Documentary: Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Starring A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest

Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
Directed by Michael Rapaport

A hip-hop purist’s dream come through, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest has the depth that reggae fans enjoyed from a film about the life story on the iconic Bob Marley, such as Caribbean Nights: A BBC Documentary on the life of Bob Marley.  Read more... (616 words + 2 images)

THE UPSETTER: The Life and Music of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry

NO… the Joke’s On Us!

Lee Scratch Perry  Read more... (660 words + 3 images)

Daara J

8/16/05

Daara J at Reggae on the River 2005 (photo by Lee Abel)

Daara J means ‘school of life’ and for the three young men from Senegal (N’Dango D, Aladji Man and Faada Freddy) that make up this African/Ragga Hip-Hop group, consciousness and exposing the truths of the world are the most important aspects of their musical message.  Read more... (2184 words + 3 images)

CD Review: Lutan Fyah, Time and Place

2005

Lutan Fyah
[Lustre Kings/AfroHypnotic]

After one listen of Lutan Fyah’s latest LP release, “Time and Place,” you’ll agree that Lutan Fyah should be more than deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as other newcomers such as I Wayne and Natty King. In time, he might well fare alongside veterans such as Capleton, Sizzla and Jah Cure.  Read more... (388 words + 1 image)

Reasoning with Michael Franti

The U.S. seems as divided a country on the issue of the War in Iraq, as the world is on issues of abortion and religion. Our generation is already seeing our share of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, sadly destined to face the similar fate of those veterans in the 1960’s returning from Vietnam. Deep sadness, or increasing anger are natural emotions we can either imagine, internalize or directly express in our opposition to the War, but Michael Franti, social-change musical activist, developed a different approach in his protest against the US invading Iraq.  Read more... (2147 words + 5 images)

CD Review: Gregory Isaacs, Open the Door

Gregory Isaacs
[Ras/Sanctuary]

Lucky to still be alive, does Gregory still have it? He does, thanks to the aid of duo-producers, Mafia & Fluxy. In the studio, Gregory relies on his strength of keeping it cool and calm, highlighting his distinctive, golden vocals, while producers Mafia & Fluxy arm Gregory with solid songs to rock any dancehall. The production duo, famous for classic rub-a-dub riddims pushing Beenie Man and Bounty Killer as household names back in the early 1990’s, crank up the bass to perfectly fit the power of your built up, theater-structured speakers.  Read more... (238 words + 1 image)

CD Review: Jah Cure, Ghetto Life

Jah Cure, “Ghetto Life”
[VP Records]

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CD Review: Ras Shiloh, From Rasta to You

2002

Such an album is long overdue by one of the most overlooked singers in the dance. But at last, Ras Shiloh gets a special push on this 17-track album debut for VP Records. Produced by Donovan Germaine for Penthouse, this session kicks off with “Complain” featuring Garnett Silk, Shiloh’s most obvious influence.  Read more... (222 words + 1 image)