Buju Announces “Before The Dawn” Show Lineup

First Concert In A Year To Take Place Jan. 16 At Miami’s Bayfront Park (Photograph by Marlon “Ajamu” Myrie) After spending the past year behind bars on drug charges, Grammy-nominated Reggae star Buju Banton is free on bail and making plans to return to the stage at Miami’s Bayfront Memorial Park one month from today.

And The Winner Is… Gyptian

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Bigs Up Soul Train Awards Best Reggae Artist for 2010 “I come all the way from a place called Jamaica,” said Gyptian during his acceptance speech at this Wednesday’s taping of the Soul Train Awards in Atlanta. “From a far distance, very very far…”

WATCH THIS: Spragga Benz, Jazmine Sullivan & Stephen Marley “Stay The Same”

Spragga Benz and Family Remember Carlyle R.I.P. 8/23/08 On the second anniversary of his son’s tragic murder, Spragga the Benz issued the following statement: “Us the Family and Friends of Carlton Kimani Grant aka Carlyle, do sincerely appreciate all the Love and Generous Support that was afforded Us during our time of great grief and […]

Young Money Pon The Gullyside

Drizzy Drake To Feature Mavado In His Next Video, “Find My Love” VIBE.com reported today that Drake will feature Mavado in his next video, entitled “Find My Love.”

WATCH THIS: Buju B “Sensimilla Persecution”

“Why They Fighting Sensimilla Making Way For Coke To Come?” While Buju’s legions of detractors celebrate his arrest this weekend on cocaine trafficking charges, those of us who actually listen to his music—all of his music—have been left in a state of shock, grappling with the possibility that his booming voice may be silenced. Who’s […]

Diamonds Are Forever

40 Years Later The Mighty Diamonds Trinity Is Harder Than Ever Fifteen years ago I had the distinct pleasure of reasoning with Tabby Diamonds, the man seated on the center stool in this classic clip from a session at the legendary Channel One Studio. Our conversation that day took place at another studio—the also legendary […]

Jimmy Cliff Up For The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

15 Years After Bob Marley, A Second Reggae Artist Is In The Running “Very few single albums can be said to have changed music forever,” reads the official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot entry for Jimmy Cliff, who’s in the running to be inducted in 2009, the 25th year of the Hall’s existence. […]

“I’ve Got The Handle, You’ve Got The Blade”

Neighborly Dispute in BK Becomes A Case of Mackerel vs Machete Major Mackerel, dancehall’s undisputed champion of bugged-out sound effects, wound up on the wrong end a swinging sword yesterday morning in Brooklyn.

Vivian Blake Sets The Record Straight

Trying To Live Peacefully But… “They keep mixing me up in politics.” The former Shower Posse boss as he appeared on BET’s American Gangster. This past week, rumors that Vivian Blake had been killed in Kingston were running wild. Ever since the former Shower Posse leader returned to Jamaica this past January after serving time […]

Better Days: Reasoning With Steely & Clevie

Remembering Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson Aug. 18, 1962 – Sep. 1, 2009 Two The Hard Way: Steely & Clevie did it real big during dancehall’s digital era. Even after reading the sobering words of his musical sparring partner Cleveland “Clevie” Browne in this Sunday’s Jamaica Observer, the untimely death of ace Roots Radics keyboardist and pioneering […]