One of the most
satisfying cuts on Canadian DJ Snow's new release, Murder Love, is a tale of his love affair with Reggae music called
"Dream." Here Snow reminisces
about his days in Toronto's Allenbury housing project, where he first became
acquainted with Reggae through the friendships formed with the many Jamaicans
who had moved into his area: Listen Shabba Ranks playing faintly from the
speaker/I would eat mi curry chicken, that's my favorite supper/If you think mi
joke or lie, gwaan ask me mother/I would living on the island sweet, sweet
Jamaica/Fish with Coco Tea down in the river/Hanging at the ghetto with me boy
they call Ninja/No, but it's only a dream.
Although ace DJ, Carlton
"Spragga Benz" Grant has been on the music scene for less than two
years, he has had mega hits with his first singles ("Jock it Up" and
"Girls Horray") and has recently been signed to Capitol Records in
what has been hailed in the music industry as "historic." Through it all, Spragga has managed to remain
a humble youth with both feet placed firmly on the ground. "I'm just a normal person like everybody
else," he declared.
There are many
unique things about the Reggae industry.
One is the unusual monikers some artistes go by. For example, the list of artistes who make up
Reggae's "musical tool box."
There is Screwdriver, Pinchers (Jamaican slang for a bird-beak pliers)
and Pliers. And, of course, no tool box
would be complete without a spanner (wrench)--as in singer Spanner Banner.
Yami Bolo - Burning
up the Charts From Jamaica to Japan
by Howard Campbell
The conviction Yami
Bolo shows as he belts out Bob Marley's "Heathen" reflects the
singer's coming of age, a conviction that is further enhanced by his commitment
to the perfect sound, even during rehearsal.
Four takes and a "turn it up little more deh bassie" and Yami
Bolo is ready to rock.
Bolo was at the Tuff Gong
headquarters rehearsing for the Feb. 6 Bob Marley concert at the Bob Marley
Museum for which he was one of the top
acts. While the event was a tribute to
one of his heroes, the fact that he was billed as one of the evenings stars
meant that Yami Bolo is finally being given the recognition that had proved so
elusive to him at home.
Before we proceed, let's get one thing straight, Garnet Silk was no Bob
Marley. He didn't profess to be Bob Marley, nor did he want to be.
Despite the obvious similarities in religion and profession, the two
possessed entirely different personalities...The inevitable comparisons that have been made since Garnet burst
onto the scene three years ago have been further fueled since his death
a few months ago.
Volume 13 - 1995 
