Matisyahu Live! Exciting New Concert CD/DVD Set to Be Released Dec. 26 on Epic

CD NO PLACE TO BE Contains 7 New Tracks Including 'Jerusalem (Out Of
Darkness Comes Light)' and 'Message In A Bottle' Featuring Remixes by Sly &
Robbie, AdRock, Bill Laswell and More
DVD LIVE IN ISRAEL Contains Concert Footage Plus New Music Video of
'Jerusalem'
New FESTIVAL OF LIGHT December Dates Added in Washington, D.C.,
Philadelphia, Boston, and Providence

NEW YORK, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans of Matisyahu know what a dynamic
performer he is when he takes the stage. Now that enigmatic live concert
energy has been captured on a new CD NO PLACE TO BE and bonus concert DVD
LIVE IN ISRAEL, to be released Dec. 26 on Epic.
The new CD features 7 new songs including "Jerusalem (Out Of Darkness
Comes Light)"and "Message In A Bottle" recorded with hot reggae production
team of Sly & Robbie. Additional remixes were produced by AdRock, and Bill
Laswell, who produced Matisyahu's acclaimed CD YOUTH (Epic/Or). The bonus
DVD, Live In Israel, was shot in Israel in December 2005, and is intercut
with interviews and street performances from Jerusalem during the same time
period. The DVD also includes the new music video for his single
"Jerusalem."
Matisyahu is also kicking off his first annual 'Festival of Light'
Hanukkah concerts this year with three headlining nights at Hammerstein
Ballroom in NYC 12/16, 12/17 and 12/19. Matisyahu has also added several
cities to the festival, so fans can now celebrate the holiday with live
shows in Washington, DC (Dec. 13), Philadelphia (Dec. 14), Boston (Dec.
20), and Providence, RI (Dec. 21).
NO PLACE TO BE
CD track listing

1. "Jerusalem (Out Of Darkness Comes Light)" -- studio version recorded
with Sly & Robbie
2. "Chop 'Em Down" -- studio version produced by Bill Laswell
3. "Warrior" -- studio version produced by Bill Laswell
4. "Message In A Bottle" -- studio version recorded with Sly & Robbie
5. "Jerusalem" (Swisha House Mix)
6. "Youth" (Small Stars Remix) (remix is by Adrock)
7. "Message In A Bottle" (Dub Version by Bill Laswell)

LIVE IN ISRAEL
DVD Track listing

1. "Rastaman Chant" (Bob Marley cover)
2. "Lord Raise Me Up"
3. "Dispatch The Troops"
4. "Close My Eyes"
5. "Warrior"
6. "Exaltation"
7. "Chop 'Em Down"
8. "Late Night In Zion"
9. "Ancient Lullaby"
10. "King Without A Crown"
11. "Heights"
12. "What I'm Fighting For"
*Bonus Video -- Jerusalem (Out Of Darkness Comes Light)
To pre-order 'Festival Of Light' tickets go to: http://www.matismusic.com or
http://www.matisyahuworld.com
For more information, contact:
Aliza Rabinoff arabinoff@shorefire.com or Michael LaVigne
mlavigne@shorefire.com at Shore Fire Media- 718.522.7171
Janet Rubin Janet.Rubin@SonyBMG.com 212-833-5728 at Epic Records

Family disputes sale of Tosh's guitar

Nada é tão simples...como parecia ser!

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Organizers of a film festival in Jamaica have shelved plans to auction a guitar shaped like a M-16 rifle that was once owned by reggae legend Peter Tosh, after his sons protested the sale.

Tosh, who posthumously won a Grammy for best reggae recording for his album, No Nuclear War, was killed at the age of 42 by robbers who broke in to his home on Sept. 11, 1987.

Marlene Brown, Tosh's former girlfriend, put the guitar up for auction in October.

She told the Jamaica Gleaner that Tosh gave her the Fender Stratocaster as a gift but the Rastafarian's sons objected to the sale, saying it belonged to the Peter Tosh Foundation.

Claiming Peter Tosh's legacy

An M-16 rifle is not the most wholesome of symbols, or the one with which Jamaicans seeking to build an economically-prosperous and democratic future would most want to be identified.

That weapon, and guns generally, for too long have claimed far too many lives in our country, where crime is all too frequent and life is not always held to be sacrosanct. Peter Tosh, the Jamaican reggae musician, was a victim of this indiscriminate violence. He was shot dead at his home in Jamaica in the mid 1980s.

But Tosh was perhaps bettered only by his contemporary, Bob Marley, as a Jamaican cultural icon - even if his skills and achievements are not always as deeply appreciated or as fully acknowledged as he deserves. Not only could he sing very well and play the guitar with skill, he made music that resonated with his time - the cantankerous, contentious, effervescent, emotive, searching and ideological 1970s. Tosh was deemed to be a contributing voice to the third world liberation struggles of the period.

But while his songs made us think and stirred people to action, they also gave us simple joy. That generation of Jamaicans and people elsewhere in the world sang and danced with Peter Tosh.

In that context, memorabilia associated with Peter Tosh's life and music should be important to Jamaica. By acknowledging and celebrating his genius and the standards he achieved, we are declaring that nothing short of excellence should be the goal we seek to achieve.

An electric guitar, shaped in the form of an M-16, rifle is perhaps the most iconic of Peter Tosh's memorabilia. In the 1980s, he strutted the stage, turning complex notes on the M-16, belting out revolutionary songs, thereby symbolically defeating those he assumed to be the oppressors of the weak and poor.

As has been highlighted in the Gleaner this past week, after two decades, Peter Tosh's guitar is again in the news. Tosh's common-law wife has put the guitar up for sale. Unless there has been a last-minute agreement between Andrea Brown and some of Tosh's children, it will be auctioned today on the Internet site, eBay.

We are not here concerned about the legal ownership of the guitar, for something more important is at stake. For what has not been taken into account is the interest of the Jamaican people, their stake in Peter Tosh's legacy and the part of it that is represented by the M-16 guitar.

This is more than a unique instrument or a potentially lucrative piece of property. It represents, too, a part of our collective achievement - the society's chorus to the music that Tosh made. We claim through him our greatness.

Hopefully, it is not too late for the protagonists in this dispute to understand and see this bigger picture and find a way to leave this important bit of Tosh legacy in Jamaica. If not, maybe the Government can still intervene and acquire the guitar as a starting point to a Peter Tosh museum.

Film festival in Jamaica scraps plans to sell Peter Tosh guitar

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Organizers of a film festival in Jamaica have shelved plans to auction a guitar shaped like a M-16 rifle that was once owned by reggae legend Peter Tosh, one of the founders of the Wailers, after his sons protested the sale.

Bidding for the guitar, which Tosh once said that he used to "scare all vampires," was scheduled to start Sunday on the eBay.

Allison Young, a publicist for the Flashpoint Film Festival, confirmed that the weeklong auction was postponed. She said two of Tosh's sons, who live in the United States, contacted the festival's organizers.

"The family is trying to resolve who really owns the guitar, the estate or his girlfriend," she said.

Tosh, who posthumously won a Grammy for best reggae recording for his album, "No Nuclear War," was killed at the age of 42 by robbers who broke in to his home on Sept. 11, 1987.

Marlene Brown, Tosh's former girlfriend, put the guitar up for auction in October. She told the Jamaica Gleaner that Tosh gave her the Fender Stratocaster as a gift. But the Rastafarian's sons objected to the sale, saying it belonged to the Peter Tosh Foundation.

Brown's family had the guitar for 19 years stored in the United States. A call placed Sunday to Tosh's aunt went unanswered. No telephone numbers were available for his sons.

It's not clear when the matter will be resolved. Young said the proceeds from the guitar sale were to benefit a home for children suffering from HIV/AIDS. The festival is scheduled for Dec. 1-3.

Copeland Forbes, Tosh's former manager, told the Gleaner that the guitar was given to Tosh by a fan in Los Angeles in 1983.

The instrument was as controversial as the lanky performer, who advocated legalizing marijuana and encouraged blacks to return to Africa.

In 1978, before a Kingston crowd of 30,000 that included then-Prime Minister Michael Manley, Tosh smoked a big marijuana joint on stage and berated Manley for 30 minutes for not legalizing ganja. He also had several run-ins with police.

Tosh was born Winston Herbert MacIntosh on Oct. 9, 1944, on a farm in west Jamaica. His first concerts were in Kingston's teeming slums in the early 1960s.

In 1963, he helped found The Wailers — forming the three-man core of the group with Bob Marley and Neville Livingstone. The Wailers gained fame with hits including "I Shot the Sheriff," "Get Up, Stand Up" and "Stir it Up."

Tosh and Livingstone left the band in 1973 to pursue solo careers.

Outside of Jamaica, Tosh was perhaps best known for his collaboration with Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger in "(You Got to) Walk and Don't Look Back," a song written by Smokey Robinson.

Lado A - Reggaesoul

Ai está, as 5 mais que andam rolando no Tape-Deck Reggaesoul !

Esta é a primeira seleção de muitas que estão por vir porque o som aqui em casa não para...

Play and Rewind!

JAMAICAN LABEL ART & RELATED EPHEMERA

Vejam vocês que interessante este site com as artes da bolachinhas jamaicanas e suas capinhas!

De A a Z, tem de tudo por lá! É só clicar AQUI !

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.L.A. is a website for those people who are obsessed with Caribbean music and the artwork and design of the labels on the vinyl reproductions of that music. It doesn't matter if those labels are on recordings of Jamaican music released in the U.S.A., or indeed Trini Calypso released in the U.K. It's all the same to us!
We don't intend the site to be an exhaustive discography of single releases, there are plenty of those to be bought from the bookseller or found for free on the Net. Instead we both thought it was about time for an online version of a coffee table book; glossy and thin on information but thick on indulgence.
In short pure eye candy, nothing more. There are enough weighty tomes available to the serious collector, so go make yourself a long cool cocktail and treat yourself to some pure pleasure.

Of course we haven't got every label ever printed and we're certain we don't have many of those you might expect to see, however, hopefully we may have some you didn't expect and the website will grow with time, with well over 1000 to view at time of publishing we feel you'll find something you'll like alright!

The site was conceived one murderously dark lightening be-licked night, by Mike Murphy & Ian Causer, friends who met through a love of Caribbean music in the Summer of 2004. (Ian is on the left & Mike is on the right of the picture below.) This site is dedicated to all those who know the bottomless depths to which a musical interest can reach.

Althea & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking

Artiste laments relegation of Reggae music

A Port Harcourt based reggae musician has lamented the relegation of reggae music to the background in Nigeria, unlike in other African countries where reggae music still enjoys popular acceptance and patronage among the youths in particular.

The reggae master, Ras Kingsley Ahamefule, aka Ras Blow who spoke in an interview with The Weekend Tide’s entertainment desk recently, observed that highlife, Hip hop and gyration music have become the order of the day particularly among the younger generation, while reggae music was gradually being pushed to oblivion.

He said it was against that backdrop that some of the reggae stars in Port Harcourt had decided to come together to revive the music genre and ensure that it took back the centre stage in the music scene as was the case in the 70s and 80s when reggae apostles like Bob-Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Dillinger, etc held sway.

Ras Blow, who is currently working on the new album with Ras Zyno, titled ‘I give my life to Jah’ said the album which would soon be released under Iroko sounds production label, propagates the blessings of jah to mankind, the doctrine of Rastafarianism and the revolutionary, soul searching and inspirationary message of reggae music.

He commended the efforts of the international reggae stars who have contributed immensely to keep reggae alive through their music since after the transition of the reggae masters of old. The internationally acclaimed new generation reggae stars include: Sizzla, Capleton, Luciano, Turbulent, Morgan Heritage and Damian Marley among a host of others.

Ras Ahamefule also lauded the efforts of Nigerian born reggae crooners such as Black Face, Face, and Daniel Wilson now music producer, Arthur Willie Pepple Jnr. Tomboye Sinclair, Majek Fashek and Ras Kimono both based in America etc.

He appealed to private organisations, corporate bodies and government to come to the aid of the industry by making available the necessary capital and sponsorship of the artistes to foreign competitions as this would expose them the more in addition to acquiring knowledge and the technical know how that would move reggae to greater height.

The reggae musician contended that reggae music had contributed greately to the development of the Nigeria music industry and helped to fight moral decadence, promotion of Africa’s cultural heritage, peace and love for one another among other achievements.

Party with reggae and soca stars Tempo-style in Trinidad

*Tempo, the Caribbean’s premier entertainment network is pleased to bring you the opportunity to celebrate Tempo Turns One by switching places with your favorite Tempo celebrities at “Party With The Stars--Party Like The-Star-You-Are:” a one year anniversary bash to be held at The National Stadium in Trinidad on December 2, 2006 at 9pm.

Tempo VJ’s Jeanille and Anushca will be MCing the festivities while DJ Pops (special guest DJ from St. Croix) and Funk Master K (Winner of the Local Heineken Green Synergy DJ Championship in Trinidad and Tobago) spin your favorite hits.

Win tickets and VIP passes for “Party With The Stars” at Trinidad’s Crobar on November 17th at 7pm during the taping of Tempo’s “Soca Countdown Special” hosted by, Rupee, Denise Belfon, and Hypa Hoppa of 96.7 Red FM.

At “Party With The Stars,” Tempo artists and VJ’s will provide red carpet treatment by interviewing and photographing YOU! This is the ultimate chance for the Tempo fan to rub elbows and party into the night with elite Caribbean celebrities including: Machel Montano, Denise Belfon, Rupee, KMC, Voicemail, The Mighty Sparrow, Collie Buddz, 3 Suns, Trinidad’s Reggae All Stars: Jah Bami, King David, Ziggy Rankin and many more. Tempo will transform The National Stadium’s grounds into an outdoor lounge complete with a stage area for select live performances.
For one year Tempo has successfully delivered programming dedicated to music, culture, food, and social awareness; a true celebration of Caribbean life beyond entertainment, rising to inspirational, progressive and educational.

"I am extremely thankful for the love of Caribbean people and the many blessings Tempo has received over the past year. As we reflect on the past and look to the future, we wanted to celebrate the vision and mission of Tempo, to unite the Caribbean through culture. As Tempo turns one, we celebrate the "oneness" that is being created......to raise One flag, as we are truly One people united together in One cause, moving to the beat of One Tempo for the elevation of One Caribbean." So Caribbean People, Tempo loves you.....let's celebrate our channel as Tempo Turns One and Party Like The Stars We Are", said Frederick Morton, Senior Vice President, General Manager, and founder of TEMPO.

KC Jockey teams up with Akon, Beenie and others

New York-based deejay KC Jockey, who has been trying to make inroads on the local dancehall scene for some time now, recently teamed up with hip-hop artiste Akon as well as Beenie Man and Kirk Davis for various projects.

He did a remix of Lap Top with Akon, a collaboration which KC Jockey says has given him some recognition. "I was hanging out with Akon at the Source awards, at that time, SRC Universal, the company which Akon is signed to, had expressed an interest in signing me as well, but they had other stuff in the pipeline before they could get to me, so that hasn't happened yet. Anyway, hanging with Akon was great, he's down to earth, and we had a crazy time and talking about the industry; it was a family thing," explained KC Jockey.

The remix Lap Top was released earlier this year. "In the last nine months, I have got a lot of love for that song, it got played a lot so I am pleased," he said.

Other projects that KC Jockey, who was born in Jamaica, recently completed includes a song with Beenie Man and Kirk Davis called One Third on his own Sweet Sadie label, and a rhythm called Mi Can. KC Jockey has recently hired Tesah Linton as his manager.

Canada-based singer Steele featured on various artistes compilation Loving Pauper Meets Hypocrite Canada-based reggae singer Steele's continued quest to spread his music globally has seen his song Do Bad By Myself being featured on producer Lloyd Campbell's latest compilation disc, Loving Pauper Meets Hypocrite.
Campbell's work has given attention to a number of veteran acts over the last few years including Glen Washington, George Nooks, Freddie McGregor, Tinga Stewart and Roger Robin, among others.

Loving Pauper Meets Hypocrite has been released by VP Records under the Joe Frazier imprint. Among the artistes featured on the compilation are Sadiki, Donna Marie, George Nooks, Kashief Lindo, Lloyd Brown, Dobby Dobson, Freddie McGregor, Anthony Cruz, and Screwdriver.

Hot new dancehall producer Sean Reid takes flight with the Reverse Rhythm

*Beenie Man’s latest scorcher Reverse Di Ting has been creating some waves. The track sees Beenie Man spitting out lyrics in a reverse mode. The tune was produced by new up and coming producer Sean Reid, who is just 21 years old. Reverse Di Ting is featured on the hot new Reverse rhythm project from the Sean Nizzle imprint.

Just who is this new cat in the game and what does he bring to the table? Well for starters, Reid started out creating beats for some well known producers in the game.
‘I build rhythms and that’s really how I got my foot into the business. I have build rhythms for producers like Mr. G, the Free Willy label, Amplex Records, and Pyrano. It’s a lot of people whom I have build rhythms for’, Reid said in a recent interview.

What started out as a hobby has somewhat become a career for this enterprising young man. Based in the Kingston 20 area, Reid explained that creating rhythms can be profitable, especially if the beats are hot and garner mainstream acceptance. ‘My interest developed while I was attending Pembroke Hall High. For you to survive doing this, your rhythm has to really hit and you get a percentage from it’, said Reid. Some of his creations include the Stepfather, the Klamputae, Impact and Fast Lane rhythms.

Asked why he decided to set up his own production entity Sean Nizzle Records, Reid explained, ‘I started my own production because everyday a new talent is on the hunt for the big break and I had to have something solid in the business’. And just what does he bring to the table? ‘Difference and real hardcore. I always aim to create something new’, he said with authority.

Reid pointed out that a few established producers have had an impact on him. He had high praises for the likes of Bobby Dixon (Bobby Digital), Donovan Bennett (Don Corleon), Chad Simpson (Mr. G), and Sheldon Stewart (Calibud).

Reverse is the debut solo project for Reid. He says that the response and support at radio has so far been overwhelming. ‘The feedback has been really good. The response has been encouraging that I am heading back into the studio to start working on another project’, said Reid. His ultimate goal is to help to push dancehall music to a higher level.

The Reverse rhythm features the songs ‘Mek Dem Whisper’ by D’Angel, ‘Walk Out’ by Delly Ranx and Patchy, ‘Mi Mi Mi’ by Razor, ‘Lane and Trenches’ by Daps, ‘Prettiest Gal’ by Ras Ptah aka Galaxy P, ‘Hand Mi Dung’ by Mr. G, ‘Rick Tick’ by Kapri, ‘Flex Hard’ by Hit Maker, ‘Haul and Pull Up’ by Ras Ghandi and D’Angel, ‘Dat Yuh Love’ by Kari Jess, ‘Forever’ by Rakeli, and ‘War Dem Want’ by Spotlight.

Turbulence’s Ex-Girlfriend video making an impact

Since its release more than a week ago, Turbulence’s video for the chart buster ‘Ex-Girlfriend’ has been making an impact on television and earning rave reviews. The song is the title track from his recently released 18-track Tads Records disc Ex-Girlfriend.

The music video was shot on location in Beverly Hills more than a month ago. It was directed by Gareth Daley and edited by Kevin Lee. The title track isn’t the only scorcher on the Ex-Girlfriend disc. There are other familiar tracks that have hit the charts including ‘Ital Stew’ and the current hit ‘Silly Girl.’

Collie Buddz hits the top with Come Around

Bermuda-born deejay Collie Buddz who is now based in the US, has been making quite an impact with his tune ‘Come Around.’ Signed to Sony Music in the US, Collie Buddz is the sole reggae act working with the label at the moment. In the past, acts such as Tiger, Tony Rebel, Diana King, Mad Cobra, Tanto Metro and Devonte, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat and Patra were signed to various Sony Music subsidiaries.

‘Come Around’ is expected to jump start the pending major label debut for the white deejay. The track recently topped the BBC 1Xtra Dancehall chart in the UK. It is still the top seller on the reggae charts in Germany. On local soil, ‘Come Around’ has hit two charts.

The video clip for ‘Come Around’ was recently shot on location here in Jamaica. It was directed by Ras Kassa the Guru.

Chart Updates

Bounty Killer’s hit laced double disc, Nah Nuh Mercy: The Warlord Scrolls, debuts at number 15 on the Billboard Reggae album chart. The double disc compilation which contains 41 tracks was released by VP Records.

Mavado’s ‘Weh Dem a Do’ makes an upward movement on Billboard’s Hot R&B Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart as it moves from 80 to 76. However, ‘It’s Okay (One Blood)’ by The Game featuring Junior Reid slips from 42 to 46. Bubbling under the Billboard Hot 100 is ‘Break it Off’ by Sean Paul and Rihanna.

BITS AND PIECES

Wayne Marshall shot the video for the track ‘Forgive Them Please’ earlier this week in the Caymanas area of St. Catherine.

We understand that the Man from Mars has become a daddy again. Congratulations are in order. Our highly placed sources have informed us that the baby’s mother is based in South London.

Speaking of London, Cecile was in London earlier this week working on a big budget video. More details later as they become available.

It’s confirmed! Rapper Nelly is coming next March. Where? Negril of course.

Stopped by Shaggy’s Big Yard recently and based on the new stuff that perked our ears, it’s obvious that the label is coming with a big bang real soon. Stay tuned!

Technorati Profile

Rasta defines roots

By Evan Reynolds,Online Editor
When most people unfamiliar with roots music think of reggae, the most universal response is "Bob Marley." However, reggae has a rich tradition which can encompass many subgenres such dancehall, dub, ska and roots reggae.
On November 3, the reggae band Jah-N-I performed for the Seton Hill University (SHU) Intercultural Student Organization (ISO) food festival. In the tradition of roots reggae, with lyrics centered on justice and the conditions of victims of social and economic oppression, Jah-N-I's sound is both a mourning of the human condition and a celebration of human potential. Their music can be described as intimate and personal.
Something interesting to note about the band is the prominence and stage presence of the female vocalist. While not unconventional, it is unusual enough to note when compared to other reggae bands.
Another rare treat is their "rootsy feel." While many contemporary reggae bands combine other genres such as rap and R&B with roots reggae, Jah-N-I keeps true to the original roots reggae bands.
As described by Tim Krupar, a Greensburg resident and reggae enthusiast, "New reggae bands sound 'new,' they (Jah-N-I) sound authentic."
El'Vonda Jacobs, a freshman intercultural student, said the music "Makes me feel at home."
Roots reggae in particular has an intimate connection with the Rastafari movement. Rastafari is a spiritual understanding of justice, focusing on Jah (an abbreviation of Jehovah found in Psalms 68:4 of the King James Version Bible) as the divine being, Haile Selassie as the embodiment of Jah incarnate, and all people essentially connected with a struggle against Babylon (all oppressive political and economic systems) and a return to Zion (a state of justice).
Jah-N-I expressed the same connection, and according to Jahriffe Aton, lead vocalist, the band's greatest inspiration is "all people that stand up for righteousness."
Aton said that the band's main objective is to "evolve a conscious mind."
"Through the mission of music, things just come together," he said.

Peter Tosh's catalogue is dread and alive

Roger Steffens
Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Peter Tosh's manager, Herbie Miller, wrote
a most trenchant memorial to reggae's most righteous rebel in last Sunday's Observer. In it, he lamented, "There must be a reason both at home and abroad that prevents Peter Tosh from being recognised as the musical giant he was and continues to be. Whether it is a lack of communication between those who oversee his interest and the record labels for which he recorded, I don't know."

There are several reasons why this might be so, and of course, most of them are commercial considerations. His sales are miniscule compared to the gold standard of Bob Marley's catalogue. But it's not as if the various record companies aren't trying. It is important to know that all of his basic catalogue, though fairly slender by reggae's bloated standards, is still in print. His greatest hits package, a few years ago for Columbia/Legacy, was a long-time fixture on Billboard's reggae charts.

Certainly, there could be more advertising around him, but record companies always return to sales figures to defend what appears to some as inactivity. However, it's all out there and fairly easy to obtain in this iwah of the world-shrinking Internet.

I have had the honour of annotating his entire standard catalogue, from Legalize It, right through Honorary Citizen, the three-CD box set, also from Columbia. All of the EMI-controlled albums from Bush Doctor through No Nuclear War are back in print, fully notated.

A few years back, Danny Sims, to whom Peter was signed as artiste and composer from 1968-1972, asked me to create some new Tosh material for his resuscitated JAD label. This resulted in the long-awaited release of his historic
(and highly controversial) performance at 1978's One Love Peace Concert. It was there that the towering singer spat in the face of authority, or at least blew smoke in it, complaining that he no longer had access to the offices of power, and had, therefore, to address them in this public forum. It was one of the most momentous events in Jamaican musical history. The fact that he forced documentary film-makers to turn off their cameras, men he had actually invited himself to film his performance, was one of the greatest misjudgments of his career. But at least a board tape, made by reggae archivist Peter Simon, existed, and it was that we used for the album, Peter Tosh Live at the One Love Peace Concert.

I enlisted Herbie Miller to do a line-by-line "translation" of the speeches (or "livatribes") that Peter made so movingly that tension-filled night, so that an international audience would overstand exactly what Peter was saying.

This standard English version was printed in the accompanying booklet opposite the actual words, rich with patois, that Peter spoke.

Next we turned to a concept that was inspired by the format of Bob's posthumous Talking Blues interview/unreleased songs project, and produced I Am That I Am. It contained 13 previously unheard live acoustic tunes played during interviews in many different cities as he toured the world. Interspersed with the tracks were the most powerful interview excerpts I could find: prophecies, sometimes chilling (in 1983 on our LA Reggae TV show he said, "Right now I know there is a plot to assassa-f'ing-nate me!"; rants against the music biz-mess and at African-Americans who refused to acknowledge their roots; and a deep-seated, constantly expressed desire to return to the mother continent of Africa, the only place he could truly feel at home.

The final part of JAD's Tosh trilogy was another live show in Jamaica - November 1982's Jamaica World Music Festival. During Tosh's sunrise set, the power went off on everything but his hand-held mic, so he used it for a lengthy rant on the lack of respect that reggae encountered in its own country of birth. The sensitive engineer of many of the music's greatest moments, Karl Pitterson, created a new backing track for the speech.

Sad to say though, that these three important additions to Tosh's catalogue have been deleted and dismembered by those who now control it (even to the point of removing my production credits from shoddy repackaging). But savvy collectors can still troll the Internet and find reasonably priced copies of the originals. (Try amoeba.com)
I have long hoped that other projects could be created though, unlike Bob, there are no known Tosh treasures lingering in the vaults. An album of his dub tracks would be a solid venture. Likewise, a true chronological set, in the manner of Heartbeat's fine reissue series of Studio One's Wailers cuts, that collects all the Tosh-led Wailers songs, combined with his own instrumental and vocal singles, would be of great benefit in keeping his progressive works alive.

I continue to offer a multimedia tribute show, presented at UWI at the Tosh Seminar in 2001, but sadly, lately there don't seem to be any takers. I am baffled as to why this is so, and shall nevertheless continue to speak of his major contributions to the Wailers and to the music in general, acknowledging the debt all of us fans owe to him.
With the multitude of radio stations on the island, an outcome that Tosh could only have dreamed of, it is more crucial than ever for the local airwaves to carry his immortal works and introduce them to the next generation of creators.

Roger Steffens maintains a website with information on Tosh and many others at reggaesupersite.com

Mounia Sahara - Reggae music where Africa meets America

Mounia Sahara

Moroccan singer Mounia Sahara's passion for reggae is yet another example of the enormous pull that Bob Marley and the music he made famous have across the globe.

"I was singing ever since I was born. I started to sing in a club every Sunday afternoon when I was around nine years old, in some kids contest in country music. Then I was introduced to Bob Marley by my father Mus Tatha who had a rock band called The Box. From I heard the music of Bob Marley I just get to like reggae music," explains the 29-year-old singer, who was born in Morocco but who has lived since the age of three in Canada.

Growing up, her father, who now teaches children to play musical instruments such as the guitar, the drums, and the piano, taught her how to play the guitar. She fell in love with music, and right away started making big career plans.

It was her fascination with Reggae that, in about 1996, spurred Mounia Sahara to kick-start her professional career as many singers do - singing background vocals - she for a Jamaican reggae artiste known as Silver Reddy. Six years ago, she stepped out on her own and moved to Jamaica where recorded her 2000 maiden CD, I've Got Joy, which was mixed in studios locally on the independent label, Silver Globe Records.

Later she would find the time wasn't right just yet.
"Because I was a new artiste and the songs were original and the people never heard of me, nothing never happened with the CD, it went slow," she admitted candidly.

Disappointed but not defeated, she went back to Canada, ended up taking courses in music lessons and now she is playing a little bit of the piano.

Now, Mounia Sahara says she's ready to conquer the land of reggae.

"I decided to return to Jamaica in 2005 to reintroduce myself and promote myself to the people because I know that Jamaica is the foundation of reggae music," the singer told the Observer.

Since she has been back, Mounia Sahara has appeared on a number of gigs including Rebel Salute, the MXIII Bob Marley Birthday Bash, the Garnet Silk Birthday Bash and at the Roots Bamboo Hotel.

Responses, she says, have been good. Now, with her career-building momentum, the singer, who also released a couple of singles recently, says she has plans to do another album this summer.

Among her singles available now are Israelites, HIM (His Imperial Majesty) and Hip featuring Luciano, Mikey General, among other local acts.

Chillin' with the McGregors

We've heard of families in the music industry who often do music together. Families such as Morgan Heritage, the Marley, Tami and Tessanne Chin, but another family that is currently rising on the dancehall scene is the McGregor family.

Yeshemabeth and Daniel 'Chino' McGregor are a part of a strong family in music

With well-known reggae pioneer Freddy McGregor for their father, a career in music was almost inevitable for Yeshemabeth, Daniel and Stephen.

He may not be a Rhodes Scholar, but Stephen McGregor is surely a genius. Although an aspiring deejay at five years old, Stephen quickly found his niche at the age of 12 while at Ardenne High School when he started producing rhythms professionally. Being the chief engineer for the Big Ship Studio, Stephen is responsible for the production of rhythms like Cartoon, Red Bull & Guinness, Ghetto Whiskey, 12 Gauge, Area Leader, Power Cut, Breaking News and a few one-drop tracks that he has done for Daville's album.
Stephen has worked with anyone who is anyone in the dancehall and reggae fraternity and at 16 years old has become a musical genius. The teenager has shown versatility, balancing school while doing music and being able to play almost every instrument. He is currently working on a Vybz Kartel album, which is due out by February.

Stephen McGregor, 16, is one of the best riddim producers in music business

Stephen's older sister Yeshemabeth, or 'Shema' they call her, has been on the scene for a while now. Her musical link is even stronger, as she is a product of Freddie McGregor and former I-Threes member and gospel artiste, Judie Mowatt. She was in a group called Shepherds, which included the likes of Junior Gong. A former student of Holy Childhood high School, Shema acquired her Undergraduate Bachelor's Degree in Computer Technology at the American International University (AIU), but continued to do her music while in school. Shema currently has singles out called I Spy and Fling it up on the Stick up rhythm and is also working on her album.

Daniel McGregor, who we all know as Chino, is the other McGregor who is creating a storm on the dancehall scene. Chino has been involved in music since his days at Wolmer's Boy's School back in 1997; in fact, he had his first hit while in school in 1999.

"It was a track called Leggo Di Bwoy with Kiprich," the artiste said.

His other hits include, 2006 tracks Red Bull and Guinness as well as Ghetto Whiskey featuring Delly Ranks. He also has Do So Fah on the Breaking News riddim and Set it off on the Power cut rhythm, which features Bramma. Chino is currently finishing his debut album Unstoppable, which includes his new single and video Girl Dem Straight. The artiste made sure to highlight that the album is comprised of original rhythms produced by his brother Stephen as well as Sly and Robby.

Chino, who is managed by the Big Ship Studio, mentioned that besides establishing his own musical career, he also wants to open doors for the younger upcoming artiste. He has done collaborations with Aidonia, Wayne Marshall, Bramma and Delly Ranks. Chino, who was once working with American record label Slip 'N' Slide, also has dreams of working with Jay Z and Pharell Williams of the Neptunes.

The three children of Freddy McGregor told TEENage that their education was always important to them and their family, which was why they had to make sure to finish. Their father has always been 100 per cent supportive of their careers and he encourages them to always try to outdo themselves. It seems as though they have heeded their father's words as all three have careers on the rise. They have already toured half the world and have plans of more touring in the future including the Hype TV tour of the country. The three also mentioned that the Ghetto Whiskey medley will be out soon.

It seems that the family that works together will stay together.

Reggae label Kariang goes global inks deal with Urban Culcha /Sony BMG

Urban Culcha, the New York -headquartered, Sony BMG-distributed entertainment company specialising in the reggae, reggaeton and hip-hop genres of music and film, announced that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide marketing and distribution agreement with Jamaica-based Kariang Records.

Kariang is a Reggae music company recognised as a leader in roots & culture content. Kariang's managing director Jah Mikes said his company was "very pleased and excited about our relationship with Urban Culcha - mainly because we share a common vision for maintaining integrity and originality in artiste development and marketing. Urban Culcha will provide Kariang with the backroom and marketing infrastructure that will allow Kariang to accelerate our presence in the US and the global marketplace."

Urban Culcha's managing director, Aranthes Lewin, revealed that Kariang's debut release through the new partnership with Urban Culcha will be Anthony B's much- anticipated Stronger Than Before album. "Urban Culcha is honoured to be working together with Jah Mikes, Kirk Hedge and the whole Kariang family to successfully present the music of reggae's most important artistes like Anthony B to planet Earth," he said.

The new Anthony B album will be released simultaneously in the Caribbean, internationally and online, with Kariang following the Anthony B release with a various artistes compilation featuring the top artistes in roots reggae entitled Seeds Of Love.
Urban Culcha is an independent, globally distributed entertainment media content development, marketing and distribution company with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

RECORD RACK

Greensleeves Records' The Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems 2006 sell off!

Packed with 40 tracks, the double disc various artistes compilation set The Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems 2006, which was recently released by London's Greensleeves Records, certainly delivers the goods and much more. Entertaining beyond expectations, the set boasts some of the year's biggest hits culled from various hot rhythm projects.

Some of the producers whose works are recognised on this engaging set include Donovan 'Don Corleon' Bennett, Delroy 'Delly Ranx' Foster, Daseca Productions, Karim 'DJ Karim' Thompson, Craig 'Lefside' Parks and Matthew 'Esco' Thompson, Michael 'DJ Liquid' Brissett, Stephen 'Supa Hype' Davis, Byron Murray, and Dave Kelly.

Disc one contains tracks including Dutty Wine by Tony Matterhorn, Weh Dem A Do by Mavado, Beyoncé Wine by Vybz Kartel, Hot Wuk by Vegas, Haffie Get It by Sizzla, Full Clip by Busy Signal featuring Mavado, Red Bull And Guinness by Delly Ranx and Chino, Swing It Weh by Beenie Man, Talk by Mr Peppa, Wickedest Ride by Tony Matterhorn and Mr Easy, Whine by Alaine, Flipping Rhymes by Munga, Rude Boy Love by Pinchers and Spice, and Easy Skanking by Hollow Point.

Disc two kicks off with Ding Dong's Bad Man Forward Bad Man Pull Up. Mavado's first hit Real McKoy is up next and is followed by Tony Matterhorn's March Out. Other tracks on this disc include Step Out by Busy Signal, Uptown Story, the bubble gum tune from selector-turned-television-host-turned-deejay Supa Hype, Bullet Proof Vest by Beenie Man, Bullet Proof Skin by Bounty Killer, Killer Walk, Prezzi Bounce by Sultex 3000, Garrison by Voice Mail, Come Again by Beenie Man, Back In Town by Ninja Man, Talk To Me by Buju Banton, and I Forgot Them by Wayne Marshall.
Simply put, Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems 2006 sell off!

Mavado, Bounty, Kartel and others invade Daseca's Dreaming rhythm

There is a popular saying which goes 'if it aint broke don't fix it'. And that seems to have connected with the Daseca label, as its latest project, the Dreaming rhythm, features some of the familiar names that it recruited for its Anger Management rhythm.

Mavado, Bounty Killer, Alaine, Vybz Kartel as well as Bling Dawg, Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall, Assassin, Mitch (former ARP singer), Buju Banton and New Kidz are featured on the Dreaming.

The track listing reads Dreaming - Mavado; The Highest - Bounty Killer; Lovers Prayer- Alaine; When Last Unu Pray - Vybz Kartel; Beat It Pon Dem - Bling Dawg; Man A Thug - Busy Signal; Silent Murderer - Wayne Marshall; Better Days Coming - Buju Banton; Badness Nuh Light - New Kidz; Gunshot A Beat - Assassin; and Quiet Hero - Mitch.

All Access Entertainment is responsible for distributing the songs from the Dreaming rhythm. Additionally, the company has released other tracks from previously released projects. There is another track from the Pot of Gold label's Shine rhythm. The newest single from this project is Merry Go Round by Maxi Priest.

The TJ Records imprint had dished out two additional tracks from its Show Off rhythm. Already the imprint has scored with Bullet Proof Vest by Beenie Man and Bullet Proof Skin by Bounty Killer. The new singles are Girl Scene by Mr Vegas and From A War by Vybz Kartel.

Also new from All Access are Number One by Sharon Tucker and Don't Fight My Love by Willie Williams and Marcia Griffiths. Both singles have been released on the SPK Inc label.

Tarrus Riley debuts with Parables

VP Records has released the debut album Parables from singer-songwriter Tarrus Riley. Riley, the son of veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley, has been busy making a name for himself on the local stage show circuit. His most familiar material to date is the chart hit Stay With You, a cover of the John Legend recording.

But if you liked Riley's cover of Stay With You, then that should be enough reasons for you to want to check out Parables which comes equipped with 15 tracks. Among those who contributed to the production of Parables are Dean Frazer, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Robbie Lyn, and Glen Browne, among others.

Among the tracks that should excite listeners are System Set (Willie Lynch Syndrome); Haunt You, Something Strong and Family featuring Della Manley.

Early Theodore Miller - Mento Music from Jamaica

Mais um raro registro.

Ranking Joe em SP - 19/11

Ranking Joe + Yellow P a partir das 20 horas no Clube Vegas

Festa BlackJackie

É uma jornada pelo som Blackroots: Check in no dancehall de Kingston com destino às brass bands em New Orleans, embarque nos latin grooves de Havana rumo aos breakbeats de Bombaim, decolando no hip hop novaiorquino com escala no jazz em Adis Abeba, desviando a rota para o funk de Nassau e sobrevoando o samba do Rio de Janeiro, fazendo conexões afrobeat em Lagos e desembarcando no centro paulistano.

Na mala, música, fanzine, cultura urbana: bem-vindos ao mundo de BlackJackie!
Jackie é uma menina esperta, que gosta de dançar e curtir a noite. Gosta de um filme mas não deixa de visitar os sebos a procura de discos com grooves raros. Come no restaurante japonês mas não deixa de visitar o Amaral no Estadão pra comer um sanduba de pernil. Orgulhosa da sua cor e da sua celulite, se afirma na pista de dança, com o que o brasileiro tem de melhor, o balanço. Sensual sem ser fútil, sexual sem ser fácil, desliza pelos cantos da cidade atrás de informação.
O projeto envolve um fanzine assinado por MZK e Prila intitulado JackiePot, fazendo um link entre a cultura urbana e o universo da nossa heroína. Teremos a colaboração dos VJs De Marco Bros, Banca mambembe de publicções independentes e convidados musicalmente interessantes, MCs, músicos e DJs que vão engrossar o caldo groovy!

Domingo
dia 05/11 19h: MC Funk Buia

Anfitriões: Dr. Ailton e Nanico
Apoio: Dubversão
Entrada: homem R$15 / mulher R$10
mulheres entram grátis até 21h
Rua Augusta, 765
www.vegasclub.com.br

“Amantes maranhenses do reggae são radicais, mas não malvados”, diz Armadinho.

Nota do blog: Ainda bem que ele sabe o que está fazendo...

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Armandinho disse que está em estado de graça com o momento de sua carreira, dos shows, na criatividade na hora de compor e na produção de cd´s com músicas inéditas. Questionado sobre a passagem por São Luís, em julho deste ano, o músico disse que ficou preocupado em tocar na Jamaica Brasileira.

- Fiquei apreensivo em tocar em São Luís. Fui informado que os amantes do reggae na cidade eram radicais e que dificilmente iriam aceitar a minha música. Tive medo de pegar uma vaia que para mim é uma das situações mais humilhantes que qualquer pessoa pública deve enfrentar na vida. Sei que os maranhenses cultuam o reggae de raiz, o meu reggae não é de raiz. Faço um reggae praiano, que fala de coisas simples e singela, como amor. Sou um músico nascido e criado em bar. Portanto, faço uma música para divertir as pessoas. Mas o que pude perceber foi que os amantes do reggae em São Luís são radicais, porém não são malvados. Eles têm uma vibração positiva sempre e foram super-receptivos a minha música. Tirei a má impressão que me foi passada e pretendo voltar a tocar nessa ilha maravilhosa – ressaltou.

Casa de Bob Marley em Londres ganha homenagem

O ícone do reggae Bob Marley ganhou uma homenagem em Londres. No dia 25 de outubro, uma placa em sua memória foi colocada na casa onde ele morou na cidade na década de 70.

Como tantos outros jamaicanos, artistas ou não, que imigraram para a Inglaterra depois da independência da Jamaica, em 1962, Marley morou em vários pontos de Londres. Mas a casa de número 34 da Ridgmount Gardens, em Camden, é considerada a mais importante.

A placa faz parte de uma série de eventos organizados no Reino Unido no mês que comemora a História Negra e celebra a contribuição da comunidade afro-caribenha ao país.

Bob Marley nasceu na Jamaica em 1945 e faleceu em 1981.

Radiolas Maranhenses e Política - Polêmica na certa!

Olha só, um radioleiro no Congresso?!?

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MPE maranhense investiga tucanos por abuso de poder econômico

O Ministério Público Eleitoral no Maranhão entrou com uma ação de investigação judicial eleitoral por abuso de poder econômico contra Pinto da Itamaraty, candidato eleito ao cargo de deputado federal pelo PSDB, e Alberto Franco, deputado estadual reeleito pelo mesmo partido.

A ação baseia-se em informações de que, durante a campanha, teriam sido realizadas, em diversos municípios do interior do Estado, festas com a participação da radiola de reggae Itamaraty, de propriedade do candidato Pinto da Itamaraty, com o objetivo de promover as candidaturas de ambos os candidatos investigados.

No município de Axixá, no dia 12 de agosto, houve uma festa em que o próprio Pinto da Itamaraty esteve presente. Nessas festas, havia a veiculação do jingle de campanha dos investigados, conhecido como "melô da dupla".

Outros eventos semelhantes foram feitos em Pedreiras, Alcântara, São José de Ribamar e Icatu. Um outro evento da série estava programado para ocorrer em 29 de setembro de 2006, em Guimarães, só não aconteceu porque foi impedido por ordem do juiz eleitoral da 30ª zona que, atendendo a requerimento do Ministério Público, suspendeu a realização da festa.

Nos relatos, afirma-se que os preços praticados nos eventos eram, via de regra, inferiores aos usualmente fixados, maximizando a nota do abuso de poder econômico. Muitas vezes, a radiola Itamaraty era cedida gratuitamente pelo candidato Pinto da Itamaraty.

Notificado pela Comissão de Fiscalização da Propaganda Eleitoral, o candidato Pinto da Itamaraty confirmou a realização de uma festa em São Luís e afirmou, ainda, que sua empresa não interrompeu suas atividades no período eleitoral, dando continuidade à realização de eventos que servem, segundo suas próprias declarações, "para promover o nome da Itamaraty".

As radiolas de reggae são equipamentos de som potentes que são levados a festas de reggae, principalmente no Maranhão, onde esse ritmo é bastante popular.

Profissionais que atuam na área do reggae participam de capacitação

Prossegue nesta terça-feira (07) o terceiro módulo do Curso de Capacitação do projeto São Luís, Ilha do Reggae, realizado pela Prefeitura de São Luís, através da Secretaria Municipal de Turismo, e pela Comissão Integrada do Reggae. O curso, intitulado “Gestão em Marketing” acontece até esta quarta-feira (08), das 15h às 19h, no auditório da Setur (Rua da Palma, 53 – Centro), e é voltado aos profissionais ligados ao reggae.

O módulo está sendo ministrado pelo professor e especialista em marketing, Fábio Abreu, que está abordando conceitos, princípios e ferramentas do Marketing, associados no contexto dos negócios do reggae, para proporcionar melhorias na gestão empresarial dos serviços.

O primeiro módulo do Curso de Capacitação do projeto abordou o tema “Gestão de Negócios” e foi ministrado pelo professor e doutorando em Turismo, Clézio Amorim. “Reggae, Cultura e Turismo” foi o tema do segundo módulo do curso, ministrado pelo pesquisador e professor, Ananias Martins, que fez uma reflexão envolvendo a associação do reggae como elemento cultural e sua importância na atividade turística.

Estão previstos ainda para este ano outros cursos de capacitação como parte das atividades do projeto São Luís, Ilha do Reggae, com temas sobre Empreendedorismo, Gestão de Qualidade, Gestão Financeira, Recursos Humanos e Gestão de Projetos.

Toni Garrido afirma que sente ódio da MTV Brasil

Toni Garrido, vocalista do Cidade Negra, voltou a criticar a MTV Brasil. Em entrevista ao jornal carioca “O Dia”, o cantor afirmou odiar a emissora que ajudou consideravelmente na divulgação do seu trabalho.

Ao citar que há quem discorde da sua defesa por um reggae não exatamente igual ao eternizado por Bob Marley, ele foi enfático. “Por isso a gente tem o ódio de muitos, como da MTV. Eles criaram uma imagem falsa da banda, me transformaram num cara de índole negativa, do mal”, comentou.

Sua banda, no entanto, lançou um vitorioso CD acústico pelo canal.

Toni Garrido sabe que o Cidade Negra não é unanimidade. "Somos discutidos à beça, amados e odiados", admite o vocalista do grupo, que acaba de lançar mais um CD ao vivo e DVD, Cidade Negra Direto, em que a mistura de sons e os discursos em prol do amor e da liberdade predominam. "Sempre fomos criticados por falar de superação e auto-estima, por ser politicamente corretos. Nossa frente de batalha é outra. Somos quatro filhos de empregadas domésticas, com a mesma vivência. A gente quer ver um mundo correto, igual", discursa.

Toni acredita que nem todo mundo encare de forma positiva o seu papo engajado e sua defesa por um reggae não exatamente igual ao eternizado por Bob Marley. "Por isso a gente tem o ódio de muitos, como o da MTV. Eles criaram uma imagem falsa da banda, me transformaram num cara de índole negativa, do mal", acredita o cantor, que já lançou CD acústico pelo canal.

A birra com a MTV se intensificou durante as participações de Toni no RockGol, campeonato de futebol entre músicos: ele era chamado de "chiliquenta". "Deve ter alguém lá dentro que não vai com a cara do Cidade Negra ou com a minha cara. No desenho animado deles (Megaliga de VJ's Paladinos) já teve um episódio em que eu matava todas as crianças cantando O Erê. No final, insinuavam que eu tinha uma coisa com o Michael Jackson e só se ouvia o barulho do meu grito", reclama.

E desce mais a lenha. "A MTV faz campanha contra, não toca a gente. Mas não é isso que segura a banda: temos 200 shows por ano", diz Toni, que jura não ver problema na nova concorrência do reggae com Armandinho (Desenho de Deus) e Edu Ribeiro (Me Namora). "Vai ter sempre artista estourando. A gente não tem a sede de ser o número 1."

CD solo sem nenhum reggae na agenda Toni Garrido, Lazão, Bino Freitas e Da Gama gravaram em abril o novo CD e DVD do Cidade, com participações de Lulu Santos e Paralamas do Sucesso. As bolachinas trazem músicas inéditas (como Hoje, Bamba, e B.boys), canções pouco conhecidas (A Flecha e o Vulcão) e sucessos (Sábado à Noite e A Sombra da Maldade).

"São nove músicas novas. É difícil ver um lançamento desses com mais de duas inéditas", destaca Toni, que mudou os arranjos das faixas conhecidas. "Em 20 anos de carreira tivemos umas 15 faixas muito tocadas. Incluímos seis dessas no CD."

Depois da nova turnê, Toni planeja enfim lançar o seu CD solo. Nada de reggae. "Para fazer reggae faço com o Cidade", avisa ele, que, aos 39 anos, afirma ter um "referencial de garoto". "Tanto fisicamente e de cabeça estou mais próximo dos 20 anos. Adoro ouvir música tosca, ruim. Sei que depois fica legal", filosofa.

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Shottas - Listen with your eyes closed

Shottas

Four years after it was shot in Miami and Jamaica, "Shottas" finally comes to U.S. theaters with massive street buzz. Pirated copies of the stylized, viciously violent movie have been an urban rage, making first-time filmmaker Cess Silvera a hood legend.

Now that it's officially here, it's safe to say "Shottas" has achieved cult status because it depicts a world of hustlers and thugs who like nothing better than to be mythologized, rather than because it's evidence of overwhelming cinematic genius.

"Shottas" is patois for gangsters (or, if you will, gangstas). Silvera has clearly studied the graphic world of Hong Kong martial arts films. The killings in "Shottas" are relentless and gruesome. There's no point to them, no honor system in the blood lust of the psychopath Mad Max (Jamaican theater star Paul Campbell). Biggs (Kymani Marley) tries to make some garbled philosophical points that sound great in Jamaican dialect, but his bloody actions speak louder than his words.

Silvera certainly has gifts, most notably in getting performances from his cast of musical stars (but acting neophytes) that draw on their physical charisma and sense of rhythmic flow. Marley and Spragga Benz as Wayne have that buddy-film bond going on; Louie Rankin as Miami's drug kingpin is as oily as petroleum. (There are also cameos by local radio personalities DJ Khaled and Papa Keith.)

The film's been called the Jamaican "Scarface" for good reason: The penultimate shoot-em-up sequence is practically an homage to Brian Da Palma's classic. Half the movie takes place in Miami, in places like a Miami Beach faux-castle bayfront residence and the Opa-locka airport. This is the side of Da Bottom that such rappers as Pitbull and Rick Ross have hyped. The documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" depicts South Florida's drug past; "Shottas" finds a present just as brutal.

Silvera's a former independent label head and partner in the "How Can I Be Down" hip-hop conference, so it's not surprising that the "Shottas" soundtrack is to die for (so to speak). And there's a poetry in the patois cursing. But unless you love senseless violence and gratuitous shots of fake breasts, you might want to listen with your eyes closed.

onscreen

"Shottas"

Grade: C

Starring: Kymani Marley, Spragga Benz, Louie Rankin, Paul Campbell, Wyclef Jean

Director: Cess Silvera

Writer-director: Cess Silvera.

Producers: Cess Silvera, Jennifer Farrell, Fabien Pruvot

King Jammy & Wayne Smith - 1982 Studio Recording

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Drumdrops in Dub vol.1

Style Scott needs no introduction! His hard-hitting beats have backed the best Reggae artists in the business; Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy, Israel Vibration to name a few.

Having worked alongside all the best producers and engineers (Dub pioneers King Tubby, Prince Jammy and Scientist) has guaranteed his status in the studio and on stage. Have you ever sat back whilst listening to your favourite Roots Radics and Dub Syndicate tracks, wondering what it would be like to have the legendary Style Scott drumming for you? What about that late 70s Jamaican sound with the spring reverb and echo?

Well now you can, with 24 classic full-length drum tracks ranging from 69-143 bpm in multi-track format featuring separate Kick, Snare, Hat, Toms, Overheads, Percussion and FX: Includes tempo-mapped ProTools LE, Logic 6 and Cubase SE session files.

Recorded in Jamaica and London, including drum tracks recorded at the peak of the Roots Radics era in studios like Channel One and Randys.

If you're looking for live Reggae and Dub beats look no further!
Disc 1

1. 71 bpm Roots Radics style groove with timbale and percussion
2. 72 bpm Roots Radics style Dub with crisp hi-hats, timbale and rolling toms
3. 81 bpm Militant rockers groove with scrapers and African percussion
4. 86 bpm One drop with Style's signature fills and percussion
5. 88 bpm One drop with rimshot featuring bongos, tambourine and blocks
6. 88 bpm One drop with rimshot featuring guiros, vibro-slap and shakers
7. 89 bpm One drop with rimshot featuring blocks, chimes and triangles
8. 91 bpm One drop with furious rimshot featuring kete drum and tambourine
9. 121 bpm One drop with Style's trademark hi-hat pattern and percussion
10. 130 bpm Militant Steppers groove with timbale, kete drum and tambourine
11. 132 bpm Steppers with Style's signature hats and percussion
12. 136.5 bpm Fast Steppers groove with heavy bongo and tambourine

Disc 2

1. 69.5 bpm Roots Radics style Dub groove with kete drum and cabassa
2. 71 bpm Roots Radics style Dub with crisp snare, timbale and percussion
3. 71 bpm Slow militant Dub with busy kick, rolling snare and percussion
4. 72 bpm One drop with snare featuring cabassa and tambourine
5. 73 bpm One drop with rimshot featuring blocks, scrapers and tambourine
6. 74 bpm Militant rockers groove with kete drum and tambourine
7. 77.5 bpm Funky One drop with rolling snares and tambourine
8. 87 bpm One drop with rimshot featuring kete drum and tambourine
9. 140 bpm Steppers with rimshot featuring kete drum and tambourine
10. 140 bpm Steppers with busy rimshot featuring kete drum and percussion
11. 142 bpm Steppers with snare featuring kete drum and vibro-slap
12. 143 bpm Steppers with Style's signature timbale, kete drum and percussion

Features

* Easy to use; all audio files start from the same point
* Tempo mapped ProTools LE, Logic 6 and Cubase SX session files
* Supplied with 16-Bit .AIFF previews for easy auditioning
* MIDI files with tempo map info for importing to other DAWs

Extras

* Single hits and extra sound FX
* Vintage Orban and Grampian Spring reverbs
* Style's personal tips on how to dub

Click here to find out more about the tempo map feature.
Credits

* Drums Style Scott
* Percussion Norman Grant (Twinkle Brothers) and Tuca Rainbow



“Truly the best collection of originally recorded drum tracks and breaks I have ever heard...the Drumdrops in Dub series is destined for classic status.”
Adrian Sherwood
Producer & Dub Maestro

“Like roses need the rain Music needs live drums just the same To keep it real, is to keep it live”
Junior Delgado
Artist