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Friday, January 04, 2008
Mavado
These are the guys (and girls) who really resonated musically in 2007, giving us the soundtrack to our memorable moments and capturing just how we felt.
Tarrus Riley
His hit tune She's Royal may only be months old but it has perhaps earned its place among the greatest reggae love songs of all time. The song, from his 2006 album Parables, is an ode to womanhood, femininity and inner-beauty made possible by way of breezy vocals atop a groovy melody. What's more, he firmly established himself as a new age talent, appearing on all the year's major shows and doing well despite the demand for trite dance-inspired numbers.
Mavado
Some laud him, while others simply love to hate him but no one can deny that there's a certain "disturbingly genius" quality to dancehall star Mavado. Our fascination was kindled in late '06 with the Alliance member's break-out single Real McKoy, then came the ghetto anthem Gullyside followed by a slew of others which led up to the 2007 release, The Symphony of David Brooks (the artiste's given name). His music, a socially-deviant-but-creative concoction of blood, bullets and brute force (sexual or otherwise), continues to spawn heated debates and compels even those with the stiffest upper lips to listen out for the message from Jamaica's inner-city youth. And that's exactly what makes Mavado the dancehall don man of 2007.
Beenie Man
Simply put, he's the only (yes only) artiste who, despite several personal and professional woes, can maintain musical currency, "switch up the game" and make listeners still accept him as if nothing ever happened. All hail the king!
Mr Vegas
His super resurgence brought with it a string of moves Tek Weh Yuhself, Raging Bull and Hot Wuk. And though illness left him hospitalised for some time last summer, it wasn't enough to stop him from performing at the season's hottest show (read: Sumfest).
Macka Diamond
It's been a helluva ride for the money-goddess-come-author. There was Hula Hoop and Dandy Shandy as well as the much tooted "official dancehall novel" Bun Him, inspired from her hit tune of the same name featuring BlackER. We loved too, how she handled herself amidst rumours that her friendship with Spice was in turmoil and the changing of the guard.
Queen Ifrica
She's been around a while but it wasn't until 2007 that Jamaica started noticing Queen Ifrica. Thanks to her break-out single Below The Waist, Ifrica is now the poster girl for the modern Rastafarian woman.
Etana
Her name means "The strong one" in Swahili and she certainly proved her strength last year. Copping the Jamaica Observer TEENage Choice Award for Best Cultural Artiste in mid-October, the "warrior princess" was a hit with the socially-conscious Roots while her latest release Warrior Love is poised to do well in '08.
Assassin
His rhymes are, as his name suggests, deadly. And in 2007 the deejay born Jeffery Campbell had a lot to say, from his ghetto anthem Gully Sitt'n from the album of the same name to the fierce Dem A Cissy. He proved that though he says "Red Square" he's all about making his own unique mark.
Busy Signal
With revamped style and a flow inspired by several genres, Busy Signal broke away from his scion Bounty Killer's shadow. And it didn't hurt that while doing so, he scored with These Are The Days and the still-popular Jail. And if that isn't proof enough, he's one of the contenders for Deejay of the Year. Need we say more?
Voice Mail
"Hey" was their phrase and dancing was their inspiration in '07. The gentlemen from Voice Mail became a bona fide dancehall supergroup with tracks like Dancing Fever, I Need You and Get Up. It didn't stop there, however, since four tri-city tours of Japan helped them to solidify their hold on the Asian market, while their tracks rotated in happening dancehall stomping grounds like Bembe and Dutty Fridaze, to name a few.
Mavado
These are the guys (and girls) who really resonated musically in 2007, giving us the soundtrack to our memorable moments and capturing just how we felt.
Tarrus Riley
His hit tune She's Royal may only be months old but it has perhaps earned its place among the greatest reggae love songs of all time. The song, from his 2006 album Parables, is an ode to womanhood, femininity and inner-beauty made possible by way of breezy vocals atop a groovy melody. What's more, he firmly established himself as a new age talent, appearing on all the year's major shows and doing well despite the demand for trite dance-inspired numbers.
Mavado
Some laud him, while others simply love to hate him but no one can deny that there's a certain "disturbingly genius" quality to dancehall star Mavado. Our fascination was kindled in late '06 with the Alliance member's break-out single Real McKoy, then came the ghetto anthem Gullyside followed by a slew of others which led up to the 2007 release, The Symphony of David Brooks (the artiste's given name). His music, a socially-deviant-but-creative concoction of blood, bullets and brute force (sexual or otherwise), continues to spawn heated debates and compels even those with the stiffest upper lips to listen out for the message from Jamaica's inner-city youth. And that's exactly what makes Mavado the dancehall don man of 2007.
Beenie Man
Simply put, he's the only (yes only) artiste who, despite several personal and professional woes, can maintain musical currency, "switch up the game" and make listeners still accept him as if nothing ever happened. All hail the king!
Mr Vegas
His super resurgence brought with it a string of moves Tek Weh Yuhself, Raging Bull and Hot Wuk. And though illness left him hospitalised for some time last summer, it wasn't enough to stop him from performing at the season's hottest show (read: Sumfest).
Macka Diamond
It's been a helluva ride for the money-goddess-come-author. There was Hula Hoop and Dandy Shandy as well as the much tooted "official dancehall novel" Bun Him, inspired from her hit tune of the same name featuring BlackER. We loved too, how she handled herself amidst rumours that her friendship with Spice was in turmoil and the changing of the guard.
Queen Ifrica
She's been around a while but it wasn't until 2007 that Jamaica started noticing Queen Ifrica. Thanks to her break-out single Below The Waist, Ifrica is now the poster girl for the modern Rastafarian woman.
Etana
Her name means "The strong one" in Swahili and she certainly proved her strength last year. Copping the Jamaica Observer TEENage Choice Award for Best Cultural Artiste in mid-October, the "warrior princess" was a hit with the socially-conscious Roots while her latest release Warrior Love is poised to do well in '08.
Assassin
His rhymes are, as his name suggests, deadly. And in 2007 the deejay born Jeffery Campbell had a lot to say, from his ghetto anthem Gully Sitt'n from the album of the same name to the fierce Dem A Cissy. He proved that though he says "Red Square" he's all about making his own unique mark.
Busy Signal
With revamped style and a flow inspired by several genres, Busy Signal broke away from his scion Bounty Killer's shadow. And it didn't hurt that while doing so, he scored with These Are The Days and the still-popular Jail. And if that isn't proof enough, he's one of the contenders for Deejay of the Year. Need we say more?
Voice Mail
"Hey" was their phrase and dancing was their inspiration in '07. The gentlemen from Voice Mail became a bona fide dancehall supergroup with tracks like Dancing Fever, I Need You and Get Up. It didn't stop there, however, since four tri-city tours of Japan helped them to solidify their hold on the Asian market, while their tracks rotated in happening dancehall stomping grounds like Bembe and Dutty Fridaze, to name a few.
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