Legendary hip-hop artists Roxanne Shanté, DMC and KRS-One will all be joining Rakim at St. George Theatre in Staten Island, New York on Friday, January 28, for the 2022 staging of his annual birthday celebration.
Members of the public are invited to join in the festivity starting at 7pm (local time). Tickets, which range from $45 to $150 USD, are now available via ticketmaster.
On Friday, January 28th, NYEM (New York Entertainment Movement) will present the Mental Freedom Showcase live on Hype TV Jamaica between the hours of 6 and 9pm.
This is a virtual stage show that will be taped at the Triple 7 Chill Spot Bar & Grill in Manchester. Confirmed performers include: Utan Green, Sophia Squire, Guidance, Balance, Singer Heights and emerging artists Mexi Kaano and Dinho.
American pianist, record producer, songwriter and musical arranger Robert Glasper, last week announced that the third installment of his Black Radio project will be released on February 25th, 2022.
While making the announcement he shared the visuals for track number-two, Black Superhero, which is done with Killer Mike, BJ The Chicago Kid and Big K.R.I.T. Click here or on the image above to watch the video and remember to like, comment and share.
Far From Jamaica is the name of the newest single by Boston based roots artist Mighty Mystic. The reggae track, which also features Sizzla Kalonji and Tyler Loyal, tells the story of a Jamaican living in the diaspora, and how being Far From Jamaica is affecting him.
Click here to stream and / or download the song from your preferred music platform.
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.
At the beginning of December, 80s hip-hop group Arrested Development released their album: For the FKN Love. The project, which is on the Vagabond Productions label, has a total of 17 tracks and several features.
A few days ago Speech, the front man for the group, uploaded a brand new video for Never Had Your Back; track number 3 on the record. Click here or on the image above to check it out and remember to like, comment and share.
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 