News
182 news in 2006
All reggae / dancehall news
December 2006
Passa Passa nights in FranceImported straight from Jamaica, the Passa Passa parties are landing in France. The concept? Open-air nights devoted to dancing, running until dawn, with a…
- King Jammy in eight CDs
After the compilation "King at the controls - Essential Hits", released this autumn, VP will devote no fewer than eight CDs in early January to the monumental…
- A Turbulent December for the Dancehall Stars
The top flight of Jamaican dancehall keeps on making headlines in the local press. Beenie Man announced on 13 December his departure from Patrick Roberts's…
Only the Big Names at Sting 2006For those lucky enough to cross a few time zones for the festive season, a serious programme awaits at Sting. The confirmation of Elephant Man's appearance…
Daville Artist of the YearThe deejay Daville has been crowned "Artist of the Year 2006". The compliment comes from the veteran sound system Stone Love, which awarded him the "singer of…
Yardflex Under ThreatCarlington Wilmot, a member of the team at the Jamaican site Yardflex, has been the target of threats from people said to be from the entourage of the young…
Reggae Grammy Awards 2007The list of nominees for the 2006 Grammy, reggae category, has just been unveiled and, as every year, comes with its share of surprises. Besides Buju Banton…
Richie Spice Returns with 'In the streets to Africa'Since "Spice in your life" in 2005, which put the Fifth Element Crew in the spotlight, Richie Spice had not reappeared on album. That will change in 2007…
Peter Tosh's M16 Guitar Will Stay in JamaicaPeter Tosh's legendary M16-shaped Fender Stratocaster was ultimately not put up for auction on eBay. A complaint has been filed disputing ownership of the…
- Is Ja Sound Doomed?
After Jamaican Sunrise, is Ja Sound under threat of disappearing? The local daily "Midi Région" bluntly mentions the end of the Ja' Sound festival, held in…
- Vybz Kartel is changing his name
The deejay Vybz Kartel has just announced, to general surprise, that he wishes to change his name. He will now be Addi the Techa, a nickname he already used…
- Toulouse: Admiral T Concert Cancelled
Toulouse will not be seeing Admiral T. First announced for Wednesday 6 December at the Havana Café and finally postponed to tonight, the concert by the…
Purple Ting in the RacksLate out of the blocks... Announced for 16 October, the one riddim album "Purple Ting" is finally in the racks. Back To Zion's project, which has generated so…
Jah Mason & Omar Perry TourAs expected, February will be a busy month for concerts. After Tanya Stephens's tour (see news of 07/12/2006), the dates of Jah Mason and Omar Perry's joint…
Tanya Stephens on TourThe woman who dominates female dancehall in Jamaica had never given an official concert in France. To see Tanya Stephens on stage, you had to cross the…
- Gregory Isaacs honoured in London
A monument of Jamaican reggae, with a career now spanning some thirty years, Gregory Isaacs was in London on Thursday 30 November for the release by Jetstar…
Perry Henzell passed awayThe one true classic of Jamaican cinema, inspired by the story of Ivanhoe Martin aka Rhygin (played by Jimmy Cliff), the famous outlaw of the 1950s, "The…
November 2006
- Reggaefrance and Friends Part 2
The Reggaefrance and friends nights return on Thursday 14 December, at the Batofar. This second edition welcomes the talented German DJ Ill Inspecta, backed…
Soul Village, the St Croix ConnectionAfter distinguishing itself with the reissue of Pablo Gad's very good album "Hard Times", the French label Soul Village has pulled off another coup by…
Sean Paul Wins an American Music AwardThe 2006 American Music Awards, held on 21 November, have delivered their verdict. In the midst of a list of winners made up mostly of rock and hip hop…
Toma, the Album at LastGiven how long Toma has been paying his dues in the underground, we had been waiting for his first album with real impatience. After several aborted attempts…
- Sting 2006: Love & Happiness
One of the biggest reggae festivals in the world, Sting, traditionally held every year on 26 December (better known to English speakers as Boxing Day), will…
The Borderline Riddim Series at Irie ItesAvailable since August on 7", Irie Ites' Borderline Riddim will be available as a One Riddim Album on its online shop Irieites.net in December 2006, and…
Blue Moon Closes Its Website and Holds a Clearance SaleContrary to what we announced a few days ago, Blue Moon's online shop will not carry on trading and will close, like the shop, at the end of the week. To mark…
Lord Kossity, Danger ZoneAfter "Booming System" last year, Lord Kossity returns with a new album, "Danger Zone", made up of tracks produced all over Jamaica with Don Corleon…
- Blue Moon Paris' shop closes its doors
After almost 25 years of service, the Parisian record shop Blue Moon, on rue Quincampoix, has just announced its imminent closure as of Saturday 18 November…
- Five big sounds in London
The Champions in the arena night, to be held in London at the Coronet on 24 November, offers a dream line-up for all sound system fans. The dance will be…
- New Album from 38 Dub Band
Many discovered them on the popular compilation "Frenchy Reggae Party 2", on which 38 Dub Band championed their reggae with the track Imprezion. After a first…
News from Maximum SoundFrenchie, via his label Maximum Sound, delivers his third Anthony B album, "Higher Meditation", which will come out on Greensleeves in February 2007 and of…
Jah Mali, Pablo Moses and Admiral Tibet in ParisBeenie Man will not take part in the show planned for 25 November at the Bataclan, alongside Pablo Moses and Admiral Tibet. Jah Mali has been chosen to…
Good deal for Kariang and Anthony BAfter Kings of Kings, Iley Dread's Canadian label, it is now the turn of the Jamaican label Kariang to be offered a deal with Urban Culcha, a promotion and…
- Clinton Fearon: An Album, a Tour and a Website
A little over two years after the excellent "Give and take" in 2004, and after an acoustic interlude with "Me and mi guitar" last year, Clinton Fearon returns…
Capleton the Generous DonorHe has two tracks in the top ten of the charts (Forty sup'em and Wah dis wah dis, not counting Hit upon hit on its way), but that is not why Capleton was…
- Rodigan takes the Riddim Clash 2006
David Rodigan won on Saturday at the Riddim Clash after the dub fi dub against Bass Odyssey and LP International, winners of the previous edition. Rodigan…
Elephant Man's Album: The End of the Saga?Announcements keep coming about Elephant Man's album. Announced on VP for August 2005 (!), the release was postponed and then, at last report, announced on…
- Lord Zeljko Back in Paris
We last saw him last year with the "Meeting 4 Kings", which saw his sound system King Dragon take on King Jammy, Stone Love and Saxon. After many months away…
October 2006
- Richie Stephens the Philanthropist
Richie Stephens's altruism and generosity are well known. The man nicknamed the "Love specialist", known for hits such as Bus the place, The winner and Get…
- New Reggae Shop in Rennes
A new reggae shop opens in Rennes next month: Black Temple Records. A big opening party will be held on 11 November with, among others, Legal Shot Sound…
Dub Meetings: Abassi Hi Power meets VibronicsAfter Jah Shaka's memorable visit in October, the Dub Meetings will welcome Abassi Hi Power and the English sound Vibronics, accompanied for the first time in…
- Césaires de la Musique: The Winners
The Césaires de la Musique, an event that aims to honour artists and personalities from the French overseas territories and francophone Africa, and which was…
Elephant Man featured on a P. Diddy singleAs information about the release of Elephant Man's album on Bad Boys Records is confirmed (see news of 10 October 2006), P. Diddy has already kept part of his…
- The Césaires de la Musique
Today sees the first edition of the Césaires de la Musique at the Casino de Paris, a ceremony that aims to honour the music of the French overseas territories…
Sister Carol ReturnsAfter a three-year absence on album, Sister Carol returns with "1-derful Words", on the Black Cinderella label. The album was recorded in the United States…
- Loving Pauper meets Hypocrites
The Joe Fraser label announces the release of "Loving Pauper meets Hypocrites", which brings together, as its name suggests, two famous riddims: Duke Reid's…
Natural Mystic Reggae Charts WellThe DVD "Natural Mystic Reggae (Une ballade jamaïcaine)", made by the duo David Commeillas / Gilbert Pytel, journalists at Ragga Magazine, did well on…
Something New at TrojanThe English label Trojan Records, which had made reissues its stock in trade, proudly announces the signing of its first new artist in 30 years: Pama…
Assassin Tours EuropeAlong with Baby Cham and Tony Matterhorn, the young deejay Assassin is among the most popular artists in Jamaica right now. His hit Good over evil on the…
Big Youth Concert CancelledAfter Glen Washington, whose tour was postponed for legal reasons (see news of 13 September 2006), it is Big Youth's turn to be hit by a cancellation. His…
Zareb, a new name for Mr FlashAfter Singing Flash and Flasha, Mr Flash, whom we discovered in duets with Fantan Mojah (the excellent Rastafari is the ruler or Authentic love on the Hard…
- Elephant Man, the Album at Last
The release of Elephant Man's next album is a never-ending story. Recorded two years ago, "Over di wall" was first announced on VP, then postponed and picked…
- Admiral T at the Zénith de Paris
After opening for Sean Paul three years ago, this time Admiral T will headline the Zénith de Paris this winter, on 8 December 2006. After the Olympia before…
- Bass Odyssey crowned in New york
After winning this year's UK Cup Clash, the St Ann sound took the trophy on Saturday night at the World Clash in Brooklyn. Up against Black Kat in the dub fi…
- Sinsemilia Honoured by France Bleu
On Sunday 8 October, Sinsemilia will receive the "Talent France Bleu 2005-2006" award. A prize intended to "showcase developing artists", in the words of…
- New riddims database
The web gains a new database devoted to Jamaican riddims, the very trademark of reggae. Drawing largely on the enormous work done by Pupa Vlado and Robert…
- Changes at the Festival-de-Marne
The Festival-de-Marne, which began yesterday and runs until 15 October, will offer a solid reggae bill on Saturday 7 October, even if the absence of the…
- Riddim Soundclash 2006
The 4th edition of the famous Riddim Clash moves this year from Munich to Düsseldorf and will be held on 4 November at the Stahlwerk. On the bill, a three-way…
September 2006
Judgement Riddim at Kalonji RecordsThe Judgement segment is getting crowded. After Pot of Gold's Judgement Riddim in 2002, Don Corleon's in 2005 and Special Delivery's very recent Judgement…
Reggae Time #2: A Tribute to FluomanIn tribute to the painter Fluoman, who died last winter and lived in Chartres for several years, the association Onsfoudkilao and the town council are…
- DancehallTV.fr Launches
Something new on the internet: Dancehall TV, the first French-language web television channel devoted to dancehall, has arrived. The concept: shed light on a…
A New Yabby You at Blood & FireWe now know more about Blood & Fire's next release, devoted to the extremely rare Yabby You. The English label will reissue the singer / producer's third…
- Big Youth Live in Paris
Following his remarkable (and much noticed) performance at Ja'Sound this summer, Big Youth returns to France for a single Paris show. He will take the stage…
New Magazine: Reggae Musiques et CultureA new magazine devoted to reggae is about to hit the newsstands: Reggae Musiques et Culture. A monthly of 84 pages, with a print run of 50,000 copies and a…
- Dub Meetings Return for the New Season
The Dub Meetings are back; to mark the start of the new season in style, none other than Jah Shaka will play on Saturday 14 October for the ninth edition of…
At Last, Reggae Awards in JamaicaThe Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJam) has decided to officially launch the International Reggae Music Academy. It has nothing to do with the…
- Tony Matterhorn confirme
While his hit Dutty wine is still ranking high in the reggae charts after 6 weeks at the top, Tony Matterhorn is back in the news with Goodas on the Gully…
World Clash 2006 : no title, no entryWorld Clash 2006, organised by Irish and Chin, will again be held in Brooklyn, at the Elite Ark, on Saturday 7 October 2006. The 2006 slogan "no title, no…
Glen Washington tour postponedSad news for Glen Washington, who was scheduled for a European tour in October: on his return from a concert in Trinidad at the end of August, the Jamaican…
- Dub Inc on tour
True to form, Dub Inc hit the road again this autumn and will be touring all over France in September and October. The band, one of the most active on the…
Frenchy Ragga DanceahallReleased on 4 September, the compilation "Frenchy Ragga Dancehall" presents a fine panel of artists from the French Antilles and mainland France. The tracks…
Buju Banton back on albumBuju Banton's 7th album, "Too bad", which we announced last July, is released today, 12 September, more than three years after the very crossover "Friends for…