Sean Kingston is in his own music lane, but it’s a fast lane. The 17 year-old Jamaican American has dropped a summer hit with “Beautiful Girls.” He raps, he produces his own beats, he doesn’t cuss much, and he’s cutting his own path through the music industry. Those are some of the reasons why he has been invited to play at NYC’s Carifest in August. ([More →])

Reggae Country is now on our list of DRM-free music providers! I can’t tell you how excited I am about this development. It’s not easy to find reggae and dancehall music that will play on any player, that you can burn to cd and make mixtapes with. This is going to lead to great success for Reggae Country. ([More →])

Not sure how I missed this, looks like there’s another Ninjaman show in the US. I reported earlier that his NYC date would be the first in 15 years, well, it looks like he’s going to make the rounds while he is in the US! Oh PLEASE come to Cali Don Gorgon!!
Well, the shizzle goes down in Miami on Sunday night at the AT&T Amphitheatre. ([More →])

Today is July 23rd, Haile Selassie’s birthday. NPR is celebrating by sharing a discussion with Ras Michael and listening to Ethiopian, African, and Jamaican music. Ras Michael talks about Nyabingi music, reggae and spirituality as if he were telling a wonderful story. Listen in:
NPR News & Notes, “Ras Michael, Putting His Faith into Music”

If you scroll down that same page, you will find more radio programs about reggae and culture.

Now I know that ASCAP is a crooked business. This is just proof…

They say that music is a matter of taste and that not everyone will agree with who wins the awards or who sells the most albums and nonesuch. I agree. I don’t tend to like the music that gets a lot of mainstream attention, so I’m accustomed to being disappointed that the same watered down music gets more money and recognition each year while super-creative and conscious musicians continue the struggle to gain audience. ASCAP is one of those companies that creates these situations and enforces that they remain in place. Usually I dismiss ASCAP entirely, until they back a band that is both super-creative and unable to be watered down. Yeah Yeah Yeahs being a fantastic example. Other times, ASCAP enters my radar because of how horribly narrow-minded they are. This is one of those latter times. ([More →])

Displaying his versatility and enthusiasm for good music, Paul McCartney is excited about the new remix of “Nod Your Head” from his new album, Memory Almost Full. The remix was produced by Sly and Robbie, infamous for their collaborations as the Taxi Gang and with Sinead O’Connor on her “reggae album.” ([More →])

I recently reported on the Reggae Compassion Act - it made big news when Beenie Man, Sizzla, and Capleton signed it, agreeing to stop all performances and production of lyrics that condone violence towards gay people. It was noted then the artists who were considered “murder music” singers, including Bounty Killa, Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton. ([More →])

Reggae Carifest will outdo itself and all other reggae music festivals this year, when it brings the DON GORGON back to the stage!! Yes, the one and only NINJAMAN will perform live this summer in NYC, his first US appearance in 15 years! ([More →])

Jah Cure will be celebrating and giving thanks for his freedom, while Curefest will highlight reggae and dancehall music with a positive message. Curefest has announced a preliminary lineup of confirmed artists, with more big names being added up until the festival weekend - August 24-26th. ([More →])

The first ever Reggae Rising Music Festival will bring together so many reggae music heavyweights, they better build a rock solid stage to hold them up! ([More →])

BIG BIG News! Fans of dancehall and reggae have often discussed the elements of homophobia, racism, sexism, and other nasties in Jamaican music. The music industry goes through cycles of acceptance and rejection of these messages in music. ([More →])

Do you know where Buju Banton, Lady G, Doug E. Fresh, Inner Circle, Leon & The Peoples, BB Seaton & The Gaylads and more will be enjoying their 4th of July weekend? In Chicago, at the International Festival Of Life. All these artists plus more will be rocking and crooning to crowds of all ages and all backgrounds. ([More →])

Is it the fire and brimstone? Is it the burning chalwa? I need to listen to more of this mixtape to find out! I heard about this over at DJ/Rupture’s site - mudd up! Jr. Reid has dropped a mixtape titled Why I’m Hot, a collaboration with DJ Power. Rupture gives it a great review and reports that the title is not pure empty boasting, and indeed, Mr. One Blood is HOT on this album. I need to hear the rest of it to find out why… You can download it from iChoons, listen to 2 songs on mudd up! or purchase it from various places.

Go directly to mudd up! for more. Thanks for the free listen Rupture!

Grammy award winning reggae sensation Wayne Wonder will be releasing a new album at the end of July on VP Records. Foreva will include a fabulous remake of the Thompson Twins’ 1984 hit “Hold Me Now” which has been updated by music producer Tony Kanal (No Doubt). You can hear the first single off the album, “Again” on NYC radio stations HOT97, POWER105, and Z100 or on his music $pace page.

2 Live Shows Scheduled:
Saturday June 16th in Chicago IL
Sunday June 17th in Hollywood CA - Jamaican Gold 12th Anniversary

Source

WAYNE WONDER LINKS

Wayne Wonder website
VH1 Artist Bio
music $pace

JAHTARI performed a digital dub/reggae set for Mary Anne Hobbs show on BBC Radio 1 last week. If you missed it, you can still listen to the stream of that show until the new one airs on Thursday Night/Friday morning depending on your time zone.

You can listen to the show while you read by clicking here to open a new window with the player innit.

Highlights From Playlist

Burial – ‘Stairwell’ (Demo)
Flying Lotus ft J Dilla & Phat Kat – ‘Game Over’ (White)
Magnetic Man – ‘Ligma’ (Dubplate)
Cdatakill – ‘No Brakes’ [Detritus remix] (Ad Noisium)
The Bug & Flowdan – ‘Jah War’ [Loefah mix] (Ninja)

The Download
Local – ‘They Are Local’ (Betulla)

MED – ‘Rhymes With An L’ from Peanut Butter Wolf presents Chrome Children Vol 2 (Stones Throw)

Jahtari Live Digital Laptop Reggae Set

Laurie Anderson – ‘O Superman’ (Nonesuch)

Burial starts off beautifully, lovely bass and dark synths. Hobbs keeps rolling out the dubstep for a while, including a fantastic dubstep riddim by The Bug with Flowdan pon di mic. This combo is amazing! Flowdan is pure spitfire Rastafari - like Ninjaman meets Sizzla inna concrete jungle! BIG TUNE! An interlude into experimental electronica and noise that sounds like Squarepusher left alone in a room with a toddler and a Casio, some relaxing dub frequencies that step up to UK steppers dub, building suspense, building intrigue for all these spacey sounds…. unless you skip ahead. A unique set from JAHTARI kicks in at 16:50 (BBC radio players use the time of the show). All spaced out, relaxing, digital dub. Beautiful stuff. Lay down with a warm wet cloth over your eyes or something, really relax and listen to this lovely sound. Enjoy! Then wake back up to a little Laurie Anderson and enjoy the last half hour of the show.

More JAHTARI News On HearingTest:

- includes links to where you can download or stream a lot more digital dub tunes….

JAHTARI on Tour And BBC Radio - HearingTest
JAHTARI Net Label - HearingTest