Yilmie “Iya Ingi” Williams holds the banner of Ethiopia high in all that he does with added power coming from his name, a play on the word Nya Bingi. Iya Ingi was born in Mona Common, Kingston Jamaica in 1979; He is the last of three brothers and two sisters. He knew from an early age what his future had in store for him, the artist describing himself as a, “Liberal Ethiopian fighting to defend Ethiopian sovereignty.” Iya’s father repatriated to Ethiopia in 1994 when Iya was 14 years old. He witnessed his father playing an active role in the Twelve Tribes of Israel, this combination of experiences setting the seeds for Iya’s future path in music.

Iya Ingi journey began experiencing event held by world renowned sound Jah Love, his passion for communicating strong messages through sound beginning during
this period and continuing throughout his time at high school. While working as parking supervisor at a jewelry store he began writing his own lyrics, the empty store he spent his evenings in providing him with the solitude required to focus on his flow. In 1999 he practiced with the Aluta Continua band where he honed his skills to the perfection it is today and consequently lead him to win the 2003 and 2004 University of the West Indies Chancellor Hall Pre spectrum song contest where he won the opportunity to be the opening act at the 2003 and 2004 Spectrum concert held at the University Students Union. His performance has grown with his first three show, The Marcus Garvey birthday Celebration in New Haven Kingston, The Songs of Salvation Show case in
Clarendon and the Aluta Continua Bob Marley Birthday Celebration at Back Yard in Kingston. Under his belt are numerous performances locally and overseas, to mention a few he made good impressions at Sizzla Kalonji’s Rise to the Occasion in 2006 and returned to numerous encore performance in 2007.

Iya Ingi take great inspiration from his Mother, Murlene Francis (Delce), Father Algernon Williams (Asher), Haile Selassie I, Incient Iata I and his children, Akil, Ikado, Ikila and Yilmie Jr. He is also inspired by Itral Nature, which sustains life and Itral livity. His influences are Bounty Hunter, Sizzla, Moses I, Jah Cure & Kulcha Knox, all of whom he sees himself working with in the future. His singles “Foundation” and “Show Love” are currently receiving lots of airplay on both local and international radio stations, the videos under the direction of CyberLeaf Entertainment are now released and Iya Ingi is presently spending most of his time composing and laying tracks for his debut album. Iya’s focus will remain the same, to teach the world about Ethiopia as he takes his role as an Ethiopian Musical Ambassador.

Glen Adams

Reggae organist and vocalist Glen Adams first came to prominence in the late 60’s as a solo singer and member of the Reggae Boys/Hippy Boys, although he had spent time earlier in the decade as part of the Pioneers. His noisy, but varied, organ style made him a favorite in the studio bands of Lee Perry and Bunny Lee, and Adams was first choice for Perry’s band on the UK tour that followed his 1969 hit, ‘Return Of Django’.

Perry was unlucky when ‘A Live Injection’, the most likely follow-up to ‘Django’, failed to chart, as Adams’ playing on the record was astonishingly exciting. As part of Perry’s Upsetters, Adams backed the Wailers, and when Bob Marley took Perry’s rhythm section, the Barrett Brothers, with him to Island Records, Adams remained loyally with Perry. However, by 1973-74 a new life was beckoning in the USA, and Adams began to spend more and more time in Brooklyn, issuing records on his own Capo label.

He finally moved to New York permanently in 1975, working on the Clocktower and Bullwackie labels, his material betraying the new influences of soul and funk. In the early 80’s he worked with rapper T Ski Valley, meeting with limited success, and appears to have retired from the business.

Beres Hammond OJ is a Jamaican reggae singer who is credited for pioneering a musical form known as lovers rock. In addition to his low key, but upbeat sound he has perfected an idiosyncratic vocal style tinged with soul influences, perfectly adaptable to his reggae instrumental framework.

Hammond was born on 28 August 1955 in Annotto Bay, saint Mary, Jamaica, the 9th of 10 children. His early musical influences were guided by his father who introduced him to soul and jazz artists like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Hammond later found ska and rocksteady music and cites influences like Alton Ellis, Peter Tosh, Curtis Mayfield, and the Uniques.

By 1972 he was ready to start his own music career. He spent the majority of his upstart competing in local talent competitions, which proved to pay off. In 1975 he was invited as Zap Pow’s lead singer, a group perhaps best known for their 1978 hit single “The System” which was issued through Aquarius Records. Hammond also pursued a solo project in parallel with his stint with Zap Pow and in 1976 he put out his 1st studio album “Soul Reggae”. This release came out through Water Lily and spawned the Jamaican hit “One Step Ahead”. Another hit single “I’m in Love” followed in 1978 and by 1979 he left Zap Pow to focus exclusively on his solo career. However he did diverge from his solo path to form a brief lived performance act known as Tuesday’s Children.

In 1985 Hammond founded a record label of his own called Harmony Records. Through this label he released the album “Make a Song”, which saw his sound embrace the budding dancehall style. This album featured the two hit singles “Groovy Little Thing” and “What One Dance Can Do”, both which peaked to the No.1 spot on the Jamaican Singles chart. These tracks were not only regionally lucrative, but also segued Hammond into international playing grounds.

This international success along with the fact that his house in Jamaica was burglarized prompted him to move to New York City. While in the States he recorded and released the album “Have A Nice Weekend”, which came out in 1988 through Charm records. A year later he released “Putting Up Resistance” through Tappa Records. It would be another three years until his follow up album “A Love Affair” saw release; however, this decade is often considered the highlight of his career. Hammond started off the decade with his biggest hit yet “Tempting to Touch” and proceeded them with two contending successors “Is This a Sign” and “Respect You Baby”. He poured out a string of album releases through the rest of the 90s: “Full Attention” (1993), “Sweetness (1993), “In Control” (1994), “Expression” (1995), “Love From a Distance” (1997), and “A Day in the Life” (1998).

Hammond’s impression on the reggae market refused to wane in the 2000s. His 14th studio album “Music Is Life”, included the three hit singles “They Gonna Talk”, “Rockaway”, and “Ain’t It Good To Know” and also featured the acclaimed pop star Wyclef Jean. His collaborative spree leaked over to his 2004 album, “Love Has No Boundaries”, which featured appearances by Buju Banton and Big Youth. Though Hammond continued to release solid album’s throughout the 2000s such as “Lifetime Guarantee”, “A Moment in Time” and “Just a Man” it was his release of “One Love, One Life”, which certified him as a legend of reggae lovers rock. This album shot to the very top of the Billboard Reggae Album charts and earned him a Grammy nomination in 2014.

Like a bolt of lightning from the sky, Rasta messenger Warrior King has burst upon the scene, utilizing his gift of song to spread Jah truth throughout the world. Warrior King was born on the 27th of July, 1979, in Kingston’s Jubilee Hospital, soon moving to Clarendon and then settling in the growing city of Portmore at age eleven. “From birth I’ve always loved music, but it was not until I attended high school at the age of thirteen that I thought about it as something I could do myself,” Warrior King explains. “At that time I followed Bounty Killer’s style, but then my friends said “You have the potential. You have the talent.’ From there I started increasing my own thing, and with encouragement from my peers and divine inspiration, the music started to flow.”

Like many successful Jamaican entertainers, Warrior King gained his earliest stage experience in talent shows. “I started out with school concerts at first,” he says. “At the time when I just came into music, I used to do some combinations with a youth named “Likkle Blacks” Marlon Stewart. We used to do Tastee’s Talent Shows, etc so we could really start getting exposure and gain experience. When he first started out, Warrior King chatted in a hardcore deejay style like his original hero and mentor, Bounty Killer. A switch to the more holistic “Singjay” sound came gradually. “It’s a natural thing that has grown inside of me, even without me realizing it,’ the singer reasons. “People started telling me they love my style of singing now. So, really and truly it’s just a natural change.” Even his name is an extension of this evolution. “Frisco Kid changed my name from ‘Junior King’ to ‘Warrior King’ because it has a more spiritual feel to it. Fighting against oppression, fighting against wrong. I’m Jah Warrior, yuh know, fighting a war of rootical love.

Warrior King’s debut single, “Virtuous Woman,” was an international smash hit, its righteous lyrics prompting the Jamaica Observer to declare the singer “one of the artistes who has made a difference.” Since his auspicious beginning, Warrior King’s compositions have consistently charted not only in his native Jamaica, but throughout the entire Caribbean, New York, California, London, Tokyo, and beyond. “A Friend Indeed” received heavy rotation in Jamaica, while “Jah Is Always There” was a summer smash on Atlanta’s More Fire chart. The inclusion of “Never Go Where Pagans Go” on VP Records’ compilation set “Reggae Gold” further raised the artist’s pubic persona. Tracks like “Virtuous Woman,” “Can’t Get Me Down” and other compositions have built the foundation of Warrior King’s reputation. Warrior King has now released four internationally acclaimed albums, entitled “Virtuous Woman, Hold the Faith, Love is in the Air, Tell Me How Me Sound”.

Now the conscious singer has released his newest full-length album entitled “The ROOTZ WARRIOR.” Each song featured on the CD has a different style and the message emphasizes Purity, Truth, Strength, and Love. “Ain’t Giving Up” is the first international single from the new Rootz Warrior album, and the track already smashing barriers on radio publicity machines around the globe.

Warrior King believes that education is the key to better lives and hopes that his music will serve to convey the teachings of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I. “As a Rastafarian, I understand we must teach religious Tolerance , Peace between all, and I just don’t sing music, I sing music with a purpose, a mission, and Love. To the four corners of the Earth,” says Warrior King, “I carry my music, the message of the King, and the message of Love to all people of all races…”

The new Warrior King album “The Rootz Warrior” is now available…

Contacts: Warrior King Productions and Management – warriorkingontour@gmail.com MMCo Tel +33 6 42 50 8793

Kappo

Kappo is a singer, song writer and entertainer born March 22^nd 1974 in the parish of Clarendon on the beautiful island of Jamaica. He grew up in the ever cool hills of Mocho in the small community of Stewarton.

Music has always been his passion! His mother, Eudalee Smith, said from the tender age of 3 years old, Kappo was always singing and dancing. Even as a toddler before he could speak properly he would often be playing a beat and dancing to whatever he could find to turn into an instrument and make music. Like most singers, Kappo started singing at church and in schools. When he was 9 years old his father, Altyman Hanson, gave him an old turntable that he later converted into a little sound system. On most weekends Kappo would entertain his friends and family playing records at his father’s grocery shop.

As he got older, Kappo decided to take his music to a more professional level. He ventured out to the north coast of Jamaica where he started singing in various tourist hotels around Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril. Word of his talent spread quickly, and he was soon invited to join a Florida based band called Psyche. One of his most memorable moments with the group was in 2009 when they performed as the opening act for Fort Lauderdale’s annual Jerk Festival. Another note worthy moment was the feature they got on Florida’s ABC TV. Psyche received a lot of exposure and was promoted as one of the best emerging reggae bands from Jamaica.

In 2010, Kappo was given the opportunity to sign with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He took advantage of it and immediately became the lead singer of the Temperature Band on the cruise. This band consistently got everyone moving and grooving to the smooth sounds of R&B, POP and Reggae while touring Europe, North America and the Caribbean.

Kappo currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. He travels frequently to Jamaica to perform and record his original music. When asked what is your most memorable performance to date? Kappo recalls performing at the Golden Eye Hotel in St Mary, for Harry Styles and the One Direction Band. The popular English based band came to Jamaica for a private party to celebrate young Harry’s 21st birthday in February of 2014.

Kappo recently released two original songs: “Party Time” and “Sensimillia.” Additionally he has two reggae covers that he is promoting: Sam Smith’s “I’m not the only one” and Phil Collins’ “One more night.” The singer is presently looking forward to releasing his debut album. Each original song showcases the versatility of the artist and his diversity as he covers Ska, lover’s rock, Dub, Roots and Dancehall. Kappo’s musical influences and mentors include Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Beres Hammond, Morgan Heritage, Jimmy Cliff and Shaggy.

As an artist Kappo is still looking forward to greater achievements. He strives to continue making music and contribute to the genre he loves most, authentic roots reggae.

Clayton Brown, more popularly known as Peppery, is arguably, currently one of the most underrated artists in the Reggae/Dancehall industry.

Though he hails from the Wire Fence district in Trelawny, Jamaica, he is now, and has been based in Manchester in the United Kingdom for many years. Clayton grew up with his parents, 3 brothers and 1 sister. Being the youngest in the family, he was never discouraged when he began to display an interest in the entertainment industry. This was especially because his mother was always singing around the house and his father had a passion for music. According to Clayton, almost everyone around him, at the time, was either a singer or a chanter, so his transition into music felt natural. When he first began however, he initially started out copying other artists before learning to create his own lyrics.

The interesting story behind the name Peppery began way back when he was attending the Holmwood Technical High School in Manchester, Jamaica. His nickname back then was Chilli. He later added Bongo to it because of his love for the Rastafarian way of life. Up until around 2010, all the songs that he had released bare the moniker Bongo Chilli. He was only using Peppery as a slogan, but to his surprise, people started calling him Peppery, thinking that was his actual artist name. He even remembers recording a track for a producer and labeling the files as Bongo Chilli but when the producer released the record, it had Peppery as the artist. It seemed as if the name Peppery was inevitably his, so he adopted it and never looked back.

Once he became a man and made the conscious decision to pursue a career as a recording artist, Peppery began putting in a lot of work to advance his music career. Over the years he has released several singles and has been featured on many compilations. The following is his discography starting from 2011:

• 2011: Mistaken Identiti (Album), Can’t Touch My Style (Digitup Riddim Compilation)
• 2012: Good Feeling (Normalize Riddim Compilation), Party Clan (Normalize Riddim Compilation) Unconditional Love (Mama Proud Riddim Compilation)
• 2013: More Cream (Big Vibez Riddim Compilation), Foundation Style (Single), Know Themself (Shake a Leg Compilation), Humanity Featuring Tippa Irie (Legalize It Riddim Compilation), Come to town (Soul island vol. 2 Compilation), Patience Featuring Golden Touch (Resolution Riddim Compilation)
• 2014: Turn It Up (Light Weight Riddim Compilation), Love Me Back (Single), Weed Dilemma (Johnny Blaze Riddim Compilation) Bruckout & Wine (Single), Pull Yuh Weight Featuring Karamanti (Sprung Riddim Compilation)
• 2015: Good So (EP), Working Class (Look Good Riddim Compilation), Yuh Nuh Bad (One Step Forward Compilation), Represent (One Step Forward Compilation), One By One (Special Request Compilation), Skank If Yuh Skanking (Style Riddim Compilation)
• 2016: Sipple Out Deh (Natty Love Riddim Compilation), Tall Dark and Handsome (Single)

Additionally, he has performed at many events/venues right across Europe. The following are some of his most memorable performances:

• Boomtown Fair (UK)
• Real Beat and Rock for Churchill Festivals (Czech Republic)
• Uprising Festival (Slovakia)
• Raggapak Festival (Denmark)
• Popkomm Festival (Germany)
• Seasplash Festival (Croatia)
• High Foundation and Canapa Festivals (Italy)
• Mini Tour (Russia)

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