Check the post every week for a dose of what's real. Bios on local talent AND the locals who've gone INTERNATIONAL.
One word to the wise: Please note that any music posted on this site is for PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY!! Please delete any music files from your computer after 24 hours!
When I found out that Lauryn Hill was a guest on Def Poetry Jam in 2005, I was ecstatic!
Here are some other vids that I liked! This is Talib Kweli, one half of Blackstar... (His stance on organized religion.... hm.)
Bounty Killa: (Yes, I know that its just a performance of his song, but the fact that he was on national american television spitting these words... Its easier to appreciate his lyrics when there isn't any music behind him.)
Alrighty. I think I have heard enough chitter-chatter about what went down in Miami last week. I wanted to get to the proverbial "bottom" of it all. I was hearing speculation and rumors. People on Facebook were asking questions, but nobody was actually saying what happened. I decided to go digging. Boy, did i NOT like what I found.
The DEA was apparently building a case for the past while and had enough evidence to place Buju Banton in federal detention this past Thursday, December 10. He is facing a charge of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, several kilos of cocaine. A guilty verdict in a case like this carries up to a 20 year prison term!! Here is the most objective journalistic account of what happened, based on my search of mainstream, North American news media.
Courtesy of the Jamaica Gleaner's staff reporter, Livern Barrett:
"GRAMMY-NOMINATED deejay Buju Banton is being held in the Federal Detention Centre, Miami, Florida, in the United States following his arrest last Thursday on drug-related charges, a Miami Police Department spokesman confirmed yesterday.
The internationally renowned artiste whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie was held with "a large quantity of cocaine", according to the law-enforcement agent who identified himself as Officer Gonzalez.
"He is here ... I can't tell you when he will go to court or anything like that, but yes, he is here facing a charge of possession and the intent to distribute cocaine," Gonzalez told The Sunday Gleaner.
He said details of the arrest and subsequent charges would be released tomorrow morning. When asked if and when bail would be offered, Gonzalez said, "I am not in a position to disclose that information."
The Sunday Gleaner was unable to get confirmation of the arrest from the Police High Command in Jamaica and key government sources who had "only heard rumours". This suggests that the local authorities had not been informed of Banton's arrest in the US. Currently, there is tension between the Jamaican Government and the US authorities regarding another narcotics matter.
While tight-lipped about details of the arrest, Gonzalez said that the 36-year-old entertainer had been held with "another person".
Sources say Buju and another man were caught on surveillance camera.
A search on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' website yesterday revealed that one "Mark Anthony Myrie, 36, black male" was in custody at the Federal Detention Centre in downtown Miami and listed an inmate number.
Several attempts to contact representatives of Buju's record label, Gargamel Music, were unsuccessful."
Thank you, Livern, for providing the world with the relevant details of this story. I was utterly disgusted with the way the Associated Press issued the report about Buju's detention. Take a look at what they sent down the wire for all the news media to pick up and run with:
"The Associated Press
Sunday, December 13, 2009; 12:36 PM
MIAMI -- Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton is facing a drug charge in Florida.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in U.S. federal custody in Miami since Thursday.
Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman David Melenkevitz said Sunday that Banton was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The charge stems from a DEA case in Tampa.
An e-mail to Banton's independent record label was not immediately returned Sunday.
Banton's ninth album, "Rasta Got Soul," is nominated for a Grammy. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation launched an online petition protesting the nomination, saying some of Banton's earlier lyrics have advocated violence against gay people."
Just pile on the crap, why don't ya? Mar the man's major accomplishments, including his most recent Grammy nomination, with mention of lyrics that were construed as inciting violence against gay people???? As you can tell, I am upset. When I go online and try to find out what the real story is, it is very distracting to read someone's soapbox speech about Buju being homophobic. Clearly, expressions of homophobia didn't get him the Grammy nomination. What makes me laugh even harder are the comments posted on blogs around the internet about the connection between Buju's detention and Boom Bye Bye.
There will never be a winner in the debate between homosexuals and supporters of freedom of expression in reggae music and lyrics. I just worry that Buju's current legal situation will further damage his character in the eyes of his worldly opposition.
Something different now... Enjoy, my valued reader!
Now, I know that the "American Dream" (yes, I know we're in Canada, but its a popular phrase) includes being one's own boss. In my opinion, I think its commendable to work for yourself. I encourage it. My blog is dedicated to those people who handle their own music business. What I am going to show you now is a list of celebs from the tv, movie and music worlds who have released ... FRAGRANCES.
Christmas gift ideas, anyone??
1) Carlos by Carlos Santana (for women and men): available on Sephora.com, starting at $30 CAD
2) Power by 50 Cent (men's cologne): starting at $65 USD at Macy's
3) Halle by Halle Berry (women's perfume): more info HERE
4) Queen by Queen Latifah (women's perfume): Available at Macy's, starting at $59 USD
5) Rocawear X (men's cologne): prices range from $16 to $73 CAD from Rocawear.com
**Before you, my valued reader, begin to go through today's post, please understand the following: This is an independent review. I am in no way affiliated with Living Proof Enterprises. If you have any questions or would like to get more information about this week's Artists, please visit Living Proof Enterprises. Thank you.**
You know when something just makes you think, "That's different."
Jah Chosen follows the Most High, but don't get confused by his ideological tenets. This artist is unlike any other reggae artist I've ever heard. The first time I heard "Fire", Jah Chosen's debut single from his upcoming promotional release (via lvproof.com), I had to pull it up a couple of times. Is it house or is it reggae?? Where did this artist come from??
Toronto, stand up!! As Jay-Z said, clap for them. Jah Chosen and King D. come with it on this record. "Fire" is a testimony to all things hot to the touch. If you only think its about sparking a blunt, then you'll need to listen a few more times. The way I see it, when Chosen says to "...blaze it up," he's talking about lighting up the world using the fire within. More than that, this song is a pure party tune!!
What else separates Jah Chosen as an up and coming reggae artist out of Toronto?
Well, who else would film their video for a reggae song on a beach in Southern Ontario?? A-Channel casts a spotlight on Jah Chosen's video shoot for "Fire":
Here is the trailer for Jah Chosen's highly anticipated video, "Fire", slated for release early 2010:
I love Estelle. I have been a huge admirer since I first heard "American Boy" back in 2008. Her most recent collaboration takes her to another galaxy! David Guetta's Grammy-nominated album One Love includes the title track with the esteemed UK import, Estelle. This video is infectious, just like the song.
Enjoy!!! If you don't know about David Guetta by now, do your homework before the Grammys air on January 31st, 2010.
**Before you, my valued reader, begin to go through today's post, please understand the following: This is an independent review. I am in no way affiliated with Living Proof Enterprises. If you have any questions or would like to get more information about this week's Artists, please visit Living Proof Enterprises. Thank you.**
Rap music produced by Torontonians has been lacking lately. Now, I am not a connoisseur of rap, but I am one that has an appreciation for good music. That being said, I heard a track called "Hold It Up" the other day. I am a huge fan of anything mashed up with reggae. Samples that are used wisely make the hairs on my arms stand up. Living Proof Production's King D. used Everton Blender's "Lift Up Your Head" for this song and turns a classic into a classic, if you know what I mean. Now, maybe i'm just gushing because I loved Everton's version to begin with. If positivity were to rain down, it would fall on my head to the melody of that song.
But I digress.
Mayne Ishu's record is, in my opinion, a welcome distraction from the everyday, formulaic raps pumped out by Toronto's underground. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of how one man's struggle trumps another man's luck. The way I understand it is like this: If you laugh when something big falls in your lap, you've only gotten half the joke. Hard work and perseverance will give you a head's up above the rest.
A message to all of you who sit in VIP and point your gun fingers when your track comes on in the club: Take a minute to think about the possibility that someone else is in the middle of the dance floor, with the crowd of people who put HIS record in the hands of that same DJ.
Hold your head up high, Mayne Ishu. Your time is here.
**For those of you who want to compare the new with the classic, here you go:
Now I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop, but there are some artists that will be on my top 10 list for the longterm. Mr. Sean Carter, aka Jigga, Hova, etc... is that kind of musician. And that's a very odd way to label a rapper, but I believe Jay-Z is just that - a musician. His savvy, when it comes to music and business, makes him an icon of gargantuan proportions.
The highly anticipated release of Jay's new album The Blueprint 3 on September 11th, 2009 has been marred by his full album leaking all over the internet on August 31st. Jigga took the news in stride, saying that he "....may be the most bootlegged artist in history" and to the fans, "....enjoy it." (Via: The Rolling Stone)
I say: if you see a site that posts the entire Blueprint album, tell dem fi eff off! I mean, what a way to spoil someone's hard work in trying to rebuild a broken music industry. I guess one can't really fight progress, but c'mon! Posting the whole album is just a travesty... Have some respect guys and gals!
In other Jay-Z news, Hova and Oprah walked and talked in the streets of Brooklyn on an August afternoon. I guess it was something that had to happen, just like a black hole forming in space after the collision of two stars. Read up on the highlights here: The Boombox Music Blog
By the way, Run This Town is a CHUNE of massive proportions! Just thought I'd put that out there!
Serani's getting bigger, Bigger, BIGGER all the time! Take a look at the Billboard top 100 Rnb/HipHop charts. "She Loves Me" debuted at No. 89 and is going to climb even higher!!
My love for his music grew even more when I heard this tune:
(If you don't think its the sequel to "No Games", then yuh lost!!)
IMO, the lyrical direction that Serani was headed toward last year was a little disappointing, what with the very limited imagination and innovation in his writing. Way to come back to the light, Serani!!! Keep it up!
Dancers! Can you SKIP?? Let me know what it looks like! EMAIL your vids and I'll post them on the site! Skip to dis:
I would hate to start off this blog with bad news, but news must be reported.
Wycliffe Johnson, also known as Steely of the production duo Steely and Clevie, passed away on September 1st, 2009 at a hospital in Long Island, NY. The details are not very clear on the contributing factors that led to his leaving us. Most reports state that he suffered, for a long while, with an illness that affected his kidneys. Other reports claim that he passed away from Pneumonia. One thing in common throughout the blogosphere, though, is the celebration of his LIFE and his pioneering contribution to reggae music!
Steely was known for his professionalism, knack for innovation and dedication to his craft. I spent some time researching the work that Mr. Johnson did with his partner, Cleveland Browne. Here is a vid of Clevie and Steely participating in the 2005 Red Bull Music Academy in Seattle, WA.
**Note: This is a loooong vid, but there's a lot of GREAT information so Learn somn!**
One particular article stood out for me. The Jamaica Star ran an interview with Steely and Clevie on January 7th, 2005. In that article, there is a clear illustration as to why Steely will live on in our hearts as a legend: The birth of Steely and Clevie's "Sleepy Dog Riddim"
This editorial will be running in the Observer on September 2nd, 2009. The editor has some very strong feelings regarding the current direction of reggae and dancehall and how it could be saved... 'Steely' will be missed - JamaicaObserver.com
IMO, there has to be some serious reflection if we want the music to continue to grow and spread around the world. Steely's vision was not just to create a uniquely Jamaican sound. It was to create music. Period. Spending hours in the lab concocting beats means nothing if you don't have a vision for your work!
Lots of history, and a major loss for the entire music industry.
RIP.
* Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (r) and Cleveland "Clevie" Browne (l)
I couldn't resist! I had to resurrect The Oasis for a second time! Honestly, it feels so refreshing to be back! Online is better than offline, I guess.
For those who don't know who I am, please let me introduce myself:
I'm Bella, your Selectah!! lol Otherwise known as the Educated One. I'll be your Master of Ceremonies, if you will, as we journey together from the past, to the present, and into the future. The purpose of our journey is simple: to single out the baddest dj's in the world.
Each week, I'll be conducting interviews with the Mistas and Ladies who rock the one's and two's. I'll also be supplying you desert wanderers with a refreshing pool of musical delights. Some fresh biscuits never hurt anybody right?
I will just say this: I'm not a DJ.... I am just an appreciative fan of the artform. Anyone who uses two turntables and a mic to entertain an audience gets my vote!
I am a defender of all good music. My blog is dedicated to all the road warriors who play the music for the people every day. I also have the utmost respect for the Disk Jockey. Check my posts to discover why...
