Wild Fire, the new single from singers Dre Island & Khalia, is all about highlighting and celebrating one of Jamaica’s biggest assets, reggae music. Both the song and video were released a few days ago via K-Licious Records, and reggae fans are absolutely loving it.
Click here or on the image above to check out the visuals and remember to like, comment and share.
Paul Gayle – publicly known as Little Hero – continues to make good music approximately two decades after he officially entered the reggae-dancehall industry. He recently released a catchy single called Keep Shinning; featured on the Rooted & Grounded Riddim by Paul Patmore Production.
The St. Ann’s singer who had his first major hit in 1994 (God Alone, a collaboration done with Merciless and Action Fire) is, in all likelihood, sitting on another number-one record. On Keep ShinningLittle Hero stuck to the theme of the EP, which is inspirational and faith based.
In addition to Hero‘s tune, the Rooted & Grounded Riddim has another five songs, namely: Born Again (Lukie D), One Day (Jodian Pantry), Thank You Lord (Tony Curtis), the title track, Rooted & Grounded (Terry Linen and Dipmatik) and finally, the instrumental.
Producer Paul Patmore is now coming to terms with the reality that he may have two breakout songs from the same compilation trending simultaneously. The lead single, Terry Linen and Dipmatik‘s Rooted & Grounded, is the first to enter heavy rotation on reggae-dancehall platforms globally. It now has to share the spotlight with Hero‘s Keep Shinning.
King Jazzy, the man who wears many hats: recording artist, song writer, audio and visual producer; has emerged from the pandemic with Choppa Life. The dancehall track was released at the beginning of October via his own Electric Sticky music label; with distribution courtesy of Johnny Wonder 21.
On the record, Jazzy; the coalescence of Harlem, New York, Jamaica, West Indies and Detroit, reflects on the hard work he has put in over the years, which has resulted in his current success.
For those not familiar with his long musical history, King Jazzy got his first taste of being a working musician while touring with reggae legend Sugar Minott in 2007. In addition to collaborating with Paradime, Denaun Porter of D12, dancehall sensation Ding Dong and DJ Ted Smooth, he has also shared the stage with the likes of Buju Banton, Sizzla, Luciano, Capleton, Junior Reid and Juice World. Jazzy‘s busy lifestyle includes running recording studios in Michigan, Jamaica and New York; creating two cannabis dispensary brands in Michigan and acting as the director of operations for his production company, Electric Sticky.
The recently released album by veteran reggae artist KashieF Lindo, Love On, is now sitting at the number one spot on South Florida’s Foundation Radio Network Reggae Chart. This is the first week that the project has risen to the top position, having been at number three last week.
Love On is a fourteen-track reggae album comprising of both lovers-rock and socially conscious tunes. It was published at the beginning of October via the HeavyBeat Records imprint, headed up by legendary producer Willie Lindo. All the songs were written by both KashieF Lindo and Willie Lindo, with the exception of Can’t Run Away From Your Heart, which was also penned by John Holt, Robert George Bailey and Steve Layne; Case Of Emergency, which shares writing credits with John Holt; Prisoner Of Love, written exclusively by Russ Columbo, Clarence Gaskill and Leo Robin; and Love Stake, which was also written by Gregory Isaacs.
Although KashieF has been releasing music over the years, this album is particularly special because it is his first full length studio LP in almost a decade. And the fact that the record has now reached the top of the reggae chart is evidence that the team at HeavyBeat Records is indeed living up to their slogan: “Worl A Reggae Music Bout Yah!!!”
Veteran Jamaican reggae group, The Itals, will be performing at popular live music venue Moe’s Alley on Friday, December 3rd. The twenty-one and older event will also feature special guests: KavaJah and The Remedy.
Early bird tickets are currently going for $18 USD; while at the door it will be $22 USD. Moe’s Alley is located at 1535 Commercial Way in Santa Cruz, California. Click here to buy tickets.
While many in the music industry viewed the restrictions put in place because of the pandemic as a set back, veteran Jamaican recording artist Audley Rollen saw it as an opportunity.
When shows were cancelled or postponed and persons were being told not to gather in large numbers, Audley went to the studio to work on new music. In April of this year he emerged with what initially sounds like a lovers-rock reggae tune called Never Knew Love Till You.
The enchanting song – which is laced with horns – should really be classified as reggae-gospel, as Rollen is proclaiming that he never knew love until he committed his life to God. The inclusion of his wife, Dawn Marie, in the official music video may lead some to believe that the record is a temporal love song; but careful attention to the lyrics will prove otherwise.
Regardless if it is received as secular or gospel, the fact is that people are enjoying Never Knew Love Till You. Below are some feedback from random persons online after hearing the track:
Jossette B. Johnson
“Beautiful words and so true”
Gee Star
“Luv it pure niceness give thanks for great music a big up tune Boom! boom”
Dodo Diop
“good reggae thank you”
Although Anthony Cruz (real name Rowan Smith) was raised in the same Mandeville neighborhood as his cousin Aaron Silk and uncle the late Garnet Silk, he moved to Miami in 1993 where he started to make a name for himself under the direction of Miami based musician/producer Willie Lindo. Convinced the world was ready for him, Lindo released Cruz’s debut single, ‘Tell Me What’s Up’ (an original), ‘Just Call My Name’ & his debut album titled ‘Where There Is Love’. The album featured the title track, ‘When You Get Lonely’ and ‘Love Will Never Die’.
In 1999, Cruz decided to return to Jamaica to claim his piece of the pie in the land of his birth and the home of reggae music. The first song he recorded back home, ‘Maria Maria’ (a cover of the Santana/Product R&B big hit), became a hit, and from then he continued to make hits after hits including ‘You Remind Me’, You Got It Bad”, ‘Mama’s Blessing’, the infectious ‘Halfway Tree’, ‘People Bawlin’ on Massive B’s ‘Truths & Rights’ riddim, ‘Lost In Love’ over Energy’s ‘Queen Of The Minstrel’ riddim, and the wicked combination tune with Buju Banton entitled ‘Place Too Bloody’.
Continuing on the path to take his career to the ultimate level, Anthony Cruz signed a management, booking and recording contract with 5th Element Records in the summer of 2000. His sophomore album ‘Mama Blessing’ and title track was released in December 2005. After five successful years with label mates Richie Spice & Chuck Fender, he departed in September 2005 and launched his independent recording label, Shanshan Music with popular singles such as ‘Never Too Much’ featuring BEENIE MAN, ‘Burn Dem’ featuring CAPLETON, ‘I Won’t Wait’ by LUCIANO and ‘Anthony Cruz & Friends Formula Riddim’ compilation cd featuring Luciano, Capleton, Richie Spice, Teflon, Spanner Banner, Mitch, Mr Perfect, Mitch & Symfoni.
Although Anthony Cruz is often labeled a lovers rock crooner, albums such as ‘Mama Blessing’, ‘Fight With All You Might’, ‘Inna Di Dance’, ‘Cruz Control’ and the ‘Cruzing EP’ showed that he’s also an artist who is able to deliver noteworthy culture and reality songs.
Anyone who has heard one of his songs or albums will affirm that Anthony Cruz is a fine singer. And that’s what he demonstrates once again throughout his latest studio album entitled ‘Elect Of Jah: Light Of The World’. The title of the album indicates what this collection of tunes is mainly about; a spiritual set with a special vibe in order to uplift, educate, and inspire people. It implies that there’s not much room for songs that deal with affairs of the heart (only ‘Hear, Mind And Soul’ and ‘In My Life’ touch the lovers theme).
Several tracks here make for compelling listening, starting with the tracks that form the great opening part; the Bobby Digital produced ‘Where Would I Be’ (‘Joe Frazier’ riddim), the Linval Thompson produced ‘Know Him For Yourself’, ‘Jah It’s Only You’, the awesome ‘One Boss’ (‘Drum Song’ riddim) and ‘All Riches’ (‘First Step’ riddim). Among the other highlights are the acoustic ‘Black Man Story’, which was produced by Christopher Hooper, the DJ Kat produced ‘Let It Burn’, and ‘Cold Blooded’, for which the soulful singer teamed with producer Christopher Knight. And then there’s ‘Shanice’, a tribute to his late daughter.
ANTHONY CRUZ is cruising his way to becoming one of Jamaica’s greatest singers; nominated for Best Male Reggae Artist in the British Reggae Industry Awards (B.R.I.A) 2012 and his ‘CRUZ CONTROL’ and ‘INNA DI DANCE’ album nominated for REGGAEVILLE.com album of the year in Europe! He is also the recipient of the 2006 Reggaesoca Music Award for Best Reggae Combination ‘Too Bloody’ featuring Grammy Winner Buju Banton in Florida.
He is a firm believer in supporting community development and charities. He teamed up with broadcaster Markland ‘Action’ Edwards and Kingston Bookshop to offer book vouchers worth $20,000 to help struggling Jamaican parents defray back to school expenses in 2014. He also joined NFL Players Corey Mays of the (Kansas City Chiefs) & Derrick Williams of the (Detroit Lions), the New Love Foundation, P DIDDY former assistant Fonzworth Bentley and actress Faune Chambers to help promote literacy in BELIZE 2011. They raised funds for a library and computer lab to help keep fifty children in ST MARYS school. Even thou Anthony Cruz does not celebrate Christmas, he still believes in giving back and took six-year-old Nadia ‘Hope’ Graham from the Waterhouse community for a shopping spree at Ammar’s clothing store at Sovereign Village Jamaica December 2018.
Anthony Cruz is now focusing on expanding his Shan Shan imprint, touring, increasing his music catalog and fanbase! His latest album “Elect Of Jah: Light Of The World” is available at iTunes. His 5th studio album ‘INNA DI DANCE’ featuring Luciano, Macka Diamond and Dean Fraser is available at Amazon and ITUNES! The 12 Track Album is a nice mix of lovers rock, spiritual and dancehall songs like the title track on the Banjo ‘riddim’ from Stone Love which is getting a buzz in the US, UK, Belize, Jamaica, Malawi and on demand streaming sites like Spotify, Deezer, Rhapsody.
Additionally, Anthony Cruz is now also promoting a brand new single titled “Leave The Door Open”, done in collaboration with Tad’s Record.
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 