“LAVAAA!!!” The Irie Flame of I-Wayne
Lava Splash! Fire Dash! Everything Burn To Ash Sunday September 4th marked Irie Jam’s 23rd Anniversary concert spotlighting Sizzla Kalonji’s return-to-New-York performance after eight long years of absence. The supporting superstar line-up to the sizzling stage show included an artist who personifies lines from Kalonji’s “King in the Jungle.” Seated up so high, yet so humble, I-Wayne brought […]
Reasoning with Capleton: “Music Is A Mission”
Throwback Q&A with The Prophet • New York City 2000 A.D. I had been listening to Capleton for years before I got the chance to interview him at Def Jam Records offices on Varick Street in Manhattan. He sat smoking beedies and a spliff with his manager Stuart Brown a.k.a. African Star in the record […]
WATCH THIS: Chronixx x Eesah “Perfect Tree” Official Music Video
Chronixx x Eesah Engage in a Melodic Steam Session Chronixx opens with horns blazing, as he rides effortlessly over the beat from Black Star’s “Respiration” exhaling words of righteousness: “High grade never hurt nobody. Let herb be free on earth nuh daddy.” You’ve guessed it: it’s another ganja anthem, but this one requires a higher meditation to […]
Reasoning With Rassi Hardknocks About “Legal,” A Reggae Song for the Movement
In Comes A Brand New Marijuana Anthem for 2016 The stink of Marijuana vapors is creating a cloud cover that commands our attention. For the first time since the 1913 Ganja Law, which was strictly enforced by the island’s government, the citizens of Jamaica now have the opportunity to use recreational marijuana. Whether one smokes […]
Micah Shemaiah: The Man, Music and Message
Interview with The Original Dread During Yaadcore’s recent sets in New York at Downtown Top Ranking with Deadly Dragon Sound at The Delancey and Sattama Sundays with Stateside Revolution at Bar 13, he played several Micah Shemaiah tunes that ignited the dance floor with skanking and flickering of lighters. Based on the audience response to […]
Rastaman Refix: Ily Culcha featuring Isaac Faith
The 2014 hit “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea featuring CharlieXCX was an instant number 1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart. One of the main reasons for this was the jumpy beat which caused palpitations in reggae and hip hop. The beat was coproduced by The Invisible Men (Jason Pebworth, George Astasio, and Job Shave) and […]
Jah Cure: The Cure
Jah Cure’s third studio album, The Cure (VP records), holds steady at the number 1 spot on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Chart, for one month since its release on July 10. On this new album Jah Cure’s superb vocals are presented with multiple lyrical themes. In addition, Jah Cure said he worked hard to […]
Til Shiloh: Blessed Earthstrong Buju Banton
It’s not an easy road, but once we have life, we have the opportunity to live, dream and hope. On his earthstrong, we salute the reggae icon, Grammy winning artist, Buju Banton and the amazing music he blessed the world with so far. As Gargamel marks his 42nd birthday behind bars—having instructed his defense team […]
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Phillip Fraser “God of My Righteousness”
Reggae Music Legend in the Mecca of Music and Culture, Brooklyn The sun was shinning bright as I walked along New York Avenue, in Brooklyn, New York. I was greeted by a Rastafarian King, left hand over the heart, wearing a sunny yellow hat with a polo to match. I tipped my black shades to […]
Royalty In NYC: Jesse Royal and The King Suns at SOBs
The Palace Pickney Delivers An Emancipation Message During Bob Marley EarthStrong Weekend Not many artists can fill SOBs on a snowy winter night with temperatures in the twenties. But Jesse Royal is not just any artist. So this past Monday night, his first time performing at the legendary night club he had a toe-to-toe, overflowing […]
Jah9: Jazz on Dub
Roots Reggae Queen, Jah9 is all set and ready to deliver a Holistic Dub Experience to her New York fans at Milk River Restaurant & Lounge tonight! Jazz and Dub blends together for a musical massage with an extraordinary sound. The slow sound waves of dub, allow the lyrics to ride over the beat, in a […]
Flashback Friday: Dennis Emmanuel Brown “Here I Come (Love and Hate)”
Timeless Words of Wisdom From Reggae’s Crown Prince Dennis Emmanuel Brown released his debut album, No Man Is An Island, to the world in 1969. At 12 years old, the singer saw instant success, which foreshadowed his bright career of nearly 80 albums. This Flashback Friday, we musically livicate the “Crown Prince of Reggae” on […]