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- You Should Know: Andreya Triana (Video Interview/Soul Bounce)
- Black Cab Sessions: Solange performing “Bad Girls”
- New Album Releases: May 7, 2013
- You Should Know: Onra (Video Interview/The Daily Motive)
- New Video: Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu – “Q.U.E.E.N.”
- New Album Release: April 23, 2013
- New Video: Leonard Friend – “Every Woman”
- New Album Releases: April 9, 2013
- New Music: The Hood Internet – “Suit and Commercial” (Justin Timberlake x Daft Punk)
- NYC: Alt-soul singer Maiysha performs at The Living Room, Mar. 29
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Snoop Lion Documentary “Reincarnated” In Select Theatres, On Demand
In case you didn’t know, famed rapper Snoop Dogg is now reggae artist Snoop Lion. In his new documentary Reincarnated, which hit select theatres last Friday (March 14– for one-week only) features the artist’s transformation into Snoop Lion while recording an album in Jamaica in February 2012. It shows the California rapper meeting with Rastafarian elders to reflect on his years growing up in Long Beach and his fast rise to super stardom, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Born Calvin Broadus, Snoop is also set to release his new LP of the same name on April 23 via Berhane Sound System, Mad Decent, VICE Music and RCA Records. According to Pitchfork, noted DJ and producer Diplo will produce the project and it features Drake, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, T.I., Akon, Rita Ora, and dancehall stars Popcaan and Mavado, to name a few.
Below, watch the trailer for Reincarnated and Snoop’s new video for new single “Lighters Up” featuring Popcaan and Mavado. Reincarnated is currently available On Demand as well.
Reggae band SOJA stops by USA TODAY’S StudioA
SOJA front man Jacob Hemphill (Photo/N.S. Farewell)
Still on the North American leg of their promotional tour, reggae band SOJA recently dropped by USA TODAY’S StudioA to perform a few songs (“Everything Changes” “When We Were Younger” and the title track) from their latest album Strength to Survive, which was released earlier this year. What I love about this band –aside from their relentless touring schedule–is their sincere desire to bring people together through music. Lead man Jacob Hemphill says, “The point of the band is to unite the human race into one country…not easy, but that’s the idea.” #lovethat
Bob Marley doc premieres on VH1 August 4; releases on DVD August 7
MARLEY is the acclaimed music documentary on legendary reggae artist Bob Marley. Released in theatres and on-demand on April 20, VH1 cable network will premiere the film August 4, as part of their Rock Docs series.
Directed by Academy-Award winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland), the movie includes rare performances and footage, as well as insightful interviews from those who knew the reggae star best: his family and close friends.
Being touted as “the definitive Bob Marley documentary”, MARLEY releases on Blu-ray and DVD August 7.
Belgian singer-songwriter Selah Sue drops U.S. debut August 21
Photo/Cedric Viollet
Selah Sue drops her self-titled U.S. debut on August 21st via Columbia Records that features remixes with J. Cole and Cee-Lo Green. The Belgian singer-songwriter is killing the Top 10 charts in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, blending her unique sound of pop, funk, soul and reggae.
“Raggamuffin“, her first single, is available on iTunes –but here Selah Sue essentially talks about how music is consistently building her confidence.
OneTwoWatch: Selah Sue
Myspace Music | Myspace Video
Want to learn to DJ in Texas? Austin’s Dub Academy can show you how
Photo/Applebox Imaging
Back in the day if you wanted to learn how to DJ, you were pretty much left to your own devices: watching music videos, attending shows, reading books or magazines — and if you were lucky enough to have a friend who was a DJ, you asked him (or her) to show you a few things.
Now, if you want to learn how to master the wheels of steel like a professional, you have the option of enrolling in a DJ school. That’s right! Dub Academy, located in Austin, Texas, is an independently owned DJ and music production school started by Barrington Miles two years ago. Miles is a native of Jamaica, hence the “Dub”, which is associated with reggae music. The academy is one of a handful in the U.S. (Dubspot and Scratch DJ Academy in New York City are two others). Scratch Academy also has locations in L.A. and Miami.
Recently, I visited Dub Academy during their “Sunday Fundays” Open House to check out a session, which was taught by their Lead DJ Instructor, KB (nee Kaivan Bazleh). Afterwards, I chatted with the school’s Director of Operations Lorenzo Villarreal aka Benzo, regarding the local response to a DJ school.
Reggae Band SOJA on Latest LP "Strength To Survive"
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| SOJA |
Last night, Virginia-based reggae band SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) made their national TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Their latest album Strength To Survive on the ATO label (co-founded by Dave Matthews) dropped earlier this year and it was heavily influenced by Bob Marley’s 1979 hyper-political album, Survival. Below is an EPK (short film) of the band performing in their hometown of Arlington, VA., and front man/guitarist Jacob Hemphill talking about their roots, their music and how Strength to Survive is essentially about how we’re all connected to one another.
Hemphill actually lived in Western Africa as a kid, so the group has that feel-good vibe mixed with songs about politics, personal reflection and social issues. The other band members include Bobby Lee (bass), Ryan Berty (drums), Kenneth Brownell (percussion) and Patrick O’Shea (keys), as well as Hellman Escorcia (saxophone) and Rafael Rodriguez (trumpet). I actually caught SOJA live at Music Hall of Williamsburg in 2010 when they opened for New Zealand roots reggae band The Black Seeds.
New Zealand Band The Black Seeds Returns with New LP + World Tour
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| photo credit: Red Bull Music Academy New Zealand’s The Black Seeds |
Blending the sounds of soul, funk, dub and reggae, Wellington, New Zealand band The Black Seeds are back with Dust And Dirt (out April 10) — their forthcoming LP since the U.S. release of Solid Ground in 2009.
The roots-reggae band starts the New Zealand leg of their tour on February 24 and hit North American waters on April 5. But you can check out my 2010 interview with lead man and guitarist Barnaby Weir at shortandsweetNYC.com.
- February 24 – Aoraki Polytech Campus, Timaru, New Zealand
- February 25 – Great Kiwi Beer Festival, Christchurch, New Zealand
- March 18 – WOMAD New Zealand 2012, New Plymouth, New Zealand
- April 5 – El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
- April 6 – Winston, San Diego, CA
- April 7 – Soho, Santa Barbara, CA
- April 8 – Slims, San Francisco, CA
- April 10 – Club 9ONE9, Victoria, BC
- April 11 – Fortune Sound, Vancouver, BC
- April 12 – The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
- April 13 – Cervantes, Denver, CO
- April 14 – Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
- April 15 – Brooklyn Bowl, New York City, NY
- April 17 – Castaways, Ithaca, NY
- April 19 – Electric Ballroom, London, UK
- April 20 – The Liquids Room, Edinburgh, UK
- April 22 – Melkweg, Amsterdam, NL
- April 27 – Printemps de Bourges, Bourges, FR
- April 28 – Festival Andel’lr, Andel, FR
- April 30 – Le Sax, Ancheres, FR
- May 2 – La Maroquinerie, Paris, FR
- May 3 – Underground, Koln, DE
- May 4 – Gleis 22, Munster, DE
- May 5 – C-Club, Berlin, DE
- May 7 – Fabrik, Hamburg, DE
- May 8 – Scheune, Dresden, DE
- May 10 – Sudhaus, Tubingen, DE
- May11 – Kaserne, Basel, CH
- May 12 – Moods, Zurich, CH
- May 13 – Ampere, Munich, DE
Bob Marley Music Doc Hits Theatres April 20
| “This documentary is theultimate revelation of my father’s life,” said Executive Producer Ziggy Marley.“The family is proud to be able to have the world finally experience thisemotional journey.” [FilmIndustryNetwork]
Happy Birthday, Robert Nesta
Bob Marley Music Documentary Set to Premiere at SXSW in March
Bai Kamara Jr. "Disposable Society" {Official Video}
Jahdan Blakkamoore "All Comes Back To One" [New Video]
Nas & Damian Marley "As We Enter" [New Video]
Happy Birthday, Robert Nesta Marley!
In celebration of music legend Bob Marley’s 65th birthday, here’s one of my faves with him and The Wailers, “Trenchtown Rock.” Enjoy!
DJ /rupture + Matt Shadetek, SOLAR LIFE RAFT music review at shortandsweetNYC.com
For bass and beats with a tropical feel, check the review of DJ /rupture and Matt Shadetek’s, Solar Life Raft album at shortandsweetNYC.The Black Seeds, SOLID GROUND music review at shortandsweetNYC.com
Want some soul, funk and reggae – New Zealand-style?? Take a listen to The Black Seeds, an eight-piece band out of Wellington. Read the review of their North American release, Solid Ground at shortandsweetNYC.