Haiti set to 'Rise again'

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

Top 25 Reggae albums of the decade

The top 25 reggae albums for this decade — which ends December — was dominated by Shaggy but other dancehall artistes ranked highly, according to a list compiled by Splash.

Topping the list was Shaggy’s 2000 release Hot Shots which sold over ten million copies and was amongst the most sucessful albums of the decade. Matisyahu was second, but he also made the top 25 three times. Shaggy, Sean Paul, Sizzla, Beenie Man, UB40 and Damian Marley each made the list twice.

Music rankings are always controversial but Splash arrived at the findings, not by public opinion, but by analysing Billboard Reggae Album charts between 2000 to 2009 and ranked albums in order of weeks charted. Chart longevity indicated that the albums were not only popular but had that timeless quality as sales continued well beyond their release dates.

One caveat was that Billboard did not reflect the Jamaican pop charts, as such some breakthrough albums did not make the cut, including Vybz Kartel’s Up 2 Di Time, Baby Cham’s Ghetto Story, Lee Scratch Perry’s 2002 Grammy winning album Jamaican ET, Richie Spice’s Spice in Your Life and I-Wayne’s Lava Ground. Also missing from the top 25 was Kevin Lyttle’s gold-selling, self-titled album and Elephant Man’s Good 2 Go which ranked 27 and 28, respectively. The charts still gave insight into top albums of the decade due to the size of the North American market and its influence on global sales.

Ranking includes:

1. Shaggy’s Hotshots (MCA) which completely transcended the reggae charts and charted 84 weeks on Billboard 200 and peaked at number 1. It was produced by Jimmy Jam, Tony Kelly, Terry Lewis, Robert Livingston, Shaggy, Christopher Birch, Gordon Dukes and Shaun “Sting Int’l” Pizzonia;

2. Matisyahu’s Live at Stubbs (Sony) which charted for 208 and 26 weeks on Reggae Albums and Billboard 200, respectively and was produced by Michael Caplan and Angelo Montrone;

3. Damian Marley’s Half Way Tree (Motown Records) which charted 158 weeks on Reggae Albums, produced by David Cole, Stephen Marley, Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley and Kid Nyce;

4. Mr Lover Lover: The Best of Shaggy, Part 1 (Virgin) which charted 130 weeks and was produced by Lynford ‘Fatta’ Marshall, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Robert Livingston, Collin ‘Bulbie’ York, Sting International and Shaun ‘Sting Int’l’ Pizzonia;

5. Sean Paul’s Dutty Rock (VP) which charted 105 and 85 weeks on the Reggae Albums and the Billboard 200 respectively;

6. Damian Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock (Tuff Gong) which charted for 105 and 34 weeks on the Reggae Albums and the Billboard 200 respectively, produced by Stephen Marley, Damian “Junior Gong” Marley;

7. Sean Paul’s The Trinity (Atlantic) which charted for 104 and 52 weeks on the Reggae Albums and the Billboard 200, respectively, and was produced by Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden, Jeremy Harding, Marlon Cooke, Jason ‘Jigzagula Jason’ Henriques, Craig Parks, Donovan ‘Vendetta’ Bennett, Lionel Bermingham, Delano Thomas, Elijah Wells, Dwayne ‘Supa Dups”’ Chin Quee, Omari Stines, Michael ‘Factor’ Jarrett;

8. Scrolls of the Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh, which charted for 104 weeks and was produced by Bruce Dickinson, Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, Peter Tosh, Robbie Shakespeare;

9. Bob Marley’s Gold which charted for 104 weeks it was produced by by Bob Marley, Steve Smith, Chris Blackwell, Errol Brown, Ingmar Kiang, Lee Scratch Perry, Alex Sadkin, The Wailers, Trevor Wyatt;

10. The Very Best of UB40 1980-2000, which charted for 103 weeks, produced by UB40, Ray Falconer, Howard Gray and Gerry Parchment;

11. Matisyahu’s Youth (Columbia), which charted 96 and 19 weeks on the Reggae Albums and the Billboard 200 respectively. It was produced by Bill Laswell and Jimmy Douglass;

12. Beenie Man’s Art and Life (Virgin), which charted for 84 and 20 weeks on the Reggae Albums and the Billboard 200, respectively, and was produced by Tony Kelly, Salaam Remi, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.

13. Stephen Marley’s Mind Control (Tuff Gong), which charted for 78 and 6 weeks on the Reggae Albums and Billboard 200, and was produced by Paul Fakhourie, Stephen Marley, Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley and Julian Marley;

14. Collie Buddz self-titled album (Columbia) which charted for 78 and 3 weeks on the Reggae Albums and the Billboard 200, respectively, it was produced by Tony Kelly, Screwface, Stephen McGregor, Curtis Lynch, Jr, Dwayne “Supa Dups” Quee, Collie Buddz and M. “Khan” Chin;

15. Ky-Mani Marley’s Radio (AAO Music) which charted for 78 weeks. It was produced by Winston Thomas, Mark Sparks, Ky Miller, Danny Schofield ‘Styles’, Larry ‘Kalid’ Chu, Jason ‘J Vibe’ Farmer and Alex ‘Lex’ Francis;

16. The Journey: The Very Best of Sizzla (Greensleeves), which charted for 76 weeks on the Reggae Albums chart and was released in 2008;

17. Shaggy’s Lucky Day (MCA), which charted for 69 and 13 weeks on the Reggae Albums and Billboard 200;

18. Skindred’s Babylon (RCA), charted for 67 and 3 weeks on the Reggae Albums and the Billboard 200, respectively. It was produced by Howard Benson, Jason Bieler, Skindred.

19. UB40 Greatest Hits (Virgin) charted for 61 weeks and was produced by UB40, Charlie Skarbek, Dan Armstrong, Ray Falconer, Howard Gray, Gerry Parchment and Danny Canaan;

20. Matisyahu’s No Place to Be (Epic) charted for 59 weeks and was produced by Bill Laswell, Robbie and Sly;

21. Mavado’s Gangsta for Life (Hardwax) charted for 58 weeks and was produced by Johnny Wonder, Bobby ‘Digital’ Dixon, Dane “Fire Links” Johnson, Michael ‘ZJ Liquid’ Brissett, Delroy ‘Delly Ranx’ Foster;

22. Beenie Man’s Tropical Storm (Virgin) charted for 56 and 9 weeks on the Reggae Albums and Billboard 200, respectively. It was produced by Dave Kelly, Sly Dunbar, Anthony Kelly, Matt Serletic, Irv Gotti, Stargate, The Neptunes, AC Burrell and W Passley;

23. Ziggy Marley’s Dragonfly (RCA Victor), charted 55 and 8 weeks on Reggae and Billboard 200, respecitively. It was produced by Ross Hogarth, Scott Litt and Ziggy Marley;

24. Sizzla’s Da Real Thing (VP), which included Thank you Mama and other classics, charted for 51 weeks. It was produced by Bobby Digital and Bobby Dixon; and

25. Buju Banton’s Friends for Life (Atlantic/VP) charted for 50 and 11 weeks on the Reggae and R&B hip hop charts, produced by Dalton Browne, Clevie, Sly Dunbar, Donovan Germain, Mark Myrie, S Stewart, Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden, Cleevie, Steelie, Jammy ‘Jam Two’ James, Cool & Dre.

Source - The Jamaica Observer