Out now! seen. Spring 2010 T-Shirt Collection

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»Reggae, in this country, is used like a whore …«

A 1976 documentary about Reggae and Reggae artists in the UK featuring Roy Shirley amongst others (via Tighten Up).

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Jr. Decker – Ghettolove 2.0

© Susanne Paschke – check flickr for more great nail designs

Via Tropical Bass comes this 80-minutes-mix by Junior Decker – “Ghettolove 2.0”. Here’s what he has to say about it himself:

Welcome to Ghettolove 2.0 - “She said she liked it a bit harder”!
Like the last one, this is not the latest stuff but rather an overview of music I liked to listen to over the past 12 months. Definitely harder than the first one, more Electro, more straightforward, less HipHop. Just music to listen to while you cruise your fixed gear ‘round town and pretend to have a relevant life, just like I do. Enjoy & let me know what you think!

JR Decker - Ghettolove 2.0 by JRDecker

Find tracklist after the jump:

Read the rest of "Jr. Decker – Ghettolove 2.0" →

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Tropical Heat 10-03-18: Nick Widmer & DJ Slechman

Sorry for pausing our Tropical Heat podcast last week. But we’re back in full effect this week with Nick Widmer (Our Sound) & DJ Slechman (Signal from Mountain).

In the first hour, Nick Widmer presents current Reggae, Dancehall, Hiplife and Soca tunes in the mix. In the second hour, DJ Slechman brings you original 70’s Roots and Rocksteady music.

Find the playlists here and subscribe to the Tropical Heat podcast here.

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Download Tropical Heat 2010-03-18

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Moving Mountains: House music goes Jamaica

This weekend, from March 19th to March 21st, Strawberry Hill will see »the sound of Europe« arriving to Jamaica with »Moving Mountains« festival taking place for the very first time:

The queen of house Sarah Main, resident DJ in Pacha, Ibiza brings the sound of David Guetta’s F*** Me I’m Famous extravaganza and her organic and energetic productions. Worldwide recognized for her talent, Sarah Main will be collaborating with Jason Bye in this exotic party in the tropics. Jason, a resident DJ in Space Ibiza boasts a unique style and ability to read the crowd and pump any dance floor.

While we are no big fans of house music at all, we definitely welcome the initiative and especially like the fact that »Di Maggio - The Last Don« (see hilarious teaser #04 above) will be screened there on Saturday (which will be mainly Roots Rock Reggae and Dub) 10pm local time to entertain uptown Kingston.

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Lady Chann – Sticky Situation (Toddla T Remix)

Lady Chann has been part of North West London’s Suncycle crew since it’s conception, and now she’s branching out alone with her »Sticky Situation« EP arriving on April 12th.

Upfront, she will release a mixtape which goes by the name of »Dun Dem Season Vol 1« and which features the likes of Beenie Man, Sticky, South Rakkas Crew, J2K, Warrior One, Serocee, and Toddla T.

Toddla T also did a remix of »Sticky Situation« about which Kev Kharas over at RCRDLBL writes:

I’ve never heard a sexual surrender as fiery as this remix of Lady Chann’s »Sticky Situation«; a satisfyingly vulgar mashing of house, bass, sirens and bodily fluids that professes sweet love for another girl’s man in its chorus, before fighting her for him in lairy, funky-house-punch-up verses.

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Download Lady Chann - Sticky Situation (Toddla T Remix)

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Extra, extra … read all about it

via FIRST Magazine

Yesterday, hell broke loose in West Kingston, Jamaica. At least that’s the words the Jamaica Observer found to describe a shootout between the police and gunmen on the border of Hannah Town and Denham Town in the course of which two men were killed and three cops injured:

A team of police personnel was conducting an operation aimed at capturing Kelly and his cronies on the border of Hannah Town and Denham Town (Blount and Dumphries Streets) when they came under heavy and sustained gunfire from men locked in a house. Three policemen were injured when they tried to enter the house in question. The police also came under heavy gunfire from criminals perched on the roofs of surrounding high rise buildings.

In a quite debatable statement, Jamaica’s opposition spokesman on national security, Peter Bunting, blamed the incident on the Government’s refusal to sign an extradition request for West Kingston strongman Christopher »Dudus« Coke.

Just five days ago, The Economist had an article on the »American anger at Jamaica’s slowness in handing over an alleged gang boss«:

Until recently the United States was pleased with the co-operation it was getting from Jamaica over the extradition of people accused of serious crimes. The Jamaican authorities were responding promptly to requests and, last year, sent 15 suspects to the United States. But the case of Christopher “Dudus” Coke seems to be different. The American authorities have become frustrated at what they see as foot-dragging by Jamaica’s government over their request last August for the extradition of a man they say is the leader of an “international criminal organisation”.

Read the whole story on The Economist website, and also don’t miss to read »Tough inner-city realities«, a Gleaner article on the important role of

the existence of even one person in the home or at school who holds the child in positive regard, the provision of opportunities to demonstrate mastery (in the classroom, on the playing field and elsewhere), and positive adult and peer role models

to decrease the likelihood of young people turning to violent and ultimately criminal behaviour.

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Caroll Taveras: Kingston, Jamaica

© Carroll Taveras

I wanted to post this series of photographs by British photographer Caroll Taveros already a while ago but somehow I forgot while preparing the relaunch.

The people over at Burden had originally spotted it on the website of GOOD magazine:

In 2008 and in 2009, the photographer Caroll Taveras ventured to Jamaica on two assignments, one for Culture and Travel and another for The Guardian. For the former, her work focused on the development of downtown Kingston, specifically as related to a youth art and cultural center known as the Rock Tower and the distinction between the areas of the city that are considered safe (uptown) and unsafe (downtown).

We looked at the pictures with special interest as they feature Melinda Brown and Sand amongst others – both people who supported Gabe during his »Rocktower« months.

Find the whole series on Caroll Taveras’ website.

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