Wondering what's in store for Reggae & Dancehall in 2012? Reshma B does some predicting...
IN THE NEWS
It's 50 YEARS OF JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE this year and there's sure to be lots going on, trust me.
Casting on the remake of 1972 cult thriller 'The Harder They Come' (yes I know, it's hard for a remake to be better than the original, especially this original) happens this year – how exciting! Who the hell is going to replace JIMMY CLIFF???? I reckon it should be KARTEL!
JUSTINE HENZELL (daughter of the late Perry Henzell who directed ''The Harder They Come") has paired up with Zachary Harding & Kevin MacDonald to give us a 90min film called ‘One People Documentary’. They describe it as ‘’Out of Many, One Documentary’’- taken from the Jamaican motto "Out of Many, One People". It features music by veteran producers SLY & ROBBIE. The public were given the opportunity to submit their material about what Jamaica means to them with some getting to be included in the movie. The film premieres August 6th in London, NY, Miami ,Toronto and Kingston all on the same day. Sounds like a party.
This year sees both Marley bros STEPHEN and ZIGGY up for a grammy (Best Reggae Album, for ‘Revelation Part One - The Root of Life’ and ‘Wild And Free’ respectively). Also nominated are Shaggy for ‘Summer in Kingston‘, Monty Alexander ’Harlem-Kingston Express Live!’ and Israel Vibration ’Reggae Knights’. Announced Feb 12.
ALBUMS
JAH CURE's long awaited album ‘World Cry’ is down to be released this year – hopefully (finally). Excitingly it features material by TUPAC. Cure promises it to be his best album yet, here's what he had to say about it:
Jah Cure talking about his upcoming album to Reshma B (Amsterdam Reggae Festival 2011).
JIMMY CLIFF is set to follow his EP ‘Sacred Fire’ with a studio album produced by TIM AMSTRONG. The project is yet to be named but his management tells me it's sure to be out this spring.
BUSY SIGNAL will be releasing his new album ‘Reggae Music Again’. I'm sure ‘’everytings good’’ for him - his last track ‘Real Spender’ sure got the dance moving.
Of course something to be looking forward to next month is new release from I-OCTANE ‘Crying To The Nation’. His last track ‘Falling’ went down well with lovers in the middle of the night. KONSHENS' ‘Mental Maintenance’, ROMAIN VIRGO’s ‘The System’ and STEPHEN MARLEY’s ‘Revelation Pt 2 - The Fruit of Life’ are due to release early this year and making a good recovery from his motorcycle accident last year SIZZLA has also announced a new album ‘The Chant’.
RIDDIMS / TRACKS
In 2011 he gave us ‘Pepper’ and before that ‘StarBoy’ and to set us up for the new year STEPHEN MCGREGOR has set the bar high again as he drops one of his latest riddims ‘Tenement Yard’ with an all star cast of artists voicing, BEENIE MAN, MAVADO, AIDONIA, I-OCTANE, ELEPHANT MAN, SERANI ….the list is endless…. Can't decide which track my monies on making it huge.
Last year Gully Gad MAVADO was on fire and the Portmore Empire has started this year with things poppin - 'Only Man She Want' by camp member POPCAAN has seen some good rotation. The video was released last week, looks like we gonna keep hearing the track for a little while yet!! Since last Summer he’s been having a crazy time, reckon we might see "the only man" up for dj of the year?? Keep an eye out but in the meanwhile keep your ears to the ground as the ‘Ravin’ star is due to drop a steaming hot mix tape ‘YIY CHANGE’ real real soon.
….. ‘‘she have her man but popcaan a the only man she want’’
In the meanwhile a fresh new drop on the roots side has the "The Strong One" ETANA pairing up with FLAVA MCGREGOR with an edgy new release ‘I Am Strong’.
UPCOMING FESTIVALS
This month in Jamaica (14th Jan) sees the annual Rebel Salute – hosted by TONY REBEL. Its a fun event for the fam so if you want to hear great music and take the kids this one’s perfect its clean, no profanity and no alcohol. If you can't make it you can watch livestream from the website for USD9.99 – but remember it’s a sober event so no cans of Red Stripe by your mouse. Acts incl Tony himself, STEPHEN MARLEY, QUEEN IFRICA, CAPLETON, GRAMPS MORGAN and a whole bunch more. BTW Tony and his protégé Queen Ifrica are each due to release new albums this year. To get a taste of hers (her sophomore album) already in rotation is ‘Heroes/In Times Like These’. If her first one was anything to go by watch out for her at the 2013 awards.
Also this month (26th – 28th) in JA is the Jazz & Blues festival which has a special day dedicated to Ska, Rocksteady & Reggae. On the reggae front you see Mr Boombastic SHAGGY, CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, JOHN HOLT, KY-MANI MARLEY, MARCIA GRIFFITHS and others in the mix with CEE LO GREEN and wait for it…….. CELINE DION (no comment all judgment left to individuals).
The beginning of March sees the nineteenth 9 Mile Music Festival in Miami. Marley sons DAMIAN, STEPHEN & JULIAN are all on the line up plus COLLIE BUDDZ, TARRUS RILEY, COCO TEA and more. The festival has kept one of its original ideas of donating canned food to charity so it is compulsory to turn up on the day with four tins of canned stuff so don’t forget.
If you're gagging for some dancehall then 2012's BOTB (also Miami, May) has a great line up. Last year there was a special satellite appearance from Gaza Worlboss VYBZ KARTEL, this year sees an appearance from the Gully Side with MAVADO alongside members of his new crew DJ KHALED and ACE HOOD. Other acts also include SERANI, DEMARCO and KHAGO along with (if you missed him at Jazz & Blues) SHAGGY!.
Of course you can mix it all up. I’m confident Sumfest will be sure to pull it out the bag again with its 20th staging in the fiftieth year of Jamaican independence. They're putting on a weeks worth of events. As well as the usual dancehall and international nights there will be a soundsystem night and a vintage acts night.
AND TO WRAP UP
Keep your eyes peeled for Jamaican runner USAIN BOLT at the Olympics. Certainly seems he's into dancehall, he was kicking to Wayne, Tifa & Fambo’s ‘Swaggin’ during a trip to Korea. Watch out for him doing dance combos during his laps of honour.
See ya next month!
Words by Reshma B (www.reggaegirlabouttown.com)