THE REGGAE GOT TALENT COMPETITION 2009

Dubroom Online, Edition October 16 2009

"THE REGGAE GOT TALENT COMPETITION 2009" (WEBMASTER'S COLUMN)

WWW, October 16 2009 - It's actually the first in what hopefully turns out to be a real thing to watch out for every year. Not only will the winners themselves receive a whole lot of niceness, their entries will be available for free download as well.

This means obviously that the whole Online (DUB) Reggae Massive will be able to discover new, up and coming artists.

The jury is impressive: Earl 16, Afrikan Simba and Dougie Wardrop from Conscious Sounds Studio will come together to review the material that can be sent in.

In fact, you can say that we have a strong segment of the UK DUB massive looking for... you?

Yes: in today's edition of Dubroom Online, we pay a lot of attention to the "Reggae Got Talent Competition 2009". Especially of interest for the Online (DUB) Reggae Artists, but definitely not limited to the artists themselves.

One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread (Dubroom Webmaster)

The above column is the personal opinnion of the Webmaster and does not neccesarily reflect the contents of the Dubroom Website and/or Message Boards and/or Weblogs.

ITEMS FOR THIS EDITION:

SUGAR MINOTT - SI MI YA (DUBROOM ONLINE MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 16 2009 - Sugar Minott sipping from the Challis, reasoning and singing over a super catchy Rub a Dub riddim, showing just why he is the founding father of Rub a Dub Style!

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SOLO BANTON - OLD TIME SOMETHING/DUB (DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 2009 - This is more than just a slice of UK Toast, even though it is: taken from the upcoming album "Walk Like A Rasta", a Reality Shock Records release, this Net Single features Solo Banton's impressive fast chat style and a Dub from the riddim by none other than Conscious Sound's Dougie Wardrop!

And there's more: producers and singers will want to read on as you are invited to create your own tune around Solo Banton's voice or voice your own thing over the Dub and win some very interesting prizes!

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REGGAE GOT TALENT COMPETITION 2009 (FROM THE NEWS WIRE)

WWW, October 2009 - Attention Producers, Vocalists and Sound Systems: check out the brand new "Reggae Got Talent Competition 2009", where you can either make a tune around an accapella track of lyrical super talent Solo Banton or voice over a version mixed by Conscious Sounds' Dougie Wardrop. Sound Systems can put the Banton tune in their DJ mix.

Send your production to Reality Shock Records before November 30 to have it reviewed by Reggae Veterans and get some really, really attractive prizes!

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ABYSSINIANS (DUBROOM ARTIST PAGE)

WWW, October 2009 - The classic Rasta Anthem "Satta Massa Gana" is just one of the feats of arms that the Abyssinians blessed the Conscious Massive with. The vocal harmony group was at the forefront of spiritual reggae during the 1970's, subsequently broke up and re-united in the 1990's under various memberships.

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ONE LOVE CONTROVERSY

Dubroom Online, Edition October 15 2009

"ONE LOVE CONTROVERSY" (WEBMASTER'S COLUMN)

WWW, October 15 2009 - Recently, it happened again: I saw people referring to "One Love" and claiming that One Love to be some kind of New Agey mentality in which no one can ever say anything unless it makes the other "feel good", basically.

You could call it: "Political Correctness".

It happens all the time, not in the least in the so-called "Reggae Compassion Act", wherein one homosexual activist defined "One Love" and had Dancehall artists sign that definition, for otherwise he would continue to try and have these artists boycotted and even banned for questioning the homosexual lifestyle.

Of course, Bob Marley never meant to plea for Political Correctness, which becomes clear in his song "One Love", wherein he says we have to have One Love to Fight This Armageddon, not to "feel allright", for that is just a result of practicing One Love.

A result, not a goal.

One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread (Dubroom Webmaster)

The above column is the personal opinnion of the Webmaster and does not neccesarily reflect the contents of the Dubroom Website and/or Message Boards and/or Weblogs.

CORRECTION: Yesterday, I made a mistake. I used the word "increase" where I should have used the word "decreased". Even though the context and logic made that clear, and the correction has been made, subscribers to the mailing list have received the wrong column and therefore, I just had to write this down.

ITEMS FOR THIS EDITION:

FRANKIE PAUL - JUST ONE MOMENT AWAY (DUBROOM ONLINE MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 15 2009 - When Frankie Paul introduced himself with African Princess, he was just one moment away from a carreer in Rub a Dub and Dancehall that would last until this day. In this tune, he does what he does best, on an Ire Rub a Dub tune.

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VYBZ KARTEL - MAMA (DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 2009 - Although Vybz Kartel prefers to sing and chant about the kind of love that man and woman share, in this tune he declares his love for his mother, who gave him birth in order for him to live it up.

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JOHN HOLT (DUBROOM ARTIST PAGE)

WWW, October 2009 - He's been a member of the vocal group Paragons during the 1960's, is known for his super sweet soulful Lovers Reggae, but he also released the massive Roots Rub a Dub album "Police in Helicopters". John Holt, who sung the classic Ali Baba, is a versatile vocalist fe true!

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WAR IS IN THE DANCE?

Dubroom Online, Edition October 14 2009

"WAR IS IN THE DANCE?" (WEBMASTER'S COLUMN)

WWW, October 14 2009 - When Frankie Paul released his tune "Worries In The Dance" of which the title of this column has an alternative spelling, he was referring to the ongoing problem of hardcore violence which occurs in and around the Dancehalls.

It wasn't just Frankie Paul, who noticed the necessity for the violence to cold down.

Bunny Wailer, for example, released a couple of superb albums of which Rock 'n' Groove is the most important one. In it, he refers to the fact that truly it's better to come together and feel Ire than it is to fight against each other.

Unfortunately, the violence did not decrease. In a place where it is said to be more easy to get a gun than to get a piece of bread, violence is more common than most of us would know.

One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread (Dubroom Webmaster)

The above column is the personal opinnion of the Webmaster and does not neccesarily reflect the contents of the Dubroom Website and/or Message Boards and/or Weblogs.

ITEMS FOR THIS EDITION:

POWER STEPPERS - BASS INSPIRATIONS (DUBROOM ONLINE MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 14 2009 - UK DUB the hard way for true: that would be at least a Steppers rhythm at Warp Speed with a matching bassline and some essential Dub mixing. Which happens to be a description of Bass Inspirations by the UK based DUB Collective.

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VYBZ KARTEL - RAMPING SHOP REMAKE (FEAT. SPICE) (DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 2009 - This remake of his duet with Spice is taking off where the album version from Pon Di Gaza left us: Vybz and Spice declaring each other the kind of love that many prefer to chat about in the Dance.

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INNER CIRCLE (DUBROOM ARTIST PAGE)

WWW, October 2009 - Not only are they the band behind the immensly popular tune called "bad Boys": Inner Circle has been around for quite a while and when their lead singer Jacob Miller died in 1980, they already had a history and a future that would last over decades.

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PON DI GAZA

Dubroom Online, Edition October 13 2009

"PON DI GAZA" (WEBMASTER'S COLUMN)

WWW, October 13 2009 - I must admit that I had to do a little research before discovering it's the name of an area in Kingston that Vybz Kartel associates himself with, and that it has nothing to do with that area in the Middle East where so many people have so many opinions about.

"Pon Di Gaza", Kartel's latest album, is the latest statement in a flame war between the DJ and one of his colleagues who hails up "The Gully" as that is where he associates himself with.

The Jamaican Gleaner reported, how the words "Gaza" and "Gully" were painted more on the walls than that of the two main and rivaling political parties in Jamaica.

It's part of Dancehall Culture, but it often goes way out of hand when the saying "practice what you preach" is worked out in not so many nice ways, to say it lightly.

One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread (Dubroom Webmaster)

The above column is the personal opinnion of the Webmaster and does not neccesarily reflect the contents of the Dubroom Website and/or Message Boards and/or Weblogs.

ITEMS FOR THIS EDITION:

SCION SASHAY - CAN'T LEAVE JAH ALONE (DUBROOM ONLINE MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 13 2009 - In this traditional Rub a Dub tune, Scion Sashay gives I and I the best advice we can ever get and he does it heartically over some very nice musical playing and mixing work.

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VYBZ KARTEL - ROMPING SHOP (FEAT. SPICE) (DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 2009 - It's not for nothing that Vybz Kartel sings this duet with his female colleague DJ Spice: after all, they just don't do it man to man or woman to woman.

Taken from the album "Pon Di Gaza", released last month. Pumping Dancehall, contemporary effects on the voice, everything the Dancehall Lover wants is right deh!

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THE GLADIATORS (DUBROOM ARTIST PAGE)

WWW, October 2009 - Sly Dunbar and Lloyd Parkes have been working as members, and they were not even the most important ones. The Gladiators, founded in 1968 by Albert Griffiths, are still a Roots Reggae band in 2009 and they're not about to stop either!

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THREE DIFFERENT SIDES OF REGGAE

Dubroom Online, Edition October 12 2009

"THREE DIFFERENT SIDES OF REGGAE" (WEBMASTER'S COLUMN)

WWW, October 12 2009 - Today's edition of Dubroom Online has three interesting features, especially when you scroll down and actually see them three-gether.

We're talking about a 1980's Punk Band that came straight out of the Punky Reggae Party in the 1970's, a contemporary controversial Dancehall artist with -let's say- a reputation, and a Rasta singer whose upfull and positive lyrics increases Consciousness in the hearts and souls of those that listen to his music.

A greater contrast could hardly be portrayed.

Yet, all these three artists represent a part of what altogether is known as Reggae Music: from the raw Dub of the Ruts to the pumping Dancehall of Vybz Kartel to the upfull Roots, Rub a Dub and Lovers Rock of Freddie Mc Gregor.

One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread (Dubroom Webmaster)

The above column is the personal opinnion of the Webmaster and does not neccesarily reflect the contents of the Dubroom Website and/or Message Boards and/or Weblogs.

ITEMS FOR THIS EDITION:

RUTS DC - WHATEVER WE DO (DUBROOM ONLINE MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 12 2009 - The Punky Reggae Party Goes DUB and that means a lot. In almost six minutes, we're taken into the deep, deep Dub wonderland of the band that brought us the unforgettable Punk tune "Babylon's Burning", and you'll be sorry when you've missed this one out!

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VYBZ KARTEL - WHINE UP YOU BODY (DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 2009 - Taken from his new album "Pon Di Gaza", Whine Up Your Body has a joyful vybe as Vybz Kartel voices about the topic he knows so well. The end is a bit abrupt, but it's well worth the download.

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FREDDIE MC GREGOR (DUBROOM ARTIST PAGE)

WWW, October 2009 - He started in 1963 at the tender age of seven and has been steadily growing for the decades after that. Now, in 2009, Freddie Mc Gregor is still active and has become a name to reckon with, and not only because of the Lover's Rock and Rub a Dub he released in the 1980's.

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MP3, MP3, AND MP3...

Dubroom Online, Edition October 11 2009

"MP3, MP3, AND MP3..." (WEBMASTER'S COLUMN)

WWW, October 11 2009 - Today, we feature a brand new Digital Release, namely that of Courtney Melody's album "Serious Business".

The Dubroom can offer a free and legal MP3 download of the very first track of the album, entitled "Gideon Soldier", and of course that is a very nice thing. It's just out in the digital stores such as Itunes, but there you won't get this one for free!

In the meantime, I am working hard to get more music available for the readers and visitors of the Dubroom, and it doesn't seem like the MP3's are going to stop coming in right now.

Anyway, please download the crucial Courtney Melody tune, and don't forget to add the superb DUB from Mikey Dread to your free and legal MP3 Collection as well...

One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread (Dubroom Webmaster)

The above column is the personal opinnion of the Webmaster and does not neccesarily reflect the contents of the Dubroom Website and/or Message Boards and/or Weblogs.

ITEMS FOR THIS EDITION:

MIKEY DREAD - RAGGAMUFFIN DUB STYLE (DUBROOM ONLINE MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 11 2009 - The Dread At The Controls in a Super Duper DUBWISE style cannot be refused, not even when you don't like Dub or Reggae at all. This one will go straight to everybody's head and it matters what's in these heads how the Raggamuffin Style will be received.

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COURTNEY MELODY - GIDEON SOLDIER (DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 2009 - WWW, October 2009 - After a 10-year hiatus, Courtney Melody's album Serious Business marked quite a come-back. Gideon Soldier is the opening track: it's serious and strong, full of great lyrics sung beautifully by the man that gave King Tubby one of the first hits in his new studio during the 1980's.

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DR. ALIMANTADO (DUBROOM ARTIST PAGE)

WWW, October 2009 - He's the Best Dressed Chicken In Town and every self-respecting collector of Reggae Music has Dr Alimantado's album with that name, as it is filled with some of the most important titles in the history of Toasting.

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MICHAEL PROPHET

Dubroom Online, Edition October 10 2009

"MICHAEL PROPHET" (WEBMASTER'S COLUMN)

WWW, October 10 2009 - Today, we feature the brand new Dubroom Artist Page on Michael Prophet. I truly like his voice and the way he uses it is incredible in my ears.

He goes from low to high in an instance, has all kinds of hooks and licks that are simply too complex to even follow, everything right in tune and time.

On his début album, he sounds just as strong as he does on more recent material. His voice stayed the same throughout several decades, which is not something every Reggae Singer can say.

The album he did with Mad Professor, Rootsman, is still one of my favorites. It was one of my favorite new albums, but it has gone into my personal all-time top 10 Reggae albums, next to InI Kamoze's Mini Album and Black Uhuru's Dub Factor.

I don't know if I will ever have the pleasure to see him perform live, but it would indeed be a pleasure!

One Love, Give Thanks,
Messian Dread (Dubroom Webmaster)

The above column is the personal opinnion of the Webmaster and does not neccesarily reflect the contents of the Dubroom Website and/or Message Boards and/or Weblogs.

ITEMS FOR THIS EDITION:

BARRINGTON LEVY - SHAOLIN TEMPLE (DUBROOM ONLINE MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 10 2009 - Taken from the classic Bounty Hunter, this is Barrington Levy during his prime days as a young Rub a Dub singer riding a hard Steppers riddim that will make you move and groove fe sure.

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TAJ WEEKES AND ADOWA - LITTLE FIRE (DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW)

WWW, October 2009 - When the drum suddenly changes from a Steppers into a One Drop rhythm, the title becomes a bit more obvious. Which doesn't mean you should deny this Ire One Drop tune with Horns and Guitars playing heartically.

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MICHAEL PROPHET (DUBROOM ARTIST PAGE)

WWW, October 2009 - After being discovered by none less than Yabby You himself around 1977, Michael Prophet became one of the best Reggae singers whose consistent quality has already lasted several decades throughout countless releases.

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