New Video Release: Busy Signal & Tiwa Savage – Key to the City (@busysignal_turf @TiwaSavage @MAVINRECORDS)

key-to-the-cityInternational recording artist, Busy Signal and Nigeria’s Afro-beat star, Tiwa Savage, just made public the official video for their collaboration, “key to the city – remix.” The video was shot in Jamaica and was directed by Moe Musa.

It features top Nigerian comedian Ayo Makun and popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele. Enjoy the “key to the city – remix” below.

Billboard Producer Ricky Blaze Inks Deal with Island Records UK (@RICKYBLAZE @islandrecordsuk)

fb9af649-65be-41c9-9717-72c7679ff9f7Having worked with some of the biggest names in every genre of music such as Dancehall, Reggae, R&B and Hip-Hop, renowned multi-talented singer, songwriter and billboard charting producer Ricky Blaze has achieved many pinnacle of success in his career.

His latest achievement is a worldwide deal with Island Records / Universal Republic as a producer, DJ and artist. Founded by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, though based in the United Kingdom since 1962, Island Records is a major record label that operates as a division of Universal Music Group.

Ricky’s first project with Island Records/Universal Republic features the remix of sultry soulful singer Alexus Rose “Apart” featuring Grammy award-winner reggae and dancehall star, Beenie Man. Alexus Rose who was discovered by Ricky Blaze, is achieving success with her latest single which has been blazing and charting the international airwaves. To support the sizzling single, a video is slated to be released in the fall.

Ricky Blaze “Apart” remix featuring Alexus Rose and Beenie Man is available iTunes and all other digital music stores.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA? – NEJ, VOXHALL, AARHUS (SEPT. 23/24)

festival-posterDer har altid været noget ”Could this be love”- Bob Marley stemning over Aarhus og ja, it IS love for byens kærlighed til reggaen har holdt siden ’70erne og vel nærmest aldrig manifesteret sig stærkere i byens boblende reggae-vækstlag end den gør lige nu, der har endda været skrevet at Aarhus måske er Danmarks Reggae By Nr. 1. – Måske? Der er ikke noget ”måske” når AARHUS REGGAE FESTIVAL 2016 ”vækker, vugger og vælter” spillestedet VoxHall fredag og lørdag den 23.-24.september.

Det er 2. år at Festivalen bliver afholdt og efter sidste års succes er det rygtedes både blandt danske og udenlandske musikere og bands og ikke mindst reggaefans – nye som gamle – og indenfor alle genre bla. Dancehall, Roots Reggae, Dub – at AARHUS REGGAE FESTIVAL 2016 er stedet hvor man skal spille, være, danse OG elske i den kommende weekend.

Måske? Never say maybe – Say YES!
Written by: Synnøve Søe

Sizzla for Irie Jam this Sunday

Sizzla
Hard to believe that it’s been 8 years since Sizzla last performed in New York so it’s no surprise that fans are planning to turn out in huge numbers to see the reggae/dancehall icon in action at the Irie Jam Radio anniversary celebration on Labor Day (September 4th) at the Roy Wilkins Park in Queens.

Sizzla, whose real name is Miguel Collins, had his visa reinstated after years of not being able to travel and perform in the U.S. A. The sing-jay’s first show was in Los Angeles last month.

Sly & Robbie & The Taxi Gang – Touring North America & Hawaii September, October 2016

Sly and RobbieSly Dunbar (drums) and Robbie Shakespeare (bass), the arrangers, producers, songwriters, session musicians and developers of raw talent, are widely acknowledged as ‘the world’s greatest rhythm section’. ‘The Riddim Twins’ have been together for over 40 years….between them they are estimated to have played on or produced over 200,000 recordings. Their list of collaborators is a veritable who’s who – there’s every prominent Jamaican artist from Beenie Man to Sean Paul to Peter Tosh, Don Carlos, Michael Rose, Junior Reid, Shaggy, Cherine Anderson, Bitty Mclean, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Ini Kamoze; and they have played with and produced artists such as Ben Harper, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Paul McCartney, Carlos Santana, Sinéad O’Connor, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, UB40’s Ali Campbell, Joe Cocker, No Doubt, the Fugees, Michael Franti and countless others.

Sly and Robbie, affectionately known as the Riddim Twins, are perhaps the premiere architects of the modern sound of Jamaican music. Building on the cornerstones of Studio 1 and other early pioneers of the Jamaican recording industry, Sly and Robbie became the driving force behind the fabled Channel 1 sound that dominated reggae throughout the late 70’s and early 80’s. Subsequent work, most notably with Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru, set the pace for the changing sound of reggae in the post-Bob Marley era. They continue to record and build bold new arrangements working consistently in the present moving into the future.

Sly and Robbie also have an extensive tour history on the world stage. Their group the Taxi Gang includes a horn section and features an ultimate lineup of top Jamaican recording musicians. Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang have recently been top performers on the Tribute to the Legends, the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Reggae in the Desert and Reggae on the River. They tour North America, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and China. When Sly and Robbie and the Taxi Gang perform their music is far outside of the box – jazz Reggae – very courageous and experimental. Theirs is roots reggae music at its heights.
For bookings contact:  Peter Wardle | Kings Music International – Office: (510) 653-4069

Karamanti & Hiya Flames to Headline Vinyl Nights in Hamburg, Germany this weekend (@HiyaFlames @Karamanti)

Vinyl Nights Hamburg GEOn Friday, September 2nd, Karamanti will join Hiya Flames at the popular Vinyl Nights – stage show and dance – at Bruckenstern in Hamburg, Germany. The event is presented by Lion People Sound which is led by Uganda’s #1 reggae selector, Qulah (who now resides in Germany).
As the name implies, Vinyl Nights, is a celebration of the flat polyvinyl chloride discs that once dominated the reggae & dancehall industry. As a veteran DJ in the genre, Qulah has decades of hits on vinyl, as such, periodically he host an event dedicated to just that.
As previously stated, the event will be held at Bruckenstern Lounge, located at Stresemannsrabe 133 in Hamburg. Doors will open at 9pm and there is a 10€ entry fee.

Ghanaian Reggae Dancehall artiste Judanite releases “missing you” (@judanite)

Story by Adokwei Addo

image_4818The strains on a long-distance relationship are many and intense; couples who find themselves in this situation often quote “absence makes the heart grow fonder”; as a reassurance that their love will grow stronger over the difficulties of distance and time. But unless both partners show exceptional will and commitment to come together, such a relationship will soon fall to an equally common saying: “Out of sight, out of mind”. This sharp rhetoric in long distance relationships has been expressed in a song by Judanite titled “missing you”. The song is one that fuses a catchy dancehall rhythm with a heavy hook of African chants.

“From Westmoreland straight to London, Canada she just a fly back a China”. In another breath, the song depicts the life of a traveller and lover who has been everywhere but home. The mention of Westmoreland in the song suggests a call on Africans in the Diaspora, especially those in Jamaica to honor the long held promise of repatriation. Having been influenced by the island music, the Ghanaian youth doing Reggae Dancehall music have continuosly made the conscious effort to call on the island family back home, to the motherland.

Known in private life as Segbefia Etse Daniel, Judanite was born on May 22nd, 1986. He hails from Anyako in the Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa. A drummer since the tender age of 10, Judanite has over years mastered his art and has been the ring Music and Dance leader In every institution, he found himself. Professionally Judanite started recording in 2001.

The vocal strength of Judanite cannot be over emphasized. His energy is complementing, never ceasing and ever greater, Judanite is seeking collaborations with the Island brethren.