RIP: Joel Chin, Director of A&R and Executive Producer, VP Records

Joel Chin (via www.vprecords.com)

I'm very saddened to write this RIP post. Another bright light in the reggae music industry was extinguished on August 16th, 2011. I first read about it IN MY TWITTER FEED (oh, y'all didn't know that I tweet?) Strangely, though, the news of Joel Chin's murder did not send the shock waves through Twitterville and Facebook-land like I expected. In fact, it was relatively quiet on the social media front. Nothing rang out yesterday, at all. Am I the only one, as a lay music person, that had a wave of grief for Joel Chin?? Did you know who he was or what he did for reggae music?? But really, another senseless murder in Jamaica, so I guess I can see why the masses are complacent (BIG SMH).

More after the jump....



Nonetheless, I went straight to the web for more info and dug around until I found the following article that satisfied my questions with these answers:

***unedited story via www.Billboard.biz***

By Patricia Meschino, New York

The Director of A&R for VP Records, Joel Chin, 35, was fatally shot in the head in front of his Stony Hill, St Andrew home, a few miles north of Jamaica's capital Kingston, at 10:45 PM last night (August 16) as he alighted from his car. Neighbors heard explosions and called the Stony Hill police. Chin was taken to Kingston Public Hospital where he was officially pronounced dead.

[....]There is currently no known motive for his murder although an investigation is pending; the assailants remain at large[...]

[....]Chin relocated to Kingston two years ago to facilitate his work with the many VP artists residing in Jamaica's capital. In addition to his A&R direction on acclaimed albums by contemporary roots reggae artists Tarrus Riley, Duane Stephenson and Etana, Chin was also involved with production and songwriting. His final project for VP was "We Remember Gregory", a various artists tribute to the late Gregory Isaacs released yesterday (August 16) for which he served as an executive producer alongside Chris Chin[...]

Now, I will reserve my comments about increasing crime and violence in the Caribbean. I'd like to have more qualified experts speak on that in a later post. My blog tonight was simply to put into words what I have recognized as Joel Chin's contributions to reggae music and why his murder makes no sense to me.

In my opinion, Joel Chin had a youthful vision that revitalized his family's legacy. By recruiting young and upcoming dancehall/reggae artists to VP, Chin secured VP Records as the label of choice for artists wishing to cross over to the mainstream. I think that with Joel's contribution, VP became the launching pad for fresh releases from Jamaica to reach the rest of the world. Y'all remember that album Dutty Rock from 2004?? Sean Paul won a Grammy because of Joel Chin's farsightedness! I personally started collecting the Strictly The Best compilation discs in the late 90's and early 2000's. I attribute my affinity for the STB collection to Joel Chin's ability to recognize true musical and fine artistry (that cover art doh!!) combined with savvy business acumen.

I have a hard time accepting that people can snuff out life without regard for consequences. Joel Chin's murder will set back the Jamaican music industry immensely, of that fact I have no doubt. He moved back to Jamaica to develop artists and make music that can be taken worldwide. Artists who had a chance - who will they work with now?

My condolences to the Chin family on behalf of The Oasis.

RIP.

***For a brief history of VP Records, please click here.***