Steel Pulse: Tribute To The Martyrs, 1979
From Handsworth to Haiti—The Song Remains The Same On this MLK Day, let us pause to reflect on the words of the man who sacrificed his life to the struggle for equal rights and justice: “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the […]
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 […]
WATCH THIS: WORLD PREMIERE Sheba & Bounty Killa “Love This Lifetime (Remix)”
Online Premiere Of New Video From The Real Sheba & The Warlord When Sheba Sahlemariam calls herself The Real Sheba, you best believe it. Descended from Ethiopian Royalty (King Solomon + Queen Sheba = Line of King David) Sheba carries herself with a certain majesty, and she thinks about time and space a bit differently […]
HEAR THIS: Beres Hammond “Giving Thanks”
Why Not Make Every Day Thanksgiving Day? “Gotta take time out to say much respect to the Father,” Beres remarks on this live cut from his double-disc retrospective Can’t Stop A Man. “Because without Him we couldn’t have made it here tonight. Wanna say thank you Father. Thank you, yes. Thank you from the bottom […]
HEAR THIS: Flexxx In The Complex “Fresh”
Next Up From The Gully Squad: Flexxx In The Complex—Ternt Singa You’ve probably heard Mavado shouting out Flexxx on records since day one, but half the story has never been told.
DUNGLOAD: Rihanna “Russian Roulette” Remix
Gully Gaad And Gaza’s Most Wanted Pulling Triggers On The RiRi-Mix Big shout 2 the Gully Gaad, the Teacha, and—as L.A. says—the Good Girl Gone Bad For Good. (Easy nuh Breezy.) Big shout 2 Chimney Productions (aka Chimney Motion Pictures) for the big bad “Movie Star” riddim. Big shout 2 Mike D on the RiRi-Mix. […]
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 […]
Serani’s Top 5 Breakthrough Tunes
“No Games” Singer Picks Landmark Reggae Records For VIBE.com With smash hits like “No Games” and “She Loves Me,” Jamaican producer/vocalist Serani has a gift for taking raw uncut dancehall to the pop charts. With his debut album No Games about to drop October 27 on Phase One Records, the new & improved VIBE.com asked […]
WATCH THIS: Spice “What I’ve Been Through”
Mad Gal Spice Keeps It Mad Real: “We Know What It’s Like To Struggle” Though she’s best known for racy tunes like “Rampin’ Shop” there’s another side to the dancehall diva known as Spice.
The Real Revolutionary: Fela Kuti’s Born Day
Nigerian Afrobeat Pioneer Declared “Music Is The Weapon Of The Future” All these so-called pop music rebels need to sit their ass down and soak up some Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who reached planet earth 71 years ago today.
HEAR THIS: Wyclef & Mavado “Hold On” (Crossroads)
Refugee Warrior And Gully Gaad Link Up To Make Conscious Thug Music Wyclef and Mavado have been building for a while now & this mournful yet uplifting tune is the best thing they’ve done together so far. Pree this…
WATCH THIS: Erup “Click Mi Finger” REFIX
Big Bad Tune Gets Minimalist Makeover Courtesy Of Ghislain Poirier Erup’s “Click Mi Finger” is easily one of the catchiest dancehall cuts in recent memory. Apparently the international response to the tune was strong enough that the good folks at Truckback Records decided to roll out a remix EP, inviting a handful of Outernational DJs […]