Author Marlon James Tells Fader Magazine How He Designed Album Covers for Sean Paul
Jamaica’s Marlon James, who won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2015 for his novel “A Brief History of Seven Killings,” was once the creative director for Sean Paul, a major export from Kingston. For ten ears, James designed and provided oversight of covers for Paul’s albums “Stage One” in 2000, “Dutty Rock” in 2012, […]
Buju Banton Receives Masters Degree from New York University
The legendary Jamaica reggae artiste Buju Banton has graduated with a Masters Degree in Music Business Management from the University of New York (NYU). Banton was arrested at his home in South Florida in 2009 on drug charges and sentenced to ten years in prison in 2011 at the Sam Gibbons U.S. District Court in […]
Sly and Robbie :Without Them, Jamaica’s Popular Music Wouldn’t Be the Same
Sly and Rob have been called the most famous Jamaican rhythm section in history, and it’s not surprising, since they claim to have made 200,000 songs. Whether this is a real count or not, the drum-and-bass duo have created more music than is commonly recognized, and without them, popular music in Jamaica would have taken […]
SUMMERJAM 2016 wants to take you back: BACK TO THE FUTURE
A month ago, I attended one of the largest street festivals in Germany in my adopted town, Wuppertal. The festival hosts a number of different stages but everyone knows that people basically come just for the Reggae/Dancehall stage. But then again, seeing that I am Jamaican and a proud one at that I might just […]
Review: Best of the Best Music Festival 2016, 10th Anniversary edition
Revoked visas, legal problems and social issues have plagued the reggae genre for several years. Many thought these problems would lead to the end of dance hall music. The fan base continues to grow and Miami’s Best of the Best music festival remains one of the premier Caribbean festivals in North America. 2016 marked the […]
Roots Reggae Star Jah Cure Ranks Number 1 on Billboard Reggae Chart
Jamaica’s roots reggae artiste Jah Cure has taken the top spot on Billboard’s Reggae Chart for his album “The Cure”. The album has been listed on the charts for 37 weeks, but this is the second time it has been ranked Number 1 since its August 2015 release. The album’s success has sparked hope among […]
VIDEO: Alicia Keys Reggae-Influenced Single “In Common” Called Latin Beat & Tropical Vibe
The new Alicia Keys single “In Common” has been classified as “Latin Beat & Tropical” when it is, in fact, influenced by dancehall and reggae, as is much of the new music performed today, including “Work” from Rihanna and “Sorry” from Justin Bieber. Billboard Magazine described the new single as “Latin infused.” “In Common” is […]
Beyonce, Pearl Jam to Cover Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”
Beyonce and Pearl Jam plan to release an acoustic cover of “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley later in 2016. Beyonce partnered with Eddie Vedder at the Global Citizens Festival in New York in 2015, and performed the classic there. Now, the cover is slated for inclusion in the band’s pending, annual holiday release. According to […]
Peter Tosh Museum to Open in Kingston
The newest museum in Kingston will open in the summer of 2016 and honor the late reggae icon Peter Tosh. Tosh was a social activist and advocate for the Rastafari religion as well as a musician. He died during a home invasion in 1987 at the age of 42. Tosh taught himself to play the […]
7 Great Reggae Covers of Prince Songs You Need To Listen To – Remembering a Music Icon
Today it would be a challenge to find a musician who wasn’t influenced by Prince in some way. With a career spanning almost 40 years, Prince Rogers Nelson died Thursday morning in Minneapolis at the age of 57. Many reggae artists have been impacted by his music as well. Prince also seemed to be a […]