Archive for the ‘Music News’ Category

Kingston, Jamaica: It’s now official, popular dancehall recording artiste Einstein has adopted a new moniker and will be known as ‘Stein’ from here onwards.

Stein said the need to change his name came after years of being in the business and realizing that everyone kept referring to him by that alias, a shortened version of the original moniker. Following a meeting with members of his management team earlier this week, the decision was taken to make it official.

However Stein explained, “If people still want to call me Einstein I am ok with that as well. The name is not really new because people and my colleagues have been calling me that for years, so I just decide to drop the ‘Ein’ and leave that to Albert Einstein and just work with Stein.” Read the rest of this entry »

Chart topping Reggae artist Donovan Walker aka Guidance recently dropped two new singles Wonderful World on the Brown Brothers label and Memories Live On for NTF Records. Guidance says he is pleased with the response that both singles have been receiving since their release a few weeks ago.

“I feel very good about my two new songs, they have been getting some very good support from a lot of top DJs both on radio and in the dances. I am also getting a lot of positive vibes from everyone who hear them. It look like I have two hits on my hands right now said Guidance.”

Things having been looking very bright for the Portmore native since he returned to airwaves earlier this year with the single titled With No Other Alternative. That single turned out to be the second number one single of his career, as it went to top the Jamaica Music Countdown Top 25 Reggae Chart, where it spent several weeks in the number on position. Guidance is currently in the process of completing his debut which album tentatively titled Love What You Got.

(Kingston, Jamaica) — Weeks ahead of his sophomore album release, Never Change, in the Japanese market, Dancehall and Reggae artiste Chino is still raking in rave reviews regarding his upcoming album and tour on several Japanese sites.

The sites include: The Live Music, Director’s Gear, Yahoo Smash (Japan), CD Journal and more. “I’m really excited to see how things are going. The album will be out later this month and so far the reception has been great already. I am extremely humbled by the reception from my Japanese fans and the media there,” said Chino.

The album which will contain the Japanese version of his hit From Mawning will also have a number of both released and unreleased tracks.

“We put a lot of time and energy into the songs and the overall production of the album. I always try to write from the heart and give people music they can identify with, whether it’s sad, or about friendship and love or just going out and having a good time. So I have to say nuff respect to the fans and the media for always being supportive and being a part of my growth and musical journey,” said the artiste who is also known for his other hits Before Dem Gone, Ruff It Up, Protected, Pon Yuh Head, Me and You (feat. Alaine) and more.

Chino, Di Genius and other members of the Big Ship family left the island last week Friday for the Atlanta Music Festival, which was staged on Sunday.

(Kingston, Jamaica) — Appleton Rapids marks the official countdown to this summer’s Appleton Temptation Isle, more popularly known as ATI.

Appleton Rapids which has garnered a reputation for its great bars, food and music promises to be every patrons fantasy. The event which will be staged at the Waves Beach, Portmore on Sunday, July 11 will give women the opportunity to enter the party free of cost before 6pm.

In addition, patrons will be able to dance and frolic to the music of the always-humorous and engaging Tony Matterhorn, the producer of the chart-topping Mad Collab riddim, ZJ Chrome, Supa Hype, Code Red, Renaissance, Richie Feelings and a superb performance from JOP’s leading man, Aidonia. Read the rest of this entry »

(Kingston, Jamaica) — Dancehall artiste Mr. Vegas has embarked on his European tour and thus far he says the response has been phenomenal.

On Saturday he performed at one of the biggest reggae festivals in Europe, the 25th staging of the SummerJam Festival. The festival which is known for its stellar lineup of premium Reggae stars from across the world, this year included: Gentleman, Nas and Junior Gong, Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica, Julian Marley, Capleton and others.

Mr. Vegas says, “The show went great. I loved the energy of the crowd and as a performer I love to feel that kind of excitement and love because I really do get out there and give my all in each performance. It definitely went well.”

On Sunday, the artiste then moved on to create pandemonium at the Caleo Reggae Festival in Italy, while today, he will be appearing in Roma, Italy for yet another show. For the remainder of this week he will continue on to shows in Switzerland, Spain and Netherlands.

In the meantime he has released a new single, Sweet Jamaica, which pays homage to all the positive things about Jamaica. “I did that song because sometimes we lose sight of the fact that Jamaica is a great place irrespective of all our problems and as someone who travels so much because of work, I know that. It has a great slow reggae vibe to it that’s kind of reminiscent to what I used to hear growing up.”

Kingston, Jamaica: After scoring the biggest hit of 2009 with the Summer anthem ‘Holiday’ featuring the Fresh Prince of Dancehall, Ding Dong on the Notice Production label. Charismatic crooner Chevaughn is once again poised as a top contender to clinch this Summer’s title, teaming up with Bugle and Razz & Biggy for the high–energy number titled ‘Summer Break’.

The video currently riding high on a number of charts continues to enjoying premium rotation on the airwaves added to the single’s growing popularity on the party circuit.

However with the recent release of a 10-track self-titled mixtape, three new videos and several singles including ‘Beauty Queen’ on Digicel’s – Next Generation Rhythm CD compilation. Read the rest of this entry »

D'Angel strikes a pose on Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston, Jamaica: After ripping the runway at the recently concluded Pulse – Caribbean Fashion Week, plans are now in high gear for dancehall recording artiste D’Angel to make good on her promise of delivering a memorable performance at the 2010 staging of Reggae Sumfest destined for Catherine Hall, Montego Bay. Though not her first time on the big stage, D’Angel is focused on leaving her imprint on the expected thousands in attendance on Dancehall Night.

“I plan to pull out all the stops, not just to go on stage and sing my songs. I want to leave something memorable that people will talk about even after the festival has ended.”

Meanwhile D’Angel currently one of the campaign faces of telecom giants Digicel, last week kicked off their ‘Juss Buss’ Road Show alongside other acts. The ‘Bigger Better’ company now a staple across the Caribbean and Latin America also rolled out their first official musical compilation entitled ‘Next Generation’ which features several prominent entertainers including D’Angel with a song titled ‘New Generation’.

Equipped with several new singles and the premier of her scorching hot video for ‘Come Over’, the Dancehall fashionista is scheduled to perform at a number of events in the weeks ahead including: Manchester Fiesta, Little Ochi Seafood Festival and Radio Jamaica Group (RJR) 60th Anniversary among others.

Kingston Jamaica: July 05, 2010: Chedda, currently riding high on the local airwaves with the singles ‘Fresh To Death’, ‘Jacket’ and ‘ Can’t Stay Poor’ is set to unravel is lyrical artistry this weekend at Bling Dawg’s – Summer Jam concert set for Saturday, July 10th at Somerset Falls, Portland. The annual showcase will feature a number of A-List entertainers including: Bounty Killer, Mavado, Aidonia, Busy Signal, reggae crooners I-Octane, Tarrus Riley among others.

Chedda will then turn his attention to Sugarman’s Beach, Portmore, St. Catherine for the inaugural staging of the Tidal Waves beach party performing alongside dancehall bad boy Vybz Kartel. Read the rest of this entry »

Capleton

A resurgent Capleton, with Fed Up With the System, & a fast rising Nando, with Say What You Wanna, headline the Love & Life Riddim, the most recent offering from producer Barry O’Hare and executive producer Noel “Powermack” McKinson. The Love & Life Riddim was pre-released several weeks ago and has been getting heavy rotation in Jamaica and amongst reggae aficionados in Europe since then.

Nando

You have to go way back to classics such as Raggy Road and Jah Jah City to hear Capleton really sounding so melodious and evocative as he does on Fed Up With the System, a track that really should resonate strongly with the working class that is fed up with the social and economic injustices that they have to contend with on a daily basis. While Capleton is fed up with life, Nando is fed up with love. The velvet voice singer who is garnering a lot of attention with his brand of island pop, including Look At All These Girls, which is beginning to build global momentum, shows off his versatility by belting out a ballad about his resignation with a relationship that has deteriorated to an irreparable stage.

The Love & Life Riddim has all the makings for a classic riddim in the mould of Drop Leaf, except that it does not have as many songs as Drop Leaf has; however, sometime less is more, so deejays can spend more time playing these two outstanding tracks.

The saga continues in the Christopher “DUDUS” Coke drama (yes I call it drama because the script was written by … and so many role players involved), now a US Newspaper is claiming that some of Jamaica’s top artistes are linked to the DON. One will ask where is the evidence to back up their claims? If you are going to wag your fingers and name names then at least produce the evidence.

You may be wondering what I’m rambling about, its about an article I read in the Jamaica Observer, which states that popular US newspaper has linked the names of deejays with former Tivoli strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke but offered no evidence for its claim, which International Reggae Day founder Andrea Davis called unfortunate for the industry. Read the rest of this entry »