Back 2 Da Future Music Representin': April 2009

29 April 2009

Back 2 Da Future – How do you mix up Crocodile Dundee with Stevie Wonder in the same Passa Passa as Mr Bogle?

Walking through Soho Square in London’s West End towards my Saturday Night residency, Moonlighting, with my 6 ft 7” special guest we hear three people standing on the pavement having we hear some

theatrically loud whispered banter as we pass, the kind of whisper that you employ when you want the other party to hear you and give you a nod of recognition – just in case you’re not quite right.....

“It is him.”
“Who?” quizzes one of the others.
“Chi Ching Ching!” replies the first.
“Boasy!” the bravest of the three yells to our backs to test the water.

“Everyday, everyday!!” the dancer-cum-artist shouts back and grins at me saying matter-of-factly “Y’see Kennedy, mi ting hot right now!”

He’s the latest in a line of dancehall personalities after Mr Bogle and Ding Dong to become a fully-fledged artist in his own right. It’s a long way from the days that he trudged along to every

Kingston party like Passa Passa on a Wednesday or Bembe on a Thursday with his blinged out Red carpet following the words of Mr Wacky to give dancers the “VIP treatment”. Three thousand miles and five years to be exact and now he’s getting recognised on the streets of London. He has just completed an interview on the BBC’s national station, Radio 1 with Chris Goldfinger, to promote his new dance ‘the crocodile’, which has been heralded on his latest single, ‘Foot Nah Move’. Although not the official song for the dance as has now become the norm like with the crazes that were ‘Badman Forward’, ‘Dutty Wine’, ‘Hot Wuk’ or ‘Nuh Linga’, it extols the virtues of a dance move that Paul Hogan’s Australian outback character, Crocodile Dundee, would have been proud of as he sings “If you can’t crocodile, you mus’ be ‘gator”.

The track, recorded on the National Pride riddim which also boasts the likes of the aforementioned Ding Dong and T.O.K. on it was produced by one Arif Cooper. Mr Cooper AKA

‘Supacoop’ a respected disc jock in his own right on JA’s Fame FM, is the son of Third World founder member, Ibo Cooper. Third World, the self contained touring band also known as the Reggae Ambassadors after their 1989 anthem, so impressed Stevie Wonder with their virtuosity that he famously penned a Rasta ode for them called ‘Try Jah Love’.

And that’s how you mix up Crocodile Dundee with Stevie Wonder in the same Passa Passa as Mr Bogle.

On This Day.......

1989 – Clement Irie’s Easter time combination with Robert Ffrench, ‘Bun & Cheese’, was working it’s way into the history books as the UK’s longest Reggae number 1 at that time! At number 2 was Janet Davis with ‘Two Timing Lover’ and at three was Sanchez with ‘End Of The World’.

This week’s number one’s around the Reggae world.

‘A Thousand Miles Away – Ras Penco - Jamaica Music Count Down (Reggae)

‘Cyaan Sleep’ – Romain Virgo – US Virgin Islands
‘Head Cyan’t Hot Suh’ – Prodigal Son – Jamaica Music Count Down (Dancehall)
‘Hustle/Herb Tree’ – Collie Buddz - Germany
‘I Feel Good – Beres Hammond - France
‘I’m So Blessed’ – Mavado – Outaroad.com, JA/New Style, Birmingham, UK/BBC 1xtra (Pictured)
‘Missing You Right Now’ – Da’ville – South Florida, USA
‘Never Let Go’ – Positive – Caribbean Hot 30
‘No Games’ – Serani - Choice FM, London
‘No Goodbye’ – Beres Hammond - New York, USA

On Air:

Thursday Apr 24th – 10pm – Chi Ching Ching on 1xtra with Robbo Ranx
Fridays – 10pm -12 Midnight – Aston FM 89.1/www.astonfm.com with Chicken George
Saturdays – The Back 2 Da Future Show 7pm – 9pm – www.playvybz.com
Sundays – 10pm -12 Midnight – The Archive Selection on Choice FM as part of Natty B’s Reggae Top 20 Countdown
Mondays – 7pm -9pm The Music Business Show with Elayne Smith on www.colourfulradio.com (Monthly)

Live:

Live:

Weekly:

Saturdays – Prezedent @ Moonlighting Nightclub, London, UK

Sunday Evenings – The Alan Weekes Quartet @ Uncle Sam’s Jazz, The Haggeston, Hackney, London, UK

Sunday Afternoons – The Alan Weekes Duo @ The Railway Telegraph Pub, Forest Hill, London, UK

Mondays – Alan Weekes @ Monday Jazz, The Swiss Tavern, Peckham, London, UK

Thursdays – Alan Weekes @ Ska, Reggae, Jazz, The Effra, Brixton, London, UK

May

2nd – Lloyd Brown @ Deighton Centre, with Mike Anthony & Kofi, Huddersfield, UK
- Nereus Joseph & Prezedent @ African Language School Fundraiser, Spotty Dog Football Club,

Forest Gate, Upton Lane, London, England
- Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ N.A.B., Birmingham, UK
- Alan Weekes with Aswad @ Tamar Outdoor Centre, Cornwall, UK
3rd – Katie Pearl @ Ras Kwame Homegrown Tour, Brighton, UK
4th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Oraclez Gospel Festival & Awards, Wembley Arena, London, UK
7th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge with Paul Dawkins & Barry Boom
8th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Jesus House, Baltimore, USA
8th – 22nd Lloyd Brown US West Coast tour with Queen Omega
9th – Winston Reedy @ The Caribbean Centre, Leicester, UK
- Alan Weekes with Aswad @ The Embassy Ballrooms, West Sands Caravan Park, Chichester, UK
15th – Katie Pearl @ 02 Inc Club, UK
- Alan Weekes with Aswad @ The Colliseum, Rickmansworth Rd, Watford, UK
16th - Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ The Hop, Wakefield, UK
21st - Prezedent & DJ Ice @ Funky2, @ The Prince Albert, Wolverhampton, England

22nd – Bongo Chilli with the Root One Band @ The Plug, Sheffield, UK
- Katie Pearl @ Vanilla, Windsor, UK

23^rd - Alan Weekes with Aswad @ Worldfest, Middlesbourough Town Hall, UK

24th – Babyboom @ Pier 1, Montego Bay, Jamaica

- Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ The Corporation, Sheffield, UK
- Katie Pearl @ Leicester University, UK
30^th - Alan Weekes with Aswad @ The Ipswich Regent, UK

June

4^th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge, Ruby Lo, London, England

– The Alan Weekes Quartet @ The Effra, Brixton, London, UK

13^th Alan Weekes with Aswad in Norfolk, UK
17^th – 28^th Dennis Bovell in Italy with Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze

19^th – Kennedy Mensah @ Story of London Music, Willesden Green, London, UK

26^th – Lloyd Brown, Winston Reedy, Paul Dawkins @ Paradise: Jean Adebambo Tribute Concert @ Tower Ballroom, Birmingham, UK

29^th - Sept 20^th Alan weekes in The Harder They Come – The Musical tour in Miami and Toronto

July
25th – Lloyd Brown @ Lovers Rock Gala, Brixton Academy, London, UK

August

2nd – Lloyd Brown @ Reggae Rising Festival, California, US

14th – Winston Reedy with Dennis Alcapone @ The Chiemsee Festival, Germany

September
19th – Lloyd Brown, Dennis ‘Matumbi’ Bovell, Sylvia Tella, Winston Reedy & Prezedent @ The Giants Of Lovers Rock @ The O2 Indigo2, London, England

22 April 2009

Back 2 Da Future – How Do you Get Buju Banton To Go To A Carnival With Kenny Rogers?

After four Grammy nominations, and 11 UK Reggae number 1’s, Buju Banton is a certified dancehall legend and Reggae ambassador in his own right. Being one of a very few Deejays who can successfully have hits as a Roots Reggae artist whilst maintaining his raw-born ragamuffin credentials, it is very hard to find a parallel for the Gargamel who sees the release of his latest set, ‘Rasta Got Soul’, on his own Gargamel label.

Born Mark Anthony Myrie in Kingston, Jamaica, Buju’s career path has been anything but smooth as he has had to navigate through a quagmire of controversy from the very start. Now at the other end of the spectrum, most of the controversies would seem behind him as he helps a new generation of artists fulfil their dreams through his studio and label. Featuring the original ‘Reggae Ambassadors’, Third World, the only other guest on the new set is ex-Fugee, Wyclef Jean.

Although he now famously brandishes his Haitian roots prominently on his proverbial sleeve, Clef’s ex band mate Lauryn Hill, revealed in interviews that she’d known the then Rasta for a while before she was shocked to realise that he wasn’t Jamaican but in fact from a different Caribbean island. His love for Reggae was clearly evident from the Fugees’ debut as the Transformer crew when Clef’s rap style referenced a pseudo ‘80’s deejay delivery.

Fast forward a few years and The Fugees split to pursue solo careers and Clef starts touring with a new outfit called the Refugee Camp All Stars featuring his cousin Jerry ‘Wonder’ Duplessis. By now a fully fledged hit-making producer of other artists like Destiny’s Child, he gets artists like Whitney Houston to voice Dub Plates for his band-cum-sound system.

When Wyclef released his second solo effort, ‘The Ecleftic’ as a follow-up to the platinum-selling, ‘The Carnival’, in 2000, the signal of intent was already there for all to hear when the album boasted a dub plate of Country & Western legend, Kenny Rogers ‘bigging up’ the Refugee Camp All Stars with Paroahe Monche on his classic ‘The Gambler’ as he sang ‘You’d better know when to hold..........”

And that’s how you get Buju Banton to go to a Country & Western ‘Carnival’ with Kenny Rogers.

On This Day.......

1991 – Sanchez was tearing up the charts with his ‘I Can’t Wait’. The testament of how classic a tune this is can be borne out by the fact that it still tears up dancefloors today. At number two was Vivian Jones with ‘Strong Love’ and at three was ‘Sluggy’ with his reading of Bob Andy’s ‘Tell Me Now’.

This week’s number one’s around the Reggae world.

‘Blessings Remix’ – Etana & Al Borosie - Germany

‘Come Over’ – Estelle & Sean Paul - RETV (Reggae), JA

‘Head Cyan’t Hot Suh’ – Prodigal Son - France

‘I’m So Blessed’ – Mavado – Outaroad.com, JA/Jamaica Music Count Down (Dancehall)/ RETV Danchall, JA/BBC 1xtra

‘Missing You Right Now’ – Da’ville – Virgin Islands/Jamaica Music Count Down (Reggae)

‘Never Let Go’ – Positive – Caribbean Hot 30

‘No Games’ – Serani - Choice FM, London

‘No Goodbye’ – Beres Hammond - New York, USA/South Florida, USA (Pictured)

‘Time To Shine’ – Laden – New Style, Birmingham, UK

On Air:

Thursday Apr 24^th – 10pm – Chi Ching Ching on 1xtra with Robbo Ranx

Fridays – 10pm -12 Midnight – Aston FM 89.1/www.astonfm.com with Chicken George

Saturdays – The Back 2 Da Future Show 7pm – 9pm – www.playvybz.com

Sundays – 10pm -12 Midnight – The Archive Selection on Choice FM as part of Natty B’s Reggae Top 20 Countdown

Live:

April

22^nd– May 3^rd – Dennis Bovell in South Africa with Linton Kwesi Johnson & The Dub Band

23^rd Chi Ching Ching @ Three Black Bird, Bristol, UK

24^th – Bongo Chilli @ TJ’s, Leeds, UK

- Chi Ching Ching @ Crackers Nightclub, Gloucester, UK

27^th - Chi Ching Ching Farewell Party @ Bamboo Night Club, Reading, UK

29^th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Eagles Christian Convention 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa

May

1^st – Prezedent & Chicken George with Paul Dawkins @ Memories By The Score, Heartlands Club, Birmingham, UK

2^nd – Lloyd Brown @ Deighton Centre, with Mike Anthony & Kofi, Huddersfield, UK

- Nereus Joseph & Prezedent @ African Language School Fundraiser, Spotty Dog Football Club, Forest Gate, Upton Lane, London, England

- Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ N.A.B., Birmingham, UK

4^th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Oraclez Gospel Festival & Awards, Wembley Arena, London, UK

7^th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge with Carroll Thompson & Barry Boom

8^th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Jesus House, Baltimore, USA

8^th – 22^nd Lloyd Brown US West Coat tour with Queen Omega

9^th – Winston Reedy @ The Caribbean Centre, Leicester, UK

16^th - Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ The Hop, Wakefield, UK

21^st - Prezedent & DJ Ice @ Funky2, @ The Prince Albert, Wolverhampton, England

22^nd – Bongo Chilli with the Root One Band @ The Plug, Sheffield, UK

24^th – Babyboom @ Pier 1, Montego Bay, Jamaica

- Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ The Corporation, Sheffield, UK

June

4^th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge, Ruby Lo, London, England

17^th – 28^th Dennis Bovell in Italy with Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze

July

25^th – Lloyd Brown @ Lovers Rock Gala, Brixton Academy

August

2^nd – Lloyd Brown @ Reggae Rising Festival, California, US

14^th – Winston Reedy with Dennis Alcapone @ The Chiemsee Festival, Germany

September

19^th – Lloyd Brown, Dennis ‘Matumbi’ Bovell, Sylvia Tella, Winston Reedy & Prezedent @ The Giants Of Lovers Rock @ The O2 Indigo2, London, England

11 April 2009

How Does Janet Kay meet Fatboy Slim inna Canadian Dub Conference

Back 2 Da Future – How Does Janet Kay meet Fatboy Slim inna Canadian Dub Conference?

I’ll tell ya! As we speak, there is a young lady of Guyanese parentage in Toronto, Canada by the name of Melanie Fiona who is making some tsunami sized waves in her home town as well as in the States as she is signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation label. Formerly known as Syren Hall, she had an R’n’B/Lovers track called ‘Somebody Come Get Me’ that got a lot of love a couple summers back even finding itself on a VP compilation! What has got tongues wagging over this side of the pond is a track on her debut album, ‘The Bridge’, called ‘Sad Songs’. The cause of the wagging tongues is the choice of riddim. For just as Jasmine Sullivan recently had a massive hit with a Reggae backing track, or riddim as we know them, Melanie has done the same. But whilst Jasmine’s inspiration was discovered on a French released dub album, our Mel’s comes from West London in the shape of one queen of Lovers Rock otherwise known as Janet Kay.

Ms Kay who would later find veritable superstar status in Japan was bestowed her Lovers Rock crown by virtue of the fact that her 1979 hit, ‘Silly Games’, is the most successful bona fide pop hit of the Lovers Rock genre in its heyday. And it is this Dennis Bovell production that adorns Ms Fiona’s future hit. This however, is not the first time that ‘Silly Games’ has been revisited, just recently, there was much talk over a version of the track by blue-eyed Reggae hopeful, Bobby Kray, which also boasted Mr Bovell on production. But outside of the Janet Kay original, the most successful version came in the summer of 1990 with Lindy Layton who recorded her version in tandem with our highness. At that time Lindy was launching her solo career as she’d had a number 1 pop hit, ‘Dub Be Good To Me’ as the lead singer of a group called Beats International. Beats International was a loose collective of musicians created by one Norman Cook who had a habit of using different pseudonyms for different recordings as a superstar DJ. The one pseudonym that seems to have stuck over the years though is Fat Boy Slim.

And that is how Janet Kay meets Norman Cook Inna Canadian Dub Conference.

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