Spice Back From Guyana, More Tracks Coming

The ‘Jim Screechie queen’, Spice, returned to the island on Monday after two high-energy performances in Guyana last weekend.Although only originally contracted for one Guyanese performance, Spice made such an impression on her Guyanese fans, that she was immediately booked by yet another promoter for another event the following day.

"I love my Guyanese fans. It was such great energy and the vibe was really crazy for both events. The turnout, even for the last-minute event was phenomenal, but it just shows what can happen when you hit the stage with a great set and give the fans their money's worth," says Spice.

Spice, now a mother of two, made the radical decision to hit the stage only a week after the birth of her now two-month old daughter, NichoLatoy. She says, "I don't know why people are always surprised when I do these things. I'm a naturally assertive person and I go after anything I want. I was in a position where I was physically fit to hit the stage again, so why hold back?"

The deejay who is known for her 'spicy' tracks, Fight Ova Man, Ramping Shop (featuring the equally controversial, Vybz Kartel), Back Broad, Slim vs. Fluffy (featuring Pamputtae), Jim Screechie and others, flew to Miami two weeks ago to record two tracks with ace-producer Tony Kelly.

"Tony is a fabulous producer and his stuff has always been mainly cross-over material. With the two tracks, fans can definitely expect the unexpected. In the same way that Jim Screechie caught persons off-guard because they didn't expect that kind of flow from me, the two songs are gonna do that," she says.

The two Tony Kelly tracks are on the Winnings riddim - I Wanna Know while the other track, Keep It All, features singer Wayne Anthony known for his appearance in Pull Up with Mr. Vegas.

Spice also has another single, Me Good on Seanizzle's Hungry Dog riddim scheduled for release in a few days. A medley video for two of her latest singles will be shot next week.

Ziggi Recado To Release New Album

Dutch reggae artist Ziggi Recado returns with his second Greensleeves/VP Records album, scheduled for release on June 7, 2011. The self-titled studio effort showcases 14 new songs, penned and mostly produced by the Holland-based artist. Recado hails from St. Eustatius, an island near St. Maarten in the West Indies, and grew up in Holland.

Now heralded as the Netherlands' #1 reggae act, he has recorded and toured with numerous Jamaican and European artists and has thus amassed a solid fan base over the years. His diverse background flavors his music with sprinkles of hip-hop, rock, dub-step and other influences that blend into a roots reggae fusion.Already an accomplished artist, Recado was the winner of the 2009 Zilveren Harp (Silver Harp) Award in The Netherlands, their version of the Grammy's.

He sees growth as a musician with this third album as he experiments with sounds, sentiments and singers to create a hit collection, which includes productions from Curtis Lynch, Rock 'N Vibes, and Special Delivery, and features Etana, Maikal X, Tippa Irie, and Mr. Probz, to name a few. He also produced the majority of this album, along with his live band, the Renaissance Band.

The album presents a combination of traditional sounding reggae tracks such as "Mary" and "Jah Alone," along with progressive sounding tunes like "My Everything," "Away From Home," "Still Wandering" and "Pretender," which channel his more eclectic sound. On "All My Life," Recado teams up with reggae songbird Etana for a romantic ballad that is sure to satisfy his female audience. His rock-flavored lead single "Get Out" and its video are both currently bubbling on the charts in Europe and spreading through the international network of reggae fans.

With a new album to showcase, Ziggi Recado and the Renaissance Band are now embarking on 'The Green Tour,' playing local and international venues and festivals while spreading environmentally-conscious messages. He kicks off this album launch in Europe with a 15-date tour, with plans to hit the West Coast for a U.S. tour this summer.

TRACK LISTING

1. Get Out
2. New Day
3. Mary
4. My Everything
5. Still Wandering
6. Prostitute/Crackhead Ft. Pete Philly
7. This Year Ft. Maikal X
8. Can't Stop We Now
9. All My Life Ft. Etana
10.Real Talk
11.Time For Greatness Ft. Mr. Probz
12.Away From Home Ft. Royston Williams
13.Jah Alone Ft. Tippa Irie & Omar Perry
14.Pretender

Stephen Marley Returns With Revelation Pt 1: The Root of Life

7-time Grammy award winning singer-songwriter, Stephen Marley, is set to release his third solo project, REVELATION PT 1: THE ROOT OF LIFE from Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic on May 24, 2011. Conceived as a celebration and preservation for roots rock reggae, REVELATION PT 1: THE ROOT OF LIFE ensures that the music's regal template is maintained throughout the 21st century.

Anchored in reggae's scorching drum and bass backbeat, THE ROOT OF LIFE delivers an organic and richly textured sound through its 14 tracks, making it a true body of work that delivers powerful messages and encouragement for the struggling masses ("Working Ways"); depicts the harrowing residual effect of slavery ("Old Slaves"); evokes the sorrow of rejection ("She Knows Now"); conveys the disappointment of "False Friends"; in reggae's lovers-rock tradition a duet with Melanie Fiona, "No Cigarette Smoking"; to the final track "Now I Know," a contemplative song about moving on.

The first single, "Jah Army," features Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley and Buju Banton spitting formidable, career-defining verses over a thunderous one-drop rhythm with lyrics to rally the troops. "Whether it's in the music or our life, get it together man, the Gideon is on," declares Stephen.

Conceived as a two part project, THE ROOT OF LIFE will be followed by the release of REVELATION PT 2: THE FRUIT OF LIFE, due in fall of 2011, which will feature an array of styles that have emanated from reggae's core.

"Reggae music has influenced hip hop and so many other kinds of music, "Stephen reasons. "THE FRUIT OF LIFE will be more open, eclectic kind of record. There will be songs for the club, dancehall reggae will be there, love songs in there, but it will remain conscious good music that you can always take something positive from."

Having recently completed a cross-country tour to launch this album, Marley will also see exclusive distribution for the vinyl version of THE ROOT OF LIFE from VP Records.