"Call Di Contracta (Tutty Gran')" - DJ Powa Refix Video

This was just too good for me not to drop on my blog! Best video since the Cliftwang Brown Cannon Cross it video back in 2011! Jamaicans are the best I tell you!

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Farewell Cool Ruler

Image from http://www.jahreggaeshop.com

The man dubbed as the Cool Ruler, an icon in the Jamaican Lovers Rock music, Gregory Isaacs has passed. This great Jamaican musical icon succumbed to his fight against lung cancer on October 25, 2010 in London at the age of 59.

Gregory Isaacs forty year musical career produced several hits such as Love is Overdue, Out Deh, Sad To Know, Big All Around, Rumours and my all time favorite Night Nurse. Like most great artistes he had his fair share of problems, due to his well known abuse of cocaine and subsequent run in with the law. Nevertheless Isaacs still managed to continue to produce hits and to have a successful career. He was also a staple and well anticipated performer at the Heineken Startime show which featured artistes and songs from the 70's.

Gregory Isaacs was certainly a great artiste and a powerful force in the Jamaican music and entertainment industry. Another great Jamaican icon has passed.

Enjoy my all time greatest Gregory Isaacs song, Night Nurse, below.

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Remembering The King of Pop!

Wow! It always amazes my how quickly time goes by! Today June 25, 2010 marks exactly one tear since the man hailed as The King of Pop, Michael Jackson died! It seems as if it was just yesterday I heard the shocking news and still in disbelief I hesitantly posted my post "Michael Jackson Dead!!!" Yes, it was one year ago the world received the shocking news that an icon in the world of music, the man whose music has thrilled so many generations both young and old dies under questionable circumstances.

June 25, 2009, will always be remembered as the day music suffered one of its greatest loss, that of the innovative and creative Micheal Jackson. The shock of his deal was compounded by the fact that Michael was in  preparing to host a massive tour, "This is It", which was hailed to be his major comeback from his hiatus from the music scene. No doubt his fans suffered from a pungent mixture of shock, disappointment, anger and the very evident outpouring of grief.

Michael Jackson did have his low points, which as with any mega superstar, was dished out by the media in an abundance. Michael was rocked with scandals after scandals, law suites, the scourge of the media, outrage from some of his fans, financial difficulties and was often the subject of many jokes. Nevertheless, Michael Jackson will be remembered as one of, if not, the greatest performer and singer that has walked the face of the earth and will always be the King of Pop!

In honour of this awesome artiste, here is a tribute, which ironically was done by the man himself



Here are a few of his hits from back in the days for your viewing and listening pleasure







What are your Michael Jackson favorites?
[CLICK HERE FOR A COLLECTION OF HIS NUMBER ONE HITS]

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Voicemail Member O'Neil Has Died

Photo: Jamaica Observer

In the midst of a higher death toll of forty four (44) civilians, released by the Public Defender this morning, Jamaica has learned about yest another death. O'Neil Edwards of the locally popular group Voicemail, after a long battle for his life, succumbed to his wounds this afternoon.

Photo: Jamaica Gleaner

It was reported that Edwards was ambushed and shot repeatedly, at least five (5) times, as he attempted to open his gate after returning home about 1:00am on May 10, 2010. He was discovered by neighbours and was rushed to the hospital where he has since been battling for his life. Since the incident, several local entertainers and fans help a public prayer vigil in Half Way tree to show their support for O'Neil and in hopes of some kind of recovery.

Photo: Yardflex.com

The attack on O'Neil, a popular entertainer, certainly shook many members of the music fraternity as well as fans  and violently demponstrated the far reaching grasps of criminality in our society. The grief will go even further, now that he has passed. Our entertainment industry has lost one of its prominent talents. The group Voicemail will never be the same, his family and friends as well as countless fans will no doubt see and feel the loss. Condolences to his family and friends.

Here are a few videos of the popular songs from the group:









Sources: http://www.yardflex.com/archives/006345.html#more, http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Voice-Mail-member-O-Neil-Edwards-shot-, http://gallery.jamaica-gleaner.com/gallery/voicemail-member-shot/, http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100526/lead/lead11.html

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No, Bounty, No...

Bounty, Bounty, Bounty, when will you learn? The iconic Dancehall Artist, Mr Cross, Angry and Miserable Bounty Killer (Rodney Price) certainly lived up to is titles at the Shaggy and Friends charity show which took place on the lawns of Kings House over the weekend.

Bounty Killer is well known for his hit Dancehall songs and as the leader of the Alliance Dancehall conglomerate, but the self proclaimed Poor People Governor is also well known for his incessant onstage tracing (cursing). So much so is his constant bickering and arguing that, that it seems on every performance he has to spend a good portion of his segment cursing someone or some entity.

Not even the upscale Shaggy and Friends Charity show was not spared the onslaught of the famous Bounty lap-skirt-tail cursing! The Jamaica Star, recalls the actions as the unfolded,

Minutes after 2 a.m., Mavado who was not booked for the show, was called onstage by Shaggy.

The Alliance member after reminding everyone that he's So Special, pledged to make a donation but said he could not do it "without him daddy... (Bounty Killer)".

Bounty Killer then entered the stage to a cheers from the crowd.

Those cheers would easily die away and make for a moment of relative silence and a few dropped jaws as the deejay came out blaring, "...... (Fassyhole) an' ...... (Battyman) nuh waa dem aroun mi ..." part of the chorus to his 1997 hit, Eagle And Di Hawk.

"Sorry but me haffi talk," he then said before continuing, "nuff a dem a ... (I figure he said Battyman) dats why dem nuh have nuh pickney ..."

Come on Bounty, after being in the Dancehall business for as long as over twenty years, you still don't know when and where to say certain things? This is a well known, well rated, benefit concert with patrons spanning form the influential business people, politicians, overseas interests, diplomats and the rich "uptown" ("upper" class) people in the society and this is how Bounty Killer conducts himself! According to The Jamaica Star, it is believed that Bounty's action resulted in the premature end of the show and a very embarrassed and upset Shaggy, who left the stage without thanking the patrons for their support. I understand that Bounty as well as basically all Dancehall Artistes are very outspoken against homosexuality, and in Jamaica there is a time, place and audience that will welcome such sentiments. However, Mr. Bounty Killer, this event was not definitely not one of those occasions!

Bounty Killer, has since released an apology for his latest tantrum at the event. But no amount of apologies can undo the effects of his thoughtless, selfish and stupid behaviour at the event. Bounty as well as several other Dancehall artistes need to wake up and learn how to conduct themselves appropriately based on the given environment.

Source: http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20100104/ent/ent1.html

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Gaza Two Mouth?

Picture: OutaRoad.com

By now everyone in Jamaica and Dancehall fans everywhere should have heard about Lisa Hype and her infamous oral sex photograph. This photo received quite a few comments from the Jamaican public as well as fellow Dancehall artistes. One artiste in particular, female DJ Stacious capitalized on this revelation with a song she penned that featured lyrics pertaining to Lisa Hype's oral tendency. however, it seems Lisa Hype's fallout from her oral sex photo did not just stop at the public opinion or the damning words of other Dancehall artistes!

Lisa Hype has been "blown" off,, yes expelled from the Portmore Empire by the their leader Vybez Kartel. According to The Jamaica Star, Vybez has issued a statement saying, "the members of the Empire have unanimously agreed to end our professional relationship especially in light of certain 'developments' that have come to our attention regarding her overall conduct. Conduct that is not consistent with the decorum expected of a member of the Portmore Empire." No doubt this "certain developments regarding Lisa Hype's conduct is in reference to her photo graph and proud admittance of performing oral sex. However, I find this statement and action by Vybez Kartel and his Portmore Empire to be very hypocritical! This is coming from a man who in one of his biggest and most well known song was in full support of a woman performing oral sex! In case you forget, let me drop a quote from his song "Tek Buddy Gyal",

... Tek rod fi di goods from seprod
Plus di ceramic tiles and di gold plate door knob
That a guh cause yuh a blow job...

... Mines sing and DJ like Lady G
A who pay yuh visa fee?
Grab me cocky and sing pan it like Alicia Key...

If it is fact that the reason Vybez is dismissing Lisa Hype is because of the fact that she was caught performing oral sex, then he is a big hypocrite! She is just, as I see it, living up to the expectation of her mentor, the Gaza king, Vybez Kartel. I even suspect that it was probably Kartel's "mic" she was "deejaying" on, if I read deeply into certain images. Granted I am not coming to the defense of Lisa Hype. I'm not sorry for her, as it's her responsibility to ensure her private acts remain private. However, I just find our Dancehall artistes to be too hypocritical on many topics and the subject of oral sex is one in the forefront. If they hit out against it in their songs and statements, then they shouldn't be practicing it at all (either doing or having it done to them) under the quiet. These DJs need to be true to their words and stop to two mouth, two tongue thing!

Source: http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20091230/ent/ent1.html

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Driva A Stopped!!!

Driver, don't stop at all, drop this Arizona round a Alba Mall
Driver, don't even hitch, collect dat likkle food deh yah and come back quick
Driver, just rememba di damn speed limit
Cau if yuh, run in di Feds my friend dat is it

-Driver A by Buju Banton

Well it seems when Buju penned those words to the song Driver A, he wasn't expecting to be in the hands of the Feds! Well none of his fans, as a matter of fact none of us expected to hear news that one of Jamaica's most well known artiste would be locked up by the American police for dealing in drugs! I bet the entire Jamaica was shocked when they saw the news that Reggae/Dancehall artiste Buju Banton (Mark Anthony Myrie) has been arrested in Miami for cocaine! Buju as well as two other men have been held in a sting operation by undercover DEA agents and it is alleged that they were in the process of purchasing five kilograms of cocaine.

I was shocked to hear the news that he was arrested for drugs, but even more shocked to hear that it was cocaine! I mean if he was being arrested for drugs, the first thought is that it would have been for weed (marijuana), but cocaine! It is alleged by the US law enforcement officers that Buju was instrumental in the drug deal and has been recorded brokering the deal and even recorded tasting the drug for validity. This is one tough pickle Buju is in, even though it is reported that he vigorously denies being a part of the drug deal. However, his denial is not enough to get him off the hook and it certainly not an easy road to beat this charge.

There has been no official word from Buju's management team on the issue and the local law enforcement personnel has not indicated that they have specifics on Buju's charges. However, we do know according to the Associated Press that Buju faces a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and faces up to 20 years in prison. It will be interesting to see how this turns out for Buju, who was just recently nominated for a Grammy for his latest album Rasta Got Soul. All of Buju's fans and of course Jamaicans on a whole are eager to hear the details and the fate of this popular artiste. Is he really innocent? Was he setup? is it a great conspiracy due to his anti-gay songs and recent nomination? I guess we all have to wait to see how this unfortunate ordeal plays out.

Source: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091215/lead/lead1.html, http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091214/lead/lead1.html, http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091213/lead/lead1.html, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g22fxkrM8bnyJ6iWw7HcA-IycAZQD9CJR8E82

Poll Results

Do you think Buju Banton is guilty of the drug charges?

No	9 (26%)
Yes	19 (55%)
Not sure	5 (14%)
What drug charges?	1 (2%)

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It Was Ony A Matter Of Time...

Yes, it was only a matter of time before the great DJ from Pirate Bay, Elephant Man, caught on and copied Jay Z and Alecia Keys song Empire State Of Mind and adapted it to make his new song! Elephant man has reconstructed Empire State Of Mind and has released a song called Kingston.! When will Elephant Man ever be original? When? Ele strikes again!

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Anything for You... Pull it Up!

I haven't posted a Pull it Up video in a long time. While dancing to the mixes at Mello Vibes I heard this song and I said to myself that I just had to post it! This was one of my favorite songs from era when Dancehall music was real music. Hey crowd a people unnuh remember this one?



On another note, I have received the money from the man who reversed into my car and I plan to drop off the car on Friday to have some work done on it. Hopefully my baby will be looking like new again! Have a great weekend my peeps!

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Love Reigns

There has been a lot of negative press about our popular music here in Jamaica, but not all of our Dancehall/Reggae music is less than desirable. There are still very good songs being played on our airwaves. Love Reigns by Tarrus Riley and Bugle, two of Jamaica's newer artistes and also two of the best, is one such song.

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No More Daggerin and No More Rampin!!!

That's exactly what the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica has said, effectively banning all songs, on all public media, that make reference to this now popular act in the Dancehall circle. This ruling was announced by Hopeton Dunn, the commission chairman in no uncertain terms as he said,

There shall not be transmitted through radio or television, any recording, live song or music video which promotes the act of 'daggering' or which makes reference to, or is otherwise suggestive of 'daggering'.

However, the ban did not just stop at Daggerin (also spelt Daggering), but has been extended to all songs which employs any type of editing techniques to remove expletives and certain lewd content. This ruling no doubt was spurred by the latest Dancehall song to take the nation by storm, Spice and Vibez Kartel, Rampin Shop (see video here). Dunn continued,

There shall not be transmitted through radio or television or cable services, any audio recording, song or music video which employs editing techniques or bleeping of its original lyrical content,

This action by the Broadcasting Commission, is as a result of much criticism from many circles of the local hit, Rampin Shop and other Dancehall songs now hitting our radio waves. The move was also triggered by mounting pressure that they should be more vigilant at policing the nations airwaves to ensure that radio and television stations don't breach the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations.

The move by the Broadcasting Commission has been welcomed by many in our society, including organizations such as the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) and the Media Association of Jamaica. No doubt other aspects of the society including the churches, Jamaica Teachers Association and schools and any parents will welcome this move also.

I too am in full support of the Broadcasting Commission to ban the promotion of the activity called Daggerin and songs such Rampin Shop which feature an overdose of sexual references and violence. I find the act, will not call it a dance, of Daggerin to be tasteless and totally barbaric. Some may say it's a part of our culture and people should be free to express themselves, but where do we cross the line? I have watched several videos of Daggerin and after the initial amusement, reality sets in as I stare in disbelief that people really behave like this and go out on the street to behave like... basically savages. The so-called dance moves are not just lewd mimicking of extreme sexual acts, but it look outright dangerous!

Our culture is such that most of our songs make references to violence and sex, but which song out there whether Rock, R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, does not do the same? The truth is almost all songs on the radio these days make references to these two primal behaviour of human, however, while some songs merely allude to them, other songs explicitly outline these acts of violence and sexual behaviour. The latter is what I really have a problem with and songs such as Rompin Shop is one such song that explicitly describe the sexual acts between a couple. Such songs are in my view definitely not fit for public airplay. I will even go further to say that I too agree that no song that has to be edited with a "bleep" should be played on our public stations. I believe that songs should be made airworthy and if an artiste has a hit then he needs to make a radio version (clean version) and a CD version (dirty version) to suit each audience. If this was done we wouldn't still be having the embarrassing situation of radio stations having to apologise and discipline disc jockeys for the one or two indecent parts of a song that escaped the bleep.

Stations have to please their audience in order to survive, however pleasing the audience does not mean only playing what a part of the audience likes, but also minimising the content that offends a considerable portion of their general audience. Responsibility in content delivery is even more important when such a large part of the listening ear are the impressionable among us, our teens, our children and those who do not have the mental capability not to act on these corrupting messages. Artistes and radio/television stations as well as the printed media need to be responsible and mindful of their audience and their social responsibility.

However, although I agree with the Broadcasting Commission's move to ban Daggering content and songs that require editing for radio play, I wonder why it took so long? It is their job to police what is good for public broadcast as prescribed by Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations. So why did they have to wait on public outcry and pressure for them to take a step to ban such material? What have they been doing and what are they doing, for my hard earned taxpayer dollars? The Broadcasting Commission need to pull up their socks and this incident really shows them up.

I think I have said quite a mouthful on this topic. So what are your views on this recent move by the Broadcasting Commission? Also you can vote at the bottom of this page.

Reference: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090207/lead/lead1.html

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The Dragon Passes

Byron Lee 27 June 1935 - 4 November 2008

On November 04, 2007 while many Jamaican's and Caribbean nationals alike celebrated the victory of Borack Obama, a great loss was in the making. Byron Lee of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, another of Jamaica's greatest music legends, passed on.

Byron Lee is synonymous with Soca here in Jamaica and no doubt in other Caribbean countries. His musical career spanned some fifty years and he was also one of the foremost persons credited with the inception of the Jamaica Carnival. Byron Lee and the Dragonaires was the headline band for almost all of the Carnival and Soca events, but his music extends even to other functions and events throughout the year. He was recently conferred with the Order of Jamaica during a special ceremony at the hospital last week by Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and the Prime Minister, Bruce Golding.

Byron Lee has been fighting a battle with bladder cancer since 2006, but finally lost against this killer on November 4, 2008 at the age of 73. Byron Lee, also called the Dragon, a true icon of the Jamaica Music industry and Soca will be dearly missed.

Here is a little flashback to one of his most famous Songs, Tiney Winey.

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A Legend Passes

Another great legend of the Jamaica music scene, Alton Ellis, has passed. One of the kings of the Jamaican lover's rock, Ska and Rocksteady, Alton Ellis had the power to sway his audience both young and old to his soothing music. He was one of the crowd favorites and a highlight of the Heineken Startime show. This great Jamaican singer is best known for lovers rock such as Muriel, Dancecrasher, Girl I've Got a Date, I'm Just a Guy and I'm Still in Love. In 2003, dancehall superstar Sean Paul and singer Sasha had a minor hit in the United States with their cover of his song, I'm Still in Love.

Alton Ellis succumbed to his fight with Lymphatic cancer on Friday at the age of 70 in London, where he has been living for some time now. This great Jamaican music icon will be dearly missed.

Here is a live performance I found on YouTube of this great Jamaican artiste.

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Girl You Make My Day - Pull it Up!

My car loan finally got approved today, but I think it's a bit too late to get my car by this weekend though. But I will still put out a strong attempt to push through as much I can in an attempt to get my car. So I want to be up and out of here early tomorrow morning to get as much I can, because this walk-foot situation really not working out!

Well it's another Friday and the beginning of another weekend so I have to start the weekend right. I haven't posted any video from my Pull It Up series in a while, so I decided to break the spell today. This one is a blast way back in the past, from the early days of Buju Banton, way back in 1993, "Girl you Make My Day". Back then Buju B didn't have his locks and I doubt he even had facial has at all. But this was one of my favorite music videos back then. As you watch this video, I bet you can all guess why... yes you are right, the arrangement of the song and the lyrics are great! (LOL!)



Hope you enjoyed the video and have a great fun-filled weekend!

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Di Plane Land!

Finally, I am in New York after e lengthy delays caused by Air Jamaica kept me at bay in Jamaica for a ridiculously long time. Yes I know what you must be saying, "But it's Air Jamaica, what do you expect?". Well, yes I did go to the airport expecting the flight to be delayed, but not as long as it did! I will give you that story on Monday. But I'm glad I reached safely and now it's time for me to explore and shop New York style, even though I am on a strict, meager budget. Until Monday you can enjoy my theme song for the trip, Richie Spice, "The Plane Land".

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Pull It Up - Bombastic!

It's Friday again! Yeeahhh! Another weekend and I have one day off, so I guess it won't be that bad. I don't know what I am going to do yet, but I'll think of something. Well, since it is a Friday, the beginning of the weekend, what better way to start the weekend with a blast from the past. This used to be my favorite song back in the day when I was in high school! Ladies you can call me...



Enjoy your weekend!

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Pull It Up - "World Dance"

Well tomorrow is Yesterday... hmm, that kinds sound weird! Well, as I was saying, tomorrow is Yesterday. The party where patrons will relive the best of the 90's and work up a sweat as they enjoy themselves and get lost in the music! My company is having a staff party the same evening, so i think I will pass through and eat up some of the free food, try to win the gate prize (like that will happen!). Then after that I hope to head to Yesterday, by that time the party will be in full swing and the vibes will be flowing. Yes my friend people will be whining and dancing up a storm. An speaking of dancing, do you remember this one?



I hope you liked that dance down memory lane. Anyway enjoy yourselves over the weekend and be responsible as you have fun!

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Pull It Up! - "Flex (Time to Have Sex)"

Yes my friends it's that time again for Pull It Up! I pulled this one from deep in the archives. this tune was the adolescent male theme song for the girls when I was in my teens! Flex (Time to Have Sex) by Mad Cobra! I hope you enjoy it!

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Pull It Up! - "Champion"

As you all know from my posts about Good Times and Yesterday that I am a fan of the 90'a music. Don't get me wrong, I do listen to some of the recent Dancehall songs and actually enjoy quiet a few. But to me the 90's were the best years in Dancehall! Maybe it kind of brings back that nostalgic feel of when I was in my teens and in high school. Aaahhhh yes, the days without stress. But I think I like them more that the songs these days, because the 90's songs to me were the "wine up pon gyal" (No disrespect to the ladies) music!These days when you go to an ordinary session it is common to see groups of males dancing with each other as they try to show off how good the can handle the latest moves. While the women are by themselves dancing. I'm not saying that there are not instances where men and women are dancing and gyrating on each other, but just too much dance moves and division between the sexes. An yuh know Stunner nuh inna the bag a man ting! But Good Times, Yesterday and Mellow Vibes are my kind of parties! Why? Because the play those 90's songs that you can certainly wine up on someone of the opposite sex to. Yeah the good music and the good vibes.

Well all that blabber was just to set the tone for the post. I have decided to pull up some of these songs from back in the days in what I call Pull It Up posts where I will feature the video of one of these popular 90's hits. This is the first of such posts and the song I chose to start things off is Champion (Remix), by Buju Banton. It was released was released in 1995 on Buju's 'Til Siloh album and was one of my favorite songs on that album. I hope you enjoy it and have a good weekend!

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So Busy...These Days

No not me, I'm not busy at all right now, just relaxing on the first of my two consecutive days off! After working such a long weekend, I do need to take a break and relax. But I ended up on the road the entire day, helping out my friend who got her vehicle towed away by the dreaded harbour shark traffic cops. Yeah, they are out on he roads on the first of every month like hungry vultures to snatch up anyone with expired motor vehicle registrations, even if you are on your way to do it.

Anyway that's not the reason for this post, as the title said, "Busy", and that's who I'm talking about, the new artiste on the block, busy Signal. Well he is not so new, but he is new compared to the well known Dancehall artistes. But he has quiet a few hot songs on the market and has shown himself to be a very promising Dancehall artiste. Hopefully he keep it up and makes it on the international scene. I recall MB making mention, in one of his posts, of one of his latest song that is certainly rocking the airwaves here in Jamaica, so I decided to give you a look and listen to the song. I too like it (the radio version), even though the unedited version has more than it's fair share of the 'F' word. But it does pack a powerful message and comments on the very tragic state of our society here in Jamaica and also to a larger extent the world. The title of the song is "These Days". Listen carefully and tell me what you think of it.

Warning: The song contains offensive language (I couldn't find a clean version).

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