By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 08:46 am:

I note the regular encroachment of reggae on the charts recently, mostly from the dancehall side.

It's definitely great party music and there are more than a few songs that are coming from a socially conscious tip.

I see in the near future more reggae entries on the charts as the young folks from the major urban centres have embraced reggae bigtime.

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 09:06 am:

Has anyone heard Alicia Keys "You don't know my name" in reggae. Some enterprising folks have spliced her vocal on top of two reggae rhythm tracks. I note on the label the following "for promotionla use only".

It makes you wanna move yah booteee !!!

By LadyMystique (216.37.228.72) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 07:39 pm:

I have heard it, but I'd rather reggae stay reggae and not be called hip-hop. It is like reggae is getting more airplay because of the hip-hop influence and if it wasn't for that, the urban stations wouldn't have played these records on the air. Just my opinion...

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 09:03 pm:

I hear yah, LadyMystique. The reggae industry had to come up with a gameplan to get reggae on the urban radio playlists. They had to go the crossover route, for example, Shaggy or via piggybacking on hip-hop.

In a huge market like NYC, with a major Caribbean component, the encroachment of reggae on the radio playlists was inevitable.

By Isaiah (205.188.117.14) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 09:25 pm:

Cornbread and Lady M, very timely topic... Looking at HipHop history, though, it would appear that HipHop is Reggae and Reggae is HipHop(smile!) Cool Herc, DJ Red Alert, Funkmaster Flex, Granmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, KRS 1, and countless dozens are Caribbean American cats and ladies(Foxy Brown and Queen Pen)... You know they'd bring the Reggae/Calypso Funk into the mix... Heather Headley is TRINI, Lady Mystique - as if you didn't know dat - betcha didn't KnOOOOOOW DAAAT(smile!) But, yo, you know I dig it all, 'cause it's all good whenever I hear Beres, Freddie, Frankie, Supa Cat, and Sanchez bringin' the Roots, Rock, R&B flava down the Reggae highway...(smile!)

On another note, Corn and LADY M, what'chall think about WLIB sellin' out??? I thought they was makin' out like fat rats with the Reggae programming for like 30 years??? What happened???

Peace!
Isaiah

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 09:31 pm:

Hey Isaiah: I posted a thread about the switch to all-talk for WLIB a little while back and got minimal feedback.

Anyhow, I heard that apparently the station was losing money for the longest while.

By LadyMystique (216.37.228.72) on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 09:52 pm:

Isaiah...I knew dat! LOL But, I was upset when WLIB changed like that...sorry CORN...I must have missed that thread.

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 09:11 am:

I really got a chuckle from "Delroy" by DCR. It's about a fellow who lives with his granny. He is relating how granny makes him do chores 24/7. He is reliving his frustrations very vividly with the repeated mimicking of granny calling him to do another task. ...Delroy.

I thought DCR was going to explode near the end of the song with a cussing out of granny. He showed a lot of restraint.

By Eli (68.236.55.93) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 09:44 am:

For me personally, Reggae is roots reggae and lovers rock.
Dancehall is cool and rhytymic in a hip hop sense but to me is not pure reggae.
Marley, Tosh,Wailers Toots, I Threes,Freddie Mc Gregor, Barry Bigs(who is a friend)that to me is Reggae.

The new stuff is just imo, misogynistic sex laden, booty bangin stuf and not true regae as I have come to know and love it.
It seems that everybody and their momma is trying to do a dancehal/ diwali riddim to theur joints and it is getting boring and passe by now.
Next??
I have been to Jamaica on various occasions and have a feel for the real stuff.

By Gary (66.73.238.5) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 10:21 am:

Cornbread...one of my former co-workers is Jamaican. She calls her 8-year-old son "Delroy" even though his name is actually Michael. She's a real pistol and after reading your post, I had to laugh out loud when I thought about her and her kid. It's all starting to make sense to me now. I gotta go out this weekend and look for a copy of that track you mentioned.

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 10:55 am:

Hello everyone,

As someone who came from Caribbean roots, I, too, prefer the 'roots & culture' of Reggae & Lover's Rock as Mr. Eli mentioned. Dancehall has all but dominated the Reggae scene nowadays. Interestingly, there is an article vibe this month that has a feature on Female Dancehall artists. Unfortunately, they say that they have to sell sex because singing 'conscious' music doesn't pay. Pretty sad. It seems like only the men can can sing about anything they want without having to compromise their intergrity.

Peace!

By Eli (68.236.60.21) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 01:31 pm:

Hi Common,
Thats horrible and one sided.
This soon will change.

By keith (168.159.190.36) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 01:52 pm:

Eli,

Do you know what Barry Biggs is up to? I love that song "Wide Awake In A Dream"

Now if only Lee "Scratch" Perry would rebuild Black Ark Studios. He was the MAN!
IMO one of the greatest producers EVER!

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 02:50 pm:

Great day, Bobby......Once again you and I are on the same wavelength!

The crap that's denting the charts today ain't reggae.....not in the sense of "reggae" as I know it. The stuff out there today (Luciano, Beres Hammond and Freddie McGregor are current exceptions) is primarily dancehall, slackness and toasting.....in other words, rap influenced stuff......Does nothing for me.

Talk to any true rasta in Jamaica and they'll tell you the same thing....They are disappointed down there with the direction of reggae.....The old rootsmen are still revered, however...

Reggae was, at one point, one of the most socially conscious and spiritually uplifting forms of music on the planet. Now much of that is gone......

Reggae to me will forever mean rock steady and roots reggae......Listen to the second and third discs of Island's "The Story of Jamaica Music" and you'll know where I'm coming from.....

BTW.....Alton Ellis did a great version of "Wide Awake Is A Dream"......Ellis is a great combination of soul and reggae....

By john dixon (152.163.253.70) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 02:59 pm:

right keith, next to Bob Marley, IMO Lee Perry is the most important figure of reggae's classic era. I especially love those early instrumentals with the Upsetters that sound like Ennio Morricone after a big spliff! When ol' Lee tries to sing,however, count me out!

I'm not ashamed to say that the only reggae I listen to is roughly from 1966-79.

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 03:10 pm:

John.....that period is pretty much the heart of reggae music.....

There WERE some pretty good albums in the 80s, especially by Bunny Wailer.....It took awhile before reggae began to diminish in quality compared to soul music in the states.....Reggae seems to always be about 10 years behind the U.S. in that regard....

For example, reggae's classic era would be the 1970s, while soul's classic era is the 1960s.....So if you're focused on the 1966-79 period, you're doing just fine!! I agree with you on the importance of Perry....I can't get enough of "Super Ape" and "Arkology." Perry's singing just cracks me up!

By DyvaNaye (209.212.74.216) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 03:19 pm:

Give me the the SKA and ROCKERS anyday over DANCEHALL...reasons later...

By keithl37 (168.159.190.36) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 03:22 pm:

John,

There is a connection right there. The Upsetters who were the studio band for Lee Perry, had Aston Barrett on bass and his brother Carlton on drums. The early Bob Marley and the Wailers songs were first recorded with Lee Perry as producer and then Bob Marley somehow got most of The Upsetters to be in his band, signed on with Chris Blackwells Island label and the rest is history.

I too listen to reggae from the the same period, from ska to lovers rock to reggae. A Classic period in music. Jamaica has some of the best singers per capita on the planet. I wish this "golden era" was still around. The competition between the Studios was fierce.

By LadyMystique (216.37.228.72) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 07:36 pm:

That's what I was trying to say in my first post. Dancehall is for if you want to shake it, not intended to listen to (lyrics). I prefer the ROOTS and LOVER'S ROCK. That's what I grew up on (besides the soca and calypso music, and even soca music has gone "club"). There was a time the lyrics in the reggae music meant something, now all I see is too much booty...but I guess you men aren't complaining.

Now, about selling sex...I would disagree with that statement that singer said because there are people out there looking for the real thing...Sizzla, Buju Banton, Morgan Heritage and others are contributing to that market.

It may sound like I am rambling, but just wanted to get my thoughts in.

By Isaiah (152.163.253.70) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 08:45 pm:

Lady M, the only complaint I have is where is my chocolate chip, PATRA??? Where she at(smile!)

Peace!
Isaiah

By Eli (68.163.60.242) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 08:48 pm:

I recently received some wonderful Ska compilations courtesy of WSM in England.

Thanks Rick!!!

By Eli (68.163.60.242) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 08:55 pm:

Keith,
I heard that Barry Biggs is still working and recording, according to earl "Chinna" Smith of the wailers.

I am planing to try and get back in touch with him soon.

We had some great times together both in Jamaica and in NJ when he was our houseguest for two weeks.

I have also had covers by Freddie Mc Gregor who had a top five UK smash with his Lovers Rock version of Just dont want to be lonely.

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 09:00 pm:

One of the precious few reggae records since the start of this millenium that shows originality in the rhythm track as well as excellent lyrics is "By his deeds" by VC.

By LadyMystique (216.37.228.72) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 09:10 pm:

Yeah...where is Patra? That was my girl...came out with two CDs and BOUNCED!

JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY was a very big hit...I did hear it on WLIB-NY (*sigh*) alot.

Eli, you should try the Trojan Box Sets...affordable and jam packed with hits!

By paulie3$hoes (68.163.60.242) on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 - 09:17 pm:

eh do dem trojan box setz cum in eh..extra large for dat ..eh ol schwazool ..ya know..da t'oid shoe...catch my drift???$#%^&8

By CORNBREAD (66.185.84.74) on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 08:43 am:

The reggae industry is scraping the bottom of the creativity barrel. In order to create some hype, any mundane task is turned into a dance.

Such as the following: Roll on the deodorant, Screw in the bulb (light bulb), paint the ceiling, smell yuh arm (armpit).

Every week heralds a few new dance moves.

Great for a bashment vibe.

By keithl37 (168.159.190.36) on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 10:51 am:

Thank You Mr. Eli,

If you do speak with Barry Biggs tell him that he is appreciated and we wish him success. I'll have to dig deeper for his recordings, great voice.

I also hope the Wailers continue to tour and keep the true reggae vibe coming to the people.

Another shout out goes to Burning Spear another true original and very hard working performer, great artist.

And one more artist I'd like to give props to is Alpha Blondy from Africa. For those who haven't given him a listen you should check him out.

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Thursday, April 01, 2004 - 11:39 am:

Yes.....good mention on Burning Spear.

I saw him live several years ago.....he may have gone gray (as I'm starting too!!) but he's still got the "chant" down.....Selah!!

By ErikT.O. (64.228.108.163) on Friday, April 02, 2004 - 05:42 pm:

I've Spear a few times, he's usually good. The Wailers on the other hand were disappointing; they sure play well, but enough with recruiting Bob lokk-n-sound-alikes! Why can't they hook up with a few of the greats from roots reggae's golden years, and tour with them revue style? I can think of a lot of reggae singers who still tour and would be great on such a bill. Gregory Isaacs and John Holt are supposed to be in town tomorrow, I've seen 'em both before and Gregory is, ahem, an uneven live performer although his last cd on Heartbeat 'I Found Love' reunited him with prodicer Alvin Ranglin & that's a hot c.d. if you want a good example of new reggae. Hope he gets himself together, I saw Dennis Brown a few years ago, then I went to the Wailers/ Dennis Brown split show, Dennis wasn't there and before long he left for good. Joseph Hill and Culture are still touring and a reliably good show as well. I'm looking forward to seeing them at the Montreal Reggae Fest in a couple of months.