By: Joseph Cunningham

He has been heralded as "the genius," but for what? That was the popular question two years ago when this kind of adoration was bestowed on a Jamaican teenager, who was new to the fraternity of music producers.

Many had reservations, but YardFlex interviewed Steven McGregor on Friday morning and cleared up all the misgivings. For starters, there is an obvious self-confidence that has propelled Steven McGregor ahead of his fellows in the new generation of Jamaican music producers.

He is also currently the most popular producer in the reggae industry,
delivering the kind of rhythms that make music students think of the
peculiar sounds of the likes of Swizz Beats. I asked the youth, age 17, turns 18 on Sunday; if he were to handpick artistes for a special rhythm, what would be his thought process?

Steven said, "While I take into consideration the type of artiste it is, no matter how famous the artiste, I always reserve the right to input my creativity in a significant way."

What is his source of confidence? He is a son of Freddie McGregor, and was exposed to music as a much younger boy. He virtually lives in the Big Ship studio, the McGregor's home studio where he has built over 500 rhythms.

At age 5, Stephen wrote his first song "School Done Rule," a song about the importance of staying in school, and it enjoyed airplay, locally as well as abroad in 1995. By age 10 he could play five instruments, the piano, violin, drums, bass and guitar, which provided him with the basis for much of his work. In addition he also gained the experience of traveling and performing all over the globe with his family. Stephen has performed in the USA, Canada, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean and knows the different tastes and preferences of music that people have.

As a past student of the Ardenne High School, where he played in the school band, Stephen has the steering wheel of the Big Ship in his grip.

He works hard alongside his brother Daniel aka Chino to manifest their visions and to ensure that the Ship is sailing with full blown sails into the future.

His latest efforts are the Chiny K and the Bee Hive rhythms, which both feature the Likes of Vybz Kartel, Lady Saw and many more. He told YardFlex, "There are big things on the horizon for 2008...just keep listening keenly."

By: Joseph Cunningham

Major accomplishments for the 24 year-old, Kimala Bennett, has already placed her among the most recognized music directors in the Reggae industry; an arena dominated by men. She brings freshness to your screens, a freshness brought about by her creativity. Recent videos such as Cherine Anderson's "Good Love" and her collaboration with Chuck Fenda, "Coming over tonight" are videos directed by Bennett.

The daughter to internationally renown music producer Mikey Bennett, Kimala has worked alongside famed video directors and was sent to the Czech Republic to do a documentary on the famed Hype Williams, while he directed Kanye West's "Diamonds are Forever" video.

Working on a documentary about Baby Cham at the request of Atlantic Records; and the making of his MTV2 featured video, "Ghetto Story," that was done with Alicia Keys, were also big achievements.

Kimala has recently finished her degree in Psychology with a minor in film studies at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, and is now aiming to be one of the best directors in the film fraternity. She got her first taste of directing music videos upon returning to Jamaica to do a documentary on Nanny of the Maroons, that was funded through the summer research scholarship at Mount Holyoke College. "After completing the documentary I thought it would have been a good opportunity to utilize my skills to direct a music video for my brother Nicky B. The video was an instant hit with the teenage audience in Jamaica and launched Nicky B's career in a serious way," Kimala stated.

After graduating from Mount Holyoke College, Kimala interned at HSI Productions, one of the leading Music Video and Advertising companies in Los Angeles, where she had the opportunity to work with the likes of Paul Huter, Little X and Chris Robinson. Having worked with some of the big guns in the business, Kimala said, "That was when I realised that I still had a lot to learn, but also realised that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life."

Her approach is to be creative whilst keeping in touch with reality and she revealed that whenever making a music video, documentary or any other video production, her motto is, "That it has to be believable."

Kimala is presently presently gearing-up to be on set with Hype Williams in South Africa next year for his second feature film.

By: Olimatta Taal

A Tribute to Byron Lee was held at the Constant Spring Golf Course, Saturday, June 30th. Many of his musical contemporaries were present to give support and enjoy the moment.

Lee was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder in October. This news put his career on hold until he successfully completed surgery to removed his bladder. You would think that under this harsh medical reality, one would stop working and concentrate on healing.

However, according to Byron Lee, music is the healing remedy. In speaking with this great man who has really laid the foundation for music in the Caribbean, YardFlex noticed his physical self was weak in stature but his personal self was strong as we discussed his musical journey.

"I would rather die on stage doing what I love doing the most - my music," exclaimed Lee. He took us down memory lane explaining that, "Tiney Winey is my favorite song till this day." When asked what his most memorable experience was, Lee paused then smiled, "The first time we held carnival in Jamaica that was my best experience."

The championing cause for Lee at this moment is to educate the masses around the issues of Cancer. The proceeds for his concert are going to Cancer education and research. Even though the tribute was sparsely attended, it was a joyous occasion.

Byron Lee and the Dragonaires opened up the show with a soca instrumental called Dumpling then went into Sammy Dead. They performed a short set before Keith Lyn sang Empty Chairs. Barry Biggs, The Jamaicans, and Nadine Sutherland paid tribute to Lee for influencing their music and giving them a start in the business.

The highlight of the night was Alison Hinds, who almost didn't make it in time for the show. She brought a lot of good vibes and was the only artist to keep the audience on their feet for the whole performance. She sang Roll It and Love and Unity before announcing that she would return to Jamaica for Sumfest.

John Holt was another favorite and the only artist for the night to get an encore on stage. His stage presence was mesmerizing as he sang Stick By Me, Carpenter and Love I Can Feel.

Young Artists like Jovi Rockwell, Queen Ifrika and Heather Cummings performed amongst the legends. However, Marcia Griffiths wooed the audience with her delivery as she explained how Byron Lee gave her the first big break in music.

The final presentation for the night was a series of video clips from artists who could not make it personally like Maxi Priest, Tony Rebel, Carlene Davis, and Richie Stephens. They expressed their love and respect for Lee who has served in a pioneering role bringing Jamaican music to the world.

Photos By: Carlington Wilmot

ALL EYES ON: ISIS, HIT RIDDIM MAESTRO

Soundcheck, 1-2, 1-2. This Kingston-based beat meister has everyone trying to holla at him, as his dope riddims become the soundtrack to Jamaica's streets.

NAME: Adrian Marshall

Date of birth: 31/08/82

Schools: St. Mary High, and McGrath High in St. Catherine

RIDDIMS CREATED: Hail the I, Global, Applause, Cheerful, Crouch, Pitch Point

PAST HISTORY: "I always liked music, mi come a town after mi leave school inna 1998. Mi used to deejay, miu still deejay, ah so the interest come about. Is like a inborn ting, yu use vidi-controller and a computer, and mek the riddim. My first riddim was made in 1998, that's when decided that I wanted to make a riddim. But 'Applause' was the first riddim that mi release, and it go international. Mi feel blessed, coming from where me did a come form, it is a blessing. Mi work hard."

PEOPLE WHO MADE IT HAPPEN: Nuff people in the business, and in the streets know that I was the one who did it. Mi used to go Arrows studio, and one of the man dem who show me, Proony, he took me around to some people, and Sno Cone was one of them. Me go link sno cone pon mi own. Mi build Applause in 2003, and have it, and gave it to Cone.

CAREER CREDENTIALS SO FAR: I did Global for Firelinks, 'Heart Attack' #1 in New York reggae charts, Firelinks' 'Crouch', Sno Cone's 'Cheerful', and my personal ting,. 'Pitch Point'. He also did the Applause which spawned the Billboard chart-topper, 'Temperature', and Shane-O's definitive 'Lightning Flash'.

BUSINESS AND CREATIVE PHILOSOPHY: "We ah come different wid the ting dem. Mi no sell project, mi nah do that, mi nah tell no yute to do that, 'cause yu don't know where the riddim can go. Yu can get an upfront money, but that money is not for sale. Your work should not be for sale...anyone I am working with , must be thinking about hits."

ADVICE TO YOUTHS: Earn publishing, control your royalties and copyright ownership

Sno Cone ah real yute, him coulda tek it and say rrrhhh, a mine. But him always big me up, ah real yute.

NEW PROJECTS: I have a song name, 'I Swear' pon the Crouch riddim. Earlier in my career, I did a song called 'Hail the I' on the one-drop 'Hail the I', did a video, hold a little vibe. It neva buss, people know it. We still ah work pon that part of the ting,"

TECHNIQUE: I am not really a master yet at riddim-making, Sly and Robbie ah the master. I use the MPC every now and then, but mi mostly use the computer, if a man mi use the MPC, mi can do it, vidi-controller and computer create a futuristic style, not the basic everyday dancehall riddim."

Yard producer Chester Walker's Very Huge Production is set to do things 'real big' this Summer. He is gearing up for the release of his latest rhythm, 'Bad Movie', an off-da-hook production that features a slamming single from dancehall's mega-seller, Sean Paul.

"I am still in the studios right now, but I am gunning for an August release, but so far, everybody hear it and love it, and the artistes are clamouring to go on it, so it's going to be real big when it
drops," producer/songwriter Chester V. Walker, head of Very Huge Productions, told YardFlex.Com.

Walker has scored at least one minor international hit with the combination single, 'Warning', by Christopher and Delly Ranks in Italy in the year 2001. Plus he has scored local hits like 'Bring the War On', Spragga Benz's 'layer' and Killa's 'Smile Up'. Artistes who have recorded singles on the rhythm include Rayvon and Redd Foxx, Voice Mail, Christopher, G Whizz, Powerman, Vito, and Sean Paul with the highly anticipated 'Touch'.

Footballer Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardner is set to launch his rhythm that was created by Sam Diggy and Carl Morrison, while Dean Fraser sang harmony on many of the songs.

"Right now, mi feel say the Sizzla sell off, and people really feeling the Emperor song," Bibi told YardFlex.Com while he hung out at the newly-opened Natural Bridge studios in St. Andrew.

The footballer will be in Jamaica until the end of August, and he is still on crutches, recovering from surgery. He is expected to return to Bolton Wanderers for the new season. He is a staunch supporter of
Argentina, and believes that "they cannot lose this World Cup, nobody caan beat dem, ah my team".
The singles will appear on a one-drop rhythm called 'Potential' which features singles like 'Makes No Sense' - Norris Man; 'Marijuana' - Tanto; 'Jus Caan Water We Down' - Richie Spice; 'Be Strong' - Sizzla;
'No More War' - Empress; 'Great' - Emperor; and several others. The singles have already been enjoying good rotation on local radio stations like IRIE, and ZIP.

Ainsworth 'Big A' Higgins has been a disc jockey with Jamaica's number one radio station, IRIE FM for 16 years since the inception of the all-reggae, all-the-time radio station. Now that he has made his name as a disc jock, he has begun to tackle new projects. Enter Footsteps, a production house set up with his good friend, Lyndon 'Laza' House. They have put out a number of musical rhythms that have done pretty well locally.

"I am just trying to follow in the footsteps of great producers like King Jammys and King Tubbys, and also leave my own footsteps in the sands of time, so that a few years from now, people can say Big A did it that way," he said, explaining the origins of the name, 'Footsteps'.

"We have a new project just drop called HWT (Half Way Tree), Anthony Cruz scored big, LUST has a song called 'You Got Me', Lady Saw has a song called 'What If' and Tanya's 'Rescue', all of these songs will be on the respective artiste's albums, so I am pleased with how things have gone. Sales were pretty decent, and we got good support across the board," he told YardFlex.Com.

Big A said a new project is set to drop a new project soon, but said that he wanted to pace his productions because "you cannot make it seem like a conflict of interest because I am on the radio in the capacity as a disc jockey, and anyway, it takes time to do quality music, and we love doing production."

Producer Albert 'Burru' Blackwood is gunning for another big hit rhythm for the Sumemr with the release of 'Top 100', a kinetic rehash of the Sly and Robbie smash hit rhythm, 'Top 10', a few years ago.

"The early buzz on the riddim is good so far, Sly played the drums on the riddim, and we played a fresh phrase in it, and a few of the songs like the New Kidz, the Tanto Metro/Devonte and the Kartel are getting good play in the clubs....it's going to be one of the Summer riddims to look out for," Burru told YardFlex.Com.

'Burru' , known for his drum-oriented rhythms, has produced such hits as 'Bad From' on the Casablanca, and Capleton's 'Twist and Turn' in the past.

"The Kartel hit, 'Bad From' sold very well in England and was distributed by Greensleeves, I want to repeat that success and even do better next time by getting on the Billboard charts, mi a try put out a big fire this year, on the advice of Sly who say I must flood it, and I will be releasing at least five riddims," he said.