Back 2 Da Future – How Do you squeeze Bounty Killer into the same New York charity event as Bobby Brown?

So there I was doing like Shinehead and being a “Ghanaican” in New York and my ex
friend – the photographer Ajamu says “yow!, you need to pass through SOB’s for ‘Rock

With Squeeze’ tonight it’s open mic but you’ll like it!” So I trudge down to the
legendary venue with a small army of my cousin Emmanuel’s friends alongside my own
NY based sistren, Falana. Most Mondays the Big Apple’s Reggae lovers converge
here to be entertained by visiting supes like a Gyptian or Anthony B, but tonight is a
night of local talent. The MC, comedian, Freddie Rick is irreverence personified but
very funny in equal measures as he introduces the acts with great aplomb.

Stand outs on the night include a Jamaican/Haitian duet called Inner Vibes and a
powerhouse vocalist by the name of Keisha Martin. Just before Keisha’s Show-stopping
finale the host of the event, Squeeze (Mr Link-up/Jamrock), opens the floor for a charitable
organisation to make a plea for donations. The aim of the Jamaica National for the Jamaica
partnership for Education is to totally eradicate Illiteracy in Jamaica by the year 2015.

A very noble cause indeed but one that has unfortunately troubled the land of wood and water for decades. Nearly forty
years ago in the early 1970’s there was a great drive spearheaded by the then premier, Michael

Manley to eradicate the scourge. But alas, the problem still exists in many parts of the island. In
response to the campaign, in 1974, the late great crooner, Delroy Wilson, tried to “mash it up
and throw it away with a wish” on his BB Seaton produced ‘Mash Up Illiteracy’. Fast forward
to the dancehall generation and Bounty Killer, a man more widely known for being ‘cross and angry’,
teams up with phone company, Digicel, for a campaign similar to the one we’re being entreated
to in NY in 2009 to supply educational necessities like exercise books, and bags to a number
of schools. Part of this campaign includes plans to re-record his 1995 classic, ‘Book, Book, Book’,
a track which featured the line “Book, book, book unno fe pressure unno book, cos if you illiterate and foolish....”. The
original ‘Book.....’ was produced by King Jammys and played by Bounty’s musical director, Paul ‘Jazzwad’ Yebuah.

A former child prodigy, Jazzwad had Grammy-winning production credits on the Damian Marley album,
‘Welcome To Jamrock’ for which he produced the Junior Gong/Bobby Brown combination, ‘Beautiful’.


And that is How you ‘Squeeze’ Bounty Killer into the same New York charity as Bobby Brown

For more details on the education initiative go to: http://www.jnbs.com/dynaweb.dti?dynasection=foundation&dynapage=jamaicapartnershipforeducation&dynawebSID=4cb7280ffa50ea36f12f317073cc6011


PS: Ajamu is me ex friend because he never bloody turned up to the gig he sent me to!!!!!!! Ah mi bredren
still, but he owes me now!


On This Day.......

1984 – Smiley Culture's first hit was holding off all comers as the biggest

tune in the land. Originally released on an imprint called Arthur Daley
International. The follow-up to this was ‘Police Officer’ which reached no.12
in the pop charts prompting there-release of ‘Cockney Translation’ which
then only reached number 71 in the pop charts. Smiley would go on to
become a household name in the UK with TV adverts and his own Channel four
programme, 'Club Mix' to his credit.




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

‘A Little Bit Of Sorry’ – Buju Banton - New York/South Florida, USA
‘Far away’ – Queen Ifrica - Outaroad.com, JA (Pictured)

‘Heaven In Her Eyes’ – Gappy Ranks - Choice FM, London
‘I Am Blessed’ – Mr Vegas - New Style, Birmingham, UK/Caribbean Hot 30
‘I Can’t Stop Loving You – General Degree - Germany
‘I’m So Blessed’ – Mavado - France
‘Money On My Mind’ – Vybz Kartel – BBC 1xtra

On Air:

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:

Weekly:

Saturdays – Prezedent @ Moonlighting Nightclub, London, UK
Sunday Afternoons – The Alan Weekes Duo @ The Railway Telegraph Pub, Forest Hill, London, UK
Sunday Evenings – The Alan Weekes Quartet @ Uncle Sam’s Jazz, The Haggeston, Hackney, London, UK
Mondays – Alan Weekes @ Monday Jazz, The Swiss Tavern, Peckham, London, UK
Thursdays – Alan Weekes @ Ska, Reggae, Jazz, The Effra, Brixton, London, UK


June
17th – 28th Dennis Bovell in Italy with Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze
18th – Prezedent @ Summer Colours, Sky Club, The Prince Albert with DJ Ice, Skob & Giizmo, Wolverhampton, UK
19th – Kennedy Mensah @ A Story of London Music, for June is Black British Music month - Willesden

Green Library, London, England
- Bongo Chilli @ Beaverworks, Leeds, UK
26th – Lloyd Brown, Winston Reedy @ Paradise: Jean Adebambo Tribute Concert @ Tower Ballroom, Birmingham, UK
27th – Lloyd Brown @ The Angel Music Venue, Bedford, UK
28th – Bongo Chilli @ Glastonbury Festival with Daddy Freddy, Glastonbury, UK
29th - Sept 20th Alan Weekes in The Harder They Come – The Musical tour in Miami and Toronto

July
2nd – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge, Ruby Lo, London, England
4th – Bongo Chilli @ DRAM Centre with DJ Younger T, Huddersfield, UK
- Bongo Chilli @ Beat Herder Festival with Underground Roots, Lancashire, UK
- Lloyd Brown @ Island Paradise Club with 7th Street Band, Alamaeda, California, US
- Self Taught Beats @ Limelight, London, England
9th – Lloyd Brown @ Casa Sorrento with 7th Street Band, Salinas, California, US

10th - Prezedent @ June is Black British Music month pre-Club Night, Willesden Green Library Centre, London, England.
- Lloyd Brown Live Webcast @ Expressions
11th – Lloyd Brown @ Pier 23 with 7th Street Band, and Lutan Fyah, Binghi Ghost, Brixton Hitman and Humble Lion - Emeryville, California, US
13th – Dennis Bovell @ All Saints, Lewes, UK
17th – Bongo Chilli @ Hare & Hound with The Friendly Fire Band, Birmingham, UK
18th - Bongo Chilli @ Seasplash Festival with Tricky D, Pula, Croatia

25th – Lloyd Brown, Winston Reedy, Dennis ‘Matumbi’ Bovell @ Lovers Rock Gala Awards, Brixton Academy, London, UK
- Bongo Chilli @ Bombfest with Celt Islam, Barnsley, UK
26th – Nereus Joseph @ Rasta Celebration Time, Silent Whispers Musician Club, Hackney, London, England
27th – Self Taught Beats @ Yoyo, Notting Hill Arts Club, London, England

August

2nd – Lloyd Brown @ Lovers Rock Gala, Birmingham Academy, UK
7th – Dennis Bovell @ The Big Chill Festival, Brighton, UK
8th – Bongo Chilli @ Moorsfest with The Root One Band, Ilkley, UK
14th – Winston Reedy with Dennis Alcapone @ The Chiemsee Festival, Germany
28th - Bongo Chilli @ Uprising Festival with Roots Survival, Bratislava, Slovakia

September

19th – Lloyd Brown, Dennis ‘Matumbi’ Bovell, Sylvia Tella, Winston Reedy & Prezedent @ The Giants Of Lovers Rock @ The O2 Indigo2, London, England
23rd – 30th – Anthony Brightly @ Dejam Festival, Antigua, WI