Kanye West, PJ Morton, Jonathan McReynolds, Mali Music & Fisk Jubilee Singers All Won In Gospel Categories At This Year’s Grammys

Highlighted below are the gospel winners at this year’s Grammy Awards

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Run To The Water, Cody Carnes
All Of My Best Friends, Hillsong Young & Free
Holy Water, We The Kingdom
Citizen Of Heaven, Tauren Wells
Jesus Is King, Kanye West

Best Gospel Performance/Song
“Wonderful Is Your Name,” Melvin Crispell III
“Release (Live),” David Frazier (Ricky Dillard Featuring Tiff Joy)
“Come Together,” Rodney “Darkchild” Lashawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Lecrae Moore & Jazz Nixon (Jerkins Presents: The Good News)
“Won’t Let Go,” Travis Greene
“Movin’ On,” Darryl L. Howell, Jonathan Caleb McReynolds, Kortney Jamaal Pollard & Terrell Demetrius Wilson (Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music)

Best Gospel Album
2econd Wind: Ready, Anthony Brown & group therAPy
My Tribute, Myron Butler
Choirmaster, Ricky Dillard
Gospel According To PJ, PJ Morton
Kierra, Kierra Sheard

Best Roots Gospel Album
Beautiful Day, Mark Bishop
20/20, The Crabb Family
What Christmas Really Means, The Erwins
Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album), Fisk Jubilee Singers
Something Beautiful, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Toots & The Maytals’ “Got To Be Tough” Takes The Grammy For Best Reggae Album

Learning that Toots Hibbert won the 2021 Grammy for Best Reggae Album is truly bitter sweet. I am sure all reggae lovers around the world, like myself, would have wanted him to be here to experience this moment. Sadly, he passed away last year.

Other reggae acts that were nominated are: Buju Banton, Skip Marley, Maxi Priest and The Wailers.

Anita Baker Fighting For Her Music Masters (@IAMANITABAKER)

Legendary soul music singer, Anita Baker, is currently fighting to have all rights to her master recordings turned over to her. By law music authors and composers are entitled to have their copyrights reverted to them after thirty-five (35) years.

As such, she is asking all her fans and supporters to stop buying her music, temporarily, until she is able to take control of the masters. This would ensure that monies generated from sales, streams, downloads etc. would go to her as oppose to the music company she is going up against.

New Song & Video From Chronixx “Safe N Sound” (@ChronixxMusic)

“Safe N Sound” is the latest release from international recording artist Chronixx. Both the audio and video were shared on Friday, March 12th courtesy of Soul Circle Music.

Click here to stream and download the mp3 from your preferred music platform; and here or on the image above to watch the visuals. Remember to like, comment and share.

Million Stylez Voices His Frustration With The Current State Of Dancehall (@MillionStylez_ @Partillo_prod)

Over the last few years both the lyrical content and images within Jamaica’s dancehall music industry has deteriorated to a truly awful state. More or less naked women can be seen in most of the trending music videos performing despicable acts, while the men overtly brag about killing each other.

The stench of what is going on in Jamaica’s dancehall has gotten so bad that even dancehall artists from other countries are talking about it. Hence the new release from Swedish producer Partillo and recording artist Million Stylez.

Both men are sharing a much needed song titled “Inna Di Dancehall.” On the record, Stylez says: “too much badness a gwan inna di dancehall – nuff slackness a gwan inna di dancehall.” He makes it clear from very early in the song that he intends to burn-out some of the things that he is seeing. And he did! He goes on to say: “some likkle gal a dance like a big go-go – yu serious, that is a big no no.”

For his part, Partillo, who is known and respected for the works he has done with artists such as Sean Paul, Yellowman and Chronixx, delivered a banging dancehall rhythm that is sure to resonate with listeners.

This song is already being labelled as controversial because some who have heard it believes that these issues should be tackled by a Jamaican artist as oppose to a foreigner. That being said, the reality is that whatever is happening on the Jamaican music scene usually spills into other communities around the world. 

This is what Million Stylez has to say about “Inna Di Dancehall” and all the debate surrounding the song: “There is too much slackness and negativity in contemporary music in general, from hip-hop, dancehall to pop. Its all about acting stupid and doing extreme stuff like drinking til you drop, do drugs, have sex with whoever and whenever. That is what the youths are listening to today. I wanted to make a conscious song on a real dancehall riddim that you also can dance to, with an uplifting message without negativity, violence or degrading words about women.”

“Inna Di Dancehall,” which comes to us courtesy of Scandinavian reggae-dancehall label Rudeboy Records, was officially released on Friday, March 12th.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO “INNA DI DANCEHALL”

Reggae Vibes Music Shares New Compilation Featuring Turbulence, Singer J & Others (@ReggaeVibesMus1)

Jamaican-American record label Reggae Vibes Music continues to raise the bar! The team’s latest release is a brand new reggae rhythm-driven compilation, titled Reggae Love & Unity Riddim. The five-track selection features veteran vocalist Turbulence; trending performers Singer J and Rufftop Rock I; and emerging artists Dreama and Shemeika.

Though the project was initially conceptualized several years ago, it was put on hold to allow the label to release other albums in its stead. That being said, both Dreama and Rufftop Rock I recorded their vocals in 2015, while all the others were done this year (2021). In keeping with the name of the compilation, all the songs are centered around one of two themes: Love and Unity. 

Dreama‘s song, “I could fall in love,” is already getting a lot of attention as it’s a remake of pop star Selena’s 90’s hit. For his part, Turbulence delivered a very inspirational track, while Rufftop Rock I calls for peace and unity. As for Shemeika and Singer J, they both did heartfelt love songs. Kenroy “Shortman” Mullings, who is the guitarist for Buju Banton and Beenie Man played the very distinctive signature rock guitar heard on the beat.

Reggae Love & Unity Riddim was officially released on Friday, February 12th.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD “REGGAE LOVE & UNITY RIDDIM”

Dancehall Artist Mad Cobra To Host ‘Aries Linkup’ In Atl.

On Saturday, April 10th, Good Times and Unitec Entertainment will join forces to present ‘Aries Linkup.’ They are making it clear that this is a party and not a stage-show, because it is being hosted by veteran dancehall artist Mad Cobra.

‘Aries Linkup’ will be held at Bliss Lounge – 5471 Memorial Drive – in Stone Mountain, GA. Music will be provided by Stone Love Sound, Haadrokk Intl., Negus British, Slaughta Tone and DJ Pampi. Click here for tickets.