That Damned Cake Soap 02/09/2011
 Vybz Kartel (photo courtesy of FB page) Adijah “Vybz Kartel” Palmer, one of Jamaica’s most popular dancehall artistes announced last year that he plans to launch a line of cake soap for the skin, apparently called Vybz Kartel Cake Soap. For those unfamiliar, cake soap is a solid, cheap, blue, almost brick looking detergent that is used by the majority of households in Jamaica, if not the Caribbean, to wash clothes by hand. So it is a little hilarious. Cake soap for the face? (A suitable North American parallel might be frothing your skin with All or Tide.) It seems like a gag product, the dancehall equivalent of fuzzy stuffed snakes springing out of the peanut brittle can. You almost feel as though Kartel is at home sniggering to himself as the collective blood pressure of Jamaicans rises.  Vybz Kartel (photo courtesy of FB page) It is also a little sad. Why? Because on the surface at least it seems as if the French got it right: “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose” (the more things change, the more they stay the same). Not only has Kartel launched his own cake soap, he has also admitted (sort of) to bleaching. Bleaching is the act of deliberately lightening skin. This seems to have come as a shock to many across the world, and his comparing his skin lightening to a white person darkening their skin by tanning has many aghast (see youtube video below - approx. minute 3). This admission of intentionally striving for a fairer complexion brought again to the forefront the whole issue of identity, race, and class in Jamaica, issues that have the power to get us hot under the collar. It may be difficult to comprehend the depth of feeling around the issues being ventilated so here is my attempt at breaking it down. 10 Comments Festival Songs - Jamaican Nostalgia 08/09/2010
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is to be heartily praised for the wonderful job they are doing promoting Jamaican cultural expression. They are the unit responsible for producing the annual Festival song competition. I would go out on a limb and say 90% of Jamaicans over the age of 25 have a special place in their heart for festival songs. The songs evoke a pleasant nationalism and pride (as they were intended to) that remind many of us of our youth. Congratulations to Kharuso, winner of this year's Festival song contest! JaCulture has compiled a list of our favourite festival songs from back in the day. We hope you enjoy them as we do not only during the Emancipation and Independence Celebrations but all year round. Sumfest Recap 07/25/2010
 Reggae Sumfest took place between July 17 and July 24 this year. If you've never been to Sumfest, you really have missed out on a one of a kind experience. The music, the food, the booths, the characters (hoo boy) all under the open sky. This year's Sumfest featured major Jamaican and international artistes including Shaggy, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Chris Brown, and Usher. We've put together a list of reviews of this year's show for those of you who missed it and for those of you who went but are curious about what others thought. Blogger Annie Paul gives a round up of Sumfest based on tweets of persons who attended. Gleaner reporter Janet Silvera writes on Bounty Killer's performance and his message of change Adrian Frater of the Gleaner reports on Dancehall Night Janet Silvera writes on how the remaining two-thirds of Voice Mail were tearful at the absence of O'neil Edwards on stage Yasmin Peru of Jamaica Observer reports on Chris Brown's performance Richard Johnson of Jamaica Observer writes on Vybz Kartel's performance Music News Update 07/07/2010
We've updated our Top 5 Jamaican music chart and added information on new releases and hot videos! Check out our posts on Laza Morgan, Nadine Sutherland, Richie Stephens and many others. Go to http://www.jaculture.com/jamaican-music.html.  Shaggy (pic courtesy of MySpace page) The Right to Party 06/10/2010
This entry was written by guest blogger, Saran Hutchinson. Jamaicans are known for their love of music and dancing but how has the party experience changed given the recent events (now largely over) in Western Kingston? What now happens when the police, in a time-honoured tradition, come to "lock off the dance". Saran gives us a glimpse.  Saran Hutchinson, guest blogger Almost two weeks after the declaration of a state of emergency, Kingstonians are still a little unsure of their right to party. Altitude, an Appleton sponsored event, is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and after a couple weeks of ‘lock down’ that seem like a lifetime, it is now time to step out again. The party is being held on Skyline Drive, in the hills of Papine located in the parish of St. Andrew. My friend and I get to the parking facility at Jamaica College, a prestigious high school for boys, at approximately 12:30 am and embark the idling shuttle bus. After waiting for about ten minutes, we’re on our way.
The bus ride is an interesting one. There are strange grunting and grinding sounds from the bus and more than one person expresses concern about the safety of the vehicle. At one point, after surviving many deep bends and hairpin turns, we arrive at a standstill and realize with horror that we are looking directly into the side of a mountain. The driver, a dark, stout fellow, in glasses which apparently serve no useful purpose, has grossly underestimated the depth of this corner. Against all odds we make it out alive and arrive at the venue. Promotional material from Durex and Old Spice line the premises. This is a residential neighbourhood and someone comments that the party will be turned off by the police. We all have a little chuckle and join the line to enter the party. The night is still young by Kingston partying standards and there are just a few people waiting in the queue. We get in. Appleton brand alcohol is included in the entry price and we get a couple drinks. We feel we deserve them after the bus ride. Vodka, beer, Guinness, and high end liquors are available for sale. The DJ is set up on the lawn across from the bar which is slightly above the drive-way just past the entrance. We pick a spot close to the bar and this is ours for the night. People are dressed to the hilt. Rosettes, stilettos, sequins (lots of sequins), even a few jackets and ties seem to be the order of the night. The party's promoters had urged "Dress to Impress" and that the patrons did. Admittedly, some people seem to have made an extra effort to fit snugly into their perhaps too small outfits. It is now just after 1:00 am and the party has a nice tempo. DJ Nicco has just graduated from the compulsory oldies vibes and is now playing house music. He is in fact so into what he's doing that he doesn't see the two officers dressed in their blue fatigues, rifles over their shoulders, approaching him from behind. The patrons however, notice them from the moment of entry and intently watch as they instruct the DJ to turn off the music. Trip to Grafton - AWESOME! 04/15/2010
 Mikie Bennett, head of Grafton, talks with the group It is a most over-used word but it best describes the experience we had at Grafton Studios, the domain of Mikie Bennett, known Jamaican producer, song writer, singer, you name it. What's the word? AWESOME! The vibe was just right and the group was just right. Mr. Bennett welcomed us, taking the time to talk to us about his studio, Jamaican music in general, and his experiences. The group was a lovely mix of music enthusiasts and music practitioners with an international flavour and we had discussions in French, Spanish, and even a tip of Haitian kreyol (creole), thrown in for good measure. We hung out in the courtyard (with the cat) and had Miss Jelly's amazing lunch of stew chicken, brown stew fish, rice and peas and soup. Lucky for us, the place was crawling with artistes and musicians, from Dean Fraser, to Konshens, to Steven Golding, to Natel. The highlight of the entire trip was being able to listen to Duane Stephenson rehearse with the band. What a beautiful voice he has! Again, AWESOME! Plus the ladies in the group got to add some vocals (bad, very bad) to a track in a mini-recording session. Trust me, it was hilarious. What's the word again? The sad part of course was having to leave. But, we go again on April 24, 2010 so it's not too bad. Can't wait.  Duane Stephenson at rehearsal  Members of the group in a recording session Two of Bob's Worlds 03/21/2010
 Bob Marley is the King of Reggae. Kwame Dawes, one of Jamaica's foremost poets and novelists has written a book on just the lyrics of Bob Marley's music alone and has proclaimed him a genius. I am Jamaican through and through and am proud of all of Marley's achievements. Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, I sang Bob's songs that I played on our family's record player. I remember how eagerly we anticipated the "Confrontation" album after his death. As an adult however, I suppose I have been very much like the New Yorker who never visits the Statue of Liberty. Visiting the Bob Marley museum? Waste of time, I thought. Yesterday, though, I finally did it. I took a tour. Surprise, surprise: it wasn't lame. The weekend before I had taken a fascinating tour of Trench Town Culture Yard, and the two rich experiences, in addition to being quite entertaining, have greatly expanded my knowledge of Bob Marley's life and re-ignited my respect for his music.
Congrats to Mr. Jimmy Cliff! 03/18/2010
 Jimmy Cliff at Induction Ceremony for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame So many things happening for Jimmy Cliff! On Monday, March 15 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other such notables as Abba, Barry Mann, and Genesis. Upon accepting his induction by Wyclef Jean, Jimmy commented, "Reggae music is a music that was not conceived in the United States like most of the music forms that we know…so to be standing here with you today… is a great honor."
To commemorate this event, his previously released EP "You Can Get it if You Really Want" is now available exclusively for download on iTunes, and tomorrow March 19, in honour of the late Jamaican director Perry Henzell, the American Cinematheque will be hosting a screening of the classic Jamaican movie "The Harder They Come" starring Jimmy Cliff. According to a post on his web site, Jimmy Cliff's next album titled "Existence" is on the verge of being released and will have 15 tracks, 13 of which will be brand new. Jimmy Cliff Fact File Name: James Chambers aka Jimmy Cliff | Quote"We refuse to be what you wanted us to be, we are what we are, that's the way it's going to be." - Robert Nesta Marley, 1945 - 1981 ArchivesMay 2012 CategoriesAll |
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