Chuck Fenda, Jah Jah Element

From all the chanters that came up in the late 1990s, Chuck Fenda might be the one with the most consistent output. Which, one is tempted to add, isn‘t that difficult when you‘re just releasing one album every two years.

Fenda started to work with King Jammy, did the hardcore dancehall thing with tunes like Rougher Than This and Badman Talking, turned conscious in 1999, joined 5th Element, and released his conscious debut with Better Days in 2004. In 2007, the ‘Poor People Defender’ dropped a sequel, The Living Fire, on Greensleeves Records.

It contained Coming Over, the intense combination with Cherine Anderson, and Gash Dem and Lite Dem, the tune the reggae world (and more or less the entire island of Jamaica) was talking about when it was banned from airplay by Irie FM and Zip FM in Jamaica. In 2009, Fenda released Fulfillment on VP, which was also well received.

The cheap cover artwork of Jah Element, his latest album release, looks as if a kid in elementary school had designed it with Microsoft Word. Fortunately, the Lloyd “John John” James-produced album sounds better than it looks. It comes with a whopping 17 tracks, most of whom are too short, though. 

The quality of production (of my digital review copy, at least) doesn‘t fully live up to today‘s standards we expect from an album of an artist as established as Fenda. Many tunes, including For My Daughter, Hurt Me Heart, Bun Up, and Miracle, focus too much on trebles for a reggae record. Many of the riddims used are relics of classical or older ones. 

John John and Fenda worked with a variety of musicians, among them Sly Dunbar, Squidly Cole, Kirk Bennett, Trevor James, Earl “Chinna” Smith, Courtland White, and Andre “Spider” Dennis. Fiona Robinson and Sherida Sharpe provide backing vocals. “Judgement for the wicked/hot lava pon dem”: The first lines of the first track, None Shall Escape, pave the way. Chuck Fenda talks as bluntly and fiery as ever, so that‘s good news for his fans. 

Him cyaan cool, you know. Jah Element is one hundred percent conscious, and most tunes speak directly about righteous livity. Such as the mighty Badness No Pay, a combination on which Bounty Killer shows a side of him we see too rarely. Spiritual Warfare is simply too overloaded with effects, less would have been more here. Fenda and guest vocalist Junior Reid do a good job otherwise. The dubstep-infused It Pain Me is outright unnecessary. Hurt Me Heart is, again, too loaded with effects to please. 

The combination with Angel Doolas, Foul Play, touches much more. Warning is one of the few highlights of Jah Element, as is Stop Worry - finally a tune with the right groove. Fans of Fenda should check out Jah Element. This album certainly doesn‘t rank among the most relevant records of the year, though. It sounds as if it had been cobbled together in a hurry. Further, the album might have profited much from involving less people. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Jah Element isn‘t a milestone in Fenda‘s career. 

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Super Cat and 2 Chainz to Headline STING 30

Since its first staging in 1984 STING has grown to become one of the most prestigious Dancehall/Reggae concerts in the English Speaking Caribbean. The event which was created by popular music industry personality/promoter Isiah Laing CEO of Supreme Promotions has overcome a number of challenges over the last two decades and has earned quite a reputation amongst Dancehall music fans worldwide.

Known as “The Greatest One Night Reggae/Dancehall Show

On Earth” STING has consistently provided music lovers with top quality entertainment by showcasing some of the biggest names in Jamaican music including the likes of Ninja Man, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Capleton, Buju Banton, Coca Tea, Luciano, Tony Rebel, Wayne Wonder and many more.

STING is home of some of the most memorable clashes in Dancehall Music history such as Ninja man vs Shaba Ranks in 1990 and Vybz Kartel vs Mavado in 2008. The event has also featured several top international stars such as Notorious B.I.G, DMX, Busta Rhymes, Foxy Brown and Kriss Kross.

In 2012 Supreme promotions partnered with music business impresario Joe Bogdanovich CEO of Downsound Records to take STING into a new direction. This partnership resulted in the execution of one of the best stagings in the history of the show. The lineup for 2012 which highlighted the return of Busy Signal to the local stage and the overall production of the event ushered STING into the music festival arena. 

This year’s staging of STING will give music lovers the opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the longest running live event in Jamaican music history. The organizers of Sting have promised to give patrons a spectacular event. They are currently negotiating with a number of high profile entertainers. According to Joe Bogdanovich this year’s staging of STING will be a major undertaking. “After this staging Sting will never be the same again, my partners and I are moving the show in a new direction. 

Sting 30 will be a wonderful celebration that will mark the 30th anniversary of one of Jamaica’s best events, this is going to be huge, the the production will be top class. This event will be televised worldwide and it will feature the very best possible line up of artistes as we intend to make it one great big party to remember. It will be a very significant event.” The promoters of STING have already confirmed legendary dancehall superstar Super Cat and international Rap superstar 2 Chainz to headline STING 30.

Shocking Murray Drops Reparation Single

Coming hot on the heels of his highly successful Big Trees label debut titled So Nice, European based Reggae artiste Shocking Murray has released a brand new single called Reparation.

The hard working Rastafarian Deejay is extremely excited about the single which is the second project that has been released by his Big Tree imprint.

"I feel very strongly about the topic of this song, from I was a child I have heard people talking about reparation for the Negro race.

This talk of reparation has been around since slavery was abolished but up to this day nothing positive has manifested from all the talk about it. It's this knowledge that has inspired me to write and record the song titled Reparation.”

Shocking Murray is aware that the topic of reparation is viewed by many people as a very controversial issue but he is not afraid to tackle the issue head on with his music. “Reparation is a very touchy subject in certain quarters but the truth of the matter is that black people deserve to get some form of reparation for all the wrongs that were done to them from ancient times up to now. I am not afraid to talk about this because I am only talking about the truth. 

I’m a Reggae artiste and Reggae music is the music that speaks the truth and shows the world what is going on whether right are wrong, so I am prepared to sing about reparation until it comes,” said the artiste. Shocking Murray has also released a supporting music video for Reparation. The video that was shot in his hometown in Snow Hill, Portland was directed by Hopeton Blazze. “The video for the song is out right now, so it has been getting a lot of positive feedback from my fans on Facebook and youtube. 

We are getting ready to release it to TV in Jamaica and other parts of the world. My team and I are working hard to promote this song, because it is very important that we get the message out to the people.” Reparation was produced by Germany based Reggae producer Hopeton Blazze on his Nairobian rhythm project. The single is available on iTunes and all other leading internet music stores.