Reggae Month and Black History Month Salute ►►► Jackie Mittoo!

Greetings!

This was originally shared by the team at The Montreal International Reggae Festival via Facebook, and I had to re-share and add a few additional words!

February is #ReggaeMonth and #BlackHistoryMonth, and today is a day to acknowledge the great contribution of Jackie Mittoo to both milestones.

The music that Jackie created and performed helped to build our genre and culture, and made it one of the most performed around the world.  Working with Coxsone Dodd and the artists at Studio One allowed this Maestro to create history that is not only used in Reggae and Dancehall, but kin genres such as Hip Hop and R&B!

Mittoo learned to play Piano at aged 4 thanks to his Grandmother who taught him, and was a member of several groups including the Skatalites, The Sheiks, The Soul Brothers, The Soul Vendors and Sound Dimension.  As much as Jackie produced Reggae, he also produced Ska, Jazz and Blues.

Did you know that Jackie’s song “Peenie Wallie” became famously known as “Duppy Conqueror” by Bob Marley and the Wailers?!  Take a listen to the original recorded on the Supreme record label >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV6_jqNkpZA

Today we #Salute Jackie and his masterful music with a look at how he built the Real Rock Riddim on his piano with Willie Williams >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsx9zXGroos

HOTTT New Dancehall ►►► Cham ft. Mavado – Love Song!

Greetings!

From the time you see Cham’s name in the subject line / headline you know 2 things:  One, you’re going to play this chune and two, you're going to request this chune from your favorite DJ!

Teaming up with Mavado, Cham re-ignites the Fighter riddim by releasing a new single called “Love Song!”  So far the feedback has been great as fans have been flocking to the single like bees to honey.  Lyrically, the chune opens with Mavado sing-jaying:  “baby ah go mek caw ah pure rain ah fall / huzzy deh ah work so ah me get dih call / turn up dih radio cause me must mek she ball / my girl love me cause ah me mek she crawl / face made fih mek up and legs made fih ....” 

Cham answers with metaphoric filled honey-fied lyrics of his own:  “she say she waan ride inna mih Benz cause dem car ah stall / she love it when me rev it cause mih gear stick nuh small / she ask if me ah giant cause mih tun up so tall / my chune badda dan dem all ….”  Oh yes!  The duo go on to sing the punch line being ‘she wants to hear my Love Song!”  Brilliant!

Musically, there isn’t too much different to the riddim’s lead single “Fighter” (featuring Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley) and as to whether we will have more chunes on the riddim, wait and see!

In the meantime, here's your YouTube link:  

HOTTT-ED New Reggae Riddim ►►► King Majesty 2014 ft. Busy Signal and More!

DJ Karim is one of the best who put out his best, with the best, and the result is the King Majesty Riddim 2014.  Not to be confused, the riddim is not based on the Queen Majesty riddim (think Dennis Brown), instead, the riddim is a hybrid of classic Dancehall. 

Leading the riddim run is Busy Signal.  You may have heard some of the controversy brewing over his chune “Real Talk;” if you have, the real talk comes from one of Busy’s 2 chunes on the riddim.  In the chune, Busy takes aim at a fellow artist (not hard to guess who), and says:  “singer nah fih ah war Bounty (Killer) / real talk / nuh memba when him bruk and him hungry / real talk / and beg dih bills and dih 50 / real talk / tell him nuh be ah ungrateful pickney / real talk / memba money caan change we / real talk / we nuh frighten fih Benz or Bugatti / real talk / memba dis dog … ah Killer (Bounty) did start we / real talk / help nuff ghetto yute outta poverty / real talk ….”  M-E-R-C-Y! 

When you combine these lyrics with the structure of the riddim and the way Busy rides the riddim, you will understand why the chune is so impactful.  The drum pattern is digitized as is the bass line (think a very loose similarity to Steely and Clevie), and the accents sound like a digitized cowbell.  Believe me when I say, the music is brilliant.  Bravo to DJ Karim getting this 100% right! 

Additional artists on the riddim are:  Franz Capone / Kiprich / Kananga / Major Mackrel.  Big up Major who deals with the riddim wickedly! 

Tweet Karim and let him know what you think >>> @djkarim



Exco Levi Gives and Receives the Ultimate Salute!

If sweat is a symbol of work, and smiles are a symbol of accomplishments achieved, then the photos of Exco Levi covered in sweat and all smiles says it all!  Performing at the 20^th annual Rebel Salute in St. Ann’s, Jamaica, Exco Levi left no area of the stage untouched as gave and received the ultimate salute!  

Exco Levi at Rebel Salute 2014

Taking the stage on Sunday January 19^th, Exco opened his set with “Save the Music,” which riveted attendees and prepared them for additional songs which included “Bleaching Shop” and “Strive.”  Waving flags, flashing lighters and skanking, patrons were in unison as they connected with the Artist.  Their impression was evident:  Exco Levi makes good music.  “Exco Levi did a very good job at Rebel Salute” said Dwight while leaving the grounds “the artist’s lyrics were good and the music was great.  I’m going to look for him on YouTube!” 

Of his performance Exco shared “my fans got to see me in my element.  The stage is my office, and a lot of people got to see me at work.  I love that and can’t wait to give them more!” 

Exco returns to the recording studio to record and write new material for release in the coming weeks, and begins treatment for his next music video. 

Watch Exco live at Rebel Salute 2014 here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V7oIxB-Tr4  

Fans can download Exco’s official mixtape produced by Mighty Crown here:  http://www.mediafire.com/listen/s7svjxl4acdidh7/Exco%20Levi%20-%20The%20Official%20Mixtape%20-%20Mixed%20by%20Mighty%20Crown.mp3  

Connect on Twitter >>> @Excolevi

More Hip Hop on TV?! Maybe!

Fox TV is known for their hit TV shows, and 2014 just might be getting yet another hit on the station.  Lesley Goldberg and the team at THR tell us that Fox has ordered a pilot from Lee Daniels and Danny Strong (The Butler starring Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whittaker) and the Pilot is called Empire. 

Lee Daniels (left) - Danny Strong (right)

Empire is a family drama set in the world of Hip Hop (think Jay Z and his story / rise to fame).  The feature will include original and current music (all musicians reading this get your agents in gear to submit on your behalf).  Brian Grazer, who is passionate about Hip Hop music and culture, will Executive Produce. 

The decision to move forward with Empire comes four months after the network landed the project with a put-pilot commitment following a multiple network bidding war among the Big 4 broadcasters.  

For Daniels, the Fox drama will mark his TV directing debut. Strong, meanwhile, began his TV writing career with HBO's Emmy-nominated entries Recount and Game Change, the latter of which took home the statuette in the miniseries / movie category. 

The drama order for Empire marks the network's third project to be put into its development pipeline after Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly announced that the network was largely abandoning pilot season, and instead focusing on year-round producing. Empire will be produced during the traditional pilot season window, with additional scripts likely to be ordered.

Reggae Radio Playlist - Syndication!

Due to a hectic travel schedule, my last radio show was shortened to 2 hours instead of the regular 3.  I hope you enjoy and big up Tarrus Riley on his brand new chune "Dem Ah Watch!"  Love it bad yuh see!

Playlist – January 20^th, 2014 heard on 95.3 FM in Philadelphia / 1430 AM  / Vybz 103.9 FM / 95.3 FM / 99.3 FM / 91.7 FM / and Online via:  www.radioregent.com – Toronto / www.irievibesradiodetroit.com – Detroit / www.daflavaradio.com – Atlanta / www.TonySoul.com - Ft. Lauderdale / www.NoyzRadio.com - New York / www.Reggae4Us.com - The UK / www.reggaeradiovibes.co.uk - The UK / www.siixteen.com - The UK / www.basslinemuzik.com – Tampa / www.buyakaradio.com - Colombia - www.datzhitsradio.com – Boston

 

Tarrus Riley at MIRF 2012

Beres Hammond – Come Down Father

The Tidals – How Glad I Am

Kardi Tivali – Let Me Love You [Dubplate]

Lindo P – Loving You Forever

Randy Valentine – Poor Man’s Loving

Christopher Ellis – Better Than Love

Tarrus Riley – Dem Ah Watch

Ras Demo – Hard to Find

Ammoye – Baby It’s You

Richie Stephens ft. Richie Campbell – True Believer in Love

CBlock – Killing Me Inside

Tarrus Riley – Gimme Likkle One Drop

Marcia Griffiths ft. Exco Levi – Love is a Treasure

Dynamiq – Absolutely

Marcia Griffiths ft. Beres Hammond – Live On

Marcia Griffiths – Closer to You

Jemere Morgan – Neighbourhood Girl

Marcia Griffiths ft. Sanchez – Dearest

Chris Demontague – Just the Two of Us 

Jesse Royal – Greedy Babylon

Jesse Royal – Modern Day Judas

Chronixx – Here Comes Trouble

Sizzla – One Love

Louie Culture – Weapons of War

Lutan Fyah – Low Me Herbs

Froggy Maddsquad ft. Xean Don – Progress 

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewind and come again >>> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/cc6dc38e4qkb86u/Natasha%20Von%20Castle%20-%20Music%20Connection%20-%20January%2020th%2C%202014.mp3

 

Bill Cosby to Return to NBC with New Family Comedy!

The winning formula that was shared with the world more than 20 years ago is making a return!  Bill Cosby has partnered with The Cosby Show producer Tom Werner who will produce a new family comedy series for the peacock station, NBC! 

Bill Cosby

The Hollywood Reporter exclusively shares that the new comedy series will be centred around Cosby who will play the patriarch of a multi-generational family (similar to the Cosby’s), and share the actors take on marriage and parenting.

Presently there is a search underway for writers (submit via your agent) and development of the project is being eyed for development outside the traditional pilot season window.  About the show Cosby said:  "I want to be able to deliver a wonderful show to [a] network.  Because there is a viewership out there that wants to see comedy, and warmth, and love, and surprise, and cleverness, without going into the party attitude.  They would like to see a married couple that acts like they love each other, warts and all, children who respect the parenting, and the comedy of people who make mistakes.  Warmth and forgiveness.  So I hope to get that opportunity, and I will deliver the best of Cosby, and that will be a series, I assume, that we could get enough people week after week after week to tune in to, to come along with us."

Additional information about the yet to0 be named show coming soon!