JOVI ROCKWELL & RAS PENCO TEAM UP FOR NEW HIT
NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.) - Labelmates Jovi Rockwell and Ras Penco team up for a collaboration that is a sure hit for both entertainers. The Uprize Music artists bring together Rockwell's pop/rock flavors and Penco's reggae riffs on "I Am For You," a fusion that will find fans in both the pop and reggae worlds.
Rockwell has been busy working on productions for her upcoming debut album on Epic Records. She's also been steadfast promoting her brand and doing interviews, most recently with Vibe.
Penco has seen his own recent success, topping the reggae chart in Jamaica last week with the #1 hit "Thousand Miles," (Jamaica Weekly Countdown). The video for the single is currently making it rounds on video countdowns as fans get familiar with the rising reggae star. Penco fans can catch him in action at the upcoming BEST OF THE BEST concert on May 24 in Miami, where he joins the cast as one of the only two reggae artists on the bill.
Learn more about each artist and tune in to their upcoming tour dates and new singles by logging on to their artist profiles at www.myspace.com/jovirockwell and www.myspace.com/raspenco.
Prince Pankhi
Say what you want to say about him but Prince Pankhi really loves his Caribbean women. He blew up last year with the single, My Jamaica girl, which peaked at #4 on the CVM Hitlist chart and in the top ten on the Jamaica Music Countdown chart. Now, he is expounding on the virtues of Caribbean women with his latest single, Caribbean Girl.
'Women from the Caribbean are some of the most beautiful girls on the planet, so I just wanted to express that in song," Pankhi said. The versatile Pankhi also dabbles a little in dancehall as his single Earthquake Shook a Shook is also making waves in the music world, and another single, Free and Single, is also gaining popularity.
"I try to remain versatile by challenging myself, I can deejay on any beat because music a music, My Jamaican Girl is the single that make the world know about me because it got good promotion to reach the furthest, but I will always endeavour to make good music to educate and entertain the masses," he said. It is the kind of single that people fall in love with every now and then, a wonderfully-produced traditional love song with an island feel, it is a song carved in reggae oak: solid and powerful. The song has been blowing up on the radio since its release and the video has been a fixture on most video stations across the island.
"Yea, everywhere yu go, yu hear the song, it kinda overwhelming and gratifying at the same time. People love the vibes, dem love the video, and we get some good airplay on it, GT Taylor, Richie B, Amber, Gary G ah play it, so mi give thanks," he said. Based in the US, Prince Pankhi has been coming to Jamaica regularly in the last few months to focus more on getting his music promoted in the island. Born in Westmoreland, he grew up in Papine before migrating to the US several years ago. Ever since he inked a deal with Otis Riddim Records, Prince Pankhi's career has taken off like a Roman rocket and he has gained more fans in Jamaica and overseas.
"Jamaica is always mi yard so mi travel back and forth but it is always good to come back and get a groundation," he said.
He has done several shows in clubs and entertainment spots in Virginia, North and South Carolina, New York. He also opened for Capleton during a 35 state US tour a few years ago, and has done several dates in Europe, including a two-and-a-half week trek through France, Germany, Italy and Spain with Capleton a few years ago.
"I just try to keep it positive and be creative enough so that people can know about rastafari even while I try to educate and uplift the people. The world is in a dark place right now, especially Jamaica with the high crime, the child abuse, the gangs and other criminal activity, I and I just want to use good music and keep the yutes dem positive," Pankhi said.
Pankhi's followup song, Waiting Fans on the Otis Riddim Records/I Entourage label is also getting favourable airplay and video was shot by popular director Archie Caparchie.
The versatile Pankhi also dabbles a little in dancehall as his single Earthquake Shook a Shook is also making waves in the music world, and another single, Free and Single, is also gaining popularity.
"I try to remain versatile by challenging myself, I can deejay on any beat because music a music, My Jamaican Girl is the single that make the world know about me because it got good promotion to reach the furthest, but I will always endeavour to make good music to educate and entertain the masses," he said.
Written by Claude Mills
Rapper Heavy D Gets IRAWMA
NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.) - Rap star Heavy D was recently honored at the 28th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards, which took place at the York College Performing Arts Center in Queens, New York on May 3, 2009. Presented by the IRAWMA and Martin's Interculture & Associates, the awards honored the best in reggae and world beat music, with Heavy D receiving the special "Award of Appreciation" for his contributions to the music industry.
Heavy D, a Jamaican immigrant, has successfully embraced rap and rose to become a legend in the foundation of hip-hop music. "I'm really feeling fulfilled these days, being able to come full circle, like I have my brand new reggae album out right now, which is called Vibes and is Grammy-nominated," reveals the acclaimed musician. "I just want to send much love to all the Caribbean people them who kind of fought for me to receive this award and believed in me and never gave up on me."
Other awardees in the same category include Owen Dalhouse, Brigadier Jerry, and sound system Road International. Click on the image below to view Heavy D's full acceptance speech for his 2009 IRAWMA. Learn more about the IRAWMA and see the entire list of winners at www.irawma.com.
Erup looking for more success
"There are a lot of great hits to come." That is the confident proclamation from dancehall artiste Erup, who scored big on Billboard charts with his Click My Fingers hit single. Having taken a brief break from the Jamaican scene, touring and doing shows abroad since November last year, Erup says he has been busy in the studio working on hit songs to run the summer.
Bursting on to the scene in 2007 with the song Gal A Run Dem Head, Erup has gained periodic success on local airwaves since his start. The Truckback Records-produced song achieved a milestone for the artiste when last November it was added to the Billboard Hot 100 R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart to an already impressive collection of noteworthy chart positions. His Billboard debut at #94 follows a series of #1s on reggae charts worldwide, including the BBC 1Xtra Dancehall chart (United Kingdom), the New York and South Florida Reggae charts (USA), as well as the Jamaican Music Countdown (Jamaica).
The song was also pushed into the top ten among overall spins at New York City's influential Rhythmic radio station, HOT 97. The song was later used for a feature on an episode of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Canada's #1 new Fall television show.
Now, Erup is confident that he can surpass his success with a new song titled Drop Dung, which has been receiving airplay on HOT 97's, 'On Da Reggae Tip' with Bobby Konders and Jabba. The single may be the title of Erup's soon-to-be released album, as the artiste told THE STAR recently that he has been busy working. "Right now I'm working in the studio holding a different vibrations, working on some dancehall/European type songs. Right now I'm getting back into the game," Erup said.
Erup is also looking to release a video for Click My Fingers, worldwide. The video was shot two weeks ago by Ras Tingles in various locations around Kingston, including Weekenz. "The video is gonna be hot, great for an international market. It's a great song and it go number one all ova di world, so why not put a face to it. My ting will run good and me believe in it," Erup said.
MOTHERLESS CHILD by TEFLON
now in stores and available online (www.i-tunes.com best selling 100
reggae albums) ERUP new single now out DROP DUNG
www.myspace.com/bombsquadmuzik
