After spending approximately thirteen weeks on The Foundation Radio Network New York Chart, Winston Irie‘s latest single, “Unto Thee O’Lord,” has entered the top 5. It is now sharing the same space with Hezron (#4), Third World (#3), Terry Linen (#2), and Tarrus Riley (#1).
“Unto Thee O’Lord,” which was produced by Bernard ‘IOBI’ Joseph for 4/20 Records, is a praise and worship reggae tune that’s fused with ska. It was released on the last day of January in 2025.
On Sunday, June 29th, the Big Ship captain, Freddie McGregor, will celebrate his 69th birthday, surrounded by friends, family, and fans. His birthday party will double as a live concert that will feature performances by some of the biggest names in reggae-dancehall.
It will be staged at the Sunset Cove Amphitheater—20405 Amphitheater Circle—in Boca Raton, Florida, starting at 2pm local time. Tickets are already being sold via caribtix.com.
Veteran dancehall artist Harry Toddler, who has been active in the music industry since the early 1990s, has achieved international success with two brands: he was a member of the famed dancehall ensemble Scare Dem Crew, and he’s also celebrated for his work as a solo act.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Harry Toddler uses his latest single to outline some rules that have been important to his longevity. On the track, the Kingston-born deejay mentions two things in particular that would immediately capture his attention, making him suspicious of the person involved: the first being anyone who betrays his friends, and the second, men who obsessively chase after women. Harry Toddler says these actions are codes (indicators) of an inauthentic person.
The song, aptly titled “Code,” was officially released on May 15, and it comes to us courtesy of one of the fastest-rising reggae-dancehall music labels, Pandemic Records & Entertainment LLC.
“Code” is the latest addition to Pandemic‘s “Passion Fruit Riddim,” a compilation that also features Bounty Killer, Capleton, Ras Kronik, Sizzla, Yahdeen Essence, and Turbulence. “Code” and the other songs on the “Passion Fruit Riddim” can be downloaded from all major streaming platforms.
One of the features at the biennial Calabash International Literary Festival is Midnight Ravers, a live concert headlined by artists who also use their music to narrate a tale. This year’s Midnight Ravers are Mortimer, Zac Jones, and Jaz Elise. They will perform on Friday, May 23rd, between 12am and 2am.
The Calabash International Literary Festival is a three-day event with lots of reading, poetry, music, and other forms of storytelling. It will run from May 23rd to May 25th at Treasure Beach in Jamaica. Click here for additional information.
Richie Stephens, the celebrated vocalist, producer, and songwriter, headlined two Mother’s Day concerts over the weekend, both of which were met with considerable enthusiasm from his fanbase.
The first event, Caribbean Rhythms Radio Network’s Mother’s Day Cruise and Dance, took place on Saturday, May 10th, aboard a vessel that departed from Port Canaveral, Florida. The event was completely sold out, with attendees showcasing their familiarity with Stephens‘ extensive repertoire by singing along throughout the performance.
Immediately following the cruise, Stephens returned to Jamaica to perform at Plantation Smokehouse in Richmond, St. Ann. Similar to the previous night, this concert was also sold out, and the venue was filled to capacity, creating an energetic atmosphere as the audience sang along with Stephens.
During both performances, Richie Stephens showcased a diverse selection of his work, ranging from early hits such as “Trying to Get to You” and “Weakness for Sweetness” to more recent tracks like “Reverse the Curse” and “Praise the Lord.”
Reflecting on the turnout and the reception he received, Richie Stephens commented, “The weekend for me was extremely successful, blessed and spiritual at the same time.”
The dancehall king Beenie Man will be headlining a concert at the UBS Arena—2400 Hempstead Turnpike—in Elmont, New York (approximately 33 minutes from Queens) on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 24th.
As this is a Beenie Man & Friends event, it will also feature performances by Christopher Martin, Lyrikal, and Louie Culture. Click here to buy tickets.
Based on all the attention he has been getting since the release of his now trending single “Fallen For You,” MJ27 reached out to Dinho Da Rasta Man to get an insight into how he is handling his new-found fame and what we can look forward to. See conversation below.
MJ27: Let me start by thanking you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions. I think we should start with the trending single, “Fallen For You.” How are you handling its success?
Dinho: Fallen For You had proved itself to be exactly what it is.. a timeless masterpiece that will live on for many years to come. Mr Golding hit the nail on the head with the instrumental and we knew we had an Undeniable hit on our hands.
MJ27: I noticed that you were recently in Kingston working on a new project with some reggae legends. Can you say who was with you in the studio and what you guys were working on?
Dinho: Sure, whilst in Kingston I had the pleasure of working with the great Sly Dunbar doing some crazy percussions, Dean Fraser on Saxophone, giving some melodious phrases, Lymie Murray on harmony, and many other great musicians who made valuable contributions to the upcoming album.
MJ27: You are being positioned as the next big act in reggae music. Are you feeling that pressure, and if so, how are you dealing with it?
Dinho: Well it’s better to stand out than to fit in as an artiste and that has always been a trait of Dinho, the ability to turn heads and grab attention with the power of music has always been a trait that I have. I’m not the world’s best singer, but I have a message I think everyone wants/needs to hear
MJ27: It has been reported that’ve done literally thousands of live performances so far; are you able to keep up with your hectic schedule while simultaneously promoting “Fallen For You,” or have you made some changes?
Dinho: Once you do something enough times, it becomes normal. So traveling, performing, creating new music in the studio and promoting new music is just a daily part of my reality. I am invested fully, always have been, always will be.
MJ27: Is it premature to ask when your growing fanbase can expect an EP or album?
Dinho: Tracks like ‘Fallen For You’, ‘When Pigs Fly’, and ‘Grow Mi So’ are some of the track that will be included in my upcoming album ‘Waiting’. World Universal and myself have put in crazy ground work with making sure the musicality and spirit of these works will create waves in the music industry. I am really looking forward to the response of my fans globally with this one.
“Fallen For You” is a lovers-rock reggae track that was produced by Steve Golding and Horace James, collectively known as J&G Tracks. It was released on March 7th, 2025, via World Universal Records.
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 