Blessed Love, One and All. This Week in Reggae, we have videos of Buju Banton in the studio, recording new material. There is new music from Squash, following his release from jail in December, Spragga Benz, Jah Cure, Romain Virgo, Quada, Popcaan, Eyesus and dub poet Oku Onuora. Sean Paul and wife awaits new baby. Protoje criticizes Jamaican Government. Vybz Kartel declares himself the King of Dancehall. Spice makes history, being the first Jamaican female DJ to play in Gambia. As usual, we have local reggae news and birthday shouts in This Week in Reggae.
– A Likkle Labrish –
NEW ADDITION
Reggae in Seattle would like to wish dancehall legend SEAN PAUL and his wife Jodi Stewart Henriques congratulations on expecting their second child, a baby girl in addition to their 2-year son Levi Blaze.
Sean Paul shared a family portrait with a quote that reads “Every rockstar needs a sidekick, arriving August 2019.”
PROTOJE CRITICAL OF JAMAICA GOVERNMENT
PROTOJE criticizes Jamaican Government for not supporting Reggae Music during reggae Month.
“People don’t show up and you wonder why? You have to involve the youths dem or you become a dinosaur. Go to the people who have the culture on tap.”
Protoje said that neither himself nor other conscious artists, such as Chronixx, Koffee or Lila Ike were contacted by the Jamaican Government to perform or give feedback at events during Reggae Month, which was established in 2008 by the Government as a means of honoring the contribution of music to the development of the country. He went on to say:
“How come nobody from Reggae Month come to a Protoje or Chronixx. We have the culture on tap. You cannot go around we, and the moment you do that and go around the youths them, like Lila Ike and Koffee, then you put yourself out of relevance.”
VYBZ KARTEL DISSES BEENIE MAN
VYBZ KARTEL disses rival artists and announces he is the Dancehall King
“One Worl’ Boss One #Don One #King … any other king is @burgerking 🤣”
He also took jabs at MVP members Mavado and Alkaline, in another post:
“Some a Dem dj ya live a farin and nobody nuh know dem…dem say me live a #prison but the #King stays #Risen”
BUJU BANTON IN THE STUDIO
BUJU BANTON released this audio-free video as a teaser that he is indeed in the studio recording new material.
SQUASH RELEASES VIDEO
Dancehall artist SQUASH from Mobay was released in December 2018, following his arrest last summer in St. James as part of the State of Emergency imposed by the government. He just dropped the video for his song “Trending” that was originally recorded in July 2018 and has been creating waves with a slew of new singles including a track with Vybz Kartel titled “Can’t Be The Same.”
SPRAGGA BENZ COLLABORATION VIDEO RELEASE
Jamaican dancehall veteran SPRAGGA BENZ spent an extended time in London in 2017 at the invitation Buttercuts Records who wanted to make an album, pairing Spragga with some of the top vocalists and producers representing English genres that have Jamaican dancehall roots including drum and bass, grime and British hip-hop. The first single “Differ,” was released in November, 2018 and, in January 2019, Spragga recruited three of dancehall’s finest to contribute on the “Differ Remix”: Sasco, Sean Paul and Chi Ching Ching.
DANCEHALL DIVA SPICE ARRIVES IN GAMBIA
AND MAKES HISTORY
SPICE received a Queen’s welcome as she arrived in Gambia.
– New Music –
JAH CURE – Jah Watch Over His People
ROMAINE VIRGO – Progress
OKU ONUORA – If Not Now
QUADA – Hail
POPCAAN Best/Blessed
EYESUS – Gyal Bend Ova
– The Happenings: Local Reggae News –
Solid Sound just announced LEILANI WOLFGRAMM with Sol Seed, Rebel Lion appearing at Nectar Lounge on April 21, 2019, and MAX ROMEO and DUBTONIC KRU April 3, 2019.
BLACK UHURU is back on March 9, 2019, at Nectar Lounge. We’re especially looking forward to this show! Black Uhuru was scheduled to perform August 29, 2018, and promised to reschedule for the spring, and voilà, they’re back!
Also, don’t forget that our local favorite CLINTON FEARON & Boogie Brown Band with Georgetown Orbits will be in Nectar Lounge in two weeks on March 9, 2019. And, his show always sells out so get those tickets.
Culture Yard Presents, Culture Fridays at Rhumba Notes, Featuring STAY GROUNDED band, and DJ NC HONEY. Opening Night Friday, March 8, 2019, at 9 pm $10.00, and it’s 21+
THIS SATURDAY, March 2, 2019, Live Outta California, Red Lounge and Y2K Sound present, DJ Danger and DJ Prince with Danger Zone Sound System. Also featured XTEN, Y2K Sound, and ZJ Veteran. $15 before Midnight. It’s 21 and, and they’re saying, dress to impress.
Every Monday, Zions Gate Sound has the Monday Night #JamJam at the Monkey Loft with DJ Element & guests. $10.00 after 10PM and it’s 21 and over.
If you have a local reggae event, you’d like for us to include in This Week in Reggae; please contact us at info [at] reggaeinseattle [dot] com.
– Blessed Earth Strong –
This week we celebrate the Blessed Earth Strong of the following artists:
Feb 26 – Ky-Mani Marley
Mar 02 – Romario Sebastian Anthony Bennett aka “Runkus”
Mar 03 – Jackie Mittoo
Mar 03 – Marlon Plunkett aka “Kiprich” and…
Mar 01 – Blessed Earth Strong to the icon and protege’ of Bob Marley:
Winston Rodney aka “Burning Spear”
– This Week in Reggae Playlist –
This week, our Selecta Rawleeman, takes us back into the Roots of Reggae.
Every week is a new playlist, so make sure you’re following us on Spotify: RISE
– Meditation of the Week –
“One good thing about music, when it hits, you feel no pain.”
– Bob Marley –
– – – – –
UNTIL NEXT WEEK – ONE LOVE
