Feat : DJ Carter Van Pelt, K Vibes, Willow Wilson, Super Hi-Fi, DJ Linh, DJ Q-Mastah, DJ Lil Tiger When : Saturday 29 January 2011 10pm Where : Rose Live Music (345 Grand Ave, Brooklyn) Admission : Free
The history of Jamaica's musical entertainers often seems like a vast, complex and un-cooperative relay race where one innovator is forced to give up his baton as the next innovator sprints on ahead with a notable smirk to the one left in the dust. So it went as U Roy created a whole new sound and format leaving behind King Stitt, Sir Lord Comic and their ilk....And so it continued as the great Big Youth emerged from a cloud of S-90 smoke in the the early 70s to take the trophy as a cultural DJ of choice both on Tippatone sound and his plentiful chart topping LPs and singles.
We here at Deadly Dragon have always been huge huge fans not just of his unique vocal style but how he melded that style with a riddims that ranged from Rock Steady to early reggae to the almost rootical steppers of his Prince Tony Robinson selections.
In any case here are five of our toppa top Big Youth selections!
Motocycles revving, Lightining crashing and Ketih Hudson stripping back the mix so that Big Youth can unleash a lyrical barrage that nonetheless sounds like he is half asleep!
Now that we have had 2 major blizzards and one crazy ice storm here in NYC, I thought I would let my thoughts drift back to a month or so ago when I was in Jamaica.
First off...there is nothing like getting off the plane in Kingston when it is Winter in NYC. You leave out with your big, down jacket and scarf and by the time you land in Michael Manley airport you know the heat is waiting. And, boom, once that hatch is opened and you walk down the tarmac the waves of heat and humidity smack you around like jabs from a mediocre flyweight. Then, as you struggle to try and put your jacket and sweatshirt somewhere, you get to customs and the questions come...Why do you keep coming to Jamaica? Why do you stay in Downtown Kingston? Why don't you go to the beach? And not just questions, but actual ruminations on the state of the class struggle in Jamaica. Now, I like a bit of class struggle discussion, but not when I am operating on 2 hours of sleep and general travel day malaise.
Then, hopefully, you get through customs and pass muster with your bags and suddenly you are out! Sun a blazing and sea of taxis and tourists and people asking if you need a tour guide and a driver and a this and a that! But you have arrived and let the movements begin.
Michael Manley Airport
One thing that I love about Kingston is the sign painting. it is an art form that existed in every major city all over the world and has disappeared in recent decades. In New York you see ghosts murals of long, lost stores and businesses. But in Kingston, you can't have a shop without a nice, hand painted sign.
Car Parts!
Bar with Super Ass!
Natty Clap the Barber!
Outside of Rockers
Box Food
Ital is Vital tonic!
The LA Lewis Graffiti in Kingston is legendary and well documented. as a huge LA LEWIS I was pleased to spot this new one.
I personally find the entire Gully / Gaza issue to be ridiculous -- Great! More divisions and antagonisms in Jamaica! -- but the graffiti lives on!
Most of what I do in Kingston involves checking out old records. Well, on this last trip that search led me to the deeply historical building located at 22 Beeston Street in Downtown Kingston.
While there were a few nice records there, I was more interested in the building itself which, according to the residents, housed the ORIGINAL Studio One before Brentford Ave opened up. They told me that Don Drummond used to practice around the back and that Sir Coxsone's mother had her restaurant across the street and in fact had a record shop in the building where this woman now sells cigarettes and candy.
What was amazing was that the building still pulses with music and energy as people still host a sound system out of the building and are continually building and repairing speaker boxes. Here's a few of the residents!
He Knew Don Drummond!
The Next Generation!
The Fadda!
The Engineeer!
While down there I got to link up with one of my favorite artists of the 1980s...Man called Danny Coxson. He put out a few self-produced 12"s on his own Gem Star imprint that always struck me as being way way ahead of their time. He had both a sufferer's vocals and the ability to ride the darkest and heaviest riddims to perfection. He is still a serious singer, a painter, a writer and a great father to his children.
Danny Coxson with Tiger Cat!
Danny was working out some ideas for some Dub Plates for us. As you can hear he still sounds wicked!!! He has not lost a touch! Bless up Danny Coxson!!!
Now, I cannot make a trip to Kingston without stopping in Greenwich Farm to pay my respects to some of the founders of the music.
Redemption Sounds, Church of Music, Fred Allen and Phillip Frazer
名前も思い出したくないぐらい訳が分かんない新ダンスホール「アーティスト」のあと、the Blender dem call Everton!!! 彼のさわやかな声で上向きなリリックは 非常にナイスでした。やっぱりBujuのサポートで出てきた大勢のジャマイカ人のお客さんが ブレンダーの名曲の「Lift up your head」、「Ghetto People’s Song」などのリリックを一緒に歌ったり「Pull Up！」叫んだりしていました。もう会場はノリノリな感じになってきました。今回のイベントは１２歳以下の子供はただだったので、ヒッピーの家族も大喜び！
Nadine Southerlandの後はcaptain of the big ship, Mr. Freddie McGregor!!声も体も若い感じでますますアイリーなバイブズになりました。「Big Ship」ももちろん良かったけどやっぱりBujuの解放お祝いの「Freedom is a Must」が最高でした。
Wayne Wonderの次はサプライズでMr. Tu-tu-tweng! Michael Roseでした。非常に短いセットだったが最近のシャムとバウンティーとのコンビチューン「Stronger」と「Shoot Out」は彼のパートのみだったけどなかなかナイスでした。次に又サプライズゲストでGyptianが登場！！！ギャラ無しからか「Hol You」とその後のあまりいけてないシングルしか歌わなかったのが残念でした。いつもパーフォマンスが良くてほかにやばい曲がたくさんあるのに。でもその後の非常にbuffなGramps Morganの後はthe one called Tarrus Riley!!!
その次は又サプライズゲストでSean Paulがステージに現れました。「Never Gonna Be the Same」もよかったですが、Spragga Benzが突然ステージに出て来た時はやっぱりバイブズが又次のレベルにアップ！その次はいつも半端ないコメディーも入ったパフォーマンスをやってくれるShaggyでした。Rayvon、Serani、他のダンスホールアーティストも出て来て、熱いバイブズが続きました。それから地元のDj Khaledのセットで遠くから見てもデブで老けてる感じのBusta Rhymesが一緒に出ました。オールドスクールの自分にとっては彼が本当のビッグチューンを歌ったら大喜びだったんだけど。。。ま、取りあえずKhaledのセットが早く終わったから良かったス。（あれ今ヒップホップと呼ぶんですか？！）
Please join Deadly Dragon Sound System for a supra special edition of DOWN TOWN TOP RANKING as we welcome the great singer BUSHMAN for a special listening party for his new LP -- BUSHMAN SINGS THE BUSH DOCTOR: A Tribute To PETER TOSH! For this event the whole Deadly Dragon crew will be adding a special double dose of Peter Tosh and Wailers vinyl to our regular mix of Tuff Roots, Rub a Dub, Rocksteady and serious foundation sounds. Space is limited, so show up early!
PUNKY REGGAE 2 DAY FEST AT THE LAKE!!! MASSIVE BANDS MASSIVE SOUND SYSTEMS AND DEEJAYS!!! STARTS AT 8PM. $8 BUCKS
FIRST DAY FRIDAY JANUARY 21: ALL TORN UP ROYAL CITY RIOT KARUHATA VIC RUGGIERO TRIO TOP SHOTTA BLACKOUT SHOPPERS THE FRIGHTENERS
DJ's: 2010 Culture Sound Clash Champions - ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, CRAZY BALDHEAD, SHOCKWAVE SOUND, HAGLER
SECOND DAY SATURDAY JANUARY 22: FORTHRIGHTS RECORD RELEASE!!! DESEKILIBRIO OBAMANATION THE HARD TIMES Yo!SCUNT THE BLUEBEATS THE FACTS THE FORTHRIGHTS/JEREMY PENA
Selectors: Scratch Famous, Selector JD, Queen Majesty, Mr.K When: Thursday 7 January 2010 10pm - 4am Where: Happy Ending (302 Broome St, New York) Admission: Free Subway: Grand St (B,D) Special Guest : Top Cat from Jah Fingers
Yes, for the first DTR of the New Year, we are proud to welcome our good friend TOP CAT from Jah Fingers sound. Pure nice vibes all around as Deadly Dragon selectors Scratch Famous, Mr.K, JD and Queen Majesty join Top Cat in letting loose some of the best Foundation Music known from serious roots to rub a dub to Rock Steady inna pure VINYL style. Ya Dun Know!!!!
On December 16th Tom Chasteen of Echodelic Sound and LA's famed DUB CLUB passed through town to promote his great film: Return of the Rub a Dub Style. Fortunately for us. he passed through DownTown Top Ranking with Tippa Lee and the great Courtney Melody. This is a recording of Tom's session!!! Killa Vibes!
On December 16th Tom Chasteen of Echodelic Sound and LA's famed DUB CLUB passed through town to promote his great film: Return of the Rub a Dub Style. Fortunately for us. he passed through DownTown Top Ranking with Tippa Lee and the great Courtney Melody. Whole heap of peoples were in the audience like Tony Tuff, Johnny Osbourne, Xanadu and UU Madoo. It was a great night of music as well a great celebration of our own MR. K's Birthday !!!! We recorded the session with Tom Chasteen hitting the big tunes and then being joined by Courtney Melody and Tippa Lee with UU Maddo and Xanadu hitting the mic for a tune or two!!!!
