Recording artiste Buju Banton says that Bob Marley is not the greatest Jamaican musician and that this fixation on the reggae icon has hurt the growth of the music.
Banton... I want Jamaican music to be seen not through the pretext of some man that died 20 years ago
Banton respects Marley's music but argued that calling him the greatest logically implies that no better can follow.
"I want Jamaican music to be seen not through the pretext of some man that died 20 years ago, but as a pretext of a living being, working earnestly. If man cannot do what others have done in these times we might as well die," he told a mixed crowd at the launch of Rasta Got Soul, his new album, at the University of the West Indies on Thursday. "You know they say that the greatest musician in Jamaica is Bob Marley. I don't believe that, because we have greater musicians to come. Bob was the most promoted, and well promoted and we have to appreciate that because its our culture but don't kill our culture with one living one. Enough is Enough."
Currently Bob Marley's album Legend continues to top iTunes reggae charts in every major reggae market except Japan, even as Mavado, Banton and Jah Cure released new albums this month. Downloaders in 19 of the 22 listed countries are buying Marley's 1984 album above any other reggae album on iTunes, arguably the Internet's most popular online music store. These online sales will add to the album's sales which have surpassed 20 million. Comparatively, the average reggae album sells some 5,000 units worldwide.
Bob Marley
Banton's comments received claps from the crowd. He then evidenced his point with reference to Marley's sons who receive the brunt of the comparisons. "Bob had nine sons, allow the youths to be who they are destined to be, because once you do that they automatically fade away. Don't line me up with anybody. Don't parallel me and then you find you kill I. I can learn from the great ones and can learn by the wheel, but I don't want to be that someone who you only see in that shadow," said Banton who had been compared to Marley with his 1995 release Til Shiloh.
That album had songs in the reggae folk tradition with Untold Stories being its classic hit. Even 14 years after the release it's frequently compared with Marley's Redemption Song. Til Shiloh had set the standard for subsequent Banton releases, but Banton has been torn between two lovers: dancehall and reggae. But on his new 15 track album both genres are included. Banton released Reggae Got Soul via his own record label Gargamel Music Inc, via a Tommy Boy distribution deal.
Source: Jamaican Observer
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Serani "GOT NEXT" - Vibe Magazine
According to the latest edition of Vibe magazine (with Rhianna on the cover) Jamaican Dancehall sensation Serani has got NEXT!
The prestigious urban bible features the talented singer/producer/musician in its "GOT NEXT" segment, reserved for rising stars on the US scene.
With his hit single "No Games" seemingly refusing to go away, the spins on US radio continue to rise with radio stations as far and wide as upstate New York to Nashville to Colorado Springs rotating the track. "No Games" climbed to #62 on Billboard's Hot 100 Hip Hop and R'n'B charts last week and was played on New York's HOT 97 radio station more than 80 times last week alone.
With the track selling well digitally - peaking at # 4 on the US iTunes Reggae Singles Chart and hitting the # 1 spot on the same iTunes chart in Canada, things are also opening up internationally for Serani too.
"Universal in the UK has had to bring forward No Game's release date over there," said manager Julian Jones-Griffith. "The track has been picked up by all the right stations and disc jockeys in the UK, as well as in Germany and other European countries so it looks very promising."
Serani will be in the UK next month for the "Brighter Days Tour" alongside fellow Alliance gunner Mavado and Bugle. The tour hits Bristol May 8, Bradford May 9, with the finale at London's Stratford Rex on Sunday May 10.
"Mavado will leave the UK for his first-ever European tour," added Jones-Griffith. "Serani will remain in the UK for a few days to do some heavy promotional work over there. We're also adding more and more dates to his Canada tour which is coming up the end of June, so the movement we have started is still growing."
Although "No Games" is still going strong, demand for Serani's music is high and a follow-up single "She Loves Me" has been released digitally also. It has quickly racked up sales and is rapidly climbing the iTunes Reggae singles chart also.
With the official announcement made that Serani and Mavado have been added to the main stage for HOT 97's Summer Jam show - held every year at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey in front of 50,000 people, its more proof that these artists are out there demanding the attention of the mainstream for Dancehall music and culture. This year's Summer Jam is being heralded as the biggest line-up in the show's history and includes performances by Mary J Blige, T Pain, Young Jeezy, Jadakiss, Jim Jones, The Dream, Elephant Man and more.
Source: Out A Road
The prestigious urban bible features the talented singer/producer/musician in its "GOT NEXT" segment, reserved for rising stars on the US scene.
With his hit single "No Games" seemingly refusing to go away, the spins on US radio continue to rise with radio stations as far and wide as upstate New York to Nashville to Colorado Springs rotating the track. "No Games" climbed to #62 on Billboard's Hot 100 Hip Hop and R'n'B charts last week and was played on New York's HOT 97 radio station more than 80 times last week alone.
With the track selling well digitally - peaking at # 4 on the US iTunes Reggae Singles Chart and hitting the # 1 spot on the same iTunes chart in Canada, things are also opening up internationally for Serani too.
"Universal in the UK has had to bring forward No Game's release date over there," said manager Julian Jones-Griffith. "The track has been picked up by all the right stations and disc jockeys in the UK, as well as in Germany and other European countries so it looks very promising."
Serani will be in the UK next month for the "Brighter Days Tour" alongside fellow Alliance gunner Mavado and Bugle. The tour hits Bristol May 8, Bradford May 9, with the finale at London's Stratford Rex on Sunday May 10.
"Mavado will leave the UK for his first-ever European tour," added Jones-Griffith. "Serani will remain in the UK for a few days to do some heavy promotional work over there. We're also adding more and more dates to his Canada tour which is coming up the end of June, so the movement we have started is still growing."
Although "No Games" is still going strong, demand for Serani's music is high and a follow-up single "She Loves Me" has been released digitally also. It has quickly racked up sales and is rapidly climbing the iTunes Reggae singles chart also.
With the official announcement made that Serani and Mavado have been added to the main stage for HOT 97's Summer Jam show - held every year at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey in front of 50,000 people, its more proof that these artists are out there demanding the attention of the mainstream for Dancehall music and culture. This year's Summer Jam is being heralded as the biggest line-up in the show's history and includes performances by Mary J Blige, T Pain, Young Jeezy, Jadakiss, Jim Jones, The Dream, Elephant Man and more.
Source: Out A Road
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ex-girl sues Buju
Lorna Strachan, the mother of four of international artiste Buju Banton's children, has filed a suit in the Supreme Court against him for division of properties.
Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was served with the court document on Monday and is expected to file a response to the suit.
According to documents filed in court this month, the couple split after being together for close to 18 years.
Strachan disclosed in the claim form filed in court that she is seeking to have the joint tenancy severed for several properties which she and Myrie own.
The properties include houses at Jacaranda Close, Braeton, St Catherine; Carlisle Avenue, Kingston 8; Ballater Avenue, Kingston 10; an apartment at Priory Court, Devon Road, St Andrew, and the family house at Westmeade Road, Belgrade Heights, Kingston 19.
The deejay is known for throw-back hits such as Browning and Deportee and modern-day chart-toppers such as Driver A and Too Bad. His latest album, Rasta Got Soul, was officially launched at the University of the West Indies on Wednesday.
The international star is also mourning the loss of his mother, Murdine 'Miss Dotty' Clarke, who recently passed away.
Source: Jamaica Star
Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was served with the court document on Monday and is expected to file a response to the suit.
According to documents filed in court this month, the couple split after being together for close to 18 years.
Strachan disclosed in the claim form filed in court that she is seeking to have the joint tenancy severed for several properties which she and Myrie own.
The properties include houses at Jacaranda Close, Braeton, St Catherine; Carlisle Avenue, Kingston 8; Ballater Avenue, Kingston 10; an apartment at Priory Court, Devon Road, St Andrew, and the family house at Westmeade Road, Belgrade Heights, Kingston 19.
The deejay is known for throw-back hits such as Browning and Deportee and modern-day chart-toppers such as Driver A and Too Bad. His latest album, Rasta Got Soul, was officially launched at the University of the West Indies on Wednesday.
The international star is also mourning the loss of his mother, Murdine 'Miss Dotty' Clarke, who recently passed away.
Source: Jamaica Star
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Mavado headlines Best of the Best
The show that promises to be the 'best of the best' is indeed that. The 2009 line-up for its third undertaking on Sunday, May 24th at Bicentennial Park in Miami sees nothing but stars! Billed as the "Best Caribbean Show in North America," Best of the Best has grown into an international music festival, which music lovers journey from around the world to savor each year. Presented by Miami's premier promotions company, JBJ Entertainment, this year's roster showcases artists that are at the top of their game, in their respective genres, in Caribbean and urban music.
Dancehall star Mavado is enjoying amazing crossover success with his current album sitting pretty at #76 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-hop albums; it's the only Caribbean album on a Billboard mainstream chart. "Last year I didn't get to make it to the show," says Mavado. "So this year, Best of the Best is going to get the very best of Mavado."
Also enjoying tremendous mainstream airplay is Serani, whose single "No Games" comes in at #67 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-hop chart this week. "With all the positive things happening in my career recently, Best of the Best is dropping at the right time," reveals Serani. "I'm 100% ready to celebrate with all my fans cause it's going to be one big party!"
Elephant Man joins the momentum as his dance anthem "Nuh Linga" debuts this week on Billboard's Hot 100 R&B/Hip-hop chart at #100. Fans can also expect to enjoy massive catalogs of hits from Wayne Wonder ("No Letting Go," # 11 Billboard Hot 100; 2003), Bounty Killer ("Hey Baby" with No Doubt; 2001 & "Hip Hopera" with The Fugees; 1997), Beenie Man ("Hmm Hmm," #42 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-hop Singles Sales; 2006), Capleton (Heathen Rage, #42 Billboard Hot Rap Singles; 1996), Cocoa Tea ("Barack Obama," #9 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-hop Singles Sales; 2009), and Tony Matterhorn ("Dutty Wine," #24 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-hop Singles Sales; 2007).
The show will also profile soca star Destra, who drops her new album internationally this week. Reggae artist Ras Penco comes with the #3 reggae song in Jamaica, while Ce'Cile sits at the top of the reggae album chart (Jamaica Weekly Countdown). The Caribbean roster rounds up with Spice (who is enjoying massive airplay with her collaboration with Vybz Kartel, "Romping Shop"), Flippa Mafia, Christopher Martin and The Stones.
Hip-hop lovers will be satisfied with heavyweights like Rick Ross (who just dropped his new album this week, Deeper Than Rap), Jeezy, remix king T-Pain and Miami's own DJ Khaled. "It's going to be a night to remember," states Mavado, of the star-studded bill. "The show's name tells you who is performing, so the fans can come out and expect to see the best."
Air Jamaica has just been added as an airline sponsor for the show, which takes place at Bicentennial Park, located at 1075 Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. Park gates open at 1:00 pm and show time is set for 1:30pm sharp. The 10-hour event does not end there. Everyone is invited to the official Best of the Best After Party, at Bongos Nightclub (located behind the American Airlines Arena), immediately following the show.
Source: One 876 Ent
Aidonia impersonator at large
DJ Aidonia had better watch himself or he may find himself having to answer for things he has no clue about. Yardflex got it on good authority that there is a certain male in the JOP Group that is going around and pretending to be Aidonia.
From what we understand he tried several times to use Aidonia’s name to get money and has gone as far as having people booking him for shows.
According to our source at one point he wanted someone to book him on a show and send him half the money. He even tried it with a college student claiming he would do dubplate for them.
When one college promoter refused to give him the money he got nasty telling them expletives. The school was going to take action but one thing stopped them…they soon discovered that Aidonia was on tour and therefore it was impossible for him to be in two places.
Our source is in possession of the tapes where he is pretending to be Aidonia. Yardflex understands that the source can’t wait until Aidonia touch the US soil on May 8 to play the tape for him…but in the meantime, DJ take charge before this man mess you up.
Source: Yardflex
From what we understand he tried several times to use Aidonia’s name to get money and has gone as far as having people booking him for shows.
According to our source at one point he wanted someone to book him on a show and send him half the money. He even tried it with a college student claiming he would do dubplate for them.
When one college promoter refused to give him the money he got nasty telling them expletives. The school was going to take action but one thing stopped them…they soon discovered that Aidonia was on tour and therefore it was impossible for him to be in two places.
Our source is in possession of the tapes where he is pretending to be Aidonia. Yardflex understands that the source can’t wait until Aidonia touch the US soil on May 8 to play the tape for him…but in the meantime, DJ take charge before this man mess you up.
Source: Yardflex
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