Reggae Gets Shut Out of the Grammy Compilation Album

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 8^th, 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)

10.  John Legend – All of Me (Live)

(Best Pop Solo Performance)

11.  Hozier – Take Me to Church

(Song of the Year)

12.  Beyoncé ft. Jay Z – Drunk in Love

(Album of the Year)

13.  Pharrell Williams – Come Get It Bae

(Album of the Year)

14.  Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)

(Record of the Year / Album of the Year / Song of the Year / Best Pop Solo Performance / Best Pop Vocal Album)

15.  Beck – Blue Moon

(Album of the Year)

16.  Keith Urban ft. Eric Church – Raise Em Up

(Best Country Duo or Group Performance)

17.  The Band Perry – Gentle on the Mind

(Best Country Duo or Group Performance)

18.  Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill – Meanwhile Back At Mama’s

(Best Country Duo or Group Performance)

19.  Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood – Somethin Bad

(Best Country Duo or Group Performance)

20.  Little Big Town – Day Drinking

(Best Country Duo or Group Performance)

21.  Pharrell Williams – Happy (Live)

(Best Pop Solo Performance)

Log on to www.grammy.com for more info…

When the Praises Go Up The Blessings Come Down!

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!

Make sure you tell Busy what you think via Twitter >>> @busysignal_turf | or Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/OneBusySignal

Listen to the song here:  

https://soundcloud.com/turfmusicent/busy-signal-gospel-medley-turf-music-ent

Meghan Trainor Says Forget Bass – It’s All About Reggae!

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 9^th) in which she’ll forget that bass and throw out some Reggae!

The 21 year old singer (who just celebrated her birthday on December 22^nd) 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.

Connect with Meghan >>> http://www.meghan-trainor.com/ | @Meghan_Trainor | https://www.youtube.com/user/MeghanTrainorVEVO

Akon Teams with Stephen Marley - Just a Man!

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.  

Strictly The Best from Jah Cure!

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!

Sean Paul Talks About Hypocrite!

Hypocrites are always in our midst.  They are the people who pretend to live a good life, pretend to be moral, have principle, or pretend to wish people well, but behind closed doors, they don’t live a good life, they are immoral with no principal and don’t wish people well.  In fact, hypocrites will tell you one thing, but do something else. 

Dancehall has a new anthem where “Hypocrite” are concerned and it comes courtesy of Sean Paul!  Teaming with Andre Gray and his brother Jason Henriques Misik Muzik / Dutty Rock co-production), Dutty Yeah (aka Sean Paul) wastes no time letting you know the movements of a hypocrite.   

Sampling Dancehall legend Bounty Killer who issues a stern warning that ‘nuff gwaan like dem ah friend yuh see,’ the tump of the beat and drum pattern act like a constant knock to your head saying ‘you can’t trust people.’  By the time we get to the 20 second marker, we accept whatever’s coming as truth. 

At 98 BPM Sean Paul sing-jays:  “dem ah nuh yuh friend / dem ah friend enemy / dem ah pose up / but dem ah wanna-be / dem ah gwaan like / dem would deh deh P / anything ah jump off / dem ah fled yuh see / can see dem when dih trouble it ah knock / but dem surface when dih girls dem ah flock / can see dem when yuh pocket turn flat / but dem waan sekkle when dih bank book shat….”  K-A-B-O-O-M!

What true lovers of Dancehall will appreciate is Sean’s return to authentic Dancehall – not a lot of instrumentation, but a lot of drum and 808 kick!  Check the link and make sure you tell SP what you think >>> @duttypaul

2014 Was Outstanding for Me!

Thank you for making 2014 such an Outstanding year!

I have so much to be thankful for!  #Thankful!

@NatashaVonC