Melkam Gena Ethiopian Christmas Benefit Concert

Ethiopian Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January; as such, some members of the Rastafarian faith will present an Ethiopian Christmas Benefit Concert on Tuesday, January 7th. Hosted by Denise Isis Miller, it will take place at Skyline Levels in Kingston, Jamaica, and will feature a lineup of roots artists and musicians. 

Veteran reggae artists Mikey General and Sizzla Kalonji will headline. There will also be performances by Earl Chinna Smith, Isha Bel, Miriam Simone, T’Jean Bennett, Chakula, Kimmy Gold, Boom Dawn, Ras Takura, Keteis Oyonde, and others. 

The show will start at 5 pm, and the entrance fee at the gate is J$3,000. However, early bird tickets are still available online for J$2,500.

King Remo Music Shares New Single By Ranking Joe “Robot”

King Remo Music is proud to announce its collaboration with Jamaican reggae legend Ranking Joe on the new single “Robot,” which premiered on Friday, January 3rd, 2025, across all major music platforms. Produced by Kutral Dub from Chile, this infectious track is sure to inspire listeners to engage in the playful robot dance before its conclusion. However, beneath the lively and catchy chorus lies a poignant message: Ranking Joe delivers a compelling warning regarding the potential ramifications of increasing automation in both the workplace and daily life.

Ranking Joe, an iconic figure in the early Jamaican dancehall scene, began his illustrious career at just 15 years old with his debut single “Gun Court,” recorded at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with esteemed producers such as Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs, Henry “Jungo” Laws, Massive B, and Mungo’s Hi-Fi among others.

“Robot” serves as a precursor to the highly anticipated album “Reggae SoulJahs Worldwide Vol. 5,” set for release on January 10, 2025 by King Remo Music. This compilation will also showcase contributions from notable artists including Gappy Ranks, Sgt. Remo himself, Javier Alerta, Soulfiya & Gucci Boss, Tikaf, Nego Hights, Oskart, and Shak Manaly.

As one of the leading independent reggae labels in the United States based out of San Antonio, Texas, King Remo Music was founded by Sergio Ortiz—better known as reggae artist Sgt. Remo—who continues to champion authentic reggae music while fostering collaborations that resonate globally.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD “ROBOT”

Professor Lupe Fiasco

Hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco will work as a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Institute for the 2025 Fall season. He will teach rap as a part of the school’s new 4-year hip-hop degree program, which is being headed by professor and musical artist Wendel Patrick.

Unshakeable!

The Northeastern Conference Youth Ministries presents the 2025 NEC Youth & Young Adult Leadership Convention from January 17 through the 19th at the Marriott Hotel (243 Tresser Blvd.) in Stamford, Connecticut.

The conference will offer leadership training, networking opportunities, and an awesome worship experience. On Saturday, the 18th, the meeting will make way for the Unshakeable Concert starring Melvin Crispell III, Melaine Rochford, Linny Smith, and Jamia Jean-Pierre. Click here for additional information.

Christopher Martin For MP Floyd Green’s Party ‘We Still A Win’

A lot of people may not know that Jamaica’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, Floyd Green, who is also an attorney-at-law and member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South Western, is a skilled selector. 

Every year he combines his professional life as a politician with his love for music by hosting his birthday party and donating the proceeds to charity. 

This year, his annual social gathering dubbed ‘We Still a Win’ will take place on Friday, January 10th, at the Barbary Hall Community Center. Reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter Christopher Martin will be performing live.

Sheldon Gava Shares New Single “Read” 

After collaborating with Roc Legion Productions on a previously released single, Sheldon Gava has once again joined forces with the Thailand-based creative. The new record, which went live on streaming platforms on January 1, 2025, is called Read

Surprisingly, Sheldon, who is known to be a private person, uses this new track to publicly address a very personal issue. “Read is me poetically crying out to my son to judge me based upon the love I’ve always shown, not by the lies and assumptions programmed in him by ones [his mother and stepfather], with whom I have not had a civilized conversation in over 20 years,” says Gava.

Read is a combination of hip-hop—the genre in which Roc Legion specializes—and dub poetry—one of Sheldon Gava‘s preferred modes of expression. It’s fresh, bright, and upbeat, and although the story being told may be interpreted as unfortunate, the record still gives off a positive, feel-good vibe. According to Gava“Read basically says that actions speak louder than words in any type of relationship. It’s not what you say; it’s what you do.”

Read
 can be streamed and downloaded on Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal, etc.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD “READ”

Sister Nancy, Johnny Osbourne & Others For ‘Tribute To The Legends’ In San Diego

The 44th annual Tribute To The Legends Festival, formerly known as Bob Marley Day, will take place on Friday, February 21, and Saturday, February 22, 2025.

Friday night will be all about sound systems, highlighting the role they play within the reggae-dancehall industry. Dezarie, Ninjah P, Michael Palmer, and Ranking Joe are all confirmed for Friday. On Saturday, the main stage will feature reggae stars Sister Nancy, Johnny Osbourne, Warrior King, Etana, Triston Palmer, Little John, and others. 

The event will be staged at the WorldBeat Cultural Center, Balboa Park (2100 Park Blvd.) in San Diego, California.