◄◄◄ Throwback Thursday! The Princess Gone ‘Rollin’ with Adrenalin!

The vibes are turned up (((LOUD))) in the studio right now, as I hold a reasoning with Roland McDermott of Born Rollin Productions! 

Some have heard the name because of the recent promotion of Iba Mahr.  Others know the name because of the amount of work Rollin has done with several artists.  Others still know the name because they want to know why the Princess Gone ‘rollin!’ 

The year was 2000 when Roland produced the riddim Adrenalin Rush (“Wine and Roses” by Anthony B, “When” by Junior Kelly featuring Igena and “Princess Gone” by Jah Mason).  The riddim, recorded live at Tuff Gong Studio’s in Kingston, featured the musicianship of Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace on Drums, Rohan Garden on Riddim Guitar, Strickland Stone (Dubtonic Kru) on Bass, Mikey Fletcher on Acoustic Guitar, Obeah on Keyboards as well as Christopher Birch on Keyboards.  The riddim was mixed by Shane C. Brown!  That was the beginning of history!  

Of the riddim Rollin says “I feel great about the success of the riddim and the Jah Mason song Princess Gone.  It didn’t hit in Jamaica at first, it actually hit in Barbados and Trinidad and overseas.  Within Jamaica, Irie FM was giving the riddim a lot of love.  Jocks like Ron Mushcette, Mighty Mike, Elise Kelly and Sunshine were playing it and giving it strength!” 

Of the single Princess Gone Rollin says “I had given the riddim to Jah Mason from before so he could vibes to the riddim.  It was a Sunday when he came to the studio to record.  As Sandy Davis said ‘red light,’ Jah Mason began to record, and the whole song, everything you hear, was recorded in one take and it was done on reel to reel – analog, not digital.  As soon as Jah Mason finished recording, he looked at us and said, that is a hit song.” 

That my friend was Roland McDermott’s first riddim he ever produced and the hits keep coming! 

Today, we throw it back with Roland McDermott and the chune “Princess Gone” performed by Jah Mason, taken from the album The Saga Bed produced by Roland!

 



Richie Spice – Soothing Sounds: Acoustic

Sometimes the best way to experience Reggae music, not Dancehall, but Reggae, is via a live stage show with a band.  Depending on where you live, or even economic situation, that may not be possible.  Richie Spice offers the perfect solution.

Just released is his album Soothing Sounds:  Acoustic which hears some of his most famous songs set to a canvass of the acoustic sound – minimal instruments and most importantly, without electronic touch.

The 15 track disk features songs like “True Love,” “Free” (which I’ve been playing on my radio show for the past month), and “Searching.”  The highlight of “Searching” is the drumming which accentuates the urgency of the heartbeat.  Absolutely brilliant!

In addition to the ‘acoustics’ accentuating the sound, Spice reminds us that he is one of us and understands the struggles that we face as he faces them too.  The gist is we are all in this together.  When the background singer sings “whoa” on the song “Hang On In Deh,” it’s a cry on our behalf – the people who are suffering.

On the flip side, songs like “My Girl” bring out the lover in Spice and his listeners too.  This is the kind of song makes couples snuggle up closer, rock and sway and be thankful they have one another.  This track is definitely another favourite.  Spicing up (pun intended) the love offering is track 10 called ‘All Night” in which Spice uses a Banjo for effect.  Musical Murdah!

For some reason, we the listener, connect with Spice’s voice, and don’t have the interference of multiple instruments – our ears are opened and hearts receptive to the much needed messages and the actionable encouragement.

P.S.  Track 15 is a surprise, and one you will Love!

If you want your own private concert with Richie Spice as the featured artist, this album is for you!  Get it here:

Vybz Kartel and Teetimus on UFO MEDZ!

Established in his own right, Teetimus da producer is well known amongst music circles for his cutting edge sound and avante garde ear for matching artists with multi-genre sounds.  Teetimus’s newest project is no exception to this standard as he’s the first producer to make Vybz Kartel ‘pop!’ 

Merging Pop with Techno and a splash of electronic, Teetimus (as the producer) lays the musical groundwork for Vybz Kartel to deliver one of his most well received cross-over performances in the song called “U.F.O. MEDZ” which features the Dancehall King and Teetimus the Rockstar.  

Recently released to the worlds’ most prominent DJ’s, initial feedback to the song exceeded the teams expectations.  “We knew the DJ’s were going to like the track” said Teetimus from his recording studio in New York, “but we didn’t expect it to be so well received by the Pop and Techno audience.  Vybz Kartel did a great job with the track – he really is dih teacha!” 

For Vybz Kartel, shying away from a track so forward thinking for the Pop genre was not an option.  The artist recorded his vocals in Jamaica prior to incarceration and expressed that the Pop / Electronica sound will allow him to gain fans of a wider background.  “Teetimus approached me with this track and the result is great.  I stayed true to Dancehall while working with a new genre.  Fans are going to appreciate it.” 

Already available on iTunes, the track has gained a lot of traction with sites such as Chromaticmag.com, Spotlightnow.com and Yardhype.com.  The preview, available on YouTube, is one of the most searched, marking another sign that the single is on deck to being a hit. 

No stranger to success, Teetimus the Rockstar earned several accolades as the co-producer of Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley’s 2012 hit song “Affairs of the Heart,” Trey Songz “Ladies Gone Wild” and Mr. Vegas “Bruk It Dung,” and is in negotiations to produce a track for a very prominent and Grammy award winning female rapper.

 

 



HOTTT New Music Video! Sample King – Jam Dung Gangnam Style!

2 weeks ago Sample King’s chune “Jam Dung Gangnam Style” was sent out to top DJ’s around the world, and 2 weeks ago, a Tsunami of support poured in for the chune making it the most played version in Jamaica, and making it the most requested by fans inside and outside of Jamaica.  The popularity is at such a high, Sample has had to make several television appearances.  Murdah! 

With such success, what else could possibly come from this chune?!  A video!  Not just any video, a certified top rated and added to every music video network kind of video!  Yes! 

Featured in the video are Jamaica’s top dancers such as Ding Dong, John Hype, Collo Collo, Sample 6, G Unit, Blazing Blaw, Boyzie, Gabby Don, Black Bling and more.  What you will also appreciate about the video is Sample King involving Moms, kids and even dogs, yes dogs are doing the Jam Dung Gangnum Style in the video!  Madd!

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJBQE4d9GWc&feature=youtu.be

Throwback Thursday - Alamo Is Ya Wit Me?!

If you were to Google DJ Alamo, you wouldn’t find much by way of information about him.  You’ll find ample reference to Brand Nubian and Grand Puba, and you’ll find reference to the fact that he is Sadat X’s cousin.  Apart from that, there isn’t much else to find, so I had to turn to the music! 

Alamo, according to his micro blogging page Twitter ( @alamoworldcom ) is still active in the game as a producer.  We also know that he’s a huge New York Knicks fan, he drinks Hennessey, eats Rice-a-Roni and is mean with Instagram:  http://instagram.com/alamoworld/ ! 

One of the most famous songs recorded by Grand Puba is “What Goes Around,” and one of the most famous lines from the song is ‘Alamo is yuh wit me?,’ and yes, he is.  What we learn from that song, and movements following the song, is DJ Alamo is one of the most loyal people in the game.  He could have left Puba when Brand Nubian split, but he didn’t, he chose to stay. 

Always with Vinyl in hand, Alamo is an incredible producer, banging out such classics as 1995’s “Playin the Game” from the album 2000 as well as the song “Don’t Waste My Time.” 

For today’s Throwback Thursday, I’m kickin it old school style with Grand Puba and DJ Alamo and the song 360 Degrees (What Goes Around)! 

P.S.  This blog gets filed under the header, I always wondered what happened to (fill in your blank here)!  Peace and Bless and Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate!

 



HOTTT New Reggae! Busy Signal – Come Shock Out!

In Art, the Renaissance period is described as was a cultural movement that spanned the period roughly from the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the late middle ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe.

In Reggae and Dancehall we are in the Renaissance period right now.  Our ‘cultural movement’ is returning to its roots; the roots where our music and our culture was born and impacted the world.  With that being said, one of the artists at the forefront of the Renaissance period is Busy Signal. 

Since Busy has been home, he has been overwhelmed.  The love from fans and the love from his peers was enough to cause him to express thanks and gratitude for all the support.  It also caused him to express that he knows the power of God and the power of prayer, especially when you’re on the right side of the battle. 

Busy’s newest chune, brand new, just released from the studio today is “Come Shock Out.”  Taking fans back to the days of early Dancehall when DJ’s took the mic and a selector from ‘such and such’ sound mixed, Busy throws these lyrics:  “caw me say 1966 Selassie touch Jamaica / ah real argument dah one yah anno faker / every morning as mih rise me haffi read ah scripture / fih attack pagan like dih pear harbor….”  The emphasis is on the sound “AH” as if to be a bellow / cry / roar from Busy’s soul saying “ahhhhhhhhhhhh” they couldn’t keep me away! 

Musical Murdah! 

If you think the lyrics catch you, wait until you hear the riddim Shane C. Brown re-licked to make Busy’s chune come to life.  Double Murdah!

 

 

http://soundcloud.com/natashas-music-box/busy-signal-come-shock-out

 

 

Protoje – Kingston Be Wise!

There is one music video that right now is on the tongues, computer screens and flat screens of the masses, and that music video is “Kingston Be Wise.”  By extension, the artist who performs the chune, Protoje is also at the Reggae forefront; not because of his cool handsome exterior (sex does not play a role in this but Protoje is a handsome man), nor because of his exuding swag, but because of the hard hitting lyrics we cannot go around. 

Beginning with the music, the riddim was produced by veteran Don Corleon, and the track is taken from Protoje’s soon to be released album The 8 Year Affair (hits all digital retail outlets January, 2013).  In the chune, Proto as he’s nicknamed asks us to be wise.  Why?  Because the source of our information (the news via television) is controlled by interest groups and that means we don’t always get the full story hence the punch line “Kingston Be Wise.” 

Adding to the already great offering of sound and voice, we have the vocal ‘riff’ of the ‘Stepping it hot’ Don, Mr. Ini Kimoze making this song one of the hottest to close out 2012.  If this track is any indication of what we can expect from the album, I’d say Kingston, and Jamaica, and the world has a lot to be thankful for. 

P.S.  The video accurately depicts life in the city that gives so much life! 

Check the video right here: