Artist of the Week – Mad Professor

Since 1979, Mad Professor has overseen groundbreaking recordings in dub, roots and lovers rock, both as a dub musician and as the proprietor of the Ariwa Sounds label and studio. Ariwa and Mad Professor have released over 300 records with his characteristic blend of digital and retro sounds which have won worldwide acclaim. Dub music evolved from reggae in the 1960s as a re-imagined version of a popular track. Typically, the vocals were removed and sound effects added, including echo, reverberation, amplified percussion and extra bass.  Dub tracks were initially released as b-sides to popular hits,...
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Congratulations to Grammy Nominee Gregory Isaacs

Tafari artist, Gregory Isaacs, is in great company with his fellow 2010  Grammy nominees, Sean Paul, Julian Marley, Stephen Marley and Buju Banton.  Isaacs’ Brand New Me is a solid Gregory release and is as “classic” as it is “new”.  “Don’t Come Running”, “Six Months” and “Memories” will remind Gregory fans of his true greatness!  Big up Gregory, we wish you the...
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Artist of the Week – Kenyatta

Named for Kenya’s first Prime Minister, Jomo Kenyatta, and the son of late reggae icon Joseph “Culture” Hill, Kenyatta “Culture” Hill has always been destined for big things. Under his father’s guidance, Kenyatta gained early exposure to the music business, often going out on tour and developing an interest in technical and sound equipment. His father was the front man of Culture, the legendary vocal trio whose 1997 record “Two Sevens Clash” helped define the roots reggae genre. Over the course of a prolific career spanning more than three decades, Joseph...
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Saturday Night “National Geographic Live” with Nas and Damian Marley

Nas and Damian Marley discuss their upcoming album Distant Relatives at National Geographic in Washington, DC, on Saturday December 12th at 7pm.  Although the event is sold out, you can stream it live at www.natgeomusic.net. Nas and Marley felt that their album alone was not a large enough forum to explore the many connections between hip-hop and reggae which extend far beyond their often overlapping listening audiences.    They’ve put together a documentary and a discussion panel moderated by MTV’s Sway, which includes Kool Herc, Rakim, Daddy U-Roy, King Jammy, Jeff Chang, Pat McKay,...
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Artist of the Week – Chyna Whyne

From Chyna’s Jamaican and South London roots and church-singing childhood emerged a one-woman sensation: Chyna Whyne. Celebrated singer-songwriter, striking model and inspirational high-heel guru she is the epitome of powerful, modern femininity. Peter Gabriel quickly recognized Chyna’s vocal talents and selected her to accompany his tour.  She has also been handpicked to tour and record with musical greats Pete Townsend, Seal, Eric Clapton and others. Chyna’s own album “Sexy Baal-ed” (Jamaican patois for “Sexy Baldhead”), a fusion of Reggae, R&B and Hip-Hop featuring Elephant Man,...
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