EURweb |
REGGAE UPDATES FROM JAMAICA: Mary J Blige, LL Cool, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Beres Hammond reigned supreme at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest
Mary J Blige, LL Cool, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Beres Hammond reigned supreme at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest
*The 15th staging of Jamaica’s premiere reggae music festival, Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, has now ended. The nearly 50,000 patrons who attended the three day event should be beaming from spectacular performances from some of reggae and dancehall music’s hottest acts, and two of R&B and hip hop music’s most treasured stars.
Mary J Blige tore through the festival leaving the Jamaican audience on a high with her large arsenal of hits; LL Cool J who was making his debut performance in the island, had the ladies screaming with delight; Beenie Man was awesome; Beres Hammond was his usual entertaining self; and Buju Banton ran unchecked with his showmanship and diverse hit laden catalogue.
Other performers who ruled the stage at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest included newcomers Tessanne Chin, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Mavado, Munga, Lady Saw, Alaine and Tanya Stephens.
Mary J Blige is one of those performers who, through music, relates her own experiences, moving the most stoic of listeners to catharsis. "I was going through hell, and when you went out and bought my album, I was your therapist. and when you listened we both began to heal," said the emotional singer during her Saturday night performance at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest's final instalment, The Zenith.
Blue lights flashed as the thud of piano keys heralded the favourite No More Drama, which alludes to her past struggles with abusive relationships and an alleged drug problem.
The life lessons continued, as the diva's voice soared, meandering through difficult rifts even as she contorted her slim frame as if each word jabbed her body.
"Don't let the naysayers kill your dreams. keep kickin' 'em to the curve. Be happy with who you are," the R&B queen declared, her fans endorsing her statement by way of applause. And after a long sigh, she proceeded with the love song Be Without You from her late 2005 album Breakthrough.
"I got sick and tired of people's opinions and how I let that rule my life. as long as I love who I am that's cool," she said, apt lines for the introduction to Take Me As I Am, followed by the bluesy I'm Going Down. The audience, however, seemed to have 'first dibs' on the latter track, nearly completing the song before the singer could utter a note.
The ghetto soprano's four-inch heels proved no impediment for her since she glided across the stage, dancing, stooping and jumping during the other renditions: Real Love (her 1994 debut single), Enough Cryin' - produced by famous R&B producer Rodney 'Dark Child' Jerkins, featuring her rapping alter ego Brooklyn - and Baggage, among others.
Showcasing her impressive repertoire aside, Blige was the consummate performer, possessing what seemed like an innate ability to connect with her mostly female fan base - many of whom were also stirred to emotion. Her set was well-organised and perfectly executed, which easily made her the best performer of the three-day festival. The singer, who appeared midway through the show, closed with her 'crunk' track Dance For Me.
Rapper Fabolous set for Fully Loaded in Jamaica
The 11th staging of the annual beach event, Fully Loaded, will take place on Sunday, July 29 at James Bond Beach in Oracabessa.
The event will feature the top sound systems of the day as well as a performance from top US rapper Fabolous. Fabolous, who recently released the album From Nothing To Something via Def Jam, is currently riding the Billboard charts with the songs Make Me Better featuring Ne-Yo and Baby Don't Go.
Among his arsenal of hits are Into You, Breathe, Can't Deny It and Young N (Holla Back).
Capleton back from tour; to drop new album in September
Capleton is back from his recent tour of Europe, the Caribbean and North America. According to his manager, Claudette Kemp, "the tour went very well".
On September 17, VP Records will release a new Capleton album, his first for the label since 2004's Reign of Fire. The still untitled album will contain 17 tracks.
Capleton's annual St Mary Me Come From stage show will be held on August 5 at the Gray's Inn Sports Complex in Annotto Bay, St Mary.
Assassin's Gully Sit'n album due in August
Gully Sit'n, the forthcoming album from deejay Assassin, is due out on August 28 via VP Records. It's the follow-up to his 2005 effort Infiltrate.
Gully Sit'n contains 17 tracks and features production work from the likes of Donovan Bennett, Steven 'Lenky' Marsden, Dave Kelly, among others.
Assassin's latest hit, No Boring Gal, is currently hot on the local charts. A video for his new single, Don't Make We Hold You, was recently directed by Julia Braham.
Share and Bookmark |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
