Today marks the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, a milestone being celebrated in various ways not just across Jamaica, but across all of the diaspora capitals, and around the world. One of the many events celebrating the milestone is the world premiere of One People, a public-sourced documentary (meaning regular people, as well as some professionals, were asked to film and submit their own footage in the spirit of inclusiveness) premised around the simple question (as asked to Jamaicans and “friends of Jamaica locally and oversea), “What does Jamaica mean to you?”
Produced by Justine Henzell, daughter of the late The Harder They Come director Perry Henzell, and Zachary Harding the film premieres simultaneously today in Kingston (at the Jamaica 50 Jubilee Village at the National Stadium, at 4p.m. local time), London (at the O2 arena, at 4 p.m. local time) and in New York (at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, at 7 p.m. and again at 9 p.m., local time).
Notting Hill Carnival promo mix for my upcoming gig with Urban Nerds on Aug. 27 2011. Tropical/Bashment influenced genres starting at 75 BPM & ending at 125 BPM…a 50 BPM span of new/classic tunes ranging from Digital Bashment, Moombahton, Soca, Baile Funk, and Tropical/Funky House.
Linton Kwesi Johnson (aka LKJ) (born 24 August 1952, Chapelton, Jamaica) is a UK-based dub poet. He became the second living poet, and the only black poet, to be published in the Penguin Classics series. His poetry involves the recitation of his own verse in Jamaican Patois over dub-reggae, usually written in collaboration with renowned British reggae producer/artist Dennis Bovell.
Johnson studied for a degree in sociology at Goldsmiths College in New Cross, London (graduating in 1973), which currently holds his personal papers in its archives; in 2004 he became an Honorary Visiting Professor of Middlesex University in London. In 2005 he was awarded a silver Musgrave medal from the Institute of Jamaica for distinguished eminence in the field of poetry.
While still at school he joined the British Black Panther Movement, helped to organize a poetry workshop within the movement, and developed his work with Rasta Love, a group of poets and drummers.
…peace to our good friend Alwin for the heads up on this one.
After the jump, view the video that inspired this post…
Angel let me know about this a few weeks back so It’s great to see this coming to fruition. Gilles Peterson is one of my favorite DJ’s and this is a major look. Check out the audio below…
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Gilles P meets up with Homeboy Sandman in the wake of his triumphant performance at the Worldwide Awards. The freaky flowing NY MC’s ‘Parallel Perpendicular’ jam stubbornly refused to budge from GP’s radio playlists last year… but there’s plenty more heat where that came from!
Another drop of music that I’ve held on to for way too long. Some newer than others. Check out the goods below…
Busy Signal – “Right Now”
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Anthony B. feat. Gyptian – “Never Want To Lose You”
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The news may be about a week old, but it’s fresh nonetheless. Check out the details on Puma’s collaboration with the Marley family below…
The Fastest Man in the World and his teammates will be breaking PRs in true Jamaican fashion during the 2012 Olympics.
PUMA and Cedella Marley, Bob Marley’s eldest daughter, just announced she will be designing the Jamaican Track and Field Team’s Olympic uniform, podium and ceremony wear. Cedella describes the partnership as legendary. We describe it as fast fashion, literally.
Bolt likes the partnership as well. “I can’t think of a better person to design our Olympic outfits than Cedella. PUMA got that right…hooking up with a legendary Jamaican. She’s a great designer but also carries on the spirit of our nation through the legacy of the Marley family. It’s going to be inspirational to run in London with that energy surrounding me.”
You can catch the first peak of Cedella’s designs this August at the IAAF World Championships of Track and Field in Korea.
The Daily Mail has put together a great photo essay on the weekend’s activities in London town. Check a few of their shots below…
Hundreds of thousands of revellers descended on the capital today for Europe’s biggest street festival – the Notting Hill Carnival.
Dancers wearing vibrant costumes paraded along the packed three-and-a-half-mile route in west London from 9am today to the sounds of traditional steel drums.
The lines of colourful floats were accompanied by more than 40 static sound systems and scores of Caribbean food stalls….
Gappy Ranks has been making waves since his song on the Soul Rebel riddim, “Heaven In Your Eyes,” made a big splash on the Peckings label. Astute listeners may remember him from his 2005 collabo with Kray Twinz, Lethal B and Twista or his work on the UK Grime scene (“Rep Your Endz”) or when he was ballin on a G4 in the bashment tune “Stinkin Rich.” But judging by the way he rides the classical Studio One riddims on his forthcoming VP album Put The Stereo On, way down deep inside, Gappy is a foundation deejay par excellence. Give him a listen and chances are Gappy will make you happy.
London-based Photographer Leah Gordon comes through with come amazing black and white imagery. If you’re in London be sure to check out the exhibit, which run through next month. Check out the details below…
Since the earthquake in January 2010, a proliferation of horrific media images have reinforced an ongoing narrative of Haitians as victims – of disaster, of poverty, of corruption. Rarely is Haiti’s incredibly potent colonial history mentioned. Between 1791 and 1804 Haitians led the only successful slave revolt in history which resulted in the abolition of French colonial rule, and in Haiti becoming the first black-led republic. Photographer Leah Gordon’s stunning images of Haiti tell the story of a country intimately in tune with its past. We caught up with her at Riflemaker Gallery where her current exhibition, The Invisibles, is showing until September 10, to find out more.
