posted on April 28th, 2011 by Tobias in Audio, Jamaican Music
via We Make It Good
This is my personal top three of the moment:
1) Kartel does the Gyptian and puts out the x-rated version of »Hold Yuh« – »Open Up«.
2) Trrbo adds some nice Cat People flavour to Gappy Ranks’ »English Money«.
3) Killer shares his thoughts on artificial complexion change – »No Cream To Mi Face«.
Listen to all three of them after the jump:
Read the rest of "Tunes of the moment: Kartel, Cat People & Killer." →
posted on December 5th, 2010 by Tobias in Jamaican Music
via Red Bull Art of Can Jamaica
Austrian energy drink Red Bull has been officially part of the Jamaican dancehall circus since Delroy »Delly Ranks« Foster released the »Red Bull & Guinness« riddim back in 2006 the latest. Just recently, artists Beenie Man and Future Fambo came out with a song called »Drinking Rum & Red Bull«.
Today, the Jamaican Sunday Observer reported that Red Bull
is constructing a modern $25 million recording studio and loft in Kingston in order to enter the local music industry by early 2011.
The studio will be managed by William Mahfood who is head of Wisynco – the company that distributes the drink in Jamaica since March this year. As he told the Observer,
They will not sell studio time but offer it on an invitation basis for free. Also in some cases they will set up collaborations with international artistes.
I really like the fact that Red Bull does this is in Kingston (between Knutsford Boulevard and Old Hope Road) and did not chose to move to let’s say Negril or Ochos Rios. If Mahfood is the right person the manage the place I’m not sure but I guess time will tell.
The studio in Jamaica’s capital will be the fifth studio ran by Red Bull – the others are located in London, Los Angeles, Auckland and Cape Town.
posted on November 30th, 2010 by Tobias in Jamaican Music, Jamaican Politics, Jamaican Style
2010 has been a good year for those interested in reading about Jamaican (popular) culture: Two of the most influential international reggae/dancehall labels – Greensleeves Records and Island Records – released their stories in book form.
In case you are looking for Christmas gifts for reggae fans who like to read, we recommend these two books as well as three other more or less recent publications. Here’s our current top 5 books about Jamaican culture and politics:
01 Al Fingers – Greensleeves Records: The First 100 Covers.
The book is a document of the first 100 Greensleeves album covers. It also contains interviews with Greensleeves’ founders, Chris Sedgwick and Chris Cracknell, and its chief designer, Tony McDermott, who has worked for Greensleeves almost since the day the label launched in 1977. (via Al Fingers)
02 Suzette Newman & Chris Salewicz – Keep on Running. The Story of Island Records.
An impressive new hardcover from Rizzoli which aims to be the definitive tome when it comes to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records. The label was founded in Jamaica and launched Bob Marley and the Wailers into international superstardom, and released many other classic reggae albums before picking up a slew of impressive international acts including Traffic, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, U2, Eric B & Rakim, Amy Winehouse, and many more. (via Typo Graphical)
03 Beth Lesser – The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture.
Beth Lesser’s definitive new study of the 1980s Jamaican Dancehall scene features hundreds of exclusive photographs and accompanying text that captures a vibrant, globally influential and yet rarely documented culture that has been mixing music, fashion and lifestyle with aplomb since its inception. (via Soul Jazz)
04 Edward Seaga – My Life and Leadership.
Edward Phillip George Seaga is one of the most outstanding Jamaican politicians – with a reputation for creativity, controversy and courage. His autobiography offers a unique insight into the emergence of modern Jamaica, a journey characterized by idealism and intrigue, conflict and triumph. (via Macmillan)
05 Ben Watts – Lickshot: A Photo Scrapbook.
In a way Lickshot is a continuation of Big Up, but I think it’s perhaps a bit more sophisticated. Big Up was more urban street culture and Lickshot still is a bit, but it’s a step on and includes a lot more celebrities and musicians, while still keeping the energy of what I did in Big Up. It’s another volume of one of my scrapbooks, basically. (via Professional Photographer)
