Saturday, November 13, 2010

RAZZ & BIGGY BRINGING ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT TO CANADIANS


Dancehall’s Dynamic duo – Razz & Biggy will be joining one of dancehall’s most enigmatic characters – Tony Matterhorn on a Canadian tour which will see them thrilling audiences in Canada from coast to coast

(A.I.M Inc): Just days after a successful two week tour of the Tristate Area, dancehall’s Dynamic duo – Razz & Biggy are currently joining one of dancehall’s most enigmatic characters – Tony Matterhorn on a Canadian tour which will see them thrilling audiences in Canada from coast to coast, an initiative that can only be considered as Ultimate Entertainment. Only fitting that some of Canada’s leading event managers has teamed up to make this tour a reality.

The tour already has them booked for appearances in cities such as Vancouver, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Oshawa and Hamilton. It kicked off on November 11th with the first stop being the Motel Night club in Vancouver. The venue plays host to ‘Boom Blast Reggae Thursdays’ and on that evening will bare witness to the selecting wizardry of Razz & Biggy and the electrifying Stage Performance of Tony Matterhorn.

Taking it up a notch in intensity tonight they’ll be rolling through the Level Two Night Club in Winnipeg. Jamaica’s finest will be joined by some of Canada’s highly requested disc jockeys – Kid Adojah Kapone and Dj Keesh, complemented once more by a live Performance from Tony Matterhorn. On November 13th they will be celebrating at an event called ‘Sting – The Scorpion Celebration’ at the Premium Banquet Hall. The event will see musical selections from Razz & Biggy representing Jamaica, Supa Twitch from Miami, Firekid Steenie from Toronto amongst others.

With no less than six stops in between the tour draws to a close in Hamilton, Ontario on November 20th at the Essence Banquet Hall. The night will see Razz & Biggy matching musical skills with Canada’s well respected Red Flame, Dj Extreme and Vertex Sound.  Tony Matterhorn will be up to his usual antics thrilling the audience as well.

When the duo returns to Jamaica they will be gearing up to turn up the heat in the Blaze Night Club in Portmore for their Inferno Fridays; appropriately dubbed ‘Portmore Bembe’ set to take place on November 26th. “Portmore has been asking for the Bembe vibe for a while and we are ready to bring it to them, all gift wrapped”, Biggy went on to exclaim. Seductive People Looking for an Intimate Time will be following Razz & Biggy to the Event - S.P.L.I.T which is set to take place on November 28th on Red Hills Road across from Calabar High.

Considered by many as some of the hardest working disc jockeys; Razz & Biggy have been hard at work, from promoting their musical productions, to feeding the appetite of the avid dancehall/reggae listener with mixtapes like ‘Songs with Feelings’, ‘Island Pop’ and more recently ‘Freestylin’. The duo never complains about their busy schedule; “we are doing what we love and it hardly ever feels like a burden” comments Razz.

These two are true inspirations to the saying that hard work is the key to success, even though they continue to climb the ladder of success, the work they put in never ceases, instead it expands exponentially to match their strides.

Friday, November 5, 2010

RAZZ & BIGGY THRILLING CROWDS IN AND AROUND NEW YORK

Party goers in the tristate area embracing the selections of Dancehall’s Dynamic Duo


(A.I.M Inc): Dancehall’s dynamic selecting duo – Razz & Biggy, recently left the island for a 2 week mini tour consisting of 8 dates in and around the tristate Area of New York.

Brooklyn, the place that is considered to be New York City’s most populous borough played host to the first stop for Razz & Biggy on their North Eastern tour of the United States with their weekly event – ‘Wah Gwan Wednesdays.

The series that is hailed as a must attend if you are in Brooklyn has played host to many Dancehall/Reggae selectors and sound systems from within the United States and countries like Jamaica and has also witnessed performances from entertainers like Richie Loops and Lady Saw, so it was no surprise that to see Razz & Biggy billed for a stint on October 22nd. No strangers to the New York vibe, the duo thrilled the crowd with pleasing selection after selection.

Next stop was a town called Poughkeepsie which is nestled on the east bank of the Hudson River. A fitting place for the Duo to have hosted their dance classes, playing a string of hits and dancing tunes, the patrons were sent into frenzy soon after they took control of the turn tables and that same energy followed for the rest of the night.

On what should have been their ‘night off’ the duo joined Dancehall Star Serani at the Area Night Club in Queens and needless to say they rocked the house. Serani has become a favourite in the hearts of the ladies of New York and the selecting duo has their fair share of those there as well, together they executed an unforgettable performance.

The duo continued on to Hartford Connecticut on Sunday the 24th with the same vibe and energy they started out with on Wednesday. The event, as promised by the promoters was to be ‘energy packed’ fuel by the selecting engine that is Razz & Biggy. He can rest well knowing that he made a good choice bringing them to Hartford for the event as they didn’t fail at entertaining what was a packed venue. One patron shouted “Razz & Biggy a di baddis ting”! This after Biggy introduced one of the duo’s many dubplates which bounced from the speakers set up around the venue.

What has now become known as the Razz & Biggy Global Express continues to roll on, this mini North Eastern tour continues until October 29th with what is now four dates. By the look of things it could be extended as promoters continue to make bookings for the Express before it rolls on, quite like it has done since the year began thrilling audiences in Europe, the Caribbean and other states in the United States.

The remaining confirmed dates are:

Monday, October 25, 2010 -              Bad Girl Mondays (Bronx)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010           Nantucket (Massachusetts)
Thursday, October 28, 2010               Springfield (Massachusetts)
Friday, October 29, 2010                    Facebook Fridays (Washington)

Sunday, September 12, 2010

RAZZ & BIGGY PAUSE FOR MEDITATION WITH ‘SONGS WITH FEELINGS’

 Razz & Biggy continuously try to raise the bar when it comes to compiling mixtapes that are not only of supreme quality but also of a standard that makes them fit to represent dancehall/reggae music on the world stage

(A.I.M Inc): Finding the perfect mixtape is hard work, often proving to be a tiring process to the purchasing public; it is equally as hard for sound systems and selectors to build or put one together.  However the attentive and ever meticulous “Dynamic Duo” known as Razz & Biggy continuously try to raise the bar when it comes to compiling mixtapes that are not only of supreme quality but also of a standard that makes them fit to represent dancehall/reggae music on the world stage; this is evident in their latest mix tape entitled “Songs with Feelings” released in August 2010.

“Songs with Feelings” has been receiving rave reviews from insiders from the music fraternity both locally and internationally since its release. Dubbed a ‘mix tape for meditation’ it consists of 53 tracks with superbly written material, not just with rhymes and punch lines but many with really deep and sincere messages. The mix tape boasts a line up of Reggae artistes that rival many of the top Reggae compilations; racking up downloads on digital outlets like Itunes and Amazon daily. It was no surprise therefore that only days after its release it took flight across popular mixtape distribution websites locally and internationally and soon racked up hundreds of free downloads.

With this mixtape Razz & Biggy have taken another step towards silencing the numerous critics of the Reggae/Dancehall Genre, many of whom have said that the musicians and producers of today’s generation cannot put together ‘good’ music or that the only music they can create is based on negativity. With Production credits for labels like DASECA Productions (David Harrisingh, Craig Marsh, and Craig Harrisingh) with their Brand New Exodus Riddim and TJ Records (Tj White) with ‘Word of Prayer Riddim’ amongst others, these 53 tracks are a testament to the great production talent that still exist in the Reggae/Dancehall genre.

Songs with Feelings boasts tracks from the highly acclaimed album – Distant Relatives; the combined effort of Nas and Damion Marley, selections from the lyrical prowess of Bugle, the ever melodic voice of Taurrus “Singy Singy’ Riley, the high riding I-Octane, Digicel Rising Star Romaine Virgo, The ever versatile Agent Sasco and the unconditional lover - Jah Cure to name but a few.

It is definitely  efforts such as this one  that not only helps to show case the power of good music but also help to  restore faith in a genre that has over the years been over shadowed by ‘abc rhymes’ and catchy punch lines. Razz & Biggy have yet again created a mixtape that will become a favourite of music collectors worldwide, “Songs with Feelings” is clearly not just another mixtape but one fit for meditation.

Tracked Download Link – http://www.mediafire.com/?wr7bij07298d9f4
Single Track Download Link – http://www.mediafire.com/?lpp0t969cc6dbeo


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Twitter – www.twitter.com/dj_razz
Twitter – www.twitter.com/rnbiggy
Website - http://www.razznbiggy.com/

Sunday, August 15, 2010

RAZZ & BIGGY A BIG HIT IN EUROPE

“It was pleasantly surprising that people so far from us in Jamaica can be singing the songs that are playing in the dancehall locally”

(A.I.M Inc): With the summer in full swing and the appeal for good quality reggae/dancehall music on a high, the dynamic duo known as Razz & Biggy continue creating waves of memorable performances. Locally they have already been booked and represented well at many of the ‘must go’ events for what is the ‘high party season’ in Jamaica.

On the international scene they have been equally as busy representing dancehall/reggae music with international reggae star – Serani. August 1st saw them at the XS Nightclub in Toronto, Ontario rocking the stage one last time; holding the brakes on what was a two month long tour which saw them going across various venues in and around Europe and Canada. While Razz stayed in Jamaica to carry on the duties of the duo locally, Biggy found himself playing in front of twenty five (25) Jam Packed venues for the duration of the tour that saw him thrilling crowds at events/venues such as ‘Summerjam’ in Germany, DA SHAKE in Belgium, Club Ice in Cyprus, Majestic Club in Paris and The Green Bottle, Colossal Nightclub, Hungarian Hall in Canada amongst others.

After a successful tour in March of this year (2010) which saw Biggy, Serani and the team delivering fun-filled and energetic performances across Europe, the word quickly spread about their vibe filled sets and soon requests were being sent for repeat performances and also for visits to new locations/events. Events like Summerjam which is easily one of the largest and well supported reggae/dancehall festivals in Europe saw thousands of enthusiastic supporters flocking to Germany to enjoy music from some of the more highly requested Entertainers representing the Dancehall Genre. Though Biggy did not share the main stage he played and supported Serani on his set on the smaller stage to much satisfaction from the patrons in attendance. “It was pleasantly surprising that people so far from us in Jamaica can be singing the songs that are playing in the dancehall locally”, Biggy commented about his experience at Summer Jam 2010.

With just a few weeks left before summer officially ends, fans are gearing up for another mini-tour featuring Razz & Biggy touching venues across Europe once more, to date five events have already been confirmed and promoters are pitching to add other events that will adequately satisfy the thirst of the Europeans for music straight out of Jamaica. Summer 2010 continues to one of the more eventful ones for the Dynamic Duo.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

‘MID-WEEK RAVERS’ BECOMING MORE TABU


Tabu Nights came right at a time when patrons where hungry for party solutions

(A.I.M Inc.): After just two weeks, the most recent production by the promoters from A.I.M Entertainment has found its way into the hearts of the ‘mid-week ravers’ of Kingston looking to get their fix on Thursday Nights.

Tabu Nights came right at a time when patrons where hungry for party solutions following an atmosphere that was tense after a military led man hunt for alleged Drug lord; Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke which left Kingston and surrounding areas under a Government imposed State of Emergency. Quite like a ray of hope Tabu Nights got off to a start on the weekend immediately following what has become the ‘series of unfortunate events’. The series presented not only good clean entertainment but also fun filled themes that have found great favor with the patrons that have partaken thus far.

The weeks that have past has seen selections from some of the industry’s most sort after selectors, from the Resident Dj’s – Code Red to Dj Narity and Dj Ash to name a few. The themes have been centered around the seductive colour RED and the ever sexy Short shorts and skirts. The later being called Eye Candy was paired with a treat of complimentary lollipops for the female patrons and judging by the smiles on their faces it was well received.

This week (June 17th) will see Tabu Nights rolling out the red carpet for the greatest show on earth – The World Cup with ‘Futbol Feva’. With all the energy and excitement surrounding the World Cup, the vibe will be extended within the walls of Escape 24/7 for this third week of the series. Patrons are encouraged to represent their teams and wear their respective jerseys and enjoy musical selections by the dynamic residents – Code Red joined by Dj Charm and X-Factor.

Tabu Nights continues to enjoy praises by the patrons who have attended not only because of its entertainment value but its value for money. The Tabu Bar boasts 2-4-1 mixed drink specials for only $200, Ladies enter charge free until 12am, College Students pay $300 until 12am and General Admission is $500.

With events like Tabu Nights and others, patrons can continue to look forward to nothing less than an eventful summer and more ‘mid-week raving’.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

RAZZ & BIGGY TRIGGERS A SOCA EXPLOSION

“Our main intention is to sensitize our fans to some of the new and more vibrant songs and riddims of the current soca season”

For those not accustomed to the versatility of Razz & Biggy, it may come as a surprise that they would be able to bring a musical vibe using soca, but that is exactly what the duo where able to produce with their first ever soca mixtape entitled Soca Explosion – Volume 1.

Though they have never released a soca mixtape, they have been able to satisfy the thirst of soca revelers in high energy markets such as Trinidad where they have been able to deliver thrilling sets to these audiences over the years and as recent as the just concluded Trinidad Carnival where they did five (5) shows with DASECA hit maker; Serani.

“On Soca Explosion our main intention is to sensitize our fans to some of the new and more vibrant songs and riddims of the current soca season” Razz states. With that said the mixtape is bundled together with 36 tracks of high energy tracks that have the capability to get any crowd moving. Clearly the duo have used their expert selecting skills to pool together the best of the best of the 2010 and used them to prepare a sensational Soca package for their fans. The vibe starts of on a high note with Police by Shal Marshall and flows in the winner of the Trinidad Soca Monarch 2010 Competition; Palance, which is very much a crowd favourite across the islands. Other tracks from the competition such as True Lies by Fay-Ann Lyons, Murdah by Shurwayne Winchester and Wuk it by Patrice Roberts also met the selection criteria.

This season has been a good season in terms of the quality of events executed and the tracks produced. It saw quite a few dancehall acts either doing collaborations with soca artistes are experimenting with the genre all on their own. Razz & Biggy have consistently stood firm in their commitment to bring Jamaican music to the forefront, in so doing, it comes as no surprise that they added tracks like Bubble remix by Makamillion featuring Pamputte, Hot Like Pepper by Machel Montano featuring Serani, Love a come down (remix) by Demarco featuring Machel Montano and Woi gyal Woi by Busy Signal featuring Machel Montano to the their Soca Explosion Volume 1 mixtape.

The vibe created at the beginning of the mixtape continued through to Pon di Floor by Major Lazer allowing the Razz & Biggy’s Soca Explosion to end on just as high a note as it began allowing them the room yet again to confirm their versatility.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

RAZZ & BIGGY FRESH FROM EUROPE

Razz & Biggy and Serani recently returned to Jamaica fresh from a tour which saw them representing dancehall/reggae music throughout Europe and Trinidad. The European leg of the tour was quite extensive, it spanned a month, covered 19 venues across Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. There were also five (5) stops in Trinidad to complete this tour. Biggy represented the dynamic duo on this tour where he was the selected Disc Jockey for Reggae/Dancehall hit maker, Serani. The tour brought Serani and his music to his European Fans and was equally an opportunity to sensitize the European market to the musical selections of Razz & Biggy. The task for Biggy was to bring the vibe & energy in each venue to a fever pitch before Serani’s Performances and support him during his sets, a task he delivered on night after night.

Biggy explains that the experience in Europe is not one that can be compared to any other. The audiences in Europe are “very excited about dancehall and reggae music”. All nineteen venues were jam packed with capacity filled crowds at each stop all coming out to witness our (Jamaican) music, “even singing some of these songs word for word” continued Biggy. It is always an overwhelming experience to play in front of an audience, it is that more special when these patrons first language is not English. Biggy affirms that he is always humbled by the reception that the music receives in these territories and it is always an enticing offer to take trips of this nature to deliver musical sets to audiences that have a natural love for the music. A misconception that the talented disc jockey would like to dispel is that people tend to believe that only ‘one drop’ or conventional reggae artistes can attract a crowd throughout Europe. This he says is far from the truth. Our music has evolved and transcended most boundaries and as a result “the same songs that are crowd favourites in Jamaica are crowd favourites across most of Europe as well”, he comments.

Trinidad’s High Energy Carnival Season always has elements of the Jamaican Culture injected in it; from performances by some of our entertainers to selections from some of the island’s highly rated disc jockeys. Biggy found himself at some of these high energy events powered by the Carnival fever that was sweeping through Trinidad. He was able to find the perfect blend of Dancehall, soca and reggae to wet the appetite of the Carnival revelers.

Now back in Jamaica the Duo continue to work hard hot on the heels of the release of their first Production - the First Born Riddim which features a track by Razz & Biggy titled – ‘How We Stay’ along with tracks from Tony Matterhorn, Bugle, Serani, Raine Seville, Kibaki, Charley Blacks, Flippa Mafia and Laden. The Riddim has already gained favourable airplay locally and is currently filtering overseas to places like Antigua where it has already been hailed as a favourite among radio disc Jockeys.



Click here to download the First Born Riddim

Click Here to download Razz & Biggy @ Fire Rama

Check out vibe in Antigua when the First Born Riddim was Released there

BILL$ - The After Champs Edition

“New Dawn Entertainment’s Bill$ represents affordable and responsible partying”


The event that has consistently proved to be the most cost effective event for patrons year after year returns with the Easter 2010 production. New Dawn Entertainment is set to execute another staging of Bill$, this year it will be the After Champs Edition.


The team has returned to their home at Ultimate Car Care (20 Holborn Road, New Kingston) aimed at giving their die hearted patrons that relaxed and familiar atmosphere in which to unwind and enjoy the great vibe that is being prepared for them. The entertainment as always is in capable hands, for the Easter Edition we will be enjoying the musical selections of Kingston AllStars, Dj Narity, Coppershot and Supa Hype.


With the energy surrounding the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championship 2010 approaching fever pitch, patrons are being encouraged to take that same energy with them to this staging of Bill$. Come out representing their schools or Alma – maters in which ever way they see fit; sporting a rag, a cap, the school tie, crest, shirt or even a flag. New Dawn Entertainment is devoted to allowing their patrons to safely enjoy themselves while not breaking themselves in the bank at the same time, the end result? Everybody loosening up and partying to their hearts content, “that’s what New Dawn Entertainment’s Bill$ represents; affordable and responsible partying” echoed almost in unison by Danielle Davis and Rajiv Punnacy of the New Dawn Entertainment Team.


In keeping with that promise and standing true to what has always been said about New Dawn’s Bill$ the event is affordably priced with General Entry set at 5 Bills ($500), ladies are $100 b4 10pm (gates open at 9pm) and ALL DRINKS ARE $100.


So on March 27, 2010 all roads lead to Ultimate Car Care, 20 Holborn Road, New Kingston for the Easter staging of New Dawn Entertainment’s Bill$.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Daseca Beckons a Genesis in Dancehall

The Daseca Productions crew has a brand new riddim called the Genesis riddim, and it was premiered last night on Bobby Konders & Jabba’s show on New York’s Hot97 radio station. According to a Daseca spokesperson, the Genesis riddim was so-named because they hope that it will mark the rebirth or a new beginning for dancehall music.

How? Well, unlike most riddim releases coming out of Jamaica, Daseca has not leaked the riddim to numerous sound systems and radio deejays in order to give it that first push and get some ‘buzz’ going. Invariably, that has resulted in the riddims being posted and made widely available online via file sharing and illegal music sites and on forums – a factor that undoubtedly contributes to the genre’s typically weak [legal] sales figures. Beyond last night’s premiere on Hot97, there will be a premiere on Jamaican radio later this week and on the Jamaican entertainment scene at the popular Alliance Happy Thursdayz event. That aside however, Daseca are keeping a tight wrap on this new riddim, as they seek to prevent its widespread piracy, and encourage actual sales of the riddim via legal channels.

The Genesis riddim is distributed by Rockstone Media, and features tracks by Assassin, Mavado, Serani, Bugle, Aidonia, Kibaki, Raine Seville, Charly Black and T-Nez. On March 23, 2010, it will be widely available for purchase via popular online music retailers such as Amazon and iTunes. Will it mark a new beginning for dancehall music? This ultimately lies in the hands of the Jamaican music fans. On March 23, we encourage you to preview the riddim via your favorite [legal] music retailer, and buy it (or individual tracks off it) if you like it.

Below we’ve featured a short clip of the Genesis riddim; it was cut from last night’s live-to-air launch on Hot97 radio station.



Source - Dancehall.Mobi

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

BACCHANAL TREASURES – CROWD FAVOURITE

Patrons can continue to enjoy their favorite chips, with a good drink and enjoy the vibe at the Mas Camp for the next six weeks


The vibe and energy surrounding Bacchanal Treasures continues to build with week 3 showing undoubtedly the greatest intensity thus far. Even the slight drizzle that greeted many of the early revelers was not enough to either dampen the vibe or detour the patrons from coming out to enjoy another Friday night at the Mas Camp.


With drink filled cups and soca in their ears, everybody was in a great mood half way into the night with a little over 3 hours remaining before the scheduled 2am lock off, the crowds had already started to fill the gaps in one of Kingston’s more spacious venues. No one could honestly say that the vibe was anything less than good; just enough to keep the patrons moving yet teasing them making them yearn for more with each passing minute. Credit must be given to Dj Billy and Dj Smoke representing the Renaissance Sound system. Both disc jockeys found the right blend of Dancehall and soca, both old and new to keep those in attendance jumping and raving.


The revelers found great interest in the giveaways and specials from the Sponsors; the team from Matterhorn had specials on their Cigarettes, Appleton’s Mug Madness continued, Digicel’s Booth was a constant buzz with activity as their games have become something that many look forward to as an opportunity to win credit, shirts and phones from a brand that Bacchanal supporters have always embraced.


Speaking of embrace, patrons where seen enjoying a bag of chips along with their drink as Jamaica Producer’s St. Mary chips (Banana, Plantain, Cassava and Potato) continued to find their way through the crowd and into the hands of the patrons. Patrons like Carlos DeSilva were quite pleased after their first taste of the Cassava Chips, “I was always interested to taste it ever since I heard about it and I must say that I am pleasantly surprised that it tastes as good as it does”, commented Mr. Desilva. A sentiment that was echoed by Roxy, a Brand Promoter from Matterhorn, “I never expected it to taste this good” was her comment after her first mouthful.


St. Mary’s Chips are certainly becoming a crowd favorite of the Friday night series as patrons continue to look out for the giveaways each night. Patrons can continue to enjoy their favorite chips, with a good drink and enjoy the vibe at the Mas Camp for the next six weeks as Jamaica Producers has pledged to continue on this drive for the remainder of the Carnival season.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

BET.com representing at the EME awards



This is for those who missed the awards show. You can check out the clip below. BET.com with host Tammy, came through the awards show and spoke with some of the persons involved in the entertainment industry locally. Check it out.













           

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Soca Lovers Treated to St. Mary’s Finest

Patrons who got the treats were visibly elated by the gesture

Week 2 of Bacchanal Treasures - the Bacchanal Fridays saw hundreds of Soca lovers coming out to the Mas Camp in New Kingston to get their weekly fix of the ever infectious genre of music.
At a $600 entry price, the organizers have somehow found a way to make the weekly series ‘recession friendly’ and with drink specials being offered by Appleton, Smirnoff, Heineken and others, there is always a cost effective way to spend a dollar and enjoy a drink.

The vibe around the Mas Camp was relatively slow. However there were sporadic moments when the energy reached climatic proportions; selections from the soca catalogue of 2 and even 3 years ago worked well for the masses and there was a thunderous sound of appeal when the selector played Skip to Ma Luu with Serani, Ding Dong and Razz & Biggy. The crowd erupted in a dancing frenzy swinging from left to right all around the venue and shaking various booths set up by the sponsors.  At the drink central set up by Appleton they had female bartenders dancing on the counters much to the delight of some of the male patrons in attendance who found themselves lost in somewhat of a trance staring at them.

The Treasures of the night

Digicel Jamaica continued along their path of giving back to their customers with Phone, credit and T-Shirt give aways. Patrons were treated to some of the best snacks on the market in the form of St. Mary’s Banana Chips.  These delightful treats provided by Jamaica Producers were given out by members of the Bacchanal Jamaica team.  Patrons who got the treats were visibly elated by the gesture and some were even seen coming back for seconds. Mr. Stephen Willie, who was the representative for Jamaica Producers at the event, said that "the initiative was a simple yet effective way of allowing the Consumers who have consistently supported St. Mary’s Banana Chips to understand that we value their confidence in our product and also just to give back a ‘little something’ to them." “It is our intention to make giveaways like this and others a staple of Bacchanal Treasures “, Stephen further explained.

JP Tropical Foods pride themselves on being the home of the most delicious, authentic, Caribbean Snacks. Their snacks are 100% natural, healthy fun and ideal, whether you’re taking it slow or in a high energy environment like Jamaica Bacchanal Carnival. All their snacks are free of transfat, gluten, cholesterol and lactose, making them a great choice for all ages. All are encouraged to come out and enjoy Friday nights at Bacchanal Treasures with a healthy yet delightful snack of St. Mary’s Banana Chip.

NeggieViews: Valentines Day

So I was asked to share my views on Valentines Day by a friend of mine. I delved into the inner workings of my mind and came up with the following.


According to the internet. Valentines Day celebration is attributed to St. Valentine and blah blah blah. To this I say ERRONEOUS. Valentines day was created by a secret society of women who were being neglected in the gift department from their men. These women were tired of not being treated to gifts and nice things and as such went to Thomas Edison, upon their visit they recieved a lightbulb moment and decided to scheme of ways to solicit gifts from their male counterparts. After countless revisions Valentines Day was born. They still exist to this day, their message perpetuated by the media. This is why the focus of Valentines Day is on women.

Thats the TRUE history of how Valentines Day came about. Now for my take on the whole Valentines excitement.

In my opinion Valentines Day should hold NO importance whatsoever. Lets think about it for a second. If you are a girl in a healthy relationship and you are being taken care of by your man. To clear the air I dont mean being spoilt with expensive gifts, I mean if your man makes you happy and surprises you when he can with gifts within his budget, why is it so important if he does it on February 14th or not. It is NOT important, you are just being brainwashed by the hype and the media. On the flipside. If you inna a crappy relationship and your man refuses to show appreciation in the form of gifts then why is it so IMPORTANT for him to do it on February 14th. It is NOT important, because if he does buy the gift for you on February 14th he is not doing it out of appreciation for you. He is doing it because he feels he must, if you have one of the men in your life please feel free to utilize the next exit.

Now that we have established that Valentines Day is overhyped, let me clear the air a little more. I am not against a fellow buying a gift for his girlfriend on Valentines Day. I am against the reasons behind it. If you buying a gift for your girl just because it is Valentines Day and you feel like you have to, then you sir are a FOOL. If however you decide to go all out on this day for the sole reason that you know your girlfriend is still brainwashed by the hype and it remains important to her and you want to make this day special for her, then and ONLY then will I support these actions.

Also fellows if you are with a lady that reciprocates your efforts on Valentines Day, for the reason that she wants to make the day special for you and NOT for the reason that you are buying her a gift so she feels inclined to buy you one, then you sir have a woman that has the NeggZ stamp of approval.

In essence the thought behind your gift giving is what important and not the fact that you have recieved a gift on this day.

Written by: Stephen 'Neggie' Pryce

Look out for his blog coming soon

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Bugle Maintaining the Focus for 2010

Musical interests both locally and internationally found 2009 to be a turbulent year for the industry; feuds, lackluster production and writing efforts aided in an even greater decrease in album sales.  The flip side is that this tight squeeze around the neck of the entertainment industry allowed persons to dig deeper inside their creative engines to bring good quality music to float above all the undesirables, much to the delight of the fans. One artiste who was able to bring forth really good, quality filled tracks was DASECA’s first artiste – Bugle.

Bugle has found himself blessed with a writing/lyrical skill that allows him to bring forth songs that connect with people on a personal level; things that basically any and every one can relate to. In 2009 he stayed true to that form and worked with some of the industries talented producers to bring those songs to the ears of the fans. With the help of visionaries like Julia Braham (1456 Productions) and Jay Will (Jay Will Films) he was able to bring some of these stories to life. One of his last projects for 2009 was the song ‘Pearly Gates’ produced by TJ White (Tj Records) for the Alter Ego Riddim. The concept for the video was coordinated by the team of Jay Will Films and it became one of the most memorable videos of the year. “I like working with Julia and Jay Will because of the creativity that they bring to the table”, commented Bugle, he went on to say that “some of our directors are becoming monotonous”, something that critics have repeatedly been saying, so it is a breath of fresh air that people like Jay Will can inject that creativity in their work and as Bugle looks towards working with other directors for the coming year he encourages them to tap into that creative energy that will help Jamaican Artistes get there messages/music across to the masses.

Good music truly knows no bounds; this was proved time and time again when promoters across the globe requested Bugle to headline tours, concerts and be present at events across the Caribbean, Canada, United Kingdom, Belize and Bermuda. Locally, though he was not in Jamaica to perform at Sting, he was privileged to have delivered an outstanding set at Reggae Sumfest, one that had the patrons hungry for more and set the basis for his intent to deliver an even bigger and better performance for the 2010 staging of the event.

For an industry that brings thousands of tourists to Jamaica on a yearly basis, industry affiliates and entertainers alike find it hard to understand why dancehall is still being hampered by our society. The Noise abatement act which developed some new muscle in 2009 is having a domino effect on the industry. “What will the jerk man do when him cah mek him money at the gate any more? How will the artistes feed their children, how will the promoters send their children to school?” Bugle questions. He proposes that the government simply look into providing some greater means of support for all the people that will be affected, instead of imposing a law that does more harm for one of Jamaica’s greatest assets.

Bugle says that “Negativity cannot benefit dancehall”, that’s not a new sentiment, however he feels that the ‘uptown/downtown’ segregation and feuding between artistes are the driving forces that limited the growth of Dancehall on the world stage in previous years. It is a hope that


Keeping his Ears and Eyes Open

2010 may see Bugle releasing an album, with exclusive tracks that have already been recorded and never released. With his lyrical prowess and production from some of the industry’s finest this album will definitely be a collector’s item. Fans will have to wait until mid-year though after Bugle executes an extensive tour of Europe, a market he plans to take his music to a lot this year.

With his eyes firmly set on maintaining his momentum through 2010, Bugle keeps his ears open for good productions from established and upcoming producers alike; he continues to keep his eyes open for creative directors to work with and talented entertainers with an earnest love for the music to do collaborations with.

With Bugle and other artistes in this frame of mind our music culture seems destined for greatness.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

DIGICEL AND SHAGGY’S ‘RISE AGAIN’ HAITI RELIEF SONG AVAILABLE ON iTUNES NOW

International acclaimed Caribbean artists Shaggy, Sean Paul, Sean Kingston and many more feature and internationally renowned director Jay Will shoots video

Digicel today announced that ‘Rise Again’ - the song written by international reggae sensation and Grammy Award-winning artist, Shaggy, to support the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti on 12th January - is available on iTunes for download and purchase for 99 cents (US) now with the artists and label donating their proceeds to the Digicel Haiti relief fund.


‘Rise Again’ is a Caribbean song, which was written and performed by Caribbean artists for the people of Haiti. And with the New York Times hailing the song as “fast becoming a post-quake anthem”, ‘Rise Again’ has had a fantastic reception and is already getting heavy rotation radio airplay and news coverage across the globe.

In addition, from mid-next week, the video to accompany ‘Rise Again’ will also be available on iTunes.

Directed by internationally renowned film and video director, Jay Will, and filmed around Port Royal in Jamaica, the video’s central theme is of people from across the Caribbean coming together to rebuild Haiti and help the people of Haiti to rise again.

From red, white and blue balloons mirroring the colours of the Haitian flag being released to aid arriving on boats and planes and a mother being gently handed her new born baby by a nurse - the images portrayed are of hope for the future – and are interspersed with actual footage of the aftermath of the earthquake.

A veteran of some 50 music-related films and videos and with roles at MTV, CBS, ESPN and NBC under his belt, Jay Will has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Kanye West, Bob Sinclar, Elephant Man, Lee Scratch Perry and Vybz Kartel.

Commenting on the video, director Jay Will said; “The devastation in Haiti and the heartbreak is immeasurable. The aim of this video is to offer hope and a chance for change and recovery. The simple message is: throughout all things, one thing will remain true – that despite the tragedy, despite the struggle, despite the hardships, Haiti will rise again.”

Colm Delves, Group CEO of Digicel, comments; “‘Rise Again’ succeeds in being both moving and uplifting and we are delighted with the reception that it has had across the globe to date. We would like to thank everyone for their support and encourage people to log on to iTunes and purchase the song so that we can keep giving to the people of Haiti in their time of need.”

Artists featured on ‘Rise Again’ include Shaggy; Sean Paul; Sean Kingston; Barbadian Artists, Alison Hinds, Shontelle Layne and Edwin Yearwood; Trinidadian Soca Artists, Destra Garcia, David Rudder and Kes Dieffenthaller; Jamaican reggae artists, Tessanne Chin and Etana; and Haitian artiste, Belo. The track was produced by Christopher Birch.

As the single largest investor in Haiti with a total investment of over U$300 million since its launch in 2006, Digicel has over two million customers in Haiti. The Digicel Haiti Relief Fund has donated US$5 million to NGOs in Haiti to support the relief efforts and over US$600,000 has been raised by Digicel customers across the Caribbean and Central America through a text and voice donation line. Digicel also gave each of its two million customers in Haiti US$5 in free credit – totaling US$10 million.

In addition, over 60 video messages of support have been recorded by well known people such as the Fastest Man in the World, Usain Bolt; President Martinelli of Panama; West Indies legend, Sir Garfield Sobers; and many more. All videos are available to view on www.facebook.com/helphaiti.

Source - Digicel Group

Friday, January 29, 2010

ROCKSTEADY PIONEER LYNN TAITT DEAD AT 75

Groundbreaking rocksteady guitarist Lynn Taitt -- who played on influential records by the Skatalites, Derrick Morgan and Desmond Dekker passed away last Wednesday, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. Taitt, who was 75 and a Montreal resident, succumbed to cancer.


Born Nerlyn Taitt in San Fernando, Trinidad, he picked up guitar in the early 1960s -- when he was well into his 20s -- first heading to Jamaica in August 1963 to perform at a gig arranged by the legendary Byron Lee and designed to celebrate the country's first year of Independence from England. Taitt stayed in Jamaica, where he played with the aforementioned ska pioneers, plus the Sheiks, Comets and the Cavaliers.

By 1966, Taitt's band, the Jets, helped launch the rocksteady movement by crafting the bassline for 'Take It Easy' by Hopeton Lewis, which many cite as genre's first song. Establishing the Federal Studios sound, Taitt went on to help craft Alton Ellis' staple 'Girl I've Got a Date.'

Taitt worked often with Leslie Kong -- the Chinese-Jamaican producer who first recorded Bob Marley -- lending his memorable riffs to Dekker's '007 (Shantytown).' In 1968, Taitt moved to Canada, living in Toronto in the 1970s before ultimately settling in Montreal. There he wrote for local reggae, jazz and calypso groups and played and recorded with the Kingpins, a local ska outfit.

REGGAE LABEL EXECUTIVE RAISES GRAMMY AWARENESS AMONG REGGAE PRODUCERS

Cristy Barber, the VP of marketing and promotions at VP Records, was tired of seeing some of the best acts in reggae continuously overlooked every time Grammy season rolled around. Now, as Billboard reports, she's taken it upon herself to lead a campaign to educate reggae artists and producers about the market-based benefits that the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences can offer.


Barber's already organized a January 21-25 conference in Jamaica, where she will meet with industry execs to discuss the Grammy nomination process. Her corporate gaze, though, extends well beyond Jamaica's borders, as she's looking to recruit 100 or more Recording Academy members from the global reggae industry to vote for the 2011 nominations. Currently, Jamaica has only one Recording Academy member, a shockingly low statistic that highlights how much reggae has been under (or mis) represented in recent Grammy nominations. There are some institutional barriers that hinder Jamaican involvement, though, most notably the requirement that all nominations be postmarked 2 weeks before they arrive in Los Angeles, an impossibly short time frame that has discouraged eligible Caribbean voters from joining the Academy.

Barber, who was once nominated for a Grammy herself back in 2005, and who presided over the Marley family's Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths labels, has been lobbying for a rule change for years, and this year, she finally succeeded; in 2011, Jamaican members will be able to vote online via PDF ballots, which should help turnout. Still, though, Barber and others recognize the need to raise awareness from the ground up. She's pretty confident she can be successful, too. As she says, "Winning a reggae Grammy offers a level of recognition that impacts sales, radio play and concert demands, essential elements in establishing a new generation of reggae stars. I wouldn't be doing the genre, the artists or Jamaica justice if I didn't embark on this campaign."

REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON


The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON will open February25 at the HILTON KINGSTON Ballroom with a Red Carpet Gala Reception and premiere of the Reggae documentary RUFFN' TUFF – FOUNDERS OF THE IMMORTAL RIDDIM by Japanese film maker Shizuo Ishi, featuring a galaxy of reggae stars including Leroy Sibbles, Bob Andy, Gregory Isaacs and John Holt all of whom are among the VIP reggae celebrities invited as Special Guests. Other films include premieres of 3 new Jamaican feature films and a rare documentary on Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

The HILTON KINGSTON Ballroom will be transformed into a Cinema for nightly screenings, while the Jonkanoo Lounge will host Lunchtime screenings, a Seminar and a special Children's programme. The HILTON KINGSTON offers a Reggae Film Festival accommodation package at reduced rates and will also offer Lunchtime Specials for midday cinema-goers.

Films already entered include features, documentaries and music videos by Jamaican and international directors, including entries from Hawaii, Italy, Japan, UK and Brazil. Awards will be presented by a panel of Judges in 9 categories including Best Film, Best Documentary and Best Music Video, and audiences will be invited to selected their favourites.

Several international film celebrities have been invited to attend, including noted director SPIKE LEE, rapper/actress EVE and ROGER GUENEVERE SMITH, star of Jamaican feature 'Betta Mus' Come' and 8 Spike Lee films, as well as the blockbuster “American Gangster” starring Denzel Washington. The noted actor will present a lecture with film clips as part of the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL programme. Jamaican film celebrity guests include former heavyweight champ LENNOX LEWIS, star of 'Johnny Was” and star of two Jamaican feature films currently in production. In addition to Title Sponsor HILTON KINGSTON, sponsors include IRIE-FM, PHASE THREE and STANLEY MOTTA RENTALS.

The REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON is an activity of the Jamaica Film Academy established in 2008. This year's event is produced by a Planning Committee led by film maker and film festival organizer Barbara Blake Hannah. She said that since the first Reggae Film Festival in 2008, there have been many spinoffs, with festival films being invited to international events and winning awards. Film Festivals and people around the world, including Jamaica, have begun including reggae films in their programmes or presenting look-alike events, but these all have served to achieve the main objective of the Jamaica Film Academy, which is to promote Jamaican film culture and increase the opportunities for Jamaican film makers.

Blake-Hannah, who presented Jamaica's first film festival in 1974 and has produced several more since, has been a guest of international film festivals in Venice, Cuba, Iraq and Cannes. She is also producer/director of several films and worked on film productions including “The Harder They Come”, “A High Wind in Jamaica” and “Kla$h”. She and British film archivist Peter Gittins of Reggae Films UK conceptualized the first Reggae Film Festival in 2007 as a special event with private sector support. Mrs. Hannah continued developing the idea while working as Consultant to the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports on various projects including the planning and procedures for the first Reggae Month in 2008, into which the Reggae Film Festival was eventually incorporated with some government support.

The Jamaica Film Academy's aim is to see the Reggae Film Festival become an annual date in Jamaica’s events calendar that will provide Jamaican films with the needed international exposure that they deserve. Four different films have been made as a direct result of its first event in 2008 and two films premiered at the Reggae Film Festival 2009 have won international awards, evidence of just how important this event is.

The Jamaica Film Academy invites members of the Jamaican film industry and local businesses to help the Reggae Film Festival grow bigger and better. Further information on the REGGAE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ HILTON KINGSTON can be had at the official Reggae Film Festival website at www.jamaicafilmacademy.org.

PORTMORE EMPIRE SEEKS TO RECOUP LOSSES FROM GAZA KIM'S DEPARTURE

In light of the announcement that artist Kim Hamilton--formerly known as Gaza Kim, now known as Kym--has chosen to exit the Portmore Empire and Adidjahiem Records, Empire leader and record company CEO Adidja "Vybz Kartel" Palmer issues the following statement:


The Portmore Empire invested a substantial amount of money in the career of singer Kim Hamilton--filming music videos, printing promotional posters and clocking several hours in the studio honing her talent. We're disappointed that she felt the need to issue a press release to the media announcing her departure from the record label, Adidjaheim Records, without first notifying the company. This is particularly disturbing given the fact that she is still under contract and the record company has fulfilled its end of the agreement.

Nevertheless, we understand and respect her decision to leave even if we don't agree. We are prepared to negotiate the terms of her contract, to grant her creative freedom, while minimizing the impact on the company, as is customary in matters of business.

The Portmore Empire will continue to support and seek out young artistes in Dancehall. We believe that Jamaica has a never-ending reservoir of talent and the Empire will continue to develop and market young acts.

-Adidja Palmer-


This latest statement comes on the heels of a week-long firestorm of controversy surrounding an alleged attack on Kym at the hands of four men she claims to be affiliated with the Portmore Empire. Early this week, Vybz Kartel released a statement condemning the alleged attack on the 17-year old singer.

Source - Ms. Raine Inc

Thursday, January 28, 2010

::.INTRODUCING CHRISTAR JAZZ-IT-UP.::


Night life in Kingston is on the verge of witnessing a weekly performance show that will stimulate the minds of the sophisticated listener and one that is poised to generate a buzz and inject new life in live performance shows in and around Kingston.


This bolt of energy will be created by Christar Jazz-It-Up. This weekly event is set to transform Wednesday nights starting on February 3, 2010. Some of Jamaica's finest talents in voice, instruments and others will come together week after week to put together an entertainment package that will satisfy the craving for good live performances. With the backdrop being provided by the Hope mountains and the cool atmosphere that is constantly evident in the evenings on Hope Road, Christar Villa's Hotel is an ideal location for an event that can only be deemed as ... 'Too cool for an average venue'.

The first week will see performances by Maurice Gordon, Mark Joseph, Leontre Roberts, Kai Wakeling and Jhamiela Smith. The later a budding Neo/soul artiste whose style her merging Reggae with Jazz into soulful pieces which leave even the unappreciative listener of Reggae music in awe.

Christar Jazz Nights is certainly the ‘coolest’ place to be on Wednesday nights.