Singer, songwriter, producer, and deejay Rory Pike, who is publicly known as Mr. Pike, is advocating for the return of 90s and early 2000s dancehall. The Jamaica-born Atlanta-based recording artist said as much in his single “Old School Vibes,” shared on Digital One Music’s “Trichotomy the Album.”
On the Baijing Riddim, which is one of three instrumentals on the forenamed LP, Mr. Pike questions the creativity, or lack thereof, of the reggae-dancehall songs being published today. He made a clarion call to the new school performers, suggesting they take pride in their craft by raising their standards. Pike also touched on the dark, dirty, derogatory nature of the tunes that are now flooding the zone, and he gave a concise history lesson on the culture surrounding Jamaican music.
Mr. Pike‘s “Old School Vibes” was well written and delivered. Most importantly, it’s a timely track that should be heard by everyone who sincerely loves and appreciates authentic reggae and dancehall music.
Tag Archives: Dancehall News
Watzh You Frenz Records Drops New Compilation “Land Scape Riddim”
Recording artist and producer Rajah Dalla (aka Amnon) has just released a new compilation called Land Scape Riddim. The nine-track project, which went live on streaming platforms on July 30, 2024, is being described as new-age, hardcore, and grimy dancehall by selectors who have already received and reviewed its content.
The artists featured on this EP are very diverse in everything from age and style to message. For example, Rajah Dalla‘s six-year-old daughter Adanya is on the record with a cute and catchy song called ABC that’s done with her Dad. There are also songs performed by a handful of rising dancehall artists: Wull Ferm, Dhawlkiis, Minimaxx, and 1Nag.
The fun, party, hustling, and, in some cases, angry words used by the aforementioned dancehall acts stand in contrast to the inspirational, motivational, and faith-based content delivered by Ras Bentley, M.A.P, and Karamanti, who are also on the rhythm-driven album.
This is the fourth EP Rajah Dalla has shared since he co-founded the imprint Watzh You Frenz Records with his good friend and music colleague Ras Bentley. Land Scape Riddim can be streamed and downloaded on Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, iTunes, etc.
Celebrate Jamaica’s Independence In The Cayman Islands With Richie Stephens, Josey Wales & Blakka Ellis
This Friday, August 2nd, Caymanians are encouraged to head to The Lions Center in George Town, Grand Cayman for a reggae-dancehall concert with Jamaican artists Richie Stephens and Josey Wales, as well as comedian Blakka Ellis.
This free event will also double as a Health Fair that will provide free diabetes, blood pressure, and PSA checks to attendees.
Christopher Martin To Bring Some Reggae Vibes To Jam Slam
St. Catherine’s reggae/dancehall singer and songwriter, Christopher Martin, has been invited to perform live at the upcoming Jam Slam taking place on Saturday, August 31st, in Kingston, Jamaica.
The multipurpose Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology, Jamaica (Utech) will become the center for an action-packed day of pro wrestling. It will be hosted by the “World’s Strongest Man” and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Mesha Steele Collaborates With Dollarman On “Lots Of Love”
Belizeans vocalist Mesha Steele, who now resides in New York City, has a collaboration with Dollarman that is starting to get a lot of attention. The song, titled Lots Of Love, was first shared a couple years ago as one of the tracks on Dollarman‘s Time album. However, despite it being out for a while, many DJs are only now learning about the dancehall fused Caribbean pop tune. This is due in part to Dollarman and his team’s decision to re-release the LP.
Mesha Steele is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and band leader who was born into a family of musicians, so her rise to stardom should not surprise anyone familiar with her story. While still residing in Belize, Mesha, along with her two older sisters, formed a group known as the M Girlz. After her siblings decided to settle down, Mesha went solo and continued to make her mark as a singer and performer. In her teenage years, she was considered one of Belize’s top female artists, and as she matured, she went on to become the lead vocalist for The Messengers, one of the most popular bands to come out of Belize.
Her relocation to the United States only resulted in more shows, music, and opportunities. Hence the connection with Dollarman and the producers of Lots Of Love, KR Moore, and Ike Boogie. Lots Of Love is a back-and-forth between both artists. Mesha flirts with Dollarman by telling him how much love she has for him, and he in turn responds enthusiastically. The Time album can be downloaded from all streaming platforms, and it comes courtesy of BrownBabies Entertainment Group.
Capleton & Sizzla Kalonji Confirmed For ‘Rasta City’ In Baltimore
Rasta City, an event that’s dedicated to celebrating authentic reggae music and Caribbean food and art, will be held at Hammer Jacks (1300 Russell Street) in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday, August 18th.
Two well-known Rastafarian artists, Capleton and Sizzla Kalonji, have been confirmed to perform. This is an outdoor day event that will run from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time. Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite.
Dancehall Legends To Perform At SoS In Toronto
The three-day Summer of Soca Festival (SoS) happening in Toronto on Carnival weekend is not just exclusive to soca music and events; they also have a highly anticipated dancehall stage show on their program.
On Sunday, August 4th, they’ll host Legends: The Throwback Concert with headliners Baby Cham, Mr. Vegas, Serani, Militant, and Zoelah. There is also a surprise guest artist on the lineup. The location is Markham Fairgrounds (10801 McCowan Road) in Markham, Ontario, and the starting time is 6 p.m. Click here to buy tickets.






