On Monday, July 5th Captain Jason Benn will host Summer Bliss Cooler Fete at a private location in New York. The event will run from noon to 8PM (local time).
Music will be provided by Hot 97’s Massive B, Freeze Int’l, Sal Infrared, DJ Active, Byfar Jr Cruiza, Elegance Sounds, Team Xclusive and DJ Xlence. There will also be a special performance by Vincentian artist Skinny Fabulous. Click here for tickets and additional info.
Due to all the restrictions and limitations placed on Jamaica’s entertainment industry because of the corona virus, the 2021 JaRIA Honor Awards Show will be held virtually. However, although this is not a live in-person presentation the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association is still promising an exciting, captivating and entertaining show.
The full program will stream live on JaRIA’s social media platforms, as well as on PBCJ TV starting at 3PM (local time) on Sunday, July 4th. Special guest performers include: Freddie McGregor, Johnny Clarke, Joby Jay and Levy’s Heritage.
Minister Taf, which is short for Tafari, is a Jamaican born and raised reggae-gospel recording artist who now resides in the United Kingdom.
A man of humble beginnings, Taf‘s childhood, though filled with love was also dominated by poverty. He recalls times when he would go to bed without food; the roof would leak when it rained, and at one point he only had one pair of shoes, a trouser and t-shirt to wear when going out. Having survived all that, Minister Taf now creates songs that can aptly be described as motivational, hopeful, and inspiring.
Though he is now committed to music, Taf‘s first passion was always football. He had what seems like a natural God-given talent for soccer, which became evident in his adolescent years. In fact, at the age of 16 he was selected to attend a trial for Jamaica U17; and even though that trial never took place, he went on to win many football medals and trophies over the years. After arriving in the UK in 2009, he tried out for Barnet FC while they were in league 2. Regretfully he did not make the team. Looking back now, it is clear that God had other plans for his life.
It can be argued that his attachment to football was always matched by his fondness for music. Before transitioning to reggae and dancehall, the music from his home country, Taf started out rapping. He was introduced to the hip-hop genre by his brother and subsequently became a huge fan of Tupac Shakur. To fulfil their musical desires Taf would meet with his friend (Delano) and write songs. They often recorded themselves freestyling; but it was just for fun.
His musical journey got serious in 2012 after hearing the voice of God regarding pursuing music. That said, he officially started to work on his career as an artist that same year. From that point on Taf has been busy paying his dues. He has worked tirelessly over the years and is at a point now where he is indeed being used by God to speak to the masses.
Later this year Lupe Fiasco will be heading out on the road for his 2021 Food & Liquor Tour. He will be making stops in Seattle, San Fran, Cleveland and Brooklyn. Those are the confirmed cities that he has announced so far, but additional locations are expected to be added.
For all dates, venues and tickets, visit his official website: lupefiasco dot com.
Below are all the musical wins from the 2021 BET Awards Show. The event was held on Sunday, June 27th, at the Microsoft Theater (located at 777 Chick Hearn Ct) in Los Angeles, California.
Album of the year
Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
Best female R&B / pop artist
H.E.R.
Best male R&B / pop artist
Chris Brown
Best female hip hop artist
Megan Thee Stallion
Best male hip hop artist
Lil Baby
Best new artist
Giveon
Best collaboration
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Best group
Silk Sonic
best gospel/inspirational award
Kirk Franklin – “Strong God”
BET HER award
SZA — “Good Days”
Viewer’s choice award
Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé – “Savage (Remix)”
Video of the year
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
Video director of the year
Bruno Mars & Florent Déchard
Best international act
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Veteran Jamaican radio DJ Ron Muchette has recently inked a deal with the Caribbean Global Network (CGN) Group to be included among the roster of talent for the new radio station: The Bridge 99FM.
The Bridge 99FM is poised to help build stronger ties between Jamaica and the Jamaican Diaspora in the New York tri-state area, thereby creating opportunities for a robust exchange of information, culture and trade. This is to be achieved, in part, by a simulcast of The Bridge’s programming by its sister station Irie Jam Radio, 93.5 FM – WVIP to its over 2 million-strong Caribbean audience in the tri-state area.
Ron Muchette, one of Jamaica’s most respected radio DJ and host, joins The Bridge 99FM team after over six years at Mello FM as a morning show producer and broadcaster. His addition to what is expected to be an all-star roster, will be a considerable boost as The Bridge 99FM works towards its mission of forging stronger linkages and community building.
Submitted
Twenty-five years ago on July 2nd,1996 the sophomore follow-up to the undisputed classic Illmatic was titled It Was Written, and in contrast to the urban bleakness of his debut, the second album had Nas dipping his toes into the world of mafioso rap.
Amidst production from heavy hitters like Trackmasters, Dr. Dre, L.E.S., Havoc of Mobb Deep, and Illmatic-collaborator DJ Premier, among others, Nas wove evocative narratives of gang warfare, downtrodden neighborhoods, drug deals gone awry, and gangsta triumph, against a backdrop of samples from Sam Cooke, Etta James, the Isley Brothers, and even Sting.
It Was Written was not hard up for top-tier guests either, featuring major guest turns from Lauryn Hill and Joel “JoJo” Hailey of K-Ci & JoJo. It also introduced the world to The Firm, the brief Nas-led supergroup featuring rappers AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega. It even managed to cause some minor controversy in the hip-hop community for its collaboration with West Coast producer Dr. Dre, at a time when the East Coast/West Coast rap feud was reaching a fever pitch, briefly attracting the ire of one Tupac Shakur.
Not only was It Was Written received warmly by critics, but it also became a major commercial success, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 charts, reaching platinum sales status four times, and alongside albums like Raekwon‘s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, helped usher in the era of mafioso rap in the mainstream. It rendered chart hits out of singles like the Eurhythmics-mimicking “Street Dreams,” and the Grammy-nominated “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That),” and proved to be a major influence on artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco, and many more.
Click here to pre-order “It Was Written” 25 year anniversary limited edition deluxe bundle now.
Credit: Get On Down
