On Sunday, June 12, Digicel will be hosting veteran dancehall deejay Bounty Killer as he celebrates his 50th birthday. The artist will be joined by several of his friends for a party at Digicel headquarters – 14 Ocean Blvd. – in Kingston.
The Jamaica Rum Festival, now in its fourth year, will take place on Saturday, June 25th at The Aqueduct in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, from 11am to 11pm (local time). The event provides an atmosphere to explore rum tastings, delicious food options and exciting music and entertainment.
This year’s star-studded lineup includes Capleton, Romain Virgo, Sevana, Sanchez, Tessanne Chin, DBurnz, Runkus, Kalyra and Dvoyce alongside the DMG Band. Get tickets and additional information here.
Lutan Fyah, the Jamaican singer who is also a member of the Rastafari Bobo Shanti order, will be performing at Moe’s Alley on Friday, June 24th. He will be supported by Lujan, Militia of Love and DJ Moi.
This is a 21 and older event that requires valid identification to be shown upon entrance. Moe’s Alley is located at 1535 Commercial Way in Santa Cruz, California.
Excel MixMaster, former radio host on Boston’s 90.3 FM, has got everyone taking selfies with his latest track aptly titled #SelfieChallenge. The song, which features Rampage and Neil BeatBox, was released in March on the 12inch Digital Music label.
#SelfieChallenge is a party song, done on a dancehall rhythm, that basically encourages listeners to take and share photos and videos of themselves. Interestingly, people have been listening and doing just that. With over 2 million social media plays, Excel MixMaster would like you to take the #SelfieChallenge this Memorial Day weekend. See instructions below.
Take a picture or video of yourself and your friends and post it on your social media along with the song #SelfieChallenge and tag both @ExcelMixMaster and @TheReaLRampage
Chicago’s ultimate Caribbean party weekend kicks off on June 10th and wraps up on the 12th. Over a three day period the organizers will host five events that feature over twenty international selectors and performers.
Among the confirmed artists are Ding Dong, Denise Belfon, Serani, Noah Powa and veteran dancehall deejay Mega Banton, who was just added to the lineup. For additional information and tickets, visit the event’s official website.
Every Tuesday, The Meca – an entertainment complex located at 67 Constant Spring Road in Kingston – and the original Dancehall Queen Carlene, jointly present an event called Dancehall Tuesdays.
Most week they feature a guest artist who performs alongside Stone Love Sound, the resident selector. The confirmed performer for this coming Tuesday, May 24th, is legendary deejay Admiral Bailey.
Bailey enjoyed his greatest success between the mid-1980s and the early 90s, and has been described as the hottest dancehall star of the late eighties.
Dancehall Tuesdays generally start at approximately 9pm. Ladies are allowed in for free while men are asked to pay $1,000 JMD.
In 2013 after she released her very first full length studio album, Dancehall Retaliates, Karamanti was nominated as the best female solo artist by the Dancehall Industry Awards (held in the UK). The album also went up against Vybz Kartel and Mr. Vegas‘ records in the WINS Reggae Awards (powered by Reggae France) for Dancehall Album of the year.
Subsequently, Karamanti kept on creating and sharing new music which were always met with adulation. However, despite the consistent extolment she always stayed measured in her promotion; taking deliberate steps to avoid too much attention.
In a new freestyle song and video, she explains why she is cautious of becoming famous irrespective of her growing fan base. The tune is titled Why Rush and it was done spontaneously on the popular Riddim Rush beat produced by ZIP radio personality ZJ Rush. Karamanti‘s lyrics are as follows:
A one bag a talk anytime I and I and I and I links link up
Wholla dem know say mi bad so dem always a ask yo how yu no buss
Big woman ting me a tek my time I a write my rhymes and such
Music fi fun me a fulljoy di ride but mi affi ask why rush?
Is a question me ask
Again and again
Dem waa mi fi spark
And start set di trend
But what’s in mi heart
Dem don’t comprehend
I don’t waa get lost
And den loose myself
Mi ting well different
Mi naa pree money or fame dat a fi dem
Mi naa bow down fi di strength from no pigeon
Mi naa violate or split from mi fren
Jah Jah a mi start and mi middle and mi end
So anybody waa see me soar betta listen
A queen ting dis no hore or chicken
I shall walk true dat door but with him
But anyways listen
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 