News archive — page 4
Music YG Marley Releases ‘Praise Jah in the Moonlight,’ a Debut Single Built on Bob Marley’s ‘Crisis’ and Road-Tested at Lauryn Hill’s Shows
Bob Marley’s grandson — Joshua Marley, son of Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley — self-releases his first single on December 27, 2023 after fans who heard it at his mother’s concerts pushed for it on TikTok. Written by Marley, Hill and his grandfather, produced by Marley, Hill and Johnny G, the four-minute reggae song samples the Wailers’ 1978 track ‘Crisis.’
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Masicka Releases ‘Generation of Kings,’ His Def Jam Debut, With Popcaan, Spice, Dexta Daps and Lila Iké
Two years after the independent 438, Masicka delivers a 17-track sophomore album on December 1, 2023 through Def Jam Recordings — led by ‘Tyrant’ and ‘Limelight,’ with Popcaan, Dexta Daps, Spice, Chronic Law, Lila Iké, Fave and Fridayy on the guest list.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Dr Beres Hammond: The UWI Confers an Honorary Doctor of Letters on the Order of Jamaica Holder, Capping a Decade of Honours
At the Mona campus on Saturday, November 4, 2023, Chancellor Robert Bermudez presents Hugh Beresford Hammond, OJ, with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. ‘I feel good,’ he says — then sings ‘Rock Away’ to a pavilion of graduates. The degree follows the Order of Jamaica (2013), a second Grammy nomination for ‘One Love, One Life’ (2014) and a Billboard No. 1 for ‘Never Ending’ (2018).
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper, Third World Co-Founder, Educator and Reggae Ambassador, Dies at 71
The keyboardist who co-founded Third World with Cat Coore in 1973, later led the popular music department at Edna Manley College and chaired the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association, died at his St Andrew home on Thursday, October 12, 2023 — weeks after the death of his wife, Joy, and months after losing his son Arif.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Teejay’s ‘Drift’ Enters Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart — the Song That Was ‘Going in the Bin’ Is Dancehall’s Hit of the Summer
Released June 30, 2023 and pushed around the world by a TikTok dance, the Montego Bay deejay’s ‘Drift’ debuts at No. 47 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart dated October 7 — his first Billboard entry, landing on his 29th birthday, after the record earned him a deal with Warner Records and Warner Chappell.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Stephen Marley Releases ‘Old Soul,’ an Unplugged Album Born on a Florida Farm, With Eric Clapton, Bob Weir, Jack Johnson, Buju Banton and His Brothers
Out September 15, 2023 through Tuff Gong Collective, UMe and Ghetto Youths International, Ragga’s first full-length since 2016 grew out of lockdown jam sessions in a converted garage — acoustic guitar, binghi drums, bass and flute — and folds Sinatra, the Beatles, Joe Higgs, Lee Perry and an acoustic ‘I Shot the Sheriff’ with Clapton into 14 tracks.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Buju Banton Releases ‘Born for Greatness,’ 17 New Tracks With Snoop Dogg, Stephen Marley and Victoria Monét
The Gargamel’s new studio album arrives on September 8, 2023 through Gargamel Music, Roc Nation and Def Jam — a 56-minute set announced in July with the title track, following the singles ‘High Life’ with Snoop Dogg and ‘Coconut Wata (Sip).’ ‘Your eyes are not deceiving you nor are your ears,’ he says. ‘You were born for greatness.’
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Byron Messia’s ‘Talibans’ Enters the Billboard Hot 100 — Dancehall’s First Entry in Two Years
Boosted by the Burna Boy remix ‘Talibans II,’ Byron Messia’s breakout single debuts at No. 99 on the Hot 100 dated August 5, 2023 — the first Jamaican entry on the all-genre chart since Skillibeng’s ‘Crocodile Teeth’ remix in 2021, with the UK, Ireland and Nigeria charts moving too.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Reggae Sumfest Reggae Sumfest 2023: Freddie McGregor’s Comeback, Marion Hall Takes Back Montego Bay and Dynamq Rules the Sound Clash at the 30th Staging
The festival’s pearl anniversary week ran July 16–22, 2023 at Catherine Hall. Teejay opened with ‘Drift,’ Masicka and Valiant owned Dancehall Night, Tommy Lee Sparta closed at 6 a.m., and Saturday brought Freddie McGregor’s first Jamaican show since his stroke, a King Jammy tribute and Minister Marion Hall’s return — with Red Stripe Living Legend Awards for all three.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Lord Creator, the Trinidad-Born Voice of ‘Independent Jamaica’ and ‘Kingston Town,’ Dies at 87
Kenrick ‘Lord Creator’ Patrick died at home in Golden Grove, Hanover, on Friday, June 30, 2023. He arrived in Kingston in 1962 and wrote the anthem of Jamaica’s first Independence; his 1970 ‘Kingston Town’ became a UK No. 4 for UB40 two decades later. Eight months earlier he had collected the Order of Distinction from a wheelchair.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Boom Dandimite of Scare Dem Crew Dies in a US Hospital After Car-Crash Complications
Herman ‘Boom Dandimite’ Stewart, one quarter of the 1990s crew with Elephant Man, Harry Toddler and Nitty Kutchie, died on Sunday, May 21, 2023, shortly after flying to the United States for treatment. He had been recovering from a late-April crash on Half Way Tree Road and was booked for Reggae Sumfest’s 90s segment in July.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music JaRIA Honour Awards 2023: Ras-I’s ‘Somewhere Wonderful’ Is Song of the Year, Valiant Breaks Through, Horace Andy and Shaggy Named Icons
The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association handed out its 2023 honours on Easter Monday at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Kingston. Grub Cooper took the Lifetime Achievement Award; Sean Paul’s Scorcha and Kabaka Pyramid’s The Kalling were named Dancehall and Reggae Album of the Year; Dawn Penn, Horace Andy and Shaggy were honoured as icons.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Julian Marley and Antaeus Release ‘Colors of Royal,’ an Eight-Track Turn Toward Electronic Dancehall
Out March 24, 2023 through Monom Records, the collaboration with Greek-American producer Alexx Antaeus pairs a John Holt rework, ‘The Tide Is High,’ with new songs ‘Inna Mood,’ ‘Robbed,’ ‘Roll,’ ‘Made for Your Love’ and ‘Jah Sees Them,’ plus two remixes — one the winner of a 247-entry, 117-country remix contest.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Kabaka Pyramid Wins the Grammy for Best Reggae Album With ‘The Kalling’
At the 65th Grammy Awards on February 5, 2023, Kabaka Pyramid’s Damian Marley-produced The Kalling beat Koffee, Protoje, Sean Paul and Shaggy to Best Reggae Album — a first Grammy for the Bebble Rock lyricist and a win for the roots revival generation.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Popcaan Releases ‘Great Is He’ on OVO Sound, With Drake, Burna Boy, Toni-Ann Singh and Chronic Law
The Unruly Boss’s fifth studio album lands on Friday, January 27, 2023 — 17 tracks through Drake’s OVO Sound, led by ‘We Caa Done’ with Drake and the title track, with production from Dre Skull, Anju Blaxx, Dane Ray, TJ Records, Mojam and more. Updated February 7 with its Billboard debut.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Rebel Salute 2023: Beenie Man Plays Through an Injury, Louie Culture Closes at Dawn as the 29th Staging Returns to Plantation Cove
Tony Rebel’s roots festival ran two nights at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove, St Ann, on January 20–21, 2023, with Bounty Killer, Kabaka Pyramid, Third World, Big Mountain, Beenie Man, Capleton, Luciano, Sanchez and Ghana’s Stonebwoy on the bill. Night one closed at 7:45 a.m.; night two brought a 20-song Beenie Man set, a Sanchez walk-off and I-Octane’s mic being pulled.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Jo Mersa Marley, Grandson of Bob Marley and Eldest Son of Stephen, Dies at 31
Joseph ‘Jo Mersa’ Marley died on Boxing Day, December 26, 2022, in Miami-Dade County, his representative confirmed. Reports say he was found unresponsive in a vehicle; no cause has been given. The Ghetto Youths International artist released the Comfortable EP in 2014 and Eternal in 2021, and had performed at Jamaica’s 60th Independence launch in Florida in May.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Tyrone Downie, the Wailers Keyboardist Behind ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘Exodus,’ Dies at 66
The Kingston College prodigy who played on ‘Cherry Oh Baby’ as a schoolboy, joined Bob Marley and the Wailers before he was 20 and later became musical director for Youssou N’Dour died on the night of Saturday, November 5, 2022, after being taken to hospital in Kingston. The Wailers announced the death; no cause was given.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Kabaka Pyramid Releases ‘The Kalling,’ a 15-Track Album Produced by Damian Marley
Four years after Kontraband, the Bebble Rock lyricist returns on September 30, 2022 with The Kalling — produced by Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley and released through Ghetto Youths International, with Buju Banton, Stephen Marley, Protoje, Jesse Royal, Jemere Morgan, Tifa and Black Am I on the guest list.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Protoje Closes His Trilogy With ‘Third Time’s the Charm,’ Featuring Jorja Smith, Lila Iké, Jesse Royal and Samory I
Released September 23, 2022 through In.Digg.Nation Collective and RCA, the 10-track album completes the run that began with A Matter of Time (2018) and In Search of Lost Time (2020). Recorded mainly at the Habitat in Kingston, with Iotosh, Ziah .Push, Zion I Kings and Cadenza among the producers.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Spice Releases ‘Emancipated,’ Her First Independent Album — Nine Tracks, No Features, Mostly Self-Produced
Five weeks after being crowned Queen of Dancehall at Sumfest, Grace ‘Spice’ Hamilton releases her second album on Friday, August 26, 2022, through her own Spice Official ENT and Stealth Music via UnitedMasters. ‘I just wanted to celebrate me and my freedom,’ she says of a set that follows her Grammy-nominated VP debut, 10.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Reggae Sumfest Reggae Sumfest 2022, ‘The Rebirth’: Sold Out in the Rain, With Masicka at Dawn, Beres at 1:47 a.m. and a Dave Kelly Tribute at Sunrise
After a virtual 2020 and no festival in 2021, Reggae Sumfest returned in full to Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, for the week of July 18–23, 2022. A capacity Friday crowd of close to 17,000 rode out lightning and a blackout; Saturday brought Beres Hammond, Koffee, Dexta Daps, a 55-minute Madhouse tribute and Sizzla closing in a downpour at 8:30 a.m.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Reggae Sumfest Spice Crowned Queen of Dancehall at Reggae Sumfest 2022
In the early hours of Saturday, July 23, 2022, Reggae Sumfest producer Joe Bogdanovich placed a crown on Grace ‘Spice’ Hamilton at Catherine Hall — the festival’s first Queen of Dancehall coronation since Lady Saw in 2012. Spice used the moment to announce her independent album Emancipated.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Merciless, the ‘Warhead’ Who Took On Ninjaman, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man at Sting 2000, Dies at 51
Leonard ‘Merciless’ Bartley was found dead on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at a motel in St Andrew where he stayed when in Kingston for studio work. The Clarendon deejay’s ‘Mavis’ was Jamaica’s top reggae single of 1995; his one-against-three clash at Sting 2000 remains dancehall legend. No cause of death has been given.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial