Search results for: “spice”

  • Reasoning With Di Teacha: Part 1 of 2

    Reasoning With Di Teacha: Part 1 of 2

    As New Album Drops, Kartel Speaks On Music, War, and Life Pon Di Gaza

    Adidja Palmer is a study in contradictions. According to a recent survey commissioned by the University of the West Indies, the DJ known as Vybz Kartel is dancehall’s most popular artist. On the other hand, his one-time mentor Bounty Killer recently said the biggest regret of his career was helping to “buss” the young lyricial prodigy from Portmore. “Kartel is the worst thing to happen to dancehall music,” Killer said of the artist who inspired his recent tune “Ungrateful Hell Bwoy” (a response to his former protege’s scathing “Bownty’s Killer”). After Kartel and Mavado’s epic confrontation at Sting 2008, anticipation is building for this year’s lyrical contest between di Teacha and the Warlord. But Kartel’s complexities don’t stop there. When we spoke last week by telelphone, the man behind controversial tunes like “Rampin’ Shop” and “Virginity” had just completed a back-to-school book giveaway, and was organizing a new juggling called the Schoolyard riddim, encouraging students to stay in school and out of trouble. Yet even as the Gaza vs Gully rivalry continues to simmer in the streets, the prolific, provocative lyricist insists on absolute artistic freedom, no matter the consequences. So who is the real Vybz Kartel? And what is di Teacha really teaching? Tune in and decide for yourself…

    (more…)

  • Best of The Best 2009

    Bounty, Beenie, Ross & Jeezy rip Miami’s biggest reggae/rap stage show.

    The Doctor meets The Bawse: All photos by the man called Wayne Lawrence. (more…)

  • Just Kickin’ It At Irie Jam’s Celebrity Soccer Match

    Artiste All-Stars defeated in a shoot out… Ajamu shoots all the action.

    Don’t watch the pretty smile—when it comes to football, Spice is not rampin’.

    It just wouldn’t be summer without the Irie Jam Celebrity Soccer Match, one of the coolest places to meet and greet your favorite reggae stars in a relaxed setting. One week ago today the 10th Anniversary showdown went down in Roy Wilikins Park in Queens, co-sponsored by the late great Asylum Nightclub. As you’ll see after the jump, an irie time was had by all (and the ladies in the crowd were stylin’ extra hard). We woulda posted these shots for you sooner but these biting blogs out here got us watermarking each and every one of Ajamu’s priceless images. (more…)

  • HEAR THIS: Julian Marley featuring Jr. Gong “Violence In The Street”

    “JuJu Royal” aka Julian Marley will soon release his third and best album to date, Awake. Besides referencing his father’s classic “Wake Up And Live” the album’s title also serves as a wake-up call those who may have slept on this laid-back Lion. But they won’t be sleeping for long. (more…)

  • Don’t Ramp With Kartel

    Daggering” is more than the latest yardie slang for sex, it’s a ritualized theater of the absurd that’s taken the dancehall by storm with acrobatic, thigh-bruising dance moves and a slew of songs cashing in on the controversial trend. It’s not like this machete/manhood metaphor is anything new. Nobody flipped out over Lady Saw’s “Stab Up The Meat” did they? Okay, maybe a few people did, but somehow the whole thing seems more appropriate when the young lady asks to be daggered.

    Nevertheless, Jamaica’s Broadcasting Commission has ordered the island’s radio, TV, and cable operators to delete all “Dagggering” songs and videos from their playlists or face “strong disciplinary action.”

    (more…)