Grammy Awards, Clarks Originals, Adidas, "Voice" (NBC) Make This #ReggaeFriday; Plus PwC Caribbean Report, 5 Album Reviews + More
Volume 1, Issue 23 || Visit ReggaeFriday.Life || Curated playlist on YouTube Music || Also follow #ReggaeFriday on Instagram or Facebook.
Happy Friday. It's time slip away into the weekend now and get those Caribbean vibes going on now. Where's the rum? Let's get started beginning with the results of the Grammy Awards.
Grammy Award Winners
In case you missed it shielded by all the buzz on Taylor Swift or Cardi B and Megan The Stallion's performance of "WAP," Toots and the Maytals and Benito "Bad Bunny" Martinez Ocasio each won a GRAMMY Award on March 14 for Best Reggae ("Got To Be Tough") and Best Latin Pop or Urban Album ("YHLQMDLG"), respectively.
I had predicted both wins back in November (RF#16). Far from perfect, I thought that Skip Marley and H.E.R would win for Best R&B Song for "Slow Down" but they didn't win. Also, I had become ambitious thinking that "Un Dia (One Day)" would win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, but it did not. This is the track featuring Dua Lipa, J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Tainy and singularly features úrsula Corberó (a.k.a. Tokyo from the Netflix series Money Heist) in the companion music video
Listen to Toots and the Maytals entire album, HERE. Note the strong influence of country music in Toots' album. And, listen to Bad Bunny's entire album, HERE. Every song on this album is a hit.
The Maytals won the award over Buju Banton, Skip Marley, Maxi Priest, and the Wailers. It marks the second Grammy win for Toots and the Maytals after they won Best Reggae Album for True Love in 2004. Bad Bunny won the award over records by Ricky Martin, Kany García, Camilo, and Debi Nova.
The family of Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert has described as "bittersweet" the reggae icon's posthumous Grammy Award. Toots and The Maytals won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album six months after their legendary frontman died of COVID-19 complications.
In a statement Monday, Toots' family said they are happy that he won the Grammy Award but added that they "are deeply saddened that he’s not around to celebrate this great achievement."
His daughter, Leba Hibbert said, “This is a bitter-sweet moment for my family. We’re very happy that our patriarch has won his second Grammy Award. My father was a phenomenal gift to this world and we’re happy that he was able to touch the hearts of so many people with his music and we’re very grateful that he has won another Grammy Award. I just wish he was here to enjoy it with us."
Editor of Rolling Stones Magazine Jason Fine is also happy about the posthumous Grammy win. “Toots put years of work into the songs for this album, it was urgent to him, necessary, to share his hard-earned wisdom, his joy and his pain through his music; to call out the injustices he saw and to blaze a path to a better future. He didn’t do it for awards, but he would have loved this moment. I imagine if he was here he’d gather his friends and family, pour a celebratory drink, then go right back to the studio to work on new songs. That’s what Toots was always about, hard work and eternal hope. Long live Fireball!” Fine said.
Grammy nominee Maxi Priest remains thankful. This is the reggae singer’s third nomination with his album It All Comes Back To Love, which was released in late 2019. He earned his first Best Reggae Album nomination in 1994 for Fe Real, and again in 1997 for Man with the Fun.
Priest told Jamaica's The Gleaner, “I really want to say thanks to each and every one of the musicians who worked on my album. We weren’t creating something specifically to achieve anything more than appreciation for what we have done but of course anything that comes along with it, is welcomed because then it only increases the opportunity as well as others. And the same has been done by Toots or any other artistes, by winning the Grammy Award, as I said before, it’s an achievement for all of us, and when we all truly believe that, that is when we shall overcome and achieve what we are trying to achieve which is success and recognition across the world for our culture,” Priest said.
Sean Paul Calls Out Grammys For Poor Treatment Of Reggae
The Weeknd, apparently, isn’t the only artist to call out the Grammys this year. Dancehall superstar Sean Paul says he doesn’t believe that Reggae gets the respect it deserves at the annual award show run by the Recording Academy.
During a recent interview with Claudia Jordon’s Out Loud on FOX Soul, Sean Paul said, “we also win a Grammy every year and we never get our accolades, our thank you speech is never broadcasted which is something that I think is very important for the genre.”
Sean Paul has been nominated for a Grammy Award eight times with one win in 2003 for Best Reggae Album for Dutty Rock. He revealed, during an interview last year, that he faced discrimination and poor treatment at the 2003 Award show, even though he had won and was also nominated for Best New Artist that year.
He explained that he felt slighted because his music was topping the charts globally at the time and he was not even given a seat at the show after performing with Sting on stage.“ They never had seats for us. I see Black Eyed Peas walk past us on the red carpet and go inside. Ah ask Steve and him seh if this is our tent. Wha?” he said as he explained that he and his crew were not allowed inside the space.
The Black Eyed Peas were nominated for Record of the Year that year, but they did not win nor did they perform during the show. “How dem have five seats for Black Eyed Peas and dem nuh win no Grammy or perform?” Paul questioned.
Maxi Priest agrees and points to the single "Best Reggae" category as a problem. While the genre and its artists have become global icons, not discounting the incredible influence the greater reggae genre has had on other music genres and artists (see John Legend's Bigger Love that won a Grammy this year), reggae is not getting the respect it deserves at the Grammy Awards. The reggae music genre has become so expansive including roots, dancehall, reggae fusion among others and, yes, even reggaetón-- but it's all compressed into one single entry at the Grammy Awards.
“Noting the list of categories, I am not sure if we are going forward or backwards because other genres have taken precedence over our genre of music and it pains my heart," says Priest.
I agree. Scanning the Grammy Award categories there is separate categories for pop, rock, metal, alternative, country, jazz, R&B, and American Roots. Okay, even if I strip that down to down to only rock, metal, alternative, and country, can you see the parallel to reggae genres? It's as varied as 2020 releases from Toots and the Maytals, Buju Banton, Lela Ike, and Skip Marley. I might put Maxi Priest and the Wailers into a reggae pop category along with Shaggy and many others.
Even within Latin, they have "best Latin Pop or Urban" + "best Latin Rock or Alternative" + "best Regional Mexican" + "best Tropical." Why, oh why is it so difficult for The Recording Academy to make the adjustment for reggae? If record sales and social impact is the issue, then let us break out the Bob Marley, Shaggy, and Sean Paul cards to start.
Damian "Junior Gong" Marley has a more spiritual approach to this topic.
"We have to be careful about this Grammys thing because music is not a competition. There is a lot of great music that gets put out every year and we reach to this point now you get a lot of tension and unfair criticism because it becomes a race and a competition, "says the youngest son to Bob. "Whoever wins deserves to win…we are fans of all music. My brother Ziggy deserves to win every time he wins because he constantly stays working, constantly release music of a certain quality and integrity. It goes without saying if someone else wins they would have deserved to win also, everybody deserve to win."
Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange told the Gleaner last year that she believes it is time that the Best Reggae Album category is included during the live television broadcast.
“One of the things that I am going to work very hard to achieve is to get the reggae category carried live on the Grammys. There are many other genres that are treated that way as well, so it’s going to be a tough fight, but nothing is impossible,” she said.
“I know it’s going to be a journey as it was a journey to even get reggae as a category in the Grammys years ago, but we achieved it.”
Clarks Originals Says Endorsement Deals Are Coming For Dancehall Artists
British footwear brand Clarks Originals says it will be engaging in endorsement deals with Reggae and Dancehall artists to promote its new ‘Jamaica Pack’ line, which is set to be officially be launched in April.
The revelation and assurance came from the company yesterday after it was taken to task by several Jamaican skeptics, who said they hope it was not seeking to exploit Brand Jamaica for selfish gain, by unveiling the line which carries the Jamaica Trek, Desert Jamaica and the Jamaica Bees and which is part of their Spring 2021 collection.
The shoe brand has enjoyed a long love affair with Jamaicans, and still – for the most part – enjoys cult-like veneration across the Caribbean island. Jamaicans’ affinity to the Clarks Originals dates back decades, when the shoe gained popularity in the 1970s among the ‘rude bowy’ culture’s aesthetic that permeated throughout the island at the time.
“Since they first hit the streets of Kingston, our profiles have occupied a special place in Jamaican culture. To celebrate this truly original connection, we’ve reworked three of our most iconic styles to pay tribute to the individuality the island is so famous for,” the Clarks Originals statement added.
Bad Bunny Gives a Detailed Look at His Upcoming Adidas Collaboration
Bad Bunny fans just got a surprise gift in early March courtesy of the musician himself. Following his partnership with Crocs last year, Bad Bunny and adidas Originals teased his collaborative take on the Forum Low.
The Puerto Rican artist reposted a series of videos and pictures from Janthony Oliveras on his Instagram Story, teasing a closer look at an upcoming Adidas collaboration. Oliveras, who the New York Times described as Bad Bunny’s “right hand” in October 2020, took to the social media app to help unveil all of the new pieces from the debut Bad Bunny x Adidas collection.
Bad Bunny’s adidas Forum Low comes constructed in a mix of leather, suede, and canvas dressed in shades of Tan, beige, and Dark Brown. Other notable details includes interchangeable Blue and Yellow-Green laces with a bungee strap in the rear. Bad Bunny’s signature third eye appears on the tongues, while his bunny logo is seen through the Blue translucent circle on the outsole. Lastly, its velcro straps reveal the slogan, “Yo Visto Así” (which can be translated into “I Dress Like This” or “I Dress This Way”).
Friend and family pairs come packaged with Gustos coffee beans, thermos, coffee mug, and skateboard.
PwC 2021 CEO Survey: Caribbean Findings
Conducted in January and February 2021, the 24th Annual Global CEO Survey explores the views of 5,050 chief executives around the world on how they are reinventing their companies to mitigate global disruptions, such as the impact of COVID-19, and ensuring sustainable growth. Who participated? Take a look before reading the summary findings:
Unprecedented optimism about the global economy
One year after the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, 69% of Caribbean CEOs believe global economic growth will improve in 2021. Their positive outlook reflects recent economic events as well as the momentum around vaccine development and rollout in parts of the world.
Rebounding confidence, shifting growth
CEOs’ optimism extends to their own company’s performance. In the Caribbean, 78% say they are either somewhat confident or very confident about their organisation’s prospects for revenue growth over the next year. Even more positive, 88% are confident looking ahead three years.
Lingering anxiety
Despite their confidence in economic improvement, Caribbean CEOs, like CEOs globally, are acutely aware of threats in the external environment, starting with the obvious: pandemics and other health crises (61%) placing it just behind cyber threats on the list of threats Caribbean CEOs worry about.
Cybersecurity, misinformation, and the digital effect
Cyber threats are the top concern for 67% of Caribbean CEOs, likely in response to a rise in cyberattacks over the past year. Also rising rapidly on the list of CEO concerns is the spread of misinformation (78%). This coincides with the acceleration of companies’ digital transformations during the pandemic. Over half of CEOs plan to increase their investments in digital transformation by 10% or more, with no plans to slow down.
The climate change challenge
One third (31%) of Caribbean CEOs have factored climate change into their strategic risk management activities - 37% globally. Some of these CEOs are located in countries with high natural hazard exposure so we might expect this figure to be higher and businesses to be better prepared for climate change risk. In contrast, 82% of CEOs in the Caribbean selected climate change as a concern, 59% of them are somewhat concerned and just 24% extremely concerned.
Learn Why Puerto Rico Becoming A State Continues To Draw A Stalemate
Earlier in March, Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., and Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez, Puerto Rico's nonvoting member of Congress and a Republican, introduced new legislation Tuesday to make the U.S. territory a state. The Puerto Rico Statehood Admissions Act seeks to establish "a framework for admission, including a presidential proclamation upon its passage, a ratification vote, the election of U.S. senators and representatives and the continuity of laws, government, and obligations," Soto said at a news conference.
The bill comes amid renewed efforts from pro-statehood Puerto Ricans to pressure Congress after passage of a nonbinding referendum in November that directly asked voters whether Puerto Rico should immediately be admitted as a state. With nearly 55 percent voter turnout, about 53 percent of Puerto Ricans who voted favored statehood while 47 percent rejected it, according to Puerto Rico's Elections Commission.
"But still it's not a first-class citizenship," Gonzalez, who represents 3.2 million Puerto Ricans on the island, said. "We cannot vote for our commander-in-chief, we do not have four members of Congress, and yet Congress has all power over us." The bill has the support of at least 49 House members, 13 Republicans and 36 Democrats, according to Gonzalez. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is expected to eventually introduce a version of the bill in the Senate.
Puerto Ricans living on the island are U.S. citizens who are unable to vote for president. They don't pay federal income taxes, since they don't have voting representation in Congress. But they do pay payroll taxes, helping fund federal programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which often serve as lifelines in a territory where 44 percent of the population lives in poverty. But as a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico has unequal access to these programs compared to states.
The statehood bill was met with opposition from four Puerto Rican advocacy groups shortly after. They bought an ad in The New York Times calling out statehood supporters such as Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi for their use of "cherry-picked statistics."
"If you're only listening to the governor of Puerto Rico, you're not even getting half the story," the ad reads. "True equity can only be achieved when Puerto Rico is free to decide its own destiny, armed with information and a full understanding of the entire range of nonterritorial political status possibilities available."
The Voice’s Blake Shelton Mistakes Buju Banton For A Type Of “Bread”
Episode 3 of NBC’s The Voice Season 20 certainly brought some laughs to Jamaican audiences on Monday night. From the Dancehall legend Buju Banton being mistaken for some kind of ‘warm bread’ to Blake Shelton’s desperate attempt to win over contestant Pia Renee during the blind auditions by highlighting his association with a well-known Reggae aficionado, the jokes just kept on coming. Watch it HERE or by clicking on the image below:
The moment occurred after the nail-biting, last-minute chair turn when The Voice judges Blake Shelton and John Legend hit their buzzers just mere seconds apart to vie for Pia’s taking. The 37-year-old single mom, who auditioned with the Stevie Wonder tribute to Bob Marley, titled Master Blaster (Jammin’), gave Blake his shot to win her over when she declared, “Reggae has my heart.”
Two Reggae Greats Have Died
Bunny Wailer and U-Roy spoke the same universal language. The music is their unity and ours.
Bunny Wailer, the last of the original Wailing Wailers, died of a stroke at the age of 73 on March 2. He and his childhood friend Bob Marley formed a vocal trio with a young Peter Tosh in 1963, a year after Jamaica’s independence. Their harmonious singing style was typical of the ska music genre — upbeat music that defined the cultural mood of a new freedom. You likely know the rest of the story.
A year before they parted ways in 1974, The Wailers appeared on the British TV music show The Old Grey Whistle Test, performing a song of love; the sexually suggestive Stir It Up and a song of injustice, Concrete Jungle. This assured performance, new image and subsequent touring set them for global popularity. Bunny is located on the right with the two drums and pair of brushes Click HERE to watch it or the image below:
Ewart Beckford OD, known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting (a.k.a. rap) died February 17.
As a DJ, U-Roy worked on Coxsone Dodds’ sound system and his job was to introduce the latest tracks and hype them up to the crowd. When the record was flipped over to the instrumental B side or “dub version”, U-Roy would freestyle lyrics, often incorporating the chorus or theme of the A side into his delivery. This style became so popular that artists such as U-Roy would be called to the studio to record their best lyrics or to feature on the original song as a remix release.
This relationship between the Selector and DJ as a path to commercial production, and as live entertainment, is the cornerstone of dancehall music. U-Roy eventually operated his own sound system called King Stur Gav which in turn launched the careers of many famous reggae artists.
U-Roy is known for releasing such iconic songs including "Wake The Town" and "Natty Rebel" as well as "Wear You To The Ball" and many others.
Jamaican dancehall’s influence is wide and spawned genres as diverse as American rap and deep house. But the direct descendants are the dancehall communities that have flourished across the world.
Women Artists Respond To Arcángel's Macho Instagram Post
A day after International Women's Day, rapper Arcángel caused controversy and outrage among his fans by uploading a sexist comment to his social media.
"You want to be respected as a woman BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA. But you spend showing your ass on social media for likes. Women who behave, distinguish themselves and are categorized as ladies," the reggaetonero wrote on his Instagram story.
Some female artists of the urban genre and many fans of the artist himself responded to the comment on social media. However, it wasn't until after Brazilian singer Anitta responded, that Arángel half-heartedly 'apologized.' Anitta responded with a clear and strong message that left in evidence of the hypocrisy and double standards of the singer.
"This is me, showing my ass on my Instagram. Now a special thematic question for women's day yesterday ... you can use women's asses in your videos and put explicit letters to get views, but at the same time say that women who show THEIR OWN ASSS on their social networks do they deserve respect? I'm confused.
Putting the meaning of Lady and Knight in google I come to the conclusion that I do more justice to the word than many guys out there who want women ladies but have nothing of a gentleman.
Happy Women's Day. That they deserve respect with or without asses out. Be it on your Instagram or in music videos of men who believe that there must be women of one type to exploit them in what suits them and women of another type to make it yours.
Peace, love and coherence"
To her response, joined Kali Uchis and Cazzu, giving their opinion about the violent comment from Arcángel.
"It's disgusting to know how many reggaetoneros hate us for having the power to find our self love. You're jealous and intimidated by us and it shows. read Bitch! When will WEAK men die? We're in 2021 and they're still looking for ways to get in the women's business, hate gays or be transphobic... Grow up or Die," wrote Uchis in a post.
For her part, Cazzu also posted on her Instagram story that reggaeton is dominated by men, which makes it a difficult space for feminist women above all.
"They use use use networks to prostitute themselves, and he used them to offend, mock and then apologize very unseriously after offending 90% of the female fans that followed and respected him — all this on women's week. I don't think he cares what I have to say about him, but it hurt me because I've been a fan of his forever. I dreamed of having a song with him. But misogyny is born where a man decides which woman is respected and which is not," she said.
Arcángel offered up a public apology, stating: “To the educated, hard-working, and responsible woman that felt offended, I’m sorry. I was referring to a certain type of woman but it’s true, in the end, all women deserve respect. Unfortunately, there are many women who use social media to prostitute themselves and demand a certain respect from men that, no matter how womanly they make themselves, if they don’t behave like one, they don’t deserve it.”
Arcángel's misogyny and sexism is also not new, in April 2019 he was arrested in Las Vegas for beating his partner. However, he was quickly released after paying a bail of less than $3,000 despite the fact that security cameras recorded the singer kicking his partner in the hip.
Damian Marley Says Reggae Industry Should Learn From South Korea’s K-Pop
Known as the “youngest veteran,” Damian Marley has made a name for himself locally and internationally in the music business although he is from Reggae royalty.
When Junior Gong was asked by DancehallMag, "If you could make some changes in how music is governed in the Caribbean and Jamaica in light of the UNESCO designating reggae as an intangible piece of cultural heritage, what would those be?" His response is clear and actionable.
"The noise abatement act needs proper attention. I understand the need to respect residential zones but Jamaica’s Reggae music is part of brand Jamaica. It also feeds a lot of people and a lot of people depend on it. I also don’t like the censoring of the music. Just like we should be free to pray we should be free to cuss’ who we want. I don’t like censorship," says the youngest son of Bob.
"Other than that, we should also investigate and take a page out of the K-pop movement. The Korean government made very direct moves towards fueling their music industry. When we say we want support from the government what exactly are we speaking about? What are the details of that? We should look to other places and see what worked and what didn’t. We can learn from them because investment is what is needed."
#ReggaeFriday Weekend Soundtrack
This week I cover five album releases that includes Sean Paul, Machel Montano, and Marcia Griffiths as well as Camilo and Selena Gomez. Yep, you right that correctly: Selena Gomez.
Sean Paul | Live N Livin
It finally dropped! Sean Paul's 16-track Live N Livin album was released last last Friday (March 12). Released under his own label Dutty Rock Productions is loaded with a who's who in dancehall and reggae music catering to a fanbase in Jamaica or deep in the genre.
In May, his major label album release Scorcha will be released by Island Records and filled with more pop reggae, radio-friendly tracks with mainstream collaborators Gwen Stefani, Australian singer-songwriter Sia, Shenseea, and Jada Kingdom.
Featuring a meld of Afrobeat, trap-tinged and classic Dancehall beats, the collab-heavy Live N Livin is a rich illustration of “collaboration over confrontation”, Sean’s much-touted call for unity in the music genre. An opposing view of battling. The entire project feels like it was made with not only unity, but a social backdrop in mind — clubs, dance floors, cruising along to a driving bass. Live N Livin is a string of collabs with 22 Dancehall and Reggae artists including Damian Marley, Buju Banton, Chi Ching Ching, Busy Signal, Jesse Royal, Mavado, and Agent Sasco among many others. Insiders report that he's filming a music video for each track. To-date, none have been released.
The entire album rocks. Each and every track gives you something different. Those lacking an ear for the dancehall might shy away, but they should not and go headfirst. Some early favorite tracks includes "Boom," "The Plug," "Buss A Bubble," "Money Bag," and "Guns of Navarone." "Schedule" featuring Damian "Junior Gong" Marley and Chi Ching Ching breaks up the album with this comical track.
“Schedule is a word weh we use backstage when anytime mi waan my Hennessy,” Paul explained to a virtual listening party in February. I am biased for tracks featuring Chi Ching Ching as he's my birthday brother and a very playful, generous, and warm artist.
Catch Sean Paul Live
Sean is set to perform in his first show for 2021 on the live streaming platform, Dreamstage. The show will be streamed on the shores of Jamaica on Saturday, April 10 at 4:00 pm EST. According to a press release from his team, the show will give fans a chance to “teleport to the Caribbean for feel-good music through Dreamstage’s superior hi-def visual virtual concert stage.”
Dreamstage was created to give a live concert experience for artists of all genres. The app, which features premium HD services and is accessible through the Apple TV App as well as on PCs and mobile devices features real-time artist/fan engagement via fan chat, emojis, and social feed integration.
Tickets are available at https://link.dreamstage.live/SeanPaul and start at US $14.99 for a single ticket until March 12. After that, it will to $19.99 for a single ticket until performance day.
Machel Montano | The Wedding Album
Soca music icon Machel Montano releases the 17-track album The Wedding Album today that is a must-get for anyone who craves positive Caribbean music vibrations. Montano agrees, “These songs venture from Dancehall to R&B to Afrobeat, all infused with that sweet Soca." This album includes collaborations from Ms. Lauren Hill, Vybz Kartel and producers Teddy Riley (yes, that one), Afro B of the U.K. and DJ Tunez of Nigeria.
The first release off the album is "2U" which you can watch by clicking HERE or the image below:
I do feel that this album can serve s a background to some future weddings. The Wedding Album is a dedication to Montano’s wife, celebrating their partnership. “This album is a dedication to my wife and the wonderful partnership we share and which we celebrate physically, spiritually, and culturally. These songs translate the feelings we experience when we meet, the love when we dance and share space, as well as the joy we find when we are together," Montano said.
Known as the King of Soca, Machel Montano’s long and decorated career began in 1982 at the age of seven. Since then Machel has gone on to dominate the genre, winning countless awards and pushing Soca music onto the international stage with growing velocity. Whether he’s selling out Madison Square Garden or rocking a 25,000 deep crowd at his namesake fete on home soil – Machel is an unmatched entertainer, an artist of growing global influence, and a man on a mission.
Marcia Griffiths | Timeless- Extended
Originally released in June 2019, the 15-track Timeless album has been Marcia Griffiths' tribute to Studio 1-- the Motown of Jamaica dating back to the 1970s. Re-released as an extended double vinyl colored album earlier this week, the Queen of Reggae-- best known among general market audiences for singing "Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide)"-- has added "Smile To Me" making this vinyl set a 16-track collectible.
Reggae aficionados know Marcia better for being a duo with Bob Andy ("Young Gifted and Black," "Pied Piper") before becoming a part of the I Threes-- a trio of backing singers which supported Bob Marley & the Wailers. Yes the same backing singers that included Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt.
Marcia recalls, “Timeless speaks for itself – from then until now; working on this album was refreshing and filled with fun memories of early Studio 1 days when those songs were being recorded."
Her brilliance is on full display in the wide range of artists/songs covered, from Delroy Wilson's “Once Up On A Time” and Ken Boothe's “Home” to The Heptones' “Baby Be True” and The Cables' “What Kind Of World.” Also included is Peter Tosh's “I’m The Toughest,” Sugar Minott's “This Old Man,” Abyssinians “Declaration Of Rights,” plus a Ska medley inclusive of Jackie Opel, Toots Hibbert, The Wailers, and Rita Marley among other luminaries.
The musicians who contributed to this album are also a bonus as they recaptured the feel of the original riddims and with digital recording produced a sweet clean quality, supporting a Timeless voice echoing a Timeless era that will certainly help drive the revival of popular reggae music.
Camilo | Mis Manos
A loss of a 2021 Grammy to Bad Bunny is not stopping Camilo. Just 11 months after his Grammy-nominated Por Primera Vez, Camilo dropped his sophomore set Mis Manos on March 5. The 12-track pop reggaeton album is charming and feels playfully romantic. Camilo has a distinctive tenor voice that is nothing like Bad Bunny, J Balvin or another. This album makes me feel like we are listening in to a conversation between him and his wife Evaluna Montaner who is a singer, too. The two appear on the first release off the album "Machu Picchu" which you can hear by clicking HERE or the image below.
Camilo's brother-in-laws Mauricio and Ricardo, better known as Reggaeton's Mau y Ricky, also appear on the album with "Rolex" as does El Alfa ("BEBE") and regional Mexican band Los Dos Carnales ("Tuyo y Mio"). Watch "Tuyo y Mio" by clicking HERE or the image below:
By the way Camilo just appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Also, his wife Evaluna is the daughter of Latin music giant Ricardo Montaner who has released 24 albums and one of the best-selling Latin music artists.
Selana Gomez | Revelación
Selena Gomez’s first Spanish-language EP, Revelación, has been a decade in the making. She first teased her fans by writing on Twitter about the idea in 2011. The 7-track EP was released last Friday (March 12) and includes the handy work of mega producer Tainy and DJ Snake with vocal appearances by Rauw Alejandro ("Baila Conmigo") and Myke Towers ("Dámelo To’"). Watch "Baila Conmigo" by clicking HERE or the image below:
Recording of Revelación began right before the introduction of COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns. It was almost entirely recorded remotely, in a home recording studio using Zoom to communicate. Gomez hired Leyla Hoyle-Guerrero, a language coach, to help restore her Spanish vocabulary, work on her accent, and practice her slang.
Make no mistake, the A-list pop star with Mexican roots is leaning hard into reggaeton on this EP, but this isn't her first time. DJ Snake's earlier hit "Taki Taki" featuring Ozuna and Cardi B was huge for her as was "I Can't Get Enough" to a lesser degree with Tainy, J Balvin and Benny Blanco.
"It's a huge responsibility and an honor at the same time that she trusted me and my team to work on this," Tainy said to Billboard. "Selena Gomez is a superstar. She’s somebody that has amazing fans that really know her music and know what she’s about. Now we’re diving into a totally different arena, and if it’s not done the right way, it can go south super fast."
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Editor's Note: #ReggaeFriday, reggaefriday.life, and the curated #ReggaeFriday playlist is part of a self-created idea that started in early June 2020. This collective is intended to expose, elevate, educate, celebrate, and expand an appreciation of the people, culture, influences, and music of the Caribbean. Heavy doses of reggae and reggaeton music are merged together here where in real life they are more often treated separate. Beneath this, I hope to help others learn to better appreciate how a tiny geographic area, in particular the people located on the islands of Puerto Rico and Jamaica, has an enduring and never-ending positive impact on people and culture around the world.