Hip-Hop/World/African, ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!

DJ Khaled in the 305 – 2008

January 26, 2008 Reggae Report Archive Leave a comment

DJ KHALED – Representin’ Love in the 305

by Melissa Gonzalez

January 2008 – Potential video starlets/groupies roam around in barely-there outfits. The aroma of cheap weed lingers and mixes with that of wet concrete on the cracked Overtown sidewalk. Aside from the shimmering of gold chains and dubs, there is much dreariness in the ‘hood.’ This inner-city neighborhood, one of Miami’s many hoods, is not about flashiness, it is about getting by. For many, it is the reality Miami very often lacks when considering the surgically attained beauty and rampant riches that are prevalent in the ‘305.’

Almost three hours after arriving on the set, and close to 12 hours into the video shoot for “I’m So Hood,” a single from his second album We The Best, I notice Miami’s DJ Khaled rushing through a wardrobe change. Continue reading →

ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, World A'Reggae

Sean Kingston

January 25, 2008 Reggae Report Archive Leave a comment

Sean Kingston – Taking You There

By Kevin Jackson, Observer Writer
Taken from the Jamaica Observer, Kingston 2008

Sean Kingston’s debut self-titled album has to date sold more than seven million copies worldwide. Discovered on the popular social networking site, MySpace, Kingston has become a force to be reckoned with since his debut outing was released in July of 2007 via Epic Records.

In a just five months, Kingston has accrued more than seven million worldwide sales of ringtones, ringbacks, singles and albums in physical and digital sales for songs including his global chart topping single “Beautiful Girls.” That song went to number one in 21 countries around the world. His second hit “Me Love” was also a gold-certified hit. His latest top ten hit “Take You There” has also gone gold. That single is currently number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, Sean is featured on Natasha Bedingfield’s latest hit “Love Like This.” Continue reading →

Hip-Hop/World/African, ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, World A'Reggae

Lucky Dube Shot and Killed in Johannesburg 2007

January 21, 2008 Reggae Report Archive Leave a comment

What follows below is the first announcement made on ReggaeReport.com. It was posted approx. 3 a.m. EST, after hearing the terrible news from our good friend, Lee Abel, who just happened to come across the news while on the internet. In the days that followed, the story – and our sadness – grew. There were men caught and arrested, a public memorial was held in Johannesburg, and Lucky was laid to rest in his homeland, the rural country that he loved, Natal. I will work to add more words here, as my friend’s story is one that needs to be told. Like one of his musician’s was quoted saying, “if Lucky Dube is not safe, none of us are safe.” Thank you for your patience.

September 19, 2007 – Miami, FL

Lucky Dube – Shot and Killed in Johannesburg Street Attack

By M. Peggy Quattro

It is with great sadness and pain that we report that South African Reggae star Lucky Dube was shot and killed in a Johannesburg suburb street attack late Thursday, police said.

The 43-year-old singer had dropped of his 15-year-old-son son at a family member’s house, and his 16-year-old daughter was in the car with him, in the Rosettenville district of Johannesburg, when he was approached by two or three youths in an apparent car-jacking. Lucky sped up to get away and was shot reportedly three times. He crashed into a tree and died on the scene. Continue reading →

Hip-Hop/World/African, ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, USA Reggae, World A'Reggae

Lucky Dube – Last Show – San Francisco 2007

January 21, 2008 Reggae Report Archive Leave a comment

Lucky Dube- Show Me Respect

(Final show in San Francisco)
Story and photos by Lee Abel

You can not love somebody if you don’t respect them. So even if we don’t agree with certain things in life, if we respect each other, everything will be cool. ~ Lucky Dube

September 12, 2007 – San Francisco, CA – As Lucky Dube bounded on to the Ruby Skye stage, grabbed the mic, and began to sing Reggae Strong, the SanFrancisco crowd exploded with joy, swaying with arms raised high. This was the final stop in Lucky’s month long tour across America.

It has been four years since the African Reggae King toured the West Coast, and this time he came to share his new CD, Respect. A finely crafted album, Respect is filled with songs that are poignant, cautionary , and hopeful. The music is rich and layered, classic Reggae with African soul. I recommend listening with headphones. With his always-tight band and trio of harmonious female singers, he alternated between such classics as House of Exile and Prisoner, to more recent grooves such as Ding Ding Licky Licky Licky Bong, and several songs off the new CD, including the title track Respect and Shut Up (if you cant say something good about somebody,just shut up.) Continue reading →

ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, USA Reggae

Ziggy – Miami’s Island Fest 2007

January 10, 2008 Reggae Report Archive Leave a comment

ZIGGY MARLEY – Preaching Love and Creating Reggae Magic

at “Island Fest ‘07” in Coconut Grove, Florida
Ziggy and his band, featuring Santa Davis on drums and Skully on percussions, joined another Jamaican legend, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, on the line-up for a free concert held at beautiful Peacock Park in the village of Coconut Grove. Thousand of fans showed up for the music, the food, the perfect weather, and the opportunity to see the young legend perform on his home turf.

Surrounded by family and friends, Ziggy appeared comfortable, relaxed, and confident, He deftly delivered a stirring string of his own hits, including “Black Cat,” “Love is My Religion,” “Look Who’s Dancing.” and ‘Dragonfly,” as well as such Bob Marley gems as “Forever Loving Jah,” “Rastaman Vibration,” “Could This Be Love,” and ‘Jammin’.” Continue reading →

ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, Yard Report

February Declared Reggae Month in Jamaica 2008

January 10, 2008 Reggae Report Archive Leave a comment

January 10, 2008 – Kingston, Jamaica

February Officially Proclaimed REGGAE MONTH in Jamaica

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced recently, during a press briefing at Office of the Prime Minister, that February will officially be Reggae Month in the country of Jamaica. Furthermore, he instructed Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall to issue the proclamation declaring the long-awaited honor.

In an article in the Jamaica Gleaner, the prime minister is quoted saying that he lauded the briefing as one of the most pleasant tasks he has had to perform since taking office. He says Reggae has been a medium of economic advancement and Reggae Month can be used to draw world attention to our music. Golding added that Jamaica Trade and Invest will be promoting Brand Jamaica, and that Reggae music is central to this campaign.

The Gleaner article went on to quote Prime Minister Golding as saying “Reggae is so powerful; people across the world embrace it. It is the medium we have used to declare our position against oppression and suffering. It is a consistent declaration of love,” he continued to the delight of industry players in attendance, including Rita Marley, Dean Fraser, Lloyd Stanbury, Isaiah Laing, Clifton Dillon and Barbara Blake-Hanna. Continue reading →

ReggaeReport.com Exclusives!, Reviews -CD/DVD/Book

Lee Scratch Perry -The End of an American Dream Review 2008

January 7, 2008 Reggae Report Archive Leave a comment

LEE “SCRATCH” PERRY – THE END OF AN AMERICAN DREAM

Grammy-nominated CD on MEGAWAVE RECORDS

The recent Grammy-nominated CD, The End of an American Dream, is the first of three albums that represent the musical collaboration of legendary Jamaican maestro Lee Perry with English musician and songwriter Steve Marshall. Recorded between 2004 and 2006 at Lee’s studio in Einsiedeln (near Zurich) Switzerland; at the Marriott Hotel, Regent’s Park, London; and at Steve’s ‘State of Mind’ Studio in Somerset, England, the album contains 16 all new tracks featuring the vocals and lyrical genius of Lee Perry, set against a background of stylish contemporary beats, blues, soul, Reggae, drum and bass. This Grammy-nominated album is produced by John Saxon for State of Emergency Limited and released by Megawave Records, Michigan, USA. The songs are published by Newtown Sound Ltd. and Copyright Control.

The duo first met in London during the winter of 1985 when Lee took on Steve’s band ‘World Service’ as his backing band for what was to be his first UK tour since leaving Jamaica. Around this time Lee recorded the albums History, Mystery and Prophecy Time Boom: De Devil Dead and From the Secret Laboratory (produced by Adrian Sherwood), but behind the scenes Lee was also recording with and training his musical apprentice, Steve Marshall. After the ’85 tour, ‘World Service’ split, but Lee and Steve remained friends, with Steve chauffeuring Lee to sessions and meetings in and around London. They recorded a 7” single, “Lightning Strikes Twice/Feel No Way,” which went out on State of Emergency Limited in 1986, and a 12” “AD Vendetta/Masters Of The Universe” that was released on Lee’s own Arkwell label. There were a number of other recordings made, such as “Nursery Rhyme,” “Black Captain In Castle Greyskull,” “I Am God,” “Elephant Rock,” and “Gimme Back My Teddy Bear,” all featuring Lee Perry and Steve Marshall, and recorded at Elephant, Mark Angelo’s and Utopia Studios, but these remain firmly in the archive. At the end of the ‘80s, Lee moved to Switzerland and they were to lose contact with one another for nearly 15 years. Continue reading →