King MAS is Walking Like a Champion

Recording artist and musician King MAS has just officially released his song “Walk Like a Champion” featuring Varren Wade and Ray Keys, and this laid back romantic version puts smiles on ladies faces.

Inspired by the original by Buju Banton, King MAS takes a not so aggressive approach by singing to his Lady as opposed to the rough gritty approach by Buju’s DJ style.  MAS also calls his Lady a Queen, helping male and female listeners understand we are all Kings and Queens.  Adding to the lyrical appeal, subtle lyrics refer to the eating habits which results in a beautiful looking and functioning body.

Released on the artists Bantu Nation Movement, which is a group of musicians and artists spearheaded by King MAS.  Combining elements of the Afrikan experience and in the diaspora, the goal of the music created is to focus on quality while uplifting, teaching and empowering listeners in all four corners of the world.

“Walk Like a Champion” is a great add to your playlist, and comes from King MAS’s upcoming album!  Listen to the song on SoundCloud here:  https://soundcloud.com/djkaas/king-mas-walk-like-a-champion-feat-varren-wade-ray-keys-reggae-2015

DJs who want a copy of the song can email King Ivier via bantunationmovement@gmail.com

Amber Rose Plays Mas in Trinidad & Tobago!

Well, well, well!  The beautiful Amber Rose was in Trinidad & Tobago to play Mas with the Avatar backline.  Looking beautiful and ready to take on the jump up, Amber commanded attention in her feathers.  The blue compliments her skin tone, and the costume design perfectly fits her curves.

If I could guess the song this Rose jammed to, I would say Destra Garcia's "Lucy!"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZlbkTrqii0

Thank you Splash for supplying the image!

CBS Wants Your Hip Hop, Pop, Rock and Alternative Music!

Here’s another GREAT opportunity coming from my friends at Music XRay (http://www.musicxray.com/) that I think, no, I know you should take advantage of!

CBS is looking for music for television broadcasts (50 to 100 songs), and as an independent artist, you might have what they’re looking for.  If your genres are Pop, Rock, Alternative, Hip Hop, Rap or Jazz, you might have the sound they want and are willing to pay for.

Register with http://www.musicxray.com/ and submit your music via the site.  For those who don’t believe this is real, take a look at the screen shots below.  You have 26 days to make it happen from today’s date (February 17^th, 2015)!

Dreams do come true; you just have to open your eyes to see!

Valentine's Day with Kaisha Lee!

From her successful album I Heart #Reggae, Kaisha Lee releases track 1 called “Be Mine” which is perfect for Valentine’s Day!  This Lover’s Rock chune is designed for all people whose destination is Love. 

Kaisha has uniquely brought her vision of music to life with the fusion of melody, sound and words expressing emotions felt in the soul.  This chune, and the album I Heart #Reggae is definitely a must add to your playlist and collection!  The album is available for download on iTunes using this link:  https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/i-heart-reggae/id945087973

Connect with Kaisha and let her know what you think of her album via Twitter >>> @KaishaLeeTweets using the hashtag #IHeartReggae

  

P.S.  Kaisha is having an unprecedented year, and we’re only 6 weeks in to 2015!  On the heels of the release of her phenomenal album I Heart #Reggae, Kaisha has been featured on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) as one of 10 artists to watch in Canada, and, as if that was not enough (which it isn’t), Kaisha performed live on Global TV Montreal.  The audience of some 1 million people couldn’t get enough, but let’s get back to I Heart #Reggae!

Women Gather to Celebrate and Network at Infinite!

Women from all walks and backgrounds gather to celebrate and network at Canada’s International Black Women Event (CIBWE) via the prestigious event called Infinite at the Hilton Hotel (145 Richmond St. West) on March 7^th, 2015.  This one of a kind and full day Conference and Gala is designed to celebrate, connect, empower and ignite Black Women of African, Caribbean and South American backgrounds. 

The keynote speaker at the Gala is MPP Mitzie Hunter (Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough - Guildwood) who is the Ontario Associate Minister of Finance.  Appointed by Premiere Kathleen Wynn, Ms. Hunter is responsible for executing one of the Ontario Liberal party’s top election platform priorities:  the creation of a made-in-Ontario pension plan.

Notable black females from cross disciplines who will speak at the 7am breakfast includes panelists Zanana Akande (the first black woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario), Bernice Carnegie (Co-Founder of the Herbert H. Carnegie FUTURE ACES Foundation), Ettie Rutherford (Author of the ground breaking novel Women are Worthy), and Patricia Gloudon (Retired Director, CIBC).  Designed to be an intimate discussion, women will hear stories and anecdotes these women have used to achieve success.

Rose Cathy Handy, the event’s Founder, says “Black women are now tearing down the walls and breaking barriers everywhere in our society and these accomplishments have to be acknowledged and celebrated. And women have to be encouraged to do more.”

Afternoon programming encompasses several topics:  making it in media, making it in politics, as well as making it in business, employment, show business and life.  Recognizing the diverse background in attendees, CIBWE panelists share nuggets that women of all of walks of life can implement in their aim towards success.  Making it in Media and Making it in Politics will have 5 and 7 panelists respectively.  Ngozi Ugoh from Nigerian Canadian News will head the media round table while Celina Ceasar-Chavannes delves in to the topic of politics and the art of navigating its’ waters from a female perspective. 

Additional information can be found at www.CIBWE.ca.  Tickets range in price from $20 to $150 (CAD).

CIBWE is supporting The Esther Handy Children’s Fund, a special initiative to raise funds to support the education of young girls in Canada and Cameroon. This project aims to offer leadership training to young black girls in Canada and give support and tuition fees for girls in Cameroon, Africa.

Esther Handy was a nurse from Cameroon who worked with HIV positive pregnant women.  She lost her life at 38 due to complications with the HIV virus. 

Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording Non-Classical - This Could Be You!

I love the story from Tijs Michiel Verwest and how his first ever Grammy ever came about!

Like all of us, he loves the song “All of Me” by John Legend, and decided to give the song what he calls, the Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment Remix.  He put the remix up on his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPk3RMMXAfLhMJPFpQhye9g) in January, 2014 which got the attention of John Legend.  

Tijs aka Tiesto

Mr. Legend contacted the DJ (he is now a performing artist by the name Tiesto) and asked if the remix could officially be released on the Colombia Records label, which it was, and a year later, he has a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording Non-Classical.

It helps that Tijs has 1.6 Million subscribers on YouTube, and it also helps that he is one of the top DJs from Breda, Netherlands and has been rated DJ Magazine’s top 100 DJs from 2002 to 2004 but how did he get there?!

In 1997 he founded the label Black Hole Recordings with Arny Bink where he released the Magik and In Search of Sunrise CD series.  Tiesto met producer Dennis Waakop Reijers in 1998, and the two have worked together exclusively since then.  His 2000 remix of Delerium’s “Silence” featuring Sarah McLachlan exposed him to more mainstream audiences. 

In 2001 he released his first solo album In My Memory, the title track of an original song written by and featuring Nicola Hitchcock, and had several hit songs  which launched his career.

In 2004 he performed live at the 2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremonies in Anthens and was noted as being the first DJ to play live on stage at the Olympics.

To all Remixers, producers, singers, players of instruments, don’t give up on your dreams and know that you never know when or where your ‘big break’ will come, just know that it will!

MaddSpider Productions Starts 2015 in a Sunshine State!

MaddSpider Productions begins 2015 with the release of their new riddim, Sunshine State which features performances from established Dancehall artists including a surprise feature from the hit duo Born Jamericans – Notch (Horman Howell) and Edley Shine (Edley Payne).

Purposely playing on the expression Sunshine State, both Jermaine ‘Froggy’ Lawrence and Ashanti ‘Taranchyla’ Reid named the riddim to give light to the fact that there are several positives to Dancehall despite some of the negatives we hear in the news.  They also pay homage to the state they live in, Florida, which is often referred to as the Sunshine State.  “Coming from Florida, we get a lot of sunshine and a lot of energy from the huge Caribbean population here.  We also have a lot of talent that is based here, so calling the riddim Sunshine State made sense because it’s everything we are!”

The 12 track riddim compilation features performances from Delly Ranx, T.O.K., Ce’Cile, Wayne Wonder and more and was recorded in Orlando, Florida and in Kingston, Jamaica.  Using modern music elements and borrowing slightly from the EDM genre, the riddim stands out as its BPM is at 78 which is very unusual for productions today.  Most fall in the 90 to 100 BPM range.  “Slowing down the riddim was important to us because it allows each artists performance to resonate with listeners.  When the BPM is slower, the vocals are more clear” said Froggy MaddSquad, one half of Madd Spider Productions.

Dancehall’s badgyal, Ce’Cile recorded the song “It’s Yours” on the riddim and said “the moment I finished recording my song, I told my manager and Froggy that this is going to be a hit for me.  They agree and so do a few trusted DJs I’ve allowed to hear it!”

Making its debut via ZJ Liquid on Zip FM, the feedback was immediate and good.  “The listeners like the riddim and like that it stands out from all the other riddims being produced.  It’s Dancehall and it’s crossover so it works for everyone.”

The Sunshine State Riddim was released on iTunes on February 10^th, 2015 via this link:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sunshine-state-riddim/id958343810

About MaddSpider Productions:

Formed in 2009, Madd Squad Productions is based in Orlando and has been producing for their label, and for individual artist release.  Riddims such as Hot Water, Basik Instink, Island Breeze, Not Tonight, Double XL, Coconut Water and more have earned them the respect of their peers and have made them two of the most sought after producers.  Their projects have been featured on iTunes and consistently receive radio play from international markets – the UK to Australia to North America to Europe.  They currently work with Shaggy, Machel Montano, Kranium, and Collie Buddz, and have produced for Buju Banton, Gappy Ranks, ZJ Liquid, Wayne Wonder and more.

Stay up to date with MaddSpider via Twitter >>> @MADDSPIDERMUZIK