*Alicia Keys remembers growing up in the inner city areas of New York. The experiences that she faced were similar to those that ace dancehall deejay Cham himself experienced, which became the showcase for his Billboard-charting hit and local chart topper Ghetto Story.
Keys recently teamed up with Cham for the remix of Ghetto Story. A video for the track was shot in Kingston earlier this week in the Sherlock area of Duhaney Park, of which Cham is originally from. ‘Growing up for me was a lot of different things, and that’s what I think made me who I am. I grew up around so many different styles, the grittiest, the dirtiest, the ugliest, the hard times and the struggles. I also saw a whole positive side. I grew up seeing both sides, where the negativity motivated me to see the positives’, Keys explained in an interview with this writer on the set of the video shoot last week.
The Grammy winning songstress whose credentials include hit singles such as Fallin, You Don’t Know My Name, Karma, If I Ain’t Got You and A Woman’s Worth, was thrilled about being in Jamaica again. She had performed in the island two years ago at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay. ‘I love Jamaica and the people are so warm’, Keys gushed.
Keys said she wanted to be on the remix of Ghetto Story because she like the song and she could relate to what Cham was saying in the song. ‘Its kinda interesting how the collaboration happened. The label didn’t come to us, neither did Cham. Actually, we (Keys and her management) went to them (Cham)’. Its like combining two worlds like that, and it turned out perfect. We approached Cham to be on the remix, and I felt ecstatic about it. We all have our own story of how we were raised and what we saw while we were growing up. I like the way Cham rode the rhythm and I liked his flow. He was really being honest and truthful, and I wanted to tell my story. I appreciated his story’, Keys explained.
Prior to teaming up with Cham, Keys had worked with Damian Jr. Gong Marley on her unplugged album. She also performed with Julian Marley in Rome on a concert arranged by music mogul and record producer Quincy Jones. ‘I have done shows with a number of reggae artistes, but this is my first record with a reggae artiste’, Keys said.
Keys whose most recent album was the multi-platinum selling The Diary of Alicia Keys, says she is working on her third studio album. ‘I am working on my album right now, so you can look out for that sometime next year’, she said.
* International superstar, Missy ‘Misdemeanour’ Elliott is set to rock Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, 2006.
Five-time Grammy Award winner, female rap icon and international superstar, Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliott, whose recent album, ‘The Cookbook,’ went gold and won several top awards, is set to join a top notch cast of artists for Jamaica’s hottest reggae festival this summer – the 2006 Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest.
Producers of the 2006 Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, billed to be the best event to date, last week announced the latest addition to a line-up that already has fans buzzing. According to executive producer of Summerfest Productions, Johnny Gourzong, Elliott will perform at ‘The Summit,’ the final night of the show on July 22 and will be part of the all star-cast that brings the curtains down on what is slated to be another spectacular year.
“We are continuing what has become a trademark of this great event, that is, to present international stars along with their Jamaican counter parts,” commented Gourzong. “Missy is a great artist, a positive role model for young women, and we know she will help to bring out the crowds. It’s going to be a great night.”
Jomo Cato, Summerfest’s marketing director, is also ecstatic about the latest addition to Sumfest, adding, “Miss Elliot is an international superstar. This woman has dominated the Hip Hop game for the better part of a decade. The last time she appeared in Jamaica she brought the house down with her energy and ability to connect with the audience. Missy is a huge boost to our Saturday night event, The Summit, and fits the theme perfectly, ‘Jamaica’s Greatest, The World’s Best.”
Elliott is known for hits like ‘Get Ur Freak On,’ ‘Work It,’ ‘One Minute Man,’ ‘Make It Hot,’ ‘Trippin,’ ‘Hot Boyz,’ ‘The Rain,’ Sock It To Me,’ 'Em Wit Da Hee,’ and recently, ‘Lose Control.’ Her 2005 album, ‘The Cookbook,’ has been called a work of art by several critics and features collaborations with a top notch list of artists including Grand Puba and Mary J. Blige, Pharell of the Neptunes, Ciara, Fat Man Scoop, Slick Rick and American Idol starlet Fantasia.
Elliott’s also won several honors, apart from the Grammy’s, including just last month, the Best Female Hip Hop Artist title at the 2006 BET Awards and is set to soon star in a movie about her life.
Missy joins the Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest cast that already includes several multiple Grammy winners, including rapper 50-Cent, Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley and dancehall’s Beenie Man and is sure to thrill fans attending ‘The Summit’ on July 22 with old and new hits.
Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest gets officially underway on Sunday, July 16th - with the all new free Vibe Island Beach Party, featuring Jamaica’s hottest selectors and the “Reggae on the Runway’ fashion segment. ‘Mad Monday’s Mobay’ follows on Monday July 17th. Staged in partnership with the Hip Strip community, this event will feature an arts and craft street fair, cuisine sampling from hip strip restaurants and music from Jamaica’s biggest sound systems.
Sumfest continues on Wednesday, July 19, with the staging of the “Top Ranking” show that will highlight some of the best years of dancehall music, with dancehall’s Yellow Man set to receive a lifetime achievement awards along with and reggae’s John Holt. Holt will perform at Ignition on July 21. ‘Stormfront – the explosive dancehall night,’ featuring the likes of Beenie Man and Bounti Killa, follows on Thursday night, July 20 while the ‘Ignition’ concert with 50 Cent among others, is set for Friday July 21.
Sumfest 2006 will climax with ‘The Summit’ on July 22, with Missy, Jr. Gong and Rihanna among those helping to bring the curtains down on what is destined to be another incredible show.
· Irie Jamboree returns with confirmation of top stars
Four of hottest dancehall stars – Capleton, Beenie Man, Buju Banton and Baby Cham along with Cocoa T and veteran crooner Gregory Isaacs are among the stars confirmed for Irie Jamboree 2k6, which is scheduled to take place at Roy Wilkins Park, Queens, New York on Labor Day Sunday, September 3.
“We are very excited about the lineup this year and feel especially happy given the fact the Capleton has not performed at a major event in New York for quite some time. Gregory, a favorite among reggae fans in the tri-state has not performed at an outdoor event in New York for more than a decade” Bobby Clarke of Irie Jamboree said.
Clarke also disclosed that for the very first time, the event will feature launch parties in Jamaica, Miami and New York. “This is the very first time that a major North American Reggae festival will host launch parties in three cities. This is an important next step that we must take as the event grows” he said. At the launch event, Clarke, Steven “Yello” Williams and the executive team plan to disclose details of the festival, including groundbreaking news regarding improvements to the festival, production, venue, other confirmed acts and next steps for Irie Jamboree. “It is important that we meet first hand with the press and the players in the industry in these three markets to keep them abreast of what is happening with the event and explore opportunities to further grow the event” Williams said.
The Jamaica launch will take place at a trendy hot spot in Kingston. The dates and venue for the Miami and New York launch parties will be announced soon. The all day family festival will be recorded in HDTV surround sound and will include a food court with an eclectic array of vendors merchandising exotic foods, arts and crafts and other cultural items that reflect the diversity of the Caribbean.
Last year's Irie Jamboree festival, with headliners Jr. Gong Marley, Sizzla and Elephant Man was top notch in every way - from performances and production to the easy access patrons had entering the venue and attracted a record twenty five thousand patrons. This year with an early start a bigger crowd is anticipated. Log on to www.iriejamboree.com or call 1-888-irie-nyc for updates.
· Buju Banton’s Gargamel Music to be distributed by Tommy Boy
And speaking of Buju, his Gargamel Music label recently inked a inked a distribution deal with Tommy Boy Distribution, the independent distribution arm of longtime US label, Tommy Boy, which celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. Tommy Boy has scored hits in the 1990’s with songs and projects released by Queen Latifah and dance music star Amber among others.
The deal is strictly for North America, though Tommy Boy Distribution will also sell finished goods to the Caribbean. The first release under the deal will be Buju Banton's
forthcoming new dancehall album, Too Bad, which is scheduled for US release on September 12. An unnamed distributor will release the album in the UK and Europe in late October.
In mid October, Gargamel Music will release the100 Watt rhythm album, which is part of Gargamel Music's Excalibur Sound Rhythm Album Series.