Caribbean Entertainment News Roundup

By NAN ET Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Friday, Aug. 2, 2019: Here are the top headlines making news on the Caribbean entertainment scene for this week:

It’s Cardi and Bernie 2020

Caribbean roots rapper, Cardi B has teamed up with Sen. Bernie Sanders to film a 2020 presidential campaign video meant to appeal to young voters.

Cardi B thanked Sanders on Instagram posting: “Thank you Senator Bernie Sanders for sitting with me and sharing your plans on how you will change this country.”

The video — filmed at the TEN Nail Bar, a local nail salon owned by two black women — is the first collaboration between the duo.

“We (are) working on a way to involve more young people in the political process,” the Vermont independent told CNN in an interview as he arrived for the shoot. “The future of America depends on young people. They are voting in large numbers, but not large enough numbers.”

He said he and Cardi B spoke about a range of issues, including canceling student debt, climate change and raising the minimum wage.

Ashanti and Machel Release New Soca Video

R&B singer turned actress Ashanti has gone Soca. The singer has joined forces with The King of Soca, Trinidad and Tobago-born Machel Montano, to not only release a new soca song but launch a video for it.

The EDM and Soca-mixed song “The Road,” features Ashanti showing off her body in a gorgeous Carnival costume complete with a headdress and several scenes from the pre-Leten T&T Carnival. “I feel a vibe. Full of Energy. I feel alive. When you are so close to me,” sings Ashanti.

Check it out here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENK9rATmSpc

Proteje Kicks Off Second Half Of NA Tour

2019 GRAMMY-nominated Jamaican artist Protoje continues to blaze stages worldwide. This week, he picks up the second half of his North American tour with Rebelution and announces new headlining dates in select U.S. cities.  Lila Iké, one of reggae’s most-talked about emerging singers, will join him in Atlanta, Santa Cruz and San Diego. Amidst his stateside run, Protoje will also hit some of Europe’s hottest music festivals, including the Oya Fest in Oslo, Norway and Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary as well as two dates in Germany. See full schedule here and below.

“Nobody Man” Says This Singer

Soulful Jamaican singer Sevana, part of the In.Digg.Nation Collective, the label and management company founded by GRAMMY-nominated Protoje, recently debuted her brand new single “Nobody Man” (In.Digg.Nation Collective/Easy Star Records). On the bubbly, energetic track where she effortlessly flows between her soaring vocals and bold Jamaican patois, blending traditional R&B/soul that inspires her sound and the Caribbean’s tropical percussive rhythms she was raised on.

“I wrote ‘Nobody Man’ after a series of unfortunate girlfriends thought I wanted their man, which could never be the case,” Sevana says firmly. “‘Nobody Man’ challenges the narrative of ‘tek a gyal man,’ which is essentially a braggadocio culture around taking another person’s husband or boyfriend.”

Two-Thirds Of Iconic Reggae Group I-Threes To Reunite At Westchester Reggae Festival

Two members of the celebrated reggae group, the I-Threes, are set to reunite this Labor Day Week in Westchester, NY for the inaugural Westchester Reggae Festival.

The event slated to take place on Saturday, August 31st at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York will feature celebrated Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths and legendary reggae/gospel singer Judy Mowatt, two thirds of the world famous I-Threes, reggae’s most influential female singing group that provided backing vocals for reggae legend Bob Marley in the 70’s.

“I was inspired to do the inaugural festival with Marcia and Judy because of all I have heard and read about their historic performance at Marley’s last concert in 1980 at Madison Square Garden,” said New York based promoter Andrea Bullens of Bullizi Marketing.

Griffiths, the Reggae Queen, continues to break new ground with her new smash single ‘What Kind of World’ from her album Timeless, garnered international notoriety with ‘Electric Boogie’, which was originally released by Bunny Wailer in 1976. Her 1989 remixed gave birth to the ‘Electric Slide’ line dance which became an international dance craze. The song reached number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it Griffiths’ most successful single and one the biggest selling songs by a female reggae artist.

Mowatt has also secured her own place in history as the first female singer nominated for a Grammy Award in the reggae category for her ‘Working Wonders’ album in 1985. Her ‘Black Woman’ album which was released in 1980 is a classic that is considered one of the best reggae albums by a female artiste. She has also recorded hit singles ‘Many Are Called,’ ‘Black Woman’ and ‘I Shall Sing.’ In 1999 she received the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican government for her contribution to Jamaica’s music industry. Griffiths received a similar award in 2014.

Also booked to perform is ‘Mr Rocksteady’ Ken Boothe.’ The veteran singer/songwriter garnered international notoriety, with hit songs ‘Silver Words,’ ‘Every Thing I Own,’ ‘Artibella,’ ‘When I Fall In Love’ and ‘Movin Away.’ He gained further acclaim when he teamed with platinum selling reggae superstar Shaggy on a remake of ‘The Train Is Coming’ that was featured on the soundtrack of the movie ‘The Money Train’ starring actor Wesley Snipes.

For more log on to WestchesterMusicFestival.com.

Hawaiian Group Maintains Hold On Billboard Reggae Charts

For the second straight week, Hawaiian group, Pepper, a three-piece rock band now based in San Diego, remains at number one on the Billboard Reggae Charts this week. The group claimed the coveted number one spot two weeks ago, with ‘Local Motion,’ their 8th studio album that was released on June 28th. The album has been three weeks on the charts and was number 2 last week before climbing to number one this week.

26 Years Of ‘Reggae Gold’

It’s been 26 years already since VP Records has been releasing its ‘Reggae Gold’ compilation. The 2019 edition dropped on July 26th and features Naomi Cowan’s “Paradise Plum,” which has been making waves on Reggae radio since its release last year and still continues its momentum as well as “Juju” from Dancehall vixen Dovey Magnum; “One Way” by Busy Signal; “Lights Out” by Estelle; “Marijuana” by Jah Cure featuring Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley; “Life” by Christopher Martin; “Guess Who” by Tarrus Riley featuring Mykal Rose; “The Unforgiven” by Alborosie featuring Raging Fyah;“Heaven” by Jah9; “Land of Sunshine” by Beres Hammond and “To See” by Queen Ifrica.

Other notable mainstream tracks from the past year includes “Hurtin Me” by Stefflon Don featuring French Montana and “Touch Down” by Stylo G featuring Nicki Minaj and Vybz Kartel make an appearance.