Dancehall Now Episode 15 is here!

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by reggae • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dancehall Now Episode 15 features new Busy Signal, Daville, Vybez Cartel, Serani, Beenie Man ,and Baby Cham to name a few.  Listen or Download now.

Right Click the media file link and select “Save As…” to download the entire mp3 file or just click to listen to the audio stream now.  We sincerely hope you enjoy!  Please send your comments, feedback, and requests to podcast@highlanda.net or feel free to comment right here.  If you like what you hear please subscribe to get automatic updates when new shows are added.


Dancehall Now Episode 15

1  Sweep Da Floor (Pop Champagne Remix) – Elephant Man
2  Sort Dem Out – Demarco
3  Nothing To Smile About – Morgan Heritage
4  Love of A Lifetime – Alaine
5  Bullet – DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross & Baby Cham
6  Ramping Shop – Vybez Kartel feat. Spice
7  Last Man Standing – Vybez Kartel
8  I’ll Be Your Best Friend – Daville
9  Nikki Burt – Make Ends Meet
10 All I Need – Shurwayne Winchester/Serani
11 Mek Noise – Erupt
12 Money Tree – Busy Signal
13 Time To Shine – Laden
14 People Want Change (Roots) – Capleton feat. Obama
15 Single Ladies Remix – Beyonce feat. Buju Banton
16 Gimme Gimme Gimme – Beenie Man
17 Make Her Stamma – Busy Signal
18 Jah Jah See Dem A Come – Sugar Roy, Conrad Crystal and Gyptian
19 Girl I Want You (Soca Road Remix) – Serani
20 Missing Your Love – Wesley Diamond
21 Tonight Is Yours – Daville
22 Crying Out – Duane Stephenson

Media files:
Dancehall_Now_Episode_15.mp3 (MP3 Format Sound, 111 MB)

Mavado So Special Video debuts on BET’s 106 and Park

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by reggae • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The long awaited music video for Mavado’s hit ‘So Special debuted on BET’s 106 and Park on Monday of this week.  The director of the video was going for a fun atmosphere versus, hence the club scenery, that would appeal to young people.  Everybody loves the song  and is happy that a video is finally here, but the feedback I have heard so far on the music video from hardcore dancehall heads is that gully god has gone commercial.  Many fans wanted the video to have been filmed in Jamaica.  The video features cameos from alliance members Bling Dawg a.k.a Ricky Rudie and Bounty Killer.

Click on the link for a high quality view of the So Special video and comment with your feedback.

**MAVADO **SO SPECIAL VIDEO**

Click on the link to listen to ‘So Special’ and other current dancehall hits on the top rated Dancehall Now podcast.

Dancehall Now Episode 14 – The My President is Black Edition

Reggae Vault Classics 7

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by reggae • Tags: , , ,

Reggae Vault Classics episode 7 starts off with the late, great, Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Emmanuel Brown singing for us to “Smile…” and “…dance this rebel (reggae) music.”  Since I feel one more D. Brown is always appropriate, in comes another Dennis Brown on the same riddim, followed by Beres Hammond with Come Back Home and Garnett Silk with Hello Mama Africa.  Next Dennis Brown returns to the mix posing the question “Have You Ever Been in Love?”  Capleton’s “Moving On,” the next biggest tune to have been recorded on this Dennis Brown riddim follows before classic hits from Sanchez, Beres, Gregory Issacs, and Frankie Paul back to back make it a true lovers mood.

We are now back in the 1980s and stay there for a while with the next two riddims selected, ‘You think Me Done’ and the legendary ‘Sleng Teng’ riddim.  A few different versions of the Sleng Teng can be heard here, from the original King Jammys style to the 1990s John John version featuring Spragga Benz and Bounty Killer.  Please check the playlist for all artists and titles in this 32 minute podcast mix designed to keep you rocking from start ’til end.  For our hardcore fans there is also a 10 minute bonus track at the end featuring some Highlanda dubplate classics on the Sleng Teng, Answer, and Love Punany Bad riddims.

Right Click the media file link and select “Save As…” to download the entire mp3 file or just click to listen to the audio stream now.  We sincerely hope you enjoy the selections and mixing.  Please send your comments, feedback, and requests to podcast@highlanda.net or feel free to comment right here.  If you like what you hear please subscribe to get automatic updates when new shows are added.

Reggae Vault Classics 7

1   Smile – Dennis Brown
2   Be Mine – Dennis Brown
3   Come Back Home – Beres Hammond
4   Hello Mama Africa – Garnett Silk
5   Have You Ever Been In Love – Dennis Brown
6   Moving On – Capleton
7   Wherever I Lay My Hat – Sanchez
8   Left Me Crying – Beres Hammond
9   Lead Me – Gregory Issacs
10  Stars – Frankie Paul
11  Crying Time – Cocoa Tea
12  Rocking Tonight – Johnny Osborne
13  Lover’s Question – Leroy Gibbons
14  Murderer – Pad Anthony
15  Your Eyes Only – Pinchers
16  Live Blanket – Shabba Ranks
17  You Think Me Done – Admiral Bailey
18  Pumpkin Belly – Tenor Saw
19  Call The Police – John Wayne
20  Trash and Ready – Supercat
21  Who Next – Spragga Benz
22  Sleng Teng – Wayne smith
23  Murder Them – Ninja Man
24  Lodge – Bounty Killer
25  Bonus Track – Highlanda Dubs (Various Artists)

Media files
Reggae_Vault_Classics_7.mp3 (MP3 Format Sound, 81.1 MB)

2009 Reggae Grammy Nominations

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by reggae • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

The 51st Grammy Award Nominations have been announced, and here are the nominations for best in the reggae category:

Who do you think will win?  What do you think about this year’s set of nominees?  Feel free to comment and if you like the content here you can subscribe at highlanda.wordpress.com so that you automatically get regular updates.

Pon Di Gaza – New Dis Song By Vybz Kartel

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by reggae • Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Vybz KartelVybz Kartel has released yet another dis song aimed at Mavado and the Alliance Crew. This one is titled “Pon Di Gaza” and is on Portmore Empire producer Not Nice’s revamped Taxi riddim. Despite being soundly booed when he did it during the clash with Mavado at Sting, Kartel has once again made references to Mavado’s mother in this new tune.

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“Time to Shine,” Its Laden.

by reggae • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Growing up without a father didn’t impact negatively on the life of 23-year-old Okeefe Aarons. He, however, developed a special bond with his mother despite having to relocate from Kingston to St Elizabeth at an early age.

“My mother built a house in St Elizabeth and we moved there when I was young. My mother wanted to leave the garrison because of the violence. During that time I developed a special bond with my mother. Right now she’s my biggest fan,” said Aarons who is known in the music world as the up-and-coming artiste Laden.

Laden’s star is about to shine bright in the sky, having logged generous airtime both at radio and in the dancehall with his latest single Time To Shine. Produced by Stephen McGregor, Time to Shine which is currently riding the charts, has somewhat placed Laden into the spotlight.

“I always had songs playing on the radio like I’m Sorry but Time to Shine has given me a real fan base. This looks like the song to give me the big break that I have always wanted,” said Laden.

According to Laden, Time to Shine was conceptualised based on his own personal experiences. “The song is a personal feeling. I have been putting in all the work and getting the positive feedback. Right now I am just dying to see that dream come true,” he said.

A former student of the Haile Selassie High School in Kingston, Laden grew up between Kingston and St Elizabeth. “I used to live in Cheapside District in Junction. I never born come see my father. I heard that he was robbed and killed in America,” said Laden.

Laden gained some attention in 2006 when he entered the Digicel Rising Stars competition and placed in the top eight. He is grateful for the opportunity and the platform that the competition provided for him, as it has opened many doors for him in the music world.

“Digicel Rising Stars helped out a lot in terms of exposure. It made it easier for people to recognise me and it also got me the opportunity to record for producers,” he informed.

Laden recently wrapped up the video shoot for Time to Shine. The video was shot in various sections of Kingston including Tivoli Gardens, CPTC and Big Ship studio.

Michael ‘Biggs’ Burbridge took over the directing duties, while Nadia Stanley handled the production.

“The video is about me just entering the music industry and then the Digicel Rising Stars competition came about. It’s basically wanting to get that break to shine,” Laden explained.

Some of Laden’s recent projects include the songs Working Hard which was produced by Daseca; Anytime (featured on the beauty and the beast rhythm from TJ Records); and Inside With You (featured on the Old Crep rhythm from Chimney Records).

1.Laden-Time To Shine(mix).mp3
2.Laden-Time To Shine(acoustic mix).mp3
3.Time To Shine- Instrumental.mp3
4.Laden-Time To Shine(Super clean mix).mp3

DOWNLOAD HERE

SOURCE: Jamaica Observer

Also check out Laden’s “Time To Shine,” and other great new music making waves on Highlanda.net’s Dancehall Now Episode 13


Intimate Review – “Everybody Was Dancing…!”

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by Hip Hop, History, reggae, Uncategorized • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Intimate @ The Bentley's is going down evey Friday night...

Intimate @ The Bentley's is going down evey Friday night...

The crowd was there early as expected for Intimate last Friday night and they stayed late.  I’d say things shut down at around 4:30am.  The music was good all night, provided by Lion Chef of King Apocalypse (King AP) with Kahlil Wonda of Highlanda Sound also getting in a couple of sets.  There was also great crowd motivation over the mic (not overdone) by Madd Twitch of Cartel Sound, Mikey Montana from Uprizing Sounds and the birthday boy/host, Super PEC of Highlanda.

The truly refreshing aspect of this event is the vibe and energy that carries throughout the venue.  EVERYBODY was dancing!!

Lion Chef (King AP), Super PEC (Highlanda), Mikey Montana (Uprizing Sounds)

Lion Chef (King AP), Super PEC (Highlanda), Mikey Montana (Uprizing Sounds)

Everyone in attendance participated, sang along with the music, and danced as though they all had not been out in years.  I, for one, am tired of venturing out, only to stand around witnessing others do the same.  I’m also tired of the current trend in which 95% of the people stand up posing and watching the “dancers.”

The Bentley’s, is not a large venue, it is definitely cozy, but the design and layout couldn’t be better.  The sound system there is tuned up and turned up – perfect for showing your skills on the dance floor.  The promoters of Intimate have succeeded be catering to the ladies in particular by providing a safe, pretty, smoke-free, climate controlled environment that compliments them all the way.  I saw a great gender ratio with more women than men, and the crowd seemed to be mostly young Caribbean professionals so the bottles of Vodka, Champagne, and even, Patron, flowed out from the bar all night.

Intimate, every Friday night

Intimate's a good look.

Another item of note about Intimate was the media coverage of the event.  Video camera crews were present from Element Studios, as well as Fyah Sistahs Entertainment, and Ghetto Life photography, plus several still cameras were seen circulating and snapping portraits.  I have never seen that many cameras inside a party before, so kudos to Super PEC and the Highlanda.net promo team for a job well done.  I can’t wait to see the footage.  I have heard other very positive feedback from Intimate at The Bentley’s.  Here is another cool review you can check out from Karin A. on Yelp.com.  Also check out more pictures from Intimate at Highlanda.net, Myspace.com/mixxpromotions, and on Facebook.

The party sell off!

The party sell off!

The verdict – Finally!  Yes, if you have been opting not to party because the clubs, DJs, and promoters were not catering to you, then worry not.  Intimate is for you.  If you enjoy all types of old and new Caribbean music with a touch of the hottest old and new Hip Hop and R&B, and even some Billboard top 40 pop hits in the mix, Intimate is for you.  If you are 21 or older (the term grown and sexy is so over used) and want to get dressed up and step out into a quality establishment, with a quality atmosphere, and be surrounded by similar like-minded individuals that came to PARTY their butts off, then Intimate is most definitely for you.  This is a well needed addition to the the weekend options for Caribbean entertainment in Atlanta.