Bunji Garlin

Dancehall reggae boy group Voice Mail-s latest album Let-s Go, which was released on April 18 in Japan by Pony Cannon Records, has already sold more than 40,000 copies since its release. This spells good news for the group, which sold over 100,000 copies of its last album Hey, in Japan last year.

Let-s Go features the three-member group s scattered styles which have been woven together seamlessly. From the buoyant Let s Dance, which topped the charts late last year to the sultry Memories By the Score, the album is certainly a vast improvement from the trio s debut, Hey, which VP Records released last summer.

Voice Mail clearly has its ears to the streets and have drummed up an album that certainly connects with variety and percolating beats. Producers including Danny Champagnie, Donovan Don Corleon Bennett, Delano Thomas (Renaissance), and Christopher Langmann Birch assist in channelling the group s masculine grace to the ears of the music-loving public.

Other primed cuts on Let s Go include the lovers rock mid-tempo treat, Best Days Of My Life, the uptempo dance numbers Dancing Fever (featuring Cool Face, and which is currently riding the charts), Let s Dance; Flash Yuh Finger and I Need You.

Let s Go deserves a fair shake and it can only expand the group s growing fan base.

Source: EURweb.com

Cocoa Tea-s 1994 album, Tune In has been re-released by Greensleeves Records. The younger generation of music lovers who thought that Cocoa Tea-s finest hour came with the most recent chart-topper Tek Weh You Gal, had better think again.

Cocoa Tea has been churning out hits since the 1980s. The prolific singer has been responsible for a number of dancehall anthems including I Lost My Sonia, She Loves Me Now, Good Life (my favourite Cocoa Tea song), Hot Sweet Cocoa Tea, Too Young (with Buju Banton) and Zeeks.

Tune In, which was produced by Phillip -Fattis- Burrell for Exterminator Records, was among Greensleeves- biggest sellers when it was first released 13 years ago. The disc contains 15 tracks, including the title track, “Mek Dem A Gwaan So”, “Love Me Truly”, “Don-t You Burn”, “Over The Years”, “Cyaan Touch Dis”, “Sinner Burning (with Charlie Chaplin)”, “Hot Sweet Cocoa Tea”, “Eighteen And Over”, “Criminality”, “Heads Of Government”, “Good Life”, “She Loves Me Now” and “Too Young”.

Incidentally, from the aforementioned tracks, only “Too Young”, “Good Life” and “She Loves Me Now” were chart-toppers.

Cocoa Tea fans who missed out on capturing this disc when it was first released and newer fans who have longed for escape into Cocoa Tea-s melodic charm should start filling out subscriptions to Tune In.

Source: Jamaica Observer

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS: SIX MORE DAYS ‘TIL BEST OF THE BEST MEMORIAL WEEKEND CONCERT IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI!

-Buju-Akon-Shaggy-Bounty-Barrington-Capleton-Matterhorn-Lady Saw-Elephant-Mavado-Bling Dawg-Da’Ville-Collie-Jovi-Munga-Trevor Offkey To Blaze Bayfront Park This Sunday-

South Florida’s premier Caribbean music and lifestyle promotions company, Rocker’s Island – in association with Rebel Mix (www.rebelmix.com) and Massive B promotions, are extremely proud to present the Best Of The Best 2007 concert being held this coming Sunday, May 27th at Bicentennial Park (1075 Biscayne Blvd.) in beautiful downtown Miami.

Confirmed performances for the highly anticipated show include international dancehall-reggae icon Buju Banton, Shaggy, Barrington Levy, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Lady Saw and Elephant Man. Also on this year’s lineup are dancehall’s newest dynamos Mavado, Tony Matterhorn, Bling Dawg, fresh-faced singers Da’Ville and Jovi Rockwell, plus talented newcomers Collie Budz, Shifta, Munga Honorable and Trevor Off-Key.

Best Of The Best 2007 will be hosted by Wyclef Jean, Jabba and Bobby Konders and DJ Khaled, with co- hosts Jamusa, DJ Roy, Mikey Mike, 800-Bungie, Andrew D, Lady Terra, Papa Keith, Walshy Killa, Supa Twitch. Doors open at 1:00pm. Show starts at 2:30pm and ends at midnight.

The Official Best Of The Best Welcome To Miami Pre- Party will be held at the Yage Bay Club (3301 Rickenbacker Causeway), and will feature music by Massive B, DLife, Lady Terror and Steelie Bashment. Folks with out of state IDs pay $10 before midnight. All others $30.

The Official Best Of The Best After Party will be held at Bayside Hut (3501 Rickenbacker Causeway), and feature the sounds of Massive B, Tony Matterhorn, DJ Khaled, Innocent, Mega Flex, Money D and Street League. $10 before midnight with flyer. $30 after.

For more info log onto www.bestofthebestconcert.com

Hot wuk – Mr. Vegas

1. Hot Wuk – Mr. Vegas
2. Higher than High – Machel Montano
3. Church Heathen – Shaggy
4. One More Wine – Machel Montano
5. Party Rocker – Kerwin DuBios

Flip over a flyer, scroll down a poster and you’re almost guaranteed to see his emblem. You’ve probably heard his voice over the blearing speakers hyping-up the crowd and it seems like he’s playing off your ‘iPod Playlist”. Now it’s time to turn over that symbol and meet the man behind the turn-table. He commands your attention not with his music but his words. Understand why it was necessary for him to take music “Back to Basics”

OC: We all become passionate about one thing in life, what or who would you say sparked that passion which you have for DJ’ing and what is the history behind Back to Basics?

DJ Back to Basics: The history behind DJ Back 2 Basic is a good one (he smiles) I started at the age of 10 back in Trinidad & Tobago, I would sneak out, while my parents were asleep and work for free as a stage hand for D Professional. I wanted to be in that atmosphere, so payment was not important to me. I would idealize DJ’s of that era. I would listen to Radio personalities like Glen “The Thunder” Antoine, and Ian “The Goose” Elligon. A lot of my influence came from listening to mix tape icon and mobile DJ’s such as XTC, Teddy Mohammed, D Professionals, DJ CIN and DJ Amitaf.

OC: Coming from Trinidad, how did you start DJ’ing in New York and what was the experience like for you starting up?

DJ Back to Basics: I was about 18 when I came to New York, enrolled in Kingsborough Community College, I DJ’ed at various clubs and college events and was Production Director for House Music for a year and a half. Although the experience was great, I felt that something was missing. I felt the need to go back to my roots; I tried to establish myself with other DJ groups like GB Production and The Supreme Team, these DJ’s played what I knew best, Caribbean music, unfortunately these groups were not looking to take on any new members.

OC: When would you say that you finally got that opportunity to show your talents as a DJ?

DJ Back to Basics: One day, during a block party, I heard this DJ playing, his style was somewhat like mine, and he had the ability to draw in the crowd. That DJ was “President Regan” from Sound City. After listening to my mix tape, Regan and the owner of Sound City “Floyd” solicited me to join the Group. For 10 years we were known as Sound City 3; I went by the name D Professor. We skyrocketed, taking Soca music to total different plain. With an accumulation of our DJ skills we became the number one sound system ‘ever’, in the Caribbean-American community.

OC: At what point did you decided to branch out on your own and what made you revamp you image from D Professor to Back to Basic?

DJ Back to Basics: After being with Sound City for so long, I felt like it was time for a new challenge, the timing was good for me too. Our creativity at the time was taking different paths, that happens. Again I wanted to go back to where it all started, I wanted to go “back to basic” (he smiles) and that’s where I got the name from. I became DJ Back to Basic since 1998 and I have been going strong ever since.

OC: What would be your worst fear and greatest reward for you, while DJ’ing at parties and other events?

DJ Back to Basics: My greatest fear is that people don’t enjoy my music or clear the dance floor while I’m playing. Thankfully that has not happened. (he laughs) The greatest reward is that people enjoy themselves, they don’t even have to be dancing, my music could just bring a smile to their faces. I love to look around and see people enjoy what it is that I do. My goal as a DJ is to play music for people, I want them to feel like I was play music off they “play list”. I love a challenge, anything that comes my way I’m up for it; I will find what it takes to rock the crowd in whatever setting I am thrown into.

OC: Many individual call themselves “DJ”, what sets you apart from all the others?

DJ Back to Basics: What separates me from the rest “experience and knowing exactly what people want”. My type of DJ’ing, it’s a craft, somewhat of an art form; any DJ can get music but not many know how to DJ. It’s just like any other profession, an individual can get the tools to be a plumber but that does not mean he can replace a sink. As a result of the CD era and other technology, a guy can call himself a DJ in a little as a month’s time; being DJ is an art form, which can take years to develop. A DJ needs to know what to do with his tools, I know how to make a party “rock and swing”. I know how to play for women and guys. Regards of how is at the party, what time of the day or night it is, can I use my tools the best way I know how to make that party rock. I’ll be honest with you, I have that instinct, of knowing what a crowd likes.

OC: If we were to look into your album crates and have you pull out one album and play a song which one would you go for and why?

DJ Back to Basics: Now that’s a really good question, I have so many songs. Some songs I would play at one place, I might not play anywhere else. A sure shot song I would pull out “Blame it on the Music” by Rupee. It never fails.

OC: You have been behind the turn table for years playing other peoples music, have you ever given thought to stepping up front and become a performer?

DJ Back to Basics: I probably could do that because I know what works and what does not and I see a few mistakes artist make with songs, but I’m not really the person to be just performing on the stage, that’s not me.

OC: What is your take on Soca music, do you believe that it will ever be given the same “hype” as Reggae music?

DJ Back to Basics: Soca music has potential to appeal to the masses, the producers and artist need to find that formula. I went on tour for 2 months with Kevin Lyttle, promoting one song, “Turn Me On” in Europe. It was the #2 song over Black Eyes Peas and OutKast. This song had the right Soca formula for that market. Right now, Soca music does not have that formula to appeal to avenues outside of the Caribbean arena, but it can. That’s only if artist are willing to make that change to make it happen, there is nothing keeping Soca from becoming a popular genre.

OC: What advice can you give to other DJ’s who are trying to establish themselves and to other who are interested in become a DJ?

DJ Back to Basics: Know exactly what your crowd wants at any given time. That’s what separates me. Its takes trial and error, you have to put that extra effort into being a DJ. Like I said, anybody can DJ but to be a great DJ you have to pay your dues. I’ve paid close to 20 years of dues. Experience does not come by grabbing CD’s and simply playing them. If you want to be a good DJ, stay in touch with your people, don’t ever play for yourself. Always remember you are here to entertain and that you can easily loose your crowd by playing just what you want to hear. Don’t let the popularity go to your head. Always be humble, it goes a long way.

The gifted vocalist and musician, Jah Melody, born Michael Williams in Carenage, Trinidad in1980, will release his debut album with VP Records in September 2007. Jah Melody expresses that “signing a recording deal with VP is a good opportunity for an artist like myself. It just comes to show that with faith and perseverance your goals can be attained.” His manager, Zakri Esau, adds, “Working with an artist such as Jah Melody and now VP Records is a dream come true. I am expecting big things for 2007 and beyond.”

Jah Melody makes roots reggae compositions with sweet R&B melodies and hooks and sings with rich cultural and spiritual content. Some of the charming sounds off the new album are a result of an amazing collaborative effort and musical chemistry between Jah Melody and ace producer Bobby “Digital” Dixon. Neil “Diamond” Edwards, A & R of VP Records, said “From what I’ve heard from the album so far, the world is in for a big treat, so be prepared!”