Mavado "Take It" Video Gets MTV Debut

Mavado featuring Karian Sang's "Take It" music video gets an MTV debut today, as it is posted as the top story on their cutting-edge global music and pop-culture channel, MTVIggy.com. The single is produced by Troyton Music and distributed by Zojak World Wide, and its music video continues to rack up rave reviews and garner the spotlight on media channels all over the world.

"Take It" is the first music video from a Caribbean artist to nab an exclusive premiere by Billboard, a fact that ignited interest in this particular Mavado release, and is even referenced in the MTV Iggy piece. The video was produced in Jamaica against a classic Caribbean backdrop, and brings authentic dancehall flavors to the global audience.  

MTV Iggy's international music and pop culture writer Marlon Bishop interviewed Mavado via phone from Kingston, Jamaica in early March, to highlight the "Take It" video and also catch up with the dancehall star, who Bishop suggests may be "dancehall's last superstar standing." "We been getting a lot of love for this song," said Mavado [in his interview with MTV Iggy]. 

"It was number one in England for like 8 weeks, and number one in Trinidad for a month. It's on the charts in Europe, on the islands, so things are going real great right now." 

Click here to read the full article on MTVIggy.com. 

Direct Link: http://www.mtviggy.com/articles/mavado

Phed X Teams Up With Ed Robinson

His biggest hit to date is Welcome to Guyana, a track that was done to show respect and love for his homeland of Guyana. But Churaman Sukhram aka Phed X is looking to widen his fan base and achieve greater success with his soon to be released single titled Dancehall Nice Again. “Welcome To Guyana is the tune that really put me out there you know, the people in Guyana love that song a lot.

But it’s time to hit the fans with something hot again, don’t get me wrong Welcome To Guyana will always be a special tune, it was done for the people of my country, now I want to take my career to a wider market with my new single called Dancehall Nice Again.” With veteran musician and producer Ed Robinson handling the production of Dancehall Nice Again Phed X is very confident that it will be a hit.  

“I’ve hired Ed Robinson to produce this project, he’s a musical genius, I really like working with him, he created the rhythm and recorded the vocals, only thing left for him to do is the mixing. I can’t wait until its finished, I really want to drop it for the fans, I know they are going to love it,” said the artiste.

Phed X says once the single is released he plans to record a number of other artistes on the rhythm that Dancehall Nice Again was recorded. “After I drop my song, I’m going to record a few more people on the same rhythm in order to create a juggling for the dancehall.” Dancehall Nice Again will be released on Itunes and all other leading music stores before the end of April.

Natural Black Gears Up for New Album

Reggae Singer Set for a Smash Year with New Music,
New Videos and Upcoming Performances
Including 'Reggae On The River'

Conscious reggae artist Natural Black returns to the root of his sound with a slew of new singles in the works for his new album, all rendering reggae music at its best. Following a brief stint in the dancehall world, the singer reclaims his rightful place and is embraced by industry and fans alike, as is evident with his upcoming bookings that include a stop at the prestigious Reggae On The River in California on August 1-4, 2013.

Born Mortimer Softley in Georgetown, Guyana, Natural Black migrated to Jamaica in 1995, in hopes of realizing his dream of becoming a reggae singer. Now gearing up for his 11th studio album, this dream is realized as the acclaimed singer and songwriter continues his prolific journey in reggae music.

"I'm honored to be part of the esteemed Reggae On The River music festival," reveals Natural Black. "I've been working hard in the studio to bring new music to my longtime fans, and look forward to gaining more with my new singles that I have lined up for the new album."  

Natural Black has been working with New York-based Triple T Production, a management and booking agency that is responsible for the Reggae On The River performance. "We recognize his caliber of reggae music and once we contacted the festival organizers, they were interested so we made it happen," discloses Tasz Smith, CEO of Triple T Production. 

He will be performing alongside other reggae greats such as Tarrus Riley, Morgan Heritage, Anthony B and Prezident Brown, for the 29th anniversary of Reggae On The River. Hitting off 2013 with a volume of new singles including "I'm On My Way," "Natural Chronix," "Who Cares For Me," "Don't Play With My Heart" and "Party Truck," Natural Black continues to satisfy reggae lovers worldwide. He is currently in New York City shooting the music videos for both "Don't Play With My Heart," a romantic ode for the ladies and "Party Truck," a fun, up-tempo joint that makes for the perfect summer anthem. Both videos will debut in April, continuing the unstoppable momentum for this illustrious artist. 

ABOUT NATURAL BLACK     

Conscious reggae artist Natural Black carved his niche in the genre over a decade ago, with profound music and prolific lyrics that uplift fans far and wide. His resilience has been tested and demonstrated over the years, and he maintains his extraordinary ability to capture the attention of a massive and diverse array of music lovers, worldwide.

Born Mortimer Softley in Georgetown, Guyana, Natural Black migrated to Jamaica in 1995, in hopes of realizing his dream of becoming a reggae singer. "Coming to Jamaica was natural," he reveals, for he epitomizes the inherent culture of reggae. "Like life, reggae music inspires and gives the artist an opportunity to express oneself fully, regardless of the issues highlighted."  

Possessing a distinctively smooth, mellow voice, Natural Black reafirms his solid stance on the forefront of the roots and culture movement. His socially-consious messages and passionate pleas, for wrongs to be made right and justice for the poor and oppressed, are trademarked in his songs, and indeed, remain relevant today.

Propelling to international fame with his breakout hit "Far From Reality" in 2006, he has amassed 10 full-length albums to date and is back in the studio working on a slew of new hits for his 11th album. He cultivates his soulful sounds working alongside the top hitmakers in reggae music, including Donovan "Don Corleon" Bennett (who produced his smash "Far From Reality" on the Seasons Riddim), King Jammys, Organic, 5th Element, Rootsdown, In The Streetz, Lustre Kings, Harmony House, Digital B, Lion Paw, Big Yard and No Doubt, among others.

Natural Black's artistic flair and melodious style have garnered him a global fanbase and keep him very much in demand for shows, at home and internationally. He has performed on stages across Europe, the United States and the Caribbean, and has toured extensively, spreading the sweet sounds reggae to sold-out audiences, from his homeland in Guyana to Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy. He has headlined the prestigous Brooklyn Music Festival and Irie Jamboree concerts in New York, and has also performed on all the major reggae festivals in Jamaica, such as Sting, Reggae Sumfest, Rebel Salute and East Fest, to name a few.

Natural Black charges into 2013 with four new singles - "I'm On My Way," "Natural Chronix," "Who Cares For Me" and "Party Truck" - all conscious reggae anthems that bring the gifted artist full circle back to his original roots, following a brief stint as a dancehall deejay from 2011 to 2012; he was dissatisfied with his lifestyle and did not feel he was adequately living as a Rastarafrian should. So, like he preaches through his music, he has cleaned up his act and now returns to what is true to him, much to the delight of his fans, and indeed, reggae lovers everywhere.

DISCOGRAPHY 

Far From Reality (Greensleeves)
Jah Guide (King Jammys)
Love Gonna Conquer Evil (In Da Streets)
Guardian Angel (Brutal Tracks)
Cool Nuh Black (Vizion Sound)
Spiritual Food (Organic Records)
World War (Organic Records)

Mortima (Cripple Blaxx)

Naturally Black (Pat Hot Records)

Natural Desasta (Frenz For Real)  

Downsound CEO Josef Bogdanovich and Ninja Plan to Make History

Downsound Records CEO Josef Bogdanovich believes his company is on a path to create history in dancehall music. He recently signed iconic clash artiste Desmond Ballentine, popularly known as Ninja Man, to his label.

Though many people might think Ninja Man is past his best musically, Bogdanovich is convinced that Ninja Man still has a lot to offer dancehall music. "This guy is a living legend, he's one of the greatest artistes ever and I certainly think he has a lot to offer to this generation of dancehall fans. He's one of the greatest dancehall acts ever, he has a lot of history behind his name and Downsound plans to make some more with him, you'll see."

Ninja Man, who began his career in the late 1980s, is known for his famous clashes at Sting with the likes of other dancehall luminaries like Shabba Ranks and Super Cat. The self-styled bad boy of dancehall music has remained a prominent fixture on the local music landscape despite his many run-ins with the law over the years. He recently declared that he has resigned from clashing to focus on the rebuilding of his recording career and the upliftment of dancehall music. "Mi done do 26 years as the champion of clashing, mi a resign wid mi title like Lennox Lewis, mi do enough, mi a lef it gi KipRich. Mi teach him how fi clash and right off deejay a sting, a fi him time now fi reign and pass on the knowledge to a next youth. 

Now mi a focus pon mi career wid Downsound," said Ninja Man. According to Ninja Man, his time at Downsound will be spent on re-establishing his recording career and mentoring the younger acts in the camp. "A time now fi focus pon mi recording career. Over the years, mi miss out pon a whole heap a things and now is the time to build back mi career. Mi like how Downsound have a team and the whole a we, Joe, Skatta, Foota, Khago and all the artistes dem a work together, mi love the unity. Right now, mi a record a whole heap a tunes and me a help guide Specialist and the other young artistes inna di camp".

Downsound recently released Ninja Man's first single for the label. The scorching-hot single titled Dweet, which was done in tandem with Specialist, is already blowing up FM radio both locally and abroad. Its supporting music video is also enjoying strong rotation.