Anthony B - Sweet Jamaica (Free)

Anthony B says -

"The current situation in Jamaica has caused an enormous uproar within the entire country. In times like these, it is up to us as individuals to make conscientious decisions and stand up for not what is popular, but for what we know is right. This is affecting our country on a whole, and can greatly impact our future and our children's future. All aspects of the country's economy are at stake. And any action that disrupts the daily normal activities for Jamaicans or of life cannot be good. Being a part of the Rastafarian & Reggae community it has always been my belief that peace, love & unity are what uplift a nation. And as the old Jamaican saying goes, 'united we stand, divided we fall'. So we all need to work together to resolve this as soon as possible, and bring back the "irieness" to our sweet little Jamaica! Jah Love!"

And to observe the situation, he's released a song from Lazeme Music, 'Sweet Jamaica' which you can now check out for a limited time HERE.

{posted with permission}

New Artist of The Month: Meet Aima Moses!

Aima Moses

Meet Aima Moses! This one is certainly MUCH less of a typical ‘new artist’ (and my selections generally are) and much more of a ‘secret weapon’ of sorts as fiery Dominican chanter Aima Moses has been making music for quite awhile. And though you may not know his name, Aima Moses quietly one of the most fervent and ‘curious’ followings of any ‘underground’ Caribbean artist that I am familiar with. So what is it about the thirty-one year old Kingshill native which attracts the masses and keeps them talking? It’s difficult to say. In general, just listening to his music over the past 3-4 years or so, to my opinion, Moses is much more of a ‘Jack of All Trades’ type of artist. He has a very rugged and rough around the edges type of style and there isn’t one dominant trait (with the exception of his intensity when he uses it) which immediately jumps out at the listener from his style. HOWEVER, what I will say about the artist is that he falls into a very unfortunately small category of artist who’re able to REALLY convey the message that they set out to display. There is no question on an Aima Moses tune (whether you like it or not), that his passion about the particular issue is HIGH and unyielding and he does whatever he musically can to get this point to his listeners and he’s generally quite successful. For example:

This tune, ‘No Barriers’, was actually the title track from Aima Moses’ debut (and to my knowledge, to date only) album which released way back in 2004:

For Moses, it seems as if the problem (as it is for so many of our artists) is getting more and more quality notoriety. Dominica does have an increasingly nice history when it comes to Reggae music (with names like Nasio Fontaine and Harry Mo amongst others), but it certainly is difficult to get more attention there than even other more prominent non-Jamaican Caribbean ports for the music such as the USVI or Trinidad at this point. And when you add all of the various musical forms which come from the very musically colourful and spicy ‘Natural Isle’, it makes it even more difficult when you’re competing for international attention with artists who come from a variety of different genres and backgrounds (and bilingual as well). So, with that being said I was SO happy to see a big tune from Aima Moses, ’All The Same’, jump up on the full version of the recently released Mirror Riddim from the Italian based Goldcup Records:

You can also pick up the full album digitally, making it one of the first (and maybe the actual first that I can think of), of Moses’ tunes to be available worldwide on a digital platform. The making of the actual song and that it is now readily available is a big success for Moses’ career and hopefully he continues to advance so. I do want to most certainly make it clear that this is a big artist. Too many times fans (myself included in some cases) see the stereotypical turban clad Bobo chanter and immediately think you know what to expect and again, while Moses doesn’t have a dominant aspect of his style, his overall COMMITMENT to his craft and singing the music of His Imperial Majesty, and the fact that his lyrics are very strong (I guess that would be what I would say is his biggest musical strength), is definitely what sets him apart from his peers. And when he’s in the ’mood’ Moses cranks up the fire and when combined with strong lyrics, it’s definitely something to be heard and check the interview:

So keep an eye out for the hopefully upward traveling Aima Moses. It’s taken him awhile to reach where he is and thankfully he’s persevered and maybe we can see him getting even more and more work and exposure on the European scene as well and achieve the big break he so definitely deserves.

Aima Moses @ Myspace
More Tunes Here
Even More Tunes Here

Completely Random Cutie: Tejay

Yow! I was going to save this until tomorrow, but I have stuff to do! Enjoy the nice view of the lovely Tejay from out of Barbados. She had an album out 2-3 years ago, Summer Kisses, I'm sure you can still find it because it went digital. It was kind of poppish-Soca (Rihanna, Shontelle, that Livvi chick, you know how they do), but if that's your thing, and it might be, then go and check her out. I don't know if she's doing anything for Crop Over 2k10, but if she is, I'm sure we'll find out soon yeah. But yeah. . . very nice! Here's a video (if we can find one!)

So there you go! Some eye candy on a Sunday. Go back to bed.

{biggup Remmy for telling me, "you need to take a look at this", like the woman was a car or something}
{this will be my last post for today, I promise}

New interview: Fire Pashon

Fire Pashon

Yow! So I did the third interview I've ever done in my entire life (*) and now you can go and check it out on UnitedReggae.com. I would link you to it, but you should just go and find it because even if you (are slow) can't find it, you might find something else that you like, but if you go RIGHT NOW, it's featured on the front page. So go yeah. And I'm pretty sure I'm bad at review, so it may be full on October-ish before I try again, but I actually think this was pretty good yeah.

{* Biggup Bredz who did most of the research here. But I'm going to take credit for it, because I put it all together yeah. But big him up anyway (and he had to do an interview for school and I put that together on the phone too at the same time and you think he gave me credit on his fucking paper? I don't)}

What A Beautiful Tune 14!

14 weeks you say? That's . . . 98 days (if my math is correct, it is most surely isn't), that's a lot of beautiful tunes yeah. Why stop now? AchisReggae@hotmail.com if you have a suggestion for next week, let's move:

Okay, because Remmy . . . is going to get something tomorrow, opening honours this week go to Asher, not a longtime reader (he might be), but a consistent one, who recommends EASILY his greatest choice to date, 'Forever' (should be called 'Jah Give Me') from up and coming CLASSY singer, Singer Jah from out of Jamaica. Has a nice old school vibes to it (Singer may never do a tune which doesn't, because of his voice), and definitely keep a look out for Singer Jah, big artist and big selection Asher and I might even give him opening honours next week as well, if he hurries up.

Next up is a suggestion from new reader Mario, who gave me his entire life story. Mario is German, but is currently going to University in Japan (at least I think that's what he meant) and apparently he's become quite fond of Japanese Reggae and he suggests H-Man's 'Dagan Talk' . . . Yep. Hope you like (because it's ass to me).

And lastly is my first couple's recommendation, Carl & Yalonda from Montreal are currently experiencing some very good TASTE because they're recommending WICKED Trini artist, Simba Amani's 'Let Jah Be Your Best Friend'. Song was grabbing some nice rotation earlier this year and deservedly so, it's gorgeous and you can go ahead and pile Simba's name in with the . . . Oh I don't 4 or 500 or so WICKED Trini artists to keep an ear on yeah. Love the couples recommendation and big respect goes to Carl & Yalonda yeah. Love this tune, big big message.

Me??? Ahhh, I don't know. I really don't . . . I was thinking maybe some Soca, there're a lot of nice Soca tunes coming out now from Vincy and Barbados . . . Hmmm, no I don't think so. Ooooooooh! Okay, because I got an email earlier this week from this individual, I'm going to Madinina and I'm pulling??? No, not Kalash it's Yeahman'C. And you think I'm think I'm going with 'Sans Cesse', don't you? Well I'm not, I'm going nice and simple with 'Mizik' and even though you won't find this tune on it, go and check out Yeahman's new album, Le Bon, in stores now yeah. Cya next week.