The Dutty Boy Flings Down The Hits In The UK
Wednesday night saw DuttyPaul rock west London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Every person in the joint was on fire. Girls were shaking their thang as the dutty boy flung down his hits and guys were sweating watching the girls on heat! It was a case of “not for the ill hearted”—and a timely reminder of how much the UK loves Sean Paul. Show Review and Video After The Jump… Read more »
Two Big Sounds Rock Brixton Easter Weekend
When you’re talking about classical roots rock rub-a-dub sound systems, there are no more celebrated names in the dancehall of fame than King SturGav Hi Fi and Volcano High Power. Sturgav was established by Daddy U Roy, the legendary DJ who made his name on King Tubby’s Home Town Hi-Fi but went on to create a sound system of his own to provide a means for younger aspiring talents to develop their microphone skills.
Volcano was founded by the late great Henry “Junjo” Lawes, one of the most renowned producers of the 1970s and 1980s. His music formed a bridge between the roots reggae of Studio One and Joe Gibbs and the dancehall era. Immortal selections like Cocoa Tea’s “Sonia” and Yellowman’s “Zunguzunguzeng” made the Volcano label a trusted brand for any selector looking to pick up a certified boomshot to drop in the dance.
Bank holiday weekend saw Bagga John Productions pull it all out of the bag as they brought these two legendary sounds to the O2 Academy Brixton. But it wasn’t enough just to bring the champion sounds to the stage—they also brought some serious talent to rock the mic live and direct. Singers like Cocoa Tea, Frankie Paul and Little John joined forces with DJs like Yellowman, Brigadier Jerry, General Trees, and Little Twitch. And of course Daddy U Roy himself worked the stage making this session a night of sweet nostalgia for longtime dancehall fans. The venue was heaving, the crowd excited, emotional and thirsty.
The girls went wild when Little Twitch gyrated to “No Licky Licky” and they mobbed Cocoa Tea when he reached out to touch the crowd. Some tears were also shed during his version of “Jamaica Farewell.” And when Yellowman came on it was a #f*ckingproblem!! He lapped the stage with jumps and sprints; his trainers hardly touched the floor. One other small problem—although Cocoa Tea sang brilliantly, he stormed off the stage in frustration with the mix he received from selector Danny Dread. #SelectorDontF*ckAroundAndMashUpTheDance. However the music went on and everybody went home with their fill of sweet rub-a-dub vibes. You know what they say—there’s no business like dancehall business. Video After The Jump…
Which Tunes Will Control Notting Hill Carnival This Weekend?
This just in from the Heatwave UK massive: “We literally spend ALL YEAR going mad splashing rum and dancing to incredibly loud bashment and soca… FINALLY the time has come for the rest of London to jump on our wave. Wherever you live and whoever you live next door to, you need to download this mix and learn it off by heart, and make sure you and all your neighbours know the biggest tunes for carnival.”
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Bobby Babylon Flexes Muscle, But Europe’s Biggest Street Jam Raves On
Naysayers be damned, London showed its true colors at the 2011 Notting Hill Carnival. Scheduled for August 28 and 29th, the date came just three weeks after a firestorm of rioting that spread across Britain following the death of Mark Duggan, an Anglo-Jamaican youth who was shot by police in North London. The wounds from that traumatic spasm of “Anarchy in the UK“—which resulted in 5 deaths, 16 injuries, and over 3000 arrests—will not heal overnight. Nor will we soon forget the ugly divisive rhetoric unleashed by the flareup of violence. But nothing brings people together like a good rave. Read more »
Deadly Dragon Dares To Dig Up Digital Dancehall
25 years ago a young, Trench Town–born Donovan McLeod a.k.a. Danny Coxson a.k.a Ever Red stepped into a London studio. In one tuff take he created some of the most revered, most whispered about tracks of the 1980s digital revolution. And then, like some mythic Keyser Söze, he was gone. Read more »
