The latest dancehall news, pop culture and stories.
Jamaican Rocksteady singer Dawn Penn’s iconic single You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) was today certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) after it sold more than 400,000 copies in the UK.
Dancehall princess Shenseea as well as Unruly Boss Popcaan and rising star Skillibeng have been confirmed for the United Kingdom’s Wireless Festival come July 2022.
Thunderous Clap artist Aidonia says he is not a “bar and grill” artist, performing to tiny audiences overseas, but one who locks stadiums and huge nightclubs all by himself, everywhere he goes.
Bounty Killer has demanded that the Jamaican Government pay the island’s air traffic controllers monies due to them, after learning that the officers went on strike this morning due to a fallout in salary negotiations, which had been taking place with the Ministry of Finance over the last three months.
Julian Marley has announced his upcoming EP titled 1692 due out in September via Monom Records.
Tributes have been pouring in following the passing of iconic Jamaican journalist and talk show host Barbara Gloudon, the playwright who etched veteran Dancehall artist Josey Wales’ 1986 cautionary hit song Wrong Move into the ears and psyche of Jamaicans, and whose name Vybz Kartel and Buccaneer immortalized in punch lines in four songs.
After being one of the scores of party-goers ‘skinning it out’ at Cardi B’s ‘Passa Passa’ Dancehall-themed birthday bash last October, Boo’d Up singer Ella Mai says her Dancehall celebration would have Spice and Vybz Kartel as the guests of honor.
Aidonia says the tendency of Jamaican artists to jump on the latest musical trends is nothing new, as piracy and mimicry have characterized Dancehall, which has been comprised of a few leaders and mainly followers since its inception.
Dancehall megastar Shaggy will be conferred with one of nine honorary doctorates, by one of the United States’ leading Ivy League research universities, come Saturday, May 28.
Popcaan’s Unruly brand in collaboration with London-based music and travel company Pollen have teamed up for Unruly Culture Splash, a four-day festival fusing Jamaican, African and UK music to be held in Croatia.
A video clip of an exuberant male National Water Commission (NWC) staff member, spitting lyrics demanding payment of monies owed to workers by the Government of Jamaica, has taken on a life of its own, with producer Neutron Obliv creating a remix.
Dennis Brown may be the most-covered reggae artist given his amazing catalogue of reggae and lover’s rock songs.
Dancehall videographer-turned-film-director ‘Videoropes’ wants to use art to shift narratives and tell beautiful, nuanced stories about black people while also championing his Jamaican culture.
There have been mixed reactions to reports that Buju Banton was barred by soldiers and police from entering the Moore Town Maroon settlement in Portland on Sunday, en route to casting his ballot in favour of Lomora “Hope” Dillon in the Maroon elections.
Dancehall producer Leftside says Masicka is the Dancehall artist he is most eager to work with right now, as, among other things, the Calabar High School graduate’s song-writing skills are impeccable.
Dancehall superstars Cham and Bounty Killer linked up with iconic Madhouse producer Dave “Rude Bwoy” Kelly recently, with the trio hinting that new music might be in the making from them.
Popcaan has apparently distanced himself from his brother, Jelly Bads after a video of the producer performing oral sex on a female was leaked.
With a trailer load of hits and celebrity endorsements over the last year, Skeng appears ready for crossover success and is in a Shabba Ranks state of mind, according to his latest song.
Music producer Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards is over the moon after receiving a plaque for hitting the Billboard Compilation Album Chart for his project Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica: The Reggae Collector’s Edition.
In response to questions as to whether Trap songs are “drowning out” the Dancehall sound, Bounty Killer says that there was no competition, as the two genres are not in contention, but affirms that he is pleased that Trap artists have been blossoming.