#ThrowbackThursday - Funky Kingston!

Funky Kingston!

 

Before there were Instagram / photo filters, there was the #Art department at Island Records who created the album cover for the Toots and the Maytals 1972 album Funky Kingston.  Using the ‘cartoon’ effect, the designer depicted the group against a minimalist backdrop in Jamaica.  This classic album peaked at #164 on the Billboard 200 chart and was voted 11^th best album of 1975.  The album was so popular, it was re-released in the US in 1975 on Mango Records!

 

#ThrowbackThursday!

L3 Magazine - October, 2013 ft. Sean Paul ~ Jesse Royal ~ Nicholai Khan and More!

Click Here to Read the October, 2013 Issue of L3 Magazine!

 

 

HOTTT New Collaboration ►►► Wayne Marshall ft. Agent Sasco and Giomar – Stupid Money!

Greetings! 

Let me put this chune into context before I go into the meat of this eblast.  There’s money, and then there’s stoooooooooopid money.  There’s Joe Public kind of money, then there’s Oprah, Carlos Slim Helu, and Bill Gates kind of money.  Good.  The brand new chune from Wayne Marshall caters to the latter … the people who are working for “Stupid Money!”   

Produced by Damian Jr. Gong Marley, this new chune is the second single from Wayne’s album called Tru Colors, and features vocals from Wayne’s 7 year old son Giomar whose voice is heard singing the chorus.  Adding spice and grit to the production is Agent Sasco who DJ’s some tough lyrics.

Riding the piano keys, Wayne sing-jays:  “cheddar cheddar / genuine leather / from bully beef to lobster bruschetta / jet setta / shopping in Vienna / custom Louis V with the shades and the sweater / define the treasure / a dub beeper / I got better / focus / tru that mih better / now I’m a master / money getter / rich forever / have some new fans that look like Ke$ha ….”  Kaboom!

The chune has an international feel (and will still appeal to the Caribbean dancehall market) and ambition which resonates with listeners urging them to do more and aim higher for that ‘stupid money!’  Adding spice and grit, Agent Sasco DJ’s “me ah tell yuh bout stupid money / dunce funds / me ah talk Bill Gates – Donald Trump funds / nah talk bout lunch money / no lunch funds / we talking lump sums / trust funds for mih great, great Grandsons sons / stupid money / mih dollars have no sense / mih buy ah Benz dealership because Mommy wants a Benz….”  Double Kaboom!

If ‘strings’ is your thing, you will appreciate Gong Zilla’s sonic use and placement of stringed instruments which complements the prominent piano riff.  The way the strings are used, you hear the maturity, class and money in the chune … point well made! 

Broadcasting in amplified sound and ready for you to rock while listening to the Radio, partying in the Club or riding with your Mixtape, catch Wayne Marshall featuring Agent Sasco and their chune “Stupid Money” at the link below.  If you like what you hear, tweet with the Superstar and his team @Wayne_Marshall | @damianmarley | @L3Magazine

 

 

World Clash R.E.S.E.T ~ 7 Sounds ~ 1 Champion Courtesy of Irish and Chin!

Greetings!

 

World Clash R.E.S.E.T hosted by Irish and Chin did not disappoint for the 2013 season.  7 sound systems vied for the coveted title.  There were hits, misses and surprises.  Here's my take on each sounds performance....

 

LP International was one of the hometown favorites, and though they paced themselves well, could not kick in to overdrive by the end of Round 3 and was shown the door. An impressive note to their performance was their switch from Polly Famous as MC to Shortman. Shorty connected with fans via speech - appealing to New Yorkers.

 

 

Beginning too fast and definitely to his folly is Jazzy T from Renaissance Disco. His French Montana, Ace Hood and Rihanna Dubplates we're impressive, especially for the majority hardcore New York massive, but, Jazzy ignored the golden rule which is never, ever, ever go that hard in round 1. 99% of the time, the sound that does that loses the endurance test and runs out if steam by round 3. So said, so done except that in Jazzy's case he was finished by Round 4 he was gone. The lesson, don't think a Hip Hop gimmick will win you a Clash in the World stage. 

Soul Supreme was a disappointment and there isn't more to say than that. For all their fire-is tic speeches about being from New York and having excess amount of Dubplates, fans expected more but received less. In summation, this sound couldn't catch their rhythm and played themselves out by Round 2.

Another disappointment to the World Clash arena was the performance of Fire Links. After receiving a very generous life line from the audience (who should have eliminated him from Round 1), the much touted sound lacked any fire and resorted to climbing on speaker boxes to impress a very knowledgeable New York crowd. Flop. Not only was he a flop, he disrespected the intelligence of the people who know the foundation if Clash. Fool. 

King Addies performance was good and overall a B+. They had 1 round, Round 2 which was flawless and pure genius. Rinsing Dubplates from Capleton, Jr. Gong and Buju, they ran a reverse play by letting the audience know they could hold off on their extremely heavy artillery of Bounty Killer Dubplates. The Art of war was in full effect all the way to chune fih chune.

Mighty Crown has extreme respect for Reggae, Dancehall and each artist whose made a contribution to the genres. That respect was evident in every round and well respected by the audience. Though they should have made it through to the final round, the New York massive who was rooting for King Addies had other plans. Solid performance by Mighty Crown, and if on neutral ground, would have advanced to the end.

The biggest surprise for the night without doubt was Sky Juice aka Metro Media. From round 1 to round end, Metro Media established that they were not going to throw insults, but would "beat them and teach them."

Using classic Clash chunes from Super Cat, Shabba and Peter Metro (just to name a few, Metro Media appealed to hardcore Clash fans who wanted to be impressed by a sounds use of the fundamentals; they wanted to hear speech, chune and Riddim!

Using the moniker 'freeeeeeeeeeee chune,' Sky Juice gave fans their monies worth and easily earned this World Clash win. I should also note that Sky Juice performed each round at 95 out of 100 or higher. There was no dispute that the crowd gave him the trophy.

Congratulations Sky Juice and Metro Media for the well deserved win. You schooled the youths on how to win World Clash.  If you're a fan of the art of Sound Clash, or you want to be entertained in all genres if music in a dance, add Metro Media to your event!

 

 

 

Tweet your thoughts about the Clash with 

Team Irish and Chin

@irishandchin | @L3Magazine

 

P.S.  See you at Reeewind on November 9^th, 2013!

 

 

 

 

HOTTT New Reggae ►►► Eddie Murphy ft. Snoop Lion – Red Light!

Greetings!

 

Music is an infection that can’t be cured, and music is a healing agent that treats all people.  Eddie Murphy’s new single featuring Snoop Lion is both an infection and a healer and this paradox is accomplished through the new song “Red Light!” 

From the time the introduction comes via the roll of the drum and the setting of the bass guitar combined with the pick of the riddim guitar, we know the message will be in the music.  Proving us right, and setting in the ‘infection,’ Eddie Murphy sings “red light / stop right / there where you are / red light / stop right / there where you are / out of the frying pan / into the fire / burning down the people’s souls / my high anxiety / is getting higher / feels like I’m gonna blow / gone is the breeze / it used to be so sweet / poison is the wind that blows / it can’t be long / till the military comes / with a knock – knock – knock on your door / alright….!

Establishing sweet balance, and acting as a healing agent, Snoop Lion adds to the song by sing-jaying “pick up the pieces / let it begin / cause this is the way that we flow / higher and higher and higher we go / through dedication / self preservation / highly I Selassie I ….” 

 

Impressing listeners’ even more, especially Caribbean listeners, Eddie hails Marcus Garvey and makes note of the fact that since our great leaders are gone, we’ve lost our way and darkness has become the day … we need our rebels and leaders to step up again; if we don’t get that back, we’ll have a ‘red light.’ 

For true Reggae lovers, this song is for you.  It is authentic sonically and lyrically; what’s more, Eddie and Snoop could have used their voices to sing about hype but instead use their voice for message music and that should be applauded and played!   

Broadcasting in amplified sound, and taken from his upcoming album called 9, catch Eddie Murphy featuring Snoop Lion and the chune “Red Light” at the links below.  You can also tweet your thoughts of the chune to Team Eddie / Snoop >>> @EddieMurphy | @SnoopLion | @L3Magazine 

P.S.  As Bob Marley once said, ‘one good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain,’ and this my friend is good music!

SoundCloud Link:  http://t.co/Czm7q8MzN4

 



HOTTT New Music ►►► Vybz Kartel – Mother’s Love!

Greetings!

 

From our birth to our last days on earth, there is one name that we call more than any other and that is “Mom.”  Mother’s Love is the kind of Love that knows when we’re not feeling well, knows the perfect remedy to make us feel better, and exactly what advice to give. 

One of the most famous Mother’s is Mother Theresa who made it a mission to care for the poorest of the poor.  In that capacity, she washed the soars of people who were sick, nursed a woman dying of hunger and visited poor families bringing them comfort. 

 

Vybz Kartel’s song “Mother’s Love” is the kind of song that, regardless how you feel about him, is a song worthy of receiving international love as a celebration for all the good that Mother’s do.

Produced by So Unique Records and performing on a riddim that is R&B with a slight interpolation of Reggae / Dancehall syncopation, we hear lyrics that come from children when they speak of their Mom.  Kartel sings:  “No woman in this world can / take my Mama’s place / the loving that you give can / never be replaced / the lady in my life / everytime I see your face / me see love oh yes….” 

Whether you or your listeners say Mom, Mum, Mère, Madre, Mãe, there is only one and she should be honored and loved every single day. 

Broadcasting in amplified sound catch Vybz Kartel and the chune “Mother’s Love” at the link below.  When you play the chune, make sure you tweet @iamthekartel | @L3Magazine!

 



L3 Magazine October ft. Sean Paul ... Dutty Yeah!

Temperatures on the east coast of the United States and Canada are unseasonably high, so to match the unprecedented heat, the team at L3 Magazine decided to feature the hottest Dancehall artist for the October 2013 issue; Sean Paul. 

Speaking exclusively to Natasha Von Castle from his home in Jamaica, Sean shared his views on the industry as a whole, including the number of mainstream artists who are adopting Dancehall and or Dancehall elements in their music.  Sean’s focus is on his new album Full Frequency which is due to be released soon.  Full Frequency is the follow up to Tomahawk Technique, ushering in the ‘TTFF’ era!  Always one to make his views clear, Sean takes the time to correct a mis-quote issued by another media outlet about his views on Snoop Lion (formerly known as Snoop Dogg).  What does the artist really think about Snoop Lion’s album?  

Coming from a sports background, what similarities does Sean find between sports and music?  We get this and more from the artist. 

Tricia ‘ZJ Sparks’ Spence speaks with one of Reggae’s brightest sensations, Jesse Royal who is also known as the Small Axe.  Not one to give too many interviews, Jesse shares the inspiration for his song “Light Like a Feather’ while sharing his views on the difference between a ‘glamour Ras’ and a real Rasta.  Tounding out the interview, Jesse says that “I work on myself; my mentality, spirituality and physicality. It is all a oneness. From that comes everything else.”  What question did Sparkie ask to promtp this response?! 

Nicholai Khan’s art is 100% inspired by Spirituality, and is very hard to resist when seen online or in person.  Having traveled to 7 continents, visiting as many cultures and learning several spiritual practices, Nicholai explains how he interprets the energy of Bob Marley which became a fan favorite in Queen’s and attracting visitors to ponder the piece’s meaning.  Nicholai says “believe in something so big, and I believe we are all included in that.  The fact of the matter is that even though we are separate, we get to share our universes with each other.” 

Heike Dempster interviews Bahamian artist Motive, while Adrian Daniel, J. Will, Jah Defender and Vicky Sola are additional features.  Our Fashion focus looks at Keith Rowe, DJ of the month is Stephan Mercury and Fanton Mojah has a P.S.A for Jamaica. 

L3’s reliable charts as well as Model of the month are also featured.  All of this and more available in the October issue of L3 Magazine available here:  http://bit.ly/179C5OI

 

About L3 Magazine: 

L3 Magazine is the #1 Caribbean-Urban monthly Magazine that covers the globe to bring its readers content on Music, Fashion, Entertainment and Technology.  Our publication is trusted as a leading source of information for a monthly average 48,000 readers.  With writers in France, Germany, the Caribbean and North America, our readers receive exclusive industry content first.  Additional divisions include L3 Designs, L3 Radio, and L3 Publicity.