Buju Banton Angry, Hits out on “Freedom in the USA”
September 28, 2006
Buju Banton has freedom on his mind. Freedom in America. “I don’t see any freedom in America - it’s an illusion, the freedom you have,” Banton says by phone from North Carolina. The reggae superstar is crossing the country on tour through late October. “You fool yourself every day of your life while there are massacres … racial discrimination, dehumanization and mental segregation and these other things,” Banton says in his thick Jamaican patois. “Freedom? When I cannot even bring a bottle of water to drink on a plane? I’ve never known a great nation that was afraid of water. Freedom is an illusion for the few, the elite few who are wealthy and rich (enjoy freedom). Freedom for the common people? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
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Launch of IRI Awards & IRMA set for 2007
September 19, 2006
At a recently held meeting of the board of directors of the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica(RIAJam) a decison was taken to officially launch the International Reggae Music Academy(IRMA) and the International Reggae Industry Awards(IRI Awards) in Spring of 2007. The date and detailed plans for the first IRI Awards will be announced at the official launch which will take place in Kingston during Cricket World Cup 2007.
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Boss Sounds Reggae Festival in Newcastle Nov 18th - 19th, 2006
September 19, 2006
The Boss Sounds Reggae Festival, the UK’s biggest reggae festival will take place in NewcastleGateshead on the 18th and 19th of November at the University of Northumbria. The festival brings together many of greats from the music’s golden age. Artists lined up to appear include Jimmy Cliff, Prince Buster, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Horace Andy, Linton Kwesi Johnson (see photo), Janet Kay, Dennis Bovell’s Dub Band Trojan Sound System, Pama International + DJ Don Letts.
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Sean Paul has signed on to perform peace song
September 19, 2006
The 25th anniversary of the UN’s International Day of Peace is approaching in December of this year, and some of music’s top artists will be lending a hand. Sean Paul has signed on to perform the peace song “One Day,” along with superstars like Chris Brown, Eve, Bone Thugs, Floetry, Lyfe Jennings, Mario, and Cassidy. The track is to be produced by Swiss Beatz, the man behind some of music’s greatest collaborations.
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Cham: Baby Cham Is All Grown Up On New
September 15, 2006
Whenever an established artist changes their nom de guerre, as Cham has recently done, dropping the
Jamaica and Japan see reggae ties
September 12, 2006
Akihiko Narisawa came to Jamaica two years ago from Japan with one aim in mind - to find authentic Jamaican music produced by Jamaican artists and send it back to his homeland, where love for Jamaican reggae had skyrocketed to almost cultish proportions. “I am interested in reggae and I want to know more about reggae music, and understand more about Jamaican culture and people,” Mr Narisawa says. “I can really only understand Jamaica if I’m here.”
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Buju Banton - Too Bad coming September 12th 2006
September 10, 2006
Mark “Buju Banton” Myrie is set to release his latest album ” Too Bad” after his 2003 successful grammy nominated “Friends for Life” album. Too Bad promises to be a pure dancehall album, something Buju has not done in quite a while. Coinciding with the release of his latest album is a North American tour which kicks off in Michigan later this month. Expect a full album review of Too Bad as soon as Reggaelifetyle.com picks up our copy in a few days.
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The Game feat Junior Reid - It’s Ok (one blood)
September 6, 2006
Pros:
Killer Beat
Good Mixing
Cons:
One blood unity song taken out of context
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Tanya Stephens Rocks the World
September 1, 2006
This week’s piece is written with woman in mind because it is not a man’s world. It has been long since I last did a piece on a female reggae artiste. It’s only fair that I feature one this week. Interestingly though, the incredibly sexy artiste that I feature this week hates being categorised as a female singer. “…I hate being categorised as female singer because my job has nothing to do with gender. Don’t say I am one of the best female lyricists in Jamaica. You are not really complimenting me at all. There is so few females and even less who actually write their own stuff…”, the artiste says.
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Tanya Stephens - These Streets [lyrics]
September 1, 2006
You know
I can still remember when it was just me and you
suddenly it turn you and your crew
forget everything bout your boo
I wish you woulda treat me like ya glock
I woulda love it if you keep me pon cock
I wish you woulda treat me like ya yacht
keep me wet while the waves them a rock
Why can’t you stay pon me like the corner
and keep your lips pon me like your marijuana
I woulda love it if you treat me like a club
stay up inna me whole night just a bump and grind and rock
