continua! Not
in reference to Big Youth’s 1985 album (though it’s a good one), but aluta
continua meaning the struggle continues for Buju and we are not giving up.
Stay up to date with Buju via his team by following him on
Twitter @FreeBujuNow or on
Instagram as @FreeBuju
It was just announced (Thursday January 22nd,
2015) that Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry will be a starter on team East for the NBA
All Star game. This honor is reserved
for the best players in the NBA as voted by players and the fans. To celebrate (Toronto is my home team after
all), I decided to put together my top 10 songs for Kyle’s pre-game listening
party!
P.S. I’m a Reggae and
Dancehall chick but I had to throw in some Hip Hop too. My soundtrack for Kyle Lowry:
As point guard from Villanova by way of Cardinal Doughtery
High School in Philadelphia, Kyle has worked his way up from the bottom which
is why the number one song comes from Demarco called “Levels to This.” Anyone who thinks this just ‘came’ to Kyle or
any other player, have no idea the training and regiment players go through.
Congrats Kyle … can’t wait to see you do us proud!
In 1979 (or there about), Willie Williams delivered the
ground breaking song “Armageddon Times” on the Real Rock Riddim. His song spoke of the hardships that people
were experiencing, receiving multiple ‘forwards’ for his classic lines, “a lot
of people won’t get no supper tonight / a lot of people going to suffer
tonight.”
Patexx
The Real Rock riddim has been sampled countless times. To spice up The Fugees 1996 song “Zealot,”
Wyclef sings the line “another MC lose his life tonight,” while KRS-One uses
the sample throughout the 1993 song “Black Cop.” These are just 2 examples outside of the
Reggae and Dancehall fraternity, and to bring it in, let’s look at Digital One Productions!
Teaming with Patexx,
the duo have crafted the song “Caan
Work.” To put this in context,
asking a true Rasta to eat pork, caan work.
Asking Tarrus Riley to not make hit records, caan work; and asking
telling the world that David Rodigan is not worthy of every award and honor he
receives … well, that caan work! This is
the premise of Patexx’s chune “Caan Work.”
Speaking for ghetto youths around the world, the artist says
“what mek yuh think we thief the water what mek yuh think we thief the light /
cause we can’t live without the necessities of life / politics and politicians
are two sump’n weh me nuh like / dem and GCT ah just pest inna we life / we nih
have no pretty car and we nuh have nuh pretty bike / we nuh live inna dih hills
look down pon dih city lights / we ah dih youths dem who a bounce it pon some
cardboard ah night / den we wake up and go hustle at dih stop light / it can
work….” K-A-B-O-O-M! Puuuuuull up!
Patexx’s voice has matured, his delivery is air tight, and
quite frankly, if you are not playing this chune, it’s for 1 of 2 reasons: 1 you don’t play Reggae (shame on you), or 2,
you’re in favour of the governments treatment of poor people (shame on you
again). This chune is a must play!
Catch the chune at the links, and jump on Twitter and tell
Patexx what you think >>> @PatexxAnyDayNow
Demarco is one of the hottest Dancehall artists performing today. Because of the many successes he's had over the past decade, it's easy for up and coming artists to think that Demarco's success can easily be duplicated ... it can't.
Reflecting on Demarco's start, we have to acknowledge his early days and his time performing at the Cactus Night Club in Portmore (at age 15), and DJ'ing and a youth on the Future Disco Sound System (at age 16). When early hits such as "Fallen Soldiers" and "Duppy Know Who Fih Frighten" comes in to play, we have to think about all the behind the scenes lessons he must have learned when people began to change (due to his success) but chose not to talk about because he's a soldier like that.
And what about his HIT chune "I Love My Life" which was mysteriously removed from YouTube after racking up some 25 million views? Just imagine having to deal with such direct 'badmind' take aim at his career.
Yeah, Demarco, has taken career blows and he's still here, making GREAT music with no apology. It's because of these things and more that we have to Salute the artist for making the chune "Levels to This."
Produced by ZJ Bruce
Lee and performing to the Kick Dem
Riddim, Demarco lets the world know that
as much as you think it’s easy to duplicate, you must understand that there are
“Levels to This!” You don’t wake up and
all of a sudden are an international superstar.
You have experience to gain, and a talent to develop which doesn’t come
overnight.
The DJ says: “man a Sup
(Superintendant) and them a Corporal dawg we nuh normal cause level to this / we
get the stamp of approval we pick and we choose gyal cause ah level to this /
dem cyaan walk inna we shoes we nuh have nuttin fih prove but ah levels to this
….” K-A-B-O-O-M!
This chune is a must add to every playlist. If you're working out in the gym, this is a must play. If you're an athlete competing, this is a must add, and if you're a person in a position that everyone wants to have, press the play button!
P.S. Tell the Don
what you think of this chune >>> @DemarcoDaDon
Today is Aaliyah’s
birthday (January 16th) and boy do we miss her. Her silky smooth voice rocked parties
worldwide and had us hooked on every note she sang. For the short time she was with us, Aaliyah
spent most of her years on Billboard charts as a platinum selling artist. Listening to interviews with Missy Elliot and
Timabaland, the two often talk about how much they miss her, and say if she were
still here, the R&B we hear today would be different. I happen to agree.
The Reggae and Dancehall fraternity loves Aaliyah and DJ
Silent Spinna’s remix of “Rock the Boat”
reflects that love! Placing her vocals
on the Punany Riddim, Spinna ensures that all parties can transition from
R&B to Dancehall with ease. For
those of you playing on the radio, this chune is just as effective. Don’t sleep, pause, or blink … add this to
your playlist!
The award that all musicians strive for, and whose
recognition they yearn, is The Grammy!
This coveted trophy represents the highest standard of excellence in
music supported by a collective of music makers who vote.
Every year, and prior to the television broadcast of the big
night (this year the Grammy’s will air on CBS on February 8th, 2015
from 8pm to 11:30pm EST), the Grammy’s releases their compilation album called
Grammy Nominees Album.
My only bone to pick with the committee who puts together
this compilation is their consistent shutting out of categories like Reggae
Album of the Year and Gospel Recording of the Year. Why can’t they be more diverse instead of
being predictable?! Anyways, here’s the
tracklist:
1. Taylor Swift – Shake It Off
(Record of the Year / Song of the Year / Best Pop Solo
Performance)
2. Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – Fancy
(Record of the Year)
Pharrell Williams
3. Ed Sheeran – Sing
(Album of the Year / Best Pop Vocal Album)
4. Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – Problem
(Best Pop Vocal Album)
5. Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass
(Record of the Year / Song of the Year)
6. Katty Perry ft. Juicy J – Dark Horse
(Best Pop Vocal Album)
7. Coldplay – A Sky Full of Stars
(Best Pop Vocal Album)
8. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
(Best Pop Vocal Album)
9. Sia – Chandelier
(Record of the Year / Song of the Year / Best Pop Solo
Performance)
There is an age old expression that says when the praises go
up, the blessings come down, and if that expression is true (which I personally
think it is), then thanks to Busy Signal’s
new chune called Gospel Medley, be
prepared to receive non-stop blessings because you will be giving non-stop
praise!
Busy Signal
Released and produced on Busy’s label Turf Music, Busy
begins 2015 singing a medley of Gospel songs reminiscent of what you would hear
in church. Combining the musical
ministry of Pocomania (Jamaica / Caribbean) and Baptist, Team Turf goes hard
with heavy accents of organ, tambourine and hand clap. While doing so, we can hear Busy sing “I saw
the light / I saw the light / no more in darkness / no more in night / now I’m
so happy / no sorrow in sight / praise the lord / I saw the light!” What makes this medley so profound is this
chune will be played in the Dancehall, and wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in his
name, there shall he be. God is in the
Dancehall!
If you remember 2009’s “Praise
and Worship,” or 2013’s “Reason Why
I Sing” you will more than understand this Gospel Medley and will
appreciate the spirit in which it was made:
let blessings come down on the people!
If you have a playlist that is designed just for Sunday, this is a song
you must add!
I should also note that pure music lovers (people who love
instrumentation, chord progression etc), you will LOVE the down south (southern
United States) sound Busy creates at the end of the song. He does this with song choice “Sweet Chariot”
and male and female backing vocalists.
The effect is the sound of a choo-choo train. Let the song play to the very end!
Her monster and certified platinum hit “All About That Bass”
landed her on 58 charts around the world, kept her at #1 for weeks on end, and
made her one of the most talked about artists for 2014. With the energy of that unprecedented success,
Ms. Trainor is now preparing to release her album called ‘Title’ (coming
January 9th) in which she’ll forget that bass and throw out some
Reggae!
The 21 year old singer (who just celebrated her birthday on
December 22nd) recently spoke about plans for her album which will
be released in the UK later this month, and she is quoted as saying “Yo! I wanna get my Reggae out there!” Some may be surprised to hear the worlds most
beloved genre’s as one of her choices, but it’s actually very close to Meghan’s
musical home!
Born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Meghan began singing at age
6, and song-writing at age 11. She was
also a part of a band called Island Fusion which explored multiple genres
including Reggae. A few years later, she
added Jazz to her repertoire! Her fans
are thankful for that influence and loving her sound!
Her second single, "Lips are Movin" will be released in the UK
in February! Trainor is currently
nominated in two Grammy categories, Record of the Year and Song of the Year for
“All About That Bass,” and Favorite Breakout artist and Favorite Song at the
People’s Choice Awards.
Update: Monday January 5th, 2015 ... I just received word from Team Akon that "Just a Man" features Stephen Marley and not Damian Marley. The song was mis-labeled when sent. Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused! This post has been edited for proper credit!
Akon’s
relationship with Reggae goes as far back as his musical career. The truth is, he has always been inspired by
Reggae, and, has always incorporated elements of the worlds beloved genre in
his music. One of the artists greatest
crossover hit records, “Mama Africa,” produced and co-written by Jamaica’s own Bobby
Digital-B Dixon and Paul ‘Computer Paul’ Henton helped seal Akon’s fate with
Reggae. Fast Forward to 2015!
Teaming with Stephen Marley, Akon has released a new single which is a part of his 5 disc
forthcoming album called Stadium. The
single, entitled “Just a Man,” hears the artist understand where the woman he
loves is coming from: a place of wanting
genuine love from her man. Akon answers
the call with a little help from Jr. Gong singing “I beat you to the punchline
girl I love you / now what we / what we gone do / I mean it when I really say I
love you / whatever they did I will not do… I’m just a man / trying to love
you.”
Jr. Gong adds support to the message by DJing: “your walls are so impossible I’m tired / as
I’m climbing / they keep on multiplying / and every time we progress / we
regress in your stress / all I wanna know / is why you can’t let it go….”
There are so many men in the world who want to love a
special woman but due to her previous experiences, she makes it very hard. This is the issue that Akon addresses so ladies pay attention!
Check out this very Reggae chune with a sweet bass line at
the links below and make sure you tell Akon and Jr. Gong what you think via
Twitter >>> @Akon | @stephenmarley
P.S. The album Stadium will be released soon and comes in 5 discs: Electronica / EDM, Pop, World, Urban and
Island. I've previewed a few tracks and can absolutely tell you you'll love it.
Jah Cure ended 2014 with a highly successful tour of Europe and a determination to keep pushing the musical envelope - giving fans the best of him. His year end release of the song "Life We Live" accomplishes his goal.
Structuring the chune in a way that everyone can relate to (whether you're a lover of Reggae or not), the artist demonstrates that he understands the trials we go through. he understands us having to deal with people who say they wish you well
and don’t.The ones who say they will do
this or that, don’t deliver, and leave you hanging to figure things out for
yourself.Yes, the badminds!
Life We Live, released October, 2014 addresses these and other issues we face. The singer performs from a position of
understanding (he’s been through quite a journey in 2014), so the song is
immediately understandable when he sings:“every time you take one step /
something pulls you back / but you get back up each time you fall / wicked
people and badmind / lurking in the dark / but I have no fear I walk with Jah….”K-A-B-O-O-M!
Not only does Jah Cure sing
all the right words, he sings the right words to the right music notes which is
why this chune should be at the top of your playlist when it comes to Reggae.
If you’re planning to go from
classic Dancehall, and you’ve dropped The General Riddim and need to move
forward to Reggae of today, this chune “Life
We Live” will take you there with ease.
The same is true in reverse (going from today’s Reggae to throwback
Dancehall). In fact, Jah Cure has a line
in his song where he says ‘every time you hear this song, put your lighters up’
and that is exactly what you will do. We may have to go around, go above or go
under, but nothing is going to stop us from living the life we are meant to
live and accomplishing the goals ordained from above!
Catch the big bad mighty
chune “Life We Live” by Jah Cure at the links below and make
sure you tell the artist what you think >>> @theRealJahCure
P.S. Big up Rico
Vibes for breaking this record, and salute VP Records for including this hot on Strictly The Best Vol. 50!
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