In the Spring of 2022 reggae-dancehall artist Ragga Lox will be releasing a new studio album – not yet titled. As such, he has kicked off the year by sharing the lead single from the project: an upbeat dancehall tune titled Spliff & Beer.

The track, which is all about enjoying and valuing life, was officially released on January 18 and is now available for download on all digital streaming platforms. 

Recorded at the Field of Dreams Studio in Mount Vernon, Spliff & Beer was produced by Nemessz at SoSeriuz Production; mixed by Steadley Meddz Reid and mastered by Chris Scott at Castek Systems Solution in Queens, New York. Executive producer is Rohan “Ragga Lox” Robinson.

According to Lox: “This song was inspired by the times we are living in. After loosing some close family members and friends, I wanted to give a sense of appreciation for life. Knowing we don’t have much control over what’s going on, however life continues and we should make the best of it the best way we know how.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD “SPLIFF & BEER”

The official video for Nobody Don’t Know When – a collaboration done by Munga Honorable and Fantan Mojah – is now available on YouTube. It was uploaded by Pandemic Records Entertainment, the imprint that is behind the production.

Nobody Don’t Know When is on the Logic Riddim, which was released at the end of October. The compilation also has music by Sizzla Kalonji, Little Hero, Mr. Easy and several others. Click here or on the image above to watch the video and remember to like, comment and share.

Last year, in September, Mr. Doo Music released a ten-track reggae compilation called Doo Run Riddim. It features music from both veterans and emerging reggae-dancehall artists. Most notable among them are Shaggy, Rayvon, Bounty Killer, Brian and Tony Gold.

The team have have just shared the official video for Things You Do – track number-ten, which is performed by Bounty Killer, Brian and Tony Gold. Click here or on the image above to check it out and remember to like, comment and share.

The subject of this article is something that everyone working in Jamaica’s dancehall music industry – whether in country or overseas – should seriously consider. In 2021, the small island of Jamaica, with a population of approximately 2.961 million people, reported 1,463 murders. A high percentage of that was gang related.

The reason the question posed in the title must be contemplated is because most of these new dancehall artists seem to be: 1) gang affiliated, 2) always singing / promoting violence and 3) constantly brandishing guns in their videos.

Now as the debate about the high murder rate rages on, everyone, including those in the music industry, appear to be putting the blame squarely at the feet of the government; refusing to make the connection between their colleagues’ lyrical content and what is going on in the streets.

However, the truth is that youths in the streets are a 100% more likely to pay attention to, and imitate persons in the entertainment industry than they are politicians, pastors or police. That is just a fact that cannot be intelligently disputed by any well thinking person. That said, we all – everyone of us working in music – must be honest about where our country is and the role we can and will play to either get it out of this mess, or push it in deeper.

All hands are needed on deck and no role is too small. This means that if all you do is make mixtapes; refusing to include songs that promote violence is what you can and should do. The same goes for radio djs, sound system selectors and everyone in between. As for producers, you are probably in the most powerful position. All you have to do is refuse to voice any gun lyrics on your beats or feature the same on your record label. As for the gun-promoting artists that are financing their own projects, it will be up to the engineers (recording, mixing and mastering) to firmly refuse to work on anything that glorifies crime and violence.

The chemistry between the production team at Chimney Records and dancehall artist Jahmiel is palpable on the just released single, Third Eye. The hardcore dancehall song and video is already trending on YouTube with his fans lauding him for its presentation and message.

“Buckle dung win aready – too late man a king aready.” The preceding is a line taken from Third Eye. Click here or on the image above to watch the video and remember to like, comment and share.