Search This Blog

Friday, May 3, 2019

Fans Demand Kumar Bent Overseas!


Award winning Reggae artiste Kumar Bent answers the demands of fans and will travel from Jamaica to Mauritius to perform at two festivals in the month of May, and then again in Germany and Belgium in August.

On May 4th and May 11th respectively, Kumar delivers his signature voice when he performs at the Noulesa Festival Lamizik in Vacoas, Mauritius and the Get Up Mizik Festival in Port Mathurin, Mauritius.  Both performances will be backed by Kumar’s band, The Habaneros, and both are a reflection of Kumar’s commitment to well being.  In a statement ahead of his travels, the artiste said “I’m eagerly anticipating my upcoming performances and can’t wait to experience the people of Mauritius, Germany and Belgium.  It is important to feed the soul good music and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Prepared to cater to his fans he calls ‘Rebels,’ the Reggae star’s inspirational words in music will come to life when he performs recently released songs “It’s Alright” (VP Records) and “Dem Nuh Real” (Frankie Music – distributed by VPAL).  About the importance of his music and performing live for fans, famed radio jock Papa Richie from Ottawa, Canada said “Kumar is the type of artist who sounds great on the radio and on mixtapes but when he performs live, he connects with his audience in a way that they hold on to every note he sings.  Mauritius, Germany and Belgium are going to love him.”


Highlights of Kumar’s August performances will include time in Germany via Reggae Jam (August 2nd, 2019) and in Belgium via Reggae Geel (August 3rd, 2019).  Both festivals the largest in their countries and reflect Kumar’s popularity with fans who are familiar with his catalog.

To make sure fans stay up to date, Kumar has revamped his website www.kumarmusic.com and keeps his social media active with career highlights via
Instagram: @kumarfyah
Twitter: @kumarfyah


About Kumar:

Music resides in the very bones of this multi-instrumentalist, who spent his formative years as a church drummer before formally studying classical piano and eventually strumming his guitar on stages across the globe.

His leisure time is spent reading books about the history and science of music.  Simply put, Kumar has never been afraid to evolve creatively or otherwise.  As self-assured as he was when he declared that he will be “playing music for the rebels” on ‘Judgement Day’ so he remains confident today, encouraging all who will hear.  “If you wanna change then the time is now.  If you wanna know, let me show you how (lyrics from the song ‘Good Life’).



Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Rest Well Mr. Fitzroy Gordon...

Depending on where you live, you may or may know Fitzroy Gordon.  Mr. G, as he is affectionately called, is the founder and CEO of G98.7 FM in Toronto.  G98 is the only, the ONLY, adult contemporary radio station in Canada.  Mr. G’s tenacity and unrelenting vision is the reason why the Caribbean and African community can hear their native genres on the radio  at a time when no other mainstream radio station would give us that ‘bligh,’

Fitzroy Gordon
Photo Credit:  David Cooper - The Toronto Star
Pushing further, Mr. G made sure that the airwaves heard popular music from Beres Hammond, Buju Banton and Busy Signal, as well as independent talents such as Ammoye, Chelsea Stewart, Ms. Paige and Tony Anthony (to name a few).  All artists had a home on the airwaves, and he always  encouraged fellow independent artists to submit material to the station.  He was always supportive.  Outside of music, and within the community, Mr. G was always encouraging youth to follow their passions, and encouraged parents to invest in their children and invest in ways that grows the community.

What Toronto and Canada lost yesterday was Mr. Fitzroy Gordon in physical form; what we gained were years of encouragement, a permanent media home, and several men and women blessed by his spirit who will continue to open doors for our community in his name.

Rest well Mr. G.  We love you; we appreciate you, and we continue in your name...

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Billboard: 2019 Record Store Day Yields Historic Week for Vinyl Album Sales

All hail vinyl! Record Store Day drove record-breaking music sales figures yet again, according to Nielsen Music.

The 12th annual indie music retailer celebration, staged on April 13, helped yield 827,000 vinyl albums sold in the U.S. in the week ending April 18, according to Nielsen Music — a record for Record Store Day week, and the third-largest sales week for vinyl albums since Nielsen Music started tracking sales in 1991.  


The previous largest vinyl album sales haul for a Record Store Day week was 2018 with 733,000 sold in the week ending April 26. The only two larger weeks for vinyl album sales overall were logged during the Christmas season of 2018 (905,000; week ending Dec. 27 and 880,000; Dec. 20).

In addition, 673,000 vinyl albums were sold via independent record stores — the biggest week ever for the format at indie stores in Nielsen Music history. The sales sum beats the previous high, tallied a year ago during Record Store Day week (533,000), by 16%.

Top Record Store Day Exclusive Albums at Independent Record Stores
Rank, Artist, Title
1. Grateful Dead, Warfield: San Francisco, California, October 9th, 1980 / October 10th, 1980
2. Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks: Test Pressing
3. Green Day, Green Day Live! Woodstock 1994
4. Greta Van Fleet, From the Fires
5. Pink Floyd, A Saucerful of Secrets
6. Fleetwood Mac, The Alternate Fleetwood Mac
7. Prince, His Majesty’s Pop Life / The Purple Mix Club
8 (TIE). Pearl Jam, Live at Easy Street
8 (TIE). Weezer (Teal Album)

10. The Doors, London Fog: May, 1966

Read more details at Billboard:  https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8508474/2019-record-store-day-historic-week-vinyl-album-sales

Time to get your "Shuga!" Stonebwoy x Beenie Man

Time to get your "Shuga!"  Music super star Stonebwoy, who is known to make hit music loved by the masses, delivers again with his new single which features King of the Dancehall Beenie Man!

The music video for international collaboration was premiered on TRACE TV in Africa on April 23rd and has since racked up more than 75,000 views on YouTube!



The premise of the song is that we hustle hard every day and at some point we have to make time for the 'banana!'  Filled with double meanings, I'm sure this song will be played worldwide because of the sweet and relatable vibes!  

P.S.  The visuals are dope!  Watch the full video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNgY-3YKj1Q



Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Busy Signal's "Got To Tell You"

VP Records is proud to release the new single from reggae/dancehall veteran Busy Signal, “Got to Tell You” from his upcoming album Parts of the Puzzle. Out this Friday April 26th on all digital platforms, and exclusively premiering today on Large Up, the self-produced and self-written track is a high energy dancehall track laced with EDM.

“Got to Tell You” follows the success of his recent string of singles, “Stay So”, “One Way”, “Dolla Van” and more. With hit after hit, Busy Signal has established his talent and staying power in the industry with his versatility in blending dancehall and reggae with EDM, afrobeats, salsa and other international sounds to create hardcore bashment anthems and transcendent global hits.

Born Reanno Gordon, Busy first burst on the dancehall scene as part of iconic deejay Bounty Killer’s Alliance crew over a decade ago, establishing himself as a major factor in the genre with his breakthrough hit “Step Out” and an album by the same name. Successive projects like Loaded and D.O.B. further showcased Busy’s outside-the-box lyrical displays and eclectic ear for rhythms and, in 2012, he went back to basics with Reggae Music Again, an all-reggae set selected as one of the Top 10 albums of the year by the BBC.

In addition to solo work, Busy has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Major Lazer, who featured him on their 2013 international smash “Watch Out For This (Bumaye)” and “Jump” off 2017’s Know No Better EP, as well as on the title track from No Doubt’s Major Lazer-produced album Push and Shove. A remixed version of “Jump” can be heard in Bacardi’s “Dance Floor” commercial campaign currently airing on TVs across North America. A pioneer in the fusion of dancehall and Afro sounds, Busy Signal has also cultivated deep ties with Africa, frequently visiting countries such as Zimbabwe and Gambia to perform. With one foot firmly planted in the core Caribbean market and the other always exploring new sounds and styles, count on Busy to deliver another epic musical journey. -Some words by Jesse Serwer of Large Up

Stay tuned for the “Got To Tell You” official music video coming soon! 

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Buju Banton's "Country for Sale."


Waiting for Buju to release new music was a test of patience.  At times several (old) songs resurfaced to trick us into believing they’re recent, but not so, until long time collaborator Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records drops and email into my inbox.  It is new Buju!

“Country for Sale,” in my opinion, is the observant Buju meeting the heartfelt Buju, meeting the weeping Buju, meeting the optimistic Buju.  As Buju continues to enjoy his return to his homeland, he can’t help but observe the status of the country which pulls on his heartstrings knowing that people who are not Jamaican can come to our island and ‘buy’ what they want.


Beginning with a drum pattern that resembles what we see soldiers march to when putting on a military display, and with horns, bass and riddim guitar in sync, the call to action is put out for one and all to hear and act on.  Buju laments “country for sale / apply within / now could they tell me what ah gwaan / I hear dem sell off everything / name your price / if the bargain is right / oh yeah / make the right connections / you can have anything that you like ….”

If the thought provoking Buju is who you were waiting to hear, wait no more.  Teaming with his long time producer Donovan Germain, you know the world is only receiving the best music, even if it hurts to hear the truth.


Nas and Mary J. Blige Co-Headline 2019 Tour

Nas and Mary J. Blige will be hitting the road together for the very first time this summer.

Live Nation announced on Tuesday (April 16) that the pair of New York natives are going to embark on a co-headlining tour, which will run through 22 cities in total across North America.

The “Love Is All We Need” collaborators kick off the trek in West Palm Beach, Fla. on July 11 and then make their way through a range of indoor and outdoor venues with stops in Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Boston also in store. 

Tickets for the blockbuster tour will first be available to Citi card members, who will have access to the presale starting on April 17 at noon local time. The rest of the tickets go on sale to the general on Friday (April 19) at 10:00 a.m. local venue time over at Live Nation’s website here:  https://www.livenation.com/artists/41954/mary-j-blige.

Check out all of the dates for Nas and Mary J’s tour below.

7/11 - West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre at the S. Florida Fairgrounds
7/13 - Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds 
7/14 - Jacksonville, Fla. @ Daily’s Place
7/16 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
7/20 - Atlantic City, N.J. @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
7/21 - Virginia Beach, Va. @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
7/24 - Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Music Pavilion
7/25 - Raleigh, N.C. @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
7/28 - Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/31 - St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
8/2 - Houston, Tx. @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

8/3 - Austin, Tx. @ Austin360 Amphitheater
8/6 - Kansas City, Mo. @ Starlight Theatre
8/9 - Phoenix, Ariz. @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
8/14 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/16 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ The Joint
8/17 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ The Joint
8/20 - Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater
8/22 - Dallas, Tx.  @Dos Equis Pavilion
8/25 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. @ Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
8/31 - Syracuse, N.Y. @ St Joseph’s Health Amphitheater
9/1 - Boston, Mass. @ Xfinity Center
*9/10 - Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage